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.
To bring up Swamp Thing in conversation is sure to dust off memories of the 1982 Wes Craven film, the comedy tinted, pseudo-sequel Return of Swamp Thing, or the short-lived (yet episode packed) series that ran on the USA Network from 1990-1993. Many folks cite these works as their definitive recall of the character, while not all bad, can definitely be considered not fully loyal to the comic book canon. Originally created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson back in 1971, Swamp Thing has had many notable, even classic tales told since then. Alan Moore's legendary run from the mid 1980s has become required reading among fans.
Within the realm of film and television, a whole generation has grown up without any live-action Swamp Thing in their lives over the last 26 years. During that time, our opinions about how we view adaptations in superhero media has changed. Well, for most of us, as a quick scroll through Twitter could prove me wrong.
The emphasis for the audience has evolved into caring less about continuity carried out in the comics and concentrating more on good storytelling. We currently live in a golden age, where our favorite capes and creatures delight us in various forms of media on the regular. If you blink, you'll miss a new release based on a property that originally came from the pages of a comic book. This was far from the norm when Swamp Thing had his limited time in the limelight and the hardcore fan base, if they haven't already, needs to adjust their mindset accordingly prior to watching the pilot for Swamp Thing debuting on DC Universe, May 31st.
The pilot does a fine job establishing the core of characters that will lead us through the series. They are weaved in seamlessly over the first 59 minutes of the show and each introduction feels natural. The star that shines brightest isn't the titular monster, but rather Abby Arcane. Played by actress Crystal Reed, Abby is a member of the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service who has been called home to Marais, Louisiana where a potential outbreak is threatening the lives of the locals. Unlike the source material, Abby's depth is established quickly, thanks to good writing and Reed's excellent acting performance.
She soon meets the somewhat awkward biologist (and big on 80's television references) Alec Holland, played by Andy Bean. He's also investigating the epidemic, albeit from an unofficial channel. Alec and Abby pair up to put the pieces of the puzzle together and share a fair amount of chemistry onscreen. Most notably, when mutual confessions reveal more layers to their backstories for the series to explore over the course of the next nine episodes.
Another powerful first appearance is that of Avery Sunderland, portrayed by Will Patton. A wealthy businessman from Marais, who surprisingly, is one of the only actors to utilize a southern accent. His introductory scene carries weight, not only proving he is a calming voice for the townsfolk, but also a major player in all of the secrets to unfold in the swamp. Also worth noting, as told by his wife Maria (Virginia Madsen), the history Abby shares with the Sunderland family is quite substantial.
Executive producer James Wan has promised the series will be horror heavy. This episode wastes no time solidifying the fact, establishing the mood of the show from the opening sequence. With the right mix of suspense, action, and gore, they are as taking full advantage of the R rating. Those who appreciate the genre will notice the care put into giving Swamp Thing a truly spooky turn on television. Exhibiting a hearty blend of practical and computer-generated visual effects, viewers will be terrified of the evil brewing in the bayou.
Composer Brian Tyler is a big contributor to the scares with his thick and haunting sounds. The music is the perfect accompaniment to the ambiance of the show and helps to set up the suspense for key scenes. It's easy to find yourself lost in the moment, due to the table setting provided by Tyler's dark, melodic tones.
Not to say this episode doesn't bear some blemishes. There's a cringe-worthy moment that I interpreted as an attempt at flirting involving Google speak, and I considered Andy Bean's performance as Alec to be a little dry. While not bad, there were times I felt when given emotional cues within the script, he lacked punch. This could be due to his co-star Crystal Reed stealing the show with the same opportunities.
Also keep in mind, this is an origin story. For those who are eager to see the big green guy onscreen, temper those expectations. You will get your wish in dramatic fashion. So in the meantime, enjoy the other bumps in the night provided over the course of the Swamp Thing pilot.
As I noted during my introduction, this is a modern reinterpretation of Swamp Thing geared to attract a new audience. As a fan myself, reading anything Swamp Thing related to cross my path over the last 30 years, it's hard to dismiss the adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"; Yet if you measure the show on its own merits there's a lot to like. I'm very excited to see how the newest chapter in the Swamp Thing mythos unfolds. DC Universe has a potential winner here
Swamp Thing Giant #3 DC Comics/ Walmart Exclusive April 2019 $4.99 USD Writer: Tim Seeley Artist: Joëlle Jones Colorist: John Kalisz Letterer: Dave Sharpe
"Bog of Blood Part Two"
Last we saw of our star Swamp Thing, he was searching for his abducted companion Briar in the junkyard lair of the mysterious Ms.Ravenmocker. This installment starts with a high octane action sequence that to be perfectly honest, surprised me a bit. The methods used to illicit mayhem are fairly unique for a Swampy tale. I really enjoyed that.
