Word (comics)
Encyclopedia
The Word is a fictional cosmic entity in DC Comics
. It first appeared in Swamp Thing
#147 (October 1994), and was created by Mark Millar
and Phil Hester
.
There is also a Marvel Comics
supervillain called The Word, as well as hostage negotiator Harry "The Word" Lovelace in Alan Moore
's Top Ten.
. He is one of the seven deadly aspects of The Voice. Since time began he has been the servant of The Presence. He is described as an older "brother" of the Spectre
. Two years before the Trials by Fire event, The Word is challenged by Alec Blake to three card games. The Word hasn't lost a game of cards in ten million years. The ancient laws decreed that Alec Blake must win only one game to stay The Word's hand. Blake eventually loses all three poker games, The Word says to him "Accept what Destiny
has written". Unwilling to lose, Blake bids The Hooded Man to look inside his mind. Stunned by what he sees, The Word backs down, sparing Alec but promising to return in two years to destroy The Swamp Thing and asks Blake to heed his words, that not even he will be able to stop The Word upon his return.
visits the world beyond the world and asks The Word to defend the reputation of God, because The Spectre has no jurisdiction over the elements. The Word first arrives at the Parliament of Trees
, to strike a bargain and prevent a battle taking place which would be unlike any the world has ever seen. He asks the Trees to persuade The Swamp Thing to spare the human race, and in return he will leave them in peace. The only tree who remembers how to speak is named Alex Olsen. Olsen consults with The Parliament of Trees. After reaching a majority decision, they reject his offer and will do nothing to help him or his God. The Word then destroys them by ripping the trees from their soil and setting them ablaze, screaming, on an elemental bonfire. Tefé Holland
watches the events unfolding with Lady Jane, an elemental. Lady Jane screams at Tefé get out while she holds The Word as long as she can. Tefé escapes while The Word stares at Lady Jane, who dies.
The Word then visits the realm of The Parliaments of Stones. Coming here he makes the same offer he made to the Parliament of Trees. While talking with The Parliament of Stones, The Word accelerates time to fill in the gaps between their sentences, because he found the staggered speech patterns of the Stones irritating. After the meetings between the Stones ended, the answer is no. They demand the Hooded Man to do what he must and leave. The Word then says "You do not understand. It is you who are leaving". With a gesture of his hand, ten billion years pass inside the chamber while mere seconds pass in the outside world, causing The Parliament of Stones to crumble to dust.
The Word confronts The Parliament of Waves, and the result is again destructive as he drops their dying forms on the sand. The Phantom Stranger meets him there, reminding him of The Parliaments of Flames and Vapors. The Hooded Man's reply is "Gaze upon the heavens and remember this always. The Word forgets nothing, fallen one". In the sky, the Parliament of Vapors appears. The Word destroys them as well.
Later a cab drops John Constantine
off at a ruined building at 421 11th Avenue. Locating a hidden secret door, he enters an occult bar and sits down to discuss the future with Blake, who has disliked him ever since a past encounter in Hong Kong. Constantine tells him he's switched sides and wants to help Blake in return for a secured spot in Alec's new world. Blake refuses, still holding a grudge, but Constantine palms the matches before leaving. He visits the Swamp Palace's Gardens of Remembrance, filled with floating statues of Alec and Linda Holland, Pog, Gregori Arcane
, Anton Arcane
, the Un-Men
, the demon Etrigan the Demon, Batman
, Nathan Ellery's robot and others who were key to his development to Godhood; likenesses of Constantine and Abby Holland
are also planned. These statues are intended as an historical archive for his new race. Constantine shows him the matches, lighting a cigarette. Alec mocks him, saying he'd tear the magician apart before he could strike a match, but the mage has already done so and made his wish. Suddenly, Alec reverts to human form, deprived of his powers for one hour. Sadly, Constantine leaves a stunned Alec to the mercy of The Word.
A debate between who is in the right and wrong go on between them. Swamp Thing warns The Word that Tefé is a considerable opponent and says that he will try to ensure his survival. The Word, thinking she has already been terminated, tells Alec and warns him that Alec is the last of a soon-to-be extinct kind. The Word asks Alec why Alec took part in this blasphemous uprising. Swamp Thing argues that The Presence lets humans abuse the Earth simply because they are his children. The Swamp Thing argues that what the Elements are going through is slavery, and they want a voice of their own so that God will treat them fairly. In New Orleans, just before The Word is about to deliver his judgment, Constantine and Abby agree to switch sides. Constantine offers the wishing matches to Abby. She wishes Tefé free of Jason Woodrue
's containment unit. The child slaughters everyone at the base, including Woodrue, then rushes to Alec's side. She assumes a form approximating the Voice of God, speaks a sound exactly opposite to The Word and condemns the being to non-existence. None of this comes as a surprise to Alec, for el Seňor Blake had predicted it would happen this way.
