The Saga of the Swamp Thing 23 (April 1984)

So I should start by talking about Moore opening with Alec narrating and basically giving the reader the insight the previous issue’s exploration of his psyche didn’t have.

Or I could talk about how he, in his third issue, has cast Abby as the human conduit into the story (and retconned her attachment to Alec a bit).

I could even talk about how Alec’s dialogue and thoughts are about his lack of humanity but Bissette and Totleben give him the most human eyes in comic book history.

Instead, I’ve got to mention this one really awful page they draw. It’s the closest thing the issue has to a hero moment and they botch it. Swamp Thing looks awkward; there’s no payoff and they were going for one.

Of course, they immediately recover in a lovely sequence (with those eyes).

It’s another exceptionally strong issue and Moore’s still getting set up.

CREDITS

Another Green World; writer, Alan Moore; penciller, Stephen R. Bissette; inker, John Totleben; colorist, Tatjana Wood; letterer, John Costanza; editor, Len Wein; publisher, DC Comics.