Is It Good? Swamp Thing #36 Review

Charles Soule has signed an exclusive contract with Marvel for this coming March and Swamp Thing hasn’t been doing well with the sales.

So yes, I hate to admit it, but this may be the last story arc of Swamp Thing we see for a while. Let’s enjoy the ride while it’s still here, shall we? Is it good?

Swamp Thing #36 (DC Comics)

The young Machine Kingdom attacks The Grove, the Green’s access point to the world, and the Swamp Thing ain’t having any of it. He takes them down, but realizes that this isn’t the end of them. He needs to warn the other Kingdoms and their Avatars about this problem. Meanwhile, the Machines aren’t going to let this loss go by unanswered.

Now this was an interesting issue. While it’s still in setup mode for the current arc it’s also starting to bring several storylines and loose threads to a close (like the one from the Villain’s Month issue we got in 2013). This is building up to be a big challenge for Alec (one that he hasn’t seen since Rotworld) with the attack of a Kingdom directly against the Green and not just a personal attack against him. Plus, with the surprise twist at the end, this is turning out to be one of the best arcs this title has had in terms of buildup and potential. In other words, I’m excited and hyped.

Soule’s writing is pretty solid overall, with the exception of the opening bit with Jonah (seems a bit like padding). The character work here is excellent and really shines, especially in the scene between Abby and Alec. It’s incredibly touching and warm, but also heartbreaking (the emotional aspect of the comic is also good as well). The dialogue is great, adding a lot to the scenes and giving the Machine Kingdom plenty of life; though, I’m still on the fence about why exactly the robot said “bro.”

The artwork by Jesus Saiz is incredible looking and beautifully detailed. Everything about his work really captivates here, from his depiction of Swamp Thing and his powers to how he handles the scenes within the Machine Kingdom (so white and sterile. It feels so creepy). Combined with some great layouts and nice range in emotions and expressions for the characters — the book simply looks amazing. Also, the coloring by Matt Hollingsworth is really stellar as well and makes the visuals really pop. He’s also pretty good at managing to keep a consistent tone and look with the colors from the last colorist.

Is It Good?

Swamp Thing #36 is another great issue of the series, with all the signs pointing towards Soule setting us up for one last hurrah in the final arc. The story and the characters are fantastic, along with the writing and the artwork. There’s not much else that can be said other than check this series out if you haven’t already. The end may be coming, but don’t let that stop you.