Len Wein is BACK !!!

Been a bit of a slack-ass with my Swamp Thing writing - been pretty busy making movies, but maybe I just needed inspiration...
and as inspiration goes, this'll do:

Len Wein is on Swampy again.
YES - It's been 40 years since the amazing Mister Wein created and penned the Swamp Thing - granted, he was heavily involved in the second series back in '82, then that one Convergence issue recently, but he's now WRITING the book again. 

I love Len Wein's version of Alec Holland - he always reads like an intelligent man, with relevant wit. Fact is, he seems like someone who grew up in the '60s/'70s, and had smart parents.


It's a 6-part mini-series, started in January, drawn by Kelly Jones, and man, is it fun. Moody, with dark humour - exactly the tone of his original run.

I'll be back with six groovy reviews.

Cheers,
Arthur

Love of Change

I remember when Bissette and Tottleben started doing covers, and my initial discomfort with it.
My young self liked a "cleaner" art style, if you will, but as these covers started rolling out I knew they enticed in a different way - those Bissette lines... so organic, and sooo much emotion in the eyes.

So much of my love of Swamp Thing, looking back, is the love of change - and of change being betterment.

God, these were good days to be a kid - and this kid got smarter thanks to Swamp Thing - this messier "realer" art would grow up with me, and looking back I can still feel the energy coming off of it - beautiful stuff.

A.

Two Weirdos

Can't wait for this...
I'm obviously a Swamp Thing nut, but I grew up on Plastic Man - he's awesome, and an unchanged awesome - seriously, he's looked the same forever... and who doesn't love Brian Bolland's brilliant linework?

That cover design is nice too, with the portion of flat grey behind - very similar to the cover designs of Swamp Thing's original '70s run. It's an interesting thing and I notice it now and again - current comic book artists using styles and touches from comic books of wayyy back. Nice.


I'll have to do a post on the wide and wild variations of Swamp Things "Style and Appearance" by different artists over the years. He's been drawn by some amazing people who never drew the comic itself - Bolland, Gulacy, Adams, Cho, Hembeck...
I just love covers like this one - and it is always nice to see the lesser known DC characters hanging out together. My problem with the company is that they seem to have forgotten FUN, but this issue and a lot of what is being done in CONVERGENCE seems to be about something other than "grim n gritty" which I just can't stand.

Sadly, as I've talked about before, I think the New 52 is a total loss, but I am finally looking forward to some DC comics again...

Arthur

Another Swamp Thing Reunion(dammit)

If, by chance, you're hanging around San Jose in April, you might want to check out the BIG WOW COMIC FESTIVAL for a couple o' good reasons:
1) It's a comic book festival - that's already excellent.

2) SWAMP THING REUNION!!!
One featuring Steve Bissette, John Tottleben, Rick Vietch and the underappreciated Tom Yeates. To say I wish I could attend would be an understatement for sure, but you should go for me...
You can say "thanks" to Frank Cho for the groovy Swampmen cover, and get a whole bunch of Swamp Thing sketches by those amazing cats.
The guest list is wild, and having gone to NY comicon in '08 I can say honestly that if you haven't done one of these, YOU SHOULD. You can't imagine the energy of it, and there are surprises around every corner, and you'll find your face hurts from smiling.

The fest runs April 18/19 @ the San Jose Convention Center, and if you're a Swamp Thing devotee, this is one for you.

Cheers,
AC

The SWAMPMEN

Comic Book Creator is a magazine about the men and women who make comic books - specifically, really really good comic books.
And this is a really really good issue.

It's an absolute goldmine of info about ALL of the comic book and magazine published swamp monsters over the years, but yeah - Swamp Thing is clearly #1, having had more than one extremely

strong run as a series, and an undeniable impact on the industry itself.

Lively new interviews with Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, John Tottleben make this an absolutely irresistible read, and a treat for those of us who devoured every issue as it rolled out to the stands.

