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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This series is surprisingly entertaining for me. I don't know why, since I enjoy Alan Moore, 80's comics, the dark magic of DC, and creature heroes. Really, this comic has it all and gets it right. The art is amazing and always goes beyond the call of duty. The stories are intelligently written and are always foreboding, leaving you almost afraid to turn the page. This is horror that only comics can do; creepy, detailed, and intriguing. While all the stories were well done, the last chapter of the Arcane trilogy was my favorite. As the Swamp Thing traveled through death, I loved the guest starring of Deadman, Phantom Stranger, The Spectre, and the Demon. All had a different view of death and all were great reads. I'm glad I started reading this book. It has a lot of the elements that I enjoyed from Sandman. Recommended.
This second volume is better than the first, but still suffers somewhat by Moore continuing to fight the collected inertia of years of Swamp Thing continuity. I think some of the momentum is lost, too, by having a couple of fill-in issues that don't contribute as much to the overall story. However, those fill-in stories are my favorites in this volume, so what does that say? The tribute to Walt Kelly's Pogo, with whimsical artwork by Shawn McManus, is wonderful. Moore's made-up language for the aliens, consisting of portmanteau words is sometimes a struggle to read, but quite understandable nonetheless. The reprint of the first Swamp Thing story by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, with a framing sequence by Moore and artist Ron Randall, allows Moore to notch one more continuity correction to the saga. "Down Amongst the Dead Men," from Swamp Thing Annual #2, uses established DC supernatural characters Deadman, Phantom Stranger, Spectre, and Demon in ways that have probably never before or never since been used, but still gives us an emotional punch, nicely setting up the love relationship between Swamp Thing and Abby. The final story in this volume, "Rite of Spring," is undoubtedly the final turn Moore needed to take to get his saga pointed in the direction he wanted. The trippy, skewed sex is like a Steve Ditko fever dream, only combined with the kind of elegant and metaphorical prose Moore can create.
adventurous
medium-paced
Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run is the best thing of his I've read. Better than Watchman and Vendetta. Probably my favorite series this side of Doom Patrol. Wide ranging, inventive, exceeding expectations. The fact that Moore can do this much with a plant-man is astonishing.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautiful. It talks about the comic being “the first postmodern comic” and it really is. Everything is stories.
Still loving this series. Alan Moore (and the various artists) did an amazing job of preserving the creepiness of the swamp thing but also exploring the weirdness of the universe that he inhabits. I still find the appearance of the super heroes to be very jarring, but it is clear that is intentional. The short "Pog" story featuring the characters from Walt Kelly's Pogo brings this to an extreme. Somehow the whole thing works.
I didn't love the vegetable sex bit. It was a bit too psychedelic for my tastes. It obviously broke new ground at the time, but feels a bit dated. I'm sure it made an impact on the regular readers.
I didn't love the vegetable sex bit. It was a bit too psychedelic for my tastes. It obviously broke new ground at the time, but feels a bit dated. I'm sure it made an impact on the regular readers.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As far as I'm concerned, the gold standard for comic art and simple storytelling. So fearlessly creative and heartfelt. Very clearly a direct influence for Neil Gaiman, the story in this about Arcane sending influencing ripples throughout America reminded me immediately of The Corinthian, and Cane and Abel are just chilling here in the dream realm as well.