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Swamp Thing (1982) (Collected Editions) #5
Swamp Thing, Vol. 5: Earth to Earth
Returned from his sojourn to hell, Swamp Thing discovers that his girlfriend Abby is being persecuted for their unnatural relations. When she skips town for Gotham City, he follows and runs afoul of Batman, Lex Luthor, and the Gotham City P.D.
Collects issues #51 - #56
Collects issues #51 - #56
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
53 people are currently reading
2191 people want to read
About the author
Alan Moore
1,553 books21.4k followersAlan Moore is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He has also written a novel, Voice of the Fire, and performs "workings" (one-off performance art/spoken word pieces) with The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels, some of which have been released on CD.
As a comics writer, Moore is notable for being one of the first writers to apply literary and formalist sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium. As well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes, he brings a wide range of influences to his work, from the literary–authors such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair; New Wave science fiction writers such as Michael Moorcock; horror writers such as Clive Barker; to the cinematic–filmmakers such as Nicolas Roeg. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.
As a comics writer, Moore is notable for being one of the first writers to apply literary and formalist sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium. As well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes, he brings a wide range of influences to his work, from the literary–authors such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair; New Wave science fiction writers such as Michael Moorcock; horror writers such as Clive Barker; to the cinematic–filmmakers such as Nicolas Roeg. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 311 reviews
May 12, 2023
Abby gets tossed in the pokey!
As Swamp Thing is busy with Constantine and the rest of the gang saving Heaven, Abby has been going through the daily grind. Until that is, a slimly little photographer sells pictures of her and Swampy snuggled up together.
She's promptly arrested for...indecent acts with a fern.
She makes a run for it and ends up in Gotham where she is promptly arrested again.
Except by this time Swamp Thing is back and looking for his lady love. And when he discovers that she's being held in jail, all Hell breaks loose.
Or maybe all Green breaks loose would be the more appropriate term?
Batman tries to stop him but promptly gets his ass beat, limps back to the Batmobile, and sobs quietly as Alfred patches him up in the cave whilst the giant penny looks solemnly on. He decides that maybe they should release Abby. I mean, is it really up to the justice system to decide what two consenting adults do in their spare time?
Also. Don't fuck with Swamp Thing.
After Gotham gets completely covered in jungle moss for a few days the authorities decide to listen to Batman's sage advice and fork the lady over to her lover.
EXCEPT!
Unbeknownst to Batman, Lex Luthor had been called in and (with his villainous mastermind talents) he created some kind of stuff that would keep Swampy from being able to discard his body and escape into The Green! <--that's one of his big superpowers for those of you who don't know - you're welcome.
OMG! Did the Gotham PD just burn our hero to the ground?!
Stay tuned for the final chapter of Moore's run to find out...
Highly Recommended!
As Swamp Thing is busy with Constantine and the rest of the gang saving Heaven, Abby has been going through the daily grind. Until that is, a slimly little photographer sells pictures of her and Swampy snuggled up together.
She's promptly arrested for...indecent acts with a fern.
She makes a run for it and ends up in Gotham where she is promptly arrested again.
Except by this time Swamp Thing is back and looking for his lady love. And when he discovers that she's being held in jail, all Hell breaks loose.
Or maybe all Green breaks loose would be the more appropriate term?
Batman tries to stop him but promptly gets his ass beat, limps back to the Batmobile, and sobs quietly as Alfred patches him up in the cave whilst the giant penny looks solemnly on. He decides that maybe they should release Abby. I mean, is it really up to the justice system to decide what two consenting adults do in their spare time?
Also. Don't fuck with Swamp Thing.
After Gotham gets completely covered in jungle moss for a few days the authorities decide to listen to Batman's sage advice and fork the lady over to her lover.
EXCEPT!
Unbeknownst to Batman, Lex Luthor had been called in and (with his villainous mastermind talents) he created some kind of stuff that would keep Swampy from being able to discard his body and escape into The Green! <--that's one of his big superpowers for those of you who don't know - you're welcome.
OMG! Did the Gotham PD just burn our hero to the ground?!
Stay tuned for the final chapter of Moore's run to find out...
Highly Recommended!
February 8, 2017
I'm fully on board with this one. Total social commentary time. Sure, Swamp Thing just saved the freaking universe from the Mother of All Darkness, comes home to find that his honey has been thrown in jail for consorting with him. It's sick and unnatural, folks. She works with autistic kids. What's *wrong* with her??? Outcast, barely on bail, she runs to Gotham under a new name, gets picked up with hookers and thrown in jail and now it's a media sensation.
Now bring in the Greenie.
Greenie: Let her go!
Law: No! It's the law!
Greenie: The law is stupid, I can burst you all apart from the inside out before you can sneeze. I just want my woman.
