Plant Monsters of the Silver Age grew in a different soil than their predecessors. Plant monsters in comics begin as far back as 1940 with Planet Comics. The Pulps told stories of green sappy killers before that. The Golden Age produced a full crop in the superhero and horror comics. But by 1956, the idea of killer vegetation was hardly new. It became a standard monster trope found in all kinds of comics, from the obvious superheroes to horror and Science Fiction comics to children’s fare. Here is a glimpse at some interesting ones from that decade-and-a-half when comics developed under the Comics Code but still tried to provide excitement and thrills. (I haven’t included any Turok, Son of Stone here because that comic got its own piece here.)
“The Tree That Shook the Earth” (Wonder Woman #84, August 1956) was written by Robert Kanigher with art by Harry Peter. A space seed lands in new York City and grows to monstrous size. WW takes the tree back to its own planet and fights the evil tree people. The whole thing is very Edmond Hamilton.
“My Robot Plants” (Alarming Tales #5, September 1958) was written by an unknown author with art by Fred Kida. We start with a lecture on mechanical plants that look like real ones. Mother Nature has her own opinion on this as she uses the python vine to attack the lighthouse. The gardner/scientist wisely decides to abandon robot plants.
“The Thing From Planet X” (Tales of Suspense #3, May 1959) had an author unknown with art by Steve Ditko. A space patrol discover a sentient plant that plans to destroy all animal life. They are able to trick it but pay a heavy price.
“I Planted the Seeds of Doom” (Journey Into Mystery #56, January 1960) had art by Jack Kirby and Christopher Rule. It may have been written by Kirby. You really want a dinosaur story when a plant will grow new dinosaurs!
“The Menace of the Enemy Plants” (House of Mystery #103, October 1960) had art by Bill Ely. The acto-ray turns plants into mobile killers on a remote island.
“The Deadly Plants” (Dell Giant #43: Mighty Mouse in Outer Space, June 1961) author and artist unknown. The inhabitants of Venus are slaves to the master race, plants! Mighty Mouse defeats them by making his own lens to cook them with.
“The Green Thing” Part One and Two (Tales of Suspense #19, July 1961) was written by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber. Not to be confused with “The Green Thing” in Tales of Suspense #51. That’s later. A botanist goes to a remote island to prove his theories on plant growth. He injects an ordinary weed and creates a monster. In the second half, the giant evil intelligent plant must face off against another one (a red one). The red one wins and humanity is saved.
“The Sacrifice” (Strange Tales #91, December 1961) written by Stan Lee or Larry Lieber, art by Jack Kirby and George Klein. A lone astronaut finds plant monsters on Mars. Rather than allowing them to take over the Earth he makes the sacrifice.
“Plants of Plunder” (Batman #147, May 1962) was written by Bill Finger and drawn by Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris. Bank robbers use alien plants to help them make their getaways. Batman and Robin capture the crooks and free the alien farmer who owned the vegetation.
“The Thing From Outer Space” (Tales to Astonish #35, September 1962) was written by Stan Lee or Larry Lieber with art by Don Heck. Colonel Rogers brings a plant from the planet Nyanthos. The flowering plant trades spirits with the man. After rescuing Rogers, the planet is quarantined.
“The Green Thing” (Tales of Suspense #51, March 1964) was written by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber. A man is surprised when his greenhouse door slams by itself. There is a new talking flower there. It says it is from the planet Fernius. The creature proves its superiority over the gardener by changing his size. The man feels Earth is doomed but a bird comes by and claims the plant. The man is amazed that they were saved by one of Earth’s smallest creatures. (H. G. Wells nods his head.)
“The Crabgrass Creature” (Archie’s Madhouse #37, December 1964) the author is not known but the art was done by Joe Edwards. An herbicide for crabgrass creates Crabgrass Man, who grows when it rains. At first he is attacked as monster but then saves some cows. He goes to Hollywood to play King Kong.
“Attack of the Plant Creatures” (Space Family Robinson: Lost in Space #30, October 1968) was written by Gaylord Du Bois and drawn by Dan Spiegle. The Robinsons find a derelict ship in space that contains plant monsters.
Of course these aren’t all the plant monsters from every period of comics, just A few from that Silver Age between 1956-1969. The 1970s would grow plant monsters in their own way. Every decade, every age of comics has their own version of the green menace.
For more Silver Age salad go here…
