Review: Swamp Thing- Roots of Terror
Quick Summary
Pros: The stories here are all entertaining and share success in the horror genre. All of the stories work as a great representation of Swamp Thing. The artwork is appealing in every chapter.
Cons: Nothing significant.
Overall: This is an excellent collection of Swamp Thing stories. This volume tells tales that have awesome action, creepy happenings, and thought-provoking messages. The volume works as a piece of horror and as a showcase for what Swamp Thing can do as a character. Plus, the collection contains the creator of Swamp Thing’s final work on the character. Any Swamp Thing fan, especially those with an interest in horror, should check this volume out.
Story
Often, single comic volumes that collect a character’s appearances over a large spread of time are not that good. They end up collecting stories of mixed quality with no common theme to connect them. Even characterization of the subject can feel off, as different writers often put their own spin on a character. These volumes are often a mess, with maybe one or two redeeming qualities to be found within.
Swamp Thing: Roots of Terror manages to defy expectation by being a wonderful example of what comic collections like this have the potential to be. The Swamp Thing stories here are all entertaining and are connected by an atmosphere of horror that is woven through each of these chapters. The volume also includes Len Wein’s final, unfinished Swamp Thing story, an important piece of comic history and a fantastic read for anyone who has enjoyed Len Wein’s work in the past. This volume is a quality comic all around and is a great representation of Swamp Thing as a character.
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Roots of Terror opens with a chapter, written by Tom King, that sees Swamp Thing protecting a young boy from an unidentified monster. Their journey together is gripping, as it appears the two are constantly on the verge of being defeated by their enemy. However, in a gut-wrenching twist, it turns out the little boy was the monster all along and Swamp Thing is forced to kill him.
The entire journey is entertaining and brings up a variety of thought-provoking themes. The story’s “monster” appears to be representative of a person’s inner demons, whether they be depression, anxiety, low self esteem, or anything else. It shows that “killing” this monster is not as easy as it would appear and suggests doing so will be a long and arduous process, though worth it in the end.
From here, Roots of Terror moves on to “Hollow”, written by Brian Azzarello. This is a creepy story that has Swamp Thing fight off some demons that were threatening children. The conflict is entertaining and is accompanied by some interesting ponderings on the purpose of fear.
Then, the book turns into a wonderfully satisfying blend between horror and love story. Swamp Thing falls deeply in love, only to have that love taken from him when he realizes the danger he brings into his love’s life. The sweetness of the romance is contrasted against the bitterness of its ending, plus the horrific punishment Swamp Thing inflicts upon the people who interrupted his romance.
The next story, written by Tim Seeley, is a short and straightforward horror story. It has Swamp Thing fighting grossly depicted villains in order to save the world. The entire trip is creepy and shows how well Swamp Thing works in the horror genre.
Finally, Roots of Terror closes with Len Wein’s final Swamp Thing story. Though the story is unfinished, reading Wein’s enthusiastic descriptions about what this story would have been and comparing it to the artwork is still a great experience. This story might not appeal to casual fans but should be deeply appreciated by fans of Len Wein’s work.
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Art
The artwork in Swamp Thing: Roots of Terror is positive in every chapter and does wonders in giving an already solid collection even more appeal.
The collection starts with artwork from Jason Fabok. His highly detailed depictions of the characters emphasize the intense emotions experienced over the course of this story. The entire chapter is also perfectly structured, in a way that enhances the reading experience. I’ve also always enjoyed winter scenes in comics and thought that Fabok did a fantastic job in capturing the threatening side of the season.
From here, Greg Capullo takes over for a chapter. This story is a testament to Capullo’s abilities within the horror genre, as his work manages to be creepy and beautiful all at once. The journey left me with a strong desire for more and I hope that, one day, DC will put Capullo on a more significant Swamp Thing project.
The next two chapters, drawn by Frazer Irving and Kyle Hotz, stand out less but are still impressive. Both are able to capture the creepy and threatening tones set by their respective stories.
Finally, Roots of Terror closes with Kelley Jones’ work on the unfinished “Spring Awakening” story. Seeing Jones’ art without any narration or dialogue still works because Jones’ art speaks for itself. Readers can approach this entire story without any explanation and still understand what is going on. However, when paired with Len Wein’s script, the entire experience is even more rewarding.
Continuity
Swamp Thing: Roots of Terror is a collection of Swamp Thing stories that are almost completely independent from any other Swamp Thing stories. The only connection here is that the unfinished “Spring Awakening” chapter, written by Len Wein, is somewhat of a continuation on Len Wein’s work from Swamp Thing: The Dead Don’t Sleep (Review).