Swamp Thing 1989 #3 Review

 

Swamp Thing 1989 #3 Review

Writer: Rick Veitch

Artist: Tom Mandrake

Colorist: Trish Mulvihill

Letterer: Todd Klein

Cover Artist: Rick Veitch

Editors: Alex Galer & Chris Conroy

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$7.99 Foil

Release Date: June 24, 2026

 

While exploring the wonders of the multiverse, Swamp Thing yearns to return to his beloved Abby. But when three Magi summon a demon, Swamp Thing follows the disturbance in the time stream to Israel 2000 years ago. After preventing Belial's efforts to subvert Earth's history, Swamp Thing once again gets drawn into Earth's past. But along the way, he encounters someone who can carry a message home.

 

When John Constantine receives a dire summons, he abandons his home in London to visit King Arthur's birthplace along the rugged Cornwall coast. There, he meets a knight who arrived on a flying horse. Are Sir Justin's suspicions about Swamp Thing's inability to return correct? And as the momentous event draws nigh, can her friends in the bayou help Abby deliver Swamp Thing's child? Let's leap into Swamp Thing 1989 #3 and see!

 

Story

Many seek to reach the Source. Yet Swamp Thing is chosen. He may stand before it as a stranger. Still, the Source greets him as a friend. And when it senses Swamp Thing's pain, it counsels him. The Source urges him to push past all the concerns that make him Alec Holland and seek the Still Point that binds all of reality together. Then, the Source asks if he would like to remain here, connected to all life, all time, and all places.

 

As Alec ponders his future, Rick Veitch weaves John Constantine into Swamp Thing 1989 #3. Just as Alec yearns to return to Abby, John seeks to help his friend. So, he touches base with Jim Corrigan, hoping the Spectre can help John achieve what Sir Justin proclaimed impossible. And as the supernatural investigator seeks to rescue a friend who has traveled back to before time began, Anton Arcane seeks to leave another realm from which escape should be impossible.

 

As Alec Holland, John Constantine, and Anton Arcane embark on journeys, all roads lead to Abby Holland. Having seen Dr Hubert Sax exploit his position to corrupt the healing arts, Abby has eschewed modern birthing methods for a midwife in the Bayou. As she struggles against the pain, Abby knows the magnitude of what she is attempting. Yet Livie is not the only one who senses the dangers swirling around the unborn child. As they ponder the mysteries of the universe and the Human heart, danger threatens all the scattered protagonists in Swamp Thing 1989 #3.

 

Art

As Swamp Thing stands on a rocky plain, a hand traces words on a black stone slab. Swamp Thing sits cross-legged, his eyes shut as he pictures his recent travels through the infinite worlds filling the multiverse. When the hand reaches out, touching his chest, seven wheels overlay his body. And before Alec vanishes, the Eye of Horus appears on the stone.

 

As Tom Mandrake propels readers on this cosmic journey, Trish Mulvihill pays homage to the four-color era in Swamp Thing 1989 #3. The Avatar of the Green stands beneath a sky streaked with violet and indigo, while the stone glows violet and orange when an orange hand inscribes yellow letters. As Swamp Thing's thoughts revolve around love, yellow, orange, and red dominate a chamber dedicated to hatred and misery. As John Constantine seeks to aid his friend, a yellow coat and blue slacks signal his fears of failure and his hopes for success.

 

Todd Klein places black uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons. Swamp Thing's dialogue appears in orange polygons, while his thoughts reside in melting yellow boxes. The narrator charts Alec’s cosmic journey via green boxes. As the letters grow bold with intonation, red words in black balloons signal danger. After Rich Handley’s introductory essay sets the issue in context, Todd Klein and Trish Mulvihill discuss the challenges of emulating the original letterer, John Costanza, and original colorist Tatjana Wood. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Swamp Thing can have anything he wants. Yet what he most desires is a life of service and love, even if that includes pain, danger, and uncertainty. As he undertakes a new journey to protect others, others seek to control him to increase their separation from others, and feast on the things that divide us in Swamp Thing 1989 #3.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Swamp Thing 1989 #3.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Swamp Thing 1989 #2.

For how this series resumed, see my review of Swamp Thing 1989 #1.