REVIEW: House of Secrets #92 July//1971

What a cool memory, reading this again - it's been some years, and adventures since, reminding me that our perspective on the things we love evolves as we age. Yesterday was my birthday, and I'm enjoying the eyes of my life to this point - sadly also reminded I need glasses to use 'em but hey..
I found House of Secrets #92 courtesy of a friend at Wilkie's Wonderful World comic shop way back in the early '80s ..shortly after becoming a huge fan via the then new Saga of the Swamp Thing.
It was a little banged up - missing some pages in fact but..
it did have the short story titled Swamp Thing complete and intact so I was very happy - this, combined with haggling a great deal of course.

I wasn't much of a horror fan, but I loved good rich storytelling from ..well, birth - youth way back anyway, and this was moody well-written stuff..

"I move slowly through the moss-draped mire - treading a path that is worn smooth from my constant passing -- On beyond the shadows and the dark trees' twisting tendrils to my inevitable destination..." 

To be savoring that Wrightson art as you're soaking up Wein's prose - both drenched in atmosphere - both clean and concise - absolutely perfect comic book storytelling and so evocative of EC Comics' best it's almost unreal. This issue is maybe the finest bridge between DC and EC ever published - featuring art and story by two of the industry's most respected, and a story that wouldn't be moment out of place had it been published in Tales from the Crypt. I suspect it would be just as adored - maybe more, but then we might not have seen a certain someone get his own comic book.


TBC

VOLUMES of The Swamp Thing

TWO new collections debuted this week..

First half of New 52 Swampy's 1st Year...
RAISE THEM BONES, and they did.
Good to have Swampy as a fun DCU monthly again - good to have Abby back, and most cool - good to have Alec Holland back in there.

This book is far from perfect, but it's damn good and I'm damn happy about it. When "we" out here truly love a certain property, we can feel it from it's current caretakers, and Snyder/Paquette dig Swampy..
Nice review here on Goodreads.

DC has published this and Volume 2 just last week, and they're great for any of you who heard the new Swamp Thing title was really good, but still waited for some odd reason.

Go get 'em, and love 'em..

Then read the Wein and Wrightson stuff - TRUST ME.

A.

YAY YANICK !!!

Mr.Yanick Paquette just posted his amazing art gracing the cover of SWAMP THING #13...

I love the "profile Swampy", and a huge fan of his new look - courageous to change him, but it is working well - brings life to the book.
This cover reminds me how much I enjoy the guest-stars of Swamp Thing - Deadman is always a treat, and the Ivy relationship - well, I don't think that's gonna bring anything good..

Cheers, A.

REVIEW: Animal Man #12 Oct//2012

Wow, I didn't expect that.

I enjoyed this issue of Animal Man more than #12 of Swampy.
This is my review of Animal Man #12, which is the first part of a crossover between these two title characters, and so far it's pretty good.

"It seems our paths have been entwined. We have been struggling against the same thing ..or at least some variation of it ...the Rot."
Swamp Thing(Animal Man #12)

I liked the writing very much - it's a double-team with AM's Jeff Lemire and ST's Scott Snyder, and it's quite strong in both dialogue and pacing - fact is, the art and story are slightly better that Swampy #12. This bugs me a bit for the fact that Swamp Thing NEEDS a very strong artist/team or the book just won't fly. I hope DC wizens to this very very soon.

The setup is fun as Buddy and his family interact and go to see Swampy - that talking cat, man - I like it, but it's the family dynamic I really liked - it's good, and it left Swampy's book feeling a bit thinner. Granted, we got Swampy family adventures in the 80's but even I didn't like a married version with kids ..it was blandly weird. Swampy's title needs more faces ..old and new.

But I digress yet again - Big fan of Steve Pugh's "look" for Swamp Thing, and I'll have a post up about his appearance very soon - Swampy thru the Ages...
Cool Abby - cool art.

Anyway, good issue - good team-up, and I'm going to make a purchase next week of the New 52 Animal Man Collection.
I've always enjoyed the character but never bought it. Hopefully I can get it, read it, and review AM #13 which will be out soon, featuring Part 3 of Rotworld.

Good time to start buying both books, you slackers..

A.

REVIEW Swamp Thing #12 Oct//2012

Well well, a crossover.

This is my "pre-reading Animal Man #12" review for Swamp Thing #12, which is the second part of a crossover story between the two books, titled ROTWORLD.
Right off the top - have to say I like the Buddy Baker character, and the fact that damn good writing has elevated a very "B" level hero to a very appreciated place in the DC Universe - not unlike a certain green monster we know, and I suspect long time readers will feel this pairing's been a long time coming.

The story starts in the action, obviously having begun in Animal Man, and it stays pretty lively. Arcane is the nuisance I like, but I suspect I'll be missing Mister Moore's take on him simply for the fact that Arcane is best when written as a genius - smarter than the Swamp Thing but still undone by him. Anyway, the thought of his resurrection matching that of Alec Holland actually works with the history they have, and as an aside - it's nice to see Arcane biting things again - remember him biting Swampy in Hell?
Another irrelevant but fun touch is Swampy/Alec Holland's sense of humour - it's back, reminding me how tired characters who take themselves too seriously can get(ahem, Bats..).

It finally feels as though there's a fair bit going on and that's something this title needed. I found the first year of Swampy's new book felt very static - not enough happening, and not enough variation.

To be quite honest, I'm digging this "Rotworld" story, but more curious about what will be next after this arc. The art is a bit sloppy in this one, which also reminds me that I'd like to see an earthy arty team on the book again.

I'll pick up Animal Man tomorrow, and do this double review right.

A.