Writer: Joshua Dysart
Artist: Enrique Breccia ("Love in Vain") and Timothy Green II ("A Measure of Faith")
Company: DC Comics/Vertigo
Synopsis: This is a story about loneliness, love, desire, delusion, and horrific monsters from Hell. Part morality tale and part creep show, this collection gathers Swamp Thing issues nine through fourteen, which comprises two interrelated storylines. In "Love in Vain" Anton Arcane escapes from Hell with his demon lover, Josephine, twisting reality into a phantasmagoric infernal nightmare. In "A Measure of Faith" a preacher arrives in the bayou granting spiritual consolation to those who believe in him.
Combining dread and deep conceptual exploration in the best of the Vertigo tradition, Dysart crafts a classic story of horror and redemption. Yes, there are demonic dogs eviscerating people and psychic vampires formed out of vermin, but the true tale of terror is found in inescapable human loneliness. Only love and faith can save us from this frightful isolation. But sometimes love is in vain, and faith is misplaced.
Love in Vain
"When the train rolled up to the station, I looked her in the eye
Well, I was so lonesome, I felt so lonesome, and I could not help but cry
All my love's in vain." --- Robert Johnson
Ten years ago, the Swamp Thing met a little Cajun girl, Sallie. He gave her a unique plant as a gift and promised to meet her again. Now, Sallie has grown into a lonely young woman, raised in the isolation of the bayou. Her need for company leads her to craft a magic spell to create her own man, using a seed from the Swamp Thing as a key component to her mystic ritual. But Sallie is not a trained practitioner of the arcane arts; she summons a male companion, but not the type that she truly desires.
Anton Arcane has answered her summons, tearing himself free from the torments of Hell. Once liberated from the Pit, he turns his sorcery to bringing forth his demonic lover. In the process of their escape, Anton and his beloved have torn a hole between perdition and the earthly realm. Through this gap, all sorts of evil taints the bayou and the helpless town of Houma, Louisiana.
Meanwhile, the Swamp Thing is a empty husk, a mere echo of its former self. It has transcended beyond the human realm, but now has returned to an immanent reality. The transition from divine removal to the immediacy of worldly activity has left the Swamp Thing's mind in shambles. It has only a vague sense of self with shadowy memories of a distant, past life. "But mostly he feels like a man. Tiny. Desperate to connect."
Yet, there is no time for leisurely self-discovery for the Swamp Thing. The escapees from the Inferno have poisoned the Green and must be dealt with immediately. But as he hunts down the demonic duo, they are hunting down someone dear to him.
Critique:
"Where shall we wake when the dream is done?"
"Love in Vain" is a four-part story, comprising issues nine through twelve. Thematically, its premise is an exploration of love and loneliness. All the elements of the story focuses on this premise with impeccable craftsmanship. The parallel plotlines of Arcane's escape with his demon lover, Sallie's innocent mistake born out of loneliness and hope, and the Swamp Thing's incomplete sense of self, they all reflect the underlying theme. The conflict arises from the lonely seeking love and resolves into an awareness of the futility of such a quest.
The pacing is superb. The storyline is a splendid example of rising action, starting with the growing dread of Sallie's conjuration, then escalating into the spread of the hellish taint through the bayou, and climaxing when all the participants converge for the final encounter. The plot is intricate, but so richly woven that it never becomes overly complicated. It is a viscerally compelling read.
Characterization is a key element to the story's success. Each participant has a distinct voice. Arcane has a sophisticated style of speech. The demon, Josephine, is shrill and banal, but also constantly exuberant to be in the earthly realm. Sallie is simple-spoken and rough, but also naïve and child-like. The Swamp Thing is inarticulate, with convincing difficulty that reflects its devastated mental coherence.
The art is by Enrique Breccia, who captures the mood perfectly. This is a gory story. The repulsive infernal taint is clearly conveyed to the reader. Facial and figural depictions are overly dramatic, but this is appropriate to the story's atmosphere. With the world going to perdition, there is no room for subtlety. The ubiquitous presence of symbolism throughout the story is noteworthy, from the unblinking eyes of an owl to the ferocious "frolicking" of the dogs, Breccia imbues these images with a haunting underlying significance.
