Comic Title: Roots of the Swamp Thing #4
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: October 1986
On Sale Date: July 3, 1986 Newsstand Date July 3, 1986
Source: DC Releases, #29
Dates lists as shipping July 3rd/July 31st are erroneous
The listed shipping date should be the release date

Newsstand Date July 3, 1986
Source: House Ad, Hex #14, Page IBC

Shipping Date June 10, 1986
Source: Comics Journal, #109

Copyright Date June 10, 1986
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1986
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Shipping Date June 10, 1986
Source: Amazing Heroes, #96

Cover Price: $2.00
Page Count: 48
Editor: Robert Greenberger

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "Night of the Bat"
Pages: 21

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

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

Reprinted From:
Swamp Thing #7 (1973)

Feature Character(s)

• Swamp Thing (last appearance in Swamp Thing #6; next appearance in Swamp Thing #8)

Guest Star(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Detective Comics #437; next appearance in Batman #253)

Supporting Character(s)

• Matt Cable (last appearance in Swamp Thing #6; next appearance in Swamp Thing #9)
• Abigail Arcane (last appearance in Swamp Thing #6; next appearance in Swamp Thing #9)

Villain(s)

• The Conclave (last appearance in Swamp Thing #6; no further appearances)
• Mister E (real name Nathan Ellery revealed; dies in this story; last appearance in Swamp Thing #6; next appearance in Swamp Thing #16)
• A gang of smugglers (no further appearances)
• Dr. Hammerschmidt (no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Detective Comics #437; next appearance in Detective Comics #438)
• Alfred Pennyworth (last appearance in Batman #252; next appearance in Batman #253)

Other Character(s)

• Mutt (dies in this story; last appearance in Swamp Thing #6; no further appearances)
• Driscoll (Mister E's driver; no further appearances)
• Several Gotham City police officers (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Alec Holland (in flashback)
• Linda Holland (in flashback)
• Maxwell Ferrett (in flashback)

Comments:
Although, Ellery appears to die in this story, but as revealed in Swamp Thing #17, he is later resurrected by the Conclave.

Synopsis:
Swamp Thing traces Matt Cable and Abigail Arcane to Gotham City. Police spot him and soon Commissioner Gordon summons Batman for help. While Batman hunts for Swamp Thing, the muck monster follows leads which eventually lead him to Matt and Abby. He rescues them and is then found by Batman.

Batman starts a fight, but Swamp Thing tries to avoid the conflict. Unable to communicate his true intentions, Swamp Thing flees. He then tracks down Nathan Ellery, the head of the Conclave, the organization which killed Linda Holland. Swamp Thing has an opportunity to take revenge, but he holds back. Ellery still dies during an accidental fall. Batman arrives too late to save Ellery, and Swamp Thing has already disappeared.