Swamp Thing vol. 1: Raise Them Bones

(Or, “Raise ‘Dem Bones” if you’re going by the title of the opening issue.)

Alan Moore’s run on “Swamp Thing” is rightly regarded as a watershed moment in comics.  Not only did it pioneer the idea of the “retcon” or the “Everything you know is wrong!” school of thinking and do it well, but it also showed the potential for mature content in superhero comics.  Some might argue that this is the kind of stuff that has ruined the genre over the years, but there’s no denying that Moore and company got it right the first time out.  Ever since then, however, nearly all of the writers who have worked on the character have toiled in the shadow of that definitive run.  Now enter Scott Snyder, DC’s latest “golden boy” after his work with Batman and his creator-owned title “American Vampire.”  Surely he’s the one to show a new way forward with the character without falling back on what Moore established!  Right?

Well, if your definition of success involves trading in one set of tropes for another, then this represents an unqualified triumph.  Here we start out with an Alec Holland who was once the Swamp Thing, but has since been living the life of a normal human for the past six months.  That’s what he tells Superman after several mysterious mass wildlife die-offs occur throughout the DCU, and it’s the truth.  The only thing is that the Swamp Thing, and the Green by extension, isn’t done with him.  As it turns out, that first fusion between Holland and the Green was marred by his imminent death at the time and now the Parliament of Trees wants the scientist to complete the fusion.  That’s because The Rot is coming and only the Swamp Thing can save them can save everyone from its king and the woman with white hair that Holland sees in his dreams.

After this and the first volume of “Batman” it would appear that Snyder’s success in the industry doesn’t lie within any particular originality that he brings to his stories, but the details he invests within them.  The core plot of this first volume of “Swamp Thing” is nothing more than the “reluctant hero” story done with some very distinctive style.  Yes, it’s frustrating to observe Holland’s unwillingness to become the title character again, because not only is such a transformation utterly inevitable it’s made abundantly clear that if he doesn’t the whole world is DOOMED!  

What makes the journey to that point considerably less frustrating is the sheer creepiness involved in it.  Though this run of the comic doesn’t have any truly horrific moments, the vibe is “skin crawling” more often than not.  Scenes of slaughtered, rotting animals returned to malformed life, humans being ripped apart by the dead flesh regrowing within them, people having their necks snapped around so they can better serve The Rot (and a clear reference to the invulche from… well, you can probably guess by now).  It’s all fully realized by the art from Yanick Paquette and Marco Rudy.  While their styles aren’t indistinguishable from one another (Paquette’s is identified by his thicker linework) both are not only up to the task of drawing all of the disgusting creatures and actions on the page and display some truly inventive panel layouts on each page.  You won’t see many straight lines separating the panels in this volume as the distinctions between each become more severe and aggressive the as the action increases in surreality.  Most striking are the scenes which take place in the Green, as they flow in such unconventional fashion that they threaten to lose the reader, but not quite.

Also key to the story is the relationship between Holland and Abigail Arcane.  If you’re familiar with the “Swamp Thing” mythos, then you’ll probably be able to predict her appearance; if you’re not, then I’ll just tell you that she represents the other half in what I consider to be one of the greatest romances in comics.  Period.  She’s much more of a firebrand here, and the relationship that ensues with Holland feels credible in the short time they have together, which makes the “Romeo and Juliet” nature of it come off as all the more tragic.  By the end of the volume, it’s likely that you’ll have some empathy for the man as he sets off to save the woman he loves.

It also bears mentioning that this story also has deep ties to “Animal Man” as The Rot is the driving force behind that book as well.  Both showcase very different sides of the conflict, but they’re not treading on each other’s toes or interfering with the other’s vision.  Yet, anyway.  They’ve already started to cross over in the current issues and based on what I’ve read here and in there, I have no problems buying both to get the whole story of this conflict.  Snyder may still have that “Kick Me” sign on his back that all “Swamp Thing” writers after Moore have to wear, but he’s done a good job here of getting it to blend in with the rest of his outfit so that it’s not too noticeable.  Only if you squint.