Cover Impressions:

Another good Yeats cover. Swamp Thing is hailing Hydra? Is Swamp Thing also a secret member of Hydra?

Swamp Thing #13 (May, 1983)

Cover Price: $.60
Title: Lambs to The Slaughter
Credits:
Writer-Martin Pasko
Art-Tom Yates (Cover: Yates)
Editor-Len Wein
Colorist-Tatjana Wood
Letterer-John Costanza

Issue Recap:

Swamp Thing and company have been teleported to Berchtesgaden, West Germany (or just Germany nowadays). Berchtesgaden has been turned into a vast castle to serve as Kathy's lair as she completes her transformation into the herald of the beast. The first part of the issue focuses on recapping each casts members history and fears (all influenced by Kathy). Swamp Thing and Dennis find Kathy and learn her plans to summon the beast and to use Grasp as the prophet to gather a large army and send the world into armageddon. She then tells them that the golem will soon find Liz (for she now wears the locket) and will kill her. Swamp Thing and Dennis rush off to save Liz from the golem. During the battle Swampy grabs the locket and blasts golem into dust. He realizes that he know has some Kathy's telekinesis powers now that he has her locket. 

Meanwhile Grasp is about to kill Dr. Kay on the parapets of the castle. Soon afterward they are joined by Kathy and Swamp Thing. Swamp Thing (now with telekinesis) and Kathy (who is now a fly headed demon) begin to battle. Grasp (now turning into a demon) gloats to Dr. Kay as he is about kick Kay from the wall. Swampy thinking quickly uses his telekinesis to freeze Grasp and Kay then seizes the opportunity to throw Grasp off the wall killing him. Swamp Thing then blasts Kathy with telekinesis apparently killing her.

It is finally over and the world is safe from the rampaging forces of satan. The issue ends with Dennis curing Swamp Thing of his illness (also rejuvenating back in Louisiana) and Sunderland Corp., redoubling their efforts to kill Swamp Thing.

Remarks:

Overall another solid issue and a great ending to a year long plot. Though I think the Swamp Thing dying from a mysterious disease sub-plot was not really necessary, most issues it wasn't even mentioned and never really felt that Swampy was in any danger. Maybe Pasko was originally going to make the illness a bigger plot of the book? 

Grade: B