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drecords's review against another edition
5.0
Great American Gothic plus the introduction of Constantine.
helpfulsnowman's review against another edition
3.0
There are some good reasons that I keep persisting with this series.
Basically, there are a lot of good ideas in here, stuff that I think was played out in a much bigger way as comics history has worn on. Even the history of other mediums.
Most interesting is the idea of Swamp Thing transitioning from being a man who is swamp-y to the living embodiment of something else entirely. How he's losing touch with humanity, but that's not a bad thing necessarily.
They do this sort of thing a lot with Superman, but they handle it the opposite way. I feel like he's always trying to tether himself to human life, to understand humans better. But really, he's not human, he'll never be human. So why can't he embrace what he is and figure out what that means for his future?
In this volume, we see Swamp Thing starting to change in that way. Accepting that he's not human and never will be, and instead of fighting that fact he's figuring out that maybe it's not so bad. Just different.
It's an idea that is played out in a big way with Alan Moore's Watchmen in the character of Dr. Manhattan. That's probably the biggest example. More recently, I think that Mark Waid's Irredeemable had a really similar idea as well, someone who gives up on pretending to be human.
This comic also deviates from the typical formula. Swamp Thing doesn't punch a lot of people in the face. Which can be good. But...I don't know if it works. Because honestly, the times when he DOES finally punch a bad guy in the face are the most satisfying moments.
Basically, there are a lot of good ideas in here, stuff that I think was played out in a much bigger way as comics history has worn on. Even the history of other mediums.
Most interesting is the idea of Swamp Thing transitioning from being a man who is swamp-y to the living embodiment of something else entirely. How he's losing touch with humanity, but that's not a bad thing necessarily.
They do this sort of thing a lot with Superman, but they handle it the opposite way. I feel like he's always trying to tether himself to human life, to understand humans better. But really, he's not human, he'll never be human. So why can't he embrace what he is and figure out what that means for his future?
In this volume, we see Swamp Thing starting to change in that way. Accepting that he's not human and never will be, and instead of fighting that fact he's figuring out that maybe it's not so bad. Just different.
It's an idea that is played out in a big way with Alan Moore's Watchmen in the character of Dr. Manhattan. That's probably the biggest example. More recently, I think that Mark Waid's Irredeemable had a really similar idea as well, someone who gives up on pretending to be human.
This comic also deviates from the typical formula. Swamp Thing doesn't punch a lot of people in the face. Which can be good. But...I don't know if it works. Because honestly, the times when he DOES finally punch a bad guy in the face are the most satisfying moments.
mattycakesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Easily my favorite of the series so far. The character finally interested me, the episodes were fun and interesting, and I finally got the Alan Moore I saw in From Hell and Watchmen. The way the Cthulhu plot resolves itself is what my final opinion of the series hinges on.
thefool0's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
robbiesbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cryo_guy's review against another edition
3.0
The weakest ST I've read so far. But from what I learned in the preface (that it was largely the team brainstorming ideas that Moore then incorporated into his story and that after this volume there wasn't room for that as he had it all mapped out), I can see why. And each of the stories does have potential and isn't terrible. They just come off as very episodic and not all that consequential. Even Constantine is just a jerk who doesn't do much at all.
Nukeface was probably the most irritating because it doesn't resolve at all. I don't really even understand why they wrote it that way. Anyway, everything else is pretty good and I'm pushing forward because I know the series continues strongly.
Nukeface was probably the most irritating because it doesn't resolve at all. I don't really even understand why they wrote it that way. Anyway, everything else is pretty good and I'm pushing forward because I know the series continues strongly.
sonofatreus's review against another edition
4.0
(3.5 stars) I had to think about this review for a bit. After three volumes, I am still in love with the art of Swamp Thing. It continues to impress me to the point that sometimes I just stare at the page in amazement.
That said, this volume was a little weak in terms of story. Swamp Thing's powers were more fully realized, which was great, but this volume felt very serialized. The individual stories were almost totally unrelated, apart from the fact that they each saw ST trying to understand what/who he is. This meant that when 1/3 of the volume is dedicated to a weak antagonist (e.g., Nukeface), it drags the whole story down.
Still, I enjoy the character, the writing, and the art, even if the story is sometimes a bit slow. Will definitely continue reading these.
That said, this volume was a little weak in terms of story. Swamp Thing's powers were more fully realized, which was great, but this volume felt very serialized. The individual stories were almost totally unrelated, apart from the fact that they each saw ST trying to understand what/who he is. This meant that when 1/3 of the volume is dedicated to a weak antagonist (e.g., Nukeface), it drags the whole story down.
Still, I enjoy the character, the writing, and the art, even if the story is sometimes a bit slow. Will definitely continue reading these.
throatsprockets's review against another edition
3.0
It’s always a nice idea to take horror tropes (vampires, werewolves, zombies) and use them to look at contemporary issues (class, sexism, racism) but this clumsily beats at its themes with a club. Gorgeous artwork helps to pull it through.
charlibirb's review against another edition
3.0
I guess I'm not really an Alan Moore fan. This is one of his better concepts, but I really wish there were an overarching storyline. Or at least more than just a storyline that lasts an issue. Some of the mini-stories are cool, but it's hard to start over every time.
I'll keep reading, though. Wouldn't, though, if I were paying for it. #Borrowed
My favorite issue was the plantation issue.
I'll keep reading, though. Wouldn't, though, if I were paying for it. #Borrowed
My favorite issue was the plantation issue.
kandicez's review against another edition
5.0
John Constantine! Did that come across as a squeal, because it was meant to. I love Constantine and he shows up in this volume. Make a girl happy! :D
I could gush about this (really anything Moore touches) for quite a while, but don't need to. The stories inside were amazing. Alec learns just what he is capable of and then does it. Well.
Constantine leads him on a merry chase in search of knowledge about himself and he does get a little, but he also helps people in the chase. People he would not other wise have helped or even been aware of.
The final story features a film crew making a movie on the site of an old slave plantation. Do these places have anything other than horrid histories? I don't think so, but this plantation has an unusually evil story and the souls of those that endured it begin to animate in the film crew and actors. Brilliant!
I wish Moore were still writing Swamp Thing. There are so many stories Moore could tell and ST belongs on the pages of a book because film just would not do him justice.
I could gush about this (really anything Moore touches) for quite a while, but don't need to. The stories inside were amazing. Alec learns just what he is capable of and then does it. Well.
Constantine leads him on a merry chase in search of knowledge about himself and he does get a little, but he also helps people in the chase. People he would not other wise have helped or even been aware of.
The final story features a film crew making a movie on the site of an old slave plantation. Do these places have anything other than horrid histories? I don't think so, but this plantation has an unusually evil story and the souls of those that endured it begin to animate in the film crew and actors. Brilliant!
I wish Moore were still writing Swamp Thing. There are so many stories Moore could tell and ST belongs on the pages of a book because film just would not do him justice.