Absolute Swamp Thing by Alan Moore Vol. 1 (New Printing)

I have to admit that DC was honest in the product description when they wrote, “brand-new coloring.” They question is, why? My review was going to be all about my love for the 1984 Alan Moore run on Swamp Thing and how it was a perfect marriage between art and writing. I bought these comics when they were first released, and they made a profound impact on me in my teenage years. I wanted to talk about how Stephen Bissette and John Totleben were perhaps the first artists where, for me, their names became synonymous with the series they worked on. I was always disappointed when an issue was released without their art, but I understood given the detail of Bissette’s penciling and Totleben’s inking. Unfortunately, DC made one disastrous decision in this Absolute Edition. I’m not one of those purists who thinks that every reprint should look exactly like the original. It makes sense that a more expensive version is going to have superior paper, printing techniques and modern tools so things are going to look different, and hopefully better. In fact, if the Absolute Edition looked like a scan of the original, I’d be complaining. The problem here is that DC looked at the colors supplied by Tatjana Wood and decided they could do better. Issue 30 opens with, “The returned man smiles” as the lips of a green skinned alien part. Wait, what? That’s supposed to be Matt Cable and in the original his skin is flesh colored. It was a great moment in the original comic but now it looks distractingly weird. It was as if DC decided that the comic was too gothic and gritty and decided to give it a more disco appearance. Scarcely a page goes by without radical color shifts. Pages that have greens and blue are now purple and grey. The last panel of issue 25 shows an image of Goya’s ‘The Sleep of Reason’ in all red. Now, it’s shades of purple. Did that improve it? Nope. Page after page is altered and the worst thing is, these new colors are more often than not, softening Totleben’s inking. His inking was sharp and frightening and now it’s soft and friendly. The monkey king was original black and white but now has shades of grey. Is he more frightening? No. Sometimes colors are added such as giving Swamp Thing an orange tongue where it was originally green. Sometimes images have a single color where there used to be multiple colors and details are lost. I know that Alan Moore gets 98% of the credit for this run but it was a collaborative effort. Tatjana Wood isn’t even given coloring credit. She’s listed as the original comic colorist, but coloring credit goes to Steve Oliff and ‘Olyoptics’. Oliff is an award winning colorist and a veteran in the industry but radically changing the colors is akin to changing Alan Moore’s text. If the recoloring improved the visuals I would be forgiving but the changes are almost always either gratuitous or make the visuals worse. BTW: Even the covers are recolored and it is just as much of a disaster. Issue 21 has Swamp Thing menacing General Sunderland as light from a window illuminates the terrified man. In the recoloring, the light seems to fall across Swamp Thing but based on where the light is coming from it doesn’t make sense and the light hits his body flat as if he were two dimensional. My assumption is that this was just a coloring screw up. Nice job. This was not the review I wanted to write. I wanted to talk about my love of Swamp Thing and how DC finally produced a high-quality compilation of one of their greatest comics ever. I often roll my eyes when reviewers nitpick details in reproductions as if they were just itching to complain. I’m sure Steve Oliff spent a lot of time on recoloring and it looks like volume 2 of Absolute Swamp Thing will be getting the same treatment. I just feel that when you have a series that comes this close to perfection that no one has a right to decide they can improve it and I would have to assume this was an editorial decision from DC. The Absolute Edition has a very neat, soft, moss like cover and some really good extras including sketches and a long, well written article by Stephen Bissette. Bissette also wrote the introduction in book 6 of the TBD but the one in the Absolute Edition is brand new. Oh, and the cheapo TPB’s used the original coloring and look better. *sigh* Maybe if enough people complain, DC will reverse course or possibly even redo the first version of the Absolute Edition. Probably not. Still, it was nice revisiting these stories and as far as I know the stories are entirely unaltered.

Let's get the main talking point out of the way. This book is almost entirely recolored. There are pages that do not even closely resemble the original coloring on the artwork. Purists are not likely to like this book but if you're open to the changes, they are absolutely beautiful and well done. It would be one thing if the original trade paperbacks were not available but they are and for rather cheaply. Those that want the original gritty 1980s feel are better off getting the paperbacks. If you're into a high effort re-imagining of the original coloring, this book is going to absolutely blow you away. If you're open to regenesis (see what I did there), this is a must have.

This unique rendition of the Allan Moore run of Swamp Thing is a marvelous remastering of the content from the origiinal series. With enhanced colors and a larger format print, you are given an enhanced version of the classic run of Moore, Bissett and Totleben. The book comes in a deluxe slipcase worthy of the recognition of this incredible reworking of the character. The book when taken out of the slipcase has a mossy feel to it and has earthy like smell! It's beyond a reading experience, you feel like you're holding something genuinely organic! If you're familiar with the story and have read it prior, you'll wanna get your hands on this book. If you're new to Swamp Thing and want to read some of the best stories ever written for this character, then I highly suggest you purchase this book immediately!

