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16th out of 36 books
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Saga of the Swamp Thing, Vol. 1 (Swamp Thing (1980s) #1)
From 1983 through 1987, a young British writer named Alan Moore revolutionized the American comic book. His groundbreaking tenure on DC Comics' SWAMP THING set new standards for graphic storytelling and touched off a revolution in the medium that is still expanding today. Building on the title's framework of gothic horror with a remarkably intuitive narrative style and an ...more
Hardcover, 208 pages
Published
February 17th 2009
by Vertigo
(first published September 1st 1987)
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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...more
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This made me question if I should have gotten my Watchmen tattoo, because it made me realize that there are comics out there that I haven't read yet that have the potential to be just as good if not better than Watchmen, and this is one of those. Then I remembered that Alan Moore wrote both Watchmen and this. I should have gotten an Alan Moore tat is the problem. Seriously, one of the greatest things I've ever read.
I enjoyed this one more than WATCHMEN. Moore inherited a clunky origin story for Swamp Thing, and immediately went about rebooting the series by questioning some core assumptions of the previous continuity. This sort of maneuver could have been poorly executed, but it's this re-imagining of Swamp Thing as a creature embracing his "monsterness" (rather than yearning for its "lost" humanity) that gives this book its brilliance. I also love how Swamp Thing's non-violent (sort...more
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I'm not even halfway through yet, but I'm already hooked. I had demoted my childhood love for comic books to a casual fondness, mostly fueled by nostalgia at this point...then on a whim I bought the first volume of Jamie Delano's 1980s Hellblazer series, which derived from the pages of Alan Moore's groundbreaking work on Swamp Thing.
I'd read good words on Moore's Swamp Thing, but I only got around to reading it tonight, the last eve of 2011. Without giving anything away, the first is...more
I'd read good words on Moore's Swamp Thing, but I only got around to reading it tonight, the last eve of 2011. Without giving anything away, the first is...more
So I was never really interested in reading the Swamp Thing comics. As much as Alan Moore is my favourite living writer I just don't care much for him when he's writing super heros. But I was reading the Alan Moore Storyteller book (which basically is a big bibliography of his work) and it made Swamp Thing sound interesting enough to try. I'm really glad I decided to give it a go. It's really very good. I love that it ceases to become about humans and is about real monsters. As much as I don't l...more
Finally I was able to get my hands on a copy of Swamp Thing. Excited and slightly intimidated I immediately started searching its pages for all the subtleties and themes that Moore is famous for. Moore has a distinct flavor that is more satisfying, the difference between a well prepared and thought out meal and one that only needs to be reheated. You don't have to understand his intentions to appreciate this difference. Where other authors feel like they are trying to force the themes in thei...more
In one fell swoop Alan Moore created his own mythology, showed the publishing industry that the Comics Code Authority was total bullshit (this was the first mainstream comic published without the CCA seal of approval on the cover) and brought metaphysics and magick into comics. No small feat, and the beginning of one of my favorite story arcs of all time. This volume is easily the most 'comic book-y' of the series, as Moore cleans house on a creature that had existed for more than ten years, m...more
This book has so much potential. It seemed from the start like a 5 star book. Unlike other comics, the storyline seemed plausible: a research project gone wrong with almost never-ending ramifications. The science, or pseudo-science, background have it a credibility that earned it one of the two stars. Also the idea that mankind is the irresponsible steward of the planet is also visionary. The problems quickly emerge though. The narrative is choppy and often switches between the thoughts of the S...more
Jeez, I think I must've read bits and pieces of this collection dozens of times over the years, but not in sequential order. I've taken Vol. 1-4 (and 6) of Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing out of the library, and I'm excited about the other volumes because they probably won't be as creepily familiar.
I'm not sure if Alan Moore is overrated- he certainly is a workhorse, publishing what I can only guess is hundreds of comic books in his career, all of at least decent if not excellent qua...more
I'm not sure if Alan Moore is overrated- he certainly is a workhorse, publishing what I can only guess is hundreds of comic books in his career, all of at least decent if not excellent qua...more
This is one of those collections that I always mean to buy and read and never got around to. But now that I've created a bike route to the comic store, I use a comic purchase as an incentive to take a bike ride (about an hour in 100 degree heat, so I'm earing these, beleive me) I actually went out and got it and read it.
It's really good. I'm not really into horror comics (or movies or books) but this is awfully good. Certainly much more literary than any 1980s comic I'd have picked u...more
It's really good. I'm not really into horror comics (or movies or books) but this is awfully good. Certainly much more literary than any 1980s comic I'd have picked u...more
Alan Moore's psychedelic philosophical literary reinvention of DC comics classic Swamp Thing book. By most accounts, Moore reinvented the comic book with this series from the 80's, defying the prudery of the stultifying Comics Code with sexual candor and unrestrained grotesquery. More important, he prepared the way for high-minded graphic novels (not least of which being his own The Watchmen): works of art that seized fully the narrative potential of mixing the textual and the visual.
