Swamp Thing - Bronze Age Omnibus

The older Swamp Thing comic book series' are near and dear to my heart. Mainly because the Saga first run was the first comic book series I collected month after month, starting with the 1982 Saga of the Swamp Thing #1 and getting them to about issue 100. 

Swamp Thing is about Alec Holland, a scientist, who was developing a bio-restorative formula to feed the world with his wife in the swamps of Louisiana. Men from a criminal organization, the Conclave, wanted the formula and threatened harm to the couple if they did not give it to them. They carried out their threat when they returned and the couple refused the demand to hand the research over and knocked out Alec. When he awoke he saw a bomb under the lab table, which exploded before he could defuse it. Running out of the lab, on fire with some of the bio-restorative formula on him, he jumped into the nearby swamp. Over time, the formula and the plant life formed around him giving him back a human like appearance but made out of plant materiel. He is hindered by the difficulty it is to speak with plant-like lungs and larynx. So starts the journey of the Swamp Thing, regularly feared because of his appearance yet hero to anyone in danger of harm or oppression. Sometimes he joins with others but often walks alone. Often he is an observer, defender, or protector of horrors in the forgotten shadows of the world but he always stands by what is right. Needles to say, this was right up my alley for a shy young teenager to have a hero looking like a monster who does the right thing regardless of how he is treated.

I eyed this collected omnibus in the local Legends comic book store and had some extra funds to stroll down memory lane. It collects the original appearance of Swamp Thing in House of Secrets #92 published July of 1971, Swamp Thing issues 1-24 that started in 1972, and Saga of the Swamp Thing issues 1-19, and Saga of the Swamp Thing annual #1.

Its a HUGE book at 928 pages! It took about two months of reading an issue every day or two.

The Swamp Thing's first appearance in House of Secrets up to issue 10 of the 1972 Swamp Thing was written by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. I read some of these after I started with the 1982 Swamp Thing, in order to get more of the back story, as it is considered one continuous story ignoring the less than stellar issues after Lein Wein left the series. That point was issue 13, the last one Len Wein wrote. The first 13 issues had the origin story and many engaging tales of the macabre and horror: a body manipulating melomaniac antagonist called Arcane, werewolves, a Frankenstein's monster like being, aliens, mechanical beings, a Chuthulu like entity called M'Nagalah, Batman, another appearance by Arcane, more aliens, and time travel. The art was moody and dark with stories about prejudice, fear of the other, and misuse of power with the Swamp Thing as observer, receiver of harm, or protector. What more would a teenage boy ask for? I liked rereading these first 13 issues but from there it went off the rails without the team of Len and Berni. There were some good stories but also some wacky ones with odd ham-fisted stories. 

Now for the part that I started my comic collecting life with, Saga of the Swamp Thing! Len Wein was editor for the series with Martin Pasko as main writer. Martin was a major TV and comic book writer from the 70's to the 2000s, so he added a steady continuum with these issues that make for a solid arc. Martin continued for a few issues from issue 16-19. This first 13 issue run had the overarching story of a small girl who was going to be killed by her father because of some abilities she had but was saved by the Swamp Thing. Through the arc they encounter vampires and a demon inhabited serial killer only to be separated. That is when it is revealed to the Swamp Thing, after some excellent misdirection with people who seem to be antagonists, the reason why the girls's father wanted to kill her. In the last arc it is a struggle to stop the plan of the girl before it is too late for the world. There are also some really good standalone stories where the overall arc is added to. When I read this I realized that comics could not just be one issue casual entertainment but provide stories worthy to be told. 

This omnibus makes me interested in getting the collections of the Alan Moore written Swamp Thing comics, which started where this collection left off. That run was more darker, mature, and experimental in taking the character of Swamp Thing to new directions. 

Royston Seaside Trail

The Royston Seaside trail was a nice walk to end our stay in the Courtenay area. It is short and provides level trails and water views.

Someone made a fairy garden in their back yard adjacent to the trail.

The old sewage pond has lovely shades of emerald algae growing on it, with no smell.

Courtenay Museum

The Courtenay museum is an excellent facility with marvelous paleontology exhibits of local ancient life. It also has great local First Nations exhibits downstairs and upstairs. Also upstairs is an extensive overview of the Courtenay history.

