Swamp Thing Episode Three Review

Originally published at: https://thegww.com/swamp-thing-01x03-review/

Swamp Thing
DC Universe
Season 1, Episode 3 "He Speaks"

By now we've all heard the news of Swamp Thing's premature cancellation, and as of this writing, the rumors still swirl as to what caused the axe to fall. At a time like this, a eulogy feels more appropriate than reviewing the most recent episode. So it was difficult to resist the urge of typing a "Swamp Thing, we hardly got the chance to know ya!" sendoff piece. You see, that would be terribly boring and rather than focus on what's to come, I'd rather concentrate on what we currently have.


In reality, even with the bad news, we still have the chance to finish the season and there is plenty of monster mayhem to enjoy before it's time to say goodbye. It's okay to whistle past the graveyard in this case. Although, I must admit this outing makes pulling the plug a little less painful.

Hold on now. Before you go sending some Louisiana gris gris my way, hear me out.  Episode three of Swamp Thing is good, not great.

This installment showcases the supporting cast, and it handles that responsibility from multiple angles very well.  In a scene where Jason Woodrue examines the corpse of Eddie Coyle, he comes off as a condescending, creepy jerk. A mutated heart that Woodrue uses to test Abby's abilities as a scientist serves as a metaphor for what could be his true motive. It's a nice touch considering, later on, he and his wife Caroline share a tender, and telling moment.

Maria Sunderland's role is also quite intriguing. Her backstory is built around the debilitating loss of her daughter Shawna. Abby's return to Marais has stirred up her feelings of grief, relegating her to sympathetic character status. Here she finds strength in a most unusual ally that makes you wonder if she has found her voice, or completely lost her mind.

Liz Tremayne hits up one of her sources searching for answers, Matt Cable tries to create a love connection, and more light is shed on Avery Sunderland's sordid affairs. All three are staples from the source material, and each individual plot thread is played out well. It's especially nice to see Liz and Matt fleshed out more. They felt like small pieces of the puzzle during the first two episodes.

On the other hand, while those appearances were enjoyable, a brief bit with Dan Cassidy and Xanadu nearly gets ruined by a product placement for beer.  I know, I know. Gotta pay the bills, but it was off-putting.

Notice I haven't mentioned Swamp Thing yet? While getting a good look at him right out of the gate, he still isn't given ample screen time on a show bearing his name. Andy Bean returns as Alec Holland, adding more murkiness to Swamp Thing's purpose. Still unsure of who or what he truly is, a dream sequence is used to set up yet another frustrated roar.

But hey, this episode is titled "He Speaks" right? So this is it! Finally, we get our star a turn on center stage and hear that signature speech pattern. Well, yes in a way,  but it won't illicit the ghastly goosebumps you may have dreamed of.

The action that sets up Swampy's first words is also lackluster. When Abby Arcane investigates what's left of Alec's lab, a new type of infection, independent of the swamp flu, shows it's ugly face. Swamp Thing engages in what I would describe as a shoving match with the menace, handling the situation quite easily. The combination of saving the day and connecting with Abby should have more of an impact. After witnessing the evisceration that befalls Swamp Thing's enemies, this outcome will elicit a few yawns.

All of the visual and horror components we've become accustomed to with the series are still intact. Fair warning though, if you're the kind of person who enjoys a snack before watching a show, skip it. It'll take some serious intestinal fortitude to stomach the opening sequence. Go ahead and save those nachos for when Swamp Thing is over.

Fans of the comics should be pleased with a nod to the Rot, an elemental kingdom with the ability to control decay featured during the New 52, and going much further back, a nice little Conclave namedrop. The latter will also make fans ears perk up, especially with whom it's directed at.

"He Speaks" falls just shy of meeting the standard set by the previous set of episodes. Mainly because the Swamp Thing we get didn't do enough. I can accept a slow burn, but when our hero gets his chances, make them count. The previously prominent wow factor took a wrong turn and wilted. You know what though? Everyone is allowed an off day, even if they're not fully human, so I'll give the big green guy a muck-encrusted mulligan.

⭐6.5 Tubers out of 10⭐

-David Schultz

Swamp Thing Episode 2 Review SPOILER FREE

Originally published on the GWW.