On my copy, the binding is already falling apart after barely cracking it open. Other reviewers haven't mentioned this so it might be an isolated problem. Will be sending mine back. The reviewer complaining about the recolors is being a bit ridiculous, IMO. I like the changes, personally. Was he also one of the people that was upset about the Sandman recolors?

I really like how the modern colorisation process can enhance a book. I am not like the purists who think old newspaper paper and limited colouring is the best. the new colours simply vibe and explode with this artwork, making it even more eye candy than it ever was. big minus though, I haven't even managed to finish the book, the cover already fell. the binding glue didn't last even 1 read. I blame it on the heavy paper and large format, weighing too much on the cover, making it hard to stick. Just glued it myself now, let's see how it holds up! it's a shame as it's quite expensive and the cover is just magnificent! the emboss and the smooth feeling...

Could the early to mid-80s have been a finer time? As Watchmen waited in the wings, as "Whatever Happened to the Man from Tomorrow?" and "For the Man Who Has Everything" cooled, prior to Morrison's American debut with fourth-wall breaking postmodernism in "Animal Man," we always had Alan Moore's reinvention of "Swamp Thing," in those halcyon days prior to the grim days when the industry believed that Moore and Gibbons's magnum opus succeeded due to its mild sexual content or its often 'off the page' violence of a more graphic nature - as the great James 'Starman / JSA, Golden Age' Robinson has pointed out, the industry took the wrong message... it was Watchmen's complexity, its depth, which made it a game-changer in comics history - one, indeed, proceeded by Swamp Thing - an elegiac, even romantic book that didn't lack for mindblowing SF. Moore's save - as the title neared cancelation, it proved a perfect vehicle for Moore and his great art team... Steve Bissette, John Totleben, an initially uncredited Rick Veitch, who will helm the series later, letterer John Costanza, who makes individual voices breathe, and colorist Tatjana Wood, who got more out of pulp paper than anyone this side of Richmond Lewis in Batman: Year One. Of course, the absence of Ms. Wood in these II volumes (pardon, having received them both today after oft-reading them) I am excited and review - the book design here) may, indeed, engender controversy - a concern I had, until I received them, and showed my son. I concede, for this book design, the move to colorist Steve 'Miracleman' Oliff - simply works. Above all, the book is as raw, as vital, living, and organic as it ever was. In fact, these two absolute editions particularly impress with their higher-end production values, better than those on other fine absolute editions. Is the interior cover thread? Whatever the coating, it mimics moss with its tackiness. These production values represent less of a reinterpretation and more of a refining. The additions of Moore's promotional material (Volume 1) "This is the place" - a downright literary flexing of verbal muscle - is better than nice. The full script in volume II - look at Moore's novelistic description... truly he had the right art team in place... make both volumes shine., so now we have The Anatomy Lesson and American Gothic - once more. I am more than eager to revisit Moore's fine, romantic coda in Volume III.

Beautifully done omnibus. I wasn't sure about the recoloring idea but after thumbing through it it looks great! Really looking forward to rereading these stories.

Alan Moore’s incredible Swamp Thing rum receives DC’s royal Absolute treatment. I love Steve Oliff’s recoloring. If you insist in Tatiana Wood’s also great, original palate, DON’T buy this and then bitch. Or better, DO buy the Absolute version and then get the done Saga of the Swamp Thing tpbs, with Woods’ original work. Alan Moore planted a scientific seed to totally reimagine this character’s origin. And Steve Bissette and John Totleben sumptuously adorn Swamp Thing in an emerald cloak of fern and grass and glade and herb. There’s ample horror, appropriate environmentalism/anti-nuke, metaphysics and philosophy. Like Frank Miller’s two Daredevil runs, Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing will never be overgrown. Moore’s masterpiece finally put the writer at the top of the comic book heap, brains before beauty, words over pictures. I would have LOVED a Moore-Wrightson collaboration but ‘‘twas not to be...

Swamp Thing is such an interesting character to begin with. However, Alan Moore breaks all bounds with what his "roots" are and takes him to new and bold heights. The interior pages are remastered on a thicker cover stock. This new printing and substrate allows the colors to really standout and gives more depth and dynamics to this story. There was some musty charm in the duller quality of the previous editions being printed on a newspaper style paper, but this is like reading in HD. This thing is a tome, so it's not for light (in the literal sense) reading. It has some great supplimental materials at the end as well. It is well worth the extra money. I highly recommend!