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I’m not crazy about Alan Moore working in an already established series. For some writers – I’m think particularly of Frank Miller – this seems to come naturally; with Moore, it feels more forced to me. I find that I like his work better when he’s creating his own mythos, not rewriting an already established piece.
What I find the most interesting about Swamp Thing is the paneling. There’s some crazy stretching of traditional page layout in these issues, some more successfully ex...more
What I find the most interesting about Swamp Thing is the paneling. There’s some crazy stretching of traditional page layout in these issues, some more successfully ex...more
Saga of a Swamp Thing was originally a series created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson.
Alan Moore begins this series with illustrators Steve Vissette and John Totleben. It begins AFTER the swamp thing is created, more precisely after the death of Alec Holland. As per this series, the swamp thing is *not* human, rather still has personality of Alec Holland. The back story has been dispensed in the introduction by Alan Moore.
Bright vibrant colours are the hallmark of the art w...more
Alan Moore begins this series with illustrators Steve Vissette and John Totleben. It begins AFTER the swamp thing is created, more precisely after the death of Alec Holland. As per this series, the swamp thing is *not* human, rather still has personality of Alec Holland. The back story has been dispensed in the introduction by Alan Moore.
Bright vibrant colours are the hallmark of the art w...more
Well, though I have great faith in Alan Moore, the idea of a "vegetable man" didn't bode well with me at all. Imagine - walking potatoes, cucumbers and broccoli aren't my typical idea of serious literature. Thankfully, the Swamp Thing turned out to be made of moss and pure awesome only.
Even rather early in his comic book career, Moore is at his best. Deep, sensitive storylines (though the preachy tone that spoiled full issues of Promethea shows off now and then).
I'll give it ...more
Even rather early in his comic book career, Moore is at his best. Deep, sensitive storylines (though the preachy tone that spoiled full issues of Promethea shows off now and then).
I'll give it ...more
I missed out on these when they were first published and I was collecting comic books. Reading it now, I can see why there was such a buzz about Swamp Thing and Alan Moore at the time: Moore takes a second rate comic creation and turns him/it into seemingly the most powerful creature on the planet. In short, Swamp Thing is somehow the physical manifestation of all plant life on the planet wrapped up in one vaguely humanoid form. What's more, he can travel "through the green" - which I ...more
Creepy stuff.
This has that 80's DC vibe all over it, but the vibe you don't really such much of because you don't want to be creeped out. Alan Moore writes this series a lot like Gaiman wrote Sandmand and thats with a desire for adult stories set in a bizarre superhero universe. Swamp Thing goes through some changes here, realizing that he's not the man he thought he was and, instead, is a plant that thought it was once human. Now he has to discover his place in the whole wide world, with ...more
This has that 80's DC vibe all over it, but the vibe you don't really such much of because you don't want to be creeped out. Alan Moore writes this series a lot like Gaiman wrote Sandmand and thats with a desire for adult stories set in a bizarre superhero universe. Swamp Thing goes through some changes here, realizing that he's not the man he thought he was and, instead, is a plant that thought it was once human. Now he has to discover his place in the whole wide world, with ...more
My first introduction of comic book as art.
As a young child, I read X-Men and Batman comic books. When I was older, I found the storylines were too silly to keep paying money for and quit reading them. As a teenager, I drove younger friends to the local comic shop and the owner recomended I pick up Swamp Thing. I was hooked again and it was the first comic I started reading seriously. It quickly led to a discovery of independent comics that could carry great storylines for adults...more
As a young child, I read X-Men and Batman comic books. When I was older, I found the storylines were too silly to keep paying money for and quit reading them. As a teenager, I drove younger friends to the local comic shop and the owner recomended I pick up Swamp Thing. I was hooked again and it was the first comic I started reading seriously. It quickly led to a discovery of independent comics that could carry great storylines for adults...more
This is an amazing collection of the first issues that Alan Moore wrote of the Saga of the Swamp Thing in the 80's. Nothing more to say than: Amazing! Moore really writes superbly in this collection and the stories here are really enjoyable. Moore kind of reboots the character and ties up the loose ends of the previous writer.
‘You shouldn’t have come here.’ (from the back cover)
The first four chapters are the best of this volume; the last three tell events improved in the next volumes of the saga of Swamp Thing.
‘He isn’t Alec Holland. He never will be Alec Holland. He never was Alec Holland. He’s just a ghost. A ghost dressed in weeds.’ (p. 33)
The Swamp Thing becomes aware of his nature: in a previous life he was an human being called Alec Holland, now in this new form he is only weeds ...more
The first four chapters are the best of this volume; the last three tell events improved in the next volumes of the saga of Swamp Thing.
‘He isn’t Alec Holland. He never will be Alec Holland. He never was Alec Holland. He’s just a ghost. A ghost dressed in weeds.’ (p. 33)
The Swamp Thing becomes aware of his nature: in a previous life he was an human being called Alec Holland, now in this new form he is only weeds ...more
Got recommended to me a couple times over by comic book dudes in the know. The first half of the book, oh wow, I'm into it. The villain yearns for, and gains, a shared consciousness with the plant kingdom and acts out when he thinks is their ultimate revenge against THE SCREAMING STEAK. Awesome, eco-terrorism, for sure.
