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Swamp Thing, Vol. 2: Love and Death (Swamp Thing (1980s) #2)

by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette (Illustrator), John Totleben (Illustrator), Shawn McManus (Illustrator)

4.30 · rating details · 1,647 ratings · 78 reviews

What Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, and John Totleben accomplished during their time on the comic book series Swamp Thing shouldn't be underestimated in the history of comics and, specifically, the history of horror comics. The modern comics landscape has been changed by the Vertigo line of books--an imprint that traces its roots back to this version of Swamp Thing. By...more

Paperback, 207 pages

Published April 1st 1995 by Vertigo

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Nov 22, 2009

Ryne Barber rated it

· review of another edition

Swamp Thing has been around for as long as I can remember - I used to own a comic in the '90s where Swamp Thing and this other lady were having some sweet loving. It wasn't any of the issues out of this collection, but I'm pretty sure it was an Alan Moore story, so the memory isn't totally out of context. Anyway, Vertigo's reissue of Alan Moore's seminal story is collected in a nice hardcover volume that, for this book, includes issues 28 - 34 of the series.

I never realized how fanta...moreSwamp Thing has been around for as long as I can remember - I used to own a comic in the '90s where Swamp Thing and this other lady were having some sweet loving. It wasn't any of the issues out of this collection, but I'm pretty sure it was an Alan Moore story, so the memory isn't totally out of context. Anyway, Vertigo's reissue of Alan Moore's seminal story is collected in a nice hardcover volume that, for this book, includes issues 28 - 34 of the series.

I never realized how fantastic Swamp Thing really was until I read this edition. No prior knowledge of the series is required to pick up this volume - Moore does a great job of telling the story without forcing the reader to follow each issue. The plot is easy to pick up on, and the books are broken up well enough that they don't leave with cliffhangers.

Moore's writing is wonderful, a poetic prose form, using enviable metaphor that adds to the beautiful visuals that Bissette and Totleban designed. Swamp Thing is easy to feel for; he may look like a monster but his personality shines like the sun. His friend Abby is equally as friendly and fresh, and there's even a wonderful moment where the two join together intimately to become one plant-human concoction of LSD-like hypnosis.

But I digress - I'm not here to talk about Moore's work on Swamp Thing, but the actual reissue itself. DC Comics has left the paper comic pages intact, which some may disagree with but a decision that I love. Comics have dropped using the paper pages and resorted to glossy ones. They feel nice, yes, and there's less of a chance for papercuts, but I like how Swamp Thing takes us back in time to comics of old. The paper gives a nostalgic feel, bringing me back to days where I used to sit up in my aunt's closet and read old horror comics.

The hardcover binding comes with a slipcover with fantastic cover art. There's not too much in the way of added extras; we get an introduction from Jamie Delano, a foreword by Neil Gaiman, and some author bios at the back of the book. Even if you do have the issues, though, it's nice to have them all in one place.

Otherwise, though, this collection of Swamp Thing is a must-have for fans of the series, or for those who have never read the series. Ecological crises are a hot topic right now, and one that the world can not forget about. Swamp Thing is a character that not only upholds this idea that the earth is connected to humanity, but he is our savior as well - we must accept the fact that we need Earth to survive, something that we tend to forget in the face of our own daily needs. This reissue of Saga of the Swamp Thing is coming at a much-needed time; I cannot ictuate enough how moving the story really is.(less)

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May 31, 2009

Joseph rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novel, fiction, favorites

Now I get it. I wasn't blown away by the first volume, but volume two makes it clear why people rave about Moore's Swamp Thing.

I'm not sure why I liked this volume so much more. Possibly, it just seems more epic and more suited to the adventures of a creature that is an elemental force, rather than merely another action hero. For me, at least, Swamp Thing's physicality should seem almost an afterthought.