This run is legendary... a career defining moment for all of the creators. This volume represents the beginning of the Alan Moore run and it is spectacular. This series basically helped define the direction of the Vertigo imprint for DC comics. It has had a huge impact on serious comic book writing and is still as good today as it was before. This volume featured revoloring by Steve Oliff... and it is spectacular. The coloring brings new life to these classic tales. Highly recommended.

I have to admit that DC was honest in the product description when they wrote, “brand-new coloring.” They question is, why? My review was going to be all about my love for the 1984 Alan Moore run on Swamp Thing and how it was a perfect marriage between art and writing. I bought these comics when they were first released, and they made a profound impact on me in my teenage years. I wanted to talk about how Stephen Bissette and John Totleben were perhaps the first artists where, for me, their names became synonymous with the series they worked on. I was always disappointed when an issue was released without their art, but I understood given the detail of Bissette’s penciling and Totleben’s inking. Unfortunately, DC made one disastrous decision in this Absolute Edition. I’m not one of those purists who thinks that every reprint should look exactly like the original. It makes sense that a more expensive version is going to have superior paper, printing techniques and modern tools so things are going to look different, and hopefully better. In fact, if the Absolute Edition looked like a scan of the original, I’d be complaining. The problem here is that DC looked at the colors supplied by Tatjana Wood and decided they could do better. Issue 30 opens with, “The returned man smiles” as the lips of a green skinned alien part. Wait, what? That’s supposed to be Matt Cable and in the original his skin is flesh colored. It was a great moment in the original comic but now it looks distractingly weird. It was as if DC decided that the comic was too gothic and gritty and decided to give it a more disco appearance. Scarcely a page goes by without radical color shifts. Pages that have greens and blue are now purple and grey. The last panel of issue 25 shows an image of Goya’s ‘The Sleep of Reason’ in all red. Now, it’s shades of purple. Did that improve it? Nope. Page after page is altered and the worst thing is, these new colors are more often than not, softening Totleben’s inking. His inking was sharp and frightening and now it’s soft and friendly. The monkey king was original black and white but now has shades of grey. Is he more frightening? No. Sometimes colors are added such as giving Swamp Thing an orange tongue where it was originally green. Sometimes images have a single color where there used to be multiple colors and details are lost. I know that Alan Moore gets 98% of the credit for this run but it was a collaborative effort. Tatjana Wood isn’t even given coloring credit. She’s listed as the original comic colorist, but coloring credit goes to Steve Oliff and ‘Olyoptics’. Oliff is an award winning colorist and a veteran in the industry but radically changing the colors is akin to changing Alan Moore’s text. If the recoloring improved the visuals I would be forgiving but the changes are almost always either gratuitous or make the visuals worse. BTW: Even the covers are recolored and it is just as much of a disaster. Issue 21 has Swamp Thing menacing General Sunderland as light from a window illuminates the terrified man. In the recoloring, the light seems to fall across Swamp Thing but based on where the light is coming from it doesn’t make sense and the light hits his body flat as if he were two dimensional. My assumption is that this was just a coloring screw up. Nice job. This was not the review I wanted to write. I wanted to talk about my love of Swamp Thing and how DC finally produced a high-quality compilation of one of their greatest comics ever. I often roll my eyes when reviewers nitpick details in reproductions as if they were just itching to complain. I’m sure Steve Oliff spent a lot of time on recoloring and it looks like volume 2 of Absolute Swamp Thing will be getting the same treatment. I just feel that when you have a series that comes this close to perfection that no one has a right to decide they can improve it and I would have to assume this was an editorial decision from DC. The Absolute Edition has a very neat, soft, moss like cover and some really good extras including sketches and a long, well written article by Stephen Bissette. Bissette also wrote the introduction in book 6 of the TBD but the one in the Absolute Edition is brand new. Oh, and the cheapo TPB’s used the original coloring and look better. *sigh* Maybe if enough people complain, DC will reverse course or possibly even redo the first version of the Absolute Edition. Probably not. Still, it was nice revisiting these stories and as far as I know the stories are entirely unaltered.

Let's get the main talking point out of the way. This book is almost entirely recolored. There are pages that do not even closely resemble the original coloring on the artwork. Purists are not likely to like this book but if you're open to the changes, they are absolutely beautiful and well done. It would be one thing if the original trade paperbacks were not available but they are and for rather cheaply. Those that want the original gritty 1980s feel are better off getting the paperbacks. If you're into a high effort re-imagining of the original coloring, this book is going to absolutely blow you away. If you're open to regenesis (see what I did there), this is a must have.