Briar may have been taken, but she uses that as an opportunity to put the puzzle pieces together. Discovering what's been done to the missing teens from last issue and who Ravenmocker truly is. The origin reveal is a little lackluster, but we are given a wider sense of what her involvement meant and what will be necessary to defeat the Barren.
Even if like me, you found the reveal to be wonky, it's easily overlooked thanks to the jaw-dropping artwork. I was extremely pleased to see Joëlle Jones had returned to render another installment. One of the lousy things about this Walmart Giant is the vague amount of information about it. Will Joëlle be back next month? No clue, but I'll tell you what, she could illustrate Swamp Thing preparing taxes for six issues straight and I'd still buy the hell out of it.
Overall this was yet another well-crafted chapter. It has enough meat on the bone to make you forget it's only twelve pages long. The seeds that were planted in the Halloween Special have been tended to with care and are about to sprout into something sinister. Reprints aside, the main feature is a cool story with stunning visuals that made for a can't miss. -David Schultz
This book certainly caught me by surprise! I knew it was due to drop the second half of this month, but I didn't exactly time it out to the last release. Luckily, I wandered over to the hobby section in my local Walmart and spotted a few ragged copies that remained. For more on the condition, exclusivity and reprints included in the 100 Page Giants, you can read my review of issue #1 by clicking here.
The story is really enjoyable. Keeping with the previous installments, Swamp Thing and his companion Briar dig deeper into the mystery of an elemental force known as the Barren. While investigating a pair of missing campers, they encounter a new villain named Ms. Ravenmocker. Like the Char-Man before her, she has ties to the Barren although her involvement provides a new twist. While not reinventing the wheel, this yarn is properly plotted, provided a couple chuckles, and the action was well allotted. The page count may indicate an appetizer but this puppy reads like a full meal. My only gripe, albeit tiny, was the re-telling Swamp Thing's origin AGAIN! We just had a sampling of that last issue. I'm inclined to blame editorial, yet whatever the case may be, it was done in a cool manner. Using an urban legend as the source serves as a nifty delivery. But alas, the true seller of this repetitive root wasn't the script. Nope, it's thanks to Joëlle Jones.
The illustrations totally knocked my socks off! A welcome addition to the marsh of artistic masters that have worked on the character, Joëlle Jones is a talent not to take lightly. Paired perfectly with the colors of Trish Mulvilhill, fans are treated to a feast for the eyes. Personally, I haven't been this jazzed over a Swamp Thing artist since the smooth stylings of Jesus Saiz from the N52 era. Stunning in every sense of the word, I would happily hand my wallet over to DC should Jones ever work on an ongoing Swampy project.
As for the future of the 100 Page Giant? A wee bit murky. With rumors swirling that the line was facing cancellation, Dan DiDido shut those rumors down but commented there was a shift coming. Whatever the future may hold, Swamp Thing Giant #2 is an outstanding product worth spending your hard earned dollars on. Grab a copy while you can. -David Schultz *All external links are intended for information purposes only*
Swamp Thing #1 100 Page Comic Giant! (Walmart Exclusive) DC Comics February 2019 $4.99 USD So what's the hubbub about the Walmart 100 Page Giants from DC Comics? Well, if you spend a few minutes on Twitter you're bound to find fairly mixed reactions. Some folks like myself appreciate the nod to the past. Namely, providing nostalgia nuzzlers a product similar to the Super Spectaculars of the 1970s. Affordable reprints to get superheroes into the hands of the masses. Detractors will say, and rightfully so, they are poorly displayed in stores and easily damaged hiding in the hobby/novelty sections young kids tend to frequent. One of the issues came under fire for the adult nature of its content considering children can easily pick it up and give it a gander. There's also the fact international Walmart consumers are ignored. The specials are only available in the United States so, enjoy that nifty health care system Canada. We got comics!
I was truly excited to hear Swamp Thing got the green light for a Walmart ongoing. While there was a Halloween Horror Giant, he hasn't had a solo book since the miniseries from Len Wein and Kelley Jones in 2016. Sure, the originals are only twelve pages long, but as anyone who has picked up a 100 Page Giant can attest to, they are a really nice package for the price. Plus, you can snag a copy while you're out for milk and eggs. As to avoid getting too far into the weeds here, I'm only giving my opinions on the original material and then the reprints as a whole.
