By John
Boylan
"The spirit is a
message of hope... that, despite incredible adversity and personal tragedy, we
can triumph. It is the spirit of the lonely outsider. To be alone and watch
life go on around him."
—Tim Moriarty, Famous Monsters Filmland #183
I have been a collector most of my life. I started with toys and
comic books as a child, and then moved on to records as I got older. I circled
back to collecting comic books when I got out of college, and eventually, I
began to focus my collection on one of the great, underappreciated comic book
characters: Swamp Thing.
Through research and keeping up with current events regarding
Swamp Thing, I've come across numerous fan sites that share my excitement
toward the character. All of the sites are fun and informative, but for a long
time, I sought a definitive list of Swamp Thing appearances and collectibles
that fans could use as a reference tool.
I couldn't find that list, so I built one.
That list has taken the form of a website, RootsOfTheSwampThing.com,
which I've been cultivating for over a year now. A large part of why I love to
collect is tracking and cataloging. It's fun to learn about each piece by the
details and unique information they provide. Are their variants? Production
errors? Why are the serial codes different depending on production year?
RootsOfTheSwampThing.com provides me a venue to explore just such questions.
I have compiled more than 800 appearances, including parodies,
articles, reviews, non-visual mentions and ads. I have been in contact with
comic professionals and Swamp Thing fans from as far away as Australia and
France, sharing information and obscure appearances. The list is ever growing,
and it's a thrill to see what else is out there for Swamp Thing fans.
As my collection has grown larger, the Swamp Thing world has
gotten much smaller. The fans and collectors I relied on for research are now e-mail
pen pals. Folks have started asking me where to find rare and obscure Swamp
Thing collectibles, and often tell me that they use my site as a reference tool.
Collecting Swamp Thing is the one hobby I have for which I've
never felt the need to seek validation. Aside from my website, I haven't shared
my collection with many people. I usually don't even talk about Swamp Thing
unless around other serious comic fans. It's a nice feeling to keep a little something
for yourself, to enjoy alone. So it was with some hesitation that I recently
decided to share my collection publicly.
On March 21, I attempted to set the world record for the largestSwamp Thing collection. My entire
collection of more than 800 items—books, memorabilia, toys and more—was on
display from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Sioux Falls Design Center in Downtown
Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The collection was authenticated by legendary comic
book artist and creator Phil Hester (Marvel, DC, and more), local purveyor of
all things collectible John Nordstrom (Rainbow Sports Cards and Comics) and
Sioux Falls business owner and comic enthusiast Andy Howes (Howes Oil, Local
Zip).
The excitement I had for the event wasn't about setting a record
or earning a title. It's about being with friends, comic fans, collectors and
those filled with curiosity to celebrate one of the greatest characters in
literature.
I wish that everyone who loves this character as much I do could have
been there to celebrate him—and one another—with me, but Sioux Falls is a long
haul from Australia or France. That's okay, though, because if I've learned
anything from my experiences over the past year, it's that we Swamp Thing fans
have roots that run deep enough to support one another, no matter where we
stand.
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