Abs: Hey, honey, it's okay. We better not kill all of Gotham today. Let's try to work this out peacefully.
Greenie: Screw that. I'm gonna go all nonviolent on their asses and turn Gotham into a perfect Eden until they give in.
Batman: Uh, I kinda agree with Greenie, but he is acting like a terrorist. I better get my defoliant.
Greenie: You're an idiot. (Pounds Batman to shit.)
Lex Luthor: I've got an idea. Napalm.
Law: Wait, wait, I think we'd best just give him his woman. Someone just mentioned that this same law would apply to Superman, wouldn't it?
Other Law: Oh crap. We're so sorry. We didn't mean it. Sorry.
Lex Luthor: Fuck this. (Supersciencey harmonics napalm missile slams into Greenie's head. He's dead. Again.)
Everyone else: Oh, god, what have we done! We didn't mean it! Sorry.
Abs: (Looks at them all.) Gotham's full of morons.
Great story, no? Fantastic story. :) We even get more psychedelic stuff and a shift in the wavelength to Blue. Neat, huh? Oh, and Greenie is kinda a god now. This is the stuff I expected from him from the start, but only now get to see in all his glory. This is the awesome Swamp Thing I've been waiting for. :)
Yay!
Now bring in the Greenie.
Greenie: Let her go!
Law: No! It's the law!
Greenie: The law is stupid, I can burst you all apart from the inside out before you can sneeze. I just want my woman.
Abs: Hey, honey, it's okay. We better not kill all of Gotham today. Let's try to work this out peacefully.
Greenie: Screw that. I'm gonna go all nonviolent on their asses and turn Gotham into a perfect Eden until they give in.
Batman: Uh, I kinda agree with Greenie, but he is acting like a terrorist. I better get my defoliant.
Greenie: You're an idiot. (Pounds Batman to shit.)
Lex Luthor: I've got an idea. Napalm.
Law: Wait, wait, I think we'd best just give him his woman. Someone just mentioned that this same law would apply to Superman, wouldn't it?
Other Law: Oh crap. We're so sorry. We didn't mean it. Sorry.
Lex Luthor: Fuck this. (Supersciencey harmonics napalm missile slams into Greenie's head. He's dead. Again.)
Everyone else: Oh, god, what have we done! We didn't mean it! Sorry.
Abs: (Looks at them all.) Gotham's full of morons.
Great story, no? Fantastic story. :) We even get more psychedelic stuff and a shift in the wavelength to Blue. Neat, huh? Oh, and Greenie is kinda a god now. This is the stuff I expected from him from the start, but only now get to see in all his glory. This is the awesome Swamp Thing I've been waiting for. :)
Yay!
December 20, 2024
In Book Five of “Saga of the Swamp Thing”: Abby leaves the provincialism of her small town in Louisiana for Gotham City, thinking things might be better, but she is accidentally rounded up in a police raid, mistaken for a prostitute; Swampy comes to GC to rescue her but ends up getting in a fight with Batman, who gets a much-deserved ass-woopng; Swampy summons up all his powers to turn GC into a botanical paradise, which makes a lot of people happy, with the exception of the mayor, the police, and (for some reason) Lex Luthor; villainous government agents napalm Swampy, essentially killing his earthly body, but his ethereal plant spirit travels the galaxy and arrives on a blue planet.
Alan Moore’s wonderful and experimental masterpiece continues in the fifth book, demonstrating his range, as he shifts from horror to superhero story to science fiction seamlessly. Any comic book series that contains visual Dr. Seuss references and Batman getting his ass handed to him is a phenomenal comic book series.
Alan Moore’s wonderful and experimental masterpiece continues in the fifth book, demonstrating his range, as he shifts from horror to superhero story to science fiction seamlessly. Any comic book series that contains visual Dr. Seuss references and Batman getting his ass handed to him is a phenomenal comic book series.
August 9, 2019
Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book Five collects Saga of the Swamp Thing #51-56.
In this volume, Abbie gets hauled into court for crimes against nature for her relationship with Swamp Thing. Swampy takes his revenge on Gotham and he and Abbie have to deal with the fallout.
This volume feels mostly like the aftermath and consequences of the previous one. Alan Moore explores the depths of Swamp Thing's abilities and takes the book in another direction. His writing is as great as ever, proving that Alan Moore is more than a bitter old magus. The dude could actually write.
Stephen Bissette only providers the covers on these issues. Rick Veitch and Alfredo Alcala provide the art on all but one issue, that one done by John Totleben all by his lonesome. I'm amazed that Alan Moore's run has a unified feel despite the rotation of artists.
This volume felt like a transitional one more than anything else. I'm sad that there's only one more Alan Moore volume but I'm excited about Abbie and Swamp Thing's reunion. Four out of five stars.
