The various Convergence tie-ins live or die mostly based on the strength of their respective creative teams rather than the characters involved. In the case of this series, the appeal is two-fold. For one thing, Swamp Thing co-creator Len Wein is given the chance to return to this horror icon. For another, artist Kelley Jones was practically born to draw a comic that pits Swamp Thing against the vampires from Batman: Red Rain. In the end, it's mainly Jones' contribution that distinguishes this comic.The problem is that Wein spends far too much time recapping Swamp Thing's early years, most of which even the most casual fan of the character will already know by heart. As limiting as the two-issue format of these tie-ins already is, it's a shame to see any space wasted. From there, the script pretty much keeps hitting on the same beats. Swamp Thing languishes in the confined space of Gotham City, Abby periodically visits him bearing fertilizer and words of comfort, rinse and repeat. Their dynamic is certainly solid, but this just isn't a very eventful issue until the dome finally comes down late in the game.
But again, Jones' art is a real treat. As always, he brings a real Gothic horror vibe to every page, with exaggerated, almost grotesque figures and heavy shadows blanketing everything. He proves he still has the right touch when it comes to offering vampirized renditions of Batman's villains as well. Issue 32 is shaping up to be even better as the battle really gets underway.
