As announced at last year’s New York Comic Con, DC will finally publish Rick Veitch, Michael Zulli and Vince Locke’s work on Swamp Thing #88 from 1989. The first of four issues of the DC Black Label title will arrive in April, featuring a cover by Veitch and a variant by Zulli.
Veitch’s run on Swamp Thing in the late 1980s was cut short when issue #88, which featured a time-displaced Swamp Thing arriving in time to meet Jesus Christ, was cancelled by the publisher. While this book was solicited to be published in May of 1989, it never was released. Instead Swamp Thing #88 featured a story by Doug Wheeler and Tom Yeates.
Veitch credits years — or decades, even — of fan campaigns for convincing DC to finally finish the story Veitch intended to tell.
“The response from readers was immediate and overwhelming,” said Veitch. “It helped make the final decision to publish these issues. I am grateful to the fans for stepping up, and to DC’s team, especially editor Alex Galer and Editor-in-Chief Marie Javins, for pulling off the impossible.”
DC said that before passing away in 2024, Zulli had returned to work on the issue and completed the painting that’ll be used as a variant cover. Working with his widow, Karen Zulli, DC selected Locke to complete the issue over Zulli’s original pencils.
Another classic Swamp Thing artist, Tom Mandrake will illustrate Swamp Thing 1989 #2-4, which would have been Swamp Thing #89–91. He’ll be joined by colorist Trish Mulvihill and letterer Todd Klein.
“This is a historic moment for fans of Swamp Thing and of DC’s legacy,” said Executive Editor Chris Conroy. “The restoration of this material honors the spirit of the original creative team and allows readers to experience a defining chapter exactly where it always belonged. You will be able to put these into your long boxes as if this run had never ended.”
Swamp Thing 1989 #1 will arrive in stores April 29.