Swamp Thing 110 (August 1991)

16080 Three big things I noticed. Abby’s still from Eastern Europe, everything uses the word “elemental” a lot and Collins is definitely presenting a more disinterested Alec. I’m not sure why I expect him to intercede and save the bad guys, but the way he stands back… it’s sort of disturbing.

There’s also a lot of implications of how Tefé’s powers are playing out.

It’s a decent issue; Collins again goes for the horror angle, with a deranged priest arriving in Swamp Thing’s parish. Her pacing’s a little off though–there’s not enough in the second act of the issue. Collins races to the end to bring Alec back in.

Sure, it’s his comic and all, but it can do a little without him. He also just arrives when called now, which should make life simpler for Abby.

I like it–nice Mandrake and Jaasta art–there’re just too many changes.

CREDITS

Any Deadly Thing; writer, Nancy A. Collins; pencillers, Tom Mandrake and Bill Jaaska; inker, Kim DeMulder; colorist, Tatjana Wood; letterer, John Costanza; editor, Stuart Moore; publisher, DC Comics.

Swamp Thing Annual 6 (1991)

16146 For her first Swamp Thing, Nancy A. Collins brings back the real horror. By real horror, I mean people being scared by real threats (supernatural ones, sure, but real). It reminds a little of early Alan Moore, with these murdered people joining together into a swamp monster out for revenge.

And the monster does get some revenge, but it’s justified. But Collins doesn’t let all the victims get avenged; instead, the reader’s left with a feeling of incompleteness, just like the swamp monster, just like Alec. He doesn’t really do anything this issue but investigate. Collins’s handling of him implies big changes in how Swamp Thing will go.

She handles the shuffling of the supporting cast well. Her Abby is okay… and apparently no longer Eastern European. The main story suggests good things; I’m undecided on the family stuff.

Jaaska and Rick Bryant’s art is good. Alec’s practically a tree.

CREDITS

Les Perdu; writer, Nancy A. Collins; penciller, Bill Jaaska; inker, Rick Bryant; colorist, Tatjana Wood; letterer, John Costanza; editor, Stuart Moore; publisher, DC Comics.

Swamp Thing 104 (February 1991)

16074 This issue, establishing even more asinine backstory, really shows Wheeler’s problem. He’s interested in making his mark on Swamp Thing, not making his mark with Swamp Thing. He’s trying to wow with details instead of actions. This issue, Alec and Abby learn the Parliament contrived his birth as plant elemental in order to guarantee he’d go back in time and start the Parliament.

Also, the Green is sort of an alien; it landed on Earth. Such revelations make one wonder if anyone at DC really cared anymore. Maybe they expected the sales to plummet without Veitch or Moore.

This issue, luckily, has Bill Jaaska on the flashback art. He does a beautiful job with the grandiose, earth-shattering events. Wheeler covered some of them in his first issues, but nowhere does he acknowledge those issues, which is weird.

Terrible writing for Abby and weak Hoffman art round out the issue.

CREDITS

Matango, The Quest for the Elementals, Part One; writer, Doug Wheeler; artist, Mike Hoffman and Bill Jaaska; colorist, Tatjana Wood; letterer, John Costanza; editor, Stuart Moore; publisher, DC Comics.