Swamp Thing 1989 #1
Chad Burdette
Recap
When Alan Moore concluded his landmark run on Swamp Thing, he personally selected Rick Veitch to continue the series. Veitch’s work quickly earned its own acclaim.
After a renowned two year run on the series, Veitch’s grand finale to Swamp Thing was cut short, and never to see print!
In 1989, the original plans for Swamp Thing #88 were halted during production.
Veitch left the title, and the unpublished issue marked the abrupt end of Veitch’s three-year saga.
Over three decades since the controversy and cancellation, Rick Veitch’s legendary lost issues are completed!
Now presented with its original trade dress, period-accurate numbering on the cover, facsimile-style paper stock, and vintage ads, to Veitch’s final Swamp Thing saga, running as it would have been published in 1989
Swamp Thing is cast back through time, he will come to meet a carpenter who will change the trajectory of his life, and the DC Universe forever. The origin of Etrigan , and Swamp Thing's journey to the beginning of time starts here!
Review
Swamp Thing 1989 #1 is, on the surface not a “new readers friendly” issue and concept, as it is geared towards readers of Veitch’s run following Alan Moore’s work on the series. While the premise of the story is contained in the Johnny DC introduction (more on this below), a recap of Veitch’s story and what had transpired since the Invasion crossover event would make the story that this series feel more complete and accessible
By page six, it is 1989 again and the hey day of the Vertigo Imprint is back as readers are dropped into the events of The Last Supper of the Christian Easter story, and some good Oole demonic shenanigans as the Magi from the Biblical Christmas story make a deal with Belial.
The envelope continues to be pushed, in a 90s sense, as Mary Magdelene, the prostitute who had a thing for Jesus, and the lead Roman officer are spending time as officer is summoned to go arrest Jesus as he is praying in the Garden as Swamp Thing in his travels through time arrives there as an olive and then fills the chalice / Holy Grail. Vetch further combines elements of the crucifixion story into his Swamp Thing story in a way that it is respectful, while infusing the supernatural elements that have defined the character’s mythology.
The juxtaposition of the main story art and the pages of Swamp Thing’s journey through the time stream work well to keep the original story separate from the new sections that seemed to be added to the story.
The use of the Johnny DC page not only helps to set the 90s feel, but was a nice touch to include the teases for thr other DC titles that were supposed to be published at the same time Vetch’s story was originally to be published.
Final Thoughts
Swamp Thing 1989 #1, while may be a difficult sell to new readers, is a nostalgic trip back to Rick Veitch’s Swamp Thing trip through time as it hearkens back to the golden age of pre-Vertigo DC Comics line without skipping a beat for readers of that era!
Swamp Thing 1989 #1
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 8/108/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10
