Alan Moore's SWAMP THING (is horrifying)

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2017
  • Troy and Dave kick-start our Halloween-themed episodes with a look at Alan Moore's sci-fi/horror masterpiece, Saga of the Swamp Thing.
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    IMPERIUS REX- Episode 35
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ความคิดเห็น • 74

  • @cotto1hunded
    @cotto1hunded 6 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I never thought a comic could scare me until I read swamp thing late at night.. this work is a masterpiece.

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Right on. So many grotesque and original pieces of imagery in this thing... from the backwards-headed demons, to the hellish fate of Anton Arcane... this book is a horror hotbed. While also being emotionally deep and insightful. Top marks all around.

  • @alma3884052
    @alma3884052 6 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    This channel is very underrated. Very casual conversations that are always fun to watch

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thanks Mage- glad to hear people enjoy it as much as we do!

    • @L0NELYBRICK
      @L0NELYBRICK 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Agreed.

    • @JorgeGonzalez-mr8vu
      @JorgeGonzalez-mr8vu 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@L0NELYBRICK idk seems like their socializing could be sharpened, it comes off as awkward and unprofessional feels more like im watching two dudes in their basement rather than an actual show not to seem to critical though ,i mean the potential is there.Maybe a little subtle music spliced in the background to takes away the quietness of the show and bring depth to the images they show, and a little sharper rehearsing, i could see the views and likes rising substantially higher

    • @L0NELYBRICK
      @L0NELYBRICK 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@JorgeGonzalez-mr8vu it's the casual relaxed attitudes that drew me to these guys, unprofessional is kind of the charm of the show, you feel like your watching two guys in the basement because they are two guys in a basement, the show is intended to be a conversation amongst friends and that's what they're providing. But it's not as amatureish as a couple of guys and camera, they improv well together, there aren't the long awkward pauses I've seen in truly amature vids, the picture quality is great, they have multiple camera angles, the sound quality is great and the editing is really good. What they are doing is putting a lot of effort into looking like a couple of guys in a basement while actually watching a very well put together show. As for music and all that other stuff, you could have it but it wouldn't add anything, I figure that's for things like comicstorian or comics explained, as it fits with what they're trying to do, they are trying to be atmospheric or add dramatic tension, whereas this is a discussion show more akin to something like the comicpop stuff. Actually yes, that's a good idea, go and watch Sals stuff when he's got a group together on a sofa, it quickly devolves, people talking over each other, off topic, people not talking at all, a fixed camera, long pauses etc. that is literally recreating the comic conversations I have with my friends, whereas these guys are recreating them in a way that's actually viewable as a show.

    • @laytonabel542
      @laytonabel542 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      a tip: you can watch movies at Flixzone. I've been using them for watching a lot of movies recently.

  • @lostinbrent3737
    @lostinbrent3737 6 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I’m on book 6 of the trades now & the entire series has been absolutely incredible. Perhaps the greatest comic ever made.

  • @someokiedude9549
    @someokiedude9549 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Out of the superhero deconstructions Alan did, Swamp Thing is definitely his most unique one, as it's not really a deconstruction of a 'superhero' as much as it is a commentary on and reimagining of horror. Horror's not an easy genre to do, especially in the written form, but what Alan does so well is play with the old tropes of horror, as well as the horror that comes with identity, to craft a truly engaging and sprawling tale of identity and the true thing that scares all of us deep down: lacking control.
    I don't consider Swampy a superhero, and Alan took that and showed everyone that he wasn't really a superhero, and in his spiritual trilogy of superheroes that he did in the 80s, Swamp Thing lies somewhere in the middle of them, and like I said, it's most definitely his most unique deconstructions and it's one that makes you itch for more, almost like an addict.
    I think that's why Alan and his work has survived over the decades, because he's always playing with possibilities that you never dared to dream of and he's mad enough to show them to the world.

  • @stevegoodson9022
    @stevegoodson9022 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Used to live 9 miles away fom Northampton (the town which Alan Moore haunts), and I swear he grew fully formed from the earth of the town, an avatar of creativity and storytelling. Feel privelidged to have spent my early life within range of his magical aura.

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      My word... imagine what must be hanging in the air around those parts.

