Swamp Thing 1989 #2 Review

 

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.