Warning! Spoilers for The Swamp Thing #2!
Swamp Thing and Batman are two staples of DC Comics lore, and it looks like fans might get a follow-up rematch between the two not seen since Alan Moore’s iconic run on the Swamp Thing title over thirty years ago. Following Swamp Thing’s new host in Levi Kamei as he continues his journey trying to figure out the ins and outs of being a giant leafy hero that can control all plant life with a barely a thought, his latest act has drawn the attention of The Dark Knight of Gotham himself, and if Bats’ clear annoyance is of any indication, he’s not about to allow his most epic defeat repeat itself.
Seen in the closing panels of DC's new Infinite Frontier initiative-related book, The Swamp Thing #2 by Ram V and Mike Perkins, Levi has finally found a way to begin to channel his still budding and confusing powers of The Green by growing an enormous tree on the Arizona/Mexico border. Covered by news outlets across the country including Batman’s own personal Batcave feed, Levi has made his presence known, and Batman isn’t too happy about it.
Always plugged into the pulse of the comings and goings of the superhero community, it makes sense that Batman would be one of the first to know about a giant, fast growing tree in a part of the country that isn’t exactly known for its vegetation. Clearly worked up and pissed beyond all reason judging by the tension held in his shoulders as the news rolls in, Batman has good reason to get locked into this developing situation.
Shown in an issue of Alan Moore’s 1980s run on Swamp Thing, Batman gets into a direct confrontation with the jolly green giant after Swampy and his then wife, Abigail Arcane, find themselves in Gotham City. Frustrated at the way the Abigail is being treated as she has been arrested for fleeing their hometown after (false) allegations of sex crimes sent her fleeing to a new city, Swamp Thing – in a form of rage and protest – takes it upon himself to shut Gotham down by growing the city’s vegetation into a sort of rainforest in a way that only Swampy can. And it’s here where Batman’s most epic defeat rears its head as he sets out to confront Swamp Thing and stop his green reign over his city.
Tussling until Batman is finally beaten down by Swamp Thing’s self-made doppelgangers; Batman is quite peeved as he reluctantly agrees to a compromise, leaving Swamp Thing with one final message as the dust settles: “…if you ever do this to my city again…I’ll kill you.” Scary stuff coming from a guy dressed like a bat, and now with a familiar sight in a giant, unwieldy tree growing out of nowhere in what is supposed to be a desert, Batman is clearly having flashbacks about a time where he almost lost his city – and himself – to Swamp Thing’s power. Batman isn’t about to let a repeat of his past mistake happen again, so it’s of no surprise that Bats is keeping tabs on this new development, no doubt readying himself for a rematch that could be soon coming.
So although the new Swamp Thing is still figuring out what turning into a towering green behemoth made up of leaves and vines actually means, Batman is already keeping an eye on a monster that could easily lose control if not handled properly. And even if Batman isn’t too keen on repeating the match-up that he handily lost all those years ago, it can’t be denied that a new confrontation might just be in the cards if events keep the course they’re already on.