Swamp Thing

Swamp Thing (2016)

by Len Wein, Kelley Jones

Wein, one of the greatest, most talented comic book writers and editors our industry has ever seen, is joined on the miniseries by comics veteran Kelley Jones (BATMAN, GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT), who handles both cover and interior artwork. The series promises dark bayou magic, a deadly offer from The Green in the very first issue, and guest appearances by Zatanna, Arcane, The Phantom Stranger and Etrigan throughout the run.

Kicking the series off, Swamp Thing receives an ominous warning and finds himself under attack from the forces of dark magic. These are more than just your average monsters—and there’s something much worse looming on the horizon for Alec Holland! Set in Louisiana’s backwaters and boondocks, expect dark shadows, rot and filth to lurk around every corner.

So don’t let the “Swampy” moniker lead you astray. Brackish mire, oozing mulch, and a sludge of rotting vegetation have always been hallmarks of the monstrous Swamp Thing. The Avatar of the Green is the stuff nightmares are made of!

Genres: Comics, Horror, Dc Comics, Superheroes

Unknown Binding

Published January 6, 2016

About the author

Len Wein was an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men (including the co-creation of Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus). Additionally, he was the editor for writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons' influential DC miniseries Watchmen.

Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.

Reviews

[Sam Quixote · Rating 2 out of 5]

Swamp Thing co-creator Len Wein returns to his character for a new run with artist Kelley Jones in a throwback to older comics that DC’s elderly (guys in their 40/50s) audience are sure to enjoy! Younger readers who aren’t fanboys though are probably gonna be pretty bored with this one.

A couple of parents approach Swampy after their son Lazlo goes missing at the ominously named Crowley College for the Evolving Arts. Why involve the faculty or the police, when you can just go straight to a swamp monster for answers, right?! It seems some demented “professor” decided to kill Lazlo in an experiment to bring him back to life - and sort of succeeded. Except now Lazlo looks inhuman and is exacting revenge on his former classmates! I guess that’s why most universities don’t kill their students as a general rule. Also, Phantom Stranger appears for no reason.

Wein reminds us that he came from an older generation of comics writers right from the first page with narrative boxes full of pseudo-novelistic sentences: “The mournful moan of the rusting midnight freight train in the distance, struggling to find its way home”, and “The sibilant hiss of the primordial alligator, lounging in stoic anticipation of its next meal.” I was sick of this trying-too-hard writing style by the end of the issue - it’s not atmospheric, it’s lame, not to mention redundant.

Also like in older comics, our main character talks out loud constantly, whether he’s fighting an alligator or wandering the swamplands helpfully informing the reader of his recent history of the Parliament of Trees. But compared to the talents of Scott Snyder and Charles Soule, who both wrote Swamp Thing in the last few years, Wein’s style feels corny and outdated, a step backwards for the title as a whole.

If this first issue is anything to go by, this is a more traditionally horror angle to Swamp Thing than what modern readers will be used to. And what better artist to have on board for that approach than Kelley “Vampire Batman” Jones? His heavy ink style fits the dramatically gloomy mood while his characters’ usual exaggerated/warped physiques perfectly fits the morphing Swamp Thing who’s constantly being torn apart and re-knit throughout this comic.

Older readers and fans of Wein’s Swamp Thing books will probably enjoy this one but for readers who’ve enjoyed Scott Snyder and Charles Soule’s fast-moving, modern, epic and inventive storytelling, this newly relaunched Swamp Thing is unlikely to excite in quite the same way. Its small scale makes it feel like a Scooby-Doo comic sans Scooby. Len Wein and Kelley Jones’ Swamp Thing #1 is a dreary comic that feels at least twenty years out of date.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve got strong opinions on Kelley Jones’s art. There are some things it’s completely inappropriate for - like after Batman comes back from being beaten by Bane in the 90s and says things like, “I want to be more human.” If you’re looking for humanity, it’s not in Jones’s art.

However! There are some things that Jones art is perfect for. Like the Batman: Red Rain story lines. (You know, where he meets Dracula, and becomes a vampire?)

And this is another perfect comic for Kelley Jones. The supernaturalness of the Swamp Thing and his environment are touched by the unseemly darkness that Jones’s art provides.

The story is an interesting idea - but the execution (well, the writing) is just okay. It sounds a bit old and pulpy. Maybe it’s supposed to? I just didn't care for it. But the whole thing is interesting enough for me to come back to and see how the story progresses. Here, Swamp Thing faces…well, I won’t spoil issue #1 for you! Take a look for yourself.

Thanks to NetGalley and DC Comics for a copy in return for an honest review.

[Mr. Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since when did Swamp Thing talk like Spider-Man?

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Len Wein returns to Swamp Thing for a miniseries that feels like a throwback to the '80s. The zombie was well-illustrated. The conflict for this mini may be small, but I'm hoping there are surprises.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bringing back the original authors and character creators to freshen them up does seem quite a retro step, as does this – the narrative style and thought balloons haven't changed in the forty years since this title started. It's strange to see the leafy one bubble out into self-restoring polyps in completely PG-friendly fashion, and never has a fight with a zombie appeared so anaemic. But actually there's something here that might just intrigue. The old school storytelling may still manage to pull the rug from under us and give us something DC have been sorely lacking – but with artwork where middle-aged parents appear themselves to be 15, and with no major qualities to the fight scenes, then again it might not. A relaunch not without promise.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great first issue to kick off the miniseries for Swamp thing. Artwork reminded me of older horror comics, like they should. and it's cool that Ken Wein has returned to do a Swamp thing story. (He's a Co-Creator of Swamp thing) Overall a good comic that leaves you with a good cliffhanger.

I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher

[Preston Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swamp Thing is a great character, but I really haven't seen much of him in the popular comics world. This comic not only gives him a chance to shine, but it takes the classic approach with its writing and art styles, and it works perfectly for the character. If you like old look of comics, and enjoy this character, Pick this up!

[Phil Bova · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may, or may not be included to my weekly pull list...but I thought I would give issue 1 a try.
I've never really followed Swamp Thing, save for the appearances in other DC titles.
That said, I'm going to give this title a chance in the coming issues.

[Len · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swamp Thing is a likable character and the book has good dialogue.

[Hacedores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado particularmente el estilo clásico de cómic de monstruos que consigue dar la imagen de película antigua. El dibujo acompaña bastante.

[Kenning JP Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to see Wein back at work on Swamp Thing. Great cameo by an underused character and a wonderfully nostalgic storyline.

[Elle Markov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swamp Thing fights a zombie! Enough said.

Rating 4 out of 5
Read@Book

[Luiz Santiago · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,0

[Dennis Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by Swamp Thing’s original writer, with Kelley Jones doing an excellent varition on Bernie Wrightson’s original artwork.