This unique rendition of the Allan Moore run of Swamp Thing is a marvelous remastering of the content from the origiinal series. With enhanced colors and a larger format print, you are given an enhanced version of the classic run of Moore, Bissett and Totleben. The book comes in a deluxe slipcase worthy of the recognition of this incredible reworking of the character. The book when taken out of the slipcase has a mossy feel to it and has earthy like smell! It's beyond a reading experience, you feel like you're holding something genuinely organic! If you're familiar with the story and have read it prior, you'll wanna get your hands on this book. If you're new to Swamp Thing and want to read some of the best stories ever written for this character, then I highly suggest you purchase this book immediately!

On my copy, the binding is already falling apart after barely cracking it open. Other reviewers haven't mentioned this so it might be an isolated problem. Will be sending mine back. The reviewer complaining about the recolors is being a bit ridiculous, IMO. I like the changes, personally. Was he also one of the people that was upset about the Sandman recolors?

I really like how the modern colorisation process can enhance a book. I am not like the purists who think old newspaper paper and limited colouring is the best. the new colours simply vibe and explode with this artwork, making it even more eye candy than it ever was. big minus though, I haven't even managed to finish the book, the cover already fell. the binding glue didn't last even 1 read. I blame it on the heavy paper and large format, weighing too much on the cover, making it hard to stick. Just glued it myself now, let's see how it holds up! it's a shame as it's quite expensive and the cover is just magnificent! the emboss and the smooth feeling...

Could the early to mid-80s have been a finer time? As Watchmen waited in the wings, as "Whatever Happened to the Man from Tomorrow?" and "For the Man Who Has Everything" cooled, prior to Morrison's American debut with fourth-wall breaking postmodernism in "Animal Man," we always had Alan Moore's reinvention of "Swamp Thing," in those halcyon days prior to the grim days when the industry believed that Moore and Gibbons's magnum opus succeeded due to its mild sexual content or its often 'off the page' violence of a more graphic nature - as the great James 'Starman / JSA, Golden Age' Robinson has pointed out, the industry took the wrong message... it was Watchmen's complexity, its depth, which made it a game-changer in comics history - one, indeed, proceeded by Swamp Thing - an elegiac, even romantic book that didn't lack for mindblowing SF. Moore's save - as the title neared cancelation, it proved a perfect vehicle for Moore and his great art team... Steve Bissette, John Totleben, an initially uncredited Rick Veitch, who will helm the series later, letterer John Costanza, who makes individual voices breathe, and colorist Tatjana Wood, who got more out of pulp paper than anyone this side of Richmond Lewis in Batman: Year One. Of course, the absence of Ms. Wood in these II volumes (pardon, having received them both today after oft-reading them) I am excited and review - the book design here) may, indeed, engender controversy - a concern I had, until I received them, and showed my son. I concede, for this book design, the move to colorist Steve 'Miracleman' Oliff - simply works. Above all, the book is as raw, as vital, living, and organic as it ever was. In fact, these two absolute editions particularly impress with their higher-end production values, better than those on other fine absolute editions. Is the interior cover thread? Whatever the coating, it mimics moss with its tackiness. These production values represent less of a reinterpretation and more of a refining. The additions of Moore's promotional material (Volume 1) "This is the place" - a downright literary flexing of verbal muscle - is better than nice. The full script in volume II - look at Moore's novelistic description... truly he had the right art team in place... make both volumes shine., so now we have The Anatomy Lesson and American Gothic - once more. I am more than eager to revisit Moore's fine, romantic coda in Volume III.

Beautifully done omnibus. I wasn't sure about the recoloring idea but after thumbing through it it looks great! Really looking forward to rereading these stories.

Alan Moore’s incredible Swamp Thing rum receives DC’s royal Absolute treatment. I love Steve Oliff’s recoloring. If you insist in Tatiana Wood’s also great, original palate, DON’T buy this and then bitch. Or better, DO buy the Absolute version and then get the done Saga of the Swamp Thing tpbs, with Woods’ original work. Alan Moore planted a scientific seed to totally reimagine this character’s origin. And Steve Bissette and John Totleben sumptuously adorn Swamp Thing in an emerald cloak of fern and grass and glade and herb. There’s ample horror, appropriate environmentalism/anti-nuke, metaphysics and philosophy. Like Frank Miller’s two Daredevil runs, Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing will never be overgrown. Moore’s masterpiece finally put the writer at the top of the comic book heap, brains before beauty, words over pictures. I would have LOVED a Moore-Wrightson collaboration but ‘‘twas not to be...

