It’s been awhile since I’ve read a graphic novel and it was such a nice change of pace. I’m always a fan of Stiefvater’s writing and it worked especially well along with the illustrations here. It’s a suspenseful and family-centric story that keeps you engaged. I finished the book in one sitting and it left me wanting more of these characters.

I will pick up anything Maggie Stiefvater writes and as a fan of DC Comics this is a match made in heaven for me. The art style is gorgeous and makes the story even more lush. I like that there is disability rep but cannot determine if it is accurate or not. I am not super versed in the swamp thing origin story either so I don't know how accurate this is compared to the actual comics but that doesn't really matter to me. I think even if you don't read comic or now of swamp thing you could still pick this up and be interested without being too confused. I will definitely be buying my own copy for my shelves!

I love Maggie Stiefvater, and she can do no wrong in my eyes. Swamp Thing was an interesting story to tackle, but I enjoyed her writing and the illustrations.

Maggie Stiefvater plants new seeds for Alec Holland in Swamp Thing: Twin Branches, a delightful young adult graphic novel that puts a new spin on a classic DC comic book hero in a joint effort that includes the eerie, punk-rock style of Morgan Beem’s illustrations and the gorgeous color play of Jermey Lawson.

Vibrant potted plants, atmospheric and eye-catching, invite the reader to explore Alec Holland’s work-in-progress, an undergraduate research project on the potential for thought transference in plant life, beginning with a mimosa pudica specimen named Boris, submerged in purple liquid.

Content to spend hours in the quiet solitude of a lab, jotting down notes on new iterations of Boris, Alec finds himself unceremoniously uprooted when he and his twin brother, Walker, catch their father in the midst of an affair after Alec is ripped from an afternoon of research, torn at the idea of submitting findings to U.C. Berkeley.

Forced to leave home for the summer (plant life included), Alec and Walker head out to rural Virginia, the city landscape transforming into the dense back wood, alive with tangling vines, overabundant foliage, and curious wildlife. While Walker is excited to make a name for himself in a new party scene, headlined by the rivalry between his cousins and a trouble making sibling duo from out of town, Alec seeks solitude in a high school science lab after his research is destroyed by his seemingly oblivious extended family.

Upended boxes, spilling purple liquid on a bumpy ride home compete with pricked fingers when Alec attempts to use insulin, creating a distinct lack of compassion that errs on the side of bullying when the family dogs rip into the remaining cardboard research boxes in the garage. The inconsiderate attitude of the twins’ teen cousins, not to mention their ridiculous antics, make for an irritating extended cast of characters, though the party scene and competition for “man points” feel natural in a way that teens, especially those on the fringes of cliques – and societal expectations – will understand.

Past collides with present seamlessly as Alec navigates the party scene – a scene that he is forced into, by his brother, his aunt, and even his own mother – despite his desire to continue working on research in the wee hours of the night, where Alec’s affinity for botany is explored during a moment of bullying in grade school, the scene transitioning as Alec gravitates toward the town’s largest tree (Fancy Sam), and later, clusters of ivy on a secluded balcony. It is in this moment of heartbreak as young Alec listens in, sitting outside a faculty office with nothing but a plant for company, that we share in the comfort of leafy foliage and experimentation, leaves between fingers a balm to Alec’s soul.

In describing Alec’s relationship to plant life, Stiefvater excels, drawing parallels between experimentation and knowledge that coincide with the teen’s emotional state – on life, romance, and brotherly love – from the inclusion of facts on trees (Japanese Larch, Black Walnut) in regard to his shyness in social situations, to the idea that you never know what a plant might become, drawing a correlation between himself and his brother. Factoids – on experimentation and beyond – play a role in creating a cohesive and fascinating plot line, one that draws subtle parallels to the Swamp Thing of old, while developing Alec’s character, made possible by the inclusion of subtle lettering differences by Ariana Maher and beautiful illustrations.

"Many plants look identical when they begin life. They may continue to look identical even after they emerge. But it’s an illusion. These first leaves, or cotyledon leaves, bear little resemblance […] to the adults they will become."

Although Swamp Thing: Twin Branches offers an examination into the life and personality of Alec Holland, Stiefvater breathes life into the side characters as well, all new additions unheard of in DC lore, though subtle nods are made toward the original, in the eerie disappearance of a girl, in the shadows that lurk beneath the canopies of trees, and in the camouflage costume of a high school science teacher. In exploring the dynamic between two twin brothers, Stiefvater reimagines the Swamp Thing canon, proving that, in the end, love trumps all, even when differences drive us apart.

"Maybe the biggest difference between humans and plants isn’t whether plants think […] but what they think about."

Complete with imaginative, yet eerie imagery – a beautiful reimagining of the grotesque, Beem and Lawson create stunning nightmares rather than the grotesquely dark monster of Swamp Thing lore, all while Stiefvater plays with the importance of knowledge, understanding, and acceptance, breathing new life into an old classic. Accessible for all audiences, Swamp Thing: Twin Branches plants seeds of hope for Alec Holland, even though a rather abrupt ending leaves readers searching for more.

What?!? That's it?!? Will there be more???

I'm a sucker for a good sibling story and although this had a slow start, the ending felt rushed. I really need to know what happens next.

Special shout out to Netgalley & DC Comics for an advanced copy of this book.

This is a gorgeously illustrated graphic novel with a creepy, dark vibe that will likely resonate with teenagers that feel out of place in society. I don’t usually read graphic novels but requested this one as I enjoy Maggie Steifvater’s writing. After reading it, I think my 13 year old would really enjoy this book.

Alec and Walker are twins who couldn’t be more different but are also inseparable. When they discover their father is cheating on their mother, it is decided that they will spend the summer with their rural cousins in the swamp. Walker has no problem making friends with the locals, but Alec is consumed by the experiment that he brought with them. After some tragic accidents, both brothers must face truths that they were suppressing all along.

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches is a graphic novel origin story about this iconic character. Once again, I didn’t know much about his character before reading the book. It is definitely an origin story with 95% of the book focusing on what happened before the final event. There is a lot of science (which I enjoyed), but this may be a turn off for some readers. The graphics were great and added so much depth to the overall storyline. Swamp Thing: Twin Branches would not be my first choice to read, but a fun addition to superhero origin stories.

This is not my normal medium, but when one of my favorites does something different I have to go along for the ride.

Swamp Thing is the story of Alec and Walker Holland. Twin brothers who are off on a summer adventure with their cousins.

But where Alec is the brainy, science guy, Walker is the popular, go-with-the-flow guy.

And their differences are what tears them apart while also bringing them together.

I love this take on brotherly love, science, and how some relationships are more important than others.

This was fun.

Oh, and the artwork! Wow! Absolutely stunning. I am always in awe of those who create--these images are no exception.

Spellbinding, mesmerizing, and absolutely captivating, SWAMP THING: TWIN BRANCHES immerses the reader into a gorgeous yet creepy adventure with a compelling darkness that draws you in through engaging and expressive illustrations.

When I heard Maggie Stiefvater was creating a graphic novel, I knew I had to read it. This is a new avenue for Stiefvater and I wanted to see how she worked with this new, different medium. And I enjoyed the result!

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches is an incredibly eerie graphic novel about two brothers who are sent to live with their cousins in a rural town. Walker is the more popular twin, who is able to make friends automatically wherever he goes. While Alec is the more introverted twins, who prefers the company of plants to humans. On their way to town, one of Alec’s plant experiments fall of the truck and begins infecting the local flora, fauna and animals …

I really enjoyed the relationship between the twins and how tense it has become. Walker and Alec used to do everything together, were basically inseparable, but as they get older they start to drift. Alec takes this on the chin, but Walker really struggles with this change — even though he draws people to him in a way that Alec can’t and doesn’t want to.

The worldbuilding was really fascinating, especially the magical element of the plants and how they’re able to come to life and influence people. The illustrations were absolutely stunning and really brought the botanics alive. The artwork was both terrifying and beautiful, and you couldn’t look away.

My only issue was with the ending, which disappointed me a bit! I didn’t find it as strong as it could have been if Stiefvater had gone in a different direction. I’m not really a fan of sad endings for the sake of it when a happier ending — one that actually makes sense — works so much better.

But if you’re a lifelong fan of Maggie Stiefvater, you will undoubtedly enjoy this graphic novel! It’s also the perfect read for October.

3/5

**Thank you to Netgalley and DC Comics for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.**

I absolutely LOVED the Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater, so I was very interested to see how her writing would come across in a comic book. While I do not believe that her voice came across as well as it did in the Raven Cycle, it was definitely better than the Shiver Series (which I DNFed pretty quickly).

I did like the main characters, but I personally felt like they fell flat at times (this could be due to the comic book format). Overall I was not really captured by the relationships that are/were formed.

I was a little bit disappointed with the plot because it did not really pick up until the end of the book (but this is also pretty typical of Stiefvater books). I once again think that I would not have felt that there was a delayed plot if it were written in the "chapter book" format.

I really liked the artwork. Each panel was beautifully done and it really helped transport me into this story.

Overall I did like this book and I would recommend it to fans of graphic novels, and superheroes.

This was a really fun graphic novel to read. When we meet these two brothers they couldn’t seem any more different from each other. One is excited for what the summer will bring, while the other just wants to work hard on an experiment. Yet as the summer moves along, things happen that are sure to change both of their lives forever. Fans of this character will want to check this graphic novel out.

4 stars = Great! Might re-read
While I was familiar with "Swamp Thing" in general, I had no context for the characters or the history of the property before I read this, but I did do some research after. I loved the twin angle and the things the author did to make this fresh and her own compared to the history of the character. The plant pieces of this were fascinating. And I was captivated by what the experiment did to the town as it spread. This was a delightful surprise for me. If there are more books in this line, I will definitely be reading them. (Language, some sexual references due to the father's affair)

As a Swamp Thing newbie, I slightly enjoyed this book which felt incomplete. However, fans of Swamp Thing will probably enjoy this origin story.

This was such a fun read! I was absolutely thrilled to be approved for this ARC. Maggie is an artist herself, and I can feel that in the way she crafted this story that was meant to be turned into artwork. The characters were interesting and I have been a big fan of family bonds lately, so that worked a lot for me. I just wish it was a little longer, but I think that's my personal preference. I received my signed pre-order yesterday and read it again.

The art and color pallet were gorgeous. They were the stand out in this work. I especially loved the designs of the creatures and they made things more interesting.

Unfortunately the story itself was kind of flat. It was like the actions of the characters were purely to get to another point in the plot without really getting too deep into anything. I wish that Stiefvater had used the 200+ pages differently so she could have better flushed out the great ideas she had started in this.

This ended on a bit of a cliffhanger so I am curious if there will be a second book.

Swamp Thing Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater came out yesterday, and I was so excited to get a free copy from @dccomics!

Synopsis:
Twins Alec and Walker Holland have a reputation around town. One is quiet and the other is the life of any party, but the two are inseparable. For their last summer before college, Alec and Walker leave the city to live with their rural cousins, where they find that the swamp holds far darker depths than they could have imagined. While Walker carves their names into the new social scene, Alec recedes into a summer-school laboratory, slowly losing himself to a deep, dark experiment. This season, both brothers must confront truths, ancient and familial, and as their lives diverge, tensions increase, and dormant memories claw to the surface.

I really enjoyed this origin story! I went in knowing next to nothing about Swamp Thing, and I'm so glad this was my introduction.

I loved reading about Alec's experiments and watching him delve deeper and deeper into them. The relationship between the twins is strained and emotional and I felt for them so much. I loved reading them and their not-so-smart cousins and the swamp creatures. The story is dark and twisty and great for a graphic novel.

Morgan Beem's art lends itself so well to the story. The color palette was gorgeous and the style almost whimsical. It was super engaging for me!

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches is a cool graphic novel which embodies relationship, with the extended metaphor of plants representing human life. It especially parallels that of the two main twins, who are trying to escape family issues by going to a more rural, secluded area. The artwork was very beautiful, and the plot was entertaining and intriguing. At first, the story was a bit slow, but as it continued I could not stop. The integration of science was also a plus, even if I was unfamiliar with some of the terms.

I really wasn't sure about this at first, but I ended up really liking it. The plant-affected animals/people were rather creepy, which I'm sure was the point. I don't know anything about Swamp Thing (I requested because I'm a longtime fan of Maggie Stiefvater and adore everything she's written) so I don't know how much of the backstory is new, but it was a compelling story and I really felt for Alec and his brother. I got Alec's social isolation and how he understood the plants in his lab more than the people around him. And his jealousy/abandonment feelings toward his twin, who did seem to fit in with the cool kids.

Overall relatable, believable, and compelling. I love what Maggie did with the origin story here. Since it’s Maggie, it’s gorgeous and a little creepy, with just a touch of magic - and weird in the very best way.

I will preface this review with noting that I have never read any comics of graphic novels about Swamp Thing, nor have I watched the new TV show (yet). However, I have read books by Maggie Stiefvater and I like her style so I decided why not give this one a read. I was happy that DC Comics gave me that opportunity.

The book follows twins Alec and Walker, the nerd and the socialite, they are twins but very very different aside from looks. Alec does not like people, parties, just his science and plants, as an introvert I can get behind that. The book follows them moving form the summer and Alec bringing his work with him, trying to transfer memories of plants and eventually causing a solution that allows for these memories to be carrier to a new plant. His experiments are impressive and eerie and it takes the whole book to get to Swamp Thing. The book is really an origin story and a pretty good one.

Alec cares for his brother even through they are so different, he is the only person he really cares about and that means a lot. The book was full of emotion - from Alec, from the plants, and the various emotions of the plot of the story as well. It was a lot in a graphic novel but the lead up was very well done.

I am not sure how this relates to other origin stories or what piece it is in the grand scheme of the Swamp Thing lore, but for a one off, for a first-timer, I enjoyed it.