In this volume, Abbie gets hauled into court for crimes against nature for her relationship with Swamp Thing. Swampy takes his revenge on Gotham and he and Abbie have to deal with the fallout.
This volume feels mostly like the aftermath and consequences of the previous one. Alan Moore explores the depths of Swamp Thing's abilities and takes the book in another direction. His writing is as great as ever, proving that Alan Moore is more than a bitter old magus. The dude could actually write.
Stephen Bissette only providers the covers on these issues. Rick Veitch and Alfredo Alcala provide the art on all but one issue, that one done by John Totleben all by his lonesome. I'm amazed that Alan Moore's run has a unified feel despite the rotation of artists.
This volume felt like a transitional one more than anything else. I'm sad that there's only one more Alan Moore volume but I'm excited about Abbie and Swamp Thing's reunion. Four out of five stars.
May 21, 2016
Argh, for the first time in a long time seem to have lost a long review I thought I posted last night. Used to happen periodically on Goodreads, but not recently. Okay, I start again, sigh.
Swamp Thing, Vol. 5 shifts in tone and style and focus with new artists on the job, and after two great volumes of Swampy and Constantine's American Gothic Horror road trip--the non-romantic, non-Kerouac road--around the old U. S. of A., a grim eighties tour of north America's worst social and environmental history.
The present volume says goodbye to JC, and then turns to the story of Abby, who is left at home to her own kind of horror while her lover The Swamp Thing is gone. It seems some photographer has taken a snap of Abby and Swampy in carnal bliss, and published this in the papers, so now she is being tried for bestiality--sex with a non-human creature, in this case essentially a plant!--and vilified by the public for these "despicable" acts. This is an opportunity for Moore to focus on Abby and a pet peeve of Moore's: The legislation of morality, especially sexual morality, with society's choosing particular sexual acts as "wrong," a focus that Moore keeps steadily throughout his career (i. e., glbt issues, prostitution, erotica).
Abby skips town to Gotham, where she gets mistakenly picked up and jailed with a number of prostitutes, so there is a sex trial after all. Swampy shows up and a kind of Central Park love fest develops for him, but he gets into a confrontation with Batman, who is becoming the dark Dark Knight Moore and Frank Miller envisioned for a generation, having no fun at all. The (spoiler alert) killing (temporarily, it's always temporary, the comics killing of superheroes) of Swamp Thing by the unwelcoming Gotham brings the horror show further home for him and Abby. It's the title Earth to Earth, and for Moore it is also the American killing of the hippies, the peace generation, the environmental movement of the sixties. A little preposterous and melodramatic, perhaps, but this is pulpy Moore comics, after all, and it works for me. Though I do have to say I don't much like Moore's bringing Swamp Thing into the DC world. Not a great fit, in my view.
Back home Abby meets up with old friend Liz who has been experiencing her own horrors with asshole boyfriend Dennis, who has driven her mad. This situation is a foil to/contrast with the True Love of Swampy and Abby. This is more evidence that Moore knows bad sex/relationships from good sex/relationships, and is not (here at least, of course) giving any evidence of (his infamous and undeserved rep for) misogyny. He honors women in this volume, as he has throughout this series. It's true, she is mainly the love interest of Swamp Thing, not maybe as fully realized as she might be, but we do come to care for her as they focus on her in this volume.
The last issue/section is the best, "My Blue Heaven," where Moore depicts Swamp Thing sort of as himself, the isolated artist driven mad by his art. The artwork is colored blue--by Tatjana Wood--to fit the somber, reflective mood, the team of Moore, Veitch, Alcala and Wood really going aesthetically in the direction Moore would personally go in for years, the way of magick, the way of the shaman. I liked it quite a bit, overall. Maybe not quite the height of American Gothic arc, for me, but--now that I think of it--it's the real end of that arc, brought home to Abby and Swampy, their own personal horror show. Moore was also by this time started on The Watchmen, another dark horror/sci fi direction for him. The blue planet vibe will prefigure blue Dr Manhattan's lonely planet vigil.
Swamp Thing, Vol. 5 shifts in tone and style and focus with new artists on the job, and after two great volumes of Swampy and Constantine's American Gothic Horror road trip--the non-romantic, non-Kerouac road--around the old U. S. of A., a grim eighties tour of north America's worst social and environmental history.
The present volume says goodbye to JC, and then turns to the story of Abby, who is left at home to her own kind of horror while her lover The Swamp Thing is gone. It seems some photographer has taken a snap of Abby and Swampy in carnal bliss, and published this in the papers, so now she is being tried for bestiality--sex with a non-human creature, in this case essentially a plant!--and vilified by the public for these "despicable" acts. This is an opportunity for Moore to focus on Abby and a pet peeve of Moore's: The legislation of morality, especially sexual morality, with society's choosing particular sexual acts as "wrong," a focus that Moore keeps steadily throughout his career (i. e., glbt issues, prostitution, erotica).
