DC Comics shocked the crowd at New York Comic Con today by confirming the long-lost Swamp Thing #88 will finally be published. The issue, written by Rick Veitch with art by Michael Zulli, features Swamp Thing traveling back in time and meeting Jesus Christ, referred to in the story as “the Nazarene.” For decades, the story was considered too controversial to print, making it one of the most legendary unpublished comics in history.

Originally scheduled for release in 1989, the issue was fully written and illustrated before DC’s leadership pulled it due to concerns about depicting a religious figure. The move led Veitch to walk away from the series, leaving his acclaimed run unfinished and the comic shrouded in mystery. Now, over thirty years later, DC is restoring and releasing the issue as part of its new Vertigo archival initiative, giving fans a chance to experience it in its original form.

The company described the move as a long-overdue act of creative restoration rather than a publicity stunt. The upcoming release will include the completed art and story, presented in its intended late-’80s format, preserving the tone and context of the original run. No official release date has been announced yet, but DC confirmed that the issue will finally see print in full.

For fans and historians, this moment represents more than a long-lost comic finally surfacing. It is a recognition of artistic intent and the freedom to tell challenging stories, even when they push boundaries. For over three decades, Swamp Thing #88 existed only as rumor and legend. Today, it becomes real.