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Absolute Swamp Thing
A Man! A Monster! A Legend! Lein Wein and Bernie Wrightson’s monumental and chilling take on the Guardian of the Green is collected in one giant Absolute Edition!
He has become a modern legend, this mysterious creature of the Louisiana bayou. Feared as a monster, hailed as a god, by turns wonderfully benevolent and pitiless in his wrath, the Swamp Thing has carved his unique niche in the American Landscape. Writer Len Wein and legendary horror artist Bernie Wrightson, the original creators of the most complex creature in comics weave a haunting tale of man and monster in one impressive Absolute Edition! Collects House of Secrets #92 and Swamp Thing #1-13
He has become a modern legend, this mysterious creature of the Louisiana bayou. Feared as a monster, hailed as a god, by turns wonderfully benevolent and pitiless in his wrath, the Swamp Thing has carved his unique niche in the American Landscape. Writer Len Wein and legendary horror artist Bernie Wrightson, the original creators of the most complex creature in comics weave a haunting tale of man and monster in one impressive Absolute Edition! Collects House of Secrets #92 and Swamp Thing #1-13
344 pages, Hardcover
Published December 20, 2022
9 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Len Wein
1,576 books153 followersLen 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.
Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 19, 2023
When scientist Alec Holland and his wife Linda are murdered to gain access to their bio-restorative formula, Alec rises from his watery grave as Swamp Thing!
Absolute Swamp Thing by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson collects a story from The House of Secrets #92 and Swamp Thing #1-13. While Len Wein writes all the issues, Bernie handles the art on 1-10 and Nestor Redondo handles the rest. Once I forgave Nestor for not being Bernie, it was all good.
So the contents are the same as Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age, Vol. 1 apart from the bonus features. I didn't realize it had already been four years since I least read these issues. As I said in that review, this very much feels like EC putting out a Hulk comic in the 1950s. The art is moody as hell and Len Wein must have been as happy as a pig in shit writing his horror captions.
The stories are linked but are pretty much one and done with Swamp Thing's wanderings with Matt Cable on his tail as the glue that holds things together. I said this felt like a Marvel book the last time I read it and still feel that way. It still feels like a horror take on The Hulk to me, making it an ancestor of sorts to Immortal Hulk, which I'll probably re-read sometime in the near future.
The ending was open but felt like a good stopping point since both Wein and Wrightson were gone by the next issue. Four years later, I still think this is one of the better DC runs of the 1970s. Four out of five stars.
Absolute Swamp Thing by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson collects a story from The House of Secrets #92 and Swamp Thing #1-13. While Len Wein writes all the issues, Bernie handles the art on 1-10 and Nestor Redondo handles the rest. Once I forgave Nestor for not being Bernie, it was all good.
So the contents are the same as Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age, Vol. 1 apart from the bonus features. I didn't realize it had already been four years since I least read these issues. As I said in that review, this very much feels like EC putting out a Hulk comic in the 1950s. The art is moody as hell and Len Wein must have been as happy as a pig in shit writing his horror captions.
The stories are linked but are pretty much one and done with Swamp Thing's wanderings with Matt Cable on his tail as the glue that holds things together. I said this felt like a Marvel book the last time I read it and still feel that way. It still feels like a horror take on The Hulk to me, making it an ancestor of sorts to Immortal Hulk, which I'll probably re-read sometime in the near future.
The ending was open but felt like a good stopping point since both Wein and Wrightson were gone by the next issue. Four years later, I still think this is one of the better DC runs of the 1970s. Four out of five stars.
April 10, 2023
Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson are the creators of Swamp Thing, and since Swamp Thing does enter my top 10 DC characters, I was really excited to do this review.
Reading this for the first time is interesting. I'll be the first to admit 50-70's dialogue is usually not for me. There's exceptions, something like the awesome Moon Knight worked well for me, but for the most part not many do hold up. 80's is even rough, or hell the 90's, 2000's onward is really my sweet spot so I wasn't sure how this would hold up.
