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DC Comics Presents #8 is an issue of the series DC Comics Presents (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 1979. It was published on January 8, 1979.
Synopsis for Superman and the Swamp Thing: "The Sixty Deaths of Solomon Grundy"
The Swamp Thing is travelling through the sewers of Metropolis. As he travels, he thinks back to the freak accident that caused his transformation into the Swamp Thing and how he has been searching the world trying to find a cure for his condition. Two weeks prior, the Swamp Thing came across an issue of the Daily Planet detailing Superman's battle with Solomon Grundy. Reading about how the creature was spawned from a swamp, the Swamp Thing would come to believe that it might lead to a clue to curing himself and began heading toward Metropolis to try and find the monster.
The Swamp Thing comes across Grundy in the sewers, and as Fate would have it, it would also be at a time when Superman was looking for the creature following its attack on a train. As Superman attempts to stop Grundy, the Swamp Thing steps in and tries to stop Superman from potentially destroying Grundy before he can examine him. Although the Swamp Thing's arm is ripped off in the fight, he helps Grundy knock out the Man of Steel. Grundy begins to consider the Swamp Thing a friend and agrees to follow the swamp creature through the sewers. Superman revives shortly thereafter and wonders what could have caused the Swamp Thing to come to Grundy's aid, and decides to check with his ally Batman and with S.T.A.R. Labs to find a way to end Grundy's threat. The Swamp Thing, meanwhile, leads Grundy to one of his makeshift labs and convinces the creature to allow him to take a sample of his skin. As the Swamp Thing begins his experiments on the compliant Grundy, he is unaware that lurking in the shadows nearby is a complete duplicate of Grundy.
Meanwhile, Superman finishes a call from Batman, learning that the only thing the Dark Knight can say about the Swamp Thing was that he was able to trust the creature. Superman then meets with Dr. Jenet Klyburn at S.T.A.R. Labs and has her examine some of the water from Superman's battle with Grundy. Superman deduces that Grundy's Slaughter Swamp Blight is still creating duplicates of the monster and he wants to find a way to destroy the creature. The two are joined by the arrival of Lois Lane, who has come to get the scoop from Superman about his battle with Grundy in the sewers. The update gets cut short when Grundy is spotted outside S.T.A.R. Labs, prompting Superman to kiss Lois and fly out to face the creature. Superman battles the creature and easily beats it to death, and grimly considers the fact that, if he does not find a solution to Grundy's replicating problem, an army of Grundys could destroy all of Metropolis.
Meanwhile, down below in the sewers, the Swamp Thing's tests come up a failure when he learns that the creature that he has been examining is not even truly alive and, therefore, is of no use to him. Grundy becomes increasingly agitated and when he overhears a radio report about Superman's battle with one of his duplicates; the monster becomes enraged and and charges to the surface to try and kill the Man of Steel. However, this is not the only creature, since all of the Grundy duplicates rise up from the sewers to kill Superman. Seeing this, Superman rushes Lois to the safety of S.T.A.R. Labs and takes the chemical that Klyburn has created to destroy the Grundys. Overhearing this plan, the Swamp Thing attempts to try and stop Superman, believing that the creatures qualify as a form of life and that it would be more humane to contain the creatures or send them to another planet than to destroy them. However, Superman moves at super-speed and does not see the Swamp Thing. The Swamp Thing finally succeeds in yelling out, but no one hears him, leaving the question of "Who is right?" unanswered. Seeing that his efforts have been futile, the Swamp Thing decides to leave quietly and exits Metropolis through the sewers, unseen by everyone.
Appearing in Superman and the Swamp Thing: "The Sixty Deaths of Solomon Grundy"
Featured Characters:
- Superman
- Swamp Thing (Flashback and main story) (Origin)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Solomon Grundy (x60) (Dies)
Other Characters:
- Alec Holland (Flashback only)
- Batman (Voice Only)
- Interpol (Mentioned only)
- Solomon Grundy (Earth-Two) (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
Continuity Notes
- This story is a Pre-Crisis event, which may not have occurred in the Post-Crisis universe.
- This story features the Solomon Grundy of Earth-One, not the more familiar swamp monster of Earth-Two who was usually found battling the original Green Lantern. While the two alternate Grundys were almost indistinguishable in terms of appearance, the Earth-One Grundy was several times stronger than his Earth-Two counterpart, which explains why he was able to stun the Superman of Earth-One with a single punch.
- Batman makes a behind-the-scenes cameo appearance in this issue.
- The original Solomon Grundy appeared last in All-Star Comics #63. He appears next in Wonder Woman #272.
- Superman and Solomon Grundy battled each other before in Justice League of America #92, Superman #301, and Superman #319–322.
- The Swamp Thing appeared last in Challengers of the Unknown #87. He appears next in The Brave and the Bold #176.
- The origin of the Swamp Thing is briefly recapped in flashback in this issue.
Publication Notes
- Reprinted in The Best of DC #54, Showcase Presents: DC Comics Presents Superman Team-Ups Vol. 1, and Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Vol. 2.
Trivia
- This issue includes an advertisement for Hostess Twinkies featuring Wonder Woman entitled, "The Golden Treasure".
- This issue includes Daily Planet Extra, Volume 79, Issue 1.