Linda Holland

Storyline

As a young woman, Linda Ridge attended college at Harvard University. She studied under the tutelage of Professor Jason Woodrue. Woodrue would later go on to become the villain known as the Floronic Man. Another of Linda's classmates was Pamela Isley – the future Poison Ivy.

Linda went on to work for a professor named Dr. Jordan Schiller. Schiller was actively campaigning for Senator George McGovern in a presidential race against the incumbent Richard M. Nixon. During this time period, Linda and Schiller became romantically involved with one another, despite the fact that the doctor was several years her senior. Schiller eventually grew disheartened with the age difference between them, and encouraged Linda to seek out men closer to her own age. To that end, he introduced her to one of his star pupils, Alec Holland. Alec was immediately smitten with Linda, and over the course of several weeks wooed her away from Dr. Schiller. Schiller continued to profess his love for Linda, but his inability to commit to a relationship consistently pushed her away. On Election Night (November 7th), 1972, Linda left Schiller for Alec Holland.

Linda and Alec were eventually wed, and she became his partner in science, as well as his partner in marriage. Alec Holland accepted a job at the Genomics Corporation (MGC) , where he was able to continue his research relating to biological cell growth. He began developing a Bio-Restorative Formula, which was designed to stimulate plant growth, and enable plants to thrive in harsh environments. Under the auspices of the D.D.I., the Mantoson Genomics Corporation assigned the Hollands to continue their work in a small cabin in the bayou of Louisiana.

Linda and Alec's work earned the attention of a subversive organization known as the Conclave. Under the direction of Conclave leader Mister E., several men approached the Hollands in an effort to purchase exclusivity rights to their research. Alec refused to surrender his notes, and threatened to call the police. In retaliation the Conclave planted a bomb in Alec's laboratory. When the bomb exploded, Alec was doused with chemicals from his Bio-Restorative Formula and fell into the nearby swamp where he died. Following the funeral, Linda was paid a visit by Mister's E.'s top man, Maxwell Ferrett. Ferrett sought to tie up any loose ends and murdered Linda in her bedroom.

Year later, General Avery Sunderland of the Sunderland Corporation attempted to get his hands on as much material relating to the Hollands’ work as possible. To this end, he exhumed Linda’s remains where his scientists discovered trace elements of the Bio-Restorative Formula. The results from their analysis of Linda’s body proved inconclusive, and there was no evidence of cell growth or mutagenic alteration to be found.

Alternate versions

In Mark Millar's run in Swamp Thing two relevant alternate versions of Linda Holland were featured:

• In Swamp Thing #146 - Murder in the Dark, Linda Holland appeared as an amnesic prostitute capable of regenerate herself. She was part of a sadistic ring working in Amsterdam brothels. It was revealed than she was a construct created to drive the earth elemental mad.
• In Swamp Thing #156 - Darker Genesis: Chapter Five of River Run, an episode inspired in the earth-prime tales from the DC universe take place with "real world" versions of Linda and Alex Holland who discovered than their lives had been chronicled as comic-books. Terrified about what would happen to them they tried to change their fates with unsuspect outcomes.

In the event Flashpoint, Linda Holland was seen in Project Superman using his maiden name as Doctor Ridge, as the chief scientist of the project. She was later than his work on vegetal life has affected her, mutating her head. She also had created her own hybrids vegetal creatures which she used to figth against the uncontrolable Subject Zero.