Swamp Thing just released its second annual issue in the New 52 universe and I have to say – I'm a fan. Some of these books have had some brutal artwork, and concepts within its pages. But it has been honest, almost literary, in its storytelling. Charles Soule, who has penned the series since issue #19 seems to commune with the universal nature of the green. And what is the green? It is all organic plant life. Life that does not eat, but derives its energy from nutrients in the ground, and photosynthesis. It is constantly at odds with the red, which is life. And somewhere there in the middle is the rot, which produces some of the most powerful and disturbing supervillains in the DC Universe.

Scott Snyder, who wrote issues #1 through #18 did a magnificent job of crafting the New 52 universe over the knowledge, and happenings of the old. It was like meeting Swampy again, but with all the endearing characteristics of the old. Some new twists gave us a shot of excitement, like Holland taking on the form himself, rather than being absorbed at a conscious level (we'll come to that later). And then ultimately surrendering to the green, and becoming the Swamp Thing for good, replete with antlers, and wings as seen in the picture above.

The New 52 version for me was published on the end of finishing Alan Moore's incredible stint on “The Saga Of The Swamp Thing” in the mid 1980's. In other words I was expecting to be disappointed. I expected the new Swamp Thing to be campy, cliche, and an unworthy continuation of one of DC's most potent characters. The Swamp Thing, after all, has the ability to be a virtual god. Scott Snyder not only evaded disappointment, he built the foundation for what has become an involving, evolving, and delicious storyline. That is, Alec Holland is continually battling within, meeting lethal foes without, and is learning about the Swamp Thing's role, abilities, history, and purpose.

“The Swamp Thing” Annual #2 delves into those possibilities. Alec visits the spirit world of the green, the resting place of the mighty Things that have gone before him. You see he is competing for his own job with a villain from his past. Jason Woodrue, today known as Seeder, is trying to become the Avatar of the Green. He, too is in the underworld. Ain't gonna happen, folks. Not unless DC takes a page from Marvel and does a Superior Spider-man kind of thing with the Swamp Thing, but I doubt it. DC makes interesting, and often predictable decisions regarding the DCU.

Alec learns of his god-like powers while he traverses the underworld, and he is set to learn a lot more. The experience leaves him exhausted, concerned, and in deep consternation when all of a sudden he comes up against the green's greatest avatar, the most accomplished of the Things. With this story Soule gives us a fresh, new path to endless story-lines, and fascinating characters.

Multi-layered, deep, and heavy. The Swamp Thing universe has a weight that Snyder and Soule have so far honored, and enriched. Pick up an issue today, it will be worth your while.