Swamp Thing is such an interesting character to begin with. However, Alan Moore breaks all bounds with what his "roots" are and takes him to new and bold heights. The interior pages are remastered on a thicker cover stock. This new printing and substrate allows the colors to really standout and gives more depth and dynamics to this story. There was some musty charm in the duller quality of the previous editions being printed on a newspaper style paper, but this is like reading in HD. This thing is a tome, so it's not for light (in the literal sense) reading. It has some great supplimental materials at the end as well. It is well worth the extra money. I highly recommend!

This run is legendary... a career defining moment for all of the creators. This volume represents the beginning of the Alan Moore run and it is spectacular. This series basically helped define the direction of the Vertigo imprint for DC comics. It has had a huge impact on serious comic book writing and is still as good today as it was before. This volume featured revoloring by Steve Oliff... and it is spectacular. The coloring brings new life to these classic tales. Highly recommended.

It worths each cent spent.

The new printing has great binding and build. The cover is moss like, the pages are thick, and the color pops. The story is great as reviewed by many.

Yes it just arrived! I Love this absolute edition. It's simply beautiful. Cannot wait till Vol 2.

This book is much bigger than I thought and very high quality cover and slip case. Very much worth the price.

Great storytelling and wonderful art. Alan Moore is one of the top story tellers ever to hit the comic world.

Loved the art and the stories. I see that some people don’t like the coloring. While it’s nothing like the pulp print of the originals, it’s vibrant and beautiful and I bet it is what the artists would have preferred given the chance. Great purchase!

The writing and coloring is amazing. However, I’ve received two terribly binded books. Improperly glued. I think there may be a problem with a run of the book.

First off this is an amazing run by Alan Moore. But this should get 0 stars because it showed up covered in lotion or shampoo. Not impressed...

It was a delivery from the United States to Russia via Germany. And it was fast, given a half-globe path! Eight days excluding the day of order. The comic book is in perfect condition. I will be ordering the second volume soon.

The stories are great and the book has a nice felt cover with a durable thick sleeve.

Great story, great art!

Had no problems with build quality as some have reported. The package also came 3 weeks before Amazon said it will come.

Loved the artwork and Alan Moore’s take on swamp thing all in one big book. Awesome read

Best omnibus Ive purchased!

Its that simple. 5 star art and story with colors done by somebody trapped in a FILLMORE THEATER POSTERS MUSEUM FOR 1/2 THEIR LIFE! Oliff doesn't seem to have read the story, because he completely undercuts it with his garish nonsensical "dig me" colors. There are at least a dozen head scratching mistakes in just the first two issues. By mistake I mean ... he adds a translucent effect to things that are completely opaque. He actually forgot to color the fireballs flying up and mistook them for the swirl of the helicopter blades. He frequently ignores the color palette midway through a panel as if he has ADD! He consistently competes with the line work using heavy saturated colors! The fine line work which should be on display with this larger format is actually completely invisible, compared to the original light one color backgrounds in the comic which show all the linework even with the crummy printing!! He constantly changes background colors clothing colors and adds entire forests, clouds, weird fireballs, or blue snow that was never in the originals! He messed this up very very badly. Sad because this is a favorite of mine. Its like Lucas fiddling with thx 1138 and the original star wars, but worse. Imagine Luke in a blue outfit and leia in a red outfit and Han wearing a tan vest and Chewy is brown and green instead of brown and black. Doesn't sound that great right? I mean why change everyone's clothing color? Its obvious when Liz or Abby wears red shes doing it as provocation, if you read the story there's even a sub narrative dialogue about a little girl in a red rain coat from the film Don't look back. But Oliff doesn't care, he just wants to color every little dang thing on the page! Even blank white papers on a desk now have some obscure color blob on then needlessly cluttering up the original arts compositions and obliterating its negative space!! Will be keeping my original comic run. I'm selling this vol and cancelled my order for #2. I recommend you do the same before you get GEORGE LUCASAFIED. I can see why Moore doesn't want any part of DC the way they shamelessly recolor and reformat his work. I will be adding a few comparison pics to discuss the major foul ups done by Oliff. And a few good choices that he made. Yes there are a few pages where the color was close enough to the original, or changed for the sake of clarity to be complimented. I can go on and on in very specific detail regarding the hundreds, maybe thousands, of Oliff's poor choices so feel free to comment.