"Desert of Ash" Tim Seeley- Writer Mike Perkins- Artist Jordan Boyd- Colors Dave Sharpe- Letters Chris Conroy- Editor For those who've been following the muck-encrusted mockery of a man post Rebirth, you already know it's been a mixed bag. There's been the good, most notably in the current volume of Justice League Dark and short stories featured in anthology titles. Then there's the downright ugly, avoid Damage and the Terrifics at all cost. The characterization is just too damn loose. I've come to grips with continuity being dead and buried, but Swampy has been handled poorly. There's just zero consistency from his motivation to back story. Tim Seeley was the writer of one of the aforementioned good ones. He dabbled with Swampy during his Hellblazer run and wrote a fine little ditty called "The Spread" featured in Cursed Comics Cavalcade from October 2018. A seasoned pro and Swamp Thing fan, Seeley appears to be a natural choice to handle writing chores on this project. Here, he pairs Swamp Thing with an interesting partner named Briar we met in the previous special. Briar's a witch with a colorful past who has unique abilities perfectly suited for the partnership. She exhibits a snarky attitude that provides a nice dose of humor to the narrative as well. The pacing exhibited in this short story is smooth. Readers are treated to a nice dose of action right off the bat, as the duo take on a villain referred to as 'The Char Man". A rather gruesome looking chap with an affinity for flames. What's his deal? Let's just say fans of elemental powers in Mark Millar's run and Avatars from the New 52 are going to be very pleased. Was that a spoiler? If so, apologies. Go ahead and unread that. All that being said, there were a couple headscratchers that tied into some limitations Swamp Thing exhibited at the onset of the tale. All seemed to be resolved during the obligatory origin retelling, yet why was that the case at all? Still, Seeley's version looks to be in tune with what we see in Justice League Dark and pays tribute to Alan Moore's vision of the character. Hopefully clarity is around the corner. The art was moody and dark. Mike Perkins handled a nice balance between fine lines and chaotic fervor. As someone not overly familiar with his work going in, any concerns I may have had were put to rest. I'm intrigued. Not only does this tie into the Halloween Horror Giant but if my theories are correct, sets the table for some hefty stuff. The entire creative team did a nice job putting this bad boy together. While it's only a small sample, it carried a big punch.
Now it's time for the reprints. They are: Animal Man Vol. 2 #1, Swamp Thing Vol. 5 #1, and ShadowPact Vol. 1 #1. That's all fine and dandy. I understand why DC included them and it's pretty cool they intend to continue them sequentially in ish #2. My big beef is this, if you want to showcase some more Swamp Thing, the Snyder run is wasteful. Admittedly, it's pretty darn good and is full of homages to the past, but it's fairly recent and there's so much more material that could benefit from the spotlight. Sure, there's a bunch of classics throughout Swamp Thing history that would easily fit the bill, but I have my mind on something in particular... In the early nineties, Nancy Collins came on the title starting with Vol. 2 #110. Her run has never been given the trade treatment. It was a deep and profound take on Swamp Thing lore. Many of the themes she tackled then carry weight today. Those stories deserve an opportunity to be discovered by a new audience. Want to read the works of Wein, Moore, Veitch, Brian K. Vaughan and so on? They are just a keystroke and "add to your cart" away. Collins however, requires some serious bin diving if you're interested in physical copies. There is one bubble of joy in the bayou as the Nancy Collins content is available on Comixology, but DC really dropped the ball here. One last thing before I step off the soap box. It's impossible to find the stats on these books, no print runs nor sales numbers. Tried dancing with Google and came up empty. I also attempted reaching out to a couple of people associated with this book for answers to no avail. Other publications are easily tracked and reported on monthly, yet the Walmart exclusives are shrouded in mystery. I hope to get more information on this soon. In the meantime, I'm keeping my fingers crossed the returns are healthy on the 100 Page Giants. Despite dining on sour grapes to close out this column, I do highly recommend picking this up. An accessible comic at an affordable price point. Serious bang for your buck. Now drop what you're doing and grab a mop. Clean up in aisle seven...I'm in love! - David Schultz
It's Super Blog Team-Up season! Not familiar? It's a great community of comic book bloggers that get together annually and write about a shared topic. This year is all about: REDEMPTION. I'll get back to that in a bit and the roll call of my fellow Super Bloggers will be listed at the end of this column but before I dig in on my subject matter, big thanks to @CharltonHero for starting the project and having me aboard. Luckily, it wasn't difficult to select a story I wanted to discuss as part of this event. Fond memories flooded my mind of a series based around a no-good louse, looking to make good to pay for sins of the past. Plus, with the creative team of Garth Ennis and Carlos Ezquerra, this must be a sign from the heavens to clear the cobwebs and give Just A Pilgrim a long overdue re-read. In the early 2000's, I wasn't immune to Ennis fever. He had just wrapped up one of the greatest comic runs to ever see print with Preacher and in my eyes could do no wrong. Engaging scripts filled with raunchy yet compelling ideas. Who could ask for more? After a lifetime of capes, Ennis provided a different perspective. It didn't hurt I was also in my formative years of adulthood, so the humor was right up my alley. Give me more gore, gross gags and gobsmackery! Not sure if that last one there is really a word but damn, that era of material sure got me jazzed up.
