Review: Swamp Thing #1
Swamp Thing returns in an all-new series written by his co-creator, legendary writer Len Wein! Swamp Thing has received an ominous warning, and now he 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!
I’ll straight up admit I never read Wein’s classic take on Swamp Thing, so there’s nothing for me to compare it to. Instead what I can compare it to is comics from the 70s and 80s I grew up with in general, and in many ways this first issue is a throwback to classic comics, especially classic horror comics, and for that, it’s so good.
The comic from front to back is almost a love letter to horror comics of old. Whether Wein is purposely channeling that, or it’s just still his style, the comic had me traveling back in time when I was younger. Those only know the condensed faster paced comics of today might be scratching their head.
The art by Kelley Jones has that throwback vibe as well and again classic horror comics are channeled for the look. Here, it doesn’t totally work and there’s definitely panels I had issues with and an inconsistency with the characters. It’s good though, and it captures a style you don’t see a lot today (and currently dominated by Francesco Francavilla).
Your enjoyment will probably hinge on if you like classic horror, which tends to be much slower in pacing and somewhat poetic in how the dialogue and thought balloons are written. There’s been some revivals of “classic” comics that just haven’t worked (*cough* X-Men Forever *cough*), but Wein pulls it off masterfully here.
Story: Len Wein Art: Kelley Jones
Story: 8 Art: 7.4 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
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I read Len Wein’s new Swamp Thing (#1) in a loud crowded room and not only was it engaging enough to block out the rest of the environment but I found it less an homage to the early horror comics (which the original Swamp Thing actually post-dated) than a restoration of the initial tone of the series, incorporating some of the more sophisticated elements that have since collected around the character like barnacles.
I was in a bar sometime in the eighties and this band was playing Beatles music. The Beatles had been gone for over ten years at the time, but some sweet writhing young thing grabbed me by the hand, pulled me to what doubled as a dance floor and started doing the Jitterbug. Old music, old dances, I suppose she thought. The Beatles were for my generation, not hers, but the Charleston significantly predated both of us. My mom taught me to Jitterbug, so I went with it.
Despite the fact that Swamp Thing first appeared in a simple short story in House of Secrets, that cover had a price of 15¢ on it – and any book you couldn’t initially pick up for a dime doesn’t really qualify as “early.” But maybe that’s just me.
Wein and Wrightson themselves added a lot of those aforementioned barnacles to buttress the character’s nature and backstory when Swamp Thing’s own book turned out to catch on. Afterward a succession of creators added their own contributions. I look forward to seeing what of the rich collection of after-elements Len Wein chooses to incorporate and develop with this new launch.
Barnacles are good.
Having not read any of Wein’s original work with the character, I couldn’t say if it was a continuation. But, I have read a lot of earlier horror comics, EC type stuff, and found it very similar in tone, hence my take/wording. That’s not a bad thing at all. It was a solid first issue and I want to see what happens next. As I noted there have been attempts to bring back “classic” creators to what they’re known for, and its failed. That was not the case here. The comic would feel in place decades ago in look and feel, yes still works great today.
Your comment (and this first issue) makes me want to go back and check out his classic work with the character.