Swamp Thing Giant #3 is an issue of the series Swamp Thing Giant (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 2019. It was published on April 21, 2019.
Synopsis for "Bog of Blood, Part Two"
Swamp Thing wonders what Ms. Ravenmocker meant when she talked about her "sweet red tomorrow" when he was fighting her. As he tries to find Briar, he suddenly gets pierced by a spear chained to a monster truck Ravenmocker is driving. Briar meanwhile underground gets invited by a mysterious entity to join the and finds herself getting covered in a thick artery. She rips it off to find the missing campers covered in it.
As he battles Ravenmocker, Swamp Thing realizes he must quickly end it before his body gets destroyed and he's unable to find Briar and the missing campers. As he roots himself in the ground, Ms. Ravenmocker finds she is unable to make her truck go any farther while dragging him. she instead decides to run him over, but it gets smashed by Swamp Thing. As she crashes through the window and to the ground, she states she only took those who were dead in order to fulfil her purpose.
Ravenmocker's mask gets knocked off in the melee with Swamp Thing and he realizes that she's very young. She then swiftly attacks him with a needle, while stating that he's the enemy of that which gives "life to the worthy", since he's a being devoid of blood. Swamp Thing finds that it started transforming his body into one made of flesh and he won't survive another shot, due to which he decides to kill her. Briar tells him to stop, stating Ravenmocker is not a foe and calls out her real name - Astraea, one she hasn't heard in a long while.
Upon Swamp's Thing inquiring, Briar tells she was shown the truth after being directed by Astraea. One-and-a-half century ago, she along with her parents joined a group which tried to find a legendary source of immortality. They found it in a cavern and discovered it was a giant wound which was the elemental force of all creatures that had blood. The group decided to grow new life in tubes and wanted to give the gift of immortality with its blood to those who deserved it, but found "The Bleed" bled very slowly. When Astraea died, her parents used the last drop of the blood to her and told her to guard the Bleed. They also instructed her to share its gift with those whose hearts had once stopped, but she took it to mean those with heart transplants.
The campers believe they can go back, but get told they can't as the Bleed is being assaulted from the other dimension by the Barren, due to which it grew wider on Earth, and wants them to protect it. As they row along the river Briar tells Swamp Thing how the Barren has made the elemental forces of evil, fire and life flee after attacking them. She states that they need to get help from the elemental force of death in order to fight the Barren.
Appearing in "Bog of Blood, Part Two"
Featured Characters:
- Swamp Thing (Flashback and main story)
Supporting Characters:
- Twiglet
Antagonists:
- Astraea/Miss Ravenmocker (Flashback and main story)
Other Characters:
- Brotherhood of the Red Tomorrow (Flashback only)
- Kimberly
- Ryan
- The Barren (Mentioned only)
- Death (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Louisiana (Flashback and main story)
Synopsis for "The Hunt, Part Three: Totems"
This story is reprinted from Animal Man (Volume 2) #3.
Travelling through The Red, Buddy Baker and his daughter Maxine eventually find themselves face to face with a group of massive animal men who call themselves the Totems.
Meanwhile, the creatures known as the Hunters Three stand outside of Buddy's home in San Diego. They are aware that his wife Ellen is still inside, but when they realize that Buddy and Maxine have gone into The Red, they decide to split up. Two of them enter The Red to prevent the avatar from connecting with the Totems, while the third decides to capture Ellen, noting that because she gave birth to one avatar of The Red, she may be able to produce another.
The Totems welcome Buddy, having been expecting him. Maxine explains that this is The Red, and these are all of the old Animal Men. She knows this because she comes in her dreams all the time. The Totems explain that Maxine is one of them, but Buddy is not one of them. They are all of the former avatars of The Red, but Buddy is not, and never has been an avatar of The Red. Buddy's destiny has always been to father and protect the next avatar of The Red: Maxine. They explain that Buddy's memories of having been given his powers by yellow aliens is simply a narrative that the provided which he could more easily comprehend. They gave him the identity of Animal Man so that he could occupy and train until Maxine was ready for the coming war between The Red and The Rot.
