Swamp Thing: The Deluxe Edition

In the universe of comics, there are thousands of characters—some reports claim Marvel Comics alone has upwards of 40,000. However, despite the numbers, it's often a short rotating roster that receives the most attention for most comic companies. While Swamp Thing may be a C-List character for DC Comics, in the hands of author Scott Snyder (Batman, Wytches) and artist Yanick Paquette (Batman Incorporated), the plant protector could go toe-to-toe with even Superman. Part of DC's The New 52 relaunch, Swamp Thing: The Deluxe Edition, collects the first 18 issues (plus crossovers from Animal Man). The comic tells a riveting story of a man caught between his true love and protecting The Green—the force behind all plant life—from agents of The Red (animal life) and The Black (death) who seek to destroy the natural order. Paquette's art delivers the grisly horrors facing Swamp Thing in both subtle and beat-you-over-the-head ways, so that nothing ever feels calm and comfortable, while Snyder deftly finds the humanity in those furthest from being human. Hollywood, next time you're looking to reboot Superman—again—maybe look to the swamp, not the skies.