The book is gorgeous, and a must for any fan of the era, the characters or just plain good old fashioned creepy storytelling. It's filled with trivia, and a lot of new artwork too - if you know any Swamp Thing fans, I'd buy them this one.

I finally get a shot of Man-Thing and Swamp Thing together by Stephen Bissette, who is one cool cat, and another goldmine of groovy comic book knowledge.
Beautiful cover by Frank Cho, who should be commissioned to do a Swamp graphic novel - just saying...

Thanks to Jon B. Cooke and George Khoury, who had planned on publishing the book a few years back but waited. It was worth it, and I for one am extremely happy with it.

Cheers,
Arthur

New TITLE of our Swamp Thing Blog

From here on in the blog formerly know as
Swamp Thing: Blog from the Bog
will be retitled and called
Swamp Thing 101. It's simpler and I've never actually been a big fan of the word "blog".

"argghh, this title is long and unwieldy..."

Swamp Thing 101 will be doing a lot more writing/publishing.

Yayyyy!! Swamp Thing 101

Simple is better.

cheers,
Arthur

Len Wein is Back!!

Well well well...

I was already pretty stoked for DC's CONVERGENCE, if only for the fact that it isn't the New 52.
Sorry - that sounded mighty negative ...instead I'll say that it will be wonderful to see a LEN WEIN Swamp Thing story again - that's right - THE CREATOR OF SWAMP THING HAS WRITTEN A NEW STORY.
It's been a long time, and having met the man I can say he's as nice a cat as you'd hope - humble, cool and funny - fact is, it's a dream to have him on Swampy again...

and just to put this in perspective...
WE HAVEN'T SEEN A PUBLISHED LEN WEIN SWAMP THING STORY SINCE 1975!!!

Yes, it would be nice to have Bernie Wrightson back but in a nice allusion to his extraordinary style Kelley Jones will handle the art chores, and I couldn't think of a better "relief-pitcher".

The Return of Swamp Thing's Papa

Kelley's 1st ...not bad

This isn't his first time drawing Swampy but I bet it will be the best. Len Wein just seems to have that effect on people, and this "event" already seems to have a really good energy - there's a lot of anticipation and a lot of online chatter.

As a frustrated long term fan of this particular publishing company, I think they've lost a few of the old-time-readers with the ultra-confusing New 52 and Convergence may just be what DC comic fans really need right now.
I have no doubt this'll be a very enjoyable read - BIG thanks to those smart enough to bring it together.

Now, you go right out and get the latest issue of Swamp Thing so we can talk all about it.

But you'll have to wait a couple months for this issue - it'll be worth it.

Cheers,
Arthur

REVIEW: Swamp Thing FUTURE'S END #1

It's funny - some people "get it" and some don't.
Charles Soule is a smart cat, and his grasp of Swamp Thing storytelling is just getting better and better.
This issue is part of DC's "Future's End" stories, which left me trepidatious to say the least - most of both DC and Marvel's "event series" are usually messy junk, with even junkier tie-in-stories. Not here - this is an excellent issue that has a mission, much like the one Swampy is on within, to deliver a final solid punch to one long standing Swamp Thing storyline, and I LOVED it. The last page/panel of this book is goddamned gorgeous, and you can feel it's link all the way back to "Rite of Spring" from Swampy's #34 in the '80s - arguably the single most beautiful story of Swamp Thing's incredible history.

This was one of the few Futures End one-shots to read like a natural extension of the main series. It's so nice to have a writer who obviously cares, and to see Charles Soule building connections to both that issue and the recent Annuals #2 and #3 - everything is coming together as we build up the conflict between Swamp Thing and the Machine Kingdom and moves toward what is presumably the climax of Soule's run. It's shaping up to be the most solid and memorable storyline since the series began in the New 52.