In the Baker household, Cliff Baker becomes frustrated as he tries to play his video game while the reanimated corpses of local pets play around on the couch. Meanwhile, Ellen can't concentrate on her illustration work because she's too worried about her husband and daughter. Reluctantly, she decides to try out Cliff's game, but she's interrupted from that by a ring at her doorbell. When she answers it, she is horrified to see one of the Hunters Three, its horrifying dead tissue bursting out of its once human host's form.
Buddy is bothered by the Totems' words, reminding them that she is only four years old, and isn't ready to fight in any wars. The Totems respond that she has no choice. Both The Red and The Green must prepare for the fight against The Rot. Suddenly, the Totems are alerted to the arrival of the Hunters.
Ellen grabs Cliff and they escape through the garage into their car. The Hunter chases them from the front door, and as they pull out, the creature slams hard against their windshield. As they drive on, Ellen expresses mock regret that she married a superhero.
Buddy swears to protect Maxine, and feeling more powerful there in the heart of The Red, he valiantly defends her. She begs the Totems to help him, but they respond that it is only she who can help him.
From a diner down the highway, Ellen makes a call to Detective Krenshaw begging for help. He tells her to stay put, and heads off in her direction.
While Buddy keeps fighting the Hunters, Maxine warns that Ellen and Cliff are in danger. The Hunters taunt them, readily admitting that they are planning to devour Buddy's wife and son. Buddy is still no match for them, and one of them gets a bite out of his shoulder.
Meanwhile, Detective Krenshaw gets out of his car only to come face to face with the third Hunter, who takes possession of his body. Hiding within Krenshaw's body, the Hunter joins Ellen in the diner, and promises that everything will be okay.
Appearing in "The Hunt, Part Three: Totems"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Cliff Baker
- Ellen Baker
- Maxine Baker
- Parliament of Limbs (First appearance)
Antagonists:
- The Hunters Three
Other Characters:
- Detective Krenshaw (Dies)
Locations:
- San Diego
- Lucky Star Truck Stop
Concepts:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Come Hither, Child"
This story is reprinted from Swamp Thing (Volume 5) #3.
At the Shepherd Institute in Texas, Dr. Durock pleads with a boy named William Arcane to try to be more sociable with the other patients there. He knows that William's apparent allergy to chlorophyll means that he can't leave his protective bubble for more than a few minutes, but hopes that William will try to make himself less isolated despite it. As the doctor speaks, one of the dead fish mounted on the wall whispers William's name, and the boy is taken aback.
Orderlies wheel William out of the Doctor's office, and in the hallway he has an encounter with another boy named Drew. The other children behave as though they are friends with William, but once the Doctor is out of earshot, they begin to threaten him. Drew plans to return at midnight, and puncture William's protective bubble. The orderly does nothing to stop the taunts.
Outside the swamps of Louisiana, Abigail Arcane holds Alec Holland at gunpoint. She challenges him to do something to prove he is who he says he is, or she will kill him within three seconds. As she counts down, Alec struggles to understand what she wants from him. When she gets to 'three,' Alec hits an emotional peak, crying out. Suddenly, he has a vision of a skeletal woman in a dress, surrounded by darkness.
When he opens his eyes, he is surprised to see that vines and branches have sprung up from the ground to restrain Abigail. Satisfied, she drops down from the branches and introduces herself. She convinces him to get back onto her motorcycle and head to the Texas marshland to save a certain boy; a boy with the power to end the whole world.
Late at the Shepherd Institute, William watches TV from inside of his bubble when he hears the mysterious voice coming from one of the fish on the wall. The rest of the fish speak up, calling out to him. Meanwhile, Drew and his friends appear, ready to pierce the protective film with a fork, threatening William's life. The fish command him to take up arms for a certain powerful being. Suddenly, William reaches out, and causes the bullies' bodies to morph and contort until they are dead. Hearing the commotion, Dr. Durock comes out of his office to find the dead children lying in front of William's bubble. William calls him over, and confirms that the doctor's scuba-fishing gear is in the back of his truck, before causing the doctor's lungs to come up through his mouth.
