3.5 Great to see where this all began. There's a simplicity that's deeply appealing. Wein is flexing his literary chops in the narration in the best way and the stories sit beautifully in a Universal monster tradition. Bernie Wrightson art is some of the best ever.

After having read Alan Moore's entire run of Swamp Thing, I went back and read the creators', expecting something less than Moore's writing, but still great nonetheless, given all the wonderful characteristics of the title character.

I was disappointed to find most of the stories filled with purple prose, the various characters' voices sounding like either one of two polarities: slow intelligence or fast-acting stupidity. I see where Alan Moore took cues from Wein and Bernstein's themes of violent humans versus misunderstood monstrosities thrown together into classic horror scenarios. However, I am grateful that he quickly did away with the stagnant path Swamp Thing's creators had set him down, by introducing more vocalization, key interpersonal relationships, and emphasis on the connection between Swamp Thing and the entire world of plant life.

In these early volumes, Swamp Thing's character is developed only as a former "brilliant" scientist who becomes a huge, green hulk, with a general disposition toward reason and peace, but a lurking, easily-triggered violent rage. If this description sounds a little too similar to Marvel's Incredible Hulk, I think you'll understand why I was so dismayed at Len Wein's writing and simultaneously grateful for Moore's redirectioning of the character.

If you haven't read Swamp Thing before but are hesitant to jump into a serial comic anywhere but at the beginning, don't worry about it for this one. I say skip to Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore and you won't be missing out on anything.

http://www.greenmanreview.com/book/book_wrightson_swampthing_darkgenesis.html

This run is a campy masterpiece. It is truly something to behold.

"...pulling the shaggy stalker into the air as a mother lifts her child----but without a mother's tenderness..."

That line is pure genius and if you can't understand that then I pity you. You never know what's going to happen next in this series. Swamp Thing keeps ending up in one ridiculous situation after another.

Now this book I think has two issues. I'll start with the smaller one. Swamp Thing throughout the series is being pursued by an agent Matt Cable. When we're first introduced to Matt, he is working as the Hollands' handler. He has brought them out to the Louisianna bayou so they can complete their research. He treats the Hollands like garbage and threatens them. He is clearly supposed to be some mean government agency watchdog. After they die he goes on and on about how they were his best friends. I guess Wein changed his mind, but it's a jarring retcon.

The other problem I have is, the last issue has plantation slave ghosts who rescue Swamp Thing. I don't think a campy gothic comedy is really the right setting to try and tackle the issue of racism. And they certainly do not pull it off. Looking at the best possible light this issue is problematic, to say the least. I do not think it mars everything that comes before it though.

I didn’t actually read this book so much as the issues on the DC Universe app. The first 10 issues are really quite good. All of the Wein-scripted issues are really well done, and Wrightson’s art is truly legendary. I truly enjoyed it!

surprisingly good! batman's in issue 7 and wildly out of character and issue eight is absolutely INSANE but on the whole very enjoyable!!