Swamp Thing Vol 2 88 (Unpublished)

{{Lost Issue
 * Title              = Swamp Thing
 * Image              = STJesus.jpg
 * Volume             = 2
 * Issue              = 88
 * Day                =
 * Month              = 7
 * Year               = 1989
 * Rating             = M


 * PreviousIssue      = Swamp Thing Vol 2 87
 * NextIssue          = -


 * Executive Editor   = Dick Giordano
 * CoverArtist1       = Rick Veitch


 * Writer1            = Rick Veitch
 * Penciler1          = Michael Zulli
 * Inker1             = Tom Sutton
 * Colourist1         = Tatjana Wood
 * Letterer1          = John Costanza
 * Editor1            = Karen Berger
 * Editor2            = Art Young


 * StoryTitle         = Morning of the Magician
 * Solicit            = Swamp Thing journeys back to the beginnings of mankind and the biggest surprise awaits!

History
Despite having planned the story out in advance, and had it approved by his editors, Rick Veitch's epic story about Swamp Thing journeying backwards through time was a source of concern for DC Editorial, because its final issue ended with Swamp Thing meeting Jesus Christ himself.

Most of the issue's artwork had already been drawn by Michael Zulli, in what was his first work for DC, and the story was to include both Etrigan and the more obscure Golden Gladiator - following the story arc's trend of highlighting a relatively forgotten era-specific character with each issue's time-period setting. The character of Christ was simply called "Nazarene", referring to his birthplace of.

Both editors Karen Berger and Dick Giordano read and tentatively OK'd the script, with the knowledge impressed upon Veitch that changes to the script might be necessary. However, upon her review of the script and artwork, Jenette Kahn deemed the story too great a risk. Given decreasing sales of comic books and major projects on the horizon for the company, a boycott or protest could hurt the company, and Kahn ordered that the story go unpublished. Though Veitch reportedly made efforts to change the script and argue the opposing side, editorial was determined, and he and Zulli resigned from the title.

Karen Berger approached both Jamie Delano and Neil Gaiman to take the writer's position, but both declined out of respect for Veitch. Eventually, Doug Wheeler was selected as replacement, and continued the time-travel story in a two-month-delayed, but took the story in a different direction that laid roots for his own contributions to the Swamp Thing mythology.

While Rick Veitch attempted to get his story published with a rewritten script in when he finally returned to the company in 2004, DC declined to publish it.

}}
 * Notes              =
 * Much of the original script and artwork for this planned issue can be found here!
 * Trivia             =
 * Recommended        =
 * Links              =
 * The Odd and True Tale of Swamp Thing #88 by John Amenta
 * Swamp Thing Volume 2 at Seeds & Leaves
 * 'Morning Of The Magician': Swamp Thing meets Jesus Christ - The Lost Swamp Thing by Daniel Best