Another former Vertigo star is being relaunched this week. This is the last of the week one reviews. Join us for week two tomorrow night!
General Information
Title: Swamp Thing #1
Author: Scott Snyder
Illustrator(s): Yanick Paquette (art) and Nathan Fairbairn (colours)
Cover Date: November 2011
Cover Price: $2.99
Buy the digital edition.
Premise
Alec Holland is back from the dead, and is having a hard time adjusting to his new status quo.
High Point
There’s a definite shared universe feel here, but not one that in any way obscures the enjoyment of this title in isolation.
Low Point
Um… isn’t this title supposed to be about the Swamp Thing?
The Scores
This is one of those rare titles about the superhuman who desperately wants to be normal. It feels original in that regard, particularly with this character’s history. I give it 5 out of 6.
The artwork has been honed for the main character, and the backgrounds look great, but the main cameo is inconsistent. I give it 4 out of 6.
The story is well told, but it takes a while to really get started. If you don’t read the last four pages, you really have no compelling reason to believe this character’s story isn’t over yet. I give it 4 out of 6.
The characterization of Alec Holland is well done. This is a guy trying to live with a tortured past that’s not even his, and that comes through clearly. I give it 5 out of 6.
The emotional response builds nicely. I’m interested in the unusual psychology here more so than the mystery he’ll need to solve. I give it 4 out of 6.
The flow is smooth, which is pretty much a given in a story with this much conversation. I give it 6 out of 6.
Overall, this is an interesting option. It’s not the kind of book I’m looking to pick up at the moment, but I can see why others might love it. I give it 4 out of 6.
In total, Swamp Thing #1 receives 32 out of 42.
The New 52
Here are handy links for the reviews of all 52 new #1 issues:
- Action Comics
- All-Star Western
- Animal Man
- Aquaman
- Batgirl
- Batman
- Batman and Robin
- Batman: The Dark Knight
- Batwing
- Batwoman
- Birds of Prey
- Blackhawks
- Blue Beetle
- Captain Atom
- Catwoman
- DC Universe Presents
- Deathstroke
- Demon Knights
- Detective Comics
- The Flash
- Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
- The Fury of Firestorm
- Green Arrow
- Green Lantern
- Green Lantern Corps
- Green Lantern: New Guardians
- Grifter
- Hawk and Dove
- I, Vampire
- Justice League
- Justice League Dark
- Justice League International
- Legion Lost
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Men of War
- Mister Terrific
- Nightwing
- O.M.A.C.
- Red Hood and the Outlaws
- Red Lanterns
- Resurrection Man
- The Savage Hawkman
- Static Shock
- Stormwatch
- Suicide Squad
- Superboy
- Supergirl
- Superman
- Swamp Thing
- Teen Titans
- Voodoo
- Wonder Woman
I know you’re doing a lot of these reviews and don’t necessarily have the time to give each one an in-depth treatment, but this review tells me very little about the title.
That’s partly because I still don’t know what the title will be like in the long term. The first 15 pages or so are a conversation between Alec Holland and Superman, with Alec trying to cope with coming back to life. Then he has a nightmare, and it ends with a splash page that feels like it comes right before the page that makes the title’s direction clear.