Abby skips town to Gotham, where she gets mistakenly picked up and jailed with a number of prostitutes, so there is a sex trial after all. Swampy shows up and a kind of Central Park love fest develops for him, but he gets into a confrontation with Batman, who is becoming the dark Dark Knight Moore and Frank Miller envisioned for a generation, having no fun at all. The (spoiler alert) killing (temporarily, it's always temporary, the comics killing of superheroes) of Swamp Thing by the unwelcoming Gotham brings the horror show further home for him and Abby. It's the title Earth to Earth, and for Moore it is also the American killing of the hippies, the peace generation, the environmental movement of the sixties. A little preposterous and melodramatic, perhaps, but this is pulpy Moore comics, after all, and it works for me. Though I do have to say I don't much like Moore's bringing Swamp Thing into the DC world. Not a great fit, in my view.
Back home Abby meets up with old friend Liz who has been experiencing her own horrors with asshole boyfriend Dennis, who has driven her mad. This situation is a foil to/contrast with the True Love of Swampy and Abby. This is more evidence that Moore knows bad sex/relationships from good sex/relationships, and is not (here at least, of course) giving any evidence of (his infamous and undeserved rep for) misogyny. He honors women in this volume, as he has throughout this series. It's true, she is mainly the love interest of Swamp Thing, not maybe as fully realized as she might be, but we do come to care for her as they focus on her in this volume.
The last issue/section is the best, "My Blue Heaven," where Moore depicts Swamp Thing sort of as himself, the isolated artist driven mad by his art. The artwork is colored blue--by Tatjana Wood--to fit the somber, reflective mood, the team of Moore, Veitch, Alcala and Wood really going aesthetically in the direction Moore would personally go in for years, the way of magick, the way of the shaman. I liked it quite a bit, overall. Maybe not quite the height of American Gothic arc, for me, but--now that I think of it--it's the real end of that arc, brought home to Abby and Swampy, their own personal horror show. Moore was also by this time started on The Watchmen, another dark horror/sci fi direction for him. The blue planet vibe will prefigure blue Dr Manhattan's lonely planet vigil.
April 9, 2021
If there's one thing that I've always admired about Alan Moore is his ability to take these silly, childish ideas that we grew up loving and making them into something that feels real and plausible, and it's no different with his run on Swamp Thing. What if we took this muck and crusted monstrosity and took its story completely seriously?
In that way, Moore reveals to us the insights that we never knew were possible, such as with the story of this volume. The idea of Abby and Swampy getting caught in their love affair is almost silly, and you would expect that Moore would at least show some cheekiness in terms of its subject matter, yet Moore again uses his signature magic and makes it into a tender, heart wrenching journey.
Swampy and Abby's relationship has been explored throughout the series, but it hasn't been as emotionally testing and profound as it is in this volume. We really get a look into their strange, unique blend of love that they have for each other, and Alan's writing gives their relationship a sense of poignance, and is often moving in its exploration. The depths that Swamp Thing will go in order to save Abby from her situation is one that I think anyone can get behind, and I couldn't help but root for Swampy as he went through the journey. Also one of Moore's big focuses in this volume is the smaller human moments, those quiet moments that define the characters in the series, and those small moments often tend to be touching, and occasionally profound as well.
I suppose what makes Moore's Swamp Thing so unique is that there's no big message that Alan has to get across in it, unlike Watchmen, Miracleman, or V for Vendetta. Alan could allow his imagination to go wild on the page and to see where it gets him while he's on the journey. Like any great artist, he is on the journey with us, wandering through the swamps of Louisiana and seeing where it would take him. Sadly, this was not as much of the case in this volume as there is a much more singular story and focus in this volume, though we begin to see the many-faceted style of Moore's Swamp Thing come back as the volume comes to a close, such as a particularly poignant story that touches on domestic abuse and how it can destroy someone's life, particularly with the abuse victim, and it even veers into science fiction where we see Swamp Thing continue to exist on another planet, far from Earth, yet I won't say too much because of spoilers.
Moore continues to play with the DC universe and the mythology that has been gleamed from its long history, though instead of reinventing old forgotten characters, he pulls out one of the big guns and introduces Batman into the fold, and Batman fits right at home with the strange world that Swamp Thing inhibits. I've made the argument before that Batman has lasted for so long because of the versatility of his character over the years, you could make him as serious or as silly as you wanted to and yet somehow, Batman still works as a character. While I was disappointed to see Bats get smacked about for a while, I still liked that Alan kept true to the character and that he was still driven to do what was right, no matter how strange or unusual as it might seem to others who are around him.
