The Stop Button

What’s strange about this issue isn’t so much the story or even the Justice League guest appearance (Moore writing the Justice League, with Bissette and Totleben on the art is otherworldly though). It’s the finish. Moore could use this issue for the series finale.

In dealing with an insane Jason Woodrue, Alec accepts his reality—he’s Swamp Thing—and he’s happy with it, happy with living in the natural world. It’s a joyous finish; he even, basically, says goodbye to Abby.

But it’s not the final issue and the way Moore leaves it, one wonders what can possibly come next and not feel forced.

The issue moves rather fast—it opens with the Justice League, a scene actually set during the previous issue’s events, and then there’s Alec and Woodrue fighting. It’s an action comic, something one tends to forget about Moore. He sometimes just writes really great action comics.

CREDITS

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