The Saga of Swamp Thing #33

John Totleben's cover for this February 1985 issue sets a mood of intimate unease — a white-haired woman in a yellow robe works intently at a desk by candlelight and small vials, while outside a moonlit window, the green, red-eyed form of Swamp Thing lurks in the shadows, watching. DC's "Sophisticated Suspense" banner fits perfectly here, as the contrast between the woman's composed, almost alchemical focus and that looming presence in the dark creates quiet tension. With Alan Moore writing and Ron Randall on interior art, The Saga of Swamp Thing #33, "Abandoned Houses," promises the thoughtful, atmospheric storytelling the series had become known for by 1985.