  • @horizonbrave1533
    @horizonbrave1533 6 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    You say dated art, but I LOVE the first issues of Moore's run... The art is just so detailed and sketch worthy. I can just look at it and find new hidden things it's gorgeous. What are your thoughts on Marvel's Man-Thing? You guys should do a comparison of the two books and characters

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We say "dated" more for lack of better term. It's definitely not a negative- but compared to modern or current art featured on the stands now, it has a very old-school look. Which fits the book terrifically. The sketchiness almost brings to mind a tree-bark like look, which is very befitting to Swamp Thing.
      And while I know of Man-Thing, I can't say I've read any of his appearances. Does the character have a note-worthy run to dig into?

    • @horizonbrave1533
      @horizonbrave1533 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      From what I hear the first series, by Steve Gerber original run, and the 2008 Dead of Night series are the best.

    • @jseger9000
      @jseger9000 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yeah, I was getting annoyed hearing Steve Bissette and John Totleben's gorgeous artwork described as 'dated', repeatedly.
      Even at the time, their artwork was different than anything else on the stands, so it's not like that artwork screams '80's.

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      James Seger we definitely didn’t intend the term “dated” to come off as negative. Just that it looks like something from the 80’s as opposed to today. There’s nothing out today that captures the look and feel of Swamp Thing, but I’d argue that Hellblazer, Sandman, and a lot of Vertigo titles has that look and feel. We called it dated, more for lack of better word. Plus- we each had about five beers by this point, so our vocabulary was weaning.

    • @sirhandsome5107
      @sirhandsome5107 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The art is timeless to me. Veitch, Bissette and John Tottleben are criminally underrated to this day. Along with Bernie Wrightson their art should be treasured. Like a visual representation Jimi Hendrix on the guitar, Zeppelin, Wu-Tangs Enter the 36 chambers, or Nirvanas Nevermind album. Just pure genius!!!

  • @mrwesker
    @mrwesker 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Just started reading this today and found your channel. What a fantastic book, planning on reading the rest and watching the rest of your videos after!

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Welcome aboard Mr Wesker! We actually did a full on-Swamp Thing monthly live book club a couple years back where we did into each trade at length. If you're going through the whole series it might be worth taking a look at!

  • @mrpandabites
    @mrpandabites 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    I loved Swamp Thing. You guys pretty much summed it up. It is amazing

  • @ReyeditOneRom
    @ReyeditOneRom 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have watched this video 3 times. You guys laughing and talking about comics makes me happy. Thank you.

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Warms our hearts to hear Juan, thanks!

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      And if I remember correctly, we were super drunk when we filmed this on a whim during the early days of Imperius Rex... kinda been wanting to revisit Swampy.

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      And then I just remembered we did a 6-part live book club on the entire Moore series.

  • @antoniopedro7353
    @antoniopedro7353 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I think that one of the reasons that make Moore a comic book genius is his ability to create is his works a perfect blend between image e text. While contemporary authors tend to make comics like movies or storyboards, Moore is one of the few creators capable of explore all the potencial of the comic book format, with images reflecting the text or sometimes deliberately contradicting it. This incredible ability is very much present in swamp thing. That s also the reason I think the almost literal adaptation of the Watchmen movie failed completely imo. Moore's best works (such as watchmen and swamp thing) were produced considering the specifc charateristics of the comic book format.

  • @SeanPitts92
    @SeanPitts92 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have to stop most videos halfway through, but I really enjoy finding one on a series I have read. This is a great series. Still haven't read volume 6.

  • @DanielPestanaTranslations
    @DanielPestanaTranslations 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    When I was a kid this was my second favorite character after Superman. There was something about the character that somehow just connected with me at that time.

    • @zpettigrew
      @zpettigrew 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Do you happen to be host to body fungus, or some other skin infection?

    • @DanielPestanaTranslations
      @DanielPestanaTranslations 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Zachary Pettigrew Good one :-)

  • @levithomas915
    @levithomas915 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    By Gawd… Drink another beer. 👶🏻

  • @ftloc
    @ftloc 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Another great episode, and about of one of my all time favourite comics! I get the impression I'll be bingeing through your library quite a bit over the next few days...
    Re: the 'older' art, can you pinpoint the biggest changes between today's DC/Marvel art and the kind of stuff we saw in Swamp Thing/ early Vertigo titles? There seems to be a definite change I can't put my finger on, but only in the 'big two' or superhero comics; the indies or nonfiction works seem to always have been idiosyncratic, perhaps?

