The Highlight Reel: A Postcard from Hell

Awhile back, I added a scene from Swamp Thing Annual #2 to the Highlight Reel...but since it's the season for All Things Spooky, I realized that classic issue deserved another look.  In fact, when it comes to creating truly scary comic book stories, few could surpass the mindblowing writing of Alan Moore and the intensely disturbing imagery of Steve Bissette and John Totelben.

As you may recall from my previous blatherings, "Down Amongst the Dead Men" told the story of the Swamp Thing's search for the soul the woman he loved, Abby Arcane.  Escorted by a number of familiar supernatural characters, Swamp Thing's journey through the Great Beyond finally took him to the lonely shores of Hell itself (click on the panel for a larger view)...

Nearing the place where Abby's soul was imprisoned, Swamp Thing and the demon Etrigan encountered the presence of her evil uncle, Anton Arcane.  As the one responsible for sending Abby's spirit to Hell in the first place, Anton Arcane rode the Irony Express to Hell only a few hours later.  As you read the page below (click to enlarge), take special note of how the jutting, fragmented panel design adds to the debased madness of the scene, punctuated by Arcane's tormented reaction to Swamp Thing's news. Oh, and if you have the stomach for it, look at all of the disgusting details Bissette and Totelben populated their panels with. A truly hellish vision of Hell.

Comments

[madpuppy]

That "Since yesterday" line scared the heck out of me when I first read this story. Thanks for bringing back some good memories- I've got to dig these books out and reread them some day.