Creative, diverse, and educational, Swamp Thing: Twin Branches brings to life a verdant world where plants and super powers unite.

So, I’m new to the Swamp Thing. I read this graphic novel with no prior knowledge of the comic book character. Graphic novels aren’t my first choice. I tend to pick them up the most when I’m trying to wrap-up a reading challenge for the year. They’re great for quickly filling those harder to fill prompts. But when I heard (thanks to my daughter) that Maggie Stiefvater, one of my favorite authors, would be releasing a graphic novel, I knew I wanted to read it—and I didn’t care what it was about. I immediately went to Netgalley and requested it!

Try as I might, the only way I could read Swamp Thing: Twin Branches was on my iPhone, which was a bit of a challenge. My aging iPad was too old to download the app required to read it. BUT I managed to read it by zooming in on each page. Not the most satisfying way to read a graphic novel.

Despite all that, I still enjoyed Swamp Thing!

The story of twin brothers Alec and Walker is layered and engrossing. The character arcs of both brothers exemplify their differences and how they balance each other out. Alec is diabetic and Stiefvater turns this hardship into a stepping stone for the character. He learns from it and uses the knowledge for good. Walker is the out-going brother, who continues to try and connect with Alec, pushing him to be more social.

Morgan Beem’s illustrations complement the story. I wouldn’t expect anything less than the dominant green color variations, and it made me wish I could surround myself with plants. (I keep trying, but I’m not a very successful plant mom.) The complimentary colors of purple, yellow, and orange also made the story pop, creating a visually satisfying palette.

One of my favorite things about the book is how different types of plants and their basic manifestations are used to explain human reactions and emotions. It’s very innovative and the illustrations bring the facts even more to life. (Unfortunately, they didn’t include any of those pages in the press release for me to share.)

I would love to have a physical copy of this one to add to my bookshelf, and I look forward to more in this universe!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of "Swamp Thing: Twin Branches" by Maggie Stiefvater. I'm not really a comic book reader, but Stiefvater is an auto-buy author for me and this did not disappoint. I was able to read it in an hour or so and still go through a great villain origin story akin to "Wicked" or "Maleficent" where you feel for the villain and root for them. Actually, I'm not sure whether swamp thing is a villain or a hero, because I know that little about comics, but he felt like a good misunderstood villain to me. The art was beautiful, the story was emotional and gripping, the MC's arc was believable and relatable and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and DC Comics for approving my request to read and review Swamp Thing.

Maggie Stiefvater created relatable characters with the brothers in Swamp Thing, giving them a close relationship that resembles most real-life relationships. They don't always get along, but they are always there for one another.
There were a lot of scientific points made that helped the story move forward. It is a well written, one of a kind, engaging story.
I thought the inclusion of Alec having type 1 diabetes and using a transdermal monitor, and being socially awkward, were important attributes to the character. I can see how readers with one, or both, of these would be able to see themselves in the book/in the character. This is important because his brother, Walker, is the oppoisite. He doesn't have diabetes or any other illness and is socially comfortable. Seeing how opposite they are and still being able to accept one another, remain loyal, and love each other is a strong message.

The artwork is incredible and gives the reader an outstanding visual account of the story.

To be honest, I don't read a lot of comics/graphic novels, but there are some that really stand out to me; Swamp Thing: Twin Branches, is one of those. Three stars is not a bad rating, it is still a solid rating for a great story.

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches is a horror-themed DC Comics young adult graphic novel by Maggie Stiefvater that features two inseparable brothers who couldn’t be more different. It is a new, innovative, and unique origin story for Alec Holland, the man who became Swamp Thing.

Alec and Walker Holland are twin brothers. Walker is more of the popular type who likes to party and tends to be the center of attention. Alec kind of fades into the background and is not as easygoing or approachable as his brother. Their differences sometimes cause strife between the two brothers. They do not always understand each other, but they are inseparable. The two do everything together, including planning to attend the same college after their last summer break.

When Alec and Walker discover their father having an affair, they leave the city to spend the summer in the Virginia countryside with their Aunt Jessica and their cousins in order to give their parents some time and space. Walker’s main goal for the summer is to party and socialize with his cousins and friends. Alec would rather spend time in the summer-school lab where he can work on his plant-based experiments. He also has to constantly monitor his glucose levels. They never seem to be consistent and that’s obviously something he would need to be well aware of. He developed diabetes when his body was fighting off a bad virus the year prior.

Later, due to a couple of mishaps, some forest animals and his cousins’ two dogs get into his experiment. The dogs and the other animals become more plant than animal. When his experiment comes into contact with his own blood, he is suddenly able to hear and feel what the plants around him are saying. He is not too terribly thrown off by this as he tells his friend Abby. He’s always felt more like a plant than a human. Alec could always relate to them more. Unfortunately, things go from bad to worse for Abby, Alec, and Walker and Alec ends up making a huge sacrifice for his brother which will change all of their lives forever.

As a whole, I enjoyed Swamp Thing: Twin Branches. The story doesn’t shy from the hard aspects of life, such a one parent cheating on the other, bullying to a violent level, not feeling like you fit in with anyone else, and the pain of trying to connect with others when you are unable to relate to them. This is kind of a darker and grittier story, which is appropriate for the month of October. But not all is doom and gloom. Alec makes friends and though he and his brother fight, they remain close and incredibly loyal to each other.

The ending is very bittersweet, and leaves you with an overall creepy feeling. It’s the perfect ending for a Swamp Thing story and the perfect graphic novel to read to get you into the Halloween mood. Make sure to pay special attention to the panels and backgrounds. There are some spooky looking beings in the dark of the woods.

I recommend Swamp Thing: Twin Branches to those who are looking to read something with a spooky atmosphere for this time of year. I would consider the graphic novel to be a highly enjoyable story for new and old fans alike. It provides a different perspective on a character who is not as mainstream in the DC Comics lineup.

3.5 stars
For once, the superhero is an introvert!
Such was my initial thought as I dove into the pages of Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by award-winning author, Maggie Steifvater, which follows the somewhat creepy tale to twin brother, Alec and Walker as they head into the south to visit with their cousins their last summer before heading off to college. The two couldn't be more different--Alec is an introvert more comfortable with his plants and Walker is an extrovert who would rather be in the center of things. Despite their differences, the brothers are close. Or at least, they were.
While I'm not overly familiar with the DC comic books (I'm more of a TV show kinda gal) my interest was piqued when I saw the cover. I mean, come on, planty things! Also, I've heard great things about Maggie Steifvater, so I had to check it out. I didn't realize the book would turn into something a little creepier than I initially thought. Fortunately, the creep level actually isn't that bad, though there are some instances of animals/people turning into plant-like monsters, so if you don't like that sort of thing, I wouldn't suggest reading it.
I could relate with Alec right from the start. People are hard to communicate with when you're an introvert. Just as he'd much rather spend time with his plants, I'd much rather spend time with my animals. Walker I could understand. Throughout the story, he was trying to bring Alec into the picture, but Alec always drifted off to the sidelines, which I understand can be frustrating. The dynamic between the brothers was relatable.
I wasn't overly fond of the illustration style, but it did really set the tone of the story and show Alec's introvertedness by focusing a lot on plants tucked in the corners of the pages or placing them center stage in on the page. The plot was good and solid, though I feel there was more to the story that wasn't said. Perhaps there will be more books to come?
Overall, Swamp Thing: Twin Branches was a spooky read perfect for the Halloween season.

'Swamp Thing: Twin Branches' by author Maggie Stiefvater and artist Morgan Beem is finally here! I'm so excited to review this lovely graphic novel and I want to thank DC Comics for sending me a free copy to read and share with you!

This particular incarnation of the story follows twins Alec and Walker Holland as they leave home to stay with cousins in the country for the summer when things blow up between their parents. One is predominantly introverted, preferring to spend his time alone amongst his experiments and the other is the life of every party.. that person who just walks into a room and automatically seems to make friends.

Despite their differences, the brothers are inseparable and Walker continues to push Alec to go out and be social in a somewhat misguided attempt at making him more popular and 'happy.' Unfortunately, the things that make Walker happy are not the same things that fulfill his more studious brother.

As the summer progresses, the two seem to go farther and farther in the opposite directions. Walker parties it up and Alec settles into a summer school lab with the local science kids to work on something he brought with him from home.

I've always loved the underdog Swamp Thing stories. He's everything we tend to be drawn to over and over.. the King Kong of the swamplands. He's heroic and kind, but deeply misunderstood.. judged often by his frightful visage.

First appearing in comics back in 1971 as a stand-alone story, the character was given a series later on. It's even had a couple of theatrical films and a few tv series since.

The artwork in this graphic novel is actually fairly diverse in style. Most of the people are simply drawn, which allows the supernatural creatures to really stand out, and they are beautifully dark.

Stiefvater build a sweet, relatable relationship between the twins. They don't always get along, but deep down they love each other enough to make sacrifices you might not think they would and they are loyal to the core.

I was thrilled with the scientific factoids thrown into the story here and there as well. I love science and read about it casually even now, but I still learned a couple of really fascinating things I didn't know.. which started me down the research rabbit hole right after finishing the book.

Definitely a worthwhile read for anyone looking for a light, page-turner told with lots of heart.

I received a complimentary copy of Swamp Thing: Twin Branches from DC Comics so that I could share my review with you!

Some days, Alec Holland feels like he’d be more comfortable as a plant than a human. His twin brother, Walker, thrives in social situations, making Alec feel even more like an outcast in his own skin. Few people seem willing to dedicate the energy to understanding Alec’s perspective, leaving him to delve into his research alone. Alec has discovered a potentially revolutionary new piece of information on how plants live and experience the world, but he isn’t sure how it should be used. Plants, as Alec’s realized, have a sort of living memory as they grow. It becomes Alec’s mission to understand plants in a way unlike anyone before him. But, as Alec grows closer to his work, the rift between him and his twin only widens. Walker and Alec will have to find their own paths, even if they must walk them alone.

You can get your copy of Swamp Thing: Twin Branches today from DC Comics!

When I heard that Maggie Stiefvater was going to be writing a graphic novel for DC Comics, I knew that I needed to get my hands on a copy as soon as possible! My anticipation was well deserved, as Swamp Thing: Twin Branches absolutely blew me away! Morgan Beem’s illustrations had a quirky edge to them that embodied the energy of the story beautifully. The most notable feature of this book was definitely Stiefvater’s writing style, which translated gracefully to a graphic novel format. I was swept away in the world of plant-life she created, giving Swamp Thing a revitalized origin story!

My Recommendation-
If you are a devoted plant-lover, Swamp Thing would be the ideal superhero for you! This richly illustrated graphic novel captures the inherent energy contained in each sprout from the earth. Swamp Thing: Twin Branches would be a great pick for fans of Maggie Stiefvater’s style of writing, as well as those folks who love to imagine alternative possibilities for the world around them!

While I am a comic reader, I'll admit that Swamp Thing is not a character I know a great deal about. So I can really only judge this book by what it is, not how it reflects its source material. That being said, the art style is super fascinating. I felt that it did a really good job of capturing the tone of both the landscapes and the characters' moods. The one challenge I have with this book is that I picked it up exclusively because it had Maggie Stiefvater's name on it. What I failed to realize is that the thing I adore about Stiefvater's writing is her prose. In a graphic novel, there's far less of that to be had. As a result, I didn't feel that I connected with the story the way I have with other work of hers. I don't think that's in any way a reflection on the quality of the book itself, but it is worth noting if, like me, you pick up Stiefvater for the nature of her prose.

Overall, I really enjoyed the sibling dynamic in this book. I thought the story was interesting, and I did finish the book curious to know what would come next. If you like graphic novels and engaging characters, this is a good read.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

When I first heard that DC Comics was coming out with a graphic novel about Swamp Thing, I was intrigued. And then add Maggie Stiefvater to the mix, and I was sold. I couldn't wait to read it. I've been really getting into the DC universe lately with the awesome YA graphic novels they have been putting out lately. I went into this not knowing a thing about Swamp Thing.

The story starts out with Alec and Walker taking a break from their fighting parents and off to spend their last summer before college with their cousins in Virginia. Right from the start I felt a kinship with Alec. Like a true introvert, he has a really hard time fitting in with other people his age and prefers to be left alone. Walker is the exact opposite and tries to get Alec to get out more. Alec would much rather spend his time with his plants and his experiment, Boris. I felt so hard for him when all of his research and experiments were ruined upon arriving in Virginia. But he didn't give up and did everything he could to get back on track. I loved seeing him connect with a fellow nerd, Abby. I also really enjoyed the little tidbits on different plants that had a connection to how Alec felt. One of the really cool things about this story was seeing the brothers' relationship with each other. In typical twin fashion, they had each other's backs in everything. It was really great seeing Walker's vulnerabilities towards the end and Alec stepping up to take control of the situation to protect Walker.

In addition to the story, I really loved the illustrations by Morgan Beem. I loved seeing the story come to life. The color scheme was gorgeous. One of my favorite things about the art was seeing the dogs transformation after they destroyed Alec's work. So cool! I think the only thing I was really disappointed with was the ending. It happened so quickly and I need to know more!

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

Hi friends, and happy Monday!

I like to think that I read across quite a few genres. Years ago, I never would’ve picked up a Stephen King book. And before that? I probably wouldn’t have picked up a middle grade story. Although, one realm I’ve never really explored is the graphic novel. I think, by this point, I’ve read a whopping three graphic novels. And, despite loving both, it wasn’t a type of story I regularly gravitated to. Fast forward to now, and Maggie Steifvater teamed up with Morgan Been and gave us a creepily wonderful plant story that we didn’t know we needed.

From dogs turning into supersonic plants to a little dash of love and a side of sibling shenanigans, what more could you want?

A HUGE thank you to Warner Bros., DC, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of Swamp Thing: Twin Branches for an honest review!

Synopsis: In the pages of this haunting retelling of the Swamp Thing origin story, teenage twin brothers Alec and Walker Holland arrive in Virginia for their last summer before college, but while Walker thrives in the light of parties and social life, Alec recedes into the cool darkness of the lab, driven to finding answers in his plant experiment on consciousness and memory. But what Alec comes to realize is that the experiment isn’t about solving nature’s riddles, but about finding out who he really is. And though these twin brothers have grown apart, they share the same roots – and will unite once more before splintering apart forever.

I will forever and always love flawed and realistic characters. Enter Alec and Walker Holland.

Walker is the socialite, the one more comfortable in the crowd. He’s in a new town, surrounded by new people, and he wants to make the most of it with his twin brother by his side. Alec is the introvert, the one more comfortable hiding in his laboratory, surrounded by plants; he doesn’t want anything to deal with Virginia’s “social scene.” Walker pushes Alec, trying to make him more “normal.” Alec feels plenty fine in his own life, and he’s rather quite proud of the work he has accomplished, even if it isn’t “normal.” This, as I’m sure you can tell, makes an intriguing sibling dynamic.

The disparities between Alec and Walker are obvious from the get-go. After walking into a situation they probably should have never seen, the Holland brothers ship themselves off to Virginia to spend the rest of the summer with their cousins. And, at the airport, we see Alec horrified at his dented suitcase—the suitcase housing his most important work, rare plants that he’s been studying for years. Then we have Walker, whom is flirting with an airport employee and walks away with her phone number in what felt like only a few minutes. These two couldn’t be more different from one another, and I couldn’t love it any more if I tried.

It’s also plain as day to see just how much these brothers care about each other, especially how much Walker cares about Alec. Because Walker is under the impression that being social (him) is a positive characteristic and being anti-social (Alec) is a negative attribute, he tries to help Alec in a way that isn’t exactly helping. Walker’s taking the time to point out the girls’ flirting with Alec, and he takes even more time to ensure that Alec’s health is in check—which brings me to another element of this book that I fell head over heels in love with.

Alec has Type 1 Diabetes. Now, maybe I’m not reading enough or reading widely enough, but I don’t think I’ve read a book with a character that has Type 1 Diabetes, especially in a young person. And, on top of that, it wasn’t painted as a negative thing. Alec wasn’t bogged down by a health condition, but rather his brother and friend Abby really seemed to care about his well-being and always checked in with him.

‘Nothing risked, nothing gained.’
‘Nothing risked, nothing broken.’
‘You have no idea how fun getting broken can be, Al.’

I feel as if I can’t gush about this graphic novel any longer without recognizing the pure beauty that is the art done by Morgan Been.

Not only did I want to continue flipping pages to find out what happened next, but it was almost as if I just needed to see what it looked like when whatever happened next happened next. Morgan Been sticks with the color scheme of nature and wildlife, and a majority of the pages, aside from a few stray details, are done almost entirely in blue and green hues. She even uses color strategically to signal a flashback or a fast forward through time. It’s really magnificent, and I feel as if I could stare at the illustrations all day and never tire of them.

Here’s what I mean:
*two pages inserted*
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. & DC.

Are you kidding me?!

Not only are the chat bubbles telling the story, but you gain so much from the images as well. You can sense what a character is feeling by the colors surrounding them; you can see the hesitance in their faces as they contemplate their next move; you can see the sorrow under their eyes as they realize that being an almost-college-freshman isn’t the easiest job in the world, even if you have created a super-plant experiment.

Let’s look at that first illustration, for example, with Alec slouching into his knees on top of a car. The actual image of Alec is so small in comparison to the page size, and the image depicting his self-doubt is encompassed by leaves—nature is essentially taking over the limelight (which, arguably, is a major theme in the book).

In the second illustration, and in the final frame, so much is being said even though there are few words involved. Alec realizes he’s rambling about something he’s passionate about (something he does often, and something I’m sure we can all relate to), and he looks embarrassed by it. Why? Probably because time and time again, in the pages before this one, everyone around Alec seems bothered by him talking about his plant studies and experiments. Then, if we look at Abby, her body language has completely shifted from when we first see her with Alec. She’s intrigued by what he has to say, and she’s turning toward him so that she can better pay attention. All of this in one frame? I’ll say it again: are you kidding me??

"You leave a piece of yourself behind everywhere you go."

Throughout this book’s short 190 pages, Alec is constantly questioning himself and trying to find a place where he fits in.

He’d rather spend his late nights in a lab than at a party; he prefers learning about plants and their biology rather than learning about relationships and dating. And, in his society, that’s deemed as “strange” and “weird.” A few times throughout the book, we see others constantly pushing Alec to act more “normal,” meaning more like a teenager who prefers to party and date. But that just isn’t written in his biology.

Walker finds solace in crowds, and being a part of a group makes him feel at ease. He loves his brother and would do anything for him, but he can’t understand why he doesn’t like the same things he does.

Sure, at first glance, this is a story about an experiment gone wrong. But, at its most basic level, it’s a story about the absolute need to fit in and not fulfilling that need because you don’t feel like you can fit in anywhere.

I also don’t want to give away the ending (duh), but it really made me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. I only wish there was more; the ending was satisfying, but I would have loved to spend a little more time with these characters and get to know them better. Graphics novels just seem to go by so quickly!

If it haven’t stated it plainly enough, Swamp Thing: Twin Branches was a wonderful read: a wonderful read about brothers, about discovering yourself, and (of course) about potential monster plants. And, let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to read about monster plants in October?

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches is officially available TOMMORROW, October 13, 2020!

Thank you again to Warner Bros., DC, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy!

You might like this if:
- you enjoy learning about nature
- you like coming-of-age stories
- you appreciate a good illustration!

Overall: 4 Boris’ out of 5 – ★★★★☆..

So, what do you think? Will you be adding Swamp Thing: Twin Branches to your TBR? Have you already read it? What would you love to do a research project on? Let’s chat!

I LOVED this! I'm really enjoying this new dc showing us the teen version of different characters and bringing big name YA authors its kind of given me a place to start without having to know a lot about comics.

The art style reminded me of 90's or early 2000's cartoon styles but with prettier colors which i really loved!

I received a copy of this book from DC in exchange for an honest review.

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches centers around two brothers: Alec – the main character – and Walker, his twin brother. Alec is, for lack of better words, a total wallflower who spends his days researching plants and is set to go to UC Berkeley in the fall to continue his research. He’s shy and socially awkward and says he relates more to plants than he does to other people. (He also has blood sugar issues which is funny because plants literally make glucose.)


Alec has spent a countless amount of time formulating a plant he calls BORIS, which is more than just a plant, it’s more like the…consciousness of the plant. On the trip to his cousins’ house, Alec’s experiments are placed in the back of their truck and on the bumpy ride, a box falls out and strange things start to happen to the fauna that run into it.


Overall, this book was incredibly poorly written. I love imagining new origin stories for DC characters since there’s already so many iterations, but this is just bad. Firstly, while I do appreciate all the insight into plants and plant behavior, too much time was wasted on way too deep insight that just drives us away from the plot. The book is already quite short so adding this extra information made the character development and plot fall through.

The story lacked flow and I often found myself thinking that the writing was incredibly choppy. Stiefvater did a great job researching plant behavior and did a terrible job researching literally anything else in the novel. The two brothers may have served as foils to each other but the “redemption” at the end was awful and poor Alec takes the brunt of something his brother caused. That seems to be a common theme throughout the book.


I think there could have been a really compelling storyline if the book was longer but since it was so short, everything was very choppy and left half baked.

Overall, unless there’s a sequel, I don’t think I’m going to change my rating of this book. 2/5. (I’m really hoping for a sequel because this story has so much potential!)

This was a great introduction to Swamp Thing for non-comic book readers. The art is gorgeous, the cover is striking, and the story is full of rich depth. Like all Stiefvater, it really makes you think about our interactions with nature. I like that if I put it in my classroom, I can connect it to the science curriculum. It being a comic book, and especially because it's in the DCU, I can hook reluctant readers.

Huge thanks to DC Comics and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. First of all, can we just marvel at how gorgeous this art is. I loved the color pallet for this story. Second, the story was written by Maggie Stiefvater and the art by Morgan Beem. Do I need to say more? Well, I'm going to anyway.

This graphic novel follows two brothers, Walker and Alec Holland, as they navigate their parents messy divorce. To help cope, they are sent to live with their cousins in the swampland. Alec, the brainy and awkward, has a hard time making friends. While Walker, can charm any person, mainly girls. The two try their best to fit in until an accident changes everything.

This is the first in a series. YAY! However, I NEED BOOK TWO...NOW! The main characters are loveable and relatable. This is an awesome coming of age story. I was pulled into the story and couldn't find my way out until it was finished. I usually have an easy time predicting how a plot will end, but this one left me surprised in all the right ways.

5 STARS! If you haven't read this story, stop what you are doing and go get it! I will read this again and I recommend this to everyone.

Twins Alec and Walker Holland are inseparable, even though Walker is the social butterfly and Alec tends to retreat into scientific studies. This doesn't change even though they visit cousins the summer before they go off to college. There are secrets in the swamp, and the twins' lives begin to diverge.

Written by Maggie Stiefvater of the Raven Cycle fame, Swamp Thing: Twin Branches is a book targeting high schoolers. Morgan Beem had worked on Adventure Time, and to an extent, I can see similar styles in the artwork. We begin with Walker being the charming and exuberant one, while Alec is more attuned to plants and that they carry a consciousness all their own. He has Type I diabetes, complete with a transdermal monitor, and he is socially awkward. The text explicitly states that he always was very shy and felt like it was too much work to interact with people. This could be severe social anxiety, or coupled with his detailed knowledge and interest in plants could be coded as being on the autism spectrum. He enjoys science for science's sake, while Walker craves activity and interpersonal attention.

I found this to be an interesting retcon of the character, and it'll be lots of fun to follow Alec in future adventures.

I was excited about this because it comes from MAggie Stiefvater , but it was an overall disappointing read for me. I didn't care much for the art style used. This wasn't a deal breaker for me, though, since I wanted to know the story more than look at the art. It would have been nice if the art was something I enjoyed more though. As for the story, it was just underwhelming.

I didn't care much for the twins relationship. There was something there to be interesting, but it just felt shallow. They are two completely different people. Walker is the out going people person and Alec is the isolated recluse. Walker does seem to care a lot for his brother, and Alec seems to care as well, he just doesn't know how to show it. But, the issue is, I didn't really care.

And the story was meh. Honestly. I was bored and probably would have quit if I wasn't reading a review copy. Nothing happened until the very end. And the "science" just seemed too made up, even for a comic book.

The only reason I'm not giving this a 1 star is because there were small bits here and there that I enjoyed. As shallow as the twins relationship seemed to be, I felt like there is future potential. I liked the idea of the story, this plant juice that turns things into plants and lets people communicate with them. But, really, it just wasn't something I enjoyed reading.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and DC Comics for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 1 star (did not like it according to GR scale)

I love Maggie Stiefvater. Her Wolves of Mercy Falls series is one of my favorites. This was just... weird, creepy, and boring.

I honestly don't remember anything that happened in this book and I finished it 5 minutes ago. There was no plot or action until the last 10 pages. The scenes happen so quickly you flip a page and everything is completely different. As a result, I did not connect to the story at all.

I found the main character Alec completely unlikeable. I understand he's supposed to be a loner/outcast who doesn't like or understand people, but he had no redeeming qualities. He made a mess of things and had no remorse. I felt his ending was just and probably the best thing that could've happened to him.

The art was good. I did really like the full picture spreads, and I do think it added an extra creepy factor which I enjoyed a lot.

Book Review | Swamp Thing by Maggie Stiefvater

Swamp Thing by Maggie Stiefvater
YA, Graphic Novel, Science Fiction
DC Comics | October 13th, 2020
3.5 Stars


Swamp Thing is about two twin brothers who couldn’t be any more different. Walker is the out-going partier, while Alec is quiet brainy brother. After finding their dad cheating on their mom they go to spend their last summer before college with their cousins. Alec brings along his plant experiment that he’s been working on for a long time, only to lose one of the boxes on the way to their cousins house and their dogs tear up the rest of his boxes. Weird things start to happen, which actually bring the two brothers together.


Not only was the story really good, but the illustrations were pretty awesome as well. I’m still pretty new to graphic novels, but Maggie Stiefvater is one my favorite authors and she did not disappoint with this book. She also includes some pretty interesting plant facts throughout the book. Whether you read graphic novels or not, I highly recommend this book!


Thank you, NetGalley and DC Comics for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't quite know how to react to Swamp Thing, but I feel like it's the perfect atmospheric, spooky read for this time of the year. Swamp Thing is about two twin brothers who can't be more different than one another. Alec is working on a science project that he's hoping will allow him to cultivate a plant's consciousness so its memories can be handed down to the next plant generation. Walker just wants Alec to get out, go to parties, and have fun.

I wasn't a big fan of the art in relation to the human characters, but the style for the eerie plant elements fit the story perfectly. Although the plot was a little disjointed and jarring, I think it added to the atmosphere of the story leaving the reader adrift in a nightmarish landscape as things turned into grotesque plant versions of themselves. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of the art, I think it fit the story well.

Like the other books in this collection, this story is meant to be the origin story of Swamp Thing. It introduces us to the character as a normal person and only in the last few pages do we see a glimpse of the character they become. This style was used in Beast Boy, Raven, and now Swamp Thing. Ultimately, I felt that Beast Boy and Raven both had interesting and engaging stories to follow so I absolutely loved those graphic novels. Swamp Thing had a more meandering plot where not much happened. As a result, I finished reading the graphic novel and couldn't quite figure out how I felt about it.

I'll start by saying this graphic novel has beautiful illustrations.

You meet identical twin brothers in high school who love each other very much but are complete opposites. I was unaware this was going to actually be about the comic book character so that took me by surprise when I realized that is what was happening. It was nicely written but the story didn't pull me in like I would have liked. It felt like it was missing something and that the ending should have had more to it. It was a fun read but not my favorite from this author.