Swamp Thing, Vol. 9: Infernal Triangles

Swamp Thing (1982) (Collected Editions) #9

by Rick Veitch

Collecting issues #77-81 of the series that helped to lay the foundation for the Vertigo line, ths volume follows the Avatar of the Green and Abby as they prepare for the birth of their child — only to have an alien intelligence rip the Swamp Thing away from his home just when he's needed the most. This collection also reprints the 41-page "Distant Cousins" story from SWAMP THING ANNUAL #3, featuring the all-ape adventures of the DCU's most famous anthropoids.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Dc Comics, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

176 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1988

About the author

Richard "Rick" Veitch is an American comics artist and writer who has worked in mainstream, underground, and alternative comics.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did you know that Swamp Thing porn was a niche? A slimy, green, fecund niche...
But don't worry about being thought a pervert for reading this, there's also incest, lesbianism, and threesomes* to make it more mainstream. And a bunch of pregnancy, because who doesn't want a baby, even a baby that's made with a hideous vegetal monstrosity?

Aside from the sex parts and Abby brooding over her relationship not much actually happens, and what does happen seems confused, brief, and under-developed. There is a scene of astral travel. There are some evil alien plant creatures. Swamp Thing fights Superman outside the Daily Planet to protect Lex Luthor. Superman is a jerk who tells Swamp Thing, "I don't care if Luthor murdered you, I will protect his right to a fair trial, and you are a plant and don't have rights."

I wasn't a big reader of Swamp Thing, but I don't remember any of this. I don't remember any sex, or ST being able to zoom around the world or possess people or inhabit multiple bodies, or alien attacks. I remember a dude who protected the swamp and various hapless people whose small personal stories happened to intersect with his. I didn't enjoy this version of Swamp Thing, and this graphic novel certainly does not work as a stand-alone.


*The threesome doesn't actually happen but is suggested by a passing couple who gives Abby a ride, who know she has been screwing Swamp Thing. How, I'm not sure. Were they revealed in a tabloid in an earlier episode? Did they make internet porn?

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swamp Thing after turning into a giant brain for months has finally figured out a solution for the problem of the new elemental. He's going to have a baby with Abby. He uses the body of Constantine to help... so we get a sex scene of (Swamp Thing as) Constantine and Abby.

Also collected here is Annual 3 a one-shot story featuring many of the DC ape creatures. I didn't quite understand it if I'm being honest.

Swamp Thing has a run in with Superman where he asks "Why, out of all the species on the face of the Earth, do you only have ears for the selfish needs of humans?" It's a good question and Superman simply says because "I love them". You kind of get the sense that without Abby, Swamp Thing really wouldn't be a "super hero".

[Pearce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only three stars because it’s unfinished. Veitch left Swamp Thing acrimoniously when DC refused to publish his story about the death of Jesus despite having approved the script. You can easily find the whole script online along with some low-quality but intriguing scans of Michael Zulli’s unfinished art. Neil Gaiman would have followed Veitch as writer of Swamp Thing, but pulled out in solidarity, leaving only one issue, Swamp Thing Annual no. 5, to tease how his run might have gone.

[James DeSantis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Swamp Thing Volume 9 dives even deeper into the strange. There are definitely some solid moments, but a lot of it veers into either absurdly silly (Swamp Thing pregnant, really?) or just downright bizarre (Creepy characters hitting on Abby and... aliens?). On the flip side, the Superman issue was a standout, and Abby running off for an issue provided some needed character depth. But overall, this entire arc feels way too out there, and honestly, not that enjoyable. It’s just too much weirdness, and not in a fun way. Sorry Rick, but this is not the kind of follow-up I was hoping for after Moore’s legendary run.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not that Rick Veitch is a bad writer - he's decent enough. His art is certainly above average. But he just doesn't have Alan Moore's magic. He tries to capture Moore's talent for creating unique characters, for blending mysticism and new ideas with classic comic story and imagry, but he just can't do it. And I can't put my finger on why, but his Abby Arcane is just so damned dippy.

[Bjorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so wanted to like this volume. I liked Veitch's run quite a lot, and I wanted to like how it ended. I think he knew he was running out of time on his tenure, so he felt compelled to wrap up some of the bigger stories before he left, and yet still end on a compelling, interesting note, but what we got instead feels rushed, poorly plotted, incoherent (like the Distant Cousins special? What the actual f*** WAS that?), and just downright bad storytelling. That being said, there was enough here that I liked to keep me from giving this a one rating. I especially liked Abby's and Swamp Thing's relationship in the wake of the conception of their child, but that wasn't nearly enough to hold it all together. Disappointing, to say the least. I knew I shouldn't have read "Distant Cousins"...

[Berna Labourdette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seguramente la nostalgia me juega en contra aquí, pero siendo fan de lo que hizo en Swamp Thing, Alan Moore, nunca pude leer esta continuación. Y muuchos años después por fin la encuentro y no me decepciona encontrar a los viejos Swampy, Abby y Constantine engendrando un nuevo elemental de la Tierra y continuando con las exploraciones de lo que significa el amor, las obligaciones y el poder. Muy bueno.

[Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really, really want to enjoy Rick Veitch's work on Swamp Thing. He seemed to be the hand-picked successor to Alan Moore at the end of his run, but for Veitch's wonderfully chameleon-like nature as an artist, his storytelling just isn't as deft as Moore's. I think this is mainly because instead of striking out and claiming Swamp Thing as his own, Veitch is still mired in plots and sub-plots that I think he perceives as loose ends from the Moore era. Moore for the most part closed the book on Martin Pasko's run in the first issue he took over (Saga of the Swamp Thing #20), only returning to previous plots when he felt the need to (his retconning the original Wein/Wrightson "Swamp Thing" story from House of Secrets #92 into the greater Swamp Thing mythos and eventually rolling it into the revelation that there was a Parliament of Trees that consisted of previous incarnations of the Swamp Thing is just the sort of innovation we come to expect from Moore.) With Veitch, the length of Moore's shadow is still unbearable after a year and a half of being in control of the book. This diminished the work, in my view, but perhaps the lesson here is that it might be impossible to follow up Alan Moore on a book unless you are Neil Gaiman.

This is the last of the Swamp Thing volumes that DC/Vertigo published of the Rick Veitch run. Veitch famously left the book after he wrote the "Swamp Thing meets Jesus Christ" story that ruffled feathers at the highest echelons of DC Editorial, even though Swamp Thing editor Karen Berger had approved it. Stories like that one, which never saw the light of day, seem to indicate a Vetich that was willing to take major chances with the story telling and maybe getting out of Moore's shadow, but I haven't seen that in the two Veitch penned volumes that I have read. Instead, I see too much Moore, down to Veitch recycling the tired old concept of "killing" the Swamp Thing. I was bored with this the third time Moore did it--this time it was almost unbearable. If Veitch had been floating stories like "Swamp Thing and Jesus" from when he took over the book, his time probably wouldn't be only remembered for the story that never got published, and that's really too bad.

[Rizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a review for the entire Rick Veitch run (and its tie-ins), not just this volume.

Alan Moore is an impossible act to follow. I applaud anyone brave enough to try. Rick Veitch had an advantage, having already been working with Moore during the latter part of that run. Because of this, he definitely has a good feel for the tone and character of what Moore set up. It feels like a direct continuation not only of the story, but of the product as a whole. Now, this is mostly a good thing, but unfortunately it also means that this run MUST inherently be compared to the previous. There's no getting around it. Thus, Veitch's success at mimicking Moore is also his downfall. Since Veitch's run merely mimics what Moore had already done, it severely lacks the ambition and explosive creativity that Moore is able to consistently achieve.

There is almost nothing in this run that isn't a retread of something already done before, only each story is stretched out to 8 or 9 issues where Moore would've spent 1 or 2. Make no mistake, this run is GLACIALLY paced, with quite a lot of meandering and focus on side characters I really don't care about (Seriously, who gives a single fuck about Labo). I don't think this is a bad run by any means. It's just not entirely satisfying as a sequel, especially considering the intense editorial meddling that happened for the final arc (which is unfortunately not collected in trades as of writing). Following up Alan Moore is a death sentence for almost anyone who tries, so it's actually a miracle that there's any good here at all, but there ARE good things here, namely the central concept of Swamp Thing and Abby having a baby. I just wish Moore had written it, and I wish he had done it in half the number of issues. And barring that, I really wish they had just let Veitch write the story he wanted to write.

Despite my criticisms, this is certainly a run worth reading for Swamp Thing fans who just couldn't get enough after the Moore run. Just manage your expectations and you'll be mostly happy with the results, I expect.

Unfortunately, after Veitch, Swamp Thing would go through a rather dark period under Doug Wheeler and then Nancy Collins, two runs which very few people are willing to recommend. Thankfully Swampy would receive new life under Mark Millar eventually, and then Tefe would get her own book under Brian K Vaughan no less!

For those who need help reading the Veitch run in the correct order here it is:
Swamp Thing 65
Swamp Thing Annual 3
Swamp Thing 66-78
Swamp Thing Annual 4
Swamp Thing 79-90 (Last three issues are by Doug Wheeler, but they finish up Veitch's plot)

[Scott Rhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What does John Constantine, Superman, Guy Gardner, and a bunch of talking gorillas have in common? They all make cameos in Swamp Thing Volume 9, “Infernal Triangles” by Rick Veitch.

Veitch had the unfortunate distinction of taking over as writer of the series when Alan Moore left. Veitch is a decent writer, but following Moore is a bit like being an up-and-coming rock band playing at Manchester Arena and having to follow David Bowie’s opening act.

To be fair, two of the six issues featured in this volume were written by other writers, Jamie Delano and Stephen Bissette.

Swamp Thing has always been weird, but in this issue: Swampy and Abby have some marital issues; Swampy becomes a female; baby Swampy!; Superman stops Swampy from killing Lex Luthor in a cringe-worthy story that sweeps workplace sexual assault under the rug (‘cause, hey, it was the ‘80s); aliens attack!; and gorillas!

Weird is good. My only gripe is that this series ended on a major cliff-hanger. Probably because DC fired—-excuse me, “retired”—-Veitch as writer for being too weird. (Not making this up, folks.) I guess having Swampy sprout boobs and sexy curves was too much for some DC execs. Oh well, Veitch had a good run.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s got everything you want from a Swamp Thing story: supernatural events, space travel for unspecified reasons, enemies who are for some reason weak to plants, alien invasion, gorilla mind control, and sci-fi pregnancy.

Best part of this collection: “I’m on a mission from Grodd” Blues Brothers reference by a gorilla wearing sunglasses and a fedora.
Weirdest part of this collection: Swamp Thing becoming a pregnant swamp creature, going into labor, and birthing itself

I bought the single issue 20th anniversary comic before this was book and I read it. All I thought during the whole thing was, “How does Swamp Thing have a baby?” –and it’s a real elemental baby too. This book answers the question we’ve all been wondering since Abby first ate the funky yams.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the end of Veitch's run; who followed Alan Moore's. It's a hard burden; and part of the problem lays that I think Rick's run was a continuation in terms of style and natural progression of ideas. He chose to focus on what he seems to have considered "loose ends" from Alan's run instead of his own dashing start.

Ultimately, it's a little more muted, but still pretty good--except for DC's botching Rick's ending. The original ending with Jesus is perhaps a tad on the nose, but I love it for all it's pretensions. But DC turning face essentially caused Neil Gaiman and Jamie Delano to refuse being the follow-up writers in solidarity. Such a missed opportunity, although Swamp Thing already does have quite the pedigree of talent.

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rapid ascent to absurdity continues as Veitch continues to inject philosophical, religious, and dare I say, erotic undertones to his Swamp Thing run. Threesomes, incest, pregnancies all leading into what I can only describe as Swamp Thing entering a state of godhood. Where Moore's lengthy run on the character explored similar themes, there was a good deal of subtlety and subdued quality to it. Veitch is a little less level with it, and as a result you get perhaps the most batshit era of Swamp Thing.

I would say that this portion of the run is a little less engaging for me compared to where Veitch started off, but the artwork continues to serve his ambitious musings. Worth checking out, even if the allegory is a little too on the nose.

