crookedtreehouse's review
2.0
Swamp Thing is a series that comes and goes, and most of it is, like superhero stories that go on too long, mediocre. But I was excited to see there was a volume I hadn't read that was written by Brian K Vaughan. Alas, this is not the writer you would recognize from [b:Saga, Volume 1|15704307|Saga, Volume 1|Brian K. Vaughan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486028947l/15704307._SY75_.jpg|19113524], [b:Paper Girls, Volume 1|28204534|Paper Girls, Volume 1|Brian K. Vaughan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1656764541l/28204534._SY75_.jpg|49449510], [b:Runaways, Vol. 1: Pride and Joy|7389|Runaways, Vol. 1 Pride and Joy|Brian K. Vaughan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1264516899l/7389._SX50_.jpg|10219456], or even [b:Ex Machina, Vol. 1: The First Hundred Days|296901|Ex Machina, Vol. 1 The First Hundred Days (Ex Machina, #1)|Brian K. Vaughan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388204505l/296901._SY75_.jpg|288053]. This is pretty much a clone of [a:Mark Millar|12736|Mark Millar|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1266561940p2/12736.jpg]'s style, and it is grating.
The dialog is bad. The premise is, at first intriguing, then pretty dull. None of the ideas are fresh. Because I'm a completist, I'll probably try and get through volume two, but I'm not excited about it. And if you're not a completist, there's no real reason to read it. It's not even really about Swamp Thing, but about his daughter. An interesting character in theory, but very poorly executed here.
The dialog is bad. The premise is, at first intriguing, then pretty dull. None of the ideas are fresh. Because I'm a completist, I'll probably try and get through volume two, but I'm not excited about it. And if you're not a completist, there's no real reason to read it. It's not even really about Swamp Thing, but about his daughter. An interesting character in theory, but very poorly executed here.
darylnash's review
3.0
There are flashes of Brian K. Vaughan‘s nascent talent but they are intermittent. The less said about the art, the better. If you adjust your expectations, it’s not a bad series.
em_harring's review
3.0
I'll admit, I read this without having read the original comics. It was still easy to follow, though.
Not my favourite comic series, but interesting. I enjoy the main character and her journey towards discovering who she is and what she wants to do. She's a solid character. I also really like the two men she picks up along the way--they're developing nicely, and will most likely have interesting roles in Tefe's life in future volumes.
The illustrations weren't my favourite, but they were decent.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read!
Not my favourite comic series, but interesting. I enjoy the main character and her journey towards discovering who she is and what she wants to do. She's a solid character. I also really like the two men she picks up along the way--they're developing nicely, and will most likely have interesting roles in Tefe's life in future volumes.
The illustrations weren't my favourite, but they were decent.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read!
crispywonton's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
admiralsmall's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I feel like this comic came out too early to be appreciated. From the looks of things comic book fans weren't quite ready for Vaughn's vicious and confused antihero. But it was clear he had a blast while writing it. The hyperviolence and viciousness made this a tricky read but I thought tefe was a fascinating character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Death of parent, Body horror, Blood, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Emotional abuse
blackestclovers's review
3.0
Maybe 3.5 stars. It's an interesting look at the daughter of Swamp Thing. Not entirely sure where it's going, but I'll read the next volume.
amyjoy's review
3.0
EEEEEEEHHHHHHHHH. I think I'm the wrong audience for this. Also, I kept wondering if this is one of the first things Vaughan did because it's missing that quintessential Brian K. Vaughan-ness that I love so much. This book about plant vengeance is surprisingly humorless, and the eco-terrorisom kind of stuff just doesn't do it for me.
chwaters's review
3.0
Brian K. Vaughan's Swamp Thing is, thankfully, not a reboot of Alan Moore's version. Instead, it follows Tefe, the daughter of Swamp Thing and Abby. Tefe has spent the past few years living with another family, the Conways, unbeknownst to Tefe and the family. As it turns out, Holland and Abby, with the assistance of John Constantine, have managed to swap her with the Conway's dying daughter. The Conways get to believe their daughter survived her cancer and Tefe has a safe life. When a teenage betrayal unleashes Tefe, she begins to travel the world in search of the Tree of Wisdom whom she believes may have some answers regarding her unusual nature. You see, Tefe has the powers of her father and then some. She's wanted as a weapon by the US government and the Green both.
It's a bleak world, with plant life and humanity being at odds, but it's not too far off from our own. This is a decent addition to the Swamp Thing universe, but it can't really hold a candle to Alan Moore's original conception (and this from someone who adores the vast majority of BKV's work -- I mean, Saga? How amazing is that series?). Honestly, if it weren't for Vaughan being at the helm of this project, I probably would have written it off altogether. The storyline is a bit disjointed and occasionally hard to follow. It is also lacking in the emotional depth that I've come to expect from both Swamp Thing and Vaughan. Other than that, an interesting diversion.
It's a bleak world, with plant life and humanity being at odds, but it's not too far off from our own. This is a decent addition to the Swamp Thing universe, but it can't really hold a candle to Alan Moore's original conception (and this from someone who adores the vast majority of BKV's work -- I mean, Saga? How amazing is that series?). Honestly, if it weren't for Vaughan being at the helm of this project, I probably would have written it off altogether. The storyline is a bit disjointed and occasionally hard to follow. It is also lacking in the emotional depth that I've come to expect from both Swamp Thing and Vaughan. Other than that, an interesting diversion.
zbwagman's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes