Swamp Thing 1989 #1 Review

 

Swamp Thing 1989 #1 Review

Writer: Rick Veitch

Artists: Michael Zulli & Vince Locke

Colorist: Trish Mulvihill

Letterer: John Costanza and Todd Klein

Editors: Karen Burger, Alex Galer & Chris Conroy

Cover Artist: Rich Veitch

Variant Cover Artists: Michael Zulli

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock/$7.99 Foil

Release Date: April 29, 2026

 

Through his connection with the Green, Swamp Thing can travel anywhere on Earth. At times, he clashes with Poison Ivy. When he descended to the Earth's core, Swamp Thing waged a ferocious battle to become King Omega. Yet instead of combating or aiding John Constantine, he battled Cyborg, another hero torn between two worlds.

 

While distance presents no obstacle to Swamp Thing, he has also broken the bonds of time. Once, cast adrift in the time stream, he could have let the currents and eddies pull him home. Yet Swamp Thing felt that he must be traveling for some purpose. What events will Swamp Thing witness as he seeks to understand himself better? And who will Swamp Thing learn from in this formerly unpublished tale judged too controversial for the 1980s? Let’s leap into Swamp Thing 1989 #1 and see!

 

Story

The Magi followed a guiding star to honor the new king of the Jews. Then, they watched the child mature into adulthood. Yet he has not become the Messiah the Jews expected. Jesus preaches against repression and exploitation. He has not raised an army to expel the Roman invaders from the Jews' homeland. Instead, he casts moneychangers from the Temple. Worse, Jesus has intruded upon the Magi’s territory. He has healed the sick and raised the dead. Jesus even refuses an allegiance with Satan as he performs miracles. Fearing how great he might become, the Magi appeal to the demon Belial to prevent Jesus from overshadowing them and changing the order of their world.

 

In Swamp Thing 1989 #1, the Magi and Belial sense the cosmos converging. As Belial leaps into action, Swamp Thing glimpses eras and locales, trying to divine his next destination. When he arrives in Gethsemane and sees Jesus, he understands why. Swamp Thing may have grown beyond the limitations of a temporal Human. Yet he remembers being Alec Holland and how the man felt about Jesus. Observing these events links Swamp Thing with his past as he realizes how Alec would have cherished this opportunity.

 

While Rick Veitch’s story speaks to how the rich and powerful seek to retain their status and influence, it also links Jesus with a Roman Centurian. A period of the soldier's past evokes Jesus’ birth, and how Christians view their relationship with their savior. Veitch's story also addresses the social inequities of the time and portrays what people had to do to survive. But as cosmic forces converge, Swamp Thing must decide whether he should remain an observer or if he should act to combat a great evil in Swamp Thing 1989 #1.

 

Art

As if cast into the ocean depths, Swamp Thing watches bubbles rise around him. Faces and places adorn many of the orbs. At first, their destination recalls the star the Magi followed to honor an infant. Then, the orbs or planets swirl in ever-decreasing circles until disappearing into a light-blue void. As Swamp Thing travels toward his next port of call, Michael Zulli and Vince Locke reveal weary men sitting around a table laden with bread and wine. While in a chamber, stone columns, chains with hooks, and severed bodies surround the Magi as they cast their latest offering into the pit before an idol.

 

As Trish Mulvihill lavishes bright colors on Swamp Thing 1989 #1, yellow suggests a link between two players in this cosmic contest. Purple surrounds the disciples and Mary Magdalene, while her skin color suggests a reason for her profession. Swamp Thing looks at home in Gethsemane, while the night sky matches the cosmos when it changes from black to blue. Yet despite his role as observer, Mary Magdalene’s garment links with Swamp Thing's act, as he beholds a person both Human and God.

 

Black uppercase letters fill beige parchment scraps as Swamp Thing shares his thoughts. A narrator’s words fill blue narrative boxes. John Costanza and Todd Klein fill white dialogue balloons with black text. Yet pain makes words grow bold and transforms balloons into stars. Rich Veitch's original black-and-white cover art and period advertisements also help this historic issue shine like a Centurian's armor. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

We all sacrifice for the people and things we want. While the Magi and Belial sacrifice to preserve their power, a respected man prepares to risk his career for the woman he loves. As Swamp Thing supports someone he respects, DC Comics looks back through the time stream and publishes a story they originally sacrificed to ensure they could continue serving superhero fans. An introduction places the story in context, and an afterward continues the discussion of a cosmic contest that enriches the mythology of DC Comics in Swamp Thing 1989 #1.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of Swamp Thing 1989 #1.

 

For Swamp Thing's battle in the Omega Tournament, see my preview of Titans #30: All Fight Month Round Four.