Swamp Thing #5 – Review

By: Scott Snyder (writer), Yanick Paquette (artist), Nathan Fairbairn (colorist)

The Story: People really need to take those “Save the Amazon” slogans more seriously.

The Review: In my review of Animal Man #3, I talked about our instinctive fear of the unknown.  I think that’s why we tend to be on the lookout for clichés and signs of the predictable in horror movies; it’s a coping mechanism to limit the fear that comes from surprises.  A canny horror writer knows the only way to make his story work is to trick the audience into thinking they have a grasp on what’s going on, only to pull the rug from under them when least expected.

Case in point: last issue led you to believe that although a confrontation between Alec and Abby with William Arcane was inevitable, they still had some time on the road before that happened.  You have no reason to think otherwise as this issue gets going, as you see the odd couple stocking up on supplies for their presumed journey ahead.  And then little Billy himself appears right outside the abandoned storefront, riding on a herd of undead cattle and hogs.  Without fanfare or blinking an eye, he attacks.  Talk about your sudden twists.

The nice part of this unexpected attack is that it puts both Abby and Alec through a kind of trial by fire, forcing them to think and act fast, and allowing us to see what they’re made of.  Despite her edgier haircut, leather jacket, and guns, Abby’s not exactly an Amazon, and she attempts to reason with her brother rather than attacking him directly.  As you can see, she gets nowhere, proving that whether Billy’s possessed or truly deranged, it’ll take a lot more than well-intentioned words to move him.

Probably the most critical development of the issue is when Alec manages to exert his power over the Green and dispatch Billy’s Rot-driven minions with admirable finesse.  In fact, he disarms the boy so easily that you begin to wonder if perhaps he was right all along and he doesn’t need to become a monster to work as an avatar for the Green.  Still, a herd of ravenous beef and pork is, as we well know, only the tip of a titanic, undead iceberg.

WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Witch Doctor: Resurrection One-Shot – It’s such a shame that the 4-issue Witch Doctor miniseries debuted right as DC was relaunching their whole universe because DC kinda sucked all the air out of the room and it’s allowed the OUTSTANDING new comic series to fly under the radar.  Witch Doctor is fun, well-written, humorous, witty and features all kinds of paranormal themes.  Plus, it has spectacular art that is very Wrightson-esque.  You really cannot go wrong with this comic and this one-shot was a perfect “try it out” issue.

Most Anticipated: Fatale #1 – Sean Phillips plus Ed Brubaker = Gold.  Have these two every collaborated on a mediocre comic?  I can’t think of one as every issue of Criminal and Incognito (and Sleeper before that) has been great.  So, I can’t wait to see how they handle a more paranomal story.

Other Picks: Sweet Tooth #29, Vescell #5, Rachel Rising #4, GI Joe #9, Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha & Omega #1

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Warlord of Mars #14 – No surprise here. Nelson and Salazar totally wowed be with Warlord of Mars #14, their take on the scenes of rising action in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ The Gods of Mars. Lush, evocative art. Tight, action-filled adventure. Swash-buckling pulp under a hot Martian sun!

Most Anticipated: This week, it’s a toss-up. Ahhh! Flash Gordon or Dejah Thoris? I don’t know! The first issue of Flash Gordon was so cool! And yet we’re right in the middle of the Pirate Queen of Mars! Gaaah! Can I pick two? Flash Gordon – Zeitgeist #2 and Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris #9. It’s going to be a pulpy week.

Other Picks: Defenders #3, Avengers: X-Sanction #2, Thunderbolts #168, Uncanny X-Men #4, X-Men #23

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: American Vampire #22 – Another installment of Scott Snyder’s always excellent series.  We get a new decade (1950s) and a completely new protagonist of the non-vampiric sort.  It’s amazing how Snyder’s series manages to have a different feel that accords with each new time period it sets itself in.  The new lead is also a really good idea all around, a grittier and more grassroots approach to the kind of perspective Snyder explored in the excellent Survival of the Fittest miniseries.

Most Anticipated:  Fatale #1 – This is an absolute no-brainer.  Any comic-related collaboration between Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips is a guarantee of a very particular sort of excellence.  Throw in that this one’s got a paranormal/Lovecraftian slant, a female lead, and the fact that it’s the longest miniseries the two have ever tackled together (12 issues), and this is an absolute must-have.

Other Picks: Animal Man #5, Swamp Thing #5, The Punisher #7, Uncanny X-Men #4, Action Comics #5, Stormwatch #5, Detective Comics #5, Defenders #2, Sweet Tooth #29