History: (Swamp Thing I #11) - The Conqueror Worms were an ancient race that lay sleeping beneath the swamps of Louisiana. They awoke from their slumber when the utopian domed city of New Eden sunk into the swamp. They nursed the founder of Eden, Zachary Nail, back to health, and he explained his mission of starting a new civilization to preserve humanity, because he predicted the rest of the world would be destroyed by pollution. Nail fancied that they worshipped him, and treated them as his servants. He began his New Eden project anew, sending the Worms out to abduct a populace for his new civilization, but he found that no one would believe in his message, so they all had to be kept prisoner. The Worms abducted Lt. Matt Cable and Abigail Arcane, friends of the Swamp Thing. Matt and Abby helped their fellow prisoners escape, but when they had Zachary helpless they learned that the Conqueror Worms were only using him, they were not his servants. The Worms also wanted to see a new civilization thrive, one that would serve as livestock for them. Swamp Thing arrived to battle the Worms, but Zachary had gone mad after seeing his dreams shattered, and set off the nuclear reactor that powered his city. Ruth, one of the prisoners, tried to reason with him, but he shot her dead. Her boyfriend Jefferson Bolt rushed Zachary, prepared to kill him, but Swamp Thing, realizing time was limited, knocked him out, and led the survivors out of New Eden right before it exploded with Zachary and the Worms inside.

Comments: Created by Len Wein & Berni Wrightson.

The Conqueror Worms had cameos in Swamp Thing I #10 and 13.

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