WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #6!
While DC’s Justice League hero’s powers—granting them an ability that is the exact opposite of their typical canon portrayal. This isn’t just a radical departure for the hero; it also marks their most overpowered upgrade in any continuity.
By intertwining his powers and motives with humanity, the series shifts the character’s focus away from plants—an especially bold choice...
Jay Kristoff, Tirso Cons, and Wes Abbott's Deathstroke-centric, high-fantasy series, Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter, has concluded with the release of issue #6. This tale follows Slade Wilson, an axe-wielding mercenary with a dark past, as he traverses a kingdom ravaged by an icy curse.
This curse, unleashed by Victor "Mr. Freeze" as revenge for Slade's accidental 'killing' of his wife, Nora, has stripped the land of color and plunged it into an eternal winter. In its climactic finale, issue #6 pits Deathstroke and Swamp Thing against Mr. Freeze, though Alec Holland is far from the Swamp Thing fans are familiar with.
Who Is the Swamp Thing of Earth-118?
Cover C Card Stock Variant by Ilari Grohn for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #6 (2024)
In Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter, Alec Holland is introduced as a young boy, starkly contrasting the hulking green giant fans typically associate with Swamp Thing. However, Alec's uniqueness is immediately apparent as he retains his full color in a kingdom devoid of it. Initially under the guardianship of Adeline Kane, Alec’s care shifts to Slade Wilson after Adeline is killed in battle by Rose “Ravager” Wilson. Determined to fulfill her mission, Slade takes it upon himself to protect Alec and guide him to the kingdom’s capital in hopes of ending the everlasting winter.
Throughout the series, Alec’s powers remain largely shrouded in mystery. Yet, it is eventually confirmed that he is connected to “The Green”—a primordial force tied to all plant life. This connection, a hallmark of Swamp Thing’s character, remains intact even in this Elseworlds narrative, keeping this one element about the character the same. Hence, it is Alec’s unique link to The Green, combined with his vibrant, colorful appearance in a world drained of color, that strongly hints that he holds the key to breaking Mr. Freeze’s curse. However, the full scope of his powers and the exact method by which he lifts the curse remain unknown until issue #6.
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Swamp Things Powers Expand Past Plant Life to Encom ALL of Life
As previously mentioned, Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter reaches its climax with Deathstroke locked in battle against Mr. Freeze, while Alec struggles to uncover how to break the curse and end the eternal winter. The tide of battle quickly turns against Slade, who becomes incapacitated within a block of ice. Just as defeat seems imminent, reinforcements arrive in the form of Prince Bruce Wayne of the Kingdom of El and the seemingly resurrected Adeline Kane. When Slade questions how she is alive, Adeline responds that she doesn’t know, recalling only “darkness” followed by “color.”
This revelation—that Adeline experienced death but was brought back with color—provides Alec with a crucial insight: his powers extend beyond restoring plant life to reviving human life as well. Armed with this realization, Alec rushes to Nora, who remains suspended in her icy coffin, trapped between life and death. Placing his hands against the ice, Alec channels his powers into her and commands her to awaken. In a burst of light and color, Nora is fully revived, breaking Freeze’s curse. The land is restored to its vibrant hues, and the undead thralls are returned to their human forms, marking the triumphant end of the curse.
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Dark Knights of Steel Completely Overturned Swamp Things' Canon Image
Cover C Card Stock Variant by Christian Ward for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #2 (2024)
While Swamp Thing has long been synonymous with plant life, his ability to restore human life in Dark Knights of Steel marks a striking departure from his traditional powers. This reimagining goes even further by portraying Alec as a small human child rather than the towering plant monster fans are familiar with. By intertwining his powers and motives with humanity, the series shifts the character’s focus away from plants—an especially bold choice for a figure best known for prioritizing plant life over human life. This more human-centered role and narrative stand out as one of the most radical and unique portrayals of Swamp Thing to date.
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Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #6 is available now from DC Comics!
