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Alan Moore Wrote Firestorm

Alan Moore wrote The Saga of the Swamp Thing #24 way back in 1984 featuring the JLA and Firestorm! Yes, Alan Moore, the writer of Watchmen and V for Vendetta, wrote an appearance of Firestorm! I never knew that!

I’ve just recently started reading Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing run at the behest of my buddy Rob from The Aquaman Shrine (and my Fire and Water Podcast co-host). I’ve always meant to read these stories, but never got around to it. I knew it was astonishing and revolutionary way back in the 1980s, but I wasn’t sure how it would read here in 2012. Well I’m happy to report it’s still very compelling and impressive! I’m nearly done with the first trade paperback and I’m anxious for the next one.

Below you’ll find the cover to issue #24 by Stephen Bissette and Tom Yeates. Notice the JLA members are upset by the circumstances on the monitor, with the exception of our favorite Nuclear Man. With his typical youthful gusto, he’s excited about the fight between Swamp Thing and the Floronic Man. Meanwhile, Firestorm’s fellow JLAers are thinking more long-term about the possible repercussions for the planet.

Saga of the Swamp Thing #24 cover by Stephen Bissette and Tom Yeates featuring Firestorm and the JLA

Below is page 9 from the same issue by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, and John Totleben. The JLA is struggling with a planet-threatening situation created by the Floronic Man. Firestorm has an idea, but Bronze Age Superdickery shoots it down.

Saga of the Swamp Thing #24 by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette and John Totleben featuring Firestorm and the JLA

After reading a few issues of these amazing comics, I can’t help but think of the Firestorm Elemental-era (Firestorm vol. II #85-100). I always knew the elemental concept originated with Swamp Thing, but I didn’t realize how much Firestorm writer John Ostrander and artist Tom Mandrake drew from these stories. During the Firestorm Elemental-era, Ostrander brought back the Sunderland Corporation from Swamp Thing, and Mandrake’s gorgeous artwork somewhat echoes Bissette and Totleben.

If you enjoy Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, but have never read the Elemental Firestorm comics, I highly recommend you give them a try. If you enjoy one, I think you’ll enjoy the other. Same goes the other way, if you enjoy the Elemental Firestorm stories, you’d love Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing.

Support Firestorm (and Elementals)! Fan the flame!

**UPDATE** If you’re interested in Swamp Thing, be sure to check out the super-fun site: The BLOG from the BOG … SWAMP THING! It’s run by ArthurMacArthur, a good friend to FIRESTORM FAN! Definitely worth your time to check out!

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5 Comments

  1. rob! says:

    And they only get better from here!

  2. Martin Stein RIP says:

    Weird to see Firestorm with irises in his eyes. Someone didn’t do the research.

  3. Welcome to the GREEN ..you’ll enjoy Swamp Thing, Shag ..but don’t forget W&W’s original first 10, and the run that led up to Alan Moore’s game-changing stories.
    cheers, A.

  4. THANKS for the shout-out, Big Shooter

  5. Shag says:

    Thanks for the comments!

    I read SWAMP THING back in the day when it was written by Nancy Collins, then Grant Morrison/Mark Millar (1992 – 1994). So this is sort of a homecoming for me. These comics are really reminding me why I loved Vertigo in those early years!

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