Characters that appear in the 2019 Swamp Thing TV series. This universe is also (briefly) featured in Crisis on Infinite Earths (2019) as the post-crisis "Earth-19".
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Protagonists
Abby Arcane
Dr. Abigail Arcane
Species: Human
Played By: Crystal Reed / Melissa Collazo (teen) / Bianca Berry Tarantino (child)
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A CDC doctor investigating a horrific life-threatening epidemic in her hometown while facing her past again.
- Adaptation Dye-Job: Only time will tell if she gains it, but Abby on the series doesn't have her iconic white hair and is portrayed with Crystal Reed's natural dark brown hair.
- Alliterative Name: Abby Arcane.
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Abby is beautiful but is often haunted by her Dark and Troubled Past which often leads to her being seemingly withdrawn.
- Badass Normal: While she's not exactly a warrior, Abby tries to keep a cool head when she can and strike back whenever possible. When she's attacked by a fly-oozing reanimated corpse, she actually goes on the offensive, holding it at bay with a lit magnesium flare and then attacking it with a fire axe when it turns its back. While it doesn't do much good, she definitely gets an A for effort.
- Brainy Brunette: A raven-haired scientist.
- Dark and Troubled Past: She was responsible for the death of her friend and adoptive sister's death, Shawna Sunderland.
- Foster Kid: After her mom died, Abby was put into the system until she was adopted by the Sunderlands. She was Happily Adopted until her adoptive sister and best friend Shawna died in a freak accident in which Abby had a role, something her ex-foster mother won't let her forget.
- Heroes Love Dogs: Alec has a pet dog, whom she quickly becomes fond of as well.
- It's All My Fault: Abby never challenges Maria Sunderland's belief that she is responsible for Shawna's death because she believes it herself. The truth is more complicated; Abby playfully pushed Shawna into the swamp, but it was something below that dragged her down to drown.
- The Not-Love Interest: Abby and Alec are not an Official Couple, but Abby's devotion towards him will make you think otherwise.
- Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: Has jet black hair and pale white skin, played by the beautiful Crystal Reed.
- Screaming Woman: She sure gets to exercise her vocal cords quite a bit. If you had to see what she has to see, you'd be screaming too.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Alec's altruism eventually rubs on her and Abby has become less uptight as the show went on.
Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing
Species: Elemental
Played By: Derek Mears
Appearances: Swamp Thing | Crisis on Infinite Earths: Hour Five | Titans
A plant-based entity created from the memories of Alec Holland, initially believing itself to be Holland. Possessing elemental control of vegetation and regenerative abilities, he attempts to defend the swamp, the town, and the natural world at large.
- Alternate Self: His appearance in Titans also features a letter addressed to Avery Sunderland which directly mentions both Swamp Thing and the Green, confirming that he exists on Earth-9.
- The Cameo: Shows up in the epilogue of Crisis on Infinite Earths (2019) to reveal that this show has replaced the Arrowverse's original designated Earth-19. He also makes a brief appearance as a vision in Season 4 of Titans (2018).
- Curb-Stomp Battle: "Winning fights" is not exactly something the titular eight-foot-tall, practically invincible plant creature with Super-Strength and control of nature has to worry about much.
- Genius Bruiser: Once Swamp Thing comes to grips with the initial trauma of his transformation, the sharp mind of Alec Holland still shines through.
- Gentle Giant: Generally good-natured unless pushed too far.
- Secondary Character Title: Despite being the title character, Abby is the show's protagonist.
- Tomato in the Mirror: In "Anatomy Lesson", just like in the Alan Moore comic book story of the same name, Swamp Thing learns that he is not Alec Holland turned into a plant creature, but rather a plant creature that absorbed Alec Holland's memories. At the end of the episode, Swamp Thing confirms this by finding the corpse of Alec Holland at the bottom of the cove where he was created.
Alec Holland
Dr. Alec Holland
Species: Human
Played By: Andy Bean
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A disgraced biologist working for Avery. Murdered when he starts to uncover an illegal operation in the swamp, his memories survive inside of Swamp Thing.
- Adaptation Dye-Job: Alec Holland is usually depicted as blond in the comics, while Andy Bean is a brunette.
