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frantic_vampire's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Swamp Thing is one of the DC characters that I didn’t know a single thing about. But I really enjoyed the plants and the nature and the southern summer vibes that I got from this. So now I kind of want to do a deep dive into his character/background. Another thing I really liked about this graphic novel was the twins dynamic. They were yearning for stronger connections but were having trouble relating to each other after some family drama. In the end they were able to overcome that, if not in the way they or I thought they would. So. This is getting a solid four stars and now I have some researching to do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Alcohol, Animal death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Abandonment, Ableism, and Chronic illness
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
3.0
3/5
Woah. Just woah. This book was interesting. I found it to have some action, but it was the ending that really shocked me. If you like plants and sci fi this book is defiantly for you. Overall, this book was alright, but it wasn't one of my all-time favorite graphic novels.
Woah. Just woah. This book was interesting. I found it to have some action, but it was the ending that really shocked me. If you like plants and sci fi this book is defiantly for you. Overall, this book was alright, but it wasn't one of my all-time favorite graphic novels.
luisg3's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
geekwayne's review
4.0
'Swamp Thing: Twin Branches' by Maggie Stiefvater with art by Morgan Beem is a YA graphic novel about the origins of DCs Swamp Thing.
Alec and Walker Holland are twins, but very different. On their last summer before college, they go to visit cousins in the country. Alec brings a school experiment along but Walker is more interested in socializing with the locals. When Alec's experiment seems ruined, it turns up in unexpected ways.
I always sort of refer to these as alternate histories, and it's really interesting to see where new writers take the known characters. In this case, I really liked what was done with Alec and Walker. The art was also pretty unique and I enjoyed it.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Alec and Walker Holland are twins, but very different. On their last summer before college, they go to visit cousins in the country. Alec brings a school experiment along but Walker is more interested in socializing with the locals. When Alec's experiment seems ruined, it turns up in unexpected ways.
I always sort of refer to these as alternate histories, and it's really interesting to see where new writers take the known characters. In this case, I really liked what was done with Alec and Walker. The art was also pretty unique and I enjoyed it.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
breakfastgrey's review
2.0
This was a disappointment. Too much time was spent on pieces that didn't particularly contribute anything to the plot (the affair, the move, the new family), which didn't leave enough time for the characters and ideas that mattered. There were a lot of cool moments that promised to be more, but then they never really grew into anything. Alec definitely shone through as a character, even if it is frustrating he didn't actually change into Swamp Thing until the last 10 pages. There's more screen time of random party scenes than the title character. It wasn't that anything was bad here, just that it was frustrating because there was the opportunity to do something really cool.
unladylike's review
4.0
So far the ongoing new YA-targeted DC graphic novels I've read have been really good, but I was nervous about how an author I'd never heard of would handle one of my all-time favorite comic book characters. Maggie Stiefvater gives us a fresh origin story of Alec Holland and Abby Arcane before Swamp Thing came to exist, and with a very major twist (to my knowledge) that some readers will likely debate: that Alec has a twin brother. (Oh, and Abby is black and brilliant, so that will likely also upset comic fanboys that should go sit on a cactus.)
The thing that stood out to me the most while reading this was the fact that, in all the dozens (probably well over a hundred) of issues of Swamp Thing I've read over the years, I don't recall it ever making me really believe or notice anything actually related to plant biology! Twin Branches shows Holland, Arcane, and a couple other local teens all being seriously interested in various kinds of real science! Yet for some reason, I only recall Swampy stories ever just dripping with nebulous planty growth things at every turn. This YA GN doesn't go *that* in depth into microbiology or anything, but it's present in a way that might inspire real-world education. The art is lovely and I consider this another win in DC's YA single-character GNs.
The thing that stood out to me the most while reading this was the fact that, in all the dozens (probably well over a hundred) of issues of Swamp Thing I've read over the years, I don't recall it ever making me really believe or notice anything actually related to plant biology! Twin Branches shows Holland, Arcane, and a couple other local teens all being seriously interested in various kinds of real science! Yet for some reason, I only recall Swampy stories ever just dripping with nebulous planty growth things at every turn. This YA GN doesn't go *that* in depth into microbiology or anything, but it's present in a way that might inspire real-world education. The art is lovely and I consider this another win in DC's YA single-character GNs.
fishfish's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readmoreyall's review
4.0
At first I didn’t like the illustration style but it works for the story which surprised me. Lovely little story! Language is rough in some parts if that’s a concern for you!