Swamp Thing #23.1

I started reading this series because of Snyder, but Soule's work is the reason it's the first thing I read every month when it comes out! I can't wait to dive back into the Seeder storyline, but it was awesome to see just how twisted Anton Arcane is and has been for centuries. If you've been on the fence about whether or not to start this series, pick up this issue and see for yourself just how amazing the writing, the art, and the thrills of Swamp Thing are! Read Full Review

So all in all, youd be a fool to miss this issue. Whether youre a huge Swamp Thing fan, a Charles Soule or Jesus Saiz fan, or even just a fan of good old fashioned horror comics, you wont want to miss this one. Go ahead and pay the extra dollar for the fancy cover. Its by far one of the best ones so far this month. And though it is rated teen plus, I would argue that it simultaneously doesnt go too far over the top as well as accomplishes the overall goal of thoroughly disturbing its readers into secretly hoping that Arcane never comes back again. Well done, guys. Read Full Review

Swamp Thing 23.1 is one of the finest additions to the Villains month catalogue. With an impeccable respect for the source material and the well-handled plot and expansion, this creative team takes the series to leaps and bounds above the rest. Swamp Thing 23.1 is fan service at its fullest. Read Full Review

This was an amazing issue, and one of the best Swamp Thing issues of recent months, as well as one of the best Villains Month issues so far. The story itself was very gory, also being slightly disturbing which suited the characters perfectly. The dram and suspense throughout was also outstanding, and overall the issue had the perfect tone to it. This makes this issue easy to recommend and I'd especially recommend it to any Swamp Thing or Arcane fans. Read Full Review

I was going to say that the only part of this issue that stops it from being a perfect 5 star is that there's no reference to Forever Evil, but you know what? It's excellent regardless of that, and so something like that shouldn't be enough to stop it getting a perfect score. This is one of the best villains books out this month, and even if you don't read Swamp Thing, you should check this out anyway and find out as much as you can about how warped Anton Arcane is and how much you're missing out on by not reading Soule, Saiz, and friends' Swamp Thing. Read Full Review

Regular series writer, Charles Soule, does a great job giving us two origin stories and a rebirth. Swamp Thing #23.1 is not only my favorite Villain's Month issue, but has made me a Charles Soule fan as well. Believe the hype, he is that good.  Swamp Thing has entered my pull list as long as he is at the helm. Read Full Review

Jesus Saiz also makes for a marvelous companion to Soule here. Saiz is able to capture the aesthetic of the main series, rendering both the subtle horrors of the human world and the more overt monstrosities of the Rot. Even the sight of the decrepit Anton languishing in a summer sunlit field is visually arresting. Too many Villains Month comics seem only able to offer a decent story or solid visuals, not both. Swamp Thing #23.1 rises above and beyond the call on both fronts. Read Full Review

The artwork here is just fantastic all around. The characters look great (even if Anton has always been on the bland side) and really stand out, the color is just gorgeous with the tones and shades it uses (love color in Abby's memories for instance), and inking really helps everything pop. There's just nothing here to complain about. Read Full Review

And Arcane certainly is just that"a monster. He notes that he never claimed to be anything else. Soule's decision to embrace Arcane's disturbing qualities instead of justifying them make for a distinct issue. Serving as more than just a one-shot, the issue is a great read and a great use of the Villains Month format. Read Full Review

I admit to some trepidation when I checked this issue out. Early issues ofSwamp Thingrevealed Arcane to be such a bland baddie that the thought of yet another issue following him filled me with a not inconsiderable amount of premature boredom. But, as I read, I found myself genuinely disturbed, genuinely shocked, genuinely enthralled. This is exactly whatSwamp Thing needed to be relevant again " a must-read for lapsed fans or interested newcomers. Read Full Review

Not necessarily revelatory, but an important and insightful look into the villain nonetheless, with some gorgeously lush art besides. Read Full Review

The creative team really blossoms together in this issue to make this chapter more than the sum of it’s parts. This month there have been many underwhelming Villain’s month issues, which makes me happy to praise Soule and Saiz for knocking this comic out of the park. Read Full Review

Soule's working out quite well on "Swamp Thing," and this issue is just another example of his strength as a writer. So long as Soule is interested in writing "Swamp Thing," he (as well as Saiz, for that matter) is welcome as far as I'm concerned. Read Full Review

In short, as much as I worried about the gimmickry of the whole Villains Month enterprise, at least one creative team took it as an invitation to add depth (and an utterly horrific eye for detail) to their chosen bad guy, using it to advance the ongoing story. Swamp Thing #23.1 has a lot to offer, and makes me want to go back and read the entire series from the beginning, which is what any good book should do, and earns 4 out of 5 stars overall. I'm also setting the countdown clock for Arcane's escape at 12 issues or less... Write that down. Read Full Review

A great villain story that got me interested in going back and following The Swamp Thing /Animal Man. Read Full Review

Jesus Saiz's art is well executed, but he's not given much to do. Outside of a few flashbacks, most of Swamp Thing #23.1 is a conversation between Abby and Arcane in an open field. Saiz makes the most of it, especially where zombie Arcane is involved. The small details and line work give zombie Arcane an awful, decaying vibe. Abby is solid, too, though her look is way too early-eraMcFarlane Image comics for me. Overall, Saiz has some effective pencils, though I'd like to see what he does with more content. Read Full Review

the green death

Sep 18, 2013

A very creepy issue with a few twists and turns along the way that I wasn't expecting. I love the vision of what he'll for Arcane would be, quite clever. The art is great too, another wonderful issue in a great run by Soule.

GreyMouser

Oct 11, 2013

pretty good overall, but a weird aside considering Arcane has been gone since the end of 'Kingdom of Rot'. but a good one-shot that is worth the price of the standard cover. Those 3-D covers a crappy gimmicks.