Plot
The chemical compound HOS92, a byproduct of the Choate Chemical Plant, is accidentally dumped into a swamp. The contamination animates a Swamp Monster that acts under the direction of a mysterious entity, driven to obtain more of the life-giving substance. After the creature attacks a local scientist named Dr. Diablo, a man named Ellis Johnson contacts the Ghostbusters and explains the situation.
While Egon Spengler, Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Winston Zeddemore investigate the swamp, Dr. Diablo attempts to neutralize the HOS92 residue using a second compound called GSMT. The treatment backfires, instead spawning a new population of purple Swamp Monsters. A battle breaks out between the original green creatures and the new purple ones. In the aftermath, the Swamp Creature reveals itself and explains that the monsters and itself form a hive mind with a single goal: survival. The collective gathers all remaining barrels of HOS92 and withdraws. After the Ghostbusters depart, Dr. Diablo attempts to deploy yet another chemical agent from a separate plant, only to discover the creatures have already vanished.
Cast
Trivia
The issue's chemical names are deliberate references to other comic book properties. HOS92 is a nod to House of Secrets #92, the 1971 DC Comics issue that introduced Swamp Thing. GSMT refers to Giant-Size Man-Thing, a Marvel Comics series featuring Man-Thing, another swamp-based supernatural character. Both references reinforce the story's swamp-monster theme.
