A long time back in 1987, Rick Veitch had a fairly successful run on Swamp Thing. The main problem with it was that he was following Alan Moore’s magnificent work – and that’s a really hard act to follow. But Rick’s ideas were very good, with a huge story-arc of Swamp Thing being chucked back in time and popping up at various historical moments on his way back with Swampy getting back to the present day in issue 91. Except that story was never finished. Issue 88 was the problem, as Veitch had planned to have Swamp Thing appear as the cupbearer who offers Jesus water as he’s dying on the cross. The story, although initially approved, was subsequently rejected by DC and the issue was cancelled at the last moment. It’s one of those comics that will never see print.
The cover image on the left is one I picked up online at some point, but I think I’m right in saying that it is the image that was going to be on the cover. However, Rick Veitch has just completed a commission and put the results on his website and from the small reproduction above you can’t see how nice it is in all it’s glory. A missed opportunity from DC I think you’ll agree.
Tue, May 12, 2009
Art and animation, Comics and cartoons