Comic Title: Swamp Thing #1
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Oct/Nov 1972
On Sale Date: August 10, 1972 Newsstand Date August 10, 1972
Source: Comic Reader, #87

Copyright Date August 10, 1972
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1972

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.20
Page Count: 32
Editor: Joe Orlando

Title: "Dark Genesis"
Pages: 24

Feature(s):
Swamp Thing (of Earth-1)

Writer: Len Wein
Artist/Colorist: Bernie Wrightson
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino

Reprinted In:
DC Special Series #2 (1977)
Roots of the Swamp Thing #1 (1986)
Swamp Thing:Dark Genesis TPB (1992)
Secret of the Swamp Thing TPB (2005)
Roots of the Swamp Thing HC (2009)
Roots of the Swamp Thing TPB (2012)
Swamp Thing:The Bronze Age Omnibus HC (2017)
Swamp Thing:The Bronze Age Vol. 1 TPB (2018)
Dollar Comics:Swamp Thing #1 (2019)
Absolute Swamp Thing by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson HC (2023)

Feature Character(s)

• Swamp Thing (a plant creature; first appearance; next appearance in Swamp Thing #2)

Supporting Character(s)

• Matt Cable (a lieutenant and intelligence agent; first appearance; next appearance in Swamp Thing #2)
• Alec Holland (a scientist; first appearance; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Linda Holland (Alec's wife and fellow scientist; dies in this story; no further appearances)

Villain(s)

• Anton Arcane (name not revealed in this story; mostly behind-the-scenes; first appearance; last appearance in Swamp Thing #3; next appearance in Swamp Thing #2)
• Un-Men (not named in this story; first appearance; next appearance in Swamp Thing #2)
• The Conclave (next appearance in Swamp Thing #2)
• Maxwell Ferrett (first name revealed in Swamp Thing #6; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Bruno (dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Ferrett's unnamed associate (no further appearances)
• Mister E (head of the Conclave; first appearance; next appearance in Swamp Thing #2)
• Louisiana Blue (an agent of the Conclave; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Mutt (a dog; next appearance in Swamp Thing #2)

Comments:
This story implies that Alec Holland becomes the Swamp Thing. However, Saga of Swamp Thing #21 reveals that although Swamp Thing possesses Alec's memories, he is not Alec.

Although both have similar origins, the Swamp Thing that debuts in this story is not the same one who appeared previously in House of Secrets #92. That story featured Alex Olsen. The connection between the two different Swamp Things is revealed in Saga of Swamp Thing #33.

Synopsis:
Alec and Linda Holland are researchers working on a bio-restorative formula. Due to the top secret nature of the research the scientists' lab is sequestered in a barn near a swamp. Lt. Matt Cable is assigned to protect them. However, their location is known to agents of the Conclave, an organization which desires their formula.

Three agents led by a man named Ferrett arrive and threaten the Hollands. When the Hollands refuse cooperation, a dog with an implanted listening device is sent to spy on them. Ferrett makes a second attempt to get the formula. When this fails, he plants a bomb which destroys the lab. Alec Holland is caught in the blast. He runs screaming from the barn while burning and bathed in the bio-restorative formula. His run is cut short when he falls into the bog and dies.

Some time later, a giant moss-covered creature arises from the swamp. This Swamp Thing possesses Holland's memory and returns to the lab. Ferrett has also returned, and he kills Linda. Enraged, Swamp Thing kills Ferrett and his accomplice. Matt Cable, who was incapacitated by Ferret's henchman, awakens as the monster is leaving the scene. Cable tries in vain to stop the creature from escaping.