Swamp Thing #29 Review

Written by: Charles Soule
Art by: Jesus Saiz
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 5, 2014

Track Suits, Kool Aid and Bloodshed

Charles Soule's Swamp Thing has been more about character development and supporting characters than anything else.  The Avatar is still the main focus, but only by a blade of grass.  Under lesser authors this could spell disaster, but Charles Soule is no lesser author.  No, he is the Stefaan Engels of comic book writers. The more book he writes at one time, the better the books get. He shows this here as Swamp Thing is getting stronger with each issue, even though the latest issue could spell disaster for the Avatar himself.

Swamp Thing #29 continues to flesh out the Avatar's supporting cast which is making this book so solid. The Wolf and Lady Weeds are up to something and head back to New Orleans.  Swamp Thing is not aware of it and before he is, the two have threatened a "wimpy" quoting lawyer into fronting them money for some mysterious endeavor.  The Wolf is the brains and the Lady is the brawn and they look to be up to no good.

Swamp Thing doesn't realize the two are gone because he's busy dealing with the Sureen, the mysterious cult that showed up last issue.  They are bound to server the Avatar, but things don't seem right.  They are mysterious and creepy, but after Jonah assures Swamp Thing they are legit, the Avatar tries to learn more about them.  What he learns is they like hallucinogenic fruit and can do something that every Avatar would want.  Get your mind out of the gutter, it's not that...or is it?  You'll have to read it to find out.  The book ends with a great cliffhanger that shows the Sureen may not have the best intentions for the Avatar after all. Surprise, right?

Charles Soule has done it again.  This issue went from "great, a filler issue" to "damn that was so good".  He sets up the future (and present) of the book through character development and a doozy of a cliffhanger.  I can't wait for next month.

Jesus Saiz' art is just as much of the storytelling as the writing is.  The facial expressions show the Wolf is a smarmy jerk and the Lady is not to be messed with even without them saying a word.  His panel layout and art are so good and when he shows the Avatar's many transformations, he never disappoints.

Bits and Pieces:

Swamp Thing #29 may be the start of a new arc, but that doesn't mean it's a boring setup issue.  Charles Soule does set things up, but him and Jesus Saiz are so good, they make it a must read.  So, go read it now.

9.3/10