- Badass Bookworm: Alec is no mere scientist. When the first victim of the vine-plague attacks him and Abby, he keeps his nerve and manages to destroy it with nothing but a pair of scissors, two containers of medical alcohol and a cigarette lighter.
- Brainy Brunette: Brown-haired scientist.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Alec is shot twice with a shotgun, set on fire, and then possibly drowns before the vines take him.
- Dark and Troubled Past: He manipulated test results in an experiment to prove his theories and was exposed and became a pariah.
- Dead All Along: Turns out he really was killed after getting shot and didn't mutated into Swamp Thing. The creature just got a hold of his memories through mystical ways.
- Heroes Love Dogs: He has a pet dog, whom Abby quickly becomes fond of as well.
- The Not-Love Interest: Abby and Alec are not an Official Couple, but Alec's effects on her will make you think otherwise.
- Plot-Triggering Death: Being shot at the end of the Pilot drives the entire series, uncovering skeletons in other characters' closets along the way.
- Present Absence: The fallout of his death drives the entire series. Abby is hellbent on finding ways to cure Swamp Thing thinking the creature was him. Swamp Thing himself believes he is Alec until near the end of the series.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: He is introduced trespassing in a restricted area of the hospital in order to peruse blood test data, and later is caught breaking and entering at the home of outbreak's patient zero, all in the pursuit of answers about what's causing the disease.
The Sunderlands
Avery Sunderland
Avery Sunderland
Species: Human
Played By: Will Patton / Eli Hannon (young)
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A prominent businessman in Marais, who, while publicly giving back to the community, is determined to harness the power of the swamp for profit as a pharmaceutical cornucopia. He was also the adoptive parent to Abby Arcane after her mother died.
- Berserk Button: Anything that can even be interpreted as disrespect will turn him from a smooth-talking Southern gentleman to an Ax-Crazy thug.
- Big Bad: He inadvertently caused the plague when he commissioned Jason Woodrue to make the swamp's vegetation grow faster and bigger with his mutagens. Now, he seeks to get his plans back on track and, more importantly, cover up his crime.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: He works hard to maintain the facade of a generous and friendly philanthropist, but if you inconvenience or disrespect him in any way, he will turn very nasty, very quickly, as soon as he thinks nobody's watching.
- Control Freak: In his mind of Avery Sunderland, you're either under his thumb, or you're in his way.
- Evil Old Folks: The eldest character in the show and is the Big Bad.
- Outliving One's Offspring: His daughter Shawna died in a freak accident over a decade before the story.
- Karma Houdini: Due to the series' cliffhanger ending Avery escapes justice, although the vines he spits out in his last scene may be a sign of bad things to come for him.
- Parental Substitute: Adoptive father to Abby.
- Self-Made Man: Avery was raised in poverty by his gator-wrestling hick father. His ambition, underhanded deals, and marrying up with Maria turned him into the most powerful man in Marais.
Maria Sunderland
Maria Sunderland
Species: Human
Played By: Virginia Madsen
Appearances: Swamp Thing
The wife of Avery Sunderland, whose grief over the loss of her daughter, Shawna, resurfaces when Abby returns home, and draws Maria into the supernatural mysteries of the swamp.
- The Dog Bites Back: She collaborated with Lucille to dispose of Avery after both of them couldn't handle his assholeness anymore.
- Love Makes You Crazy: Maria never even tried to overcome Shawna's death, so when her daughter comes back as a ghost, she is only concerned with how to keep her from leaving again. The mother tries to use Susie as a meat suit for Shawna, and later follows her to the swamp to join her in death.
- Mama Bear: The reason she is antagonistic towards Abby is because the latter has a role in her daughter's death.
- Outliving One's Offspring: Her daughter Shawna died in a freak accident over a decade before the story.
- Parental Substitute: Adoptive mother to Abby.
- You Should Have Died Instead: It's no secret that Maria feels this way about Abby. It comes to a head in "Drive All Night," when Maria snaps and tries to drown Abby.
Shawna Sunderland
Shawna Sunderland
Species: Ghost
Played By: Given Sharp
Appearances: Swamp Thing
Abby's childhood friend and Maria and Avery's deceased daughter, who appears in both flashbacks and as a ghost to her mother Maria.
