If you missed the last one…
The Bronze Age has the benefit of all the collective plant monsters of the Golden and Silver Ages before it. Because of this, it is not unusual to see plants everywhere. There are still Horror pieces appearing in DC’s “Mystery” line (despite twenty years of such). There are viny things in Spider-man and Batman comics (again, despite decades of these). And there is even the truly spectacular plant extravaganza that is Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing. You’d think I’d have run out of examples by now, but no sirree…
“The Warlock Tree!” (Chamber of Darkness #3, February 1970) was written by Gerry Conway. The spirit of Moorg the Warlock is trapped in a tree when a sword is thrust into it. Many centuries later, Moorg returns to get Jane and Dave in our time. That’s early Barry Smith artwork!
“The Curse of Shaft Seven!” (The Phantom Stranger #7, May-June 1970) was written by Robert Kanigher. This one isn’t really all that much about killer trees, though it has this single page. Despite that, it was a good enough image for Neal Adams to use on the cover.
“The Sentinel Oak” (The Many Ghost of Dr. Graves #24, February 1971) was written by Joe Gill. Ghosts protect an old tree that has stood on the property for hundreds of years.
“The Spectre of the Stalking Swamp!” (The Phantom Stranger #14, July-August 1971) was written by Len Wein. That cover looks a lot like Swamp Thing but it isn’t. A legend of a swamp monster is used to drive people out of the swamp. The monster proves to be a fake but later is attacked by a real creature! This is a Dr. 13 story, so the real/unreal is always in debate.
“Dr. Hiji’s Secret Garden” (The Many Ghosts of Dr. Graces #38, May 1973) was written by Joe Gill. Hiji’s garden is protected by some mean looking plants.
“The Roots of Evil” (Nightmare #16, December 1973) was written by Al Hewetson as Howie Anderson. This one is a William Hope Hodgson homage. The captain and a few men are put in a lifeboat during a mutiny. When they get their ship back they find the mutineers turning into trees. The logic of the piece isn’t that important. Only that nasty last page.
“The Tree That Walks” (The Brothers of the Spear #7, December 1973) was written by Gaylord DuBois. Not only Tarzan or Turok are facing off against trees over at Gold Key. So are the Brothers of the Spear! DuBois wrote them all. This one is particularly good with a killer tree and the green monster Mugu.
“The Mushroom Man” (Tales of Ghost Castle #1, May-June 1975) was written by David Michelinie and Martin Pasko. A mushroom bed, what could be better for disposing of a corpse? Fungus has a way of getting even.
“Intro” (Secrets of Haunted House #2, June-July 1975) was written by Steve Skeates. This was just a one-pager at the beginning of the comic but I like the Alfred Alcala art. Those trees remind me of illos from Weird Tales.
(Challengers of the Unknown #82-84, August-September -December 1977-January 1978) was written by Gerry Conway. Swamp Thing guest-stars for three issues. Space fungus takes over scientists and it is up to Swamp Thing and Deadman to stop them.
“Fungus” (Vampirella #79, July 1979) was written by Archie Goodwin. This one is kind of special. A photo-art comic that looks like a movie. A man gets an infection that eventually turns him into a ropy plant creature. He infects everybody else. Another feel good production from Archie Goodwin!
“The Garden of Death” (The Unexpected #193, September-October 1979) was written by Carl Wessler. An arsonist pays the price for burning down a greenhouse filled with toxic plants.
“The Roots of Evil” (Spidey Super Stories #48, September 1980) was written by Jim Salicrup and Michael Siporin. Spider-Man and Luke Cage chase Plantman around a greenhouse. Spidey is trapped in a Spider Plant and Luke has to pull him out.
“Fungus Part 1-3” (2000 A. D. #275-277, July 31-August 14, 1982) was written by Alan Grant and John Wagner as T. B. Grover. Judge Dredd has to deal with a fungus outbreak after a drifter brings the spores in from Sector 1.
“Brambles” (Detective Comics #534, January 1984) was written by Doug Moench. Batman and Robin face off against Poison Ivy and her squad of Green Ghosts. Once again this one looks like it has Swamp Thing in it but it doesn’t.
“Weeping Oak” (Epic Illustrated #32, October 1985) was written by Gene Day and drawn by his brother, Dan. A short, poetic love-death pact between witch and man-oak.
“The Garden of Earthly Delights” (Swamp Thing #53, October 1986) was written by Alan Moore. Now we could include any issue of Swamp Thing since he is a plant superhero but I like to feature only those where other plants are involved. In this case, Swamp Thing covers Gotham in a jungle of vegetation. Batman comes crashing in in his super Batmobile to turn things around.
Conclusion
I can remember my brother owning a Venus Fly-trap as a teenager. (I don’t think he ordered it out of a comic though.) It was fun to play with. You imagine those little mouths snapping shut with the speed of a turtle’s beak but they don’t really. It was tricky to feed because it didn’t really like dead flies. You had to catch live ones then get them to stay in the jaws long enough for the plant to react. I suspect this is the origin of my obsession with plant monsters. My favorites are always giant Venus Fly-traps.