The Machines make for an excellent addition to Swamp Thing's growing rogues gallery, and Soule gives the mechanical creations a distinctive voice and tone so that they both fit in naturally with the concepts of the Green, Red, Rt, etc. and also feel like a wholly unique faction. None of this feels forced or derivative - the two elements so many other writers just couldn't get around.

Jesuz Saiz does a great job of bringing the Machine Kingdom to life. Their clean, elegant, orderly designs(iSwampThing) clash with the organic power of our hero and his allies. He brings a great sense of mood and emotion to every page in addition to the impressive level of detail - very stylish artist, without being too showy.
Again, the art and story mesh perfectly, and I'll never tire of Saiz's amazing visuals - honestly the best Swamp Thing has looked since Bissette and Tottleben. He does a great job of bringing the Machine Kingdom to life - with their clean, elegant, orderly designs clashing nicely with the organic beauty of Swamp Thing and his world. Saiz brings a great sense of mood and emotion to every page in addition to the impressive level of detail.

I do miss the fog/mist of '80s Swampy, but that's just nitpicking really. Maybe he just needs to go deeper into the swamp.

This issue also finds Soule tackling the long-awaited reunion between Swamp Thing and Abigail Arcane. It's a mature and heartfelt acceptance of two lovers doomed by fate and circumstance to remain forever apart. It feels worthy of the best stories it took to get to this point and Soule does a great job of capturing their emotional bond and the sadness that comes from their newfound distance. The book takes on a new level of emotional resonance in embracing it's own tragic history. Swamp Thing met Abigail Arcane in 1972 - that's a long time, and this is a beautiful end.

This mix of fantastical adventure with very grounded human drama gives Swamp Thing its true appeal, and it's something Charles Soule is really good at. I'll miss him a lot when he leaves, but I'll wish him well and thank him.

You should be reading this book.

AC

REVIEW: Swamp Thing #34 Oct//2014

"The Wolf and the Lady: Pt.2"

Fantastic.
Really good issue, and(without ruining anything) a good wrap-up to that particular ongoing story I would call the "Lady Weeds" saga. It was great, and as I've been saying - the supporting cast is really strong and it's a smart way to be doing the comic.
This issue is gorgeous art-wise with a story that reads like a good movie. Action - love- death - and I did not see that end coming. Again - love Cappucine, and would love to see back-up stories in Swampy like they used to do with The Phantom Stranger way back. And boy can Javier Saiz ever draw Swamp Thing - really groovy facial expressions - excellent figures and heroic action that feels like Swamp Thing directed by Steven Spielberg or something - just a bloody good comic book. I will confess that I was sad to see a certain someone go ...such as it is when you start really liking the supporting players - ahh, well - I respect a writer with the balls to kill good characters.

It's been since Chester and Liz in the swamp that anyone has created a new world for the Swamp Thing that I've given a shit about. From the Moore days on too many writers have felt they needed to be messing with the character constantly and it is mighty refreshing to be reading actual storytelling again - I dig it.
This is another Charles Soule issue that feels like a comic book - a good comic book, which is strong art and a page-turner of a story. comic book character, not some deeply soulful demigod who loses his wife and child - ugh.

The '80s run had evolved into very much a Vertigo book with each subsequent offering just that much closer but, with the character having been definitively put back into the DCU as a "comic book", it is extremely fun to see him written as a
Soule isn't trying to emulate Alan Moore or redefine Swamp Thing - he's trying to entertain - to create some stories we've never read before and it is truly the best the comic has been in decades.

Arthur

REVIEW: Swamp Thing #33 Sept//2014

"The Wolf and the Lady: Pt.1"

I am loving Swamp Thing again.

"Holy shit, I look good today."