The second story is a little more mundane and well-trod comic book territory, with this demon thing that takes on the shape of whatever you fear most. Maybe (I won't ...more
The second story is a little more mundane and well-trod comic book territory, with this demon thing that takes on the shape of whatever you fear most. Maybe (I won't ...more
This isn't so much a review, rather a rebuttal of what I've been reading in other reviews. Namely, Swamp Thing being a "dumb", "goofy", and "pointless" character. Obviously these people haven't read any Swamp Thing outside of Moore's run, simply because it has the man's name on it. I suggest that these people read Len Wein's original eight page story that appeared in House of Secrets #92. I found it much more touching when Swamp Thing COULDN'T express his love t...more
Since the first issue written by Alan Moore (No. 20) Everything The Swamp Thing says is pure poetry. Every number, we go a little deeper into the monster's mind. Realizing he's not just a horrible creation, but something else. A being with emotions. A being able to love another being, able to love life, to love a woman.
This volume contains the issues #21 to #28. It's a shame #20 "Loose Ends" was not included in this book. I had to downloaded it and reading it in my computer...more
This volume contains the issues #21 to #28. It's a shame #20 "Loose Ends" was not included in this book. I had to downloaded it and reading it in my computer...more
Excellent. Not something I would usually have much interest in reading but decided I would give it a try as it's by Alan Moore. A brilliant reinvention of what was a crap character. Took a tired origin story and gave it a great twist. The Floronic Man storyline was quite good and the story about a demon feeding on the fears of the residents of a home for autistic children was brilliant even though I don't normally think much of Etrigan as a character. The art wasn't really to my taste but it doe...more
I read this based on the recommendation of Kevin Smith, who raved about it on his podcast. I've read some of Alan Moore's other stuff (Watchmen, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) so I figured I'd give this a chance, even though I'm not familiar with the Swamp Thing character or series at all.
And it IS quite good. The Swamp Thing is a surprisingly interesting character, and the writing is top-notch as always. There's even some cool stuff in there for fans of DC's other characters.
...more
And it IS quite good. The Swamp Thing is a surprisingly interesting character, and the writing is top-notch as always. There's even some cool stuff in there for fans of DC's other characters.
...more
I don't know why but I've always had a thing for Swamp Thing. Ever since I saw the original Swamp Thing television series, I've held interest in this strange character. So when I saw Alan Moore had taken over the series for a spell I had to read it. Moore definitely puts his mark on the character. Swamp Thing is discovering what it is to exist while the world around him blurs. My one criticism of this otherwise terrific book is the story structure. There isn't a clearly defined enemy for Swamp T...more
Somehow I think I had focused more on the Swamp Thing concept and not enough on the Alan Moore writing before I read this. It was one of those things I just kept putting aside, not expecting a lot fro the story. I was wrong.
I don;t know much about the history of Swamp Thing, but this collection, showing Swamp Thing awakening to the idea of being more plant than man sets the stage for this character in a fascinating way. The writing is wonderful, almost competing with the detailed ar...more
I don;t know much about the history of Swamp Thing, but this collection, showing Swamp Thing awakening to the idea of being more plant than man sets the stage for this character in a fascinating way. The writing is wonderful, almost competing with the detailed ar...more
One of Alan Moore's best and most original works, in my opinion. Animism meets the supernatural and, as with many of Moore's great works, nothing was quite the same for the art form afterwards. Comics had new and strange life, or lives, to live. The character of Woodrue, a sort of vengeance demon for the plant kingdom, was totally compelling for me when I read this at age 15, and many (many) years later as well, because, as his rage and psychosis are expressed, his articulations of reason are ha...more
Em 1983 Alan Moore começou a revolucionar o mundo dos quadrinho ao tranformar a série Monstro do Pântano em uma verdadeira história de horror moderno.
Alec Holand, depois de um acidente envolvendo materiais químicos e explosão (a velha desculpa do acidente de trabalho, bem, ao menos é melhor que a velha premissa: radiação = superpoderes), torna-se o Monstro do Pântano (eu não posso falar muito sobre o começo dele, porque eu não me interessei por ele, eu me interessei pela época Alan Moore, ...more
Alec Holand, depois de um acidente envolvendo materiais químicos e explosão (a velha desculpa do acidente de trabalho, bem, ao menos é melhor que a velha premissa: radiação = superpoderes), torna-se o Monstro do Pântano (eu não posso falar muito sobre o começo dele, porque eu não me interessei por ele, eu me interessei pela época Alan Moore, ...more
I am usually not an Alan Moore fan, but I did actually enjoy reading Swamp Thing. I think Alan Moore's works are just a lot better when they stay within a not-so-serious, more straightforwardly comic booky vein, because he doesn't become so pedagogical and show-offy and ridiculous. Swamp Thing is a good example of a story where all of the goofy/horror elements of what I like about comic books are there and Alan Moore's writing just adds a creative, interesting spin that adds some depth to the un...more
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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
More about Alan Moore...
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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