A Measure of Faith
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." --- Roman 12:3 (New International Version)
The town of Houma is devastated by the horrors seen when the infernal taint poisoned the land. The people have seen the evils of the world manifest as ghostly images of damnation. Their own failings, their own tragedies, and their own fears were given form on that horrible day. But a preacher has come to the bayou, bringing a message of salvation and renewal.
Seeking consolation from the horrors in their hearts, the townsfolk flock out into the swamp; some are never seen again. A request by his former lover, Abigail, sends the Swamp Thing out to investigate, to bring back a troubled old man who is missed by his family. But does he find a snake-charmer or a snake? Will he behold the bliss of the baptized or the dead-end dreams of the drowning? Does the preacher bring a glorious rapture or an exploitative abduction?
Critique
"All the misery and hungry schemes, all the baby tears and broken dreams, left behind!"
"A Measure of Faith" is a two-part coda to the themes of "Love in Vain." It comprises issues thirteen and fourteen. The theme picks up where the previous story leaves off; if love fails, what do you have left to keep desolation away? "Do you have faith? Something to cling to when sinking?" Compared to the previous storyline, this is a simple, straight-forward tale. A man finds his life consumed by guilt over past sins. The preacher offers him peace, if he is willing to submit to belief.
In terms of plot, it is a repeating structure. First, the story focuses on the old man, Ray, as he journeys for salvation. Then, in the second part, the Swamp Thing follows after Ray, unknowingly paralleling the quest for redemption. The pacing is perfect, creating an ambiguous sense of both menace and mystery. There isn't the high action and mayhem of "Love in Vain" but the story unfolds with rising tension, as the true nature of the Preacher and the fate of his congregation is revealed.
Timothy Green II handles the art for "A Measure of Faith." The subtle and introspective nature of this story perfectly suits his artistic style. His page composition and panel arrangement create a quiet and deliberate mood for the story. Facial expressiveness is a definite strong point to his art.
But the key element to the artistic success of this story is the pervasive ambiguity of the images. The supernatural baptism and the final rapture are both sublime and frightful. These images linger in the reader's mind with a question: is this a happy ending?
Appraisal
"May anyone who says 'Save him from love' have his prayer chased from heaven." --- Jalal al-Din Rumi
This is an amazing set of stories. Dysart's writing is among the best in contemporary comics. He balances old-fashioned, EC style monster stories with the intense conceptual explorations for which the Vertigo imprint is known. It is both a thrilling read and a moving reflection on some of the core elements of human existence, loneliness and love, delusion and faith. Moreover, it isn't a awkwardly crafted see-saw narrative, with alternating scenes of action and contemplation. Both the horror and exploration are unified in the story. In fact, the greatest horror doesn't come from the revulsion of monstrous sexual intercourse or vicious violence; it comes from the realization that love and faith may fail, leaving us abandoned and forlorn in loneliness.
In the Metaphysics of Morals, the philosopher, Immanuel Kant, posits that respect and love for the humanity of persons, as guided by reason, is the foundation of a moral life. Without love, respect is a mere formality. Without respect, love is in vain. When entering into a relationship, one must both love and respect the beloved and have faith that the beloved will reciprocate.
These two stories explore this ethical dynamic. Why was Arcane cast out from Heaven? His love and redemption was honestly meant. But does the Divine respect Arcane's free will? Likewise, the Preacher offers release from this world of pain to those who believe in him. But is this merely a delusional self-indulgence that is being disrespectfully exploited by one who is unworthy of faith?
In short, this is a fantastic collection. It is a thrilling story that entertains on both a visceral and intellectual level. It leaves the reader thinking long after the finishing the last page. I highly recommend it.
What did you think of this book?
Have your say at the Line of Fire Forum!