Contains spoilers for The Swamp Thing #16!
For years, Alec Holland has been the definitive Levi Kamei takes over the role, his new powers are changing the character forever.
Alec Holland originally gained his powers as Swamp Thing by accident. He was doused in chemicals, falling into a nearby swamp moments later. His consciousness was then absorbed by the swamp itself and this allowed him to become the newest avatar of the Green. Over many, many years, Alec discovered this had been pre-destined, and he has been chosen as the elemental guardian of the Green. Levi Kamei had a much different journey. His connection to the Green started young because of rituals that were performed on him and his brother as children. These rituals caused the Green to choose Levi as its next avatar, but with an immediate sense of purpose that took so long for Alec to discover.
In the season 2 climax of The Swamp Thing #16 - by Ram V and Mike Perkins - Levi faces off against an alien foe of gears and plant life. He eventually conquers the enemy and allows a forest to sprout up on the battle site. Later, Levi returns to his human form and revisits the site with his girlfriend Jen. This moment of loving comion is profound, as Alec Holland's lost humanity was a major aspect of his time as the Swamp Thing. In contrast, Levi is able to return to a human form - while he carries the responsibility of the Swamp Thing, he doesn't have to sacrifice his former identity to honor them.
One of the key aspects of Swamp Thing's original horror roots was that he was stuck as a monster. The question often arose of whether or not he was a man stuck as a monster or a monster pretending to be a man. Indeed, one of Swamp Thing's most haunting moments was when he learned he was not truly Alec Holland, but rather a construct based on the dead man's memories. However, a new Swamp Thing deserves new themes and new existential crises, and Levi has had to deal with different questions of identity, particularly in regards to his relationship with his family and the traditions he rejected as a young man, but now understands in new ways.
Levi's inner turmoil doesn't necessarily come from his role as the new Swamp Thing, but from the dynamics of his personal life. Specifically, he had to grapple with the unresolved drama between his father and his brother. The fact that he is able to switch back and forth between his human and Swamp Thing form totally differentiates him from Alec Holland, making his issue one of balance, rather than longing for humanity. Even when he turns back to being human, Levi's true problems remain. It's unclear whether or not this new Swamp Thing will play a larger role in the DC Universe, but if he is able to walk amongst civilians as a human, then it will definitely change the heroics of Swamp Thing and the dynamics of his characterization.
Swamp Thing #16 is now available from DC Comics.
