At long last, vintage 1980s Swamp Thing fans will finally receive their reward for decades of campaigning, requesting, arguing, and even pleading with publisher DC Comics.
And why?
For the stoic publisher to release the long-lost finale of Rick Veitch’s acclaimed three-year run of his monthly Swamp Thing series.
Much like the main narrative theme of that run, let me take you back through time.
After award-winning writer Alan Moore left his acclaimed Swamp Thing series with issue #64, Veitch took over stewardship of the title. They were enormous shoes to fill, to be sure, and Veitch did it with enormous success in the eyes of critics and, importantly, fans. Some of the muck-encrusted protagonist’s main themes continued with Veitch, including ecological concerns and the horrors they present to modern man. Still, the new writer drew on his deep knowledge of the DC Universe’s stable of characters and introduced a new antagonist to the series: time.
Veitch ripped Swamp Thing from his life, on the eve of the birth of his child, and ushered him through time itself. Swamp Thing, lost to the ages, took readers chaotically on a fantastical tour of the DC Universe, from the modern age of superheroes, to historic American wars, to the early times of manifest destiny, and to even the era of knights, as Swamp Thing found himself closer and closer to the beginnings of existence.
While plaintively trying to find his way home, a plethora of famous and obscure DC Comics characters met Swamp Thing along those travels, including Sgt. Rock, Jonah Hex, Bat Lash and Etrigan the Demon. The storyline was a thrilling who’s-who for comic book fans and a wonderful introduction to the history of DC Comics publishing for readers experiencing it for the first time.
Still, when Veitch proposed – and DC accepted – a story entitled “Morning of the Magician” wherein the time-wandering Swamp Thing would encounter Jesus Christ at the eve of his crucifixion, that time travel tale would abruptly end for both creator, character and readers.
In the spring of 1989, at the time of publication, DC editorial got cold feet over what they saw as an overly inflammatory offering in their preeminent mature horror publication. They balked at publishing the story that included Christ, Mary and Joseph, Mary Magdalene portrayed as a prostitute and DC hero Golden Gladiator as her client. And, of course, like any good Swamp Thing story, there were demons.
Veitch, wronged and upset, walked away from the series. And, for more than three decades, fans clamoured for his return.
Today, DC relents and rights the wrong of their past, and we, finally, receive Swamp Thing 1989 #1.
It’s both a wonderful day and a sad remembrance, not just in the auspices surrounding the issue, but also for the creators involved.
Swamp Thing 1989 #1 was written by Rick Veitch nearly forty years ago, an effort that, like the main character, feels somehow lost in time. Perhaps even more strikingly, the issue was illustrated by the great Michael Zulli, the original artist, who returned to finish his work on the publication shortly before his passing in 2024. Hand-picked by his wife, longtime friend and artistic collaborator, Vince Locke, inked Zulli’s original pencils and Swamp Thing 1989 #1 finally sees the bright light of morning.
Given renewed life, horror, fantasy and fiction readers around the world celebrate.
Swamp Thing 1989 #1 sees its main character continue his travels through time, where he encounters a humble carpenter who will both alter the creature’s destiny and inexorably change the DC Universe.
But that’s not the end of the story.
DC Comics asked Veitch to continue his run on Swamp Thing and bring his story to its natural conclusion – the ending the writer was always heading towards.
Swamp Thing 1989 #1 might publish that long-lost issue from the late 1980s in a trade dress that mirrors the times when it should have been released, but it is only the first issue of a four-issue monthly miniseries that will see writer Veitch joined by fan favourite artist, Tom Mandrake, on the next three issues.
Finally, nearly forty years later, DC Comics finds redemption, and Rick Veitch, Swamp Thing and readers everywhere find their own sense of peace.
Morning of the Magician indeed.
Discover the magic that made the original series so wonderful. Make the run to your local comic book store today and pick up the long-awaited Swamp Thing 1989 #1.
