STORY: Make no mistake, after a roaring start in both Animal Man and Swamp Thing, the Rotworld storyline has stagnated in recent issues. Too many relatively dull action sequences, too much cheap explanatory narration, and mostly vapid guest appearances have occupied their respective storylines. Swamp Thing’s journey through Rotworld, while beautifully illustrated, has consequently yet to gain momentum. And whether battling William Arcane’s hybrid sea beasts or arriving in an apocalyptic Gotham, I find I don’t much care.

However, Snyder’s re-imagined history for Abby Arcane remains intriguing (and, I suspect, more interesting to Snyder himself as well). Her place in the series’ new mythology is all the more compelling because of its departure from earlier versions. And as her independent battle with Arcane is incrementally revealed, her role in the resolution of the larger Rotworld storyline seems equally enhanced, and the comic is all the better for it.

ART: Whether Paquette or Rudy (this issue), Swamp Thing continues to use the page opening as well as any of DC’s current comics (cf. 4-5). The images maintain eye-scan velocity and make the most of dramatic, organic lines. Paquette’s cover art is certainly reminiscent of earlier Swamp Thing covers and lacks subtlety in its premise–Swamp Thing’s Batman pose in Gotham City–but it’s very well executed and appropriately evocative.