And interesting enough it's not without faults. The dialogue is cheesy and overly done. There's a lot of telling instead of showing going on which was common in comics back then. And each issue stands on it's own with a thin layer of overarching plotting going on.
But it's so damn charming. The way we're introduced to Alec and his was, the trials and tribulations he goes through, his disturbing death and the faith of his wife, and then to live as this creature of the swamp forever is pretty horrifying. However, it all works and the more campy silly moments make this a really enjoyable read.
The art too...now this is special. The art is recolored to give it a more modern look however it still very much feels like Bernie Wrightson style. Swamp thing can change on a dime from horrifying and evil looking to adorable and innocent, and I love that. The tone is very monster of the week style, and I love that he builds that with his art. He compliments Len's lengthy script with still showcasing the art, and the absolute helps that in a tremendous way.
This was a super fun read. Not perfect, campy as hell, and such but you can help but be charmed and look at this fantastic art. A 4 out of 5.
Reading this for the first time is interesting. I'll be the first to admit 50-70's dialogue is usually not for me. There's exceptions, something like the awesome Moon Knight worked well for me, but for the most part not many do hold up. 80's is even rough, or hell the 90's, 2000's onward is really my sweet spot so I wasn't sure how this would hold up.
And interesting enough it's not without faults. The dialogue is cheesy and overly done. There's a lot of telling instead of showing going on which was common in comics back then. And each issue stands on it's own with a thin layer of overarching plotting going on.
But it's so damn charming. The way we're introduced to Alec and his was, the trials and tribulations he goes through, his disturbing death and the faith of his wife, and then to live as this creature of the swamp forever is pretty horrifying. However, it all works and the more campy silly moments make this a really enjoyable read.
The art too...now this is special. The art is recolored to give it a more modern look however it still very much feels like Bernie Wrightson style. Swamp thing can change on a dime from horrifying and evil looking to adorable and innocent, and I love that. The tone is very monster of the week style, and I love that he builds that with his art. He compliments Len's lengthy script with still showcasing the art, and the absolute helps that in a tremendous way.
This was a super fun read. Not perfect, campy as hell, and such but you can help but be charmed and look at this fantastic art. A 4 out of 5.
April 9, 2023
Swamp Thing Absolute 🦠
I have read the classic Alan Moore run of Swampy, i read the Collins stuff, the run by Brian k Vaugh, and the Scott Snyder run, you can consider me a fan of the character, but i somehow had never read the og books from Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, so here we are with a fantastic looking DC Absolute, and a old, but pretty iconic run that changed the history of comics in a way.. lets start with the artwork which is incredible and the new coloring by José Villarrubia. On the Moore Absolute there was a pretty big backlash about the coloring, which did not really bothered me, but it looked so bright it could be a new comic. Here the colors are way more realistic with the times of the book, and i really like it like that, you can see that the images are scanned but that gives a good vibe on the page. The stories are classic Monster stuff and i dig it ! The stories are 50 years old, so some of the dialogue is pretty stale, but its really not that bad. I was not the biggest fan of some of the later space stories, but give me Witches, Werewolves, and all kind of Monsters and i am good. Highlight for me was Swamp Thing in Gotham with Batman, Wrightson draws a great Batman and its just cool that those characters meet! The oversized artwork really works is wonders as always and this is a great new adition to the collection.
7.5/10
I have read the classic Alan Moore run of Swampy, i read the Collins stuff, the run by Brian k Vaugh, and the Scott Snyder run, you can consider me a fan of the character, but i somehow had never read the og books from Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, so here we are with a fantastic looking DC Absolute, and a old, but pretty iconic run that changed the history of comics in a way.. lets start with the artwork which is incredible and the new coloring by José Villarrubia. On the Moore Absolute there was a pretty big backlash about the coloring, which did not really bothered me, but it looked so bright it could be a new comic. Here the colors are way more realistic with the times of the book, and i really like it like that, you can see that the images are scanned but that gives a good vibe on the page. The stories are classic Monster stuff and i dig it ! The stories are 50 years old, so some of the dialogue is pretty stale, but its really not that bad. I was not the biggest fan of some of the later space stories, but give me Witches, Werewolves, and all kind of Monsters and i am good. Highlight for me was Swamp Thing in Gotham with Batman, Wrightson draws a great Batman and its just cool that those characters meet! The oversized artwork really works is wonders as always and this is a great new adition to the collection.
