THE SWAMP THING
The Indian variant
RELEASED OUT NOW! Publisher DC Comics
Writer Ram V
Artist Mike Perkins
DC’S Guardian of the Green has struggled to put down roots since the halcyon days of Alan Moore four decades ago, spawning several short-lived series. Cleverly combining old with new as it introduces a new avatar of the forest in Levi Kamei, while also boasting many callbacks to the classic incarnation, this new 10-issue series will hopefully have a more sustained impact.
With the first issue opening with a disturbed Levi haunted by some verdantly vivid dreams as he flies back from India to New York, the Swamp Thing himself is initially a remote, confused presence. He’s then taken out of his usual element of the Louisiana bayou; something is amiss in the Sonoran desert, with the emergence of malevolent, legendary figure the Pale Wanderer, who’s eerily reminiscent of one of Swampie’s deadliest adversaries…
Though the wraith’s true identity hasn’t yet been confirmed, a visit to Gotham in #3 ushers in a number of familiar faces, including Poison Ivy, Jason Woodrue and Swamp Thing’s original alter-ego, Alec Holland. There’s also something of Abby Holland about Levi’s best friend Jennifer Reece, although their relationship is so far platonic.
Ram V’s script is briskly paced and emotionally affecting, and it’s brought to life brilliantly by Mike Perkins, whose gritty, detailed linework and dynamic layouts echo not only Moore’s artistic foils Steve Bissette and John Totleben, but also Swamp Thing co-creator Bernie Wrightson. Let’s hope that from this tiny seed, a great oak of a comic book will grow.
Stephen Jewell
Swampie’s last host was 10th century hero the Viking Prince, who assumed the mantle in 2020 crossover Endless Winter.
Combines old with new as it introduces a new avatar of the forest