Another thing that impressed me was the artwork. Sadly, Bissette and Totleben were falling further and further behind schedule and another artist had to come in to help do fill in issues, and luck had it that Rick Veitch would take over. Veitch somehow took the Bissette and Totleben's style, morphed his own style to theirs, and made it his own in the way of a true draughtsman. His art is skilled, filled with personality, yet still with the creeping suspense that made Bissette and Totleben's artwork so unique. Though Totleben also comes back for art duties in several issues, and he still shows himself to be a skilled draughtsman, bringing a disturbing and beautiful look to the world of Swamp Thing that is wholly its own.
Moore once said that entertainment can be just as profound and beautiful as any other piece of art, and I can't say that he's wrong, and it's stuff like Saga of the Swamp Thing that continues to prove this to me. Seyton! I am sick at heart! For the journey is soon to end, and I am not sure if I want it to.
October 11, 2024
This volume was a little shorter but that didn't take away from the story. The series has moved past the motifs seen in earlier volumes. I still enjoyed it nonetheless!
May 25, 2013
This is a particularly strong part of Moore's run on Swamp Thing, as long as you can forget that it is taking place in the DCU at large.
An enterprising (and frankly sleazy) photographer has published photos of Alec and Abby together. This leads to a long string of persecution and even criminal charges against Abby. Eventually, Abby finds herself in Gotham, being held to wait for extradition back to Louisiana to stand trial for sex offenses. She's being charged under the same law that would be used in a bestiality case, since Alex is, after all, non-human. This is some incredible, powerful writing. I absolutely buy every word of it, Abby's reactions and the reactions of the people around her. And everything that follows does so quite naturally.
But you have to temporarily forget that this is set in the same universe as the rest of the DCU. Otherwise, you'll start to ask silly questions like, "Where are Clark Kent and Lois Lane, reporters both, in all this? Doesn't the JLA have anything to say, considering how many of them are non-humans?" These questions will absolutely spoil your experience, so save them for the end, when you can remind yourself that it's probably DC editorial to blame. Because Moore's work here is just too good to let things he probably couldn't control spoil the book.
An enterprising (and frankly sleazy) photographer has published photos of Alec and Abby together. This leads to a long string of persecution and even criminal charges against Abby. Eventually, Abby finds herself in Gotham, being held to wait for extradition back to Louisiana to stand trial for sex offenses. She's being charged under the same law that would be used in a bestiality case, since Alex is, after all, non-human. This is some incredible, powerful writing. I absolutely buy every word of it, Abby's reactions and the reactions of the people around her. And everything that follows does so quite naturally.
But you have to temporarily forget that this is set in the same universe as the rest of the DCU. Otherwise, you'll start to ask silly questions like, "Where are Clark Kent and Lois Lane, reporters both, in all this? Doesn't the JLA have anything to say, considering how many of them are non-humans?" These questions will absolutely spoil your experience, so save them for the end, when you can remind yourself that it's probably DC editorial to blame. Because Moore's work here is just too good to let things he probably couldn't control spoil the book.
April 17, 2025
I wasn’t sure about this book at the beginning but they took this story into a really interesting direction so the series keeps on delivering. Looking forward to the last book!
November 4, 2024
The world finds out about Abby and the Swamp Thing charging her with sex crimes. It seems weird as Hell but Moore makes it work with ease. Then they all wind up in Gotham and what you'd think might be a dumb confrontation with Batman is pretty much genius instead. It's astounding how Moore can take something that sounds dumb at the outset into something so fantastic. Just terrific stuff.
April 15, 2016
The epic run keeps its good impact!
This hardcover edition collects "Swamp Thing" #51-56.
Creative Team:
Writer: Alan Moore
Illustrators: Rick Veitch, John Totleben & Alfredo Alcala
THE END? HARDLY AT ALL!
Some people said that "The End", the story on Swamp Thing #50, concluding its "American Gothic" ambitious storyline where you get to know the secret dark corners of America was the peak of Alan Moore on his run, and that what he did after it wasn't that good.
Well,...
...those people don't know about what they are talking about!
This 5th volume of The Saga of Swamp Thing cover the events after "The End" and I can assure you that the things are keeping better and better!
Epic battles, sci-fi elements, and artwork and prose merge into truly masterpiece tales.
FOR THE LOVE OF ABBY
You will see a lot of Abby Cable...
...and if you ever doubt the importance of her as supportive character in Swamp Thing...
...in this 5th collected book, any doubt about it will be erased.
Abby Cable is so important here that not only she is the main motivator of many events, when society dares to question the relationship of her with Swamp Thing, but also she will starring some stories on her own.
SWAMP THING V. BATMAN: DAWN OF NATURE
In "Natural Consequences", you will be able to watch the Swamp Thing against the Batman!!!