Now, I kind of understand where Moore is going. Swamp Thing makes...more

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Dec 13, 2011

Mel rated it

· review of another edition

I'm continuing to enjoy Swamp Thing. I must say I was a little dissappointed that the evil flies that returned were a previously defeated villian, it just felt a bit too much like a comic book cliche. But apart from that it was a very creepy story to start out the collection. I'm really liking Abi, even when she doesn't do much. Swamp thing's descent into hell to save her was very sweet. The story about the cute little aliens felt a little out of place after such a dark adventure! But it was qui...more

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Jan 28, 2011

Ryan rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: horror, graphic-novels, fantasy

My reading through Alan Moore's oeuvre comes, ironically enough, with one of his earliest North American works, and one of the ones he's best known for. I'm actually surprised that it took me this long to get to reading it, due to how influential it is compared to a lot of his other work - it's been argued that without Swamp Thing, Vertigo Comics would never have coalesced, which I think would have had a huge impact on how comics are formatted and marketed today (especially regarding the now-r...moreMy reading through Alan Moore's oeuvre comes, ironically enough, with one of his earliest North American works, and one of the ones he's best known for. I'm actually surprised that it took me this long to get to reading it, due to how influential it is compared to a lot of his other work - it's been argued that without Swamp Thing, Vertigo Comics would never have coalesced, which I think would have had a huge impact on how comics are formatted and marketed today (especially regarding the now-routine collection of comics into trade collections) as well as the types of stories being told. Reading this volume it's easy to spot how some of my favourite Vertigo series were influenced by it, like Jamie Delano's Animal Man run (which, criminally, remains uncollected) and Gaiman's Sandman (I had no idea that making Cain and Abel part of The Dreaming predated Gaiman).

One of the things that I've always liked about Moore's work is that it's very personal, and you can often see him using the story he's telling as a vehicle of self-discovery, like he's trying to figure out his attitude towards something by telling a fantasy story with it. I got that feeling with this book – Swamp Thing is a vessel for him to study the mind-body relationship, and what part of a person is truly 'them'. Because of the nature of this as a series, rather than a single GN, he's not quite finished figuring that out, but it's already being taken in some interesting directions.

In terms of story, we get something that was unique at the time but now seems like standard Vertigo, if such a thing exists; Swamp Thing journeys to Hell to rescue the soul of the woman he loves, after her demented uncle condemned her there, meeting the likes of Etrigan, the Phantom Stranger, and Deadman along the way. After his eventual rescue of her, they explore what exactly their relationship can be, given that he's not technically human but a sentient plant. This exploration includes a fascinating scene involving hallucinogenic yams, and from there we lead into the next GN in the series.

One of the pleasant surprises here is that, given how much Moore is (rightfully) associated with long-form comics, the story I enjoyed most was the standalone “Pog”, which is a blend of Swamp Thing, Walt Kelly, and A Clockwork Orange. It's a 22-page short story, told between two rather heady storylines, that is bizarre, simple, and moving in a beautiful way that serves to sharpen the emotional impact of the stories that surround it.(less)

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Dec 18, 2010

Patrick rated it

Great stuff here. First storyline is fairly excellent, and what follows is pretty good too: I'm a little worn out on afterlife stories right now, but I must admit that Swamp Thing's descent to Hell was pretty amazing visually and would make Hieronymus Bosch proud (even though it's a bit anticlimactic to see the villain from the previous story appear once more in Hell); the Pogo sendup was cute and sad at the same time, and reminded me of a conversation I had with my mother recently about remote ...more

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Nov 16, 2011

Vleegoodfellow rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels

Chapter's 1 & 3 are solid stories, with most of Chapter 5 being solid, except for muddling a bit in the end, but ending on an incredibly tender and human visual and verbal note. Chapter 5 uses a neat creative technique of showing random people outside of the story's immediate surroundings "turning" suggesting their alignment with the story's evil antagonist. Chapter 4 doesn't quite work in terms of its bugs metaphor but contains some of the best art to be found in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, Books...more

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Dec 04, 2011

Matt Glaviano rated it

Shelves: 2011, graphic-novels

This collection is so much better than the first. In that collection, Alan Moore is finishing up story lines that he didn’t start. In volume 2, he creates a world that is entirely his own. And it’s awesome.

The horrific Arcane tale that takes up the first three or four issues is more than suitably horrible. It’s some of the best horror comic I’ve ever read. After that, these stories run every which way – whimsical, thoughtful, lustful – and succeed brilliantly wherever they mea...more

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Nov 16, 2011

Eric rated it

This series is surprisingly entertaining for me. I don't know why, since I enjoy Alan Moore, 80's comics, the dark magic of DC, and creature heroes. Really, this comic has it all and gets it right. The art is amazing and always goes beyond the call of duty. The stories are intelligently written and are always foreboding, leaving you almost afraid to turn the page. This is horror that only comics can do; creepy, detailed, and intriguing. While all the stories were well done, the last chapter of t...more

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Nov 24, 2008

Mabel rated it

Recommends it for: lovers of the mystical and moral sides of books

Shelves: comics-graphic-novels

This particular trade paperback ranks in my top 3 favourite Alan Moore story sets, along with Promethea and From Hell.

