crin_d1nk 's review for:

Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore

5.0

dark 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

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I’ve been reading comics for years, but Swamp Thing was one I always stayed away from. Mostly because I was afraid Alan Moore’s legendary run wouldn’t live up to the hype. Turns out, I was wrong—Saga of the Swamp Thing Book One totally delivers.

I love when a comic just drops you into the story without a ton of setup, and Moore does exactly that. I didn’t need to know much going in; everything made sense as it unfolded. His portrayal of the Justice League—especially their struggle to deal with nature—was surprisingly thought-provoking. And somehow, he even made Etrigan the Demon enjoyable to read. Usually I skip his dialogue because of the forced rhyming, but here it actually flowed.

The art is killer. Issue #20, with its symmetrical layouts, really stood out. Swamp Thing himself looks incredible, and Tatjana Wood’s colors bring a ton of depth and mood. Sure, older comic art sometimes gets overlooked, but this team proves why it shouldn’t be.

I want to put in a disclaimer that this series was originally published in 1984. In issues 25-27, the portrayal of autism and how it's treated is an outdated apporach. 

I’m all in now—I can’t wait to read the next volume.