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December 1977 - January 1978 |
 In the aftermath of last issue, Perdition, PA is ruined and Prof is infected with a deadly space-fungus. Rocky, with all his muscles, feels so useless he could cry. |
 Our cast consists of the Challs, June, and Gaylord (not Dustin) Clayburne. Not far off, Swamp Thing watches. He helped destroy the space-god M'Nagalah. Suddenly an electrified wolf attacks, but Swamp Thing just brushes him off. The wolf was possessed by Deadman, who thought he was evil. Guess not. Deadman communes with his own troublesome god, Rama Kushna. Why was Deadman sent here? What great evil should he fight? "Follow the Challengers. One of them suffers." |
Back at Challenger Mountain, the reader suffers some painful dialogue. Rocky wonders why he can't be infected? Who'd miss a mug like him? June would: opposites attract. Red resents the "gorilla" making time with his girl, then tells Ace to "keep out of my life". Strained silence follows. Clayburne wants to help cure Prof. Ace tells him, thanks for your past help, but. "For years, you've been trying to weasel your way into the Challengers because of your money and your ego. But we don't like you, Clayburne. Get it? You rub us the wrong way. In other words, Clayburne - TAKE A WALK!" Clayburne walks. |
Meanwhile, the "automatic medical robots" (Where'd they get those?) can't cure Prof, even with Red and June adding sweat. But "Nothing can save Prof now."  Deadman takes his cue to work "from the inside out. And Boston Brand is the original inside man!" Diving into Prof, he makes the body fight the fungus from the inside out. And big chunks slough off. Just like that, Prof is cured. And Deadman's the ghostly equivalent of unconscious. |
When Prof awakes, he gets an update on what happened in Perdition. Then adds his own surprise. Swamp Thing is Doctor Alec Holland! And the Challengers abandoned him? And Rama Kushna didn't tell Deadman? Okay, find him! The Challs jet back to Perdition, but Deadman is quicker. He finds ST's tracks boarded a train for Philly. Deadman zooms on and finds ST in an alley. He'll possess the monster to turn him back - but bounces off. ST is already possessed! |
Meanwhile, the Challs are finding nothing in the ruins of Perdition. Deadman flits in, possesses Ace, and yells that ST's in Philly and in trouble. Off they go. The book's funniest moment comes when Ace "wakes up" as Deadman departs him.  |
Swamp Thing, possessed, rampages through Philadelphia to get to the state asylum. A mysterious madman with glowing eyes calls him. Swamp Thing tears off a steel door to free - everyone's favorite villain. Duncan Pramble - Multi-Man!  |
The Challs thought the last time Pramble died, that he returned as a normal man. Nope, he's got telepathy! And he commands ST to crush Rocky! What now? Red suggests they somehow short-circuit the telepathic link between Pramble and Swamp Thing - but that's impossible. Re-enter Deadman, who wonders if a ghost can die trying a stunt like this - - jumping between the two connected beings and BLOWING them apart!  Swamp Thing is free. Pramble's mind is gone. The Challs tuck him back into the asylum. |
Back in the lab, Prof runs tests. There's no way he can restore Alec Holland to normal. "But if it means anything, he can consider Challenger Mountain his home."  Yes, thinks Swamp Thing. It means a lot. He's no longer alone. |
A banner promises that, next issue, Old Home Week continues.  |
Comments Lots of emoting here, Rocky feeling useless and mooning over June, Red resentful of Rocky's mooning over June, Ace yelling at Clayburne, Rocky amazed as June says, "Opposites attract." There's barely enough time for fighting fungus and Swamp Thing and Duncan Pramble. Too much too much. Keep it simple, stupid. |
And yet, not enough. These comics were produced when DC was going head-to-head with Marvel, banging out all kinds of titles. And skimping. There are only 17 pages per story, and the paper and ink are cheap cheap cheap. See how the art suffers? And with Gerry Conway as DC's primo writer, nuff said... Furthermore, why does the cover need, "Guest-Starring Deadman!" when we can see him, and why do we need the word balloons when the action is obvious: Swamp Thing is berserk and Deadman is occupying Prof's diseased body? Simplify! |
The Challs got an entry in The Daily Planet, which ran in various mags.  |