Comic Title: Swamp Thing #3
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Feb/Mar 1973
On Sale Date: December 7, 1972 Newsstand Date December 7, 1972
Source: House Ad, Swamp Thing #2, Page 29

Newsstand Date December 7, 1972
Source: Comic Reader, #91

Copyright Date December 7, 1972
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1973

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.20
Page Count: 32
Editor: Joe Orlando

Title: "The Patchwork Man"
Pages: 23

Feature(s):
Swamp Thing (of Earth-1)

Writer: Len Wein
Artist/Colorist: Bernie Wrightson
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino

Reprinted In:
DC Special Series #14 (1978)
Roots of the Swamp Thing #2 (1986)
Swamp Thing:Dark Genesis TPB (1992)
Secret of the Swamp Thing TPB (2005)
Roots of the Swamp Thing HC (2009)
Roots of the Swamp Thing TPB (2012)
Swamp Thing:The Bronze Age Omnibus HC (2017)
Swamp Thing:The Bronze Age Vol. 1 TPB (2018)
Absolute Swamp Thing by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson HC (2023)

Feature Character(s)

• Swamp Thing (last appearance in Swamp Thing #2; next appearance in Swamp Thing #4)

Guest Star(s)

• Patchwork Man (last appearance in Swamp Thing #2; next appearance in House of Secrets #140)

Supporting Character(s)

• Abigail Arcane (a medic; first appearance; next appearance in Swamp Thing #4)
• Matt Cable (last appearance in Swamp Thing #2; next appearance in Swamp Thing #4)

Villain(s)

• Anton Arcane (in flashback to the creation of the Patchwork Man; last appearance in House of Secrets #140; next appearance in Swamp Thing #1)
• The Conclave (last appearance in Swamp Thing #2; next appearance in Swamp Thing #6)
• Mister E (last appearance in Swamp Thing #2; next appearance in Swamp Thing #6)

Other Character(s)

• Mutt (last appearance in Swamp Thing #2; next appearance in Swamp Thing #4)
• A mob of villagers (no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Patchwork Man (becomes the Patchwork Man; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Swamp Thing #2)

Synopsis:
Following the presumed death of Arcane, Swamp Thing attempts to use the castle lab equipment to cure himself. However, his monster form makes it impossible to handle the equipment. He prepares to leave when the floor gives way. A Patchwork Man, one of Arcane's creations, tries to save him from the fall, but he fails. The creature then sets fire to the castle.

In the village below, Matt Cable arrives. He is hunting Swamp Thing, whom he blames for the death of the Hollands. He soon meets Abigail, Arcane's niece. They witness the destruction of the castle.

The Patchwork Man has survived the fire. When he sees Abigail and Matt, he recognizes Abby. The monster is actually her father Gregori. After his body was ravaged in a mine explosion, his brother conducted experiments that left him in monster form. The Patchwork Man tries to take Abigail away. Matt leads a village mob to stop him.

Swamp Thing has also survived. At first he fights the Patchwork Man, because he doesn't understand his connection to Abby. When Abigail is in danger, both monsters work together to save her. The Patchwork Man apparently falls to his doom, just as Abby recognizes him as her father. Swamp Thing then delivers Abby to Matt. Abby joins Matt on his return to America.