What else can you ask?
The Batman has been the protector of Gotham City and I haven't to remind the kind of threats that he has dealt, but nothing prepared him to face the power of Swamp Thing!
Batman is a formidable fighter and a master strategist but how can you battle against the very embodiment of Mother Nature?
Batman will learn to respect Swamp Thing.
Gotham City won't be able to forget when they suffered the wrath of the Swamp Thing!
THE COLOR IS BLUE
While the fight of Swamp Thing against The Batman is awesome to read. My favorite tale in this collected volume is "My Blue Heaven" which is what I call the perfect fusion of artwork and prose into a wonderful piece of class entertainment.
I can't get into details because it would spoil some developments in the middle of the collected volume, but certainly "My Blue Heaven" is something remarkable with good taste.
This hardcover edition collects "Swamp Thing" #51-56.
Creative Team:
Writer: Alan Moore
Illustrators: Rick Veitch, John Totleben & Alfredo Alcala
THE END? HARDLY AT ALL!
Some people said that "The End", the story on Swamp Thing #50, concluding its "American Gothic" ambitious storyline where you get to know the secret dark corners of America was the peak of Alan Moore on his run, and that what he did after it wasn't that good.
Well,...
...those people don't know about what they are talking about!
This 5th volume of The Saga of Swamp Thing cover the events after "The End" and I can assure you that the things are keeping better and better!
Epic battles, sci-fi elements, and artwork and prose merge into truly masterpiece tales.
FOR THE LOVE OF ABBY
You will see a lot of Abby Cable...
...and if you ever doubt the importance of her as supportive character in Swamp Thing...
...in this 5th collected book, any doubt about it will be erased.
Abby Cable is so important here that not only she is the main motivator of many events, when society dares to question the relationship of her with Swamp Thing, but also she will starring some stories on her own.
SWAMP THING V. BATMAN: DAWN OF NATURE
In "Natural Consequences", you will be able to watch the Swamp Thing against the Batman!!!
What else can you ask?
The Batman has been the protector of Gotham City and I haven't to remind the kind of threats that he has dealt, but nothing prepared him to face the power of Swamp Thing!
Batman is a formidable fighter and a master strategist but how can you battle against the very embodiment of Mother Nature?
Batman will learn to respect Swamp Thing.
Gotham City won't be able to forget when they suffered the wrath of the Swamp Thing!
THE COLOR IS BLUE
While the fight of Swamp Thing against The Batman is awesome to read. My favorite tale in this collected volume is "My Blue Heaven" which is what I call the perfect fusion of artwork and prose into a wonderful piece of class entertainment.
I can't get into details because it would spoil some developments in the middle of the collected volume, but certainly "My Blue Heaven" is something remarkable with good taste.
September 9, 2018
We are nearing the end of Moore's character defining Swamp Thing run, and it is still super weird and super good. Everyone rightly talks about Moore knocking it out of the park with Swamp Thing, but the art deserves a lot of the credit here, too. Not only is it just good art, but the perspectives and techniques are really interesting. For example, at one point Swamp Thing is travelling to Gotham. In the background, behind the panels, there are all these vines. As he gets to the city, however, they morph into pipes. It is just one of those small details that shows how much thought and care they put into every aspect of these books.
May 7, 2020
"I think all of us were a little awed by a love that could stop a city."
I really loved the first half of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run, but I have not enjoyed the second half as much. I liked seeing Batman in this one, but I thought everything else was just okay.
I love the horror aspects of Swamp Thing, but Book 5 is more focused on grief / romance and hatred in a small town. There are also more sci-fi tones in this book, which I've heard carries on into Book 6. This isn't a bad book, but it felt like a step down from the earlier volumes.
I really loved the first half of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run, but I have not enjoyed the second half as much. I liked seeing Batman in this one, but I thought everything else was just okay.
I love the horror aspects of Swamp Thing, but Book 5 is more focused on grief / romance and hatred in a small town. There are also more sci-fi tones in this book, which I've heard carries on into Book 6. This isn't a bad book, but it felt like a step down from the earlier volumes.
November 18, 2024
Swamp Thing verses Gotham!
This was epic as fuck, especially first half. Abigail gets taken by the police for her relationship with Swamp thing. There's laws fucking things nonhuman. And Gotham puts her in Jail. Swamp Thing does NOT like that and makes Gotham suffer. Even Batman said "I don't wanna fuck with this dude, he about to kill everyone here" Good advice Batty.
All of the first 5 issues prior to the last are excellent. The last issue is a little too weird for me, I get where there going, but not the hugest fan of it. But everything else is great!
This was epic as fuck, especially first half. Abigail gets taken by the police for her relationship with Swamp thing. There's laws fucking things nonhuman. And Gotham puts her in Jail. Swamp Thing does NOT like that and makes Gotham suffer. Even Batman said "I don't wanna fuck with this dude, he about to kill everyone here" Good advice Batty.
