collecting issues #28 to #34 of the monthly DC title ‘Saga of the Swamp Thing’ (1982-1986)
Writer: Alan Moore
Artists: Steve Bissette(p), Shawn McManus(p), John Totleben(i), Tatjana Wood(c)
Publisher: DC/Vertigo (ISBN: 0-930289-54-4)
Plot:
“Each soul must enter alone…otherwise, how could it truly be Hell?”
The Swamp Thing’s nemesis, Arcane, returns for one final showdown. While he may be beaten back, there is a terrible price to pay. Swamp Thing shows us that sometimes, for love, it is worth going through Hell.
Comments:
“A flower grows yet in Hell that’s named for her.”
The excellent story started in the previous volume, The Saga of the Swamp Thing is concluded in this installment and it is just as good as its predecessor. The story picks up where the previous left off, with the mysterious actions of Matt Cable being brought to the forefront. I don’t think I’m spoiling much by saying that, yes, Matt has been possessed by the evil sorcerer Arcane. Once again clothed in flesh, Arcane decides to exact his revenge on the Swamp Thing and Abby.
This time around we get to see Moore inject some more great horror into the story. Arcane uses his power over insects to ‘recorporate’ the dead and this leads to some horrific and chilling scenes. The cinematic usage of narrative ensures that everything flows at a very exciting pace.
The conclusion of the ‘Arcane trilogy’ sees Swamp Thing venturing to Hell to reclaim the soul of Abby, the woman he loves. This is where we get some very interesting storytelling. Moore uses cameos of some of DC’s more mystical characters to forward the story. Deadman, the Phantom Stranger, and the Spectre all make appearances. It is interesting to note that this combination of ‘spiritual’ characters worked so well here that they would be used again and again when other writers (Gaiman, Smith) decided to venture into the realms of the dead.
Another great thing to observe is how Moore deals with the DC concept of Hell. This is something that Gaiman would experiment with further in his Sandman books. It really does give you something to think about when Moore tells us that Hell was not carved out by God or some fallen angel, rather it was made, and is made to this day, by men. Only men. We get a great scene that really brings to light the suffering that takes place in the pit when the Swamp Thing comes across the soul of Arcane, who is being tortured. While he is still obsessed with his ‘revenge’, Arcane asks for one small thing from the Swamp Thing: to tell him how many years he has been suffering. When Swamp Thing replies that he has only been there for a single day, Arcane lets out a horrifying scream and you truly understand the despair of the damned. Makes me want to go to church more often. Like I said, the horror in this book isn’t your standard blood and gore, rather it is pure fear and desolation.Jack Kirby’s demon, Etrigan, once again makes an appearance and you have to love the wonderfully ironic way he thinks. He offers to help guide Swamp Thing through Hell, but for a price: just a flower plucked from a field in Heaven. Oh how much more dreadful Hell will be, he says, when such a beautiful thing is placed in such a nightmarish land; to forever remind those imprisoned there of how devoid of beauty the place really is.
In between Swampy’s journey through the realms we have two fill-in stories. It appears that Bissette and Totleban had fallen back, and not wanting to let their work suffer, brought in several outside artists. One of the ‘stand alones’ of particular interest is the fun yet tragic “Pog”. This story deals with another swamp denizen that Moore introduces to the Swamp Thing in a humorous attempt at communication. The resulting story is charming and sad all at the same time. There are three ‘stand alone’ stories in the trade and each one helps mix up the tone of the book to good effect. The final story in the book is perhaps the most amazing. It is basically a love scene between Swamp Thing and Abby. The two try to consummate their relationship and their feelings for one another, yet they are…shall we say ‘biologically incompatible’. The solution to the problem is an interesting one and leads to a psychedelic, beautifully drawn prose poem about nature and love and emotion. It is a treat to read and gives the book a happy ending while at the same time hinting at the joy and wonder felt between two new-found lovers.
This trade gives us nice work from the art department. As always, Bissette and Totleban steal the show. Their characters and backgrounds are so detailed and so artistically rendered that you forget you are looking at pictures and instead feel like you are there, in the thick of it, observing the events of the story as they unfold. However, the fill-in artists do a good job. McManus’ lighter style fits the two stories he works on, especially “Pog”. Rick Veitch comes aboard for one issue and you have to appreciate the detail he too puts into his pencils, it looks very similar to Bissette’s work and this is a good thing for he would return to do more work on the book in later issues. We also get some good stuff from Ron Randall who draws one damn good looking Abby. This issue has a good range of color to it, and Tatjana Wood makes it all look very realistic and diverse. The art in this book is excellent.
In terms of presentation, the trade is very similar to the first volume. This time we get an introduction from Jamie Delano and Neil Gaiman. Both are good reads, but Gaiman’s in particular gives you an even better appreciation of what Moore has accomplished with the title. Like last time there is also a table of contents listing each issue title, its contributors, and its original date of publication.
Final Words:
"Spring came and everything in the world woke up."
A great second installment of an excellent series. The arc begun in the first volume is concluded here and we get several nice ‘stand alone’ stories that add some refreshing variety to the book - a wonderful addition to your collection.
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