Болотяна Істота. Зелене пекло

Swamp Thing: Green Hell #1-3

by Jeff Lemire, Олена Лісевич (Translator)

«НАМ ВМИРАТИ АБО ТАМ, У ВІДКРИТОМУ МОРІ, АБО ТУТ, У БИТВІ ЗА НАШ ДІМ. ПИТАННЯ ВИБОРУ НЕ СТОЇТЬ».

Землі майже кінець. Останні представники людства чіпляються за верхівку гори — острів, що потопає в безкрайному паводку. Парламенти Зелені, Багрянцю і Гнилі доходять спільного висновку: настав час почати все з чистого аркуша й перезапустити цикл життя. Для цього вони об’єднують сили, щоби викликати аватара — одного з найжахливіших монстрів за всю історію цієї малолюдної планети. Такій істоті ніхто не зможе дати відсіч… хіба що солдат, який розуміє ворога. Той, хто вже втілював їхню тактику. Хтось на кшталт Алека Голланда. Шкода, що він помер багато десятиліть тому…

Один із найвидатніших художників в сучасній історії DC, Дуґ Манкі («Ліга Справедливості», «Бетмен: людина, що сміється») приєднується до Джеффа Леміра («Ласун», «Ґідеон-Фоллз») у кривавому й жаскому замісі монстрів, де доля людства опиниться в нелюдських руках!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Horror, Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics

160 pages, Hardcover

Published November 29, 2023

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Jeff Lemire is a New York Times bestselling and award winning author, and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Underwater Welder, Trillium, Plutona, Black Hammer, Descender, Royal City, and Gideon Falls. His upcoming projects include a host of series and original graphic novels, including the fantasy series Ascender with Dustin Nguyen.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was good.
It's basically Waterworld but with DC characters.



It opens with a father and daughter fishing. You quickly learn that this is sometime in the near future (because Constantine is still alive), and humans have somehow fucked the planet to the point that almost everything is underwater. The man and his little girl are part of a ragtag community on a slowly sinking chunk of land. Why our scrappy group of humans aren't building barges and coming up with systems to be able to live in this new environment, I don't know.
Guess it's easier to fish for scrap metal.



A band of thugs of course lands on their little island, beats everyone up, and takes their shit.
Meanwhile, all the Parliaments get together and decide that these humans have ruined enough stuff and it's time to move on and start over.
Fair.



Without getting too spoilery, there's an old man with lore knowledge who goes to Old Man Constantine, who does his magic & brings Swamp Thing back from his blissful retirement just in time to fight off an army of monsters intent on wiping out these scraggly folks on the island.



I think Lemire did a good job with this end-of-the-world What If kind of tale. He hit all the right notes and had all the right character cameos. Lemire's writing rarely wows me in a way that makes him a personal favorite, but he is a good writer and you can tell he cares. <-- but thank god he didn't draw it



Recommended for fans of Swamp Thing.

I found this in DC Infinite's Black Label Horror section - if anyone is using that app to read their comics. I'm digging the way you can favorite the categories and go back and check them every now and then to see if anything new has been added.

[Jim Ef · Rating 3 out of 5]

6.4/10
Future. Things are not good for the last few survivors of mankind. They about to get worse. The Parliament decided that all humans should die and Earth will start a new cycle.

Mankind's only hope? The Swamp Thing.

A dark and dramatic story about a very bleak future. The best thing is Alec's internal struggle, when he has to decide between his own happiness or helping others.

The art is serviceable, but that's about it. Could be better, could be worse.

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world’s gone to Hell in a hand basket, and the only think that can save it is Swamp Thing. Like, Duh…

Jeff Lemire’s “Swamp Thing: Green Hell” is a pretty depressing look at a very believable future for the human race: devastation from massive natural disasters brought on by global warming, global drought and starvation, a majority of the population wiped out by warfare.

The Parliaments have all pretty much given up on humanity because humanity gave up on them decades ago. What’s left of the Parliaments have decided to just eradicate the small pockets of humanity left on Earth.

A grizzled, ancient John Constantine (who still wears a trench coat and tie and manages to always have a pack of cigarettes) summons Swampy from his protective secret garden where he and his wife, Abby, and their daughter, Tefe, live sequestered from the rest of the world. Swampy’s pissed, but he’s more surprised at the shape the world is in.