Before I dive into the book itself, I'd like to take a moment to focus on the publisher. There's rarely a fan in my age range that doesn't have nostalgic fueled goosebumps when remembering Wizard Magazine. I specifically note "age range" as some of us old stumps collected in a time pre-internet. Way back, when one would have to look to friends or a publishers checklist to gauge what was worthy of redistributing your lunch money for. So to have a magazine with interviews, humor, price guides and everything related to the love of comics...wowza! There had been plenty of fanzines over the years with historical significance but for my generation Wizard was a game changer. Now, I don't want to come off as elderly. We did have message boards and such by the time this series came out, but getting that copy of Wizard with your pull was something special. Alright, alright...I'll get a room. Wizard was so popular in fact, they broadened their horizons with other enterprises. One of which, Black Bull Entertainment, sought to bring in major talent and make some hay. There was a fair amount of hype at the onset but unlike, for example, Image Comics, it couldn't maintain the momentum and crawled into the shadows. Now, in no way would I normally compare the two publishers as sales charts would make me look foolish but for my buck, Garth Ennis was a bigger draw than the star-studded artists that created Image. New publisher, new series with Ennis at the helm, where do I sign? It was also a great physical product. The paper stock was gloss while also being sturdy and they saved all of the ads until the end of the book. Albeit those ads were nothing more than Wizard propaganda anyway. There were also pin-ups to close the stories out along with letter pages and creator bios. Nice package for $2.99 USD.
So what was it about? To be perfectly honest, you may want to calibrate your groan sensors. Post-apocalyptic warfare people! A trope more tired than a damsel tied to train tracks. Still, Ennis has shown a strong affection for westerns and war tales, so they were bound to be intertwined here as well, perhaps providing more depth. The narrative is told by a little boy named Billy Shepard via the pages torn from his diary. They tell of how the Earth suffered a cataclysm called "The Burn" that has destroyed most of the surface areas and led the oceans to dry up. Billy along with his family and a wandering caravan found themselves under assault by pirates when a righteous stranger arrived in time to save them. When asked who he is, surrounded by fire and death, the mystery man raises his head revealing the shape of a cross seared into his face and responds "Just A Pilgrim."
I mean, c'mon...it's obvious this dude's gonna be a serious badass. Unfortunately for anyone who's read Preacher, the Pilgrim seems like a blatant Saint of Killers knockoff. In many aspects there's a solid argument there. One that I will make later. As for now, what you need to know is he's a reluctant hero and a zealot. All of his actions are deemed to be God's will and Pilgrim views every creature as a puzzle piece to serve that purpose. Even if that means fatal facial reconstruction.
Par the course for Ennis, all of the oddballs are on full display. The main villain, Castenado, is a blind amputee with a gift for gruesome gab. A member of Pilgrim's party named Dirk gets impregnated by a pit monster, rendering him less than a personable pustule. Nearly two decades ago I'm sure all of this gave me a good chuckle. I was 21 years old and heavily into Bukowski and booze. Now, however I kind of meh at it. Not that all of the gags aren't funny or could only be considered such, especially by an adolescent. I bet this will rib-tickle a bunch of folks but it just not as clever as I thought it was. Have I matured? Are dad jokes my new bread and butter? Probably.
I know require the most epic of drum rolls as it's...redemption time! Or maybe more appropriately, what could be vaguely considered redemption for a man such as Pilgrim. A recurring theme throughout the first two issues had been Billy's Mom getting a strange sense of generalization when Pilgrim was around. Oh, there's definitely a reason for that. If you had a sneaking suspicion his origin had anything to do with happiness or joy, lay off the grass. The cover image should provide enough of a hint that it's about to get weird up in here.