[Wouter Dhondt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Rick Veitch run ended unsatisfying. Not (only) because his run was cancelled But this last trade? There's nothing really happening for a while and simply a bit too weird at first (ok, the first two issues are written by others so no blame on Rick). And when things do get interesting, it stops. Well, except for that terrible annual at the end. A shame.

2.5 stars

[Kris Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Swamp Thing Annual was the most abysmal thing that I have read in quite some time. The core series remains an intriguing read. Unfortunately, this is the last trade that is available for this run of the title, so I will have to resort to online synopses of the issues following the ones reprinted here in this trade.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a crappy way to end a mostly beautiful series. Who honestly asked for any of the stories that happened here? I'm already trying to forget them, especially the last issue that has zilch to do with Swamp Thing.

[Bud · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed very much. Great storyline.

[Hugo · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ignominious end for Veitch's run here, as DC—compounding their refusal to publish the final issue of the time travel story arc—simply refuse to reprint any of it after this collected volume, including Doug Wheeler's largely ham-fisted attempts at wrapping it up without offending the precious sensibilities of the religiously-inclined, so this is the end of Veitch's collected run, though I'm reading the actual comics, so I'm including up to issue #87 in this review.

Initially—and the prominent fault of Veitch's run—more waffling about, a simple refusal to get to the point, slowed down further by couple of guest issues—Delano's a complete waste of time, Bissette's strongly imagined but largely reiterative of past storylines—though there's a sense that Veitch, once he gets his breath back, is forging his own path and heading for something interesting. The time travel story—as well as the bizarre ape-centric Annual—is indicative of Veitch's issues as a writer, at least of largely mainstream, monthly fare: he's stuck in the shadow of Alan Moore, and seems to know it and play to it, subsuming his own strong voice, which otherwise makes itself known in ham-fisted preaching, extraneous characters, and clumsy allegory; also, he loves the DC pantheon, so they are jammed in here left and right, often inappropriately, often killing the mood and milieu, and further slowing the pace.

Veitch is a great writer (and artist), elsewhere; here, he seems a wildly inappropriate choice, as this curtailed ending would seem to prove.

(Read as single issues.)

[Luke Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

The start of some real weird swamp shit man...I just wish the pregnancy stuff wasn't there...and that the baby wasn't like a human baby...like...we didn't NEED to impregnate Abby, did we Mr. Veitch? Could we not have had something a little less obvious, while still playing with the story idea of Abby and Swampy raising a "child" together? Veitch's arc is at its strongest when it's not dealing with baby shit and is dealing with the Sprout inhabiting increasingly unstable hosts. The time travel arc at the end was weird but not terrible I suppose

[Dissonant · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a confused little TPB; story does not complete at all, and DC opted not to collect the issues that come after this one. Thus, we're left on a weird cliffhanger (not even, really, because it hadn't managed to build up that far) and then plummeted into a story about apes that takes place before the rest of the TPB.

Weird stuff.

I don't think that most of it is necessarily Veitch's fault, but that it's more DC's fault for cutting off the TPBs after this.

If you're curious as to what happens during/directly after the first two issues of this, the 2nd Hellblazer TPB, The Devil You Know contains that stuff. Unfortunately, that's also another TPB that falls apart after the first few issues before going into a bunch of annuals/etc that are out of order.

At least that TPB ended the story it was on before devolving into a bunch of random side stories.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

After becoming an instant Swamp Thing fan thanks to Alan Moore, I close the book on this final volume, Volume 9, which ended with a story about gorillas.

I have never given a Swamp Thing book one star until now. But in many ways, I'm not giving one star to ST...because he's barely in this volume. But if you like Chester the mooching stupid hippie and a bunch of fucking talking gorillas, this book is for you.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has strangely been collected out of order. The annual issue at the end of this volume belongs about a year earlier (probably in the previous collected edition) and the annual that should be in between the regular issues collected here is missing. Very strange.

[Lynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Series went out with a wimper.

[Drizztl · Rating 3 out of 5]

6.5/10

[Luke Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a moment in this one where Swamp Thing accidentally empathizes with his pregnant partner so hard that he grows a pregnant woman body and gives birth to himself. I LOVE COMIC BOOKS SO MUCH.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much happened here, but it was still incredibly interesting. The creators do a lot visually.