So now we get into the meat of the future of the Swamp Thing stories.  They introduce us to the new big-bad villain for the near future, and maybe for the entire book.  It is surprising that after all the years that there have been Swampthing stories, how come we never heard about this before?  It is something so terrible that even the plants don’t want to talk about it.  Why hasn’t it attacked before?  There have been pretty important events in Swampthing before, why didn’t the bad stuff ever capitalize on the opportunity it had before?  When the Crisis(es) was going down, why didn’t it jump out and take a side?  All this time, and now it acts?

The story is strong, but the intro did throw me a bit.  It transitions from pilot story, to Swampthing talking – so the rules of story telling state that it should be part of the same narrative unless we given clues, but the clues don’t come till later (when it is explained that this version of the swampthing is sending memories of its past self to him), but I’m still not 100% sure I got it right.

The parliament of trees is a lot to throw at new readers, but it ended with backward headed maniacs so at least there was some action.  I’m not clear on why they all end up with heads backward? or how they see in front in order to chase Holland?  It seems a bit ridiculous when you picture it in action.  Hopefully it will make sense later?

The art is pretty solid, but it does need less ink.  And there is a two page spread that is a bit confusing.  The panels are all artistically placed so that is all organic and smooth, but it is hard to tell where to read next.  The dialogue stretches to the 2nd page, and it becomes difficult to tell if you should read the panel below, or go all the way back to the first page.

B  -  Don