“Blazes! It’s that swamp-creature — with the Batman?!”
The last couple of my posts have had me in a bit of a Negative Nelly mode, discussing some current retailing/publishing shenanigans, so I thought I’d try to focus on some of the stuff I love about comics this week, you know, for a little balance. And what’s better than Batman and Swamp Thing busting in on some thugs and giving them what for:
That would be from Brave and the Bold #176 (July 1981) by Martin Pasko and Jim Aparo, about a year prior to the launch of the ongoing series The Saga of Swamp Thing, also written by Mr. Pasko.
Ah, man…Jim Aparo didn’t draw Swamp Thing nearly enough, but I’m glad we got what we did. (Check out Brave and the Bold #122 for another Aparo-drawn Swampy/Batman adventure, written by Bob Haney no less.)
“Aparo” should become a word meaning design or execution that is professional, engaging, of excellent quality, and possessing a certain element of impeccability. So one might say of a painting, or a sculpture, or a Duisenberg automobile, and eventually of well-written computer code or a perfectly executed double-play: “Wow, that is just aparo!”
Old-time Swamp Thing. Now THAT’s what I’m talking about. None of this New 52 nonsense.
Is this the story where Swampy “talks” (sorta) to Batman about a clue or something?
Aparo was one of the best.
There should be a snack cracker called…
Swamp Thins.
Swamp Thing is your happy place.
I didn’t get enough Aparo, period. Nor Cockrum.
I didn’t get enough Aparo, period. Nor Cockrum.
now, THAT’S nice art!