Rick Veitch’s Swamp Thing To Finally Be Completed, 35+ Years Later

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Back in the 80s writer Alan Moore successfully reinvented the character of Swamp Thing and brought the long-standing leafy creature a new audience. He handed writing duties off to Rick Veitch in 1987, who did a respectable job continuing the series, but then in 1989, DC abruptly cancelled the whole thing. In the decades since, fans have demanded an official release of the rejected Issue #88…such demands tend to get ignored, but perhaps after the successful release of the unpublished “Jason Todd Lives” comic, DC’s feeling charitable. They announced Swamp Thing #88 will at last be released, 37 years late. Why exactly did this book get canned? Apparently issue #88 had subject matter that DC felt skittish about….and rather than halt the storyline at the rough outline stage, they let it go all the way to near-completion before saying “no thanks.” We can’t say for certain what’s in it but here’s DC’s description of the plot: “In this issue, Swamp Thing is cast back through time and encounters a humble carpenter whose presence will alter the creature’s destiny and send ripples through the DC Universe. The issue also sets the stage for the long-anticipated origin of Etrigan the Demon and […]
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Rick Veitch’s Swamp Thing To Finally Be Completed, 35+ Years Later | PopGeeks.com Forum | Indie Games, Movies, TV, Tabletop & Comics

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[BENIGYES]

Rick Veitch’s run always felt cut short, like the story just stopped breathing. People talk a lot about the carpenter part, but honestly that was already known in comic circles, so I do not see the shock value now. What matters to me is respect for the creators. Michael Zulli finishing his work before he passed makes this feel more emotional than political. I also like that DC did not modernize the art too much. Keeping it close to the original era is the right call. I am not expecting this to change the universe or anything big like that. I just want closure. Comics history has too many gaps caused by fear or bad timing. This feels like fixing one of them, even if it took almost forty years.

 

[RedditBannedMe]

I am glad this is finally coming out, but I am not going to pretend DC is doing this out of kindness. This feels like a test to see how much money old controversies can still make. That said, I will still buy it. Veitch’s Swamp Thing was strange in a good way, and I always respected how he pushed ideas even when it made editors nervous. The carpenter angle was always obvious to anyone paying attention, so I never understood why DC panicked so hard back then. Comics have done way more extreme things since. What really interests me is the extra issues after #88. That is the part fans never even saw outlines for, so it feels more new than the banned issue itself. I hope they do not overexplain things with modern editorial notes. Let it exist as it is. If it feels uncomfortable, that is fine. Older comics should be allowed to feel like products of their time.

 

[Neonblights]

As someone who runs a small comic shelf at home, this release actually matters to me in a practical way. I like having complete runs. Seeing Swamp Thing jump from one issue to another always annoyed me. It felt unfinished, like a movie missing its last reel. I do not care much about the controversy anymore. I care that the art style stays consistent and that the story flows naturally into the ending Veitch planned. Knowing that Vince Locke worked on finishing the art makes me more confident. He understands the look and mood. I am also happy they kept monthly releases instead of dumping it all at once. That makes it feel like a real event, not just archive content. I am not expecting younger readers to care much, but for long-time fans, this feels like finally closing a door that has been open since the late 80s.

 

[Big_NightWing_Energy]

For me, this is less about Swamp Thing and more about creators getting the last word. Rick Veitch walked away from DC because of this issue. That kind of break leaves scars. Releasing #88 does not erase what happened, but it does acknowledge it. I like that DC is not pretending this is some brand-new discovery. They are calling it what it is: a delayed ending. I am also glad they are finishing the remaining issues instead of stopping at the controversial one. That makes it feel complete, not like a novelty. I do worry about pricing, though. Older fans will want all the variants, and DC knows that. I hope they keep it reasonable. This story waited long enough. It should be easy to access, not treated like a luxury item.

 

[DevilMayCry666]

I am new compared to longtime fans, but this makes me curious. Swamp Thing stories age better than most comics from that era. Big themes, slow pacing, weird ideas. I like that DC is not afraid of that anymore. I will check it out even without nostalgia.

 

[Sexy Dexy]

Part of me wonders why it took so long. Another part of me is just glad it is happening while people still care. Comics history is full of unfinished stories. Fixing even one of them feels worthwhile. I hope they do not overexplain or edit too much.

 

[Wanda]

I am glad they are honest about why this never came out. DC has a long history of pretending cancelled stories never existed. At least here they are saying yes, we got scared and said no too late. Veitch taking Swamp Thing into big myth ideas was always his thing, so the Big Bang angle does not surprise me. What surprises me is DC letting it happen now, when they are usually very careful with legacy stuff. I do worry that people will overhype it and then complain when it feels old. Comics from that era have a different rhythm and a lot more text. That is not a flaw to me, but some readers will not like it. I respect that they kept the art close to the original plan instead of modernizing it. That choice matters more than people think. This feels like respect, not nostalgia bait.

 

[Pasta City]

I am cautious. Not angry, just cautious. Sometimes lost stories are better as ideas than as finished books. People fill in the gaps with imagination, and reality can feel smaller. Still, I think this is worth doing because it was almost finished anyway. They did not dig up a rough script from a drawer. This was close to print. The religious angle is obvious, and I understand why DC panicked in 1989. That was a different time, especially for mainstream comics. Today, it will probably feel tame to most readers. What matters more to me is tone. Veitch’s Swamp Thing was strange, thoughtful, and sometimes cold. If that mood is still there, then it works. I am less interested in shock value and more interested in atmosphere. If it feels honest to its time, I will be satisfied.

 

[CosmoCanyon7]

I see this as a win for creators more than companies. Veitch’s work was shut down for reasons that now feel small. Letting it exist at last feels like an apology without saying the word. I will read it slowly and take it for what it is, not what modern comics expect it to be.