Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book One

by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette (Illustrator), John Totleben (Illustrator)

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics

Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2012

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

[luciddreamer99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as you've heard. Haunting art and words, this volume is a very literary comic book. Reinvents the concepts and conventions of the character. Recommended for readers who like wordy comic books, creepy art, and Alan Moore.

[Daniel Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of really clever moments. I really loved how the swamp believed he was Alec Holland, but actually just absorbed his memories.

[B.A.G. Studios · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads incredibly fast for the era of comics that it is. With this much narration, it usually slows me down considerably, but this was a breeze. Read this on a flight and was very impressed by it. It’s clear there’s a vision set forth for how to tell a story about a monster, and then it breaks that monster down. This isn’t a story of a monster finding his humanity, like maybe a Frankenstein story, but rather a tragedy for a monster who cannot find it because it was never there.
But was it? Was it never there?
I expect this to continue to unravel that idea. Does one have to be human to be human? Can you find humanity in as much sentient seaweed?
The artwork, too, is pitch perfect for the tone of the writing. I knew this would basically be a horror story, but I found myself enjoying how much the art backs that up. It feels like the colors are dripping off the panels, and I can feel the terror in the line work.

Basically, yes, this is every bit as good as everyone ever has said it is.

I did elect to skip the first issue since it wraps up the previous arc. I may go back to it one day. Heck, I may end up reading that whole arc one day. But the second collected issue works incredibly well as an introduction, even if I hadn’t read the original first issue, I doubt I’d have been lost in any way. All of the major players are explained here and I feel like I got a complete story. It’s somehow both surprising and exactly what I’d expect from the premise, and that I think works well in its favor. Somehow being familiar and comfortable amidst a horror story with blood-chilling visuals and even more startling ideas.

What I wasn’t expecting was how connected it is to the larger DC universe. The whole Justice League shows up, that was WAY more than I expected, let alone Etrigan. This makes my introduction to the latter, and I don’t know how faithful Alan Moore is to the traditional take, but I liked what was here quite a lot and he was very memorable. I almost wonder if I should hold off on future volumes for a bit because of that, but… I’m not sure I have that much restraint.

[Michael Bafford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have previously read Mr Moore’s Watchmen and V for Vendetta, and seen the films. I found this at the library and was skeptical as monsters are not usually a favorite of mine. There was a good forward by Len Wein who created the character and another by Ramsey Campbell who puts Mr Moore’s story into comic-history perspective. Whatever Swamp Thing was before, he is that no longer. Mr Moore is not only good at writing a story with complicated characters speaking believably, he has inventive genius as well.

The horror element is thankfully somewhat toned down, usually. There are though a few really horrific scenes.

The pictures are well drawn and usually easily understood. The color-scheme is garish but fitting. The size and placement are inventive and usually easy to follow.

The conclusion I found disturbing and somewhat confused. The creation of Swamp Thing and Floronic Man are based on the usual comic book science – being bitten by a radioactive spider creates… well, we all know what. Inter-dimensional beings are OK too; but the introduction of a demon suddenly tips the story from the profane to the sacred, from SF to Fantasy.

On the other hand, who cares? It’s a pretty cool demon.

[Ina Korsgaard Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've really been looking forward to reading the Swamp Thing simply because I knew almost nothing about the series, save that it was one of the classics. I also like Alan Moore's writing, and all this time I thought he was the one who created the Swamp Thing, and was surprised to learn that that's not the case at all. I'll have to see if I can get a hold of the original 20-or-so issues created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson (a favorite of mine!) at some point.

After being hunted down by American government, shot and "killed", it looks like the end for the Swamp Thing. He is preserved, frozen and dissected, and we quickly learn that Alec Holland is not the Swamp Thing after all, but the Swamp Thing is a mutated plant organism who believes it is Alec Holland. And thus Moore has made the character his own.

I enjoyed this first volume and I'm looking forward to reading the complete collection, but I do so with my 80s-glasses on and don't try to compare neither the art or the story to some of today's great comic book works, at which ST falls a little short. For instance: the female protagonist, Abby Cable, is almost without exception drawn scared, helpless, crying or screaming. Always turning to Swamp Thing for help, guidance and comfort.

[Kaler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Groundbreaking in 1987 and still a great read 40 years later... But if you have never read any of the preceding books, you might need a bit of a primer on what the heck is going on in a few places.

Be ready for a supremely anachronistic and borderline offensive depiction of autism - but given when it was written, and the fact that the DSM-III had only just separated autism from schizophrenia, it's more a reminder of how poorly both conditions were understood at the time than anything.

I had to stop reading to investigate what the deal was with Matt Cable, Elysium Lawns, and the dream world before I could finish the last issue.

So read it lightly, enjoy the excellent panel and text layouts and take it as an interesting insight into a very different time for mental health and environmentalism.

[Jack Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good opening comic, and a great introduction for me to get into Alan Moore’s stuff. I love how introspective this is and I really did not think comics were going this dang hard in the 80s the art is amazing too it’s clear they took their time on every page. Excited to read book two.

[Rickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Beginning

I love what is building here for Swamp Thing and the start of the Green and moving away from the confines of Alec Holland. Lots of myths and mysticism going on and I'm enjoying it.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out a little hard to pick up on, but finished strong. Alan Moore has his own vibes, that's for sure. Not rushing to read the next installment but might pick it up sometime.

[Quinn Olesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5