Swamp Thing Book 01: Bad Seed

Swamp Thing, best known from the classic tales penned by Alan Moore, makes another comeback. Bereft of his human soul, Alec Holland, a.k.a. Swamp Thing, is now the embodiment of earth, air, fire, water and, of course, root. He envisions himself the protector of the Earth and desires to rebalance nature-by force. The only one powerful enough to stop him is his daughter, Tefe, who controls the power of flesh. Tefe faces her own journey, as she is tempted by a mysterious sorcerer in the heart of the Black Forest. Meanwhile, John Constantine returns to try to keep a lid on things before Swamp Thing destroys what he once protected. Despite the fact that this is a new story line, readers unfamiliar with the tale will have a hard time. The writing is weak; it substitutes exposition and grandstanding for action. The all-powerful Swamp Thing does very little with his might, although there is the promised throw-down between father and daughter. The art is over-the-top, with disproportionate figures and a good helping of gore. The one highlight is Constantine, who has all of the best lines. This comic will probably please long-time fans of the series, but not attract newcomers.