History
Heather’s history began when she was introduced in the first issue of CyberFrog that was published by Harris Comics. Before that during the Hall of Heroes years, CyberFrog was the main star of the show, and the comic didn’t have much of a direction behind it, so it didn’t need much of a supporting cast to carry itself. That changed with the introduction of longer, overarching stories within the series.
The genesis of the character began as a mix of several girls who Ethan van Sciver had dated before. For the comic, Heather Swain was introduced to balance out the cast by creating a human character who had more grounded, human problems that the readers could relate to. She also could act as a liaison between CyberFrog and the world that he couldn’t interact with directly. This role made her similar to April O’Neil in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Since their first meeting, Heather was involved in CyberFrog’s adventures. But her role as his human sidekick didn’t last long. Her time in the comics spotlight ended in 2001, when van Sciver took a job working at DC comics. But this would not be the end of her comic book career.
As of 2018 with the release of Blood Honey, Heather has returned to form as an older, more mature character. And she is planned to appear in more comics as of 2023, and onward.
Origin
What little is known about Heather’s past is much of a mystery. According to Heather herself, her life was very boring up until she crossed paths with CyberFrog, which may well be true, as her early life isn’t very elaborated. What is known about her is that she isn’t much like other girls.
In her earliest appearances, Heather was an outcast in her own high school. She had little interest in the things that the other girls were into, preferring to move to the beat of her own drum. Because of her non-mainstream interests and attire, Heather had few friends who she could relate to. Besides that, her home life wasn’t much more pleasant.
By the time she was introduced to the comics, Heather had been living with an abusive stepfather for years. Not feeling welcome at school or at home, Heather desperately needed a way to escape. That wish to get away from it all happened when she fought off a superpowered stalker named Benjamin Riley, also known as Deathfly. After a second encounter with Riley, now in his demonic form, Heather was rescued from her demise by CyberFrog. Ever since, the two of them had been close companions.
Character Evolution
Personality
Sassy, smart, passionate, aggressive, and takes no crap from anybody. She grew up in a tough environment, and that’s exactly what it made her. When faced with danger, she takes it with good humor and plows through minor threats like they’re nothing. And she’s not afraid to get physical when the situation calls for it. For all of her fortitude, she’s not without vulnerability.
While she is an amicable and likeable girl, she is also without many friends and wishes for somebody who she can relate to. Fortunately for her, that wish is granted when she meets CyberFrog. And now that she has him as a friend, the lingering fear that she may lose him to one of the dangers they face gnaws at her from time to time.
Oftentimes when things seem their darkest, Heather is the one who tries to bring the light. When CyberFrog learned about his origin, Heather was the one who took him out of his depression. When the humans were oppressed by the presence of the Vyzpzz, Heather was the one who helped them band together to fight back against the alien menace. CyberFrog and Salamandroid both rely on Heather for her unwavering moral support when they need it the most.
Appearance
By all means, Heather is a completely normal human, unlike her cyber-amphibian friends. In her earliest appearances, she is a teenage girl who likes to wear various band shirts, representing much of her alternative tastes.
As of Blood Honey, Heather is now an adult, and wears much less extravagant clothing. Instead, she is mostly seen wearing red, as it is not visible to the eyesight of the Vyzpzz. Also by this time, Heather is sporting a tattoo of CyberFrog on the back of her right shoulder.
Harris Comics
When she makes her first appearance in CyberFrog, Heather’s role is to humanize the main hero. To help him develop as a character from being a bitter loner to being the type of person who doesn’t really care whether or not people like him, so long as he does his job and protects them.
Due to Heather’s inclusion in the cast of characters, the CyberFrog comics in general underwent a series of changes. Before, the comics were just a series of unconnected incidents that CyberFrog took on by himself without much worry or care. Since he now had a human friend to look after, the stories took on a bit off a different angle, allowing for greater character development and different types of stories to be told.
By the time of CyberFrog learning his origin, Heather’s role was solidified as being the light in a dark world. She at first proved to him that not all humans were as bad as he once thought. Most of all, she proved herself to be CyberFrog’s friend, regardless of what she knew about his past.
ALL CAPS COMICS
Heather’s role in the series changed very much by the time she became an ALL CAPS character. She was now raising a daughter while living with other human refugees in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Also, she was acting as a sort of de facto leader of the survivors of the Vyzpzz invasion, keeping their spirits up in any small way that she could.