- Alliterative Name: Shawna Sunderland.
- Posthumous Character: She died fourteen years before the story.
- Present Absence: She's been dead for fourteen years, but the circumstances surrounding it is still felt in the present. Maria's resentment towards Abby over the latter's role in her freak accident drives much of the plot, ditto for Maria still unable to let her go and Abby still being haunted by guilt.
- Stringy-Haired Ghost Girl: Her default look... except for when she reverts to her human form while attempting to convince her mother to drown herself so they can be together.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: This, right up until she was killed by something in the swamp and had her spirit corrupted, coming back as a homicidal, vengeful spirit.
Marais Locals
Police Department
Lucilia Cable
Sheriff Lucilia Cable
Species: Human
Played By: Jennifer Beals
Appearances: Swamp Thing
The "tough as nails and pragmatic" sheriff of Marais with a strong devotion to her son, Matt.
- Berserk Button: Any threat to her son, real or perceived, will turn Lucilla aggressive or outright violent.
- Dirty Cop: She is aware of Avery's illegal dealings and protects him.
- The Dog Bites Back: She collaborated with Maria to dispose of Avery after both of them couldn't handle his assholeness anymore.
- Fair Cop: She's the town sheriff and played by the very attractive Jennifer Beals.
- Mama Bear: Threatening Matt is the quickest way to get on her bad side. Deconstructed in that Lucilia is not a very stable woman, so those who she does think are a danger to her son are at risk of getting riddled with bullets.
- The Mistress: Avery sleeps with her behind Maria's back.
- Ms. Fanservice: Gets a scene with Avery where she is in nothing but her bra.
- Screw the Rules, I Make Them!: She uses her position to get away with her crimes.
- The Sheriff: The top police authority in Marais.
- Silver Vixen: She's old enough to have an adult son but is still very attractive, even getting a scene in just her bra.
Matt Cable
Officer Matthew Joseph Cable
Species: Human
Played By: Henderson Wade
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A police officer along with his mother, Lucilia, who finds himself in dire straits when supernatural events begin to threaten the town. He is also a childhood friend of Abby.
- Adaptational Villainy: Whereas the comic version of Matthew Cable was a government agent attempting to protect Alec from the threats towards his life, his show counterpart is the one who kills Alec.
- All Love Is Unrequited: He clearly holds a torch for Abby, who in turn sees him only as a friend.
- Race Lift: Caucasian in the comics, mixed race in the show.
- Uncertain Doom: The Stinger of the finale shows Jason Woodrue mutating into the Floronic Man and attacking Matt before shifting offscreen while the latter is heard screaming in terror. As this is the last episode, his fate is up in the air.
Media
Liz Tremayne
Elizabeth Tremayne
Species: Human
Played By: Maria Sten
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A local newspaper reporter and bartender who is a close childhood friend of Abby Arcane.
- Adaptation Dye-Job: Redhead in the comics, black haired in the show to accommodate her Race Lift.
- Gay Best Friend: Lesbian and Abby's best friend.
- Intrepid Reporter: She constantly looks into Avery's shady dealings. Avery is aware of this and has tried to intimidate both her and her father to make her stop.
- Race Lift: Caucasian in the comics, African-American in the show.
Citizens
Madame Xanadu
Nimue Inwudu
Species: Empowered Human
Played By: Jeryl Prescott
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A blind fortune teller whose psychic abilities can reveal the future.
- Alternate Self: Has one on Earth-Prime as Diane Moore.
- Blind Black Guy: African-American and visually disabled.
- Blind Seer: She could see the undead and oftentimes have visions of characters' fates.
- Large Ham: She's very theatrical.
- Magical Negro: An African-American character with literal magic powers.
- Race Lift: In the comics, Madame Xanadu is a Caucasian woman whose origins are connected to the story of King Arthur. Here she is a black Blind Seer.
- Tarot Troubles: It's stated that every time Madame Xanadu performed a tarot reading for Daniel Cassidy in the past eight years, the cards have been the same: The Fool, The Hanged Man and The Wheel of Fortune. In "He Speaks" Xanadu reads them again for him, drawing the same three cards. Only this time, they're reversed, indicating that Abby's return to Marais has changed something for him.