Swampy’s like “What the—-?” And Constantine’s like “Right?” And then all literal Hell breaks loose.

Fun cameos from Deadman, Animal Woman (Animal Man’s daughter, all growed up), and the Legions of Hell led by Lucifer himself, who struck a deal with Constantine.

Lots and lots of blood and guts and carnage in this. Definitely not for the squeamish.

[Drew Canole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mankind has lost the battle against something, climate change I think, so now they live on a small island and scavenge for stuff. John Constantine is still around and when the Green (along with the Red and Rot parliaments) starts to attack he summons Alec Holland, Swamp Thing, and Animal Woman to come help out.

Doug Mahnke's artwork was pretty good but didn't make up for Lemire's lacklustre script.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dope! The world’s water levels are rising. Land is running out and food and supplies are getting harder to come by. The green and the red aka the Parliaments, are tired of humans destruction of the earth and decide to wipe them out for good. Against what he would have wanted, Swamp Thing is dragged into this to help the humans fight back. Man, Constantine is such a bastard. This story was bleak and dark, Lemire’s specialty, and Doug Mahnke’s scratchy/edgy looking art worked great for this. I was glad that I read Alan Moore’s Swamp thing so I knew who some of these characters were. I read issue #1 three years ago so it was nice to finally see this through to the end. This is recommended. The more I read of Swamp Thing, the more I like him.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swamp Thing: Green Hell collects issues 1-3 of the DC Comics Black Label series written by Jeff Lemire with art by Doug Mahnke.

Set in the future where an undisclosed event has laid waste to the planet leaving small bands of humans to survive after the ocean waters have risen. The Parliaments create a new avatar of the Green to once and for all deal with humans after they have destroyed their own planet. Humanity’s only chance is for the former avatar of the Green, Alec Hammond, to leave behind his peace with his family, to wage one last battle.

Lemire gives us a tragic story filled with hope. Green Hell follows up some of Jeff Lemire DC Comics New 52 themes from his time on Animal Man, Constantine, Swamp Thing, and Justice League Dark. While billed as a Swamp Thing book, Green Hell is as much a book belonging to John Constantine and I would argue he is the ultimate hero in this story.

Doug Manhke’s is art is incredible in this post apocalyptic world. The Green’s avatar, the Red’s army, and the Rot are all grotesquely drawn as the war for humanity is waged. This series was produced in Black Label’s trademark magazine sized issues which are made all the more special in this hardcover edition. Green Hell is a must read for Swampy fans.

[Benji Glaab · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

It's a Great looking book let down by a mediocre story. I'll admit It's been a while since I've spent time with either Alec Holland or John Constantine, and I wasn't really clear on what a Black Label book from DC was all about. The alternate reality and being set in the future opens the freedom to tell Lemire's story, but the gravitas is a let down knowing there is on 3 max size issues to tell it in.

I feel like if you are a mega Vertigo comics fan from back in the day, you might love this, but way too much time has passed for me to be really excited about this one.

[Matthew Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book would have a bit more horror to it in terms of the story, but it was definitely more of a post-apocalyptic tale than a horror tale. The art however, was horrific in a great way and I found myself staring at pages for a while before I’d turn them to continue the read. I enjoyed the story a lot, but if I could complain about one thing it would definitely be the pacing. Overall, a really enjoyable Swamp Thing story!

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Green Hell meets the requirements of a Black Label book (plenty of dark themes and gore) and a Jeff Lemire book (a father attempts to keep his daughter safe in a brutal, post-apocalyptic environment). Swamp Thing is drawn into the plot basically for plot reasons (the Parliament of Green, Red, and Rot are mad about the whole apocalypse thing and decide to wipe out humanity), but he's a fine and interesting addition.

Really, though, the book belongs to John Constantine, who gets all the best scenes and quips. Doug Mahnke's art is suitably gross when it needs to be, but oddly unfinished in important moments. Green Hell as a whole is predictable and fine.

