Review: Swamp Thing #5

If you were to ask me who the three best writes of horror comics today were, I’d tell you Joe Hill, Jeff Lemire, and Scott Snyder. If Animal Man weren’t so awesome, Swamp Thing would the best storytelling DC has to offer. And If JH Williams III wasn’t such an amazing freak, Yannick Paquette’s art would be most exciting. The story that Snyder has been weaving really comes to a head in this issue, and points to things to come.

Alec Holland gets his green on in this issue, as William rides in with a herd of reanimated animal carcasses in tow.
Well laid out violence ensues, and just when I thought it was over, Snyder makes it very clear it’s not. Even though Animal Man wasn’t mentioned here, fans of both books (and if your reading one and not the other, you’re mad) know that it’s all leading up to a meeting of the two characters, as they both do battle with the Rot.

I continue to adore the fluid panel layouts in Swamp Thing. JH Williams III showed with no uncertainty that you can play around with panel layout to not only make the page look good, but better tell your story. Paquette does it masterfully here. Little things like using vine as panel borders for a jungle scene really make each page stand out, and it’s a treat to look at.

If you want superhero-but-not horror comics then you should be reading both Animal Man and Swamp Thing. Plus, you know, the cover is awesome!