Daniel Cassidy
Daniel Cassidy
Species: Cursed Human
Played By: Ian Ziering
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A former stuntman who, after becoming semi-famous after playing the demonic Blue Devil in a film, looks to regain his former fame.
- Full-Frontal Assault: His clothes get burned down every time he transforms to the Blue Devil.
- Hellfire: Light blue hellfire is keeping Daniel Cassidy in Marais. When Woodrue tests plant samples on him, he starts expelling the fire from his body. After accepting the identity of Blue Devil, Daniel learns how to control it.
- Stalker without a Crush: Xanadu had a vision telling her that Daniel should help Abby in order for his fate to improve. Daniel complies.
Delroy Tremayne
Delroy Tremayne
Species: Human
Played By: Al Mitchell
Appearances: Swamp Thing
Liz's father and the owner of the local town bar.
- Local Hangout: His bar is the town's favorite past time.
Susie Coyle
Susie Coyle
Species: Human
Played By: Elle Graham
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A young girl who is diagnosed with "Green Flu", appears to have a mysterious connection to Swamp Thing, and befriends Abby.
- Ambiguously Human: She has a mysterious connection with Swamp Thing suggesting she has mystical origins but is never confirmed.
- Replacement Goldfish: Maria takes her in to once again have a little girl in the house. Shawna's ghost is not amused, and possesses Susie's body.
CDC
Harlan Edwards
Harlan Edwards
Species: Human
Played By: Leonardo Nam
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A CDC specialist and Abby's second-in-command.
- Alternate Self: Has one on Earth-Prime as Matthew Kim.
Palomar
Dr. Palomar
Species: Human
Played By: Adrienne Barbeau
Appearances: SwampThing
The assistant director of the CDC.
- Casting Gag: A Remake Cameo bordering on
Role Reprise. Barbeau starred in the 1982 Swamp Thing film as a government agent sent to work with Alec Holland, and who is saved by the Swamp Thing.
Others
Jason Woodrue
Dr. Jason Woodrue
Species: Metahuman
Played By: Kevin Durand
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A biogeneticist, brought in to study the properties of the swamp, leading him to become fixated on unlocking its potential, which has tragic and monstrous consequences for him.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: The comic version of Jason Woodrue was a Mad Scientist with designs towards world conquest. This version, while still a villain, is motivated by the goal of curing his wife's early-onset Alzheimer's.
- Alternate Self: Has one on Earth-97.
- Establishing Character Moment: The first we see of Woodrue, he is supposed to be meeting with Avery to discuss his research. Instead he is immediately distracted at the front door by an unhealthy-looking tree in the garden and goes to talk to the gardener on how to improve its condition. Throughout the series Woodrue continues to display this tendency to get so engrossed with his field of expertise he ignores important and much more urgent matters.
- Love Makes You Crazy: He is only working for a backstabbing piece of crap like Avery because he hopes the coveted miracle drug will cure his wife Caroline's Alzheimer's.
- Professor Guinea Pig: In order to secure that Swamp Thing's DNA is not harmless to his wife, he tested it on himself. This ultimately leads to him mutating into the Florenic Man.
Caroline Woodrue
Dr. Caroline Woodrue
Species: Human
Played By: Selena Anduze
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A scientist and Jason Woodrue's wife who has Alzheimer's disease.
The Phantom Stranger
The Phantom Stranger
Species: Unknown
Played By: Macon Blair
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A mysterious stranger who seems to be more than what he lets on.
- Adaptation Dye-Job: The comics version of the character is a tall, slim, white-haired, sharply dressed pretty boy. Macon Blair, while not being ugly, is of average height and appearance, having dark hair and eyes.
- Alternate Self: Has one on Earth-85.
Shaw
Nathan Ellery
Nathan Ellery
Species: Human
Played By: Michael Beach
Appearances: Swamp Thing
A member of the Conclave.
- Alternate Self: Has one on an undesignated Earth as Jesse Kane.
- Race Lift: Ellery is white in the original Len Wein comics, and African-American in this series.