's Spectre series from the 1990s) has since implied The Word may still be alive.
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. It first appeared in Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing, a fictional character, is a plant elemental in the created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century . The Swamp Thing then returned in his own series, set in the contemporary world and in...
#147 (October 1994), and was created by Mark Millar
Mark Millar
Mark Millar is a Scottish comic book writer, known for his work on books such as The Authority, The Ultimates, Marvel Knights Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Civil War, Wanted, and Kick-Ass, the latter two of which have been adapted into feature films...
and Phil Hester
Phil Hester (comics)
Phil Hester is an American comic book artist, penciller and writer.-Biography:This Eisner Award-nominated artist was born in eastern Iowa, where he went on to study at the University of Iowa...
.
There is also a Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
supervillain called The Word, as well as hostage negotiator Harry "The Word" Lovelace in Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
's Top Ten.
Fictional character biography
This red-hooded Heavenly Avenger is the first Archangel created by God in the Beginning. It is also called The LogosLogos
' is an important term in philosophy, psychology, rhetoric and religion. Originally a word meaning "a ground", "a plea", "an opinion", "an expectation", "word," "speech," "account," "reason," it became a technical term in philosophy, beginning with Heraclitus ' is an important term in...
. He is one of the seven deadly aspects of The Voice. Since time began he has been the servant of The Presence. He is described as an older "brother" of the Spectre
Spectre (comics)
The Spectre is a fictional character and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in a next issue ad in More Fun Comics #51 and received his first story the following month, #52...
. Two years before the Trials by Fire event, The Word is challenged by Alec Blake to three card games. The Word hasn't lost a game of cards in ten million years. The ancient laws decreed that Alec Blake must win only one game to stay The Word's hand. Blake eventually loses all three poker games, The Word says to him "Accept what Destiny
Destiny (DC Comics)
Destiny is a DC Comics character created by Marv Wolfman and Bernie Wrightson, first appearing in Weird Mystery Tales #1 , and was regular host of that series for the first fourteen issues, after which he hosted Secrets of Haunted House. He is one of the Endless in Neil Gaiman's comic book series,...
has written". Unwilling to lose, Blake bids The Hooded Man to look inside his mind. Stunned by what he sees, The Word backs down, sparing Alec but promising to return in two years to destroy The Swamp Thing and asks Blake to heed his words, that not even he will be able to stop The Word upon his return.
Trial by Fire
Two years later, the Phantom StrangerPhantom Stranger
The Phantom Stranger is a fictional character of unspecified paranormal origins who battles mysterious and occult forces in various titles published by DC Comics, sometimes under their Vertigo imprint.-Publication history:...
visits the world beyond the world and asks The Word to defend the reputation of God, because The Spectre has no jurisdiction over the elements. The Word first arrives at the Parliament of Trees
Parliament of Trees
The Parliament of Trees is a fictional group of Plant Elementals in the form of trees, first appearing in Swamp Thing Vol. 2, #47. It is owned by DC Comics/Vertigo.-Fictional character biography:...
, to strike a bargain and prevent a battle taking place which would be unlike any the world has ever seen. He asks the Trees to persuade The Swamp Thing to spare the human race, and in return he will leave them in peace. The only tree who remembers how to speak is named Alex Olsen. Olsen consults with The Parliament of Trees. After reaching a majority decision, they reject his offer and will do nothing to help him or his God. The Word then destroys them by ripping the trees from their soil and setting them ablaze, screaming, on an elemental bonfire. Tefé Holland
Tefé Holland
Tefé Holland is a fictional character, a DC Comics universe leading and supporting character. The character is the daughter of Swamp Thing and Abby Arcane Holland. She first appears as the Sprout in Swamp Thing #65...
watches the events unfolding with Lady Jane, an elemental. Lady Jane screams at Tefé get out while she holds The Word as long as she can. Tefé escapes while The Word stares at Lady Jane, who dies.
The Word then visits the realm of The Parliaments of Stones. Coming here he makes the same offer he made to the Parliament of Trees. While talking with The Parliament of Stones, The Word accelerates time to fill in the gaps between their sentences, because he found the staggered speech patterns of the Stones irritating. After the meetings between the Stones ended, the answer is no. They demand the Hooded Man to do what he must and leave. The Word then says "You do not understand. It is you who are leaving". With a gesture of his hand, ten billion years pass inside the chamber while mere seconds pass in the outside world, causing The Parliament of Stones to crumble to dust.
