With Swamp Thing being released to Blu-ray next month, Scream Factory brought Len Wein to Comic-Con for an autograph session and to talk about co-creating the popular DC character. During our one-on-one interview with Len Wein, he told us about his first work on Swamp Thing, being on the set of the original movie, and his thoughts on Guillermo del Toro directing a new movie featuring Swamp Thing:
It has been more than 42 years since Swamp Thing first appeared in House of Secrets. Did you think it would have this kind of long lasting appeal and we’d be talking about it still today?
Len Wein: Once the character evolved into his own book, I always hoped for that, but when I wrote the first short story, I assumed it was just a short story. That would mean it would make a few bucks and it would be done. I never imagined that it would evolve into the phenomenon it has become over the last several decades.
Did the initial idea you had for Swamp Thing change from the version that was published?
Len Wein: Yes and no. When we wrote the original story, I came of with the idea on the subway. He character’s name comes from me referring to it as “that ‘swamp thing’ I’m working on” and that’s where the character’s name comes from.
It was a very personal story. To everyone’s astonishment, myself the least among them, it was the best-selling story DC published that month. It outsold Superman and Batman and they came to us almost immediately and wanted an ongoing series. We didn’t want to water down the series and it took me a year to say: “Wait a minute, where does it say that we have to continue that story?” We can start over again and tell the same story, but from a different character’s perspective. So I called Joe Orlando, who edited the original story, and said we can do this now.
Have you had a chance to check out the restored Blu-ray version that Scream Factory is releasing?
Len Wein: No, I can’t wait! Scream Factory will be sending me a copy any day now. I hear it’s terrific and I’m very excited.
Did you have any involvement in the creative direction of the movie?
Len Wein: None, except they brought me down to the set. I spent a couple days watching them shoot and that was essentially it. Those were the days before the people they actually wanted were the creators. In those days, most film people always felt that the creators of the material would be too bound to the original concept to allow them make changes they needed to make it work on film.
Have you heard that Guillermo Del Toro is actively pursuing a Justice League Dark film?
Len Wein: I have heard about it. Guillermo and I are friends because he is a huge Swamp Thing fan and a mutual friend introduced us. Guillermo was doing a talk at small convention and was talking about his love for Swamp Thing. When it came to question and answer portion, my friend put his hand up and said “Would you like to meet the guy who created swamp thing?” Guillermo went crazy.
I love Guillermo’s work. I just saw Pacific Rim in fact, and it’s exactly the kind of movie I went to see. I am really thrilled at the fact that Guillermo is working on a Swamp Thing movie. I can’t think of any director I would rather have working on it than Guillermo.
What new projects are you working on? What is the best way for our readers to keep up with your work?
Len Wein: Well, I have a Facebook fan page. I just finished Before Watchmen Ozymandias, which opened #2 on the New York Times Best seller list last week. I’m now a New York Times Best Selling Author!!! And I’m working on Ben 10 Omniverse. I just finished one on Monday before I came down and there is another one that should be set for next season. So that’s keeping me busy.
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"Wes Craven's 1982 Cult Comic Book Classic SWAMP THING (starring horror fan favorite Adrienne Barbeau) will be arriving this summer on Blu-ray for the first time!
As always, we are planning to provide as many bells and whistles as we can on this release, but we felt it was important to tell you early on that we will only be able to present the 91 minute U.S. cut of the film (the same version MGM has released on DVD since '05) and not the 93 minute "unrated" international version as we had originally hoped for. This is due to legal issues that are out of our control and we hope you understand."
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