Maggie Stiefvater's exploration into comic's is a beautiful transcendence to behold.
A story written by Maggie Stiefvater and illustrated in gorgeous colour by Morgan Beem, Swamp Thing, Twin Branches, takes us on a journey we weren't ready for.
Based on the gorgeous power of plants this comic is a treat for the eyes while it's written story is a puzzle for the mind. Stiefvater applies her creativity to this comic in the best way. Creating a short story with perfectly realised characters and shocking plot twists, which will consume readers of all kinds for a day and leave them wishing for more.
Heartbreaking in it's delicacy Swamp Thing makes us think, and look, at nature with new eyes. Revealing to us the true power of plants, and showing how entwined every species of the earth really is.
An added hint of threat provides the fuel to this otherwise delicate story, growing in strength throughout, you can feel that something dark is building just out of sight, coming to an incredibly human conclusion that takes the breath away and lends to majestic two page illustrations that you'll want to pause to enjoy.
Blurb;
'Twins Alec and Walker Holland have a reputation around town. One is quiet and the other is the life of any part, but that are inseparable. For their last summer before college, the two 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, because he brought something from home on their trip, it's an experiment that will soon consume him. This season, both brothers must confront truths, ancient and familial, and as their lives diverge, tensions increase and dormant memories claw to the surface.'
Though very much a story about nature Stiefvater explores social groups, family ties and young love in this short read to wondrous heights.
We're left hoping that Swamp Thing, Twin Branches, is only the first of many explorations into graphic novels for Stiefvater and that more gems of it's kind lie in her future.
We give Swamp Thing, Twin Branches, Four Stars.
ISBN - 978-1-4012-9323-9
Cover Price - $16.99 USA
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