All of the first 5 issues prior to the last are excellent. The last issue is a little too weird for me, I get where there going, but not the hugest fan of it. But everything else is great!
April 26, 2018
From the Gotham sequence to the blue madness, everything in this trade lives up to the standards one expects from such a writer/artist team. But as soon as one takes a moment to put aside the assumption of high quality for granted, it truly is a great deed, to get to the fifth trade with a sense of enchantment, novelty, and the ability to surprise the reader without - ever - «jumping the shark».
November 25, 2023
Despite the guest appearance of *spoiler*, the fifth book of Swamp Thing was my least favourite. It all seemed anticlimactic to me. Except maybe "Swamp Thing #55: Earth to Earth" with its beautiful circular storytelling, brilliantly executed (as usual) by our wizard writer.
November 3, 2016
Five stars, all the way. Swamp Thing is the BOSS.
Read
February 12, 2023a blue valentine
February 3, 2023
This fifth collection of Alan Moore's The Swamp Thing was a step up from the fourth, which I thought got dragged down a bit in the kind of wham-bam epic storytelling that I'm not as interested in when it comes to comic books sometimes. This collection was a much more grounded one, and dealt almost entirely with ST's relationship with Abby Cable. Moore's prose is as strong as ever here (all while working simultaneously on Watchmen, which is insane), and the art team of Veitch and Alcala were outstanding. Issue #56, which closes this collection out, was especially striking, with notable color work from Tatjana Wood. Titled "Blue Heaven", it ended up being one of my favorite issues of Moore's entire run. — [4.25]
June 25, 2019
4 1/2 stars
January 14, 2025
Shits sad but a banger
October 2, 2020
SI SI SIII
August 18, 2016
As linhas orientadoras deste arco narrativo foram estabelecidas no anterior. No meio do catastrofismo de iminente cataclisma, Moore arranjou espaço para um tema provocante, que aprofunda um dos lugares comuns dos comics de super-heróis. E se, mostra-nos, a reacção social e legal perante a relação entre uma humana e um super-ser colidisse com o conservadorismo? Neste arco é Abigail Cable a grande personagem, acossada pela justiça, abandonada pelos amigos, perseguida pelos cidadãos de bem após a publicação de fotos suas com o Monstro no Pântano. Uma linha narrativa que culmina num dos grandes e inesperados momentos da temporada de Moore, com a criatura do Pântano a mostrar os largos limites do seu poder, invadindo a cidade de Gotham. O lar de Batman transforma-se num delírio surrealista de vegetação a cobrir o espaço urbano.
A resolução do conflito não trará a paz desejada. Velhas forças intervém, antigos inimigos conseguem, finalmente, a sua vingança. Atacado em simultâneo por um scrambler e napalm, o Monstro perde a sintonia com a Terra e não consegue escapar às chamas. Ou conseguirá? Com este violento ponto final, Moore abre caminho ao que será uma fase de Space Opera nas aventuras deste personagem, elemental da Terra à deriva pelo espaço.
A resolução do conflito não trará a paz desejada. Velhas forças intervém, antigos inimigos conseguem, finalmente, a sua vingança. Atacado em simultâneo por um scrambler e napalm, o Monstro perde a sintonia com a Terra e não consegue escapar às chamas. Ou conseguirá? Com este violento ponto final, Moore abre caminho ao que será uma fase de Space Opera nas aventuras deste personagem, elemental da Terra à deriva pelo espaço.
May 22, 2023
OH.
Yup, Swamp Thing is amazing. I LOVED this. Best volume so far. I can't wait to read more, but based on other reviews I'm definitley scared I won't like the next book, and I really want to since this book makes me so eager to continue.
This is really the book that got me to understand Abby and Swampy's relationship. It delves more into the moral arguments for and against their relationship, and ultimately comes up with a compelling argument.
The portrayal of grief and abuse, too. SO good. It really gives Alan Moore's metaphor and imagery-heavy writing a chance to shine, and it doesn't feel like it drags on. It truly does add to the story.
I do also feel like I read this with a bit more of an open mind, because I didn't know what to expect with the first few Swamp Thing books, so I'll probably have to reread those in the future and see if my opinion changes or if this volume truly is just that good.
Yup, Swamp Thing is amazing. I LOVED this. Best volume so far. I can't wait to read more, but based on other reviews I'm definitley scared I won't like the next book, and I really want to since this book makes me so eager to continue.
This is really the book that got me to understand Abby and Swampy's relationship. It delves more into the moral arguments for and against their relationship, and ultimately comes up with a compelling argument.
