Comic Info
Comic Name: Swamp Thing (Volume 5)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Jesus Saiz/Javier Pina/Andrei Bressan/Kano
# of Issues: 5
Release Date: 2014
Swamp Thing (5) #24
Reprints Swamp Thing (5) #24-27 and Annual #2 (December 2013-March 2014). Swamp Thing has a challenger…Seeder! When the Parliament of Trees believes that Seeder could be the Avatar that the Green needs, Swamp Thing finds himself fighting to keep his title and his life! Training for the battle, Alec Holland might have to give up the humanity he cherishes if he hopes to survive!
Written by Charles Soule, Swamp Thing Volume 5: The Killing Field is part of DC’s New 52 relaunch of the series. Following Swamp Thing Volume 4: Seeder, the collection features art by Jesus Saiz, Javier Pina, Andrei Bressan, and Kano.
Swamp Thing is one of DC’s best characters…if written right. Alan Moore of course revolutionized the character and this volume brought back a lot of the character’s earlier horror aspects. This volume also tapped into Moore’s story by bringing back an old villain.
Swamp Thing (5) #27
Swamp Thing 4; Seeder introduced the Seeder character, but this volume revealed Seeder’s identity to be Jason Woodrue. Woodrue (aka the Floronic Man) was the character that discovered Swamp Thing’s true nature in Alan Moore’s classic story “The Anatomy Lesson” from Saga of the Swamp Thing #21 (February 1984). New 52 changes up Woodrue’s origin but it is a fun way to bring back a classic Swamp Thing villain (especially since Arcane is gone).
The only problem with this volume is its length. The story really doesn’t have much meat to it. The previous volume and this volume also feel like they should be one volume since this volume is really more about Seeder. I wish that the comic had more depth.
Swamp Thing continues to be a good read. I was worried about the transition from Scott Snyder’s version of the character to this version, but Soule proves to be a worthy successor since he keeps up the tone and style from Snyder’s run. I look forward to see where he goes with the character. Swamp Thing 5: The Killing Field was followed by Swamp Thing 6: The Sureen.
Related Links:
Swamp Thing 1: Raise Them Bones