On the road, Abigail explains that William has the power to control dead matter. Just as Alec was born with a connection to The Green, there are people born to opposite elements. In this case, it is The Black; The Rot. Abigail's family - the Arcanes - have always had a strong connection to The Rot, particularly her uncle Anton Arcane. She explains that she is different from the version of herself that Alec remembers from his shared memories with the Swamp Thing. During her time with the Swamp Thing, he unwittingly protected her from the Rot, but now that she is without him, the Rot has come calling again. It has reached her; changed her.
She claims that if Alec allows himself to bond with The Green, he will become the Swamp Thing - the most powerful Green knight on the planet. It is the same with William and The Rot. If he bonds with The Rot, he will become an unstoppable force of death and disease, something that has not been achieved since the days of the biblical plagues.
Upon arriving at the Shepherd Institute, Abigail and Alec are horrified to see the murdered children already killed by William's power. They turn around in time to see Doctor Durock die before their eyes, with his lungs hanging out of his open mouth. Alec asks how Abigail knows all about William. She responds that she is the one who hid him away at the institute. She thought he'd be safe there. He is her half-brother, William Arcane, and if he joins with the Rot, it will mean the coming of hell on earth.
Appearing in "Come Hither, Child"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Abigail Arcane (Flashback and main story)
Villains:
- William Arcane (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Dr. D. Durock (Dies)
- Drew (Dies)
- Anton Arcane (First appearance) (Flashback only)
- Patchwork Man (Flashback only)
- Swamp Thing (Flashback only)
Locations:
Concepts:
Items:
Vehicles:
- Abigail Arcane's motorcycle
Synopsis for "The (Short) Year of Living Dangerously"
This story is reprinted from Shadowpact #3.
The Pentacle captures the members of the Shadowpact. Aside from Detective Chimp (who is being maligned elsewhere), they are all held captive inside one of Strega's magic containment bubbles.
Meanwhile, Sister Witch leads a man named Tom towards the Murder Hole. She emphasizes the fact that he must enter it willingly, and his sacrifice may even save the lives of his family. Strega tells him how painful it will be, noting that his fear is an essential part of the formula. Tom enters the Murder Hole and dies.
Karnevil returns to the spot where he had been torturing Detective Chimp, only to find that the monkey is missing. Detective Chimp leaps out from behind the bushes and attacks him, battering the unsuspecting psychopath to the ground. He ties him up to a tree, and scampers off to find his friends.
The White Rabbit decides that he no longer wishes to associate with the Pentacle. He does not believe that they are people of honor, and he uses a mystical box to free the Shadowpact from Strega's containment spell. As soon as they are free, the Enchantress knocks him out with a magic blast.
She tells her teammates that she may be able to take command of Strega's more powerful magic and operate them remotely, but such a feat will likely come at great cost. The rest of the team leave her to formulate her plan while they go off to distract the rest of the Pentacle. Nightshade lures them all to her location and uses her powers to encase Jack of Fire inside of a darkness cube along with Blue Devil and Ragman. Ragman draws upon the strength of the souls from his rags and beats Jack of Fire down. Nightshade finishes him off by having a giant shadow warrior step on him.
The Enchantress meanwhile casts her spell, and the red barrier surrounding Riverrock collapses. The rest of the Pentacle are captured, but Strega manages to get away. When the team emerges they find that they have all aged exactly one year. This was the price of the Enchantress' spell. She had to borrow slivers of life essence from everyone inside the barrier and as such, everyone lost a year of their lives. Oddly enough, a year's worth of time has also passed outside the barrier.
Appearing in "The (Short) Year of Living Dangerously"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Rex, the Wonder Dog
- Witchfire
- Tom (Dies)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- "Bog of Blood, Part Two" is reprinted in Swamp Thing: Tales from the Bayou.