The portrayal of grief and abuse, too. SO good. It really gives Alan Moore's metaphor and imagery-heavy writing a chance to shine, and it doesn't feel like it drags on. It truly does add to the story.
I do also feel like I read this with a bit more of an open mind, because I didn't know what to expect with the first few Swamp Thing books, so I'll probably have to reread those in the future and see if my opinion changes or if this volume truly is just that good.
August 15, 2018
After the grand scope of the last volume, Moore's next arc in the saga is more down to earth (literally). Abby is on trial for her relationship with Swamp Thing, but jumps bail and runs off to Gotham City... where she gets arrested. Of course Swampy is pretty angry about this and unleashes his power on Gotham. Ultimately this story is more about Abby and how she deals with being away from her lover and the fallout of the big showdown in Gotham.
This volume is remarkable for having the first issue that's just plain ok and not great (#54). This is a very straightforward and standard story, which stands out in a run that's nothing but classic issues.
But it ends with 'My Blue Heaven', one of my favorite issues so far. This is a tragic story where we see Swamp Thing dealing with his grief and loneliness. Very powerful end to this volume.
This volume is remarkable for having the first issue that's just plain ok and not great (#54). This is a very straightforward and standard story, which stands out in a run that's nothing but classic issues.
But it ends with 'My Blue Heaven', one of my favorite issues so far. This is a tragic story where we see Swamp Thing dealing with his grief and loneliness. Very powerful end to this volume.
January 7, 2017
Wow, just...wow!
World: The art is absolutely wonderful! The world building is even better. The Gotham thing...wow. Just wow. I don't want to say anymore, this arc is simply stunningly good...just amazing.
Story: The story is great, it's a stretch to set it up but when it does happen wow it's a heartbreaking story it's amazing is the best best way. I can't say anymore. JUST READ IT!!!!!!! HOLY!!!!!!!!!
Characters: Amazing! I can't say anymore!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING!!!!!!
I know this is a really short review because this arc is simply...so good that nothing I can say will do anything to express how amazing it is, just read it!
Read it!
Onward to the next book!
World: The art is absolutely wonderful! The world building is even better. The Gotham thing...wow. Just wow. I don't want to say anymore, this arc is simply stunningly good...just amazing.
Story: The story is great, it's a stretch to set it up but when it does happen wow it's a heartbreaking story it's amazing is the best best way. I can't say anymore. JUST READ IT!!!!!!! HOLY!!!!!!!!!
Characters: Amazing! I can't say anymore!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING!!!!!!
I know this is a really short review because this arc is simply...so good that nothing I can say will do anything to express how amazing it is, just read it!
Read it!
Onward to the next book!
August 17, 2011
Throughout his Swamp Thing run, Moore has managed to make a grotesque plant monster seem deeply human while still very alien, and this volume represents the quintessence of that dichotomy. Everything is in this one. A huge, sweeping storyline involving Gotham City and Batman, and subtle, emotional explorations of Swamp Thing and his lover, Abby Cable. Moore's range as an author is astounding.
June 30, 2022
Este volumen es más breve, pero con una gran carga de drama. Tras la conclusión de los grandes acontecimientos en el plano metafísico del universo DC, Swamp Thing descubre que su amada a sido encarcelada en Gotham y va a ponerles todo patas arriba. Amé ver la escena donde le da una paliza a Batman, más porque fue contemporánea a la paliza que le dio a Superman en Dark Knight, demostrando que tan frágil es el hombre entre dioses y mitos modernos. Aquí es donde la historia se torna más a la ciencia ficción y nos presenta el inicio de una odisea espacial para volver a casa.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2022
So, Abby is arrested on Houma for "abusing the nature", as the justice called her relationship with Alec. And then, running away, she stops in the most beautiful place on the DC Universe: Gotham City. So, the Swamp Thing, after his battle against the Brujeria and all the bad stuff on hell, he comes back to our earth, goes to Gotham ans transforms everything in a Jumanji reproduction. And yeah, he faces Batman. And it's great.
Great volume, with another stand alone issues that always brings a new touch to this amazing run.
Great volume, with another stand alone issues that always brings a new touch to this amazing run.
November 2, 2021
Okay, every single cell in my body is on-board this one. There's a ton of social commentary in disguise together with some of the most gorgeous quotes I've ever read.
So excited for the final volume.
Intent on a world that may not exist, I leave the world that I have made behind me. It shall remain here, as a decayed monument to the pain of sundered romance. A bitter loveletter, left tear-stained and crumpled in this obscure corner of the universe. A blue valentine.
So excited for the final volume.
Intent on a world that may not exist, I leave the world that I have made behind me. It shall remain here, as a decayed monument to the pain of sundered romance. A bitter loveletter, left tear-stained and crumpled in this obscure corner of the universe. A blue valentine.
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