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"Swamp Thing is dead!" We kick off the third season of Swamp Things which will be focussed on the Rick Veitch run. And maybe it won't end on recriminations and tears this time. I'm joined by Rob Veatch as we discuss how Rick Veitch kicked everything off in his first issue, #65 "(We Could Be) Diving for Pearls" Reader: Robert Reineke Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly

"The Publishers and the so-called Purveyors of "Fine Art" have conspired to keep the public in the dark about the true potential of comics!" Rick Veitch is joined by artists Shawn McManus, Jim Fern, Stan Woch, and Tom Yeates for a bit of monkey shines in Swamp Thing Annual #3 entitled "Distant Cousins." Erik Hanson from the Cradle to the Grave podcast returns to help discuss this issue as we try to make sense of the all the madness of this issue and put it in context. Reader: Erik Hanson Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly

"Sounds great, Piggy! But you're wrong about one thing. These paparazzi photos? I happen to know they were faked. See, Wonder Girl has this delicate little beauty mark... It's almost in the same spot as Diane's was..." Swamp Thing #66 by Rick Veitch entitled "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" has a little bit of everything. Including heaven, hell, John Constantine, Hellblazer, Arkham Asylum and its inmates, a brand new director of Arkham, and of course Abby and Alec. Both of them. This is Rick Veitch's run really taking off and showing both his metaphysical side and his satirical side. Rob Veatch guests on this episode to help break it down. Reader: Rob Veatch Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly

"Just what the world needs, eh? Another grotty dim-witted clod of a film to add to the cultural wasteland." Rob Veatch returns to discuss Swamp Thing #67 entitled "The Wisdom of Solomon" as surprising enemies are revealed and Swamp Thing suffers a crushing setback at the hands of Solomon Grundy, who has no use for the concept of sharing. Reader: Patrick Ripoll of 96 Greers and Tracks of the Damned Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly

"They will be back... the ones that killed me... Ferrett and the others will be back... and I will be waiting!" Welcome to season 2 of Swamp Things which will be exploring the Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson run of Swamp Thing. Erik Hanson joins Robert to explore the Swamp thing #1 and the Dark Genesis of Swamp Thing.

"Forgive my manner of summoning you, my friend, but I could not chance your refusing my invitation! You see, I have a proposition to make you. A most unusual proposition, indeed!" With issue #2 of Swamp Thing, Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson introduce Anton Arcane and embue the book with an expressionistic look that would mark it until today. Guest Erik Hanson comes on to discuss this historic issue. Reader: Erik Hanson Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly

"There wasn't much left of you, you realize -- I had to improvise my repairs from the materials at hand! Here -- I'll show you!" With issue #3 of Swamp Thing, Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson tell the story of The Patchwork Man and introduce Abigail Arcane to the saga. Guest Andy DiGenova of Holy Batcast comes on to discuss this historic issue. Reader: Robert Reineke Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly

"Somhow, the fear-filled scream that drifts in from the bog is not totally unexpectedby those in the ancient manor -- but all heads turn at the sound just the same..." Jeremy Lloyd of Dark Tower Radio is a guest this month as we discuss Issue #4 "Monster on the Moors", Bernie Wrightson, werewolves, Stephen King, and CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF. Reader: Andy DiGenova of Holy Batcast Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly

"'They are incapable of raising their hands against their neighbors.' Those were the little clockmaker's words. But their meaning is soon drowned out by the furious chatter of machine gun fire that echoes across the square." In this episode, Rob Veatch comes on to discuss Wein and Wrightson's "A Clockwork Horror" where Swamp Thing stumbles across of village of mechanical men and their dedicated to peace creator. Just in time for the Conclave to swoop in and destroy everything and see a real horror unleashed. Reader: Rob Veatch Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly  

"This man...will just keep coming...until one of us...is dead...!" In a very special episode, legendary comics artist Kelley Jones comes on the podcast to discuss Swamp Thing #7 "The Night of the Bat" by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson where Swamp Thing journeys to Gotham and encounters Batman. It's a break from the usual format, perhaps becoming more "The Comics That Made Us", but we have a wide ranging conversation about the issue, 70s comics, Bernie Wrightson, working with Len Wein, and many other topics. I hope you have as much fun listening as we had recording it. Reader: Justin Kowalski Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly  

"Don't play so high an' mighty with me, Cable. I'll bet there's something in your life you've felt exactly the same way about." This month, Ryan Lower from The Batman Book Club comes on the podcast to discuss "The Stalker from Beyond" by Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, and Michael Wm. Kaluta. There's a lot to unpack in a still timely rumination on xenophobia and a divided America. Reader: Robert Reineke Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly

"For the screamng is loud and long and frightening --- and laced wth maniacal laughter that sends snakes skittering into the underbrush  --- night-birds sailing off into an angry sky --- and, at last, the screaming stops!" The end of the Bernie Wrightson run is reached with Issue #10 of Swamp Thing. Paul Hermann of The Comic Binge comes on to discuss this wrapup featuring a battle of monsters and the ghosts of slavery. Reader: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly

"How long he has stood here, gazing sadly at the ruptured ruins of the mouldering barn that was once his private laboratory, he cannot remember-- nor would it truly matter if he did--" It's a changing of the guard as Nestor Redondo steps in to art duties after Bernie Wrightson had left. Returning guest Erik Hanson steps in as we assess Redondo's art. And the story of alien worms and would be saviors that Len Wein conjures up. Reader: Robert Reineke Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly

"Home..? Who'd have ever thought that one day... I would call this dismal bog home..." Len Wein and Nestor Redondo explore the cursed, never ending life of Milo Mobius in this time travel adventure. It's a definite change of pace for Swamp Thing as we near the end of Len Wein's run. Reader: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly

"If there is truly a heaven, sweet Linda... I pray to God you're happy there... And there must be a heaven... because I know there is a hell... I'm living in that hell right now...!" We reach the end of the second season with "The Leviathan Conspiracy" wrapping up Len Wein's orignal run. Nestor Redondo supplies the art as Len Wein has revelations and twists to bring a conclusion to the storylines started in Issue #1. Erik Hanson from the Cradle to the Grave podcast returns to help discuss this important issue of one of the best comics of the 1970s. Reader: Robert Reineke Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo: Nat Almirall of Where the Long Tail Ends Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly