Writer: Alan Moore
Artists: Stephen Bissette, Rick Veitch, John Totleben
Collects: Swamp Thing issues 35-42
Collected under the Vertigo Imprint
And we continue our review series of DC's muck encrusted mockery of a man, Swamp Thing. In light of his critically acclaimed series in the DCnU by superstar writer Scott Snyder and visual maestro Yanick Paquette, I thought it prudent to take a look at Swamp Thing right from his beginnings, and at this point, I don't think it ever got better than Alan Moore and his art team of Bissette, Veitch & Totleben.
The first story is a two parter, introducing new bad guy Nukeface, and carries a wonderful social commentary on the side.
At times, the story is a bit skewed as the narration jumps around from person to person. And yes, Swamp Thing leaves his body for the first time.
The next story features the first appearance of famous mage, perennial manipulator and major bullshitter John Constantine (yes folks, rave all you want about how phenomenal the Delano, Ennis, Azzarello or Carey runs on Hellblazer were but don't you forget the main man who created the main man - Alan Moore!) as he visits a still growing Swamp Thing and proceeds to lead him around America on a road trip to quell the supernatural.
Trouble is, Constantine needs Swamp Thing's help for something big and evil, to hit the mortal plane and he has little time to train him. What's more, he knows more about Swamp Thing than Swamp Thing himself. Is he bullshitting him? Read this one and decide for yourself.
Next, Constantine leads Swamp Thing to the town of Rosewood, Illinois where aquatic vampires lure the populace into the still waters. Here, Moore revisits a previous story by writer Michael Fleisher (unavailable in collected format....yet) in which the threat of the vampires of Rosewood was quelled by blasting a nearby reservoir and destroying the vampires through blessed turbulent water. But now the waters are still again - and the vampires have adapted.
"The Curse" is possibly the creepiest story of this volume, which mixes together lycanthropy, menstrual cycles and the moon to create good old horror.
In the final two parter, Constantine leads Swamp Thing to a movie set where the performance takes a whole new life of itself as the actors find themselves possessed by forces beyond their understanding.
Again, Mr Moore hits it out of the park. The visuals by Bissette, Totleben & Veitch are stunning as always. The only low point in this volume is knowing that Mr Moore is going to be around only for three more.
For those of you who want it in paperback, you can pick up 'Saga of the Swamp Thing Vol 3: The Curse'. The hardcover has a full length introduction by Stephen Bissette which sheds light on the real world scenario of the day, instrumental to appreciating the first two issues to a greater extent.
My rating: 9.5 on 10
Contains full covers, hardback: 24.99 US$, paperback: 19.99 US$
Artists: Stephen Bissette, Rick Veitch, John Totleben
Collects: Swamp Thing issues 35-42
Collected under the Vertigo Imprint
And we continue our review series of DC's muck encrusted mockery of a man, Swamp Thing. In light of his critically acclaimed series in the DCnU by superstar writer Scott Snyder and visual maestro Yanick Paquette, I thought it prudent to take a look at Swamp Thing right from his beginnings, and at this point, I don't think it ever got better than Alan Moore and his art team of Bissette, Veitch & Totleben.
The first story is a two parter, introducing new bad guy Nukeface, and carries a wonderful social commentary on the side.
At times, the story is a bit skewed as the narration jumps around from person to person. And yes, Swamp Thing leaves his body for the first time.
The next story features the first appearance of famous mage, perennial manipulator and major bullshitter John Constantine (yes folks, rave all you want about how phenomenal the Delano, Ennis, Azzarello or Carey runs on Hellblazer were but don't you forget the main man who created the main man - Alan Moore!) as he visits a still growing Swamp Thing and proceeds to lead him around America on a road trip to quell the supernatural.
Trouble is, Constantine needs Swamp Thing's help for something big and evil, to hit the mortal plane and he has little time to train him. What's more, he knows more about Swamp Thing than Swamp Thing himself. Is he bullshitting him? Read this one and decide for yourself.
Next, Constantine leads Swamp Thing to the town of Rosewood, Illinois where aquatic vampires lure the populace into the still waters. Here, Moore revisits a previous story by writer Michael Fleisher (unavailable in collected format....yet) in which the threat of the vampires of Rosewood was quelled by blasting a nearby reservoir and destroying the vampires through blessed turbulent water. But now the waters are still again - and the vampires have adapted.
"The Curse" is possibly the creepiest story of this volume, which mixes together lycanthropy, menstrual cycles and the moon to create good old horror.
In the final two parter, Constantine leads Swamp Thing to a movie set where the performance takes a whole new life of itself as the actors find themselves possessed by forces beyond their understanding.
Again, Mr Moore hits it out of the park. The visuals by Bissette, Totleben & Veitch are stunning as always. The only low point in this volume is knowing that Mr Moore is going to be around only for three more.
For those of you who want it in paperback, you can pick up 'Saga of the Swamp Thing Vol 3: The Curse'. The hardcover has a full length introduction by Stephen Bissette which sheds light on the real world scenario of the day, instrumental to appreciating the first two issues to a greater extent.
My rating: 9.5 on 10
Contains full covers, hardback: 24.99 US$, paperback: 19.99 US$
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