Nikkei Raman-ya

The Nikkei Raman-ya restaurant was tied out by us as takeout in Courtenay. We each had the Miso Raman and they packed the noodles, which are hand made, and vegetables separate from the broth. This ensured that the noodles would not get too soggy. It was delicious and their takeout can be scheduled for when you want it. Recommend, if you do get takeout, to plan ahead otherwise the early spots for ordering may be taken.

Edit: I forgot to take pictures of how they do takeout but did when we went again in March 2022. 

Cumberland

 Cumberland was a great place to visit. There are many old buildings with interesting stores and a vibrant outdoor enthusiast vibe. 

The Cumberland Village Bakery was our first stop and I ate my donut and pasties so fast I forgot to take a picture. It was that good.

There are many parks, trails and playgrounds in the area. The Cumberland Community Forest trail system to the South West was started by locals and enthusiasts and has extensively grown to the monstrously robust trail system it is today going through 335 hectares! Map is here.

This was one of the trails we went on, the Space Nugget.

Here is one of the posted maps. Very extensive!

On the Mama Bear trail, old boards to allow easier walking have been grown over to cool effect.

There is also a park dedicated to the Chinatown that was here during the heyday of the mine owned by the Dunsmuir family.

Not only people from China came here to earn a living but Japanese, European, First Nations, and African persons lived here outside of the white town.

I thought this was a nice sign above a swing.

Myself and my wife would come to Cumberland again.

Hungry Rooster

 In Nanaimo on the way to Courtenay, we stopped at the Hungry Rooster for lunch.

We shared a platter with an extra side of perogies, which are made on location. That way we could also try two different kinds amongst the selection they provide. Every part was delicious and we would eat here again.

Tastings at Wineries and Distilleries

 During our way up to and stay in Courtenay over the Labour day long weekend, several distilleries and wineries were visited.

The first was Arbutus Distillery in Nanaimo. It had a nice assortment of spirits with great décor and a view of the distilling room. My wife did the sampling as I do not like spirits. She liked several of them and bought a couple of bottles for herself.

The second spot was Chateau Wolff winery, also in Nanaimo. 

They provided four wines to try for my wife and I sipped a little from each. Their reds were nice and a bottle was purchased here. They also sell charcuterie plates on site.

40 Knots winery North of Comox is a lovely winery setup with fantastic buildings, slick posters/labels, and impressive membership program. Their wines were only fine though and not, in our opinion, worth the price. In five to ten years though their wines may equal the look of their establishment.

Coastal Black is North of Courtenay/Comox and makes fruit wines, cider, and mead. I have been buying their products at liquor stores for ten years and this was my first time to their establishment. I didn't need to sample them but did try sips from my wife's tasting board. I personally bought twelve bottles from them, in particular ones that are hard to get in Victoria. My wife bought a few as well.

The last establishment visited was Wayward distillery, who makes spirits out of honey that they harvest. I only sampled a few that my wife thought I would like and she bought a couple of bottles. Friendly staff and they have some hives on site.

Food at the Kingfisher Resort

At the Kingfisher Resort, we ate often there because we had heard it was so good. It did not disappoint. I will not describe each meal but will let the pictures of the food on the plates speak for themselves. The menus are available here.

We would easily eat here again.

Kingfisher Resort

 The Kingfisher Resort is located just South of Courtenay on 19A, on Vancouver Island. We stayed there for three nights over the Labour day long weekend. The suite we chose was the romance beachfront suite. My wife and I very much enjoyed our stay.

Here is a view of the back deck. 

To the left is the restaurant and to the right is the walkway on the shore side of our suites.

One of the marvelous sunsets.

The bed was quite comfortable.

We didn't use the kitchenette except for coffee making but all the basics were there if we wanted to cook a meal.

In the main room was a jacuzzi tub big enough for two.

The fireplace was there but the gas is only turned on during the winter. The warm nights we had meant we wouldn't have used it anyways.

The bathroom was quite functional.

The central garden area was very well done with many separate seating areas.

There are two resort cats that wander around and greet visitors.

We also each enjoyed a spa treatment during our stay which was also enjoyable. We would stay here again.