Saga of the Swamp Thing, Book 5

Writer: Alan Moore
Artists: Rick Veitch, John Totleben, Alfredo Alcala
Collects Swamp Thing issues 51-56
Published under VERTIGO


Welcome after the long interval to yet another helping of sumptuous green delight. This time, Alan Moore ACTUALLY takes out Swampy where he's actually never been before.




The main story here is about a reporter sighting Abby doing....it with Swamp Thing and she gets arrested for the..."obscenity". She gets, fired from her job, and becomes the subject of local abuse in Lousiana. She decides to skip the town and flees to Gotham where the authorities arrest her.

Swamp Thing, after the conclusion of the battle between good and evil, is making his way back to Lousiana and he discovers what has happened. He reaches Gotham, and the rest, as they say is history.

Guest starring Batman, Commissioner Gordon and Lex Luthor, this story concludes in a double sized issue titled "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by John Totleben. It's Swamp Thing versus Gotham city.

There are many who support him, but at the same time, the Sunderland corporation won't let him live in peace, which is where Lex Luthor turns up for a diabolical few minutes and the encounter does not end well for the Swamp Thing. Up next is a very moving funeral story.

The next issue features Abby meeting Liz Tremayne and Dennis, whom we last saw in "Loose Ends", way back in Vol 1. What has happened since then, and is this truly love? The issue ends in a wonderful cliffhanger which is where I feel the trade should have ended.

The final issue is titled "My Blue Heaven". We see that Swamp Thing has escaped death at the hands of Lex Luthor, when his consciousness jumps out seeking refuge and ends up on a blue planet. How the Swamp Thing sinks to the depths of loneliness and madness is a masterpiece.

Wonderful writing again by Alan Moore, the art team does a wonderful job, as Alcala's moody inks shine like never before.


For paperback readers, the book is titled 'Saga of the Swamp Thing Vol 5: Earth to Earth'.

Coming next week, is the final review of Alan Moore's run on the Swamp Thing, where he goes out with a bang....Alan, that is; not Swamp Thing. Join us, won't you?