I think Charles Soule and Javier Pina are an incredible team, and are finally putting out a comic book truly worthy of it's title. We have an extremely interesting supporting cast, and a storyline that is not only engaging but well-paced too. I care about Cappucine, and I'm intrigued by "The Wolf" and "Lady Weeds" while scared of what they might do to poor Swampy.
This Alec Holland Swamp Thing is a different cat than we've seen before - or is he?
I find the character to be closest to the version Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson created. He's sarcastic, emotional and occasionally naive - having not actually done any of this before, and he's making for such an interesting hero. I adore this character more than any other fictional character ever created, but even I was getting tired of the heavy-handed-eternal-avatar persona. I like this new Swamp Thing a lot and what a pleasure to see him under the pencil of Javier Pina...

Now don't get me wrong - I still HATE the f'ed up continuity of DC's New 52, but this is truly the best Swamp Thing comic book since the glory days in the '80s.

Swamp Thing #33 will most likely have the same effect on you it had on me - where's #34?

Cheers, AC

A Study in Swamp Thing

Got up early - decided to draw a picture of myself thanking all of those who wished me a happy birthday a couple days ago..
..drew this instead.


In case you can't tell, I'm not a professional artist.


But I have always enjoyed drawing Swampy - he's very open to artistic interpretation.

Fact is - I've wanted to get a Swamp Thing tattoo for years but I just can't settle on an image.

I might bring a good representative variety of his comic books to my tattoo artist(when I find one) and get him to design one.


Or maybe I'll get my courage up to ask Steve Bissette - we'll see we'll see..

cheers,
AC

Swamp Thing - The Motion Picture(1982)

My love for this film only increases every time I kick back and fire up the ol' VCR.

It's not a great movie, don't get me wrong. I'm a filmmaker, and I can see the low-budget decisions and "who cares?" compromises that left it what it is..
But...  I like the goofy B-Movie that we did get. I like the tone of it, and it's earnest intentions. Then there's Adrienne Barbeau. I grew up in the 70's with Maude, and I love Adrienne Barbeau.

"I should rub those - you'll feel better.."

Love.

Back to the movie, it was some thrill for me as an eleven year-old boy, who had just discovered his new favorite comic book character(#1 of Saga of the Swamp Thing), to discover he had his own movie too. Keep in mind, this was 1982, and at this point, not even Batman had a movie(that took him seriously), leaving Swamp Thing and Superman as the two DC comic characters with films. By it's simple fact of existing, it was pretty special. Then we watched it - sure it's got bad decisions, goofy writing, and a whole ton of reasons not to like it but how could we not like it? It was a Swamp Thing movie, for better or worse - and we just loved it. My buddy Bill Murphy and my brother Pad and I all watched it together - damn fun day, with giddy laughs and mad love for Adrienne Barbeau's "Cable". I was sad ARCANE wasn't an evil old man but Louis Jordan's presence does make it deliciously "B", as movies go. At least he's European.

Only as an adult did I understand the decision to change Linda Holland to a sister, and Cable to a female love interest. It works for me now, and the movie is ultimately another version of Beauty and the Beast. That's cool.

We even liked the rubber suit. Yup.

"I think I look great, and you can all fuck yourselves."

Sure it's wrinkly and obvious a couple times but that's Swamp Thing running around - and in a real swamp!! The cinematography is actually pretty good, and some of the far-off scenes of Swamp Thing roaming the shadowy bayou are really impressive. It's just fun to think of Wes Craven and his gang fighting to get great shots of that rubber suit by day - I wish I could go back in time and join the shooting crew. I bet they cursed a lot, and laugh plenty looking back.
I'll watch the sequel again soon, but that one's a trickier sell, even for this Swampy-Super-Fan.

Swamp Thing's co-creator, Len Wein has written a really cool reboot film script, and if the property ever escapes development hell, it'd be a blast to see him up there for a third time. I had a great chat with him in New York about the script, and do really hope it happens, as it could generate a new TV show or groovy sequels.
I see a lot of CGI in any future Swampy iteration - which might be bloody amazing, but I do love my cheapy analog mockery of a man movie. It takes me back to boyhood, and a very different filmmaking climate.

Simply put, Swamp Thing is a really charming little monster movie. You'll smile if you watch it - trust me.

