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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
"Is this, then, what it is to be a god?"
"Loving the Alien" to "Wavelengths" is probably some of the best high sci-fi comic work ever. Some of the best stuff in Moore's run is the comic-book version of what it feels like to take LSD without actually taking LSD. However, this final collection also features a two-issue drop-in by Adam Strange, maybe the horniest superhero ever.
"Loving the Alien" to "Wavelengths" is probably some of the best high sci-fi comic work ever. Some of the best stuff in Moore's run is the comic-book version of what it feels like to take LSD without actually taking LSD. However, this final collection also features a two-issue drop-in by Adam Strange, maybe the horniest superhero ever.
Very interesting finish. The episodic formula peaks here, with some utterly stellar issues like the plant society End-of-Eva apocalypse one and the densely prosaic and abstract celestial space sex one, but the ending itself is a somewhat bold choice. I personally don’t mind the reversal of the grief arcs, I feel enough time passed since the losses that the ‘resurrection’ doesn’t remotely diminish their effect. I do however feel a bit mixed about the final issues handling of the Swamp Thing as a character and its themes. In its attempt to both humanise and deify the character, the crossover between the 2 roles sends some rather strange messages from the protagonist, largely championing teachings of abandonment of the betterment of society and humankind, the opposite of what it’s preaching out loud to “humanity”.
It’s of course true that he’s not literally a human so it shouldn’t technically be doing this, but (1) a large part of the issue is spent highlighting and exploring the humanity of his sex and the following acknowledgments of his inhumanity don’t disperse the subtextual implications of these parts, (2) he is the protagonist of a story aimed at, wait for it, humans, so whether intentional or not the messages he relays are relayed through the proxy of his own perspective, and (3) the human here, Abigail, also departs from society and leaves her environmental help group, so clearly there’s not really even a mistake made here it’s just a bad message.
It’s my understanding that Alan Moore is an anarchist, and while I’m not really interested in starting a political rant in this here comic book review I do think this articulated the motivation behind this thematic issues. Like I get it, the message is to allow humanity its flaws in order to accept the world and nature as it is but also reject those shortcomings, but frankly this is a shortsighted message to deliver and my aforementioned problems with certain issues in my other volume reviews strengthen my lack of faith in the ideological airtightness of the author. Pair that with the fact that the conflict is wrapped up by revenge-murdering all of the guys who plotted against him and the happy peace-loving and enlightened ending feels rather unsatisfactory for me.
ALL of that being said, the reason I fixate so much on such flaws is in order to fully justify them, because largely the volume is very compelling; aesthetically, as in artistically and prosaically, Swamp Thing is probably the most striking comic I’ve read, so it takes careful thinking to see past that to its flaws. Still an incredible comic overall
It’s of course true that he’s not literally a human so it shouldn’t technically be doing this, but (1) a large part of the issue is spent highlighting and exploring the humanity of his sex and the following acknowledgments of his inhumanity don’t disperse the subtextual implications of these parts, (2) he is the protagonist of a story aimed at, wait for it, humans, so whether intentional or not the messages he relays are relayed through the proxy of his own perspective, and (3) the human here, Abigail, also departs from society and leaves her environmental help group, so clearly there’s not really even a mistake made here it’s just a bad message.
It’s my understanding that Alan Moore is an anarchist, and while I’m not really interested in starting a political rant in this here comic book review I do think this articulated the motivation behind this thematic issues. Like I get it, the message is to allow humanity its flaws in order to accept the world and nature as it is but also reject those shortcomings, but frankly this is a shortsighted message to deliver and my aforementioned problems with certain issues in my other volume reviews strengthen my lack of faith in the ideological airtightness of the author. Pair that with the fact that the conflict is wrapped up by revenge-murdering all of the guys who plotted against him and the happy peace-loving and enlightened ending feels rather unsatisfactory for me.
ALL of that being said, the reason I fixate so much on such flaws is in order to fully justify them, because largely the volume is very compelling; aesthetically, as in artistically and prosaically, Swamp Thing is probably the most striking comic I’ve read, so it takes careful thinking to see past that to its flaws. Still an incredible comic overall
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Trading in the gothic horror for Kirby-esque psychedelic science fiction, this is nevertheless one of the finest showcases of the Swampy genius of Moore, Bissette, Veitch, Totleben, and everyone else. Swamp Thing's consciousness endures an odyssey lost in deep space, manifesting itself in the various flora of distant planets. In "Loving the Alien," Swamp Thing's consciousness is absorbed by a nightmarish bio-mechanical planet, descending through layer after layer of psychedelic photo-collage hells, his body liquefied and stripped away, his genetic material used to inseminate the living "island". Then, in "All Flesh is Grass," Swamp Thing inadvertantly initiates the Human Instrumentality Project, manifesting a corporeal form out of hundreds of thousands of living sentient plants, their consciousnesses merged together into an ungodly nightmare of intimacy. As always in Moore's Swamp Thing, there is a lot of sensuality, with some very sexy hawk ladies and finally, at long last, some sweet, swampy lovemaking.
Much more uneven and obscure than the previous volumes
This is final volume of the Saga of The Swamp Thing is a pretty mixed bag. Swamp Thing is desperate to return to earth, but first must travel across the very cosmos in order to do so. This volume serves more like a collection of short stories, which comes with the typical downside of any such collection - unevenness, with some stories being absolutely incredible, and others being so-so, with a few being plain bad. This was the first volume that I didn’t compulsively read, owing to the incredibly jarring tonal shifts from story to story. Add to that some obscure DC characters and some truly bizarre story concepts, and you get … confusion, and lowered motivation to continue. It was a slog, but definitely had some amazing moments. Altogether, I’m glad I took the journey.
This is final volume of the Saga of The Swamp Thing is a pretty mixed bag. Swamp Thing is desperate to return to earth, but first must travel across the very cosmos in order to do so. This volume serves more like a collection of short stories, which comes with the typical downside of any such collection - unevenness, with some stories being absolutely incredible, and others being so-so, with a few being plain bad. This was the first volume that I didn’t compulsively read, owing to the incredibly jarring tonal shifts from story to story. Add to that some obscure DC characters and some truly bizarre story concepts, and you get … confusion, and lowered motivation to continue. It was a slog, but definitely had some amazing moments. Altogether, I’m glad I took the journey.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Damn pains me to give this a lower score than the rest, but it just was overly done.
The fact we had to deal with Swamp Thing trying to get back to earth felt just so padded it was killing me. I get it was supposed to be a grand adventure but up until now everything really captivated me and this...this didn't do anything for me. I did love the issue with Abby trying to just be normal again. I also loved the final issue, and a great goodbye. but the rest was just okay.
A 3 out of 5.
The fact we had to deal with Swamp Thing trying to get back to earth felt just so padded it was killing me. I get it was supposed to be a grand adventure but up until now everything really captivated me and this...this didn't do anything for me. I did love the issue with Abby trying to just be normal again. I also loved the final issue, and a great goodbye. but the rest was just okay.
A 3 out of 5.
Unfortunately this final volume lost me.
I mean I guess this is the volume where Alan knew his time on the title was coming to an end so he chucked out all the bonkers mad experimental stories that had come up during the run? Also, a lot of hallucinogens. This volume is rich in the imagery and fractals of hallucinogens.
But... they just don't work.
There's a whole episode of a space computer that... abuses swampy to get pregnant? I'm not sure what happened at all in this one.
There's a weird frankenstein story that makes no sense, goes nowhere, and might just have been a fever dream?
The re-union with Abby at the end was decent though. But, still, I felt this awesome run of comics ended with a real whimper.
I mean I guess this is the volume where Alan knew his time on the title was coming to an end so he chucked out all the bonkers mad experimental stories that had come up during the run? Also, a lot of hallucinogens. This volume is rich in the imagery and fractals of hallucinogens.
But... they just don't work.
There's a whole episode of a space computer that... abuses swampy to get pregnant? I'm not sure what happened at all in this one.
There's a weird frankenstein story that makes no sense, goes nowhere, and might just have been a fever dream?
The re-union with Abby at the end was decent though. But, still, I felt this awesome run of comics ended with a real whimper.