I remember admiring my childhood mentor's collection of Swamp Thing art in the early '90s. I expected it was a corny old story that should have ended with the 1950s' notion of horror. Now, as an adult, I have learned well the literary and philosophical beauty and goodness found in some comics.

In Swamp Thing Vol. 2, Moore preserves the qualities of calmne...more

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Nov 10, 2010

Bevans rated it

Before I heard about Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing, I didn't care at all about the character. But after reading Vol. 1 and now 2, I'm really enjoying it. The stories are imaginative, creepy, sometimes even disturbing, but they can also be beautiful and eye-opening. And of course there's the brilliant, cute tribute to Walt Kelly's classic Pogo comics, which was a very unexpected (but welcome) story.

The art remains excellent, though in a few places I thought ST looked a bit too cartoon...more

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Jul 28, 2011

John somers rated it

Chapter 1 The Burial is a filler story and it shows. Chapters 2 to 4 of the Arcane storyline however are superb, with image of Abby crouched on the kitchen floor bleeding after after scrubbing herself raw with a wire brush being truly horrific and a great tie up in chapter 5 down among the dead men. The image of Arcane in hell asking how many years hes been there only to be told "Since yesterday" is excellent. Chapter 6 Pog was rubbish and I wasn't massively impressed with Abandoned Ho...more

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Jul 26, 2011

Spencer rated it

· review of another edition

Still loving this series. Alan Moore (and the various artists) did an amazing job of preserving the creepiness of the swamp thing but also exploring the weirdness of the universe that he inhabits. I still find the appearance of the super heroes to be very jarring, but it is clear that is intentional. The short "Pog" story featuring the characters from Walt Kelly's Pogo brings this to an extreme. Somehow the whole thing works.

I didn't love the vegetable sex bit. It was a bit t...more

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Jan 14, 2011

Sophie rated it

Shelves: comics, owned, vertigo

I was reading this on the train, and it was fairly light outside. But the more I read, the more I was pulled into the story - I remember thinking I was surrounded by nothing but darkness (it was while reading Abandoned House) and then being startled when I happened to look up. That's how amazing this is.

It's also genuinely scary and creepy. And gorgeous to look at (no thanks to the printing, but you get the idea and it's incredible). Comic art that pushes boundaries and works so very ...more

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Jan 24, 2009

Paul Dinger rated it

This is Alan Moore's masterpiece, and anyone who doesn't think so will be convinced. Is there a creepier villian that Arcane? Is there a deeper love story that between the Swamp Thing and Abby? Though not human, this book is shot thru with humanity. Having one's humaness is something that obessessed Moore. His Watchman is full of themes along those lines. Here he creates a vegetable that only thinks he is a man, but finds ultimatly he can't let that humanity go, it will, as it does here, h...more

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May 28, 2009

Daryl Nash rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels

I hadn't read these since they originally came out in good, old-fashioned comic book form. While if I were rating them today without prior knowledge, I probably would give them only four stars for pure content, it's amazing in retrospect to see how much of the Vertigo line in general and Sandman in particular were born out of this series. As an obvious example, Cain and Abel are really given their modern re-introduction here, but the whole tone sets the stage for the horror/serious mainstream ...more

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Jul 05, 2011

Michael rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: comics

Alan Moore continues his transformation of Swamp Thing from a Frankenstein's monster of the atomic age, to a mythical force of nature set against the evils both of contemporary America and the cosmos itself.

Notes:

28. Swamp Thing's origin story is recapitulated and the beauty of seeing him staring at his original incarnation is quite outstanding. 29. Love and Death contrasts so much with the throwaway origin story, you see the panels being manipulated to great affect, and s...more

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Oct 29, 2009

Artnoose Noose rated it

I'm continuing with the Swamp Thing anthology books. I really do like the creature himself, made out of plants and whatnot. There were parts of the storyline I couldn't figure out with this one, and I didn't really like the female lead character so much, which is usually my criticism of any comic book. She's not too bad, and the psychadelic sex scene was pretty epic. Not hot, mind you, but epic. I liked the final frame of the two of them kissing and he's got all this stuff growing out of the bac...more

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Apr 01, 2010

John rated it

· review of another edition

This volume contains at least three of the all-time classic comic-book stories -- "Down Amongst the Dead Men," "Pog," and "Rite of Spring" -- all as near to perfect as comics can get.