7.5/10
September 19, 2023
(Zero spoiler review) 4.25/5
I really haven't read enough of Len Wein. The man is right up there with Roy Thomas, Stan Lee, Denny O'Neill, Chris Claremont, Moore, Moench... I could go on. A man who chose to channel his undoubted talent and passion into the medium of comics for the benefit of us all. Nowadays, what self-respecting writer of any talent would ever want to lower themselves to troll in the comics industry, Great writers of yesteryear grew up reading comics. They knew the format well, had a profound appreciation for the characters and those who had come before them, and the medium continued to grow. And we are blessed to have characters like Swamp Thing and runs (however short) like this one.
With only a hint of silver age histrionics to drag this one back from a full five stars, this is still a wonderful run. Wein's descriptive and haunting prose and Wrightson's evocative brilliance have created something special here, as well as offering up a wonderful canvas that some other outstanding creators were able to add to moving forward. And when Wrightson left the book, having an equally capable artist like Nestor Rodondo take over just goes to show the once dearth of talent in comics.
The odd average issue and some silver age trappings may have deprived this full-marks, but don't be under any illusions, the mark of genius is upon this collection, captured exquisitely in absolute form. It's characters like Swamp Thing that makes me truly love comics, and everyone should read these tales at some point in their lives. 4.25/5
OmniBen.
I really haven't read enough of Len Wein. The man is right up there with Roy Thomas, Stan Lee, Denny O'Neill, Chris Claremont, Moore, Moench... I could go on. A man who chose to channel his undoubted talent and passion into the medium of comics for the benefit of us all. Nowadays, what self-respecting writer of any talent would ever want to lower themselves to troll in the comics industry, Great writers of yesteryear grew up reading comics. They knew the format well, had a profound appreciation for the characters and those who had come before them, and the medium continued to grow. And we are blessed to have characters like Swamp Thing and runs (however short) like this one.
With only a hint of silver age histrionics to drag this one back from a full five stars, this is still a wonderful run. Wein's descriptive and haunting prose and Wrightson's evocative brilliance have created something special here, as well as offering up a wonderful canvas that some other outstanding creators were able to add to moving forward. And when Wrightson left the book, having an equally capable artist like Nestor Rodondo take over just goes to show the once dearth of talent in comics.
The odd average issue and some silver age trappings may have deprived this full-marks, but don't be under any illusions, the mark of genius is upon this collection, captured exquisitely in absolute form. It's characters like Swamp Thing that makes me truly love comics, and everyone should read these tales at some point in their lives. 4.25/5
OmniBen.
September 11, 2024
W serii DC Limited na rynku pojawiła się właśnie nie lada gratka, zwłaszcza dla wielbicieli Potwora z Bagien. Szczerze mówiąc, sam w tego okresu kojarzyłem tylko działo Alana Moore'a, ale jak się okazuje przed tym wizjonerem był jeszcze inny. Len Wein, który dał nam legendę.
I choć ja wolę Potwora, który kryje się na bagnach, tak trzeba przyznać, że ten na początku odbywał całkiem dalekie wycieczki, walcząc z różnymi monstrami. Ale zanim się to stanie, to mamy ładnie zarysowane początku bohatera. Naukowiec Alec Holland w towarzystwie żony uzyskuje dostęp do specyficznej bioformuły, która może pomóc ludzkości, chociażby w rozwoju rolnictwa.