[Brandon Forsyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll admit that I’m not much of a Swamp Thing reader - in fact this might be the first title I’ve read of his - and that might make me not the ideal audience for this book. There’s a rich mythology that Lemire is playing with here that just doesn’t have much resonance for me as a newcomer. It’s never incomprehensible, but I know I’m missing out. There are some interesting ideas here, and the art is incredibly dramatic in this oversized format. As a casual John Constantine fan there’s a nice turn here from him, and more dedicated fans will probably find more to love here. It has made me more determined to read Alan Moore’s acclaimed run on this character, and maybe I’ll give this a re-read once I do that.

[Matty Dub · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it’s fun to have Lemire back in this world, it really feels like he did the book as a cash in, it doesn’t feel inspired at all. I also though Manhke and Baron’s art is on the rough side.

2.5/5 for me, pretty mediocre.

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice take on the Swamp Thing. A bit emotional, cool cast of characters that join him, good action too. Everything is quite simple, but very well executed. I like it!

[Ryan Canterbury]

hope against savagery. amazing art and great swamp thing story. exactly what i needed right now.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enrolei bastante para começar a ler essa graphic novel porque estava meio saturado dessas abordagens Black Label da DC Comics. Por um lado gostei bastante dessa versão de Jeff Lemire, porque ele faz uso do seu recurso mais caro que é colocar relações humanas em histórias super-heróicas. Ele também inventa um mundo que ainda não é nem apocalíptico e nem pós-apocalíptico, mas que está chegando perto do colapso. Então dois pontos para o Lemire. A arte de Doug Mahnke não decepiciona, no seu estilo sujo mas nem tanto, que serve muito bem para narrativas deste tipo. Então três pontos para a HQ. O ponto negativo é que, em essência, ela repete um plot que foi usado na saga Mundo Podre de Os Novos 52, com a diferença que o Parlamento que ameaça o mundo agora é o Verde e não a Podridão. Temos ali também Constantine e a Mulher-Animal, em suas versões futuras, atuando de forma parecida. Então a HQ fica com três pontos positivos, um negativo e quatro estrelas porque eu sou querido.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME!!! Another champion story from DC Black Label!
In this, humanity has almost completely destroyed the Earth, and the Parliaments of the Green, the Red, and the Rot join together and decide it is time to wipe out humanity and start over. A villager goes to see John Constantine (of course he is still alive!) and he summons Alec Holland from his paradise to defend the people once again.
On the front cover of the book, there is a quote from the Hollywood Reporter: "One of the best Swamp Thing stories in years." It should say "One of the best Swamp Thing stories EVER."

You owe it to yourself to read this.
Strong recommend. Essential read for fans of DC or of the character.

[Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Swamp Thing, but this one wasn’t super exciting for me. There are many better apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic DC titles right now, in my opinion.

But I’m glad I read at least volume 1 of the New 52 Animal Man, though, so I wasn’t completely in the dark on this one.

[Mariano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lemire teniendo que pagar las expensas con Mahnke apurado pero igualmente inspirado. Empieza más interesante de lo que termina.

[Malum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun but a bit shallow. The story doesn't really amount to much more than a series of boss fights.

[Kim Wong · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shallow, ultra-violent garbage.

[LilieLit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Le bouquin en soi est top, bien dessiné, bonne intrigue, du bon Lemire... mais je n'ai pas le lore. Ça s'inscrit dans du DC Comics et je ne lis pas les dc ni les marvel.
Donc plein de potentiel, mais du mal à comprendre, forcément.

[Mason Cantwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, although this story deserved a few more issues at least. The end felt pretty rushed. I hope DC does more with Alec Holland

[Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Świetnie wydany, rysunki rewelacyjne, a historia wspaniała.

Naprawdę nie mam czego się przyczepić.

[Nick Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 Wish it was twice as long. Just like all of lemire’s work I find this to be rushed and half baked. at least in this case it turns out pretty great.

[MRacle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeff Lemire gibi bir yazara Swamp Thing gibi bir karakter verilince ortaya çıkan hikayenin bu olması hayal kırklığı yaşattı. Özellikle Lemire'in Animal Man dönemine bir nevi devam hikayesi olması ve bunda da oldubittiye geliyor gibi hissettirmesi bakımından da üzdü. Yine de DC'nin büyü karakterleri zayıf noktam, Constantine ve Deadman görmek iyi hissettirdi.

