Convergence: Swamp Thing #2 (2015) Review

Before Sunrise

Written by: Len Wein

Art by: Kelley Jones and Michelle Madsen
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 20, 2015


Last month's Convergence: Swamp Thing #1 was a great Swamp Thing story that just happened to take place during the Convergence Event.  Len Wein got to go back to his creation and convince this reviewer that he should be back full-time...in a monthly book.  While I don't think that's happening any time soon, at least we get the second issue in this two-part story, but is it as good as the first?  Let's find out...



I mentioned the last issue that I was not a huge fan of who Swamp Thing has to fight.  I'm talking about the hordes of Red Rain vampires and as this issue begins, I haven't changed my mind one bit. Generic vampires are not my cup of meat, but we quickly learn the real opponent...Vampire Batman.  Color me unimpressed...at first.

After the awesome credit page, however, Len Wein gets to work and makes a quick believer in me.  I do not know much about the Red Rain Universe, but Wein boils it down to a few simple elements...Batman is a vampire, Batman fights other vampires, Batman is awesome in any reality. This may be a Swamp Thing story, but the minute Batman shows up, he steals the show.

Before Batman and Swamp Thing duke it out, they take care of their common enemy and it is pretty damn awesome.  Silver batarangs and extended stake-fingers make quick work of the vampires and then it's down to brass tacks...the duel.  This is where this issue gets even better than the first because it makes so much sense.

I have generally enjoyed the Convergence tie-ins, but they have been pretty black and white up until now.  Vampire Batman changes that by deciding not to win the battle.  I know that other books have shown this, but Batman does it because he knows that his Gotham is a horrible place that doesn't deserve to exist.  He wants everything to just end including himself.  Now that is a hero.

Before he submits, though, he has a final request and Swamp Thing is more than happy to oblige.  I don't want to spoil everything in the issue, but I'll tell you it involves Batman and Swamp Thing taking care of one last problem that has plagued this Gotham for ages.  Out of nowhere, this issue became one of the better team-up, buddy books that I have read in a long time.  By the time you read the heartfelt ending, I hope you agree.

Len Wein gave readers a great story, but more importantly, a complete one.  I know that sounds odd, but it something that has been missing from a bunch of these Convergence tie-ins.  He also bucks the trend by telling a tale that got stronger as it went on and ended at its zenith.  I guess some could complain that this issue was more of a Vampire Batman story, but I don't care one damn bit. It was a great story because of all the characters.

Kelley Jones continues the awesome retro art and it fits this issue even better than the first.  This was a horror comic and the art was creepy, dark and just great.  In a perfect world, Wein and Jones would continue working together on a Swamp Thing monthly.

Bits and Pieces:

Len Wein and Kelley Jones give Convergence readers two things that they may not have seen in this Event...a horror comic and a totally satisfying story.  This is one of the few stories that got better with each page turn and ended in a way that wrapped it all up perfectly.  I want more Wein/Jones Swamp Thing,  Do you hear me DC?

9.0/10