Constantine Co-Creator’s Legendary Lost