Sigh... y'know, I'm always surprised at the dopey mistakes that the major comics publishers seem to repeatedly make, over and over and over... for the life of me, I will never understand the decision to slop today's gaudy, computer-obvious colors over classic material. Have neither DC nor Marvel learned anything from the disastrous results of allowing, say, Neal Adams recolor his classic stuff?? Is the nightmare that Dark Horse turned the great old BWS Conan comics into not remembered by the powers-that-be? Do the current decision makers have such little faith in this old material being able to find an audience that they HAVE to muck about with it??? The only thing I could think of is some over-zealous editor desperately trying to justify his job... Regardless, the over-bearing, ugly color job on this book is absolutely deplorable... as so many of the reviewers here have stated, the new colors have literally nothing whatsoever to do with the previous/original colors. They're modern and they do not accentuate the strengths of the artwork. The new colors don't help the old comics, it just looks like some novice graphic artist went crazy with Illustrator and/or Photoshop... it's frighteningly amateurish, it's an embarrassing display of facility without any subtly... it's just an abject mess!!! Although there are aficionados and fans out there who recognize what a dazzlingly stupid move this is by DC and their editors, it must be said that there is conversely a contingent of fans with no artistic standards that are hypnotized by describers such as "new" and "improved" that are bandied about when hyping such projects as this. And, predictably, they will rush out to spend money on it... thus insuring more bad decisions by the major publishers will be forthcoming. By contrast, just look at how the motion picture fandom reacted to Ted Turner colorizing all those old B&W MGM movies back in the 80s... they were up in arms and Turner looked like a fool!!! Absolutely no one who cares about classic movies ever gave any consideration to those abominations... it's too bad that comics fans aren't similarly concerned with the preservation and presentation of the works considered indispensable in the pantheon of great comics works... sigh, and so it goes... Anyway, don't buy this. It's truly horrible. If only DC had an editor like Cory Sedlmeier at the helm of their reprint/classic division. Not to champion Marvel over DC, as they make a ton of poor decisions themselves, but their classic reprint books have been spot-on since Sedlmeier came on board. It's funny, because Drawn & Quarterly, considered a superior comics publisher, have recently erred on the other side of production, as their recent Little Lulu project started off on the wrong foot with cheaply scanned comics pages in with minimal reconstruction work done... the opposite side of the coin regarding this ST mistake. Too bad Sedlmeier can't be over ALL reprint projects of classic comics!!! Oh well, again, this book is a definite miss!!!

I've got a soft spot in my heart for Swamp Thing. My brother and I rapaciously watched the movies and TV series as kids, and we collected all of the figures from the short-lived animated series. I read some reprints of a few of the seminal issues over the years, and I read the entirety of the New 52 run in real time, along with the various one-offs and miniseries since then, but I'd never gotten to experience complete arcs of the series when it was in the hands of Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, and John Totleben. Well my girlfriend got me this collection for my birthday last week, and it is a transcendent experience. Upon sliding the massive tome out of its slipcase, I was delighted to discover an unexpectedly mossy feel to the cover. And it just kept getting better. This book is absolutely gorgeous. Moore's writing is a breathtaking and heart wrenching masterpiece. Couple that with the lush, mind-bending artwork by Bissette, Totleben, and a handful of fill-in artists, and Absolute Swamp Thing vol 1 is an absolute feast of horror and wonder for the eyes and soul. I've already reached out to the folk at my local comic shop for assistance in acquiring vol 2, and I cannot wait.

I have bought a few dozen deluxe hardcovers, omni's and absolute editions in the past six months and this one takes the cake. I'm an avid DC reader but hadn't read much Swamp Thing prior to this book other than Snyder's New 52 run and a few other recent specials (Swamp Thing Winter Special #1 was fantastic). With that being said, this book is fantastic. The story lived up to the hype. A lot of people who read the book when it originally came out were upset about the recoloring. Seeing as this was the first time reading it, I was really happy with the coloring. One of the things that bothers me most about reading older storylines is the dull coloring and (sometimes) the artwork. I actually hope they do this with more older books in the future. One last thing, the book outside the slipcase is absolutely stunning. It's the most beautiful book in my collection.

It worth every penny, must have it, it’s a classic, re-colored looking great, slipcase and hardcover design is perfect, story and artwork beautiful, well done DC👍👍

