Scott Snyder To Leave Swamp Thing (UPDATE)

[Rich Johnston]

Earlier this week, as well as talking about Gail Simone leaving Batgirl, I also mentioned that Scott Snyder was leaving Swamp Thing. It's possible this may have been overshadowed somewhat.

In this case no one was fired by e-mail, there weren't excruciating issues with editorial, and no one poured a cup of hot soup over anyone. It's just that Snyder has decided to manage his workload a little more. With his new Vertigo series on the way and Man Of Steel with Jim Lee ramping up, with all of the editorial oversight such a project may need, something had to give. First American Vampire went on hold and now he's off Swamp Thing.

As much as Snyder made his name on the new Batman series, Swamp Thing showed his range and also made a comic book that had been cancelled for low sales a number of times, sell. In a way that Grant Morrison, Mark Millar, Bryan K Vaughn and Andy Diggle had failed to acheive.

I understand a recent-Image Comics creator will be writing the book after Snyder.

Hmm. DC are really delaying the Edge and Batman solicits for March, aren't they?

UPDATE: Scott Snyder has tweeted;

Hey guys - was going to wait until we got a little closer to announce this, but yes, Swamp Thing #18 will be my last issue, and Yanick's too.

To be 100% clear: @YanickPaquette and I have been planning this ending - both an ending for us as creators on the book, and for the storyline we started way back in issue #1 - for a long time. Even before we signed on to do Swampy, we both knew it would be a limited run, as we had other projects in the pipeline we knew would eventually come to pass. But the chance to do Swamp Thing, to bring back a character we've both loved dearly since childhood, was just too thrilling to turn down.

That said, we both ended up staying longer than we'd planned, too, out of love of the character, love for the story we were getting to tell, love for our team, and above all, out of love and gratitude for you guys, the fans who've helped us do something here that many people said was impossible - make Swamp Thing a viable book in the DCU. For that, all of us on team Swampy will be forever grateful to you guys.

Truthfully, these characters are some of my personal favorites in comics, ever - the early issues by @LenWein and @BernieWrightson played a huge part in making me want to write in the first place. Then the fearless work by Moore, Bissette... The thing is, Swamp Thing has always been a series where creators did these crazy things, where they experimented, pushed themselves, imagined big, took risks - and the fact that you guys have supported our team, as we've tried our own crazy ideas on the book, story-wise, artistically.... it really means the world to us. It's been a tremendous honor to write this book. And to have worked on it alongside friends like the art team - and one of my best friends in the world, and one of mu writing idols, @JeffLemire... Don't know how to thank you all for giving me the opportunity.

Anyway, all this sounds so fucking sad, BUT - please know that these issues coming up next are the big ones - the status-quo-changing-mega-ones - that we've been building towards since issue #1. So the best is still coming, with the finale of Rotworld and our shocking storyline ending in Swampy #18.

After that, Swampy will continue with an exciting new team, to be announced soon. Please give them the love and support you've shown us. They certainly have our blessing.

Again everyone, can't thank you all enough for this one. You guys made this gig a dream come true in every way, corny as that sounds. I thank you, team Swampy thanks you - and from deep in the swamp, Alec Holland, Abby Arcane, The Parliament, even Uncle Anton thanks you, too.

[WinterCeltic]

Boo! I love this book and its synergy with Lemire's Animal Man.

[HellBlazerRaiser]

THE DARK is delayed. EDGE has been released.

I hope Nick Spencer isn’t taking over SWAMP THING.

[Andrew72287]

Saw this one coming, unfortunately. With all the stuff going on something had to give and Swamp Thing was the only logical one. His run was great though, I really enjoyed what he did and hopefully it'll allow someone new to come on and keep the momentum going.

[moun10dew]

I was wondering what the deal was. Hope that they next person can live up to what Mr. Snyder started with Swamp Thing.

[Joe Kalicki]

I'm not ahuge fan of his Swamp Thing. It's had some really good moments, but it's really dragging ass.

[MechanicalClavicles]

I'm sure DC will be able to find someone else attuned to producing monthly Alan Moore fan fic.
Like, say, anyone involved with Before Watchmen...

[Acrid_Gunsmoke]

All the talent from Image coming over to DC might actually be a GOOD thing...

[Richard Pace]

I loved the start and thought Yannick and Marco brought a great deal to the table, but I'm a little fizzled with the Rotworld arc and hoping it wraps better. Not certain anyone could salvage this book or even correct its stride after Snyder leaves as well (Marco's already bailed to something else).

That would leave me with Batman as the sole monthly nu52.

~R

[Stevaux The LEsser]

THE DARK is delayed. EDGE has been released.

I hope Nick Spencer isn’t taking over SWAMP THING.

I wouldn't worry about that. DC tricked Marvel into taking Spencer under an exclusive contract. Why would they want him back when he's done less for the Marvel bottom line than he did at DC?