Szkopuł w tym, że jego pracom przyglądają się chciwi ludzi i w skutek ich działania Alec zostaje zabity poprzez spalenie, a potem ląduje w bagnie. Specyfik jednak nie pozwala mu umrzeć, a sam Alec powstaje jako tytułowy Potwór z Bagien. A potem mamy szereg nieco pulpowych walk z różnymi przeciwnikami, w tym z TYM Arcane'm, który pragnął przejąć nowe ciało bohatera dla siebie.
Przekrój przygód Swamp Thing zaprowadzi go w różne rejony. A to da w pysk wilkołakowi, a to zawalczy z robalami z kosmosu, a to wda się nawet w utarczkę z Batmanem... A to wszystko w niepokojącej stylistyce Bernie'ego Wrightsona. Kreska w jakimś stopniu nadal może się podobać, ale zalatuje od niej naftaliną potężnie, zwłaszcza że ten komiks zawiera zeszyty wydane w latach 70. XX wieku.
Kamień milowy DC, jednocześnie sposób, aby przenieść się w przeszłość o pięćdziesiąt lat wcześniej. Choć trzeba przyznać, że były momenty, które mnie nużyły i dlatego nie mogę z czystym sercem dać fulla.
I choć ja wolę Potwora, który kryje się na bagnach, tak trzeba przyznać, że ten na początku odbywał całkiem dalekie wycieczki, walcząc z różnymi monstrami. Ale zanim się to stanie, to mamy ładnie zarysowane początku bohatera. Naukowiec Alec Holland w towarzystwie żony uzyskuje dostęp do specyficznej bioformuły, która może pomóc ludzkości, chociażby w rozwoju rolnictwa.
Szkopuł w tym, że jego pracom przyglądają się chciwi ludzi i w skutek ich działania Alec zostaje zabity poprzez spalenie, a potem ląduje w bagnie. Specyfik jednak nie pozwala mu umrzeć, a sam Alec powstaje jako tytułowy Potwór z Bagien. A potem mamy szereg nieco pulpowych walk z różnymi przeciwnikami, w tym z TYM Arcane'm, który pragnął przejąć nowe ciało bohatera dla siebie.
Przekrój przygód Swamp Thing zaprowadzi go w różne rejony. A to da w pysk wilkołakowi, a to zawalczy z robalami z kosmosu, a to wda się nawet w utarczkę z Batmanem... A to wszystko w niepokojącej stylistyce Bernie'ego Wrightsona. Kreska w jakimś stopniu nadal może się podobać, ale zalatuje od niej naftaliną potężnie, zwłaszcza że ten komiks zawiera zeszyty wydane w latach 70. XX wieku.
Kamień milowy DC, jednocześnie sposób, aby przenieść się w przeszłość o pięćdziesiąt lat wcześniej. Choć trzeba przyznać, że były momenty, które mnie nużyły i dlatego nie mogę z czystym sercem dać fulla.
March 16, 2023
This Absolute Edition is such a gorgeous collection, the restored colors by José Villarubia look so good and accentuate the artwork and atmosphere incredibly. Bernie Wrightson a truly magnificent artist and Len Wein's writing is great. The do a magnificent job of blending so many different inspirations from the horror genre.
The stories and writing have the natural somewhat dated feel that all comics from this time had but Len Wein's poetic and dynamic prose really kept me going. I loved the characters and issue to issue narratives too. Matt Cable has a really fun and satisfying development, but Abby kinda just tags along with him and doesn't say much which was weird. I do think the very nature (pun intended) of the Swamp Thing character is intriguing. You feel his tragedy and emotion, and the mutual heart and raw feelings from Len and Berni that grew into the original short story carried it throughout the rest of the issues.
Nestor Redondo's art in the last three issues was great as well but I couldn't help but feel like the horror element lost some focus after Berni left.
I definitely hope to read the following books by various creative teams that bridge the Len Wein and Alan Moore era's. But for now I'm going to read the 2010s Len Wein/Kelly Jones issues.