An Absolute edition of one of the most important comics of the last 50 years but caveat emptor. First, the good points. There is a beautiful image on the slip case and the hardback itself has a nice textured cover which almost feels mossy in a highly appropriate fashion. Inside there is no introduction as it launches straight in to the Loose Ends story and continues on up to and including the Rites of Spring. Along the way the Down among the Dead Men story from the second Swamp Thing annual is included in the correct place. After that there are numerous sketches and concept art pieces mostly by John Totleben, as well as a lengthy and fascinating history of the genesis of their run on the title by Stephen Bissette. Alan Moore’s complete text for his “This is the place” essay which advertised the strip in a DC sampler issue is also included. It would have been nice to have something more from the great man but obviously that is unlikely to ever happen again. The paper is high quality and glossy and it is great to se the artwork blown up to Absolute size. But, and you knew this was coming, DC decided to get the artwork recoloured by Steve Oliff. This may have something to do with how the original colouring would have reproduced on glossy paper but the result is that it now looks like a completely different comic to the one I remember. Tatjana Wood’s beautiful colouring of the original series has been sadly discarded. I have attached photos which compare some of the pages to how they were printed in the last hardback collection from about 2012. In the double photographs the Absolute version is on the right hand side with some reflection from the glossy paper, the hardback version which I prefer is on the left. On the cover of the Anatomy Lesson issue #21 the recolouring seems to take Swamp Thing back to the green/grey smooth skinned creature of the Wein/Wrightson run instead of the shaggier and mossy green character He becomes in this issue. This is the first Absolute collection I have bought and my personal feeling is that I prefer how the art was reproduced in the earlier hardback editions. If I had done some more research in advance I think I would probably have saved the £50 and stuck with the smaller hardbacks and I don’t think I will be back for the second Absolute Swamp Thing. I am interested to learn more about DC’s decision to recolour their artwork and will be looking out for other reviews. In the meantime check out some of the artwork samples before you make your own decision about this purchase.

I have to add to the chorus of dissatisfaction with the new colouring. The original colours by the late, great Tatanja Wood were dark, earthy, organic and powerful. Alan Moore himself praised their contribution to the book’s visual aesthetic. They tied together a lot of the changes of artist teams and gave Swamp Thing a greater visual consistency. So while I can understand the need to re-engineer the colours for a larger, clearer, glossier format, I can’t understand why the original palate has been completely ignored, and the new digital colours look like wishy-washy watercolours. Otherwise the book’s terrific: seeing Bissette/Veitch/Totleben’s incredible art at this resolution is stunning, and in terms of writing it’s peerless. But I’ll be keeping my old hardbacks, for sure.

I love Absolute editions! I have many of them but the colouring of this one for me falls a bit flat. If this was the first time I’d seen the colours of this edition I don’t think I’d have cared, but I love preserving originality and artistic visions. Alan Moore’s Killing Joke had Brian Bollards intended colouring and the second colourists edition all in one book. The same could have been done for this book perhaps? New colour version and original? We pay a lot of money for these editions, is it wrong to expect perfection since these are meant to be the best of the best. If these get reprinted I won’t be happy because we’ve already bought this edition, there should be a swapping policy reprint (I doubt it will happen but whom knows??) The quality of the Absoute is beautiful as usual. Thick pages, lovely cover and binding. Just the colouring is edited. Bit of a shame. I’d still semi recommend it but keep your original comic books of Swamp Thing too.

No-one seems to be having any criticism of the story or the art, so we'll skip past them. Being someone who's had previous releases going all the way back to the original comics, I found the new colouring job to really enrich the story. Yes, there were some pieces where I thought the choices were not what I thought they should be, but generally it was quite magnificent. Tatjana Wood's original colouring was very good, but it was constructed with the tools available at the time (and that was a long time ago). If today's tools (and printing) had been available then, I'm sure she would have made different choices. Instead, she worked brilliantly with the tools available. As long as it's done well (and this one generally is, in my opinion) I really like old material getting the benefits of the new techniques.

Really disappointed with this. The binding came apart the first time I opened it. The actual reprinting and recolouring is beautiful but the quality of the book is terrible! Feel gutted

O Monstro do Pântano de Alan Moore e Steve Bissette é uma obra prima. A recolorização de Steve Oliff também é repleta de personalidade. Talvez seja desnecessário entrar propriamente no mérito da obra que, além de clássica e consagrada, pode ser encontrado em diversos reviews. O que vale ser destacado é o problema do formato Absolute, supostamente o tratamento de excelência da DC, que vem sendo sucateado pela impressão em gráficas sem controle de qualidade. Uma das reclamações mais recorrentes dessa nova edição do Monstro do Pântano diz respeito dos defeitos de encadernação, cuja costura e colagem estão sendo insuficientes para sustentar as páginas e é possível notar seu descolamento próximo à lombada. Lamentavelmente tive que devolver por 3 vezes à amazon as edições que adquiri por apresentarem esse defeito, antes mesmo de qualquer leitura já eram evidentes. A simples abertura do livro já basta para constatar o problema do descolamento ao se visualizar a área da encadernação no topo ou na parte de baixo do livro atráves da abertura da lombada. Então o que se recomenda ao comprador, enquanto não surgir uma nova tiragem da obra, é verificar se o livro tem esse defeito de encadernação.

