SWAMP THING #56 is Alan Moore at his most poetic

There are a couple of creators that I by no means get bored with revisiting their work.

Whose creations by no means fail to encourage and invigorate me irrespective of what number of occasions I learn them. In whose physique of labor I can discover new and thrilling issues each single time. Even as I’m comforted by their familiarity.

There are few that I accomplish that than the works of Alan Moore. Especially his run on Swamp Thing with Stephen Bissette, John Totleben, Rick Veitch, Tatjana Wood, John Costanza, and a bunch of different unimaginable collaborators. It was one of many sequence that simply utterly captured my creativeness as a child and made me fall in love with the medium.

It’s a type of sequence that may choose me up after I’m feeling blue.

“The color of saxophones at dusk…”

Without hyperbole, I consider that Swamp Thing #56 by Moore, Veitch, Alfredo Alcala, Wood, and Costanza is an ideal comedian. It’s one wherein each component, each artistic facet, is firing on all cylinders. And come collectively to create one thing magical. And profound.

Towards the top of Moore’s run, Swamp Thing’s intelligence was despatched careening off the planet. In this situation, “My Blue Heaven”, he finds himself on a planet that is fully blue. A metaphor that enables Moore to wax philosophical concerning the associations and implications of the color. At the identical time it offers with a number of of the recurring themes of the e book, coming straight to a head, about loneliness, love, and finally the god downside raised by means of the sequence.

I discover it’s a few of Moore’s most poetic work. Both in how the narration breaks throughout Swamp Thing’s fragmented speech patterns–This itself giving John Costanza the possibility to point out his chops a couple of occasions. In the narration containers, in addition to the distinctive speech balloons for different characters that but nonetheless have the staccato speech sample–And within the content material of Swamp Thing’s ruminations on existence. It sheds mild on among the sheer horror of solitary existence. Even when you’ll be able to change and manipulate your setting. About the small particulars within the fallibility of reminiscence that may drive you out of your thoughts.

Like a twisted smile.

“All love…is madness, Alec…”

A big a part of the magnificence of this situation, although, really is the art work. Just from a technical facet, it’s a marvel. It could possibly be very straightforward for a comic book with a central idea of being on a planet forged in a single color to have every little thing mix collectively.

It’s a mix of Rick Veitch’s layouts, pacing, and blocking throughout the web page, with the textures and shading of Alfredo Alcala’s inks, and the assorted hues and tones of blue employed by Tatjana Wood’s colors. Veitch & Alcala’s linework would work from a black and white perspective, however Wood’s color places it excessive. It’s not so simple as a blue wash for temper. Rather a depth and richness to this blue world that conveys how completely different, how alien, and probably how maddening it is.

And, critically, this isn’t even stepping into to the fantastic thing about how Veitch lays out these pages. Many of the pages make use of a singular picture break up throughout 5 vertical panels, with motion throughout them, considerably much like the De Luca Effect. It’s a measured development that nearly makes the comedian really feel like a track. With Moore’s phrases floating atop the rhythm of the pages.

“Into the wild blue yonder…”

I may most likely gush on additional concerning the intricacies of Swamp Thing #56 by Moore, Veitch, Alcala, Wood, and Costanza, however I don’t need to rob folks of discovery. It’s one among my absolute favorite comics in a run that I simply suggest to everybody. We may not all be muck-encrusted moss monsters, however everyone knows the expertise of feeling blue. And in microcosm this situation explores a part of that little bit of the human situation.

Classic Comic Compendium: SWAMP THING #56

Swamp Thing #56 – “My Blue Heaven”
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Rick Veitch
Inker: Alfredo Alcala
Colourist: Tatjana Wood
Letterer: John Costanza
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: September 23 1986
Available collected in Saga of the Swamp Thing – Volume 5