Swamp Thing 1989 #2 Review
Writer: Rick Veitch
Artist: Tom Mandrake
Colorist: Trish Vulvihill
Letterer: Todd Klein
Cover Artist: Rich Veitch
Editors: Alex Galer & Chris Conroy
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $4.99/$7.99 Foil
Release Date: May 27, 2026
Forced from his time, Swamp Thing floats through the cosmic
sea. He travels the multiverse, visiting other worlds and alternative
realities. Yet there's no place like home. As he lets the current draw him
homeward, Swamp Thing suddenly senses a need to visit a specific locale in his
homeworld's history. So, setting his desires aside, Swamp Thing swims against
the current to witness events that reorder the universe through the power of
love. Where will Swamp Thing travel next? And what injustices will he confront?
Let’s leap into Swamp Thing 1989 #2 and see!
Story
After witnessing events two thousand years in his past, only
to be thrust back into the timestream, Swamp Thing grows determined to return
home. When he abruptly washes ashore next, two other time travelers seemingly
control his fate. Yet as he has learned from his journeys, Swamp Thing rarely
stays in one place for long.
While Swamp Thing wishes to return to his time, his beloved
Abby also undergoes a journey in Swamp Thing 1989 #2. Most people would visit
their local hospital. Instead, Abby opts for a return to nature. As Abby trades
one danger for another, John Constantine tries to help his friend. But as he
works to give Jim Corrigan a measure of peace from the horrors of being the
Spectre, John’s friend Chaz arrives. And when he mentions that a magical
visitor has arrived with news of Swamp Thing, John Constantine drops what he’s
doing to take a ride to Cornwall.
As Rick Veitch interweaves past and present, danger
surrounds Swamp Thing and Abby. John Constantine, no stranger to supernatural
events, attends to the visitor's experiences with his big green friend. Abby's
decision to embrace natural birthing methods links her with someone from Swamp
Thing's last adventure. Yet the people hosting a magical visitor exemplify
futuristic birthing methods. As Swamp Thing's remains the glue that binds all
their lives together, he struggles to sink his roots in one time or place. For
all his elemental powers, he seems a sailor adrift on the seas of fate in Swamp
Thing 1989 #2.
Art
After floating amid globes bearing images of people and
locales, space disappears, replaced by streaks of beige, yellow, maroon, and
green. Amid the storm, an image of Abby appears before him. But when he
attempts to embrace her, his hands pass through the vanishing mirage. Then
Swamp Thing crashes into the sand. He gazes through the blown glass at his
white-faced captor atop a platform soaring above the desert. White pyramids
rise in the distance, while the Sphinx looks on, framed by a painted headcloth
and divine beard.
While Tom Mandrake provides glimpses of ancient Egypt and
other eras from Humanity’s past, John Constantine travels from his London flat
to the Cornish coast. At Tintagel Castle, John, Chas, and their friend descend
winding stone steps cut into the cliffs. When they reach the sand, the waves
lap at the beach as they gather in a building of sculpted metal. Yet in the
Louisiana swamps, a man wearing a suit, with long hair and a pointy beard,
punts a wooden boat between vines, ferns lining the banks, and aerial tree
roots rising from the water.
As Trish Vulvihill lavishes a palette of pleasing colors on
Swamp Thing 1989 #2, green links the bog god with Jim Corrigan, and the time
travelers who trap him in an hourglass. While Swamp Thing often appears forest
green when he sets foot in one place, his form lightens to apple green while
passing before days and evenings from past eras. Places of power, such as the
Louisiana swamp and the place where King Uther and the Duchess Igraine
conceived King Arthur, glow purple. Yet as a yellow-orange object seemingly
signals that he can never return home, John Constantine, with his yellow hair
and yellow overcoat, lights his cigarette with a yellow flame.
Todd Klein places black uppercase letters in white balloons
and boxes. Swamp Thing's dialogue appears in orange polygons, while his
thoughts reside in melting yellow boxes. The words grow bold with intonation as
sound effects punctuate a frantic air battle. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing
this story with us.
Final Thoughts
Swamp Thing is a creature of myth and legend. He has come to
people in their hour of need and influenced societies. Yet a piece of amber
holds sway over him. And until he learns the secrets of his power, he cannot
return home in Swamp Thing 1989 #2.
Rating 9.8/10
To look inside see my preview of Swamp Thing 1989 #2.
For what happened last time, see my review of Swamp Thing 1989 #1.
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