DC Database
Register
Advertisement

"The Big Picture": In the Louisiana swamp, Swamp Thing discovers an issue of Rolling Stone lying on the ground, and curiously picks it up, noticing an article about a man he remembers from Alec Holland's memories. In the article, under

Quote1 The universe creates artists... in order to create that which it does not create itself! You are a tool of the universe... Let it use you! Quote2
Swamp Thing

Swamp Thing (Volume 2) #126 is an issue of the series Swamp Thing (Volume 2) with a cover date of December, 1992.

Synopsis for "The Big Picture"

In the Louisiana swamp, Swamp Thing discovers an issue of Rolling Stone lying on the ground, and curiously picks it up, noticing an article about a man he remembers from Alec Holland's memories. In the article, underground cartoonist Johnny Dogg seems to have lost his inspiration since his heyday in the 60s with his character Freddie Freelode. Reflecting on Alec Holland's nostalgia for the comic character, Swamp Thing decides to see what he can do to give Johnny Dogg a little bit of inspiration.

In New Mexico, Johnny Dogg sadly recalls his days of glory, and worries at his apparent creative block. He receives a visit from his friend Leon, who he catches up with. Johnny's wife has left him because he hasn't been easy to live with, and certainly hasn't been able to do any work. Johnny realizes that while he had worked in the 60s to bring the system tumbling down, it was people like him who tumbled; their art relegated to the fringe and considered non-threatening.

That night, Swamp Thing appears in the desert and lures Johnny out to find him. He appears in the form of a character from one of the Freddie Freelode strips in order to appear familiar to him. In order to provide Johnny with some inspiration, Swamp Thing gives him some hallucinogenic buttons grown from his own body.

On the resulting trip, Johnny is accompanied by Freddie Freelode through a surreal landscape, witnessing the beginning and end of all creation at once. When he comes down, Johnny realizes that his art and the character of Freddie Freelode are one-trick-ponies, and it's time he let them go. Swamp Thing responds that art is just an artist's reinterpretation of reality before disappearing back into The Green.

A year later, Johnny has become a sculptor, and he uses little sculptures of atoms to lure people from the desert to his home which he has built into a giant effigy of the Swamp Thing.

Appearing in "The Big Picture"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Johnny Dogg

Antagonists:


Other Characters:

Locations:

Concepts:

Items:


Vehicles:






See Also


Links and References


Advertisement