Okay, well as a kid I used to watch the Swamp Thing television show all the time. I've always had an interest in it and really enjoyed the premise. Being a fan of Alan Moore, I had to pick up Saga of the Swamp Thing, after being on my book shelf for some time now, I picked it up and gave it a read. I never read the original comic Len Wein and Berni Wrightson, so I really didn't know too much about the real story, luckily though this graphic novel comes with a forward and intro that will pick you right up, so I suggest you read it if you haven't read any of the original story, but no matter what you should always read everything. So to start, the artwork in this graphic novel is stunning, this is one of the most beautiful artworks I have seen even though it's set in such a grim setting, it's just amazing. Well, I guess the only bad part about the book is the first chapter, but it's really not that bad. The first chapter is kinda slow and only picks up at like the last page of it. But it's all about telling you the background and such so you really need to read it. The book is kind of set up into two different stories, each with their own enemy. After the first chapter, I just cruised through the book, it was tough stopping because it was so clever and good, and lets not forget about the writing. Alan Moore is one of the best comic writer's out there in my opinion and you can tell this from this graphic novel. Some sentences in the graphic novel remind me of excellent poetry that can run chills down your neck. A little dark, but for example: "The frozen tableau, crystallized in time, hangs poised, like spilled blood yet to reach the ground," or the first words in chapter one: "It's raining in Washington tonight. Plump, warm rain that covers the sidewalks with leopard spots. Downtown, elderly ladies carry their houseplants out to set them on the fire escapes, as if they were infirm relatives or boy kings," I find it crazy that one man can come up with these perfect phrases, but that's Alan Moore. So all and all, I totally recommend anyone to pick this up, it's a superb graphic novel and you can't go wrong with something written by Alan Moore. Thanks for reading and please follow the blog.
Image is from amazon.com
Text exerts are from Saga of the Swamp Thing, from Vertigo and by: Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben
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