Who was this nut job before he met the lord? A different sort of crazy. He was a special forces soldier and as he tells it, a sinner. He lived for murder, drinking and dames. After a mission went awry, Pilgrim and his men were stranded at sea on a lifeboat. With time turning to weeks and no rescue to be had, desperate men always turn to desperate measures. In this case, cannibalism. After over 100 days on that raft, he was finally found by a passing ship as the lone survivor. Barely clinging to life, his diet didn't do his demeanor any favors.
The military gave him a psych discharge, considering no other members of his regiment would work with him. The Army was the only home he had ever known. Without it, Pilgrim decided it best to drink his life away. One night, after getting sloshed at a bar, he hit a hobo with his car. Pilgrim gazed upon the man he had just killed and rather than feeling remorse, he thought of a recipe. He discovered he still had cravings for flesh and human stew was on the menu. The authorities caught wind of people disappearing and Pilgrim got himself locked up.
While in the clink, he would get frequent visits from the prison chaplain. Pilgrim had no interest in buying what he was selling. Bible verses, the Lord's guiding hand and all, wasn't very appealing to a man who believed he could never be redeemed. Still, the priest persisted. He would visit his cell each and every week, speaking of religion while Pilgrim sat unimpressed. This continued for years. When finally it appeared Pilgrim had softened to the idea of accepting a larger power, that pesky Burn happened. The sun scorched the earth, killing everyone within its reach. The priest tried to free the prisoners but much like his experience on the raft, Pilgrim was the only one still alive. In a foolhardy attempt to reach a vehicle, the clergyman got himself cooked. We've already established Pilgrim is an unbalanced fella so of course, he would take a cross, melt his damned face and finally accept God.
I'm not here to spoil the remainder of this five issue series. Wanna read the rest? Up to you my friend. But wait there's more! If you do dig it, there's also a sequel named Just A Pilgrim: Garden Of Eden. Trying new comics is never a bad thing. Right now, I'd prefer to focus on that whole "carbon copy" bit I brought up earlier. For fans of Preacher not only does Pilgrim have a similar look. The attitude also carries over. Pilgrim is more of a talker as he spouts out scripture in the middle of a massacre yet the strong but silent, movie westerns archetype is applicable to both. They're also bad dudes who didn't want redemption and would rather rot away, accepting that to be the fate of the wicked.
Aside from those two, there are even more glaring similarities at play here. Most notably, the villains.
I can imagine Garth Ennis looking over his shoulder while cashing his checks at the bank, in fear of getting caught for draining the well. I can't blame him. His admirers, myself included, gobbled it up. Arguably, the most popular baddies he's created, Herr Starr (Preacher) and Ma Gnucci (Punisher) had something very unique in common with the antagonist featured in this series. They were all dismembered. While Starr and Gnucci were put through the wringer for shock value and laughs, a distinct difference this time out was that Castenado lacked eyes, hands, and feet from the get-go. For some reason, Ennis didn't devote the time to torture him as he did the others. Why did he decide losing limbs was a lovely way to depict the degenerates? That I can't say. His garden must look terrible though.
You may have gathered I wouldn't consider Just A Pilgrim to be Ennis's finest hour. Even with excellent pacing, this yarn provides its fair share of yawns. However, it does have some noteworthy strengths that will appeal to many readers. The art by Carlos Ezquerra is outstanding and Paul Mounts kills it on colors. There's also a TON of action to be had here which gives it a summer blockbuster quality. I could see this being adapted to other forms of media with success for that very reason. It's no masterpiece like Preacher but if Garth's gimmicks haven't grown stale to you, give it a try. Just A Pilgrim isn't a sought out book making it easy to pick up on the cheap physically and it's available for digital purchase in trade form.
See that? In the end, little Billy Shepard just wanted the same thing all bloggers do. So don't wait! Check out all of these amazing Super Blog Team Up pages. Just click on the site name and away you go to truly incredible content!
Special thanks to my pal Chris Sheehan for giving me a swift kick in the keister, propelling me back into the blogosphere. I would like to say this was a case of saving the best for last, but it was actually just an attempt to get him to read the whole thing. Excelsior!
*All external links for Just A Pilgrim are intended for informational purposes.
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 Thingin 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 introducedJohn 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 #3by 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
*all links are intended for informational purposes only*
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.
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.
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.
