[Andrew999]

News that Robert Rodriguez is planning a remake of the Creature, makes me ask what precedents there might have been in the golden age for swamp thing like creatures in the Bayou? Any ideas?

Also, what would be your favourite Swamp Monster movie? I know many will favour the original 1954 movie or the more surreal 1955 follow-up, Revenge of the Creature - but don't forget Jim Wynorski's Return of the Swamp Thing did have Heather Locklear!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYgYr9dcYE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u61oOuv90Hg

[Florian R. Guillon]

Funny you mentioned these two franchises, because here in France, we had "The Return of Swamp Thing" renamed "Le retour de la cr?ature du lagon" ("The Return of the Lagoon Creature"). Talk about a mix-up!

The original Creature of the Black Lagoon is a movie I very much enjoyed, discovering it on DVD, then seeing it at the theater - and in 3D! That was amazing! So much better than the whole Real 3D trend (is this even still a thing abroad? Before the pandemic, I mean), that was really immersive. I watched the sequel on DVD, and liked it too. I saw The Shape of Water in theater back then and really liked it, but still haven't watched it again on Blu-Ray.

As for the Swamp Thing, I have blurry memories of the two movies. I found The Return at a discount store and remember I liked it at the time, but that was 15 years ago. The first one I found a few years ago, but can't remember much about it. I think it's time for a re-watch.

About a Golden Age swamp monster, I haven't read much of the Heap, but isn't he technically the first one, being born in a swamp?

[The Australian Panther]

The original of this type of character was Theodore sturgeon's 'It'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It!_(short_story)

P. Schuyler Miller described "It" as "probably the most unforgettable story ever published in Unknown. "[1]

Cheers!

[Captain Audio]

Several years ago I ran across an anthology, the stories by various authors who tied their story into H.P Lovecraft's universe.
One involved the fossilized hand shown at the beginning of CFTBL.
In this story the  fossil hand was a real relic that had suggested the storyline of the creature.
A film buff examines the fossil and realizing its real tries to trace its origin. IIRC the trail leads to Innsmouth and its strange inhabitants.

[The Australian Panther]

Jack Kirby's version.

Fantastic Four #97 

https://comicvine.gamespot.com/fantastic-four-97-the-monster-from-the-lost-lagoon/4000-10758/

Cheers!

[paw broon]

Like Florian, I really enjoyed the 1st Creature film.  And the 2nd, for that matter. Never watched, or wanted to watch, the Swamp Thing stuff.  I'll stick to the early comics. 
The Heap was the 1st comicbook muck monster, appearing in Air Fighters in 1942? The other Heap was the Skywald monster.  Wasn't Roy Thomas something to do with that one?
I've read original Heap stories and thoroughly enjoyed them, probably as at the start he appeared in Sky Wolf stories.