Category: Dave Whiteman

SWAMP THING – EP. 10 “LOOSE ENDS” REVIEW

Posted on by Dave Whiteman

Having escaped from Dr. Woodrue’s lab with the help of Abby and Liz, Swamp Thing is trying to come to terms with the  truth that he is not Alec Holland. In fact, he is a sentient plant possessing the memories of Holland, created by the mutagen in the swamp. While Swamp Thing and Abby barely get a moment’s peace, a group of mercenaries (led by Shaw, played by Jake Busey!) and hired by Ellery are sent to retrieve Swamp Thing.

Meanwhile, after Jason’s wife Caroline overdosed on her medication,  she remains mute and defenseless due to “locked-in syndrome”.  Jason is preparing to treat her with what he harvested from Swamp Thing, namely his heart and organs. He will duct tape her to a chair and force-feed her pieces of his organs (trying hard not to make a Vegan joke!). But of course, like any mad scientist he tries it on himself first!

Matt Cable is in the hospital after his drunk driving accident, Sheriff Lucilla goes to visit him and runs into Avery, who tries in vain to offer her a fresh-start with him. Maria is still in the psychiatric hospital and Avery’s business deal with the Conclave has fallen through. Swamp Thing faces the mercenaries during the night. Abby goes to Woodrue’s house and discovers what he is doing to Caroline, in the hope of stopping it before it’s too late!

Without giving away any spoilers for the show, the revelation made about Swamp Thing’s existence in the last episode,was really no surprise to many people. For those fans that have been following the story of Swamp Thing, particularly Alan Moore’s “Saga of the Swamp Thing” in the 1980’s and 90’s. But for those that are new to the story, the show gave away that fact quite early in the promotional material featuring Swamp Thing carrying a decomposed body. While many had much speculation of what this meant, even DC’s own “DC Daily” talk show had their own predictions. But to me, (and I hope many others) it was plainly obvious from the beginning.

Ironically the final episode is titled “Loose Ends” which doesn’t even begin to address many of the loose ends in the show’s story, especially of their ancillary characters like Daniel/Blue Demon, Matt Cable, and Madame Xanadu. It would have been nice to have seen other characters within the realm of DC Comics’ extensive supernatural and mystical characters. Cameos from John Constantine and the Spectre, could have been a much-needed addition to the show. I would have loved to have seen one of my favorite characters as well, Etrigan the Demon, who appeared in many “Swamp Thing” comics.

The show most likely gets its name from issue #20 of “Saga of the Swamp Thing” (January, 1984) which was also the first issue that Alan Moore wrote. The best twist (and acting) comes from Dr. Jason Woodrue (played by Kevin Durand), who brings a sort of gravitas to the role with just the right amount of dark humor and even some sympathy to the character. His ultimate fate is worthy of his comic book counterpart.

While this is the final episode of Swamp Thing, it is unfortunately also the series finale as well. As I had mentioned in my review of Episode 2, there had been many rumors surrounding the cancellation of the series, involving everything from budget and production issues, to problems with a grant issued by the state of North Carolina, and DC Universe’s streaming service shutting down. But so far, no official reason has been given for the show’s cancellation. The “Swamp Thing” series had such promise to be a provocative and effective series. Unlike any other DC Comic dramas such as” Arrow” or “Flash”, and the streaming service building up its catalog with the likes of “Doom Patrol”  has already been renewed for Season 2.

I will say one good thing. I was not wholly disappointed with the ending of the show, as it did bring Swamp Thing and Abby together again and even left it open for some hope of continuation. With an exciting post-credit stinger (No Spoiler!), and paying some service to Blue Devil fans in the episode as well.

Fans like me have a few things to look forward to, but perhaps not from the DC Universe streaming service. While it does provide a lot of content, including many TV shows, cartoons, movies and comic books, I feel that it will be short-lived, and may even be taken over by Warner Media’s own service coming soon. Not to mention the new “Pennyworth” series on EPIX, the upcoming “Watchmen” series on HBO and the highly anticipated Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series from Netflix. Until then, Swamp Thing will have to return to the swamp, hoping not to be lost in its murky depths of the DC Universe.

“Love is the flower of life, and blossoms unexpectedly and without law, and must be plucked where it is found, and enjoyed for the brief hour of its duration.” – D. H. Lawrence.

SWAMP THING – Ep. 9 “The Anatomy Lesson” Review

Posted on by Dave Whiteman

After Swamp Thing was frozen and captured by Sunderland’s mercenaries, they take his body to Sunderland’s old concrete factory where he has Dr. Woodrue set up with a laboratory to study him. Meanwhile, Daniel is still in the hospital under restraint when the “studio man” comes to visit him and brings his Blue Devil mask. He also shows Daniel a vision of Abby and Liz getting shot by Sunderland’s mercenaries and leaves him little choice to try and save them to prevent the vision from coming true. Now that Dr. Woodrue has Swamp Thing, he lets him thaw out a little and begins to forcefully vivisect him and remove his organs. During the process, Swamp Thing awakens to the realization that Woodrue is dissecting him, but due to green spectrum lights, he is unable to regenerate and is at the mercy of the cruel doctor.

Now that Avery Sunderland is “back from the dead” he confronts Maria about her plans to take over his company with the Conclave, and has her committed to a psychiatric hospital. Having told Liz (and several others) about Alec, Abby and Liz discover where Sunderland is keeping him. But while Dr. Woodrue continues to analyze Swamp Thing’s body, he makes a surprising discovery about what Alec has really become.

This episode is by far the closest adaptation to the “Swamp Thing” comic book the show has presented, particularly Alan Moore’s 1984 story, also called “The Anatomy Lesson,” in ‘Saga of the Swamp Thing’ #21. For fans and readers of the original Swamp Thing, this issue marked a turning point in what would become Alan Moore’s seminal story arc. After taking over the series from writer Martin Pasko with issue #20, in which Sunderland (then a General) arranges to have Jason Woodrue (already a supervillain known as the Floronic Man, where he is instructed to examine the remains of the Swamp Thing after having been shot and thought to be dead.

Without spoiling the show or the comic reveal, know that this confirmed the changes that were made in volume 2 of “Saga of the Swamp Thing” which began in 1982 with the retelling of his origin, which also coincided with the release of the low-budget 1982 movie directed by Wes Craven (before making “A Nightmare on Elm Street”). As Swamp Thing has gone through several incarnations, including the New 52 storyline in 2011. This also shows that the series is following the comics closer to the comics than any previous series or movies have before, with some slight character changes.

“The Anatomy Lesson” is both the most intense and revealing episode in this short series, and with only one episode left, it’s hard to speculate where the show will leave off or if there will be any possibility of continuation or appearances in any other DC Universe show or movie in the future. I will be awaiting next week’s season/series finale with bittersweet anticipation.

SWAMP THING – Ep. 8 “Long Walk Home” Review

Posted on by Dave Whiteman

Before Sheriff Lucilia and Deputy Matt Cable attempt to kill Avery and dump his body in the swamp, Avery made a last-ditch effort to stall by telling Matt that he was his father, although it proved unsuccessful, Avery managed to stab Matt in the chest before jumping in the swamp, but not before getting shot. Afterwards Lucilia took Matt to the Sunderland’s home and reveals that Maria and Lucilia had been plotting together all along. Now struggling to survive, Avery tries to make his way out of the swamp, all the while he is being watched.

Now that Abby has finally left Marais and made it to the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia, and reunites with Harlan, then she gets one of her colleagues to analyze the sample of The Rot and she is confronted by her superior who is not pleased with her results. Meanwhile, as Avery stumbles through the swamp, he begins to hallucinate and see Lucilia, but it turns out to be something else. Later that night he sees himself as a boy while out in the woods with his father and relives his father’s death, but then he finally encounters Swamp Thing standing over him. While Abby confides in Harlan about her experiences in the swamp, Avery has been taken to Alec’s lab in the swamp where he helps him to heal and to answer a few questions.

This episode begins a downhill slope tot the end with only 2 episodes to go as the supposed antagonist, Avery Sunderland, finally faces Swamp Thing, but with a confusing twist. Even though Avery is responsible for Alec’s murder, it still seems as though Swamp Thing doesn’t know it and he is convinced when Avery offers to help him be human again. Of course when Avery shows up at Dr. Woodrue’s door, we know that he desperately wants to study him, either dead or alive, to discover the origin of the mutagen. Without spoiling anything, this episode has probably the best cliffhanger ending aside from the first episode, which leaves me impatiently awaiting the next episode.

Swamp Thing – Ep.7 “Brilliant Disguise” Review

Posted on by Dave Whiteman

After Alec Holland’s human form has returned temporarily, thanks to some hallucinogenic spores, Abby finds it easier to talk with him about what’s been happening in the swamp. As Alec shows her the complexities of his new world and his powers, he introduces her to The Green, an elemental force that connects all life on Earth, as well as The Rot, a.k.a. “The Darkness”, which thrives on death. But when he takes her deep into the swamp to see the damage the Rot has done, she insists on taking a sample, despite his warning, and is attacked by a black tendril and infected.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Cable and Avery Sunderland go off into the swamp to deal with the situation after learning that Alec Holland is still alive, Maria Sunderland uses a dinner party for her guests Dr. Jason Woodrue and his wife, and the mysterious Nathan Ellery of the mysterious Conclave, to seize an opportunity.
While this may be the last time we see Andy Bean as Alec, it is a nice opportunity for Abby to finally get some closure. It is rewarding to finally see The Green as Swamp Thing sees it, and he finally gets to demonstrate more of his powers, everything from summoning plants to create fruit, to helping Abby to heal from her infection. The drama and intrigue intensify as well with the troubled relationship between Avery and Sheriff Lucilia Cable, whose son Matt was hired by Avery to kill Alec, as they take a boat to the swamp to search for Alec. And we get to see a whole new side of Maria Sunderland, as she has come from the brink of insanity to become a calm and composed schemer, equal only to Avery.
While there is mention of Daniel’s condition after Woodrue experimented on him, both he and Madame Xanadu are absent from this episode. And with only three episodes to go in this first (and only) season, there seems very little time for the plot to be resolved, with everything from The Green vs. The Rot, finding justice for the murder of Alec as well as the Conclave’s agenda, we’ll just have to wait and see.

SWAMP THING – EPISODE S1, Ep6 “The Price You Pay” Review

Posted on by Dave Whiteman

Since Dr. Woodrue needs a live specimen to study, Avery sends two hunters into the swamp to capture Swamp Thing. Although unsuccessful, the hunters end up injured in the hospital where Dr. Woodrue has been experimenting with a bio-regenerative mutagen. And now that Daniel is in a coma, Abby confronts Avery about all his dirty deeds.
In this episode, we get to learn more about the backstory of Daniel Cassidy and his former career as a Hollywood stuntman and also how he got the role of the “Blue Devil.” We also delve a little more into the Marais sheriff’s department, who Sheriff Lucilla Cable and her son Matt have also been involved in the corruption that surrounds the town. But when Dr. Woodrue introduces a mutagen from Abby’s sample into Daniel’s bloodstream, it causes some unexpected side effects. While we feel some sympathy for Dr. Woodrue’s wife and her condition, the method in which he produces results is questionable as he essentially uses Daniel as a human test subject and awakens something dark and fiery within him.
It seems unfortunate however that Swamp Thing has become more of a background character (literally, since he spends most of his time hiding behind trees) in this series as we seem to spend more time with our human characters and the events that surround the swamp. While the swamp itself remains a central focal point to the show, all of the evil that befalls the citizens of Marais seem to come from the swamp. On the plus side, this episode does finally gives us some surprising revelations about Matt Cable.
I must comment on the direction of the show, while Swamp Thing himself hasn’t been on screen that much, he is a much more subtle and darker aspect to the show than he has been, particularly in relation to the campy 1990’s series. While the fate of the Swamp Thing has already been sealed, I hope the final 4 episodes will prove satisfying.

Swamp Thing Episode #102 “Worlds Apart” – Review

Posted on by Dave Whiteman

After the pilot of “Swamp Thing” the latest streaming show from DC Universe shows much promise as they delve into a darker and more horror-oriented drama, but unfortunately as I will address later in the review. This show, while hopeful is fated to be short-lived.

Following the alleged death of Alec Holland in the swamp at the hands of an unknown assailant, Dr. Abby Arcane and the Marais sheriff’s department conduct a search for his remains. While Susie Coyle remains in the hospital, two more cases of the illness have been reported. And while the Swamp Thing emerges from the swamp and struggles to understand what has happened to him, Susie has an episode and seems to be somehow connected to the creature. And later, while Abby searches for clues as to what Alec was working on, she reluctantly approaches Avery Sunderland, who she hopes can provide her access to his lab. But when Susie goes missing from the hospital, Abby and Matt Cable follow her trail into the swamp, where she encounters a human monster as well as the Swamp Thing. Now as the plot thickens, the mysteries of the plant accelerant formula and Alec Holland’s fate are revealed.

As the second episode begins we finally get a fairly good look at the Swap Thing, and he is most impressive. No more B-grade rubber suits or overly campy performances, this is the Swamp Thing as he was meant to be. The costume, along with prosthetics and CGI effects are very realistic and add an otherworldliness to him that is very believable.

Also with this episode we are introduced to two new characters who will no doubt become an integral part to the story. One being the blind mystic Madame Xanadu (played by Jeryl Prescott), whose character has been a part of the DC comics magical world with characters such as the Spectre and Phantom Stranger since 1978. Also introduced is the botanist Dr. Jason Woodrue (played by Kevin Durand), who, without spoiling anything about his character, DC Comics fans will instantly recognize but who was previously but limitedly played by John Glover in Batman & Robin (1997). There’s even an appearance by Dan Cassidy (played by Ian Ziering) who fans will also know by another name, as the ‘Blue Devil’ but in a much different incarnation.

Overall, this show is slowly building up characters and backstories, but also doing a great job of adding both supernatural thrills and suspense that fans will come to expect. There is a particular two very horrifying scenes where Madame Xanadu tries a voodoo-like séance with Maria Sunderland (Virginia Madsen) and we also get to see a fairly bloody display of Swamp Thing’s powers in the climax of the episode.

On another note, before the airing of this episode, viewers received some shocking news that may have come to soon and which also may bring detriment to the future of the show and its continued audience. On June 4th, rumors spread on the internet that the new “Swamp Thing” series was in fact Cancelled! As more details emerged, the company announced that after filming had ended on the first season, that there will be no second season, due to a combination of production troubles, corporate bureaucracy, and money, along with the uncertain future of the DC Universe streaming service with the upcoming AT&T’s Warner Media streaming service. Before “Swamp Thing” emerged from the swamp it seems as if his fate was sealed with a $100 billion deal. Much like 2014’s “Constantine” TV show on NBC, which was also canceled after one season. The character of John Constantine (perfectly played by Matt Ryan) was able to live on in CW’s “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.” While it seems DC has always had a problem with their darker heroes, their more mainstream characters such as Green Arrow, Flash and Supergirl, have prospered on the CW Television Network. As for the other original shows on DC Universe like “Titans and “Doom Patrol,” their futures seem just as uncertain. I for one will continue to watch and review “Swamp Thing” for the next 8 episodes and hope that soon, after the fans on the internet have spoken, “Swamp Thing” will return!

Swamp Thing Episode #101, Pilot – Review

Posted on by Dave Whiteman

With the launch of DC Universe streaming service, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros., have produced a few original programs that feature exclusively on the digital platform. Along with its live-action series “Titans” and “Doom Patrol,” the highly anticipated “Swamp Thing” has finally been released this month. Having been announced last year along with “Doom Patrol,” this is the second attempt to bring the character of Swamp Thing to the small screen. Since the character’s creation in 1971 by writer Len Wein (Marvel’s Wolverine) and artist Bernie Wrightson (“House of Secrets”), the character has appeared in two low budget films in the 1980s, a live-action series on the USA Network that ran from 1990 to 1993, and a short-lived animated series in 1991, with an accompanying action figure line. For the most part, the dramatic adaptations of Swamp Thing have been disappointingly B-grade and overly campy attempts to truly represent the character, until now.

Upon the release of the first episode of “Swamp Thing” on DC Universe, the popular humanoid-plant creature returns to it’s horror roots and its intended incarnation in this dark and dramatic web television series. Created and executive produced by screenwriter Gary Dauberman, comic book writer Mark Verheiden and director James Wan (“Aquaman“), this new show hopes to do justice to one of the most unusual character’s of the DC Comics Universe.

When Dr. Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed) of the CDC returns to her hometown of Marais (pronounced Ma-ray), Louisiana, to investigate a mysterious and deadly epidemic that is spreading throughout the bayou town, she meets an eccentric scientist named Alec Holland (Andy Bean), who is also trying to find the source of this swamp-borne pathogen. While Abby reconnects with her old friends, including Matthew Cable, a police officer and Liz Tremayne, a local bartender and reporter, she also runs into the mother of her college friend, Shawna Sunderland, who still bears a grudge against her for her involvement with her daughter’s accidental death.
As Abby and Alec join forces to find the cause of the disease, they find the decayed body of Coyle, a local fisherman, whose daughter has been hospitalized after contracting the sickness, who has been covered inside and out with strange plants and vines. As they come closer to finding out the origin of the contagion, Abby learns that Alec was once a prominent biologist, who was disgraced by the scientific community. But when Alec gets too close to finding out the truth, he is murdered by an unknown assailant and left for dead in the murky swamp.

While many are familiar with the character of Swamp Thing, especially due to his resurgence in the 1980’s with the work of British comic book writer Alan Moore (“Watchmen”, “V for Vendetta”), he has been rarely seen in the DC Comics universe since his series relaunched as part of the “New 52” from 2011 to 2015, plus a six-part miniseries in 2016, written by Len Wein and art by Kelley Jones (one of my favorite artists). The DC Universe service seems ripe to debut the latest incarnation of the character. Although unfortunately, both the creators died in 2017, this show will hopefully honor their creation and present a fresh, new perspective on a character that has been through so many incarnations over the years. And with visionary horror director James Wan (“Saw,” “The Conjuring”) on the production team, along with character/creature actor Derek Mears (“Friday the 13th”,”Predators”) portraying the Swamp Thing creature, this dark and suspenseful show is sure to blossom forth. The vine and plant CGI effects are impressive, and the first episode did a good job of building the main characters, particularly Abby and Alec. The transformation/creation sequence for Swamp Thing was considerably disturbing and shocking, but very effective. I am looking forward to the continuation of this series by next Friday.

Comic Review – Dead Man Logan #1

Posted on by Dave Whiteman

DEAD MAN LOGAN #1
PUBLISHER: Marvel Comics
WRITER: Ed Brisson
ARTIST: Mike Henderson
COLORIST: Nolan Woodard
COVER PRICE: $4.99

Old Man Logan is DEAD…again, sort of…but not really. Ever since the Old Man Logan character was introduced as a self-contained story arc written by Mark Millar and with art by  Steve McNiven, the character very became popular with fans and gained an ongoing series within the Marvel Universe after 2015’s Secret Wars, where he found himself in a new world. But now it seems as though the Old Man Logan series may be coming to an end, but it seems as though the elder Wolverine’s story is not finished as he has returned to his own timeline.

“Transported to the present from an alternate timeline where villains triumphed and the world devolved into lawless wastelands, Logan used his second chance at life to rejoin the X-Men and avert catastrophes like the ones that befell his world. However, his advanced age has caught up with him and his famed healing factor is severely reduced, leaving him slowly dying of adamantium poisoning…”

If all of this sounds familiar, it should because much of the premise was used in the 2017 movie Logan directed by James Mangold, which became a record-breaking release that surpassed all other X-Men movies (except Deadpool). Which saw an aged Logan/Wolverine in a very bleak near future, where his healing factor has weakened and he cares for a mentally ill Charles Xavier, while also defending a young mutant named Laura, who just so happens to be (SPOILER ALERT!) his cloned daughter, also known as X-23 or the All-New Wolverine in the comics.

In the beginning of this 12-issue limited series entitled “Sins of the Father” we are shocked to see Logan face down in the snow in Canada and very near death after a violent battle with the future version of the Hulk, Maestro and found by fellow/former X-Men, including Forge, Cecilia and Glob, who take him back to the X-mansion. There he recovers and learns that he has been unconscious for 11 days and explains to him that his system has overloaded and his healing factor can’t keep up. Therefore, he has only 12 months left to live. Despite the warning Wolverine heads out to find Mysterio and get revenge for tricking him into murdering the X-Men in the other universe.

This year has certainly been a busy one for Wolverine, after dying in the “Death of Wolverine” in 2014 and “Hunt for Wolverine” this summer, Wolverine has now returned from the dead, but there is also this alternate timeline version of him. For those who haven’t been keeping up (and I’ve really tried!) this series follows the Old Man Logan series which takes place in Earth-807128 while the main timeline is the Earth-616 universe (I think?). While Mysterio (who is usually a Spider-Man) villain had made Wolverine think that he was protecting the X-Men when he made it seem like the mansion was being attacked, Logan’s rationale is that if Mysterio could use his illusions to do that in the other timeline, then he could also do it in the current timeline.

While Marvel has certainly had their share of alternate universe troubles, but since there are two “main” ones in the comics Earth-616 and Earth-1610 that include the bulk of the Marvel story lines. There is also Earth-199999, which is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Written by Canadian (appropriate) comic writer Ed Brisson (Old Man Logan, Cable and Iron Fist) and with art by Mike Henderson (Daredevil), for X-Men and Wolverine fans alike, Dead Man Logan is going to be an interesting story as the two universes come together in what will no doubt turn out to be an adamantium slaughterfest! SNIKT!!!

 

Dave “Chernobog” Whiteman is a life-long comic book collector, metalhead, part-timer writer, Funatic and a die-hard Star Wars fan!

Comic Review – Stranger Things #1

Posted on by Dave Whiteman

Image result for stranger things #1 comicFans of the NETFLIX original series “Stranger Things” get a new insight into the experience of the character of Will Byers, who was mysteriously transported into the Upside Down by the demonic creature, which would be known as ‘the Demogorgon.’ The latest 4-issue limited series from Dark Horse Comics is written by award-winning comics veteran Jody Houser (Valiant Comics’ “Faith”), with pencils by Italian artist, Stefano Martino, inks by Keith Champagne (IDW’s “Ghostbusters”) and colors by Lauren Affe ( “Buzz Kill” Image).

The comic series picks up right after the first 10 minutes of the first episode “Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers.” Although throughout the first season of the show we merely get glimpses of Will’s time in the alternate-version of his world, which is similar in almost every way, except for the ever-present darkness and the rotten, poisonous atmosphere. As he realizes that he is no longer home, his journey is compared to his adventures with his friends in their Dungeons & Dragons campaign, in which he plays the wizard, Will the Wise, as he wanders the dark forest of “Mirkwood.” But just as in his D&D adventures, the party of adventurers have been separated, and as he knows, splitting the party can have disastrous consequences!

Although the first issue is somewhat shorter than expected, at only 20-pages, it does add much more to the story of Will’s dilemma in the Upside Down, as the show focuses mainly on the powerful, young girl Eleven, with whom he encounters briefly. But the first issue ends on a heart-pounding cliffhanger, as Will tries to seek the safety in the alternate version of his bedroom, while the terrifying ‘Demogorgon’ is stalking him! I’m looking forward to this limited series, which is a must for any “Stranger Things” fan, as well as a good jumping off point for new fans too. The series also comes in a standard cover and three variant covers, including a photo cover that features scenes from the show, as well as some very surreal art covers by various talent. The first issue also includes a two-page preview of the new “Mystery Science Theater 300 the Comic.”