Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Decent Comics: "Night of the Warring Dead!" by Michelinie and Redondo
How's it shakin', Groove-ophiles! It's time to get a li'l scary again with Swamp Thing! "Night of the Warring Dead!" is by David Michelinie and Nestor Redondo and was first published in Swamp Thing #16 (February 1975). Ol' Groove loves this ish--it's almost like a weird, modern-day Tarzan story, but it takes a look at an important social issue (how Viet Nam vets were treated in the 70s) and features...zombies (but the Comics Code wouldn't let 'em call 'em zombies, ya know)...
I remember this issue, the artwork was and still is amazing.
ReplyDeleteRedondo drew beautifully, but the face of the Swamp Thing he really missed. He doesn't stay on model, and often makes him look unintentionally silly. David Michelinie's plot is okay, but the dialogue and captions are full of such trite expression. Nestor's art carries this one, and gives it the only gravitas it has.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Chris A.
Groove, thanks for re-publishing this oft neglected part of the Swamp Thing saga. It's where I came on board as a young teenager and holds many a fond memory
ReplyDeleteNever really liked parting with my money for ST but heck you get it free here, so thanks!!
ReplyDeleteToo bad Tony DeZuniga didn't follow Wrightson on Swamp Thing as I feel he would have been a much better choice. Redondo was just too polished, removing some of the creep factor that was essential to the mood of the mag.
ReplyDelete...or Alfredo Alcala (on pencils AND inks). He would have been perfect. Check out his "Swamp God" story for HOUSE OF MYSTERY 217 (1973) on this site.
DeleteRegards,
Chris A.
Oops! It's not yet on this site! How 'bout it, Groove?
Delete