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SWAMP THING
#31
December 1984
"The Brimstone Ballet"

(22 pages)
Writer: Alan Moore
Artist(s): Rick Veitch, John Totleben
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Letterer: John Costanza
Editor: Karen Berger
Swamp Thing Created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson

Cover: Steve Bissette and John Totleben (signed)


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FACTOID
FROM THE BOG

As of this issue, the cover bears the name SWAMP THING instead of SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING.

3:2 A quadrille is a kind of square dance.

7:1 Dr. Helmut Kriptmann (a.k.a. Harry Kay) was a supporting character whose self-sacrifice helped to defeat Anton Arcane in issue #19. He first appeared in issue #1 (1982).

7:1 These characters first appeared in issue #29


NOTE: A "LOST" PAGE

In 1990, DC Comics collected/reprinted issues 28-34 and SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2 in a book titled "Swamp Thing: Love and Death", but excludes page 9. That page was included in the September 1997 reprint, but only in black and white. Click the image at right to read the "lost page"!

Likewise, in the 1990 trade paperback, a page with these characters was omitted from issue #30. 9:2 The Monitor was a powerful pan-dimensional being who secretly observed and studied events in the DC comic universe for several months prior to the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS series. Lyla (a.k.a. Harbinger) was his assistant. Swampy meets them in issue #46.

10:2 (or page 9 in trade paperback) This scene appeared in issue #22, page 7.

10:3 (or page 9 in trade paperback) This scene appeared in issue #27, page 17.

10:4 (or page 9 in trade paperback) The dead bird was seen in issue #29.

15:5 (or page 14 in trade paperback) Blackriver Recoporations was the company Matt joined in issue #29.

16:3 (or page 15 in trade paperback) Anton Arcane possessed Matt's body in issue #27.

20:3 (or page 19 in trade paperback) Just look at the expectant look on poor Swampy's face.

21:2 (or page 20 in trade paperback) Artist Rick Veitch says "I drew John (Totleben) and Steve (Bissette) as the cops who find Matt Cable in 'Brimstone Ballet'." (Picture at left.) They appear again in issue #74, page 24.

COMMENT: The title sounds like it was inspired by the 1971 film "The Mephisto Waltz". MARVEL PREVIEW #7 (1976) contained an unrelated story titled "Damnation Waltz." In 1995, the British heavy metal band Skyclad released a song called "Brimstone Ballet" on their The Silent Whales of Lunar Sea album, but it has no apparent reference to this Swamp Thing story.

COMMENT: This storyline concludes in SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2. This issue is also reprinted in black and white as ESSENTIAL VERTIGO: SWAMP THING #11, September 1997, including the "lost" page with the Monitor.


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