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Swamp Thing is, without a doubt, one of the greatest. As far as the art style goes, I think the general analysis would be that today's Big Two artwork is cleaner and more polished. And that's not a knock on the Vertigo stuff at all... I think it's more of a genre thing. Whereas Swamp Thing, Hellblazer, and Sandman all had deep horror influences, they lend themselves more to a sketchy, more organic, earthy look. All these books had a "texture" to the artwork that is missing in today's work.
      That being said, I don't think this style would hold up at all in a mainstream Avengers, Spider-Man, or X-Men book, so I feel like it's a time-and-a-place type of situation. I think even Alan Moore realized this, as Watchmen has a more more clean, straight-forward look to it than his horror-centric work on Swamp Thing, or even Miracle Man (that one kind of blurs the line.)
      While the Big Two titles continue to have various "house styles" over the decades, I think publishers are taking more chances lately, with the success of indie titles and Image books, which have a range of different art styles. Something like LOW or Wytches brings to mind the art styles of early Vertigo titles, and I think Marvel and DC occasionally try to branch out on smaller titles, like Lemire's Animal Man, with art by Travel Foreman.
      If anything, I think a more simplistic, yet sketchy style is taking over, especially in indie titles. Artists like Cliff Chiang and Fiona Staples are topping the charts with good reason, and I feel like a lot of publishers are taking notice.

    • @ftloc
      @ftloc 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Imperius Rex Yeah, ‘polished’ is the right word! I thought it was just a question of lines (how many) but this older style is still distinctive from 90s Image/Wildstorm comics, many of them which had many ‘lines’ as well. I wonder if the sketchiness of the the early art has something to do with the lines being used for shading instead of borders, or the fact that they didn’t close out all the shapes, making it feel ‘unfinished’, if that makes sense. Of course, even Sandman had stories like Ramadan and Midsummer Night’s dream which are more acceptable to modern tastes, but Swamp Thing stayed mainly in the classic horror style, which works terrifically with the literate and ‘realistic’ fantasy it was.

  • @jacobkeary6740
    @jacobkeary6740 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I just binged like two hours of your guy's stuff

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Best comment of the year so far.

    • @troytothemax8767
      @troytothemax8767 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Brag

    • @jacobkeary6740
      @jacobkeary6740 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Troy Potter not really bud

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      In Troy's defense, I'm assuming he was bragging that someone was binging our videos (in which, we're happy to read!) not that you're bragging ABOUT binging our videos (although, I would brag about that as well... because I don't get out much... ;) ) Thanks for the views Jacob!

    • @troytothemax8767
      @troytothemax8767 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Moral of the story, don't drink and comment on your own TH-cam vids.

  • @jacobkeary6740
    @jacobkeary6740 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I don't really find this type of art outdated but rather a lost art. The level of detail was unprecedented and could still hold up today.
    The detail itself isn't what fell flat throughout the years but rather the *style*. Sort of like those unnerving pics of like, Mario. The style is still kinda cartoony but almost photo realistic.
    But I dunno.

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Well said- There's something about the style that is so different from what we're used to today, it gets under your skin. Everything just looks a little skewed and off-kilter. And the amount of detail is insane.

    • @zpettigrew
      @zpettigrew 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      I agree, Long fan of Bernie Wrightston. Brilliant artist.

  • @someokiedude9549
    @someokiedude9549 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Scott Snyder’s Swamp Thing is quite underrated. I can’t say anything lives up to Moore’s Swamp Thing, but it’s a worthy followup. Even though it’s a bit held back from continuity and also bring back the man who became the monster.

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Some Okie Dude yeah- I enjoyed Snyder’s run, despite the kind of rushed RotWorld crossover. I need to check out Charles Seoul’s run that came after. Also been wanting to read Millar’s version, and BKV’s.

    • @someokiedude9549
      @someokiedude9549 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Imperius Rex I’ve heard those were good. Soule’s Daredevil was amazing!! So I’ll definitely read his Swamp Thing run.

