After more than 30 years of waiting, one of the most talked-about unfinished stories in comics history is finally making its debut. Swamp Thing 1989 #1 kicks off a four-issue finale to Rick Veitch’s acclaimed run, beginning April 29, 2026, from DC Black Label.
Originally intended as Swamp Thing #88 in 1989, the story was pulled before it ever hit shelves, prompting Veitch’s sudden departure from the book. Now, DC is restoring the work in full with its original creative team—Veitch writing, art by the late Michael Zulli, and inks by Vince Locke—with the story set to continue through July across four issues.
In Swamp Thing 1989 #1, the creature is hurled backward through time, where he crosses paths with a mysterious carpenter. The meeting not only alters Swamp Thing’s destiny but sets off a cosmic ripple effect that impacts the entire DC Universe. This long-lost chapter also sets the stage for the origin of Etrigan the Demon and Swamp Thing’s mythic journey back to the dawn of creation.
To honor the era, Swamp Thing 1989 #1 will feature period-accurate trade dress, vintage ads, facsimile-style paper stock, and original cover numbering. Rick Veitch’s main cover reflects the story’s quiet tension and historical weight, while variants and a foil cover by Michael Zulli capture the eerie, painterly beauty of Swamp Thing’s world.
Issues #2 through #4 will be illustrated by veteran Swamp Thing artist Tom Mandrake, colored by Trish Mulvihill in the spirit of Tatjana Wood, and lettered by Todd Klein with reverence for John Costanza’s classic work.
“This is a historic moment for fans of Swamp Thing and of DC’s legacy,” said Executive Editor Chris Conroy. “You’ll be able to put these issues into your long box exactly where they belong, as if the run never stopped.”
Swamp Thing 1989 #1 hits shelves April 29. The standard edition is priced at $4.99 US, with cardstock variants at $5.99 US and foil variants at $7.99 US. For fans who have been waiting since 1989, this long-overdue finale is finally real—and it’s going to be worth it.
First and foremost, Kev is a dad to three wonderful children. He’s also an uber Kevin Smith fan (all Smith’s movies are worth a watch, even Yoga Hosers) who has cried during Kermit’s monologue in The Muppets and once owned two VHS copies of Spice World. He loves all pop culture, particularly the MCU and Star Wars. The Evil Dead franchise is his favorite horror franchise, though the original Scream is his favorite scary movie. He bleeds Eagle’s green in the (suburbs of the) greatest city on Earth, Philadelphia. Go Birds!