Hey, wait a second, I’ve already read this story….
This issue reprints the tenth issue of the original Swamp Thing series, when Arcane swims across the ocean and attacks Swamp Thing only to be defeated by the spirits of dead slaves. Wrightson art, one of Wein’s last good unsettling issues, it’s a good comic book. Wish whoever had been in charge had at least changed the editor’s notes so it didn’t refer to the second issue of the original series here in a Saga of the Swamp Thing book.
There are bookends, of course, and I guess they’re were the issue has problems. The flashback isn’t particularly important, at least not as a full reprint. Pasko, Bissette and Totleben could have retold it in a page or two. It’s an awkward fill, since it doesn’t do anything to resolve the previous issue’s cliffhanger.
They should’ve just taken a month off.
CREDITS
The Man Who Would Not Die!; writers, Martin Pasko and Len Wein; pencillers, Stephen R. Bissette and Bernie Wrightson; inkers, John Totleben and Wrightson; colorist, Tatjana Wood; letterer, Ben Oda; editor, Len Wein; publisher, DC Comics.
Comics Fondle 
“Back In The Day”, I don’t think you couldn’t take a month off, due to rigorous (and majority in those days) sales through Subs and newstand distribution. Whether it was a fill in or a reprint, Marvel & DC Always put an issue out on it’s scheduled ship date. It was only after direct sales took hold that they started the late ships.