AC

Justice League of Bloggers - Steve Garcia's SWAMP THING: "Creation"

Today TWENTY-TWO Bloggers have come together to bring your attention to the work of a brilliant artist - Steve Garcia.
I love good clean design - strong lines and silhouettes are an instant moment of recognition, and a cleverly simple way to present a visual character.
Swamp Thing is a messy vision and whereas a lot of Swampy art has been down and dirty ..mucky wet marshes and rotting monsters, SG takes his shape and makes it clean and perfect, while maintaining the "muck encrusted mockery".

There's a nobility in the work - like Alex Ross' best stuff, but this is more accessible. I love his style, and not just for comic book characters either - he is incredibly talented(Go to his site below) and an inspiration for someone like myself who makes movies - very visual movies. Fact is, creation is my singular raison d'être, and I'm happy Mr.Garcia attached that word to my green friend.

Tell me that wouldn't make a brilliant teaser film poster(in 50 shades of green, of course) - Love it, and I just want to say Thanks to Steve Garcia for the obviously affecting work, and Shag Mathews for bringing us all together again.

These CROSS-BLOG-ADVENTURES are a lot of fun, and here's the full gang of us JUSTICE LEAGUE OF BLOGGERS celebrating the work of one really groovy artist.

• Ambush Bug, Beast Boy, Metamorpho, Power Girl, and Deadman @ My Greatest Adventure #80
• Aquaman @ The Aquaman Shrine
• The Atom @ The Mighty Mite
• Black Canary, Green Arrow, and Huntress @ Black Canary Fan
• Black Lantern Martian Manhunter @ The Idol-Head of Diabolu
• Blue Beetle @ Kord Industries
• Captain Atom @ Splitting Atoms
• Cyborg @ S. T. A. R. Labs Detroit
• Daredevil, Hulk, and Captain America @ Daredevil Podcast
• Firestorm and Killer Frost @ Firestorm Fan
• Flash @ Speed Force
• Green Lantern @ Indigo Tribe
• Plastic Man @ Eeyow! It’s Plastic Man!
• Red Tornado @ Red Tornado’s Path
• Ridler and the Batman Family @ The Riddle Factory
• Strange Tales @ …nurgh…
• Steel @ DC Bloodlines
• Supergirl, Lois Lane, and Vibe @ Comic Box Commentary
• Thor @ The Hammer Strikes
• Wonder Girl @ Diana Prince as the New Wonder Woman
• Zatanna @ Justice League Detroit

Can't forget about these cool "Posts from the Past" on Steve Garcia too - good stuff, and well worth a look...

• Booster Gold @ Boo$terrific
• Captain Marvel @ DC Bloodlines
• Hawkgirl @ The Mighty Mite
• Martian Manhunter @ The Idol-Heald of Diabolu
• Wonder Woman @ Diana Prince as the New Wonder Woman

And one last thing - Go check out his page on DeviantArt, and just try not to drool too much...

http://stevegarciaart.deviantart.com/

Cheers,
Artimus

Swampy and the New 52 - Yay or Nay?

Well, it's been over 2 years since DC ripped up it's continuity and started everything over ..almost.

I got the impression at the time that DC had not really planned the New 52 as exhaustively as they should have, and two years in it feels like fact.
I'm really enjoying Swamp Thing as a monthly and as a comic book again - it was sad to watch so many artists and writers, in the various series since the 80's, trying to recapture that magic that had its day.

The book is a blast, but it's that damn continuity that messes it all up. Why is an Alec Holland SwampThing dealing with a young Jason Woodrue when Moore's Swamp Thing battled an older version 3 decades back?

