Swamp Thing #19 Review

This was the most purely enjoyable issue of Swamp Thing I’ve read in a long time. Don’t get me wrong, Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette’s recently pruned run was glorious, but in a morbid and dark way. New series writer Charles Soule -- who you might remember from the cleverly executed Image series 27 -- does channel the moody voice of Alec Holland well, yet he adds just a touch of humor to make the sad salad of a man seem a little more fresh.

Swamp Thing #19 makes for the perfect jumping-on point for readers new and old. You’ll hear all about his origin, his powers, and the Green as Soule plants the seeds for a mysterious new adversary. All of this is done mostly through dozens of narrative caption boxes, and while that can be terrible when done incorrectly, it is executed with expertise here to give a glimpse into the mind of a super powered being who feels torn between acting for the good of either mankind or plantkind. The only sore spot in the issue is the appearance of Scarecrow, whose giant word balloon explaining what he’s up to acts like the Hindenburg to what had otherwise been the stellar pacing of the issue.

Kano steers clear of aping Paquette’s artwork -- which would have been a bad idea -- and shows off a clean style that emphasizes the setting’s effect on the adaptable hide of Swamp Thing. You’ll see desert Swamp Thing, micro Swamp Thing, and classic Swamp Thing, which frankly would all make sweet action figures. He’s not afraid to use atypical panel layouts, and doing so keeps the visual flow of the story smooth and engaging until the end.

Joshua writes for IGN. If Darth Maul haunts your nightmares, Green Lantern gave you a new appreciation for mood rings, or Pokemon taught you what addiction means, then you’ll want to follow him on Twitter or IGN.

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