Swamp Thing Vol 1 10



 The Man Who Would Not Die 

Summary
Volume: 1 Issue: 10 Month: May-June Year: 1974

Credits
Editor in Chief: Joe Orlando Head Writer: Len Wein Cover Artists: Bernie Wrightson Pencilers: Bernie Wrightson Inkers: Bernie Wrightson Editors: Joe Orlando

Synopsis
Cast of Characters:
 * Swamp Thing (Alec Holland)
 * Anton Arcane
 * Un-Men
 * Auntie Elsbeth Bellum (also in flashback)
 * Black Jubal (as a ghost; also in flashback)
 * Samson Parminter (in flashback)

Locations:
 * Unknown

Items:
 * None

First Appearances: Auntie Bellum (a slave); Black Jubal (a slave); Samson Parminter (an overseer) Final Appearances: Auntie Bellum; Black Jubal; Samson Parminter

Synopsis: Swamp Thing wanders through the swamp until he finds an old black woman outside of a shack named Auntie Bellum. Auntie tells Swamp Thing a tale of the slavery days when there was a thriving plantation owned by a man named Samson Parminter. Parminter was a ruthless overseer and frequently abused his slaves including a woman named Elsbeth. But Elsbeth's lover, Black Jubal, fought against Parminter to save Elsbeth. As punishment, Parminter had Black Jubal killed.

Shortly after hearing Auntie Bellum's tale, Swamp Thing heads towards an old, lost cemetery where he finds the Un-Men. Anton Arcane is leading the Un-Men and has come from the Balkans to capture the Swamp Thing. Arcane's body had been destroyed in their last fight, but he used his telepathy to command his Un-Men to fashion a new synthetic body for him. But Arcane's current form is a grotesque mockery of humanity. He wants to transfer his mind into the Swamp Thing's body in order to master its strength and power.

The two enemies begin fighting and it looks as if Swamp Thing is going to lose, until the tombstones from the graveyard topple over and the ghosts of Black Jubal and other slaves rise up. Black Jubal waves his hand towards Swamp Thing and he passes out. Then, Jubal and the others descend upon Anton Arcane and the Un-Men.

When Swamp Thing wakes up, he finds there is a new tombstone with Arcane's name written on it in blood. There is no sign of Auntie Bellum or the shack she had lived in. He finds another gravestone with the name Elsbeth Bellum etched onto it. Apparently Auntie Bellum was the ghostly lover of Black Jubal.

Trivia

 * None

Recommended Readings

 * Swamp Thing (Volume 1)
 * Swamp Thing (Volume 2)
 * Swamp Thing (Volume 3)
 * Swamp Thing (Volume 4)

Related Articles

 * Swamp Thing (Volume 1) cover art gallery
 * Swamp Thing image gallery
 * Swamp Thing appearances list
 * Abigail Holland image gallery
 * Abigail Holland appearances list