REVIEW: Swamp Thing #1

First things first, I've been an avid comic book reader for 22 years but have never read a single page of Swamp Thing and know nothing much about the character, save for a few chats amongst comic book buddies and Wikipedia summaries. I'll admit, this entire DC reboot made it convenient for my curiosity. Being a fan of Scott Snyder (American Vampire) AND Yanick Paquette (Batman Inc.), I figured I had nothing really to lose.

The book is obviously titled Swamp Thing, but it's clear the focus here is on the character of Dr. Alec Holland, and not the big green dude. It may seem like a bad idea, but the conflict truly lies within Holland and how he's dealing with life after Swamp Thing. Holland is desperately trying to readjust to his new life and doesn't want anything to do with the past.


The story begins with a group of birds, bats, and ocean life dying throughout the DC universe. Clark Kent witnesses pigeons fall from the sky in Metropolis, there's dead fish floating in the ocean with Aquaman, and Batman is removing bat corpses covering the Bat-computer inside the Batcave.

Superman decides to visit Dr. Holland in Louisiana for assistance with the matter. However, the recently revived doctor is reluctant; Holland only wants to be left alone, and claims that the last of the bio-restoration formula he concocted has been destroyed. (An interesting tidbit in this scene - Clark mentions to Dr. Holland he's familiar with the whole death-revival thing, a clear and obvious nod to the the Doomsday saga! Hurray for continuity in the DC relaunch!!)


The action shifts to an archaeological site in Arizona, where an unknown creature attacks three scientists and things take a "turn" for the worse. (Read the issue to get the pun.) Later, in his hotel room, Holland attempts to destroy the remainder of the formula (that he supposedly already did destroy) and gets a surprise visit from someone that says he should do otherwise.

Without giving too much away, it's clear as the plot advances that this is a fairly dark book for a DC publication, one we're used to seeing in the Vertigo imprint of DC. Scott Snyder gave us a taste of a darker DCU in his run on Detective Comics, and its more of the same here. Also, Yanick Paquette's art is superb, and the last scene on the archaeological site is gruesomely fun and just plain scary.

THE GOOD: It's dark, it's gruesome, it's freaking Swamp Thing! Typical Scott Snyder story, and he doesn't disappoint. Yanick Paquette's art is equally good. The interaction between Supes and Holland was well written and I loved the "Death of Superman" reference.

THE BAD: First time readers may be a bit confused. I knew literally nothing of the Swamp Thing character and had to ask another novice reader about a few details.

FINAL VERDICT: A-