By: Trevor Templeton
DC’s post-apocalyptic event – Future State – is definitely looking to be one of the more unique to come from the publisher in recent years, but it just might be too ambitious. With most Future State titles reportedly running for barely more than a few issues, it’s easy to see where creators might find themselves stifled. Ram V and Mike Perkins Future State: Swamp Thing #1 is a prime example of this.
The story so far is centered around a group of plant-based lifeforms led by Swamp Thing on a search for what’s left of the human race in the rubble of the old world. The concept – like DC’s Future State line – is a fresh and interesting setting for a line of superhero comics, but execution is another matter.
Yes, Ram V is definitely an authority on the character and Mike Perkins pencils fit with the macabre world of Swamp Thing. It is super cool that Ram V makes callbacks to the Anatomy Lesson from Alan Moore’s legendary run while also hinting that Swamp Thing created the plant-based lifeforms. However, this isn’t enough to save the story from falling flat.
The book is overpopulated with stock characters who do little more than provide brief exposition and empty interactions. By the time Swamp Thing discovers a human at the end of the issue, the event feels forced and not to mention predictable. The end result is a story that feels like a writer trying to cram a four-issue story into what will be two-issue series.
Consequently, the latest issue of Swamp Thing sheds light on the drawbacks of a two-issue comic line: creators overextending themselves to fit with the marketing plan. The end result is a story that simply feels rushed. That being said, this does raise the question of whether or not the publisher is at fault for being prescriptive or the blame lies with creators for being too ambitious for their circumstances.