Roots of the Swamp Thing

[filkertom]

A couple of posts in scans_daily have introduced younger readers to the magnificent horror of Alan Moore on DC's Swamp Thing title, work which single-handedly resurrected not only that comic but several others, overhauled the mystical aspects of the DC universe, gave us John Constantine and the reborn Woodrue and many other memorable characters, and paved the way for Gaiman's Sandman and the entire Vertigo line.

Poking around for some online info for somebody, I discovered a very good site for either finding out about it or getting back into it: Roots of the Swamp Thing.

What's your favorite Swamp Thing storyline? Mine, absolutely, is Love and Death, featuring the corruption and destruction of Matt Cable, the return of Arcane, and Swamp Thing going to Hell to rescue the unjustly damned Abby. Right after that, it's a toss-up between "The Anatomy Lesson" and the Annual which capped off the Crisis on Infinite Earths. And Swamp Thing careening from world to world, trying to return home, was amazing. Especially "My Blue Heaven".

Really, though, I love Moore's entire run. It redefined so much about comics, and we watched it happen.

Comments

[sazettel.livejournal.com]

I was in college when Moore, Gaiman and Miller started reworking comics. Many of my fen friends were totaly hookes. I loudly declared to whomever was listening that comics were childish, and without character or plot.

Then, a friend sat me down and literally shoved the first issue of SWAMP THING featuring John Constantine under my nose. It was a mysterious Englishman who looked like Sting. I had to read.

And I found to my surprise, the dialogue was good and there was an intriguing story, well-written.

Still love Moore's run of SWAMP THING. I really, REALLY liked how Swamp Thing saved the universe mostyly by being optomistic and liking people.

[mg4h.livejournal.com]

It's been too long since I've reread my Swamp Thing comics. I need to do that, but first I have to organize everything. They're upstairs in the library, and things are a mess.

[purpleranger.livejournal.com]

I think my favorite Swamp Thing story was the one where he encountered Medphyl, the plant Green Lantern.

Swamp Thing

[lizard-sf.livejournal.com]

I think one of the defining moments for me as a reader and a writer was in Moore's Swamp Thing, when he took the Justice League, and made them TOTALLY TERRIFYING, turned them into gods hovering over the world -- and gods who were looking on helplessly at a problem they couldn't solve.

"Do you know how many atoms of oxygen there are in Earth's atmosphere? I can count them for you."

If that line doesn't scare you...you aren't understanding it. That scene just burned its way into my soul.