Swamp Thing Book 1

Swamp Thing (Black & White Edition) #1

by Alan Moore

Before WATCHMEN, Alan Moore made his debut in the U.S. comic book industry with the revitalization of the horror comic book THE SWAMP THING. His deconstruction of the classic monster stretched the creative boundaries of the medium and became one of the most spectacular series in comic book history. With modern-day issues explored against a backdrop of horror, SWAMP THING's stories became commentaries on environmental, political and social issues, unflinching in their relevance.*FROM PREFACE...SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING. 'See if you like'em.' Like them? Indeed I did. Here was someone who was finally leading the comic book towards its true potential with insightful scripts and excellent art direction, pushing through those hazed peripheries of the imagination with stories that were not just literate, but - and I don't use the word lightly - inspired. Let's say I was somewhat impressed. THE SWAMP THING is no quick, satisfying read. No, it's much more than that. The stories give cause for thought and then further, deeper thought long after you've laid them aside. Now that's some achievement in this field. This is no Incredible Hulk or The Heap (remember The Heap?). The Swamp Thing isn't a man transformed, but a dying man's consciousness, his psyche, absorbed through circumstances by the environment of his death. Now that's heavy stuff, but when you take the mental leap it makes perfect and fascinating sense. And once you decide to be swept along by Alan Moore's fertile imagination (helped along by some excellently succinct prose), then there's no turning back. You're hooked. Me, I'm glad to be back on that hook. JAMES HERBERT

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

128 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1987

About the author

Alan Moore is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He has also written a novel, Voice of the Fire, and performs "workings" (one-off performance art/spoken word pieces) with The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels, some of which have been released on CD.

As a comics writer, Moore is notable for being one of the first writers to apply literary and formalist sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium. As well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes, he brings a wide range of influences to his work, from the literary–authors such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair; New Wave science fiction writers such as Michael Moorcock; horror writers such as Clive Barker; to the cinematic–filmmakers such as Nicolas Roeg. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.

Reviews

[James Kinsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favourite Moore, and I think I preferred Wein/Wrightson's original Swsmp Thing run, but this is undeniably a good read, with a great character, from a fantastic era. Whetted my appetite for more Green.

[Richard Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading this.. again...

And it's still a superb volume. The first chapter (Anatomy Lesson) is the highlight, a great short story which is packed solid with the ideas that reshaped Swamp Thing for ever. This is the kind of superhero reboot that most comics writers can only gaze upon in agony, knowing they'll never come up with anything so powerful.

The other three chapters complete the story of the Floronic Man nicely, with brilliant cameos by the Justice League, and round off this reinvention of Swamp Thing.

The last splash page, as he rises up "to meet the sun" remains one of my favourite images in any comic to this day.

I could find these issues in colour editions, but I will love my black and white Titan volumes forever.

[musarboijatra · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a storyline!

কমিক দুনিয়ার বিখ্যাত গল্পলেখক, Watchmen, V for Vendetta এবং ব্যাটম্যানের অনেক গল্পের জন্মদাতা Alan Moore-এর আত্মপ্রকাশ ঘটেছিল এই কমিক ইস্যু লিখে। এবং সেই আত্মপ্রকাশ-ও যথেষ্ট প্রভাব ফেলার মতো!

পর্দায় খুব একটা দেখা যায়নি Swamp Thing চরিত্রটাকে, এখনো তার নামে একটা টিভি সিরিজ আছে, আর কার্টুনে কয়েকবার। পয়জন আইভি'র মতো আরেক চরিত্র, যার গাছের সাথে বসবাস, ক্ষমতা-ও গাছ-নির্ভর। পয়জন আইভি যেমন মূলত মানুষ, গাছেদের নিয়ন্ত্রণ করতে পারে, সোয়াম্প থিং বরং নিজেই গাছ। কোনো এক সময় মানুষ ছিল, ওই স্মৃতিটুকু ছাড়া আর কিছু অবশিষ্ট নেই। এবং লেখক এলান ম্যুর এই মানুষ থেকে গাছ বনে যাওয়া চরিত্রকে তুলে ধরেছেন একটা ময়নয়াতদন্তের মাধ্যমে, প্রথম ইস্যু, 'The Autopsy'-তে। বরফে জমে থাকা গাছ-শরীর ব্যবচ্ছেদ করে আমরা দেখতে পাই এলভিওলাইয়ের বদলে প্ল্যান্ট টিস্যুতে তৈরী একটা ফুসফুস, যার পক্ষে কৈশিক জালিকার মাধ্যমে অক্সিজেন বিনিময় সম্ভব না। প্রাণীর পেশী'র বদলে জাইলেম ফাইবারে গড়ে ওঠা হাত-পা, হাড়ের বদলে কাঠ। এই অদ্ভুতুড়ে বায়োলজিকাল মিরাকল, অথবা ননসেন্স, কেন ঘটে থাকতে পারে?

প্রথম পর্বটা মেডিক্যাল মিস্ট্রি-হররের রূপে লেখা হয়েছে। এবং ধুমধারাক্কা সুপারহিরো ডেব্যিউ'র চাইতে এমন গল্প-ই বরং উপযোগী ছিল Swamp Thing চরিত্রটার জন্য। সংলাপ এবং স্বগতালাপ (monologue) বেশ ভাল ছিল। তাহলে শেষ করামাত্র কোন কাজটা করা স্বাভাবিক? ঠিক, তক্ষুণি এলান ম্যুরের লেখা পুরো সিরিজটা নিয়ে পড়তে বসে গেলাম!

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black and White version of the classic, mythology changing epic first Swamp Thing stories by Alan Moore.