After more than 35 years in limbo, DC Comics is officially publishing one of the most infamous unreleased stories in modern comics history. This spring, Swamp Thing 1989 #1 arrives as a fully restored chapter from writer Rick Veitch’s late-1980s run—an issue originally intended to ship as Swamp Thing #88 before being pulled mid-production.
Released under DC Black Label, the four-issue miniseries will complete Veitch’s ambitious, long-interrupted saga exactly as it was meant to be published in 1989. The newly titled Swamp Thing 1989 #1 features interior art by original penciler Michael Zulli, with inks by Vince Locke, bringing to life the story Veitch and Zulli planned decades ago.
In the issue, Swamp Thing is hurled backward through time, where an encounter with a humble carpenter sets off consequences that ripple across the DC Universe. The story also lays the groundwork for the long-teased origin of Etrigan the Demon and launches Swamp Thing on a mythic journey stretching from biblical history to the dawn of existence itself.
Visually, the comic embraces its roots. Veitch provides the main cover, while Zulli contributes haunting variant and foil covers that reflect the emotional weight of this pivotal moment. DC is also presenting the issue with period-accurate trade dress, vintage ads, facsimile-style paper stock, and original numbering—making it feel as if the series never skipped a beat.
The project was first confirmed during New York Comic Con 2025, where fans learned that DC would finally move forward with Veitch’s once-controversial storyline. For decades, readers had campaigned for its release after plans for Swamp Thing #88 were abruptly halted in 1989, ending Veitch’s run prematurely.
Though Zulli passed away in 2024, he returned to work on the issue beforehand, completing the artwork that appears on one of the variant covers. DC collaborated closely with Zulli’s wife, Karen Zulli, and brought in longtime collaborator Vince Locke to finish the interiors while preserving Zulli’s original vision.
Issues #2–4—corresponding to the never-published Swamp Thing #89–91—will feature art by veteran Swamp Thing artist Tom Mandrake, with colors by Trish Mulvihill and lettering by Todd Klein, each paying tribute to the classic creative team that defined the series.
Priced at $4.99 for the standard edition (with card-stock and foil variants available), Swamp Thing 1989 #1 launches April 29, 2026, and carries an Ages 17+ rating. For fans, it’s more than a new release—it’s the restoration of a missing chapter that finally allows one of DC’s most daring runs to reach its intended conclusion.
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