Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Swamp Thing #5
DC Comics
Snyder & Paquette

Sometimes all it takes is some good, old-fashioned action to get a comic book clicking and that is exactly what this issue provides. Snyder has been building up a few threads that mesh together in this issue, but for me, the action is what makes the book enjoyable. The unfortunate aspect of the book is that the story that Snyder is building issue after issue will make it more and more difficult for a new reader to jump in. This could be a missed opportunity because of all of the positive buzz this book has month in and month out. If only DC would utilize the recap page. This is a terrific read.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Swamp Thing #4
DC Comics
Snyder, Rudy, Lacombe & Parsons

One of the smash hits of the reboot of the DC universe is the horror book, Swamp Thing. Snyder is building this series around the separation of Alec Holland and the Swamp Thing and the notion that forces, such as The Green and The Rot, are fighting over his destiny. The book is well written and provides some level of horror to it but I have been unable to embrace this series as so many others seem to have done. Once again, I find myself liking the issue, but unsure how long I will stick with it despite my love of the character and the writing of Scott Snyder.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Swamp Thing #1
DC Comics
Snyder & Paquette

For me, the most anticipated launch of the whole DCU reboot/relaunch is that of Swamp Thing. Putting Scott Snyder at the helm made the book that much more appealing to me. With the character's long history of amazing creators, it seems this book had a lot to live up to even if it wasn't tied to the massive relaunch. Overall, the book was okay. It wasn't great but it also wasn't slow enough that I plan to immediately drop it. I'm not sure casual fans of the character are going to want to stick around, but I do think the hardcore Snyder fans or fans of the character are willing to see where all of this is heading. I am in the latter's camp.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Brightest Day Aftermath: The Search for Swamp Thing #1 of 3
DC Comics
Vankin, Castiello & Acunzo

This issue begins the mini-series that helps bring the Swamp Thing back into the regular DCU just in time for the line-wide reboot/renumbering. The first issue is a lot what you might expect as it establishes what the state of the Swamp Thing was when he was last heard from and it lays out the possibilities as to where he might be now. All of this is perfectly acceptable and helps newer readers understand the very complex situation that Swamp Thing is in – not quite human but with a human subconscious. However, the issue falls apart with its execution. Obviously it makes sense that someone needs to be looking for him in order for "The Search" to be necessary and it is a likely candidate that the character that is looking for him would be John Constantine. However, the issue becomes a focus on Constantine and comes off track quickly from what it should be about: Swamp Thing.

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Reviews from The Blog From Another World

When I first got into comics as a teenager, Swamp Thing was exactly the type of comic book I would have avoided like the plague. A giant, mobile vegetable? Too gimmicky. Didn't they make a campy movie of this with Heather Locklear? (Why, yes they did!) Isn't this... a guy comic? Bring me my Uncanny X-Men and leave me in peace!

However, after a good friend mentioned that Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing taught him everything he knew about love and comics, I decided to give it a try. And promptly fell in love. It is a romance, after all - a romance filled with supernatural creatures, classic elements of horror, interspecies sexuality, and space travel, of course.

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