While watching Episode Two of Swamp Thing, one thing is apparent; The show is out to create a truly diverse environment for the audience to enjoy. From the dimly lit bayou implying danger at night to sets that make you feel like you’re smack dab in the middle of a remote, Louisiana lifestyle. The mood is perfectly captured scene to scene.
That being said, don’t believe it’s only about the atmosphere. There is some wonderful character building at play here. Crystal Reed continues to impress as Abby Arcane, plus the script grants deeper dives into the supporting cast from the previous installment. Susie (Elle Graham), Matt Cable (Henderson Wade), Liz Tremayne (Maria Sten) and Madame Xanadu (Jeryl Prescott) all continue to develop quite nicely and naturally. Xanadu’s emergence also proves to be quite impactful. Not only is her look enough to chill you to the core, but she is also deeply rooted in Maria Sunderland’s downward spiral of grief.

Will Patton’s portrayal of Avery Sunderland is downright excellent. Each appearance is a highlight. One scene, in particular, explores the emotional scars reopened with Abby’s return to her hometown after a 14 year, self-imposed exile, exposing what a true master manipulator he is. Not long after, we receive hints at the sinister villain he’s bound to become. Patton’s performance is so good in fact, I implore the writers not to bother with a faithful adaptation of Alan Moore’s classic Swamp Thing story, the Anatomy Lesson. More on comic continuity a little later.

Episode Two ushers in some new faces to the cast with Sheriff Cable (Jennifer Beals), Jason Woodrue (Kevin Durand) and Dan Cassidy aka the Blue Devil (Ian Ziering). To be perfectly honest,the whole idea of including Blue Devil in the series rubbed me the wrong way when it was announced. I worried the series would turn into a bloated superhero ensemble rather than focus on the most important players, Swamp Thing and Abby. While I’m not ditching my concerns entirely as we are only two episodes in, seeing how Blue Devil was implemented here and Ziering’s charming performance put me at ease.

The final act is a full immersion into a perfectly paced slasher film. Edge of your seat suspense, with the right amount of action and gore. Swamp Thing is also finally allowed his time to shine. While not given much screen time overall, I will say what we do get of Swamp Thing is nothing short of fantastic. This episode gives us a better look at our hero and doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. The design is absolutely spot on. Some may argue in this day and age going full CGI makes the most sense, but mixing an actor in a body suit (Derek Mears) with modern effects has proven to be the smart choice. All we need now is more of him.

And oh, the last bit of dialogue during the show will send tingles down your spine, provided you still have one after witnessing what happens to Swamp Thing’s enemies.

Finally, as I mentioned in my review of the pilot, fans of the source material need to adjust their expectations on what is being translated to the television show. You’ll be immediately struck by the location changing from Houma to Marais, yet they maintain that Holland has a dog per Swamp Thing volume 1 from the 70s. These examples are only scratching the surface as some alterations may seriously tempt you to pull your hair out.

First off, please don’t do that. Speaking for guys with a Kojak sheen, we can only dream about having the beautiful locks you’re about to yank on. Secondly, it opens up speculation avenues for those who are well read in Swamp Thing lore. Something that’s struck me over the course of the last two episodes is how Susie resembles Karen Clancy from the 1982 Swamp Thing relaunch. Did the writers have her in mind while scripting the series? Probably not, but I’ve ultimately decided that it’s much more fun to enhance my viewing experience with theories than trash it for lack of loyalty.
It’s safe to say, Swamp Thing officially has me hooked.  If you enjoy visually stunning, character-driven, gothic horror, feel free to grab some popcorn and pull up a stump. We’re in for one heck of a show.

7.5 Tubers out of 10

-David Schultz

Swamp Thing (Vol.2) #38

This Christmas, I want to give my fellow fans the gift that keeps on giving. If you were expecting a Jelly of the Month Club subscription, apologies in advance but this year I've arranged for Santa to bring Swamp Thing in his sleigh!
Much like good ol' Saint Nick, I'm double checking my list. Hmm, seems like there are three types of people on here.
1) Love Alan Moore's Swamp Thing.
2) Haven't read Moore's Swamp Thing in a long time.
3) Never checked it out.
Whatever camp you find yourself in hopefully, I can please all of you. While the story I'm about to recap wouldn't be confused as a yuletide yarn, it's one I consider a classic. Curl up next to a warm fire and cover your chestnuts folks. It's time to take a look at Swamp Thing Vol.2 #38 "Still Waters" cover dated July 1985 by Alan Moore, Stan Woch and John Totleben.

This story occurs at an interesting time in Swamp Thing lore. Readers today know of him as the Avatar of the Green but he came from humble beginnings. Since his creation in 1971 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson and up to this point, he was more of a homogeneous muck monster. Swamp Thing #37 introduced John Constantine, who proved to be the catalyst for some intriguing changes.
Alan Moore had already flexed his muscles and shocked fans in the pages of  Saga of the Swamp Thing #21, but the American Gothic arc is when the true potential of his powers are revealed. The issue we are about to discuss is the first leg of his jaunt across the states in search of self-discovery.

