Swamp Thing (1991 TV series)

Cast

The show's hero is Swamp Thing, a scientist turned into a plant monster when Anton Arcane wrecked his lab. He guards the swamp by commanding plants. Arcane, a scientist desperate for eternal life, uses a transducer chamber to turn himself and his henchman into monsters. Swamp Thing's allies include Tomahawk, a Native American, and Bayou Jack, an African American Vietnam vet who briefly becomes a mantis hybrid and joins the Un-Men. The villains include Dr. Deemo, a voodoo doctor who shifts into a snake creature; Skinman, a frail zombie-like man who becomes a bat monster; and Weed Killer, a green-skinned masked figure who turns into an insect monster. Abigail Arcane, Anton's stepdaughter, is Swamp Thing's love interest. Two young boys, Delbert and J.T., are also friends to the heroes.

Home releases

Kenner released "The Un-Men Unleashed" on VHS in 1992 with cover art from the Snare Arm Swamp Thing figure; Buena Vista Home Video issued a second VHS with new cover art in 1994. Sterling Entertainment released Swamp Thing - Guardian of the Earth on VHS and DVD on August 31, 2004; the VHS contains three episodes, the DVD all five.

Action figures

In 1990, Kenner released a line of Swamp Thing action figures, complete with vehicles and playsets, designed to accompany the animated series. The Arcane and Un-Men figures came with translucent, rubbery BioMask accessories that mimicked their monstrous transformations, and their eyes glowed in the dark—a common toy feature at the time. Some of these accessories later appeared in Hasbro's The Original Battle Trolls line in 1992. According to an online fan source, Kenner spent roughly $6 million on the Swamp Thing line, and tests with boys aged 6 to 11 reportedly indicated the figures were more popular than G.I. Joe and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Earlier speculation that a Swamp Thing figure was planned for an unproduced fourth series of Kenner's Super Powers Collection has been disproven by newly uncovered details. The lineup includes Bio-Glow Swamp Thing, Camouflage Swamp Thing, Capture Swamp Thing, Snap Up Swamp Thing, Snare Arm Swamp Thing, Bayou Jack, Tomahawk, Anton Arcane, Dr. Deemo, Skinman, Weed Killer, and vehicles such as the Bayou Blaster, Bog Rover, Marsh Buggy, Swamp Trap, and Transducer (which came with a Mantid figure).

Video games and other merchandise

A Swamp Thing video game for NES and Game Boy was released by THQ in December 1992 to poor reception; Tiger also produced a handheld game. Much packaging featured art by comic book artist Alfredo Alcala.