There was another layer added to Heather’s role, where she more came to represent what was best about the human species. Innovation, perseverance, adaptability, generosity, cooperation, trustworthiness, and everything else that a person needs to show during a crisis.
Major Story Arcs
First Appearance
Heather first appeared taking a shortcut home from school, where she was accosted by Benjamin Riley. One uncomfortable conversation and a swift knee in Riley’s groin later, Heather hurried home thinking that she had put that unpleasant encounter behind her. That was where she was wrong.
During a date with a guy who couldn’t be any lamer if he tried, Riley attacked her once again. This time, he appeared as Deathfly, and in a fit of jealous depression killed everyone else around Heather and tried to take her for himself. Only the timely arrival of CyberFrog kept her from a fate worse than death. More time spent with CyberFrog, and the two bonded over the course of the adventure they shared.
Reservoir Frog
While Heather was trying to enjoy a night to herself, a call from CyberFrog ended that prospect quickly. Arriving at his hideout with an extra-large bucket of fried chicken, the two of them discussed a strange piece of paper that CyberFrog had found during his most recent fight. It takes only a few minutes for Heather to realize what the paper means, just as members of The Hive attack the hideout.
Pulling together what resources she has and doing what little she can as a simple human, Heather joins the fight against The Hive.
CyberFrog’s Origin
She was there when CyberFrog met his long lost mother. During that first meeting, she learned how CyberFrog came to be, and what his purpose of being on Earth was in the first place. For CyberFrog, the truth was more than he could bear, but Heather was there to put things into perspective for him. It was enough to raise his spirits, but not enough to sort his thoughts. When CyberFrog left to clear his head, Heather was told of the existence of his younger twin brother.
CyberFrog vs Creed
Heather was simply trying to sleep off the latest adventure that she and CyberFrog had just experienced, snuggling up warmly to her favorite stuffed animal. Suddenly, her dreams were invaded by a corrupted Creed, who took her into his own corrupted version of the Dream World. There, Heather was confronted with the prospect of becoming Deathfly’s unwilling bride once more. Trapped in a world that isn’t her own and greatly overpowered, she and CyberFrog must bring Creed back to his senses in order to win.
Amphibionix
While out on reconnaissance in the woods, Heather and CyberFrog learn some unusual details about a group of missing hikers in the area. While gathering gear to conduct a proper investigation, Heather’s home life is finally explored in more detail. After a short, but devastating, encounter with her abusive stepfather, Heather and CyberFrog went out to the woods to find the answers to the deaths of the hikers.
It didn’t take very long for the answer to present itself. Giant, cybernetic mosquitos had infested the woods, and were attacking anything with a pulse. CyberFrog was quickly incapacitated by the mosquitos, and Heather was carried back to the mosquitos’ hive. There, the real confrontation with the creatures begins.
Vyzpzz Invasion
By this time, the CyberFrog series had begun a soft reboot. Most of what had happened before was treated as non-canon. What remained was the chance meeting of CyberFrog and Heather Swain. Her role as his moral support and grounding voice was subdued mostly.
During a night of TV and fried chicken, CyberFrog and Salamandroid were called away to deal with a threat involving Rumblebee and his clones. Before the amphibians left, Heather was given a tracking beacon, in case they finished and had to pick Heather up and walk her home. Before that ever happened, the Earth was invaded. Heather did everything within her abilities to survive the initial onslaught of the Vyzpzz, finally finding refuge with a group of other survivalists.
Years passed, and Heather had been living in a world that no longer belonged to her species. While the adjustment was difficult, hope returned when CyberFrog reappeared in her life. Now taking on the role of a leader, she takes it upon herself to lead the humans to ridding the Earth of alien hornets once and for all.
Skills/Abilities
As a normal human, Heather has no superhuman abilities whatsoever. She’s not even much of an athlete, so she doesn’t even have slightly above average human abilities. This doesn’t stop her from doing anything she can to help her friends.
Resourcefulness
Heather displays incredible ingenuity. Whatever she has on hand, Heather is able to use it to great effect to get out of trouble.
Adaptable
When things don’t go as planned, Heather is able to adjust to the situation and turn circumstances in her favor.
Unflappable
Not much rattles Heather’s nerves. She is able to face up to any challenge. Even against superpowered, cybernetic opponents.