    • @someokiedude9549
      @someokiedude9549 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You guys should do an Alan Moore month lol.

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      That... is a fantastic idea.

    • @someokiedude9549
      @someokiedude9549 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Imperius Rex sorry for the spam comments lol.

  • @jaime667
    @jaime667 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    great video. greetings from the heart of evil ;)

  • @TevyaSmolka
    @TevyaSmolka 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    yay swamp thing

  • @davistalhone9482
    @davistalhone9482 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    He is in fact a tragic figure.

  • @davidaraujo927
    @davidaraujo927 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Empire king???

  • @tamasstekler4383
    @tamasstekler4383 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great channel, but guys, why would you call the art "dated"? This is so much better than the digitally drawn and colored rubbish of today's comics - I don't want to ever touch anything like that. I don't know how can people consider today's stuff as good looking or even acceptable. But this stuff, it is pure art, it has much more value for my standards. And you have to work like really hard to find non-digitally colored stuff these days, we just lost it in the nineties.

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Whew- we've taken a lot of heat for calling the artwork "dated."
      Let's see if we can clear the air a bit. Or drain the swamp... (no, let's stick with "clear the air.")
      By dated, we didn't mean it in a negative connotation. It was simply to say that comic books today don't look like this anymore. It accurately illustrates the Vertigo/DC supernatural style of the times (mid 80s). Most books today have a "cleaner" style to them, which invokes a more polished look. However, for a book like Swamp Thing, which should be gritty, rough around the edges, and unsettling, this sketchy-hyper-detailed style is perfect. No slight to the artwork of then, or today. Just pointing out that they are very different.
      Also- when we recorded this one, we were both quite drunk. I think we filmed four episodes before we got to this one, and were most likely on our 6th or 7th beer a piece. I remember we tried to film one more episode after this and it wound up unusable. So- not an excuse, but in our defense, we weren't in the clearest head-space. Had we known the views this one would received we probably would've paced ourselves better. Sounds like a good enough reason to revisit the series with a more in-depth discussion next year...

  • @CosmicPsychonauts
    @CosmicPsychonauts 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Am I the only one who thinks Ghost Hunter Dave is hot in the Wonder Woman wig on the thumbnail?

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Just wait until you get to our Sin City or Imperius Sex episodes...

    • @CosmicPsychonauts
      @CosmicPsychonauts 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ImperiusRex Thanks for the heads up. ;)

    • @CosmicPsychonauts
      @CosmicPsychonauts 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ImperiusRex Do you mind if I ask where you got your fake breast that you used for your Halloween episode this year? I wanna try something new.

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      A lady never tells...
      But I’m no lady, so here: www.amazon.com/dp/B07PN9HCTC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_qLu5FbK44KVYZ
      Get yourself something nice. It’s the holidays. You deserve it.

    • @CosmicPsychonauts
      @CosmicPsychonauts 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ImperiusRex Thanks Ghost Hunter Dave! 😃😁 Happy New Years!

  • @topknot01
    @topknot01 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Game of thrones was done after season 4.

  • @kevinnevada5342
    @kevinnevada5342 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Prince Namor shall hear of this treasonus treachery....you bed wetting surface dwellers have no right to claim the battle cry of the most valiant of Alantis's warriors. (Im not sure if marvel has a version of atlantis or if thats just dc with aquaman...but what eevves)

  • @zpettigrew
    @zpettigrew 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Man. You guys... Not funny at all. I laughed more during my last circumcision. Really. Take some advice and just discuss the damn comics. It's like you guys are laughing at inside jokes the audience isn't privy to. Honestly, if I had filmed this, I'd have been too embarrassed to post it. Like, watching it - I'm embarrass FOR you. Truly cringe worthy. Hats off too you guys at least for having no shame and not giving a damn.

    • @ImperiusRex
      @ImperiusRex  5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Zachary Pettigrew “LAST circumcision”? How many circumcisions have you had? Are they just not taking?

    • @zpettigrew
      @zpettigrew 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Imperius Rex well, the problem is its always too big. So, after a girl im with leaves me cuz "its just too much", i get a little taken off the top.

  • @levithomas915
    @levithomas915 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Imagine, attempting to make internet compensation off of one of the greatest. 🪠 🍻🤤