Swamp Thing

[CBR News]

Scott Snyder and Kano provide an
accessible issue for new readers of "Swamp
Thing," showcasing the villainous avatar of
the Rot, Arcane, with horrific artwork.


Full article here.

[ChristianP]

I am not a very experienced Swamp Thing reader so I am not very familar with his origin or anything. But one thing that struck me is how Alec Holland was married and Arcane killed his wife... like, as far as I remember, none of that was mentioned from Swamp Thing #1 onward, and yet it seems like that would leave an immense impact on his life.

[Talisman]

So is Yanick Paquette going to stay on this title or are we getting a new artist?

[ChristianP]

I am pretty sure he is staying on it, it's just annoying how he has a fill-in every third issue it seems.
It is particularly annoying because every fill-in tries to replicate Paquette, but aren't nearly as good at his style.

[Napoleon]

I am not a very experienced Swamp Thing reader so I am not very familar with his origin or anything. But one thing that struck me is how Alec Holland was married and Arcane killed his wife... like, as far as I remember, none of that was mentioned from Swamp Thing #1 onward, and yet it seems like that would leave an immense impact on his life.

True, but Alec never knew that.

[Napoleon]

I won't tell you what this strange creature does, but the last time my stomach turned in a similar fashion was when I accidentally flipped to a scene in "Crossed" where a pregnant girl cut out her fetus and ate it. This isn't quite as graphic, but it's close.

Good overall review except for the above quote. While Swamp Thing is a horror comic at heart, nothing it has presented has been as graphic as anything in "Crossed", much less the above mentioned panel.

[WolfOfMibu1991]

I am not a very experienced Swamp Thing reader so I am not very familar with his origin or anything. But one thing that struck me is how Alec Holland was married and Arcane killed his wife... like, as far as I remember, none of that was mentioned from Swamp Thing #1 onward, and yet it seems like that would leave an immense impact on his life.

It was not mentioned, and in Moores run I dont think it was ether buddy. It's Scott just adding his own touch to it to make Arcane a truly evil villian which he is doing a great job hell I like this arcane better then Alan moores. He truly is despicable Though I wish they woulda done more with sethe.

[DriedFruit]

Good overall review except for the above quote. While Swamp Thing is a horror comic at heart, nothing it has presented has been as graphic as anything in "Crossed", much less the above mentioned panel.

Disagree. Showing the murder of a newborn baby is horrific no matter how you cut it.

[fredmanson]

Swamp Thing is one of the best titles from the Dark line of DC Comics. This is where the Vertigo spirit is encountering the DCnU spirit. A "super-hero" character into a Vertigo book, under the banner of DC Comics.

Well done DC!!!

About Crossed: I have never read or seen so bad gory comic book. Despite the facts that I like blood/gory scenes/awful scenes and characters, I have not been hooked by this one. Maybe it is due to its lacks of backgrounds. There, an issue #0 would be necessary!!!! But frankly, at $4.00 the book of shitty stories, I pass...

[flapjaxx]

It's Scott just adding his own touch to it to make Arcane a truly evil villian which he is doing a great job hell I like this arcane better then Alan moores.

It's a totally unnecessary "touch", though. I'm enjoying Snyder's stuff overall, but he has a habit of relying on cliche ultraviolence tropes to try to FORCE readers to think his villains are really interesting. Sometimes "less is more" and I wish Snyder would allow the villains to have some more nuance and character moments, rather than just reverting to shock-value tactics. It isn't just a Snyder problem; I noticed Johns doing it as well a few years ago. And I think Snyder is more than capable of portraying thoughtful villains -- James Jr. being an excellent case in point, though there again too after a certain point Snyder nearly turned him into a cookie-cutter serial killer for a few issues, which in my opinion compromised the story, albeit slightly.

[theflyingfrogunderdog]

I am not a very experienced Swamp Thing reader so I am not very familar with his origin or anything. But one thing that struck me is how Alec Holland was married and Arcane killed his wife... like, as far as I remember, none of that was mentioned from Swamp Thing #1 onward, and yet it seems like that would leave an immense impact on his life.

That's a very good point, especially when in the original series, Swampy was always thinking about his "Linda".

[theflyingfrogunderdog]

Disagree. Showing the murder of a newborn baby is horrific no matter how you cut it.

In my opinion, it's in very bad taste and is crossing a line that definitely shouldn't be crossed, such as depicting child molestation. Any sort of violence against children should not be depicted by DC. It's no-brainer common sense, but DC doesn't seem to have even a minimal amount of common sense anymore. DC is going too far in their quest to be edgy and push the envelope in the 21st century.

[mmehshow]

In my opinion, it's in very bad taste and is crossing a line that definitely shouldn't be crossed, such as depicting child molestation. Any sort of violence against children should not be depicted by DC. It's no-brainer common sense, but DC doesn't seem to have even a minimal amount of common sense anymore. DC is going too far in their quest to be edgy and push the envelope in the 21st century.

Are you an uppity mother?

[WolfOfMibu1991]

In my opinion, it's in very bad taste and is crossing a line that definitely shouldn't be crossed, such as depicting child molestation. Any sort of violence against children should not be depicted by DC. It's no-brainer common sense, but DC doesn't seem to have even a minimal amount of common sense anymore. DC is going too far in their quest to be edgy and push the envelope in the 21st century.

Maybe dont read a horror book? this is what irradiates me is people posting their opinion off like their some authority figure and everyone should follow your line of living.
Scott Snyder is writing a horror it obviously horrified you so its working. btw its not DC its Scott Snyder and I say it adds to the story the point of the villian is to hate him. Arcane is absolutely despicable villian who I hate!

[theflyingfrogunderdog]

Maybe dont read a horror book? this is what irradiates me is people posting their opinion off like their some authority figure and everyone should follow your line of living.
Scott Snyder is writing a horror it obviously horrified you so its working. btw its not DC its Scott Snyder and I say it adds to the story the point of the villian is to hate him. Arcane is absolutely despicable villian who I hate!

The scene would have been much more effective if the un-man hand was drawn ominously creeping it's way towards the baby in a three panel sequence. There are ways to do things effectively without showing it. DC just throws graphic violence in your face without any thought as to how to do it. I'd rather have effective subtleness than "in your face" graphicness.