Swamp Devil

SWAMP DEVIL

Real Name: Woggs (first name unrevealed)

Class: Human

Occupation: Engineer, boogeyman

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile, Earth-S

First Appearance: Captain Marvel Adventures (Fawcett) #5 (December, 1941)

Powers: The Swamp Devil wore a demonic costume equipped with clawed gloves and a breathing apparatus so he could swim and fight underwater, and used used hypnotic ga

History: (Captain Marvel Adventures (Fawcett) #5) - Government engineer Mr. Woggs came to swamp country on a government mission to drain the swampland and create more farmland for the residents. Woggs decided to sabotage the project so he could later buy up the land cheap. He created the costumed identity of the Swamp Devil, who harassed and threatened the residents for daring to threaten his swamp. Posses went into the swamp to hunt him down but never came back. The Devil set up retaining walls to dam the swamp so that instead of the swampland being drained it started spreading and growing across nearby villages. WHIZ newscaster Billy Batson came to swamp country to report on the Swamp Devil the residents were all terrified by. Mammy and Pappy Sims took him into their cabin and said they’d give him a story even though they were frightened of even saying the Swamp Devil’s name. They gave him the low down when the Swamp Devil appeared and threatened them. Batson changed into Captain Marvel and hit the Devil with a punch that knocked him back into the swamp. The Devil retreated, swimming underwater and the next day Billy visited Mr. Woggs. He claimed he didn’t believe in the Swamp Devil, and feigned ignorance as to why the swamp kept spreading while he was trying to drain it. Sims gathered a posse, having gained confidence after seeing Captain Marvel knock the Swamp Devil for a loop. Deep in the swamp the Devil confronted them and doused them with hypnotizing gas, ordering them to walk further into the swamp until they drowned. Captain Marvel went into action and dove underwater to save the villagers. He found the retaining wall that was damming the swamp and knocked it down, draining the swampland and saving the posse. Marvel found the Devil’s hideout that had been underwater and discovered that the Devil’s costume, realizing he was no mythical monster. Marvel confronted Woggs, accusing him of posing as the Swamp Devil and flooding swamp country. Woggs denied the charge, but Marvel proved that the Swamp Devil’s eye lenses matched the prescription glasses Woggs wore and the local constable took him to jail.

Comments: Created by an unnamed writer & artist.

Swamp Devil's appearance in Captain Marvel Adventures (Fawcett) #5 was reprinted in Shazam! Archives #4.