Why did Batman, Green Lantern, Swampy and only a handful more KEEP their old continuity, when all of the supporting players would not?
My problem while reading these issues(and I'm about to sound like a codger) is that none of it makes any sense. DC's world is an effing disaster, and I finally can say that I wish they would scrap the New 52 - no offense to Swampy and the creators making the comic - I love it, and will continue to buy it - I just wish I knew what the hell DC is thinking - where is it going, and is there a solve?
Maybe we need another earth for continuity, or have DC simply abandoned the one thing they sooo embraced all these years?

We will see.
Sadly, my vote at this point is NAY.
A.

Merrrrry Christmas...

Ho ho ho..

REVIEW: Swamp Thing #25 Jan//2014

GO READ SWAMP THING #25 !! 

..if only for the art - check it out.

That's not a shot at the writing, which is lively and pretty fun - nope - just a huge appreciation for this artwork - Jesus Saiz has the best grasp of Swampy since Bissette and Tottleben - really really nice - worth buying.

Now for the story.
DC has done a funny thing with the character of Swamp Thing with this New 52 stuff. His continuity still exists because he has his backstory intact..
BUT..
he's new at the same time. It's a bit like Star Trek's sequel/reboot in that Alec Holland is now the Swamp Thing - body and soul oddly for the first time. He has met the "Swamp Thing" of the Moore era who's discovery of his non-Alec Holland-ness made the book into what it was.
The current storyline is where it gets very strange. I'll call the current Swampy Alec for the sake of clarity - so Alec is fighting a character by the name of Seeder..

- a rival for the affections of "the Green", and not a bad antagonist, but here's where it gets weird - he's Jason Woodrue - not the Jason Woodrue Floronic Man but a young ex-student of Professor Holland's. That means that the Alan Moore Swamp Thing battled Jason Woodrue in the '80s, then his 2013 Alec Holland version encounters/battles a rebooted incarnation. If Alec has Moore Swampy's memories, does he remember the other Woodrue, and does that make him, like Batman, a bridge between the two DC Universes?
curious..
but it doesn't deter from enjoying the book immensely. It's just plain fun - so so cool to have the book continue to surprise.

I look forward to Swampy every month, and this one was a treat.
- again, you have to read this issue - just gorgeous.

AC

Ivy in the Bayou

slut

New Characters in Swampy's World...

Well well...                                                                 

Burgher Thing - weird weird, and I kinda love it...


If only the powers-that-be could get a tie-in with Burger King...
..ahhh well.

Happy to say I'm liking the new issues more and more. Looking forward to the ARCANE special of FOREVER EVIL - I suspect DC are up to something truly radical this time - I soooo hope so, and as usual, I find myself wondering how Swamp Thing will be affected.

Good times.

Swamp Buddies

Love this.

REVIEW: Swamp Thing #17 Apr//2013

Marvel..
this issue felt like a Marvel comic - not the recent stuff either - more like late '80s/'90s - heavy on action and dialogue and very "comic-book-y" in style, and certainly weird for Swamp Thing..
but I liked it, and not just because it's Swampy - no, it's fun, and really fun at that. As I read it I can feel that some of the earlier stuff with his new title was taking itself a bit too serious, but this doesn't - more of a rollercoaster than a "crafted-story" it's entertaining and Swamp Thing gets his own "End-of-the-World-Superhero" story - all good comic book characters have one.
It's essentially the end of the world at the hands of Anton Arcane the "Avatar of the Rot". This basically makes him the bad elemental to Swampy's good.

The whole concept is pretty cheesy, and too tidy for my liking buuut this issue is so action-packed and again sooo much a straight up comic book that it is honestly a really good read. The art's busy, and more superheroic than anything else, but it makes this issue work - cool cover.

I wish somebody would take Arcane back to the Un-Man Insect Arcane - I love that one - guess I'll have to bring him back when I write Swamp Thing someday.

I remember getting that issue over there - just something about those Tom Yeates covers too..
Number eighteen of Swamp Thing's adventures in the New 52 looks to be wild with the final battle and the fate of Arcane..
not to mention a death in the family, which might just be a good thing - sad for sure, but good for the book.

AC