Comic Title: Swamp Thing Annual #4
Publisher: DC
Imprint: Vertigo
Cover Date: 1988
On Sale Date: June 14, 1988 Shipping Date June 14, 1988
Source: Direct Currents, #5

Shipping Date June 16, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #141

Copyright Date June 21, 1988
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1988

Shipping Date June 14, 1988
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #758, #760, #762

Newsstand Date June 28, 1988
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #758, #760, #762

Cover Price: $2.00
Page Count: 48
Editor: Karen Berger

Title: "Threads"
Pages: 40

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

Writer: Steve R. Bissette
Penciller: Patrick R. Broderick
Inker: Ron Randall
Inker: Eduardo Barreto
Letterer: Robert M. Pinaha
Colorist: Tatjana Wood

Feature Character(s)

• Swamp Thing (last appearance in Hellblazer #10; next appearance in Swamp Thing Annual #4)

Guest Star(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Justice League International #21; next appearance in Batman #424)

Supporting Character(s)

• Abby Cable (last appearance in Hellblazer #10; next appearance in Swamp Thing #77)
• Chester Williams (last appearance in Swamp Thing #76; next appearance in Swamp Thing #77)

Villain(s)

• Poison Ivy (last appearance in Detective Comics #589; next appearance in Secret Origins #36)
• Matango (a fungus; first appearance; next appearance in Swamp Thing #90)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Detective Comics #590; next appearance in Batman #424)
• Harvey Bullock (last appearance in Checkmate #6; next appearance in Checkmate #8)

Other Character(s)

• Brenda (last appearance in Swamp Thing #73; no further appearances)
• Macky (a Gotham City coroner; no further appearances)
• Dr. Lucas and an unnamed nurse (staff at Arkham Asylum; no further appearances)
• Ratheau (a friend of Chester Williams; no further appearances)
• A homeless woman, a construction worker, and an asian man (all die in this story; no further appearances)
• Etienne Pitrie (a young boy; next appearance in Swamp Thing Annual #4)
• Lucesse and John (Etienne's parents; not named in this story; first appearance; next appearance in Swamp Thing #92)
• Several swamp residents (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
A construction worker infected by a parasitic fungus climbs a tall building in Gotham City and dies. Batman helps the police get the body down from the building, but he is exposed to the fungus. Batman searches for the source of the fungus. First he checks Arkham Asylum's records for Jason Woodrue, then he questions Poison Ivy. Eventually Batman is convinced that Swamp Thing is his only avenue for a cure.

Batman leaves Gotham and heads for Louisiana. He searches the swamps for the Swamp Thing, becoming increasingly frantic and violent as he fails. The entire time Batman has been conducting his search, Swamp Thing has been watching him. Eventually when Batman collapses, Swamp Thing moves in and removes the fungus from his lungs. Unfortunately only Batman's peak physical condition allowed him to survive. Other victims back in Gotham are forced to be isolated while they die to prevent the further spread of the fungus.