[Dominic Sedillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent “last story” of one of my favorite characters in all of comics.

It’s very satisfying in all the things it sets out to do.

[Trevor ComicFan · Rating 3 out of 5]

75

Lemire’s dialogue was great as always, art was pretty choppy and rushed in many panels.

[Alexis Meuche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books like this will be interesting to look back on when we’re living in an actual apocalypse cause by climate change but we don’t have no Constantine or Swamp Thing to save us.

[Alex Sarll]

Green Hell being the state of my respiratory system this week, but also a post-apocalyptic Swamp Thing story, because if there's one thing the Black Label imprint likes nearly as much as mildly edgy Harley/Joker stories, it's post-apocalyptic misery. And to be fair, unlike some, at least Swamp Thing has had environmental catastrophe tied in to the concept right back to the Alan Moore days. Despite which, the set-up here still manages to feel half-arsed, with the Green, the Red and the Rot conspiring to kill off the last remnants of humanity because...well, it doesn't really make any sense, but I think it's basically the same logic as when you eat a bit more than you actually wanted because it saves you from needing to find a container and put the leftovers in the fridge. So we get another, nasty Swamp Thing stomping around killing people like a C-list Terminator knock-off, and then an elderly Constantine who has apparently forgotten how to swear properly* summons Alec Holland to fight it, and the weird side of the DCU trudge through the motions one last time, ending with a defiant hymn to the potential of humanity even though that was precisely what left the world in this state to start with. Absolute toss.

*His opening line is "Took you bloody well long enough", which is wrong on such a subtle yet inescapable level that it's quite the most genuinely horrifying thing here, and matters don't improve from there.

[Sonic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is Cool! A great pairing of talents!

[rowan]

Why I read it: Swamp Thing... you make my heart sing...

Thoughts: I thought this story sounded interesting (it's the end of the world and no one but Swamp Thing can save the last survivors) and the cover looked awesome so... y'know... of course I got it. As usual, upsides and downsides.

Downsides: This is a self-contained story, but I definitely felt like I could have benefited from having more knowledge beforehand. Luckily I know about John Constantine and also vaguely knew about Tefé Holland, or I would've been completely lost. Animal Woman and Boston, though? No clue. The Parliaments... no idea if they are explained elsewhere, in other parts of the Swamp Thing lore. I knew about the Green, I kind of figured out from context what the Red is. But there's a third one (Rot?) and... yeah. I dunno.

I also didn't particularly care about the last survivors. The way the protagonist little girl was drawn reminded me way too much of artists who can't draw children so they sort of draw miniature adults (looking at you, Hirohiko Araki) and it was kind of off-putting. The human drama was boring, too, nothing I haven't seen elsewhere. Whenever the story went back to the survivors, I just wanted Constantine back.

Upsides: Great art. Other than the little girl, the whole of everything else was beautiful. The cast of uber-people (Swamp Thing, Constantine, Deadman, Animal Woman, even the demon Constantine bargains with) were drawn very well. Constantine stands out because he's just that cool, even as an old man who lives on a lighthouse island and drinks all day (?? how, at the end of the world??). I liked the physical and symbolic shedding of Swamp Thing's outer layers as he turns away from/is kicked out of the Green, so for a part of the story, he looks like the skeleton of what might've once been the Swamp Thing. The power boost he gets from Constantine's negotiations at the end was cool as fuck. I'd also like to own several of the variant covers as full-size posters. Who do I speak to about that.

I did like the larger story of humanity at the end of the world, though I don't have much to say about it, because I don't think the writers had much to say about it either. I saw the words "eco-horror" somewhere in a blurb or in a review, but I don't think it spends enough time on that in order to qualify, and "powers that be have decreed that humanity must die so the planet can heal itself/start a new cycle of life" is kind of... been there, done that. The conclusion, as always, is simply hopeful, that humanity deserves the chance to try and turn it around somehow. And, I mean... do they? Do we? This story doesn't spend any time really considering that. I guess this also works as a downside, but the upside is that it works well enough if the goal was simply to provide a background for this adventure.

Would I read more: Yeah. I like self-contained stories.

Would I recommend it: Why not.