Comic Title: Swamp Thing #73
Publisher: DC
Imprint: Vertigo
Cover Date: June 1988
On Sale Date: February 23, 1988 Shipping Date February 23, 1988
Source: Direct Currents, #2

Shipping Date February 23, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #136

Copyright Date February 23, 1988
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1988

Shipping Date March 1, 1988
Source: Direct Currents, #1
Listing dates were out of sequence

Cover Price: $1.25
Page Count: 32
Editor: Karen Berger

Title: "The Fire Next Door"
Pages: 24

Feature(s):
Swamp Thing (Post-Crisis)

Writer/Penciller: Rick Veitch
Inker: Alfredo P. Alcala
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood

Reprinted In:
Swamp Thing:Spontaneous Generation TPB (2006)

Feature Character(s)

• Swamp Thing (last appearance in Captain Atom #17; next appearance in Swamp Thing #74)

Guest Star(s)

• John Constantine (last appearance in Swamp Thing #72; next appearance in Hellblazer #6)

Supporting Character(s)

• Abby Cable (last appearance in Swamp Thing #72; next appearance in Swamp Thing #74)
• Chester Williams (last appearance in Swamp Thing #70; next appearance in Swamp Thing #76)
• Sprout (last appearance in Swamp Thing #72; next appearance in Swamp Thing #74)
• Liz Tremayne (behind-the-scenes; last appearance in Swamp Thing #70; next appearance in Swamp Thing #76)

Villain(s)

• Wild Thing (last appearance in Swamp Thing #72; next appearance in Swamp Thing #74)
• The Swamp Knucker (last appearance in Swamp Thing #72; next appearance in Swamp Thing #74)
• Three teenage boys (Ray named; no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Roy Raymond (last appearance in Swamp Thing #72; next appearance in Swamp Thing #74)

Other Character(s)

• Lipchitz (last appearance in Swamp Thing #72; next appearance in Swamp Thing #74)
• Dogbum (last appearance in Swamp Thing #71; no further appearances)
• Snuffy (last appearance in Swamp Thing #71; no further appearances)
• Brenda (last appearance in Swamp Thing #72; next appearance in Swamp Thing Annual #4)
• Carl (last appearance in Swamp Thing #72; no further appearances)
• Staj (last appearance in Swamp Thing #70; no further appearances)
• Freddy (last appearance in Swamp Thing #70; no further appearances)

Comments:
This story continues in part in Swamp Thing #74.

Synopsis:
While traveling through the Green, Swamp Thing is attacked by a dragon plant spirit. The dragon swallows him and captures the Sprout. Meanwhile Constantine follows the portents to Chester Williams who is now the target to become the next Swamp Thing. John and Chester meet Abby on the outskirts of the swamps when the dragon emerges from the ground. Abby pushes Chester into the water to save him, and Swamp Thing struggles to gain control of the dragon from the inside. When Chester is safe, Swamp Thing leaves the Sprout in Abby's care and leaves the area, so that he can safely separate from the dragon.