The stories and writing have the natural somewhat dated feel that all comics from this time had but Len Wein's poetic and dynamic prose really kept me going. I loved the characters and issue to issue narratives too. Matt Cable has a really fun and satisfying development, but Abby kinda just tags along with him and doesn't say much which was weird. I do think the very nature (pun intended) of the Swamp Thing character is intriguing. You feel his tragedy and emotion, and the mutual heart and raw feelings from Len and Berni that grew into the original short story carried it throughout the rest of the issues.
Nestor Redondo's art in the last three issues was great as well but I couldn't help but feel like the horror element lost some focus after Berni left.
I definitely hope to read the following books by various creative teams that bridge the Len Wein and Alan Moore era's. But for now I'm going to read the 2010s Len Wein/Kelly Jones issues.
March 31, 2023
As a big Swamp Thing fan it's cool to see the origin of Swampy and all the characters. I liked the forewords as they gave a nice inside story on the origin of Swamp Thing. The art is also amazing but I must admit the stories are too dated for me. It's all a bit simplistic and everything is explained in a almost childish matter. I also found it annoying that almost in every story the same lines (crusty old mockery etc) were used. But maybe that's was normal in that era (70's). I expected more out of this one. If you are a big Swampy fan or like old comics from the 70's then I recommend this one. Otherwise stick to the Alan Moore stories.
April 13, 2023
6/10
Where it all started. It's a solid, if dated, read but I couldn't help feeling like the creators really didn't knew what to do with this character. Most of the stuff that Swamp Thing encounters in this collection feels somewhat underwhelming to me because it's just a hog-pog of random stuff - werewolves, ghosts, witches, robots, sunken cities and the like. It's not in keeping with the spirit that this character brings, and frankly they're just downright uninteresting. His origin is great of course, but the rest of this book sadly doesn't measure up to it. Here's hoping that I don't find the takes by other writers to be so disappointing.
Where it all started. It's a solid, if dated, read but I couldn't help feeling like the creators really didn't knew what to do with this character. Most of the stuff that Swamp Thing encounters in this collection feels somewhat underwhelming to me because it's just a hog-pog of random stuff - werewolves, ghosts, witches, robots, sunken cities and the like. It's not in keeping with the spirit that this character brings, and frankly they're just downright uninteresting. His origin is great of course, but the rest of this book sadly doesn't measure up to it. Here's hoping that I don't find the takes by other writers to be so disappointing.
February 28, 2023
Hard to rate this. The stories are campy fun (but maybe a bit childish naive), it introduces all the main swamp thing characters and the art is (with a few exceptions) amazing. But the writing style is so dated, it’s really jarring. There is too much narration. Instead of "show don't tell" it's "show AND tell".
Recommend if you like old comics and/or want to read the origins of swamp thing. Unfortunately I wanted more out of this.
Recommend if you like old comics and/or want to read the origins of swamp thing. Unfortunately I wanted more out of this.
March 23, 2023
J'aimerais pouvoir comparer pour mieux apprécier le travail de restauration, mais je peux dire que c'était magnifique à revisiter
March 31, 2023
This is cool If you’re a swamp thing nut? A nice addition to your collection but, as far as story material? I’ll pass.
April 16, 2023
A good read, definitely a product of it’s time but more enjoyable that others I’ve read from this era. Worth it for the great Bernie Wrightson art and a few stand out stories.
July 4, 2023
This is the origin and early stages of the swamp thing. Some of these stories are very much like horror comics. They really show what an original character swamp thing is.
September 24, 2023
The best possible presentation of this top shelf material. The best color and linework restoration out of the many various reprintings of this material. The mossy feel to the casewrap of the book takes some getting used to.
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March 28, 2024Wow, so many adjectives! So many moss-verbed nouns! Cool book. Dope art.
September 8, 2024
Besides the initial one-shot, some of the best aged DC material I have ever read. The art at this scale is phenomenal as well.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews