Swamp Thing #20 is the second issue by new to DC writer, Charles Soule. With the success of his first issue, many were eager to see if the follow-up could live up to the first. The story so far follows Swamp Thing on his journey to find Superman to ask his advice on how to not lose humanity when one is so powerful. This issue starts with Swamp Thing caught in a nightmare trap by non other than Scarecrow. After some amazing Superman action moments Swamp Thing finally gets to talk to Superman. The conversation is full of heart and really humanizes these two non-human characters. What I like about both of these issues is that the whole story is contained in them. It has been far too long since short story telling has won over the popular long term story structure. Once the story wraps up the reader is teased with the next story to come.
Kano’s art is a welcome addition to the book. The pencils are very clean yet detailed and his story telling is similar enough to former artist, Yanick Piquette, to keep a continuity with the previous 18 issues of the run. In issue twenty we get a clever use of Superman’s heat vision AND my favorite expression that anyone can draw on Swamp Thing’s face: fear!
Overall, I feel this issues lives up to the character’s start studded history and will be well regarded for years to come. I give it 4 out of 4 Tubors!