This is less of a stand-alone thing and more of a continuation of what the previous volume started doing: blowing up the previous Swamp Thing continuity, and trying out different combinations of action, fantasy, and horror while waiting to see what the series will really be about. The horror story we get here is really pretty simple, and it's based around two characters (Anton Arcane and Matt Cable) that we never had much reason to care about, but it's very effective at evoking dread and disgust, and the Bissette/Totleben art continues to be a great fit for this material. Despite all the great monsters they like to draw, and all the well-chosen words Moore uses to tell us what a bad time Abby is having, I think the most effective scene in this involves just a guy sitting in a car talking to a fly. ( )

Builds upon the first collection in a really satisfying way. The Pogo tribute issue is off the charts good. I'm genuinely floored by this. All killer, no filler. ( )

Even better than volume 1.
Incredible creative team... and
Tatjana Wood is a legend. ( )

I think this was mostly better than the first volume, save for the aliens story, but it was the last one, the declaration of love between ST and Abs and their acid trip sex act that sealed this volume as something pretty awesome.

I mean, sure, when Abs dies during the awesome conflict with Arcane and ST goes to heaven and hell to get her back, that was pretty awesome, too, but I thought the last bit was most special. :)

But beyond that, the worst part of this volume was not the aliens, but Cain and Abel. What? How could I not have known that these two with their House of Mystery and House of Secrets was around long before Sandman? Why didn't anyone tell me? 1985, years before Sandman came out and had these characters running around the Dream, and here they are doing all the same things!

Oh the things I learn so late.

And this time, I didn't even care about their story in ST. lol ( )

This series, written by Alan Moore, revolutionized the way comic books were written in the early eighties. It opened up the doors for more mature comic series like Sandman and Constantine, most of which were found on DC's imprint Vertigo.

I'd highly recommend this 'graphic novel'. Please check this series if you are in the mood for a melding of mythology, brilliant characters and stunning narration. ( )