Stephen R. Bissette and John Totleben took the comics world by storm when they were given the reins of Saga of Swamp Thing with issue #16. Alan Moore joined the series with #20, and in the issues that followed, the trio completely reinvented Swamp Thing in what is considered to be the seminal horror comic of the 1980s.
Bissette’s masterful layouts were the perfect springboard for Totleben’s finely detailed pen-and-brushwork. Their artistic collaboration was stylishly unique and unlike anything that had come before in mainstream comics. Rick Veitch, a fellow Joe Kubert School alumnus, also provided art for the series, adding his own distinctive take on the tragic hero.
"Never thought I'd live long enough to see this volume exist but overjoyed and gratified that I have, and that it does,” remarked Stephen R. Bissette. “Back in the mid-1980s, John and I basically subsidized our ongoing work on Swamp Thing by selling the original art (at what were, at the time, affordable prices) and as many sketches as we could muster—having this book is happily putting some of the artwork that we'd let go long ago back into our hands. And, thankfully, all of yours."
"For those of you who have never seen, much less owned, an original page of Bissette & Totleben Swamp Thing artwork and wish you had, this volume puts the next best thing straight into your hands.” John Totleben added, “These comic art reproductions come closer than anything else to represent the look and feel of the actual physical pages, warts and all, without the usual pre-printing clean-ups and preparations necessary for publication. Almost like having a collection of the original pages, and… you don't need to be a billionaire to afford it!"
Art is included from many issues between #16–64, including spectacular examples from “Anatomy Lesson,” and “American Gothic” storylines, and many others. Additionally, the 10-page “Jack in the Green” story is presented in its entirety – the final collaboration by Bissette and Totleben at DC. There’s also a selection of gorgeous covers, sketches, and other extras. Plus, an introduction by Bissette and another by legendary editor Karen Berger that offers keen insight into the artistic collaborations that brought these issues to vivid life.
“Bissette and Totleben’s run on Swamp Thing with Alan Moore is arguably the greatest mainstream comics series of the early 1980s,” said Scott Dunbier. “My one complaint was that, as an art dealer and collector, I saw many of the original pages in person–and the printed comic book did not come close to doing their work justice. As great as those comics were, they could never measure up to the exquisite line work Bissette and Totleben were producing. Now, finally, people will be able to see what this masterful duo created, as close to the original art as possible. It will be a revelation”!
An Artist’s Edition is an art book disguised as a comic collection. Although appearing to be in black and white, all the art is scanned in color, enabling the reader to see the work as closely to the original as possible – ink gradients, blue pencil, and all the unique nuances that make original art so special – are all clearly visible and printed at the same size as drawn.
Bissette and Totleben’s Swamp Thing Artist’s Edition is the latest chapter of the groundbreaking releases from the Act 4 Publishing and Skybound partnership. Additional upcoming titles include Jason Pearson’s Body Bags Artist’s Edition, DC Silver Age Covers and Stories Artist’s Edition, Circus of Bones: The Art of Mike Mignola, Beta Ray Bill by Daniel Warren Johnson Artist’s Edition, J. Scott Campbell's Danger Girl Artist’s Edition, and Marvel Heroes by Gene Colan Artist’s Edition.
Bissette and Totleben’s Swamp Thing Artist’s Edition (ISBN: To Come | SRP $150.00) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 7, 2027, and at booksellers on Tuesday, August 3, 2027.
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