Something that separates Swampy from similar creations is his relationship with Abby. It's deeply rooted love affair that's withstood the most unusual of circumstances. We get a taste of that in a beautifully scripted goodbye weaved into the origin of a doomed event. The flow at play here is akin to a delicate, touching lyric. There are moments where Moore so accurately describes the feeling of heartache it could crack the narration box.

To the uninitiated, a sign for Rosewood, Illinois is of little significance but it's actually a brilliant tie-in. Previously in Saga of the Swamp Thing #3 by Martin Pasko and Tom Yeates, the town was flooded in an effort to destroy some pesky punk rock vampires. Revisiting history provides fertile ground for Moore. While I'm glad he chose to utilize it, nearby citizens of Rosewood would disagree. The deluged vampires have become quite accustomed to their new environment. Free from the punishment inflicted by direct sunlight, they take advantage and nibble on teenage swimmers.

Leeches force the boys out of the water, all except one that is. While he floats looking frozen, the others see shadows under the water and bolt. Promises to return for him echo out as they flee into the forest. The vampires now full after feeding on the forgotten friend, swim away. Their home is the corroded skeleton of the town once known as Rosewood. This will prove to be the breeding place for something sinister.
Meanwhile, Swamp Thing endures an early trip into the Green. While tumbling through what seems like an endless void, he recalls Constantine had instructed to meet him at Rosewood. The mysterious mandate fills his mind with the memories of his first experience with the town as he goes from seed to sprout and eventually stem.

Like her lover, Abby has become lost in a realm of reverie. Her co-worker has confused her daydreaming as concern for her comatose and estranged husband  Matt Cable. Constantine, making his way to meet Swampy is sidetracked by a bumpkin in a bar. The boys argue on what to do about their pal they abandoned at the lake. That particular swimming spot had been forbidden by their parents and only one of them is brave enough to go back.

The vampires are in the process of performing a ritual. If you weren't already creeped out by these parasites distorted by the depths, get a load of this gal. Like a queen bee serviced by the members of the hive, they have mimicked that method to meet their own need. A bloated woman is decorated with a bridal veil. They refer to her as the "Mother" but what is she capable of giving birth to? Here's another example of a page that reads like poetry. Moore gives just a hint of who she was while implying her horrific purpose.

Swamp Thing now fully formed has no patience for the ambiguous information fed to him by Constantine. They stand at an edge of the lake together engaged in hostile conversation. It's actually a running theme throughout the arc. Swampy is desperate to discover why he exists but has the misfortune of having a chain-smoking shyster as his guide along the way. Constantine continues to crack wise resulting in Swamp Thing taking him by the trench coat in a fit of anger.

As for that kid with the courage to return to the lake? Yeah, A+ in ethics but a massive fail in execution. Actually, scratch that. An execution goes great, just not in his favor. His buddy now turned undead, leads him to the water where a  group of soggy bloodsuckers quickly turn him into fish food. 

While Constantine is soiling his knickers, the submerged vampires hail their succubus. She ceremonially spawns a set of eggs. Swampy decides it's time to mop up his mess, releasing a relieved John Constantine. What new species of evil is about to hatch in the dark? You'll have to come back next month to find out!

The talent involved here is top notch. I've gone on about Moore's writing but the artistic talents are also superb. It's hard to tell Stan Woch is a fill-in because John Totleben's inks maintain the consistency a reader would receive from regular series penciller Stephen Bissette.  (Not to mention Totleben is one hell of an all around illustrator, who rightfully took center stage on key issues and covers.)

I highly recommend to not only pick up this two-parter but as many issues of this run you can get your grubby fingers on. They are inexpensive and easy to collect. Permit me to be a cranky old bastard for a second here; it boggles my mind that fans put so much value on first appearances, variants and allow speculation to affect sales. What about content? Tales such as these are priceless and should truly be sought after. 
It's probably not a surprise that Swamp Thing is my favorite DC character and I consider this the greatest turn taken on a comic. Hands down and without hesitation, these are mags I would want buried with. Feel free to check my will!
When discussing it within the community, I often hear it described as a great horror title. Sure, I know it's scary on the surface although if  I'm inclined to apply any tag, I would choose to call it a love story. Possibly one of the finest ever told.
Skip the sweets this year and stuff your loved one's stockings with Swamp Thing. This epoch is available digitally on Comixology and in trade form. Or better yet, hit those bins and remember...never leave a good book behind.

Happy Holidays you filthy animals,
David Schultz


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