Swamp Thing Vol. 2: Love and Death

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com Review
What Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, and John Totleben accomplished during their time on the comic book series Swamp Thing shouldn't be underestimated in the history of comics and, specifically, the history of horror comics. The modern comics landscape has been changed by the Vertigo line of books--an imprint that traces its roots back to this version of Swamp Thing. By taking a horror character fully entrenched in a superhero world (as silly as that might seem), this creative team put a new face on horror comics and on horror in general. Swamp Thing: Love and Death is the second collection of the team's work on the series, presented here in full color. Don't let the mediocre Swamp Thing movies fool you, this book is filled with sophisticated suspense and terror.

Product Description
Created out of the swamp through a freak accident, Swamp Thing is an elemental creature who uses the forces of nature and the wisdom of the plant kingdom to fight the polluted world's self-destruction. Swamp Thing . . . the only one who can save mankind.

Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Flawed Collection of an Excellent Story January 15, 2002
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

First, let me just say that, along with its companion piece (Saga of the Swamp Thing), this is one of the best horror stories ever written in any medium and it's also a definitive work in the history of comics. Saga is the setup, and Love and Death is the payoff, so be sure to read the ond before the other. That said, a few minor issues need to be addressed - first, this is part of the patented Irritating Collection Scheme that DC does so well. This book does not contain an entire story; it has the end of the Saga of the Swamp Thing story and the beginning of American Gothic (which is very long and comprises the next two trades). Another bizarre choice (or perhaps a mistake) on DC's part is the fact that there is a page missing. That's right, in the middle of the chapter called "The Brimstone Ballet," Moore segues into a scene with the Monitor with the words, "No celestial force that watches over us..." For those of us that read Moore, this is an obvious transition, but the entire scene is inexplicably cut, which feels more than a little jarring. All this aside, this is one of the most beautifully illustrated, tightly plotted, and simply elegant stories in the medium. Buy it, but if you want it complete, you'll have to have the originals.

5 out of 5 stars

Shush Your Cyanicisms April 19, 2003
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I can't take credit for the title of this review. That's a line uttered by the incongruously adorable guest character Pog in this volume of the Swamp Thing series. This is the second collection of the brilliant run by Alan Moore. This edition is a little bigger than the others in the series, as it contains seven original Swamp Thing issues (#28-34) but also the double-sized 1985 Annual issue. Due to the very high quality of the Swamp Thing series, especially in terms of art, the plotlines got a little jumbled during this period. As described in the very cool introduction by Neil Gaiman, regular artists Stephen Bissette and John Totleben were unable to complete all the intricate artwork for each issue on time, especially with the addition of the Annual. So "fill-in" stories had to be used to relieve the deadline pressure, and guest artists were utilized. Much credit goes to Shawn McManus for contributing two issues during this period, including the bizarre and whimsical "Pog," which is Moore's very unusual tribute to Walt Kelly's original swamp denizen Pogo. In this run of Swamp Thing installments we are still learning more about Swamp Thing's origins and abilities (as he is himself), and getting much closer to the Abby character, who is surely one of the most intriguing and bewitching women in comics history. Moore even brilliantly incorporates a reprint of Swamp Thing's first appearance in the House of Secrets series from back in 1972, deftly clearing up some kinks in the character's continuity. The most amazing story here appears as the last installment, "Rites of Spring" from issue #34, a tremendous poetic composition made all the more incredible by the art of Bissette and Totleben, in which Swampy and Abby find true earthly love. And impossible as it might be to believe, the series got even better after this.

4 out of 5 stars

Worth it just for, 'The Rite of Spring' April 8, 2004
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Vol. 2 of Alan Moore and Steve Bissette's, 'Swamp Thing,' collaboration continues the 30 issue horror epic in excellent fashion. Readers are treated to 200+ pages of horrific goodness encompassing everything from the Swamp Thing's backstory, to his descent into a highly imaginative realization of Hell to a whimsical homage of Walt Kelly's, 'Pogo,' comic strips. As good as these bits are the absolute strength in Vol. 2 is found in its final chapter - "The Rite of Spring.' Published originally in 1985 as issue #34 of, 'The Swamp Thing,' this episode from start to finish deals with the physical/metaphysical consummation of love between the Swamp Thing and Abigail that will blow your mind. Forget all that you've heard that this episode is nothing but 'sex with a vegetable.' At its base, 'The Rite of Spring,' recreates the swooning emotions of love and passion in comic book form more effectively then 99.99% of every page of published prose out there on that matter. At its original time of publishing it was a watershed moment in comics history and reading that chapter some 20 years later it still retains every bit of its artistic strength.

5 out of 5 stars

the brilliance of the swamp... March 29, 2000
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Comics were at their best in the 80's. At least in my opinion. The stories were gritty and the art was bold and dashing. Many breakthrough stories were being told that were defining characters that had been around for decades. Creators were starting to take chances and writers were writing stories that were sophisticated, stories for the intellect. And the one writer that was doing this most effectively? That would be Alan Moore of course. He dazzled the world with V for Vendetta and Miracleman, but he won me over with a character that I thought could never appeal to anyone. How could a person relate to a seven foot tall walking plant? I don't know. All I know is that I did. And I still do. Love and Death is the second collected edition of Moore's run on Swamp Thing and it is the first volume that I had ever read. This book redefined horror comics in a time when there was no place for them. It took old and forgotten characters and made them fresh and new. It took horror and turned it on it's ear. It took love and defined it ever so purely. And the writing isn't the only spectacular portion of this collection. The artwork by the likes of Steve Bissette, Shaun Mcmanus, and John Totleben are the epitemy of artwork. These individuals represent the highest standard of art, and remain to this day some of my favorites. The stories contained in Love and Death are some of the best in the entire series. At the start we see Swamp Thing discover who he is( or isn't ), we see the return of Arcane, and the death of the woman that Swamp Thing loves dearly. There is an excellent tribute to Walt Kelly's Pogo and we are witness to one of the most bizarre love stories. I highly recommend this collection to anyone that has a love for horror, comics in general, or anyone that enjoys a sophisticated story. You will not be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars

Alan Moore's writing made writers like Neil Gaiman possible! July 20, 2005
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I was turned on to The Swamp Thing after reading Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. Gaiman credits Moore for breaking new ground and showing him what was possible in comics, and when you look at Love and Death, you see what Gaiman meant. The macabre tone, the unusual use of panels (or lack of them), the unexpected bleeds across the gutter, all appear later on in Gaiman's work--but by reading this collection of The Swamp Thing, you can go back in time a bit and "see it for the first time." It's still fresh, it's still top notch writing after twenty years or so, and it will continue to hold up against the vast reams of mediocrity published monthly by Marvel and DC for the next twenty. Alan Moore didn't write this series for little kiddies: you can consider it the forerunner of DC's Vertigo line of comics, of which Sandman was the most famous.

This collection details the burgeoning (dare I say flowering?) relationship betwixt the Swamp Thing and Abby. The splash pages are incredibly well done, especially at the end of the story arc. Moore is practically silent on those pages, because he's smart enough to know when to shut up and let the artists tell the story. Highly recommended, both for its writing and its illustration!

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