Anton Arcane is a supervillain appearing in American comic books by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Swamp Thing #2 (January 1973), and was created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson. He is the archenemy of Swamp Thing, the protagonist of the comics.

Fictional character biography

Arcane is a scientist whose obsession with gaining immortality has led him to create monstrous creatures known as "Un-Men", as well as other monstrous biogenetic experimentations involving the dead. He was able to resurrect his deceased brother Gregori as the Patchwork Man. He is also a skilled magician, which he channels through his experiments. Living in the mountains of Europe with his niece Abigail, Arcane is introduced after he discovers and lures Swamp Thing to his castle home. Arcane sought to use his scientific and magical abilities to transform his body into the Swamp Thing's form, while changing the Swamp Thing back into Alec Holland. Arcane is eventually killed in battle with Swamp Thing and resurrected twice before being sent to Hell. Arcane later possesses the body of Abigail's husband, Matthew Cable, and gains reality-altering abilities. Swamp Thing exorcises Cable's body, but he is rendered comatose, eventually dies, and becomes a ghostly raven.

The New 52

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Anton Arcane is the avatar of the Rot, a cosmic force associated with death and decay. After Swamp Thing defeats him, Arcane is imprisoned and his daughter Abigail replaces him as the Rot's avatar. He eventually escapes, but is greatly weakened.

DC Rebirth

In the DC Rebirth relaunch, Arcane allies with the Floronic Man to create a variant of Cordyceps that can infect humans before Animal Man and the Parliament of Bacteria stop him.

Powers and abilities

Anton Arcane possesses the knowledge of creating synthetic organs and skin, from those he made his Un-Men with. He also possesses many arcane artifacts, as well as necromancy, which enables him to control the dead. In The New 52, Arcane is the avatar of the Rot, enabling him to manipulate rot, death, and decay to his will.

In other media

Television

Film

Anton Arcane appears in Swamp Thing (1982) and The Return of Swamp Thing, portrayed by Louis Jourdan.

Video games