The Swamp Thing, aka Alec Holland, was the result of an experimental formula that Holland and his wife had created. This experiment, which created a Bio-Restorative Formula, was meant to help end world hunger. Two thugs broke into Alec Holland's lab, knocked him out, and planted a bomb. Alec awoke just as the bomb exploded, leaving him screaming and on fire.
Alec ran into the swamp with the Bio-Restorative Formula covering his body. This formula fused itself with Alec's genetics and the neighboring plant life around. Thus, Swamp Thing was born. Alec, now a humanoid plant-like creature, was imbued with powers. Swamp Thing would essentially become a God in DC. These are the 10 things you didn't know Swamp Thing could do with his powers.
10 Bio-Fission
Swamp Thing comes packed with a host of miraculous powers. One of his most beneficial powers is the Bio-Fission ability. This ability allows Swamp Thing to make copies of himself throughout the vegetation that he is around. Although these copies are immediate replicas of Swamp Thing, they have no independent thought.
His vegetation army is only capable of acting on direct orders from Swamp Thing. The copies are also not as strong or powerful as Swamp Thing, but allow Swamp Thing to attack or subdue those who are not in his vicinity.
9 Elemental Control
Swamp Thing is essentially the Earth Elemental. With this designation, Swamp Thing can call on everything that is composed of the Earth. This "God-like" ability allows Swamp Thing to communicate with the very essence that makes up the planet.
Besides being able to control all plant life, Swamp Thing can use his Elemental powers to control all the vegetation on the planet to do his bidding. On top of being the Earth Elemental, it is said that Swamp Thing is the one and only elemental, having been known to control all the elements (fire, water, earth, air, and flesh).
8 Cholorkinesis
Swamp Thing's Chlorokinesis ability allows for the in-depth controlling of all vegetation, which allows the growth of plants in any size or shape. This control also allows Swamp Thing to literally grow plants the size of buildings, and sometimes even whole cities, to do away with his enemies. Chlorokinesis also permits the ability to grow vines to attack or subdue would-be assailants.
This ability to control all plant life is so extensive, Swamp Thing is known to have created an entire city out of vegetation, complete with moving and talking humans who were imbued with all his powers.
7 Astral Projection
Swamp Thing is connected to The Green, which is the life force that binds all of life together on Earth. This ability to control and interact with The Green allows Swamp Thing to astral project himself anywhere on the planet. Wherever there is any sort of vegetation on the planet, Swamp Thing can then make a body for himself using that vegetation.
Case and point, if he had to travel to the desert, Swamp Thing could make a body for himself out of a cactus. Were there some attackers that Swamp Thing was after had better go somewhere where plant life does not exist, which is no easy task.
6 Possession
Swamp Thing is known to have powers of possession. This ability allows Swamp Thing to take control of people's bodies and actions. Possession is possible through the many microscopic florae that exist within all humans. Swamp Thing wanted to make a child with his wife Abby but was unable to, due to him no longer being fully human.
So, he took matters into his own hands and took control of John Constantine, allowing for his genes to still pass through John into his wife. This act was one of Swap Thing's least moral victories and one that Constantine has since resented Swamp Thing for.
5 Illusion Casting
Swamp Thing's body comes with all kinds of benefits. One such benefit is the ability to grow orange tubers on his body. These tubers act as an agent that cause illusions to anyone that ingests them. The illusions come with a judgment of sorts.
Those who are good in nature experience calm and relaxing illusions and those who are evil will have their minds distressed by the illusions. If there was ever a power that could benefit Swamp Thing the most, it would be his ability to affect the minds of those who would oppose him.
4 Self-Sustenance
Swamp Thing's body works just as normal plants would. The ability to self-sustain using photosynthesis is one of his most beneficial components. The power of The Green courses through Swamp Thing's body allowing health effects to remain in his body without ever being depleted.
There is no need to have to eat, as composting can provide Swamp Thing with all the nutrients that he needs. This self-sustained power through The Green allows Swamp Thing's power to remain immeasurable. As long as The Green is healthy, it can provide all the power that Swamp Thing calls upon it.
3 Resurrection
Swamp Thing acts more like a consciousness than anything else. As long as Swamp Thing's mind exists within The Green, he can resurrect himself at any point and time. Swamp Thing is more of an entity than an actual tangible humanoid creature.
Swamp Thing's body is made of all the vegetation in the surrounding area, but his mind is what will continue to live on if that body has been destroyed. This sentient property of Swamp Thing's consciousness was revealed by Constantine. The ability to resurrect essentially turns Swamp Thing into a "living" God.
2 Enhanced Intellect
When Alec Holland was mercilessly burned alive and formed into Swamp Thing, his consciousness remained with that of the sentient vegetation that encapsulated him. Alec was a genius in his own right, and that intelligence carried over into the Swamp Thing's own brain. Swamp Thing can elevate his own intelligence by growing a larger artificial brain from the plant life around, making him that much more intelligent. On top of being a world-class scientist, Alec remained one of the top chemists in all of comics, allowing his understanding of plant life to be unparalleled.
1 Regeneration
Swamp Thing can regen any part of his body at any time. There is little that can happen to fully destroy Swamp Thing if his "mind" stays intact. The Green allows Swamp Thing's consciousness to travel within its parameters to carry on existing no matter what. Swamp Thing can be dismembered, burned, and his body fully destroyed without ever dying.
Swamp Thing is a being that thrives on the health of The Green. The body of vegetation can be destroyed and come back as many times as possible. Swamp Thing is immortal in every sense of the word.