Swamp Thing: New Roots #4
Written by Mark Russell
Art by Marco Santucci and John Kaliscz
Lettering by Dave Sharpe
Published by DC
Review by David Pepose
‘Rama Rating: 9 out of 10
Despite being best known for his more political work, writer Mark Russell delivers a surprisingly — and satisfyingly — action-packed done-in-one story for Swamp Thing: New Roots #4. Pitting the muck-encrusted mockery of a man against the might of the U.S. military, Russell and artist Marco Santucci provide a grim portrait of humanity’s inherent greed and savagery, contrasted against the quiet heroism of a would-be monster.
After three issues of tussling with the Sunderland Corporation, Swamp Thing finds himself in the crosshairs of a different sort of power — namely, the megarich have a general in their pocket, and as such, Swamp Thing winds up on the run from an army strapped with all kinds of exotic weaponry. From drone strikes to napalm and helicopter herbicide strikes, Russell sets up a nicely escalating game of cat and mouse, as both Swamp Thing and the military start to move the goalposts of acceptable combat inch by agonizing inch.
And as the tension starts to rise, so too do the stakes — and that’s where Russell and company really shine. By design and by history, Swamp Thing has been a character that’s thrived best on the outskirts, drawing strength from solitude just as much as the marsh vegetation. But as the Army encroaches further onto Swamp Thing’s territory, it’s hard not to feel the pressure as Swampy winds up countering with human shields, as their battle delves deeper and deeper into occupied Louisiana. It’s a moral chess as well as a military one, and while the final twist defangs the issue a bit as it ties everything in a neat bow, it’s still a neat bit of exciting action.
Artist Marco Santucci, meanwhile, acquits himself well, adding a touch of gory horror as we watch Swamp Thing get blown apart, dismembered, and set on fire in a busy street. Yet even when we see powerful beats like Swamp Thing throwing around soldiers as a giant sentient tree, there’s something pitiable about his body language — more often than not, this typically imposing figure is on the run, and based on the way that Santucci consistently pulls back, it’s clear where the power dynamic really lies. Colorist John Kaliscz does some superb work as well, adding a ton of mood with his nighttime blues contrasted with fiery reds and oranges.
Taking a detour from his usually talk-heavy storytelling style, Mark Russell delivers his most exciting issue of Swamp Thing: New Roots yet. Watching a hero get pushed to his absolute limits makes for a compelling narrative, and Marco Santucci’s artwork gives every shot, dismemberment and explosion just the right amount of impact. If you haven’t checked out this series before, this is definitely a great place to start.