Alec Holland attempts to escape from the Green Nirvana and return to Earth. But is it already too late?
Positives:
Charles Soule’s first major Swamp Thing arc comes to an end this month. Soule stated in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit.com a week ago that this was merely Act 1 in a larger storyline. It’s amazing to see how far the title has come, and it’s evident that it will only get better as it moves forward. This month, Soule closes the book on the first act and opens the first page to the second.
Soule brings an incredible amount of intellect into his Swamp Thing writing. Not only has he been able to build new and innovative ways to tell the story of Alec Holland, but he also restructures old ones that harken back to the history of Swamp Thing well into the 80’s. He brings us further into the Green than ever before, and it displays multiple depictions of paradise and the illusion of a personal nirvana. Seeing an incredibly beautiful rendition of a mansion made out of vegetation in contrast with a vicious display of rotting cattle as ornaments leaves a tattered image of what one’s paradise truly is. It leaves a scarring and visceral look into the minds of those with the power of the Green and what they are truly capable of.
None of these images would be possible without the stunning and spellbinding work of Jesus Saiz. Swamp Thing is a very demanding title, artwork-wise; the artist not only has to focus on the ever-evolving depiction of Swamp Thing, but also the creation of the world that Soule is trying to visualize. Saiz draws the world of the Green in both a gorgeous and haunting way. Creating numerous former Avatars and leaving discernable qualities in both their personalities and appearance prove that Saiz is the best fit for Swamp Thing, and each month he develops his creativity more so.
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Enough seeds are planted in the story to expand upon in the future. Leaving small narrative pieces as the title continues ensures its overall direction and attention as time goes forward. Soule is building to something big and it’s exciting to see it mature as the story progresses.
Negatives:
This issue did not feel particularly like a final climax to the story; there was no grand spectacle or final showdown between characters. It served more as a narrative and a straightforward telling of what is happening and how things will move on from here. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the reader may be disappointed in the quiet murmur ending as opposed to an over the top finale. There is so much right with this book that this very minor qualm is shadowed by the brilliance behind it.
Verdict: 
5/5
Swamp Thing #27 sees its first conclusion to a Charles Soule arc. With a great love for the character, it’s clear that Soule genuinely takes pride in writing every line of Swamp Thing. It would be extraordinarily difficult to see any of the pieces Soule has created without the artwork of Jesus Saiz. Together they are creating visual magic for the readers month after month.
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