Swamp Thing reread, part 8

Swamp Thing #65-76 (1987-88)
Written by Rick Veitch
Art by Veitch/Alfredo Alcala, except #70 by Veitch/Alcala/Brett Ewins

Rick Veitch makes sense as the next writer for Swamp Thing in several ways: he's both written and drawn the book before, he's collaborated with Moore and Bissette and Totleben on other things, and he shares Moore's interest in obscure old comic characters and idiosyncratic science fiction—but also, in 1987 he just might be the second oddest person working for DC Comics. Veitch's solo work in the '80s is hard to describe; it doesn't resemble Swamp Thing, nor anything else. Calling it experimental would be a little misleading, because Veitch is deeply steeped in mainstream comic-book storytelling of the '60s and '70s, but he's got esoteric interests that tend to take over the story*, as well as a loopy sense of humor.

* Notably, the collective unconscious, and the idea that superheroes are kind of a warped detour on the road to true superhuman transcendence. For the former, see his very enjoyable dream comics collections starting with Rabid Eye. For the latter, my favorites are The One and The Maximortal, although both are extremely weird and unpleasant so be warned.

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