Some people seem to be very unhappy about the recolouring, whereas I don’t mind it at all. I do see their point, like some of them I still have the original, so I can go back to them, though I doubt I would. This beautiful hardcover, with solid slipcase is beyond amazing. I bought it in the sale and was blown away by the quality. It looks great on my shelf too! Alan Moore class act.

okay the new colors dont always work - see for exemple swamp fighting etrigan- but it is a big improvement comparing with the previous trades paperback- paper and printing- dont Forget that sometimes the art is top but sometime it s average to . a few years ago a reprint of - some - the original run was made in pristine black and white . this the one to go even it is not complete .

Yeah it's re_coloured but the original would not have held up at this size, there was minimal contrast in the original. Looks great and love the tactile feel of the cover

At last an absolute format for my favorite comic ! And yes Great recoloring by the great steve Oliff, strong and subtle colors . It was time to give this masterpierce a new youth !

I had already ordered this when I noticed, on a YouTube review, that the text block had started to come away on his new book. So when it arrived I slowly opened the book, to stretch the spine, and sure enough mine had also come away from the spine. For a book supposed to be the best edition to get of this title this is very poor.

Only just opened the book to find the binding is terrible quality (It was stretched several times before me reading it, so that shouldn't have been the issue. Story seems good but it's unfortunate to have paid a small fortune for this to happen only to have the quality let it down.

Returned it. Its a beautiful book that suffers from poor manufacture. On 1st opening a third of the pages lifted free from the ribbon and after 10 mins sitting on the table the cover began to warp. Shame.

The book is great, writing and artwork are excellent but the spine binding came away within a couple of reads, so disappointing

Just now in my hands. Great cover. Creepy stories for thrill seekers...

Falar do Monstro do Pântano do Alan Moore é desnecessário, para mim um dos três melhores materiais do Moore (melhor que Watchmen, V de vingança, Do Inferno e outros). Mas o que chama a a atenção é a edição. Enorme, bem cuidada, recolorida. Linda de morrer. Cara, mas vale a pena ter essa obra de arte, com essa qualidade, na coleção. Os desenhos de Totlebeen e Bissete desse tamanho, com esse papel, com essas cores...deslumbrantes. Compre, você não vai se arrepender.

Este é o primeiro volume no formato absolute (que é maior que o formato ominibus) do Monstro do Pântano da grande fase do Alan More. Ele vem em uma caixa linda. A textura da capa parece que é de veludo. Edição super de luxo. As histórias clássicas estão recolorizadas e ficaram lindas. Um espetáculo. Item obrigatório de colecionador. O roteiro da história é maravilhoso e envolvente e a arte é espetacular. Os extras desta edição são muito interessantes com artes exclusivas e esboços.

3 stars is in relation to the physical media QC being very average and not the content which is a stellar 5. There's a new printing for fall 2020 for this book (Subject to cancellation ... it's DC after all. You might want to wait a bit. 1) poor quality control ( several page have corner damage) the last 10 pages or so . 2) an issue for some but not for other, the art has been "cleaned up" and re-coloured . Shades of green are very different, blue are now black so it kinda lose some of it's charms. I don't have an issue with this but check on youtube there's video showing both before and after cleanup.

If you appreciate the history of comics, this volume contains some of the most important works in the evolution of the form. Alan Moore was already making waves in the industry when he took on Swamp Thing, but this was where his reputation really took off. Moore redefined a famous (if lower-tier) DC character, going deeper into the potential of its origin and its ties to nature. What unfolds Is beautiful and horrific in concept and execution, Moore’s brilliant vision brought to life by the incredible work of a talented collection of artists, notably including Stephen Bissette and John Totleben. But that’s just part of what makes this volume worthwhile. The Absolute format really shines here, as the larger art, extra content and the gorgeous treatment of the cover and slipcase pull in the reader. A fantastic piece for the Moore collector. It does justice to these stories, which represent a bold next-step in mainstream superhero comics.

This will be the fourth time I purchased these stories, but this is Absolutely the last. I bought them at the newsstands when the individual issues were released, then the softcover collections, then the deluxe. With this volume, all the stories have been recoloured. While the previous colouring suited the paper and printing in the early 1980s, the new work brings out level of detail I never noticed before. Truly a great job (and again, no slight to the talented work of Tatjana Wood’s initial work). There is also a lot of supplementary material - sketches, proposal work, and an essay by artist Stephen Bissette. Definitely adds to your understanding of how the artists helped Moore in creating such classic work. Recommended - even for the fourth time!