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bookishmood's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
jesters_privilege's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
squamdog's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
exorcismemily's review against another edition
4.0
"It's horror. It's all horror..."
Alan Moore's Saga of the Swamp Thing series is the best. Although Book 4 was not my favorite, it was still an enjoyable read.
I kind of tune out when DC books get into the Crises stuff, and part of this book had to do with Crisis on Infinite Earths. This is a pretty Constantine-heavy book, which isn't a bad thing; I just wanted more Swamp Thing.
However, I did really enjoy the issues that were just about Swamp Thing-related stories. Abby was also barely in this book, and I wish she would have been around more. Swamp Thing is always a great read. These books are grim and always make me think. On to Book 5!
Alan Moore's Saga of the Swamp Thing series is the best. Although Book 4 was not my favorite, it was still an enjoyable read.
I kind of tune out when DC books get into the Crises stuff, and part of this book had to do with Crisis on Infinite Earths. This is a pretty Constantine-heavy book, which isn't a bad thing; I just wanted more Swamp Thing.
However, I did really enjoy the issues that were just about Swamp Thing-related stories. Abby was also barely in this book, and I wish she would have been around more. Swamp Thing is always a great read. These books are grim and always make me think. On to Book 5!
kavreb's review against another edition
5.0
The one where Moore started getting more into the love story. But what’s so fascinating about it is that it talks about the feeling that someone’s love is abnormal by making us feel the same emotions. Because we, like the other people in the story, feel that the love between these two creatures (one of them alien but familiar in a way that makes it weirder) is so abnormal as to be repellant, perhaps even sickening. But unlike the people around them, we have empathy with them. So we have conflicting feelings - both the feeling like it’s something bad but also that it’s good. And by telling this story in this kind of a way, it allows us to experience in a safe environment feelings that very much exist in the real world. Through this story we can become aware of having this kind of reaction and yet have the awareness to understand its problematic nature. What I’m saying is that it’s a story arc that can make us into better people.
So the book would get top marks already before we get to the great art and the fantastic imagination and all the other thrilling stories (though his heart isn't quite entirely there with the crossover). I just love the Saga of the Swamp Thing series.
So the book would get top marks already before we get to the great art and the fantastic imagination and all the other thrilling stories (though his heart isn't quite entirely there with the crossover). I just love the Saga of the Swamp Thing series.
trilbynorton's review against another edition
3.0
This is where Moore's "American Gothic" storyline gets crushed under its own weight. While the previous volume was made up of standalone horror tales loosely linked by John Constantine's involvement and the promise of answers to come, this volume sees events come to an apocalyptic head. One issue is a direct tie-in with the then ongoing Crisis on Infinite Earths, and it's as of the bloated and unnecessarily convoluted plotting of the standard comics crossover event infects Moore's usually economically evocative writing.
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book Four collects Saga of the Swamp Thing #43-50.
In this volume, we finally find out what Constantine was grooming Swamp Thing for and it's a big hairy deal. A secret society is bent on summoning an ancient force to destroy heaven. There's also a junkie that finds one of Swamp Thing's tubers, a serial killer, the sprawling mansion of a firearms heiress, and Swamp Thing learns more of his heritage.
Alan Moore gets some serious mileage out of the Swamp Thing in every outing and this volume is no different. The Parliament of Trees is introduced, Crisis is touched upon, and even Mento gets his time in the sun as all of DC's occult characters unite to fight a menace older than time.
I'm impressed that with all the shifting artists in Moore's run that the series manages to maintain a unified feel. In this volume, art is handled by Stephen Bissette, John Totleben, Stan Woch, Rick Veitch, Alfredo Alcala, Ron Randall, and Tom Mandrake.
Alan Moore delivers the goods as far as big confrontations go. At times, the final battle reminded me of one of the Doctor Who specials where multiple Doctors team up to face some universe-threatening villain.
I'm running out of ways to praise Alan Moore's run. Aside from Abbie Cable not doing much, the only thing I can gripe about is how out of place Batman was in the Bogey Man issue, although Batman not remembering being at Elasti-Girl and Mento's wedding was kind of funny.
I'm both excited to read the next volume and sad that I only have two volumes left. Alan Moore created a generational work with Swamp Thing. I can't recommend it enough.
In this volume, we finally find out what Constantine was grooming Swamp Thing for and it's a big hairy deal. A secret society is bent on summoning an ancient force to destroy heaven. There's also a junkie that finds one of Swamp Thing's tubers, a serial killer, the sprawling mansion of a firearms heiress, and Swamp Thing learns more of his heritage.
Alan Moore gets some serious mileage out of the Swamp Thing in every outing and this volume is no different. The Parliament of Trees is introduced, Crisis is touched upon, and even Mento gets his time in the sun as all of DC's occult characters unite to fight a menace older than time.
I'm impressed that with all the shifting artists in Moore's run that the series manages to maintain a unified feel. In this volume, art is handled by Stephen Bissette, John Totleben, Stan Woch, Rick Veitch, Alfredo Alcala, Ron Randall, and Tom Mandrake.
Alan Moore delivers the goods as far as big confrontations go. At times, the final battle reminded me of one of the Doctor Who specials where multiple Doctors team up to face some universe-threatening villain.
I'm running out of ways to praise Alan Moore's run. Aside from Abbie Cable not doing much, the only thing I can gripe about is how out of place Batman was in the Bogey Man issue, although Batman not remembering being at Elasti-Girl and Mento's wedding was kind of funny.
I'm both excited to read the next volume and sad that I only have two volumes left. Alan Moore created a generational work with Swamp Thing. I can't recommend it enough.
reickel's review against another edition
4.0
The first half is a slog, 3 stars, and the latter half is pretty exciting, 4.5 stars. Put em all together and you get a deserved 4. This volume definitely has a different feel, with Constantine connecting Swamp Thing to plenty of other magical DC characters as a matter of course, not in one-off exceptions.