The Word confronts The Parliament of Waves, and the result is again destructive as he drops their dying forms on the sand. The Phantom Stranger meets him there, reminding him of The Parliaments of Flames and Vapors. The Hooded Man's reply is "Gaze upon the heavens and remember this always. The Word forgets nothing, fallen one". In the sky, the Parliament of Vapors appears. The Word destroys them as well.
Later a cab drops John Constantine
John Constantine
John Constantine is a fictional character, an occult detective anti-hero in comic books published by DC Comics, mostly under the Vertigo imprint. The character first appeared in Swamp Thing #37 , and was created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, John Totleben and Rick Veitch...
off at a ruined building at 421 11th Avenue. Locating a hidden secret door, he enters an occult bar and sits down to discuss the future with Blake, who has disliked him ever since a past encounter in Hong Kong. Constantine tells him he's switched sides and wants to help Blake in return for a secured spot in Alec's new world. Blake refuses, still holding a grudge, but Constantine palms the matches before leaving. He visits the Swamp Palace's Gardens of Remembrance, filled with floating statues of Alec and Linda Holland, Pog, Gregori Arcane
Patchwork Man
Gregori Arcane, the Patchwork Man, is a fictional DC Comics horror character based upon Frankenstein's monster. He is the brother of Anton Arcane and also the father of Abby Holland. He was severely injured while stepping into a minefield, leading to his appearance, the work of his brother Anton...
, Anton Arcane
Anton Arcane
Anton Arcane is a DC Comics villain who first appeared in Swamp Thing vol. 1 #2, and was created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson.-Fictional character biography:...
, the Un-Men
Un-Men
The Un-Men are a group of fictional characters in the DC/Vertigo Comics universe. Created by the writer/artist team of Len Wein and Berni Wrightson, the Un-Men made their first appearance in 1972, in the first and second issues of the original Swamp Thing comic book series...
, the demon Etrigan the Demon, Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Nathan Ellery's robot and others who were key to his development to Godhood; likenesses of Constantine and Abby Holland
Abby Holland (comics)
Abigail "Abby" Arcane Cable Holland is a fictional comic book character in the DC Comics Universe. She is the wife and partner of the Swamp Thing and is the mother of Tefé Holland. Holland possesses natural shining white hair, the color of fresh snow, with two overlapping black streaks of hair...
are also planned. These statues are intended as an historical archive for his new race. Constantine shows him the matches, lighting a cigarette. Alec mocks him, saying he'd tear the magician apart before he could strike a match, but the mage has already done so and made his wish. Suddenly, Alec reverts to human form, deprived of his powers for one hour. Sadly, Constantine leaves a stunned Alec to the mercy of The Word.
A debate between who is in the right and wrong go on between them. Swamp Thing warns The Word that Tefé is a considerable opponent and says that he will try to ensure his survival. The Word, thinking she has already been terminated, tells Alec and warns him that Alec is the last of a soon-to-be extinct kind. The Word asks Alec why Alec took part in this blasphemous uprising. Swamp Thing argues that The Presence lets humans abuse the Earth simply because they are his children. The Swamp Thing argues that what the Elements are going through is slavery, and they want a voice of their own so that God will treat them fairly. In New Orleans, just before The Word is about to deliver his judgment, Constantine and Abby agree to switch sides. Constantine offers the wishing matches to Abby. She wishes Tefé free of Jason Woodrue
Floronic Man
The Floronic Man , also known as the Plant Master and Floro, is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe...
's containment unit. The child slaughters everyone at the base, including Woodrue, then rushes to Alec's side. She assumes a form approximating the Voice of God, speaks a sound exactly opposite to The Word and condemns the being to non-existence. None of this comes as a surprise to Alec, for el Seňor Blake had predicted it would happen this way.
Later mentions
It seems probable that The Word cannot be completely destroyed, and The Spectre (in John OstranderJohn Ostrander
John Ostrander is an American writer of comic books. He is best known for his work on Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy, series he helped create.-Career:...
's Spectre series from the 1990s) has since implied The Word may still be alive.
External links
- Roots of the Swamp Thing - An extremely detailed timeline chronicling all the events of Swamp Thing, Hellblazer and related titles in chronological order, spanning millions of years of DC/Vertigo history, including appearances of the Word