Swamp Thing #2

From Vertigo's 2000 continuation of the Swamp Thing saga, this second issue — "A Tree Falls in the Forest" — opens with a cover by Phil Hale that immediately commands attention: the massive, dark silhouette of Swamp Thing cradles the limp, pale form of an unconscious figure, the subdued palette lending the image a haunting, almost painterly tenderness. The contrast between the creature's rough, shadowy mass and the fragile human in his arms sets a tone that is equal parts mournful and protective. Brian K. Vaughan, Roger Petersen, and Joe Rubinstein bring their talents to the interior, making this a compelling early entry in what promises to be a thoughtful, mature take on one of comics' most enduring characters.