I'll admit to some indifference about the Arcane saga that kicks off this volume, though. While full of strengths -- massive strengths, to be honest -- the villainous Arcane is a cipher to me. Since all of his evil acts occurred before Alan Moore took over the title, modern...more

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May 28, 2009

Keely rated it

Shelves: comics, horror, reviewed

Here Moore laid down a marker in the history of comics, ominous and unlikely as Archduke Ferdinand's tomb. Reading through the new wave of British authors who helped to reconceptialize the genre for us poor Americans, one understands more and more why it had to be this man. There is a flair amongst them all for a certain madness and depth of psychology, but Moore was the only one who didn't think it made him special. Our curiosity is always piqued by the mysterious stranger, and Moore will alway...moreHere Moore laid down a marker in the history of comics, ominous and unlikely as Archduke Ferdinand's tomb. Reading through the new wave of British authors who helped to reconceptialize the genre for us poor Americans, one understands more and more why it had to be this man. There is a flair amongst them all for a certain madness and depth of psychology, but Moore was the only one who didn't think it made him special. Our curiosity is always piqued by the mysterious stranger, and Moore will always be that.

There is a quote of Emerson's which helps elucidate men of mystery: "to be great is to be misunderstood". Most Zeppelin fans don't see the band in terms of their roots in early blues, just as most Tolkien fans (and followers) don't have the education to recognize the Welsh and Norse folktales he was emulating. It seems the kernel of an author's inspiration is often so specific and poorly-understood by their audience that they it becomes an endless and entrancing mystery.

There was an undeniable and immediate difference in the comic authors of the early eighties, but many of them sinned by way of dadaism, indulging difference for its own sake. After recognizing this brazen and laughably naive rebellion, one begins to understand why most of these writers couldn't keep from breaking the fourth wall and injecting themselves into the text; Morrison has never stopped doing it.

The difference between them and Moore was one of reason; and like Milton's Lucifer, their reason was flawed; and like him still: it was pride. As a young and budding author, I saw in Morrison's 'Invisibles' and, to a lesser extent, in Ennis's 'Preacher', what a silly thing it is to believe your own stories.

Gaiman we may reprieve: unlike the others, he has never imagined himself mad. His penchant for myth and psychology stays rather trimly in the realm of the curious academic, though becomes quite laughable when he attempts to portray chaos. Gaiman's is the most predictable chaos you will ever meet this side of a fourteen-year-old girl who likes penguins.

Moore, however, has loomed over us in a state of questionable sanity for his entire career. Bearded, wild-eyed, long-winded, and obsessed with little things we don't even think about, and yet completely generous and unselfish with his pen. There is something we do not trust about the man who avoids the spotlight; who spurns money; who believes in the power of names enough to remove his from this or that film. The man who stands over and over a proven genius and who plods on into stranger and wider territory is almost an unknowable commodity.

That Alan Moore cares about things we cannot see, and cares nothing about that which we expect him to becomes his strength. In his unpredictability, we come to find new and inspiring sides of ourselves, and of comics, and of others.

If Morrison has lived his entire career as the incorrigible teenager of comics, inspiring in his gusto but disappointing in his ego, then Moore has always been the old man of comics, a crafty wizard who knows things we don't want to know, who leads us patiently through our wide-eyed bumbling and self-absorption, past the explosions and gun battles, and into our own back yard to show us something beautiful that was there the whole time.

We'll wonder why he doesn't want our thanks. Or our praise. We'll wonder why he seems tired and haggard. We'll try to catch his red-rimmed eyes, as if he'll betray by some gesture or expression just what it is he gets out of the deal.

As if sudden curiosity makes us worthy to know. (less)

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Jan 23, 2008

Hunter rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels, horror, fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The second volume of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing ranges into extremely disturbing territory. There is resurrection, necrophilia, incest, a nervous breakdown, and lot and lots of bugs. That's just in chapter two.

This is in many ways a transitional volume. The first half- "The Burial" and the three-part return of Arcane story, puts an end to the original Len Wein/Bernie Wrightson version of Swamp Thing and opens the door for Moore to go wherever he wants with the character.
...more

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Apr 20, 2011

Poonam rated it

· review of another edition

The Swamp thing gets himself a girlfriend. Wait, I shouldn't have blurted out like this. But, this is not much of a spoiler since Swamp Thing edition by Alan Moore is rerun of original Swamp Thing popular issues. Yet, no prior knowledge is required.

Graphics are as before vibrant; colour and inking is as dark as possible. The one issue that I didn't like in this comic was Pog, with their Lewis Carrol-ish 'portmanteau words'. I thought that story interrupted the flow in the book as wa...more

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Jun 23, 2011

Fabián A. rated it

Just poetry, despite my basic knowledge of the English language, I managed to enjoy the beautiful dialogue Alan Moore creates in the last chapter, "The Rite of Spring", which is basically the first sexual encounter between The Swamp Thing and Abby. The words and graphics are so preciously balanced, it was breathtaking while I was reading it. A great ending for this volume. I'll start reading soon Volume #3.

· see review

Jan 11, 2009

Oscar rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels

My first jump into Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing and now I can see where Neil Gaiman picked up his comic writing style. A real surprise was the side-story, POG, where Moore takes the clichéd "Aliens who wrecked their planet come to Earth only to find humans are wrecking Earth" and really makes it come alive.

· see review

Jan 18, 2012

Tom Baker rated it

· review of another edition

Swamp Thing's a weird one. Alan Moore's writing for it is widely regarded as being brilliant, classic even, but I find it hard to find, like, a "hook", something I can follow. There's no particularly conventional plots, or characters, and all that jazz. Still, I enjoyed reading it, so! The "POG" story really didn't work for me, mind.

· see review

Jan 28, 2010

Monty rated it

My first brush with anything resembling a graphic Novel.
The Swamp THing was a horror character but as the subtitle, (under-title?)said 'Sophisticated Horror' and so it was.
This early Alan Moore series displayed staggering imagination, verve and stylistic panache. Hooked on comics I became after this..

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Sep 06, 2011

Hans rated it

Having read Promethea I can already see Alan Moore's personal philosophies developing in this story. He takes some of the same concepts that he lightly touchs with in this volume and takes them a step further in Promethea. Strong Judeo-Christian undertones going on here. The concept of love/sex as a communion between souls, death and hell looking very much like Dante's inferno.

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Jul 13, 2008

Jason rated it

This is my favorite comic series of all time. Alan Moore took one of the goofiest characters in all of comics and made one of the most beautiful stories ever written in the medium. I'm copying and pasting this into into the review for all of the volumes by Alan Moore, as each book is fantastic.

Swamp Thing brings together elements of romance, horror, mysticism, and science fiction into a truly compelling and unique tale of a creature that can control organic matter. Sometimes sweet a...more

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Feb 16, 2008

Kirsten rated it

Shelves: read-pre-12-07, own, graphic-novels, fiction

Alan Moore's tenure on the Swamp Thing title is considered to be truly groundbreaking. There's massive opportunity for over-the-top farce in Swamp Thing, but Moore takes the character seriously and spins complex tales of love, humanity, evil, and ambiguity. The series is also the birthplace of Hellblazer's John Constantine, and the contrast between Constantine's smart-mouthed, "victory by any means necessary" attitude and Swamp Thing's slow-talking, moral, and fiercely loyal personalit...more

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Sep 30, 2011

Jon added it

Dang, good. Read it in one night when I really needed to do some other stuff. Good....but dark. Don't read it if you don't want to get sad and morose.

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Jun 30, 2009

Sami rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels

Astonishing!! Just when you were thinking of not reading the rest of the series, Moore takes you on an epic journey that will change the way you see greenery for life.

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Alan Moore is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He has also written a novel, Voice of the Fire, and performs "workings" (one-off performance ...more

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The people think they shape the stories, but the reverse if often closer to the truth.

Stories shape the world. They exist independently of people, and in places quite devoid of man, there may yet be mythologies.” — 54 people liked it

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Swamp Thing, Vol. 2: Love and Death (Swamp Thing (1980s) #2)

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