5 Most Transformative Creative Runs In Comic Book History

By Hector Fernandez /

4. Alan Moore's Swamp Thing

Of the comic books on this list only the Swamp Thing had already experienced the kind of critical acclaim that raises a character€™s popularity profile, but by the time Alan Moore arrived, the series, despite a less-than-popular feature film, was once again in danger of cancellation. Although Wein and Wrightson€™s version of the muck monster is also considered a classic, it was Moore €™s version that literally deconstructed and reconstituted the creature €“ and comics themselves in the process €“ into something wholly different. Moore€™s particular brand of alchemy not only garnered the series a host of awards, but, miraculously, made the character popular enough that yet another attempt was made to translate that success into a feature film, despite the fact that the storylines Moore was writing (like a romance and, yes, even a kind of intercourse between a human and€ a plant) seem unthinkable for any kind of film not directed by the likes of David Lynch. Moore €™s tenure also led to the character being given a television series as well, but his biggest influence was completely changing the game of comic writing itself. Even though his run was never under the imprint itself, there€™s no denying that the ghost of Moore €™s Swamp Thing lurks between each and every panel of DC€™s €œmature readers€ line, Vertigo.