Comic Title: Swamp Thing #81
Publisher: DC
Imprint: Vertigo
Cover Date: Holiday 1988
On Sale Date: October 25, 1988 Shipping Date October 25, 1988
Source: Direct Currents, #9

Direct Market Date November 3, 1988
Source: Comic Shop News, #72

Shipping Date October 27, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #151

Copyright Date November 15, 1988
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1988

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

Title: "Widowsweed"
Pages: 24

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

Crossover Event:
Invasion

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

Reprinted In:
Swamp Thing:Infernal Triangles TPB (2007)

Feature Character(s)

• Swamp Thing (no appearance)

Supporting Character(s)

• Abby Cable (last appearance in Swamp Thing #80; next appearance in Swamp Thing #83)
• Chester Williams (last appearance in Swamp Thing #80; next appearance in Swamp Thing #83)
• Abby's baby (as a fetus; last appearance in Swamp Thing #78; next appearance in Swamp Thing #90)

Villain(s)

• Dominators (last appearance in Starman #5; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #449)
• Widowsweed (a bounty hunter; dies in this story; first appearance; next appearance in Swamp Thing #96)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Roy Raymond (last appearance in Swamp Thing #74; no further appearances)
• Guy Gardner (last appearance in Justice League International #22; next appearance in Invasion #2)

Other Character(s)

• An unnamed doctor (no further appearances)

Comments:
This issue is labeled as an Invasion First Strike Extra.

Swamp Thing does not appear in this story.

The story of Widowsweed's mate was told in Swamp Thing #9. Although that story took place on Earth-1, this story establishes that similar events must have taken place in post-Crisis continuity.

Synopsis:
Having returned to her home in the swamp, Abby finds that it has wilted. She and Chester explore the house looking for signs of the Swamp Thing. Instead they encounter an alien bounty hunter employed by the Dominators to capture Abby. However, when the female hunter learns that Abby is pregnant, she decides not to kill her. Instead, the alien locates the remains of another alien ship buried in the swamp. Inside are the remains of her former mate. The alien lets Abby go, explaining that they are both widows.

Abby and Chester then return to her swamp house. On the way, they encounter Guy Gardner who was been dispatched by Batman to find Swamp Thing. When he sees the hunter leaving in her ship, he shoots her down. He then departs having learned of Swamp Thing's demise. Abby however holds out hope that Alec may still be alive.