From Publishers Weekly
Swamp Thing, best known from the classic tales penned by Alan Moore, makes another comeback. Bereft of his human soul, Alec Holland, a.k.a. Swamp Thing, is now the embodiment of earth, air, fire, water and, of course, root. He envisions himself the protector of the Earth and desires to rebalance nature-by force. The only one powerful enough to stop him is his daughter, Tefé, who controls the power of flesh. Tefé faces her own journey, as she is tempted by a mysterious sorcerer in the heart of the Black Forest. Meanwhile, John Constantine returns to try to keep a lid on things before Swamp Thing destroys what he once protected. Despite the fact that this is a new story line, readers unfamiliar with the tale will have a hard time. The writing is weak; it substitutes exposition and grandstanding for action. The all-powerful Swamp Thing does very little with his might, although there is the promised throw-down between father and daughter. The art is over-the-top, with disproportionate figures and a good helping of gore. The one highlight is Constantine, who has all of the best lines. This comic will probably please long-time fans of the series, but not attract newcomers.
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With
Swamp Thing, American comic-book readers discovered the innovative British writer Alan Moore, who took over the title in 1983 and dramatically revitalized the character--a walking mass of vegetation, once human, with godlike powers over plant life--before moving on. The comic then hobbled on under less-gifted scribes, enjoying intermittent success.
Bad Seed, the first story arc in the latest attempt to revive
Swamp Thing, promises more success. Stripped of his human conscience, Swamp Thing threatens to restore the balance on Earth between animal and plant life, which would imperil humanity in the process. Standing in his way are his daughter Tefe, who possesses elemental powers of her own, and sorcerer supreme John Constantine, who, thanks to his upcoming movie incarnation, is omnipresent in DC comics these days. Writer Diggle skillfully weaves together elements from Swamp Thing's previous incarnations, and Breccia's lush drawings are appropriately swampy. Libraries containing Moore's
Swamp Thing collections, in particular, should give patrons a chance to discover the venerable vegetable's latest version.
Gordon FlaggCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
