Swamp Thing #20 Review

SWAMP THING #20

by Charles Soule and Kano

So what? Scarecrow is the new Larfleeze?

So, Swamp Thing #19 was our introduction to discount Scott Snyder and Yannick Paquette... Or so I thought. On my second read of Soule's introductory issue, it hit me. Soule and Kano were trying there best to make this book their own, but try to keep some of what made Snyder's run great in the first place. They continue that trend in #20, but they continue to shape the book to be their own. Soule does a terrific way of working Superman into this issue without making it feel forced or tacked on. Soule provides some interesting insight into not only Holland, but the Man of Steel himself. The dialogue here is actually some of the most well written I've seen this year so far since Green Arrow #17. The fact that Soule writes Superman better than the current writers of the primary Super-books (Diggle [who's actually not THAT bad] and Lobdell [who's actually THAT bad]) makes me doubt DC's editorial decisions of putting those two writers on the Superman's adventures. Back on subject, Soule uses Scarecrow as comic relief, and surprisingly, it worked. Come on, raise your hand if you at least chuckled when Swamp Thing grabbed Scarecrow as he tried to get away during his serious talk with Supes. Yeah, me too. The only things I didn't like about the writing were the nightmare sequences which are slightly written in a way that new fans won't appreciate, and the cliffhanger seems a little dull. Also, keep in mind that there's much more focus on Superman than Swamp Thing in this issue. I'm not complaining, just saying.

Kano's art looks much better this time around. He's very suited for this kind of cross between classic DC superhero and British revolution Vertigo. The pencil work during the bridge scene is just spectacular, and is the kind of thing you'd expect from a Superman artist. Also, Kano manages to keep the slower parts of the issue entertaining, and his drawings of the nightmares (especially the Christmas tree one) are quite unsettling at times.

Swamp Thing #20 is a major improvement from the good Swamp Thing #19. Soule and Kano prove that we don't need no stinking Snyder/Paquette, and the book will do fine without the two.

STORY: 4/5

+ Great character work for both, Supes and Swampy

+ Well written dialogue

+ Scarecrow works as comic relief

+ Is a better Superman story than the current storylines in Action Comics and Superman

- The nightmares will make little sense to those who used #19 as a jumping on point

- The cliffhanger is lackluster

ART: 4.5/5

+ Kano gets surprisingly close to drawing an archetypal Superman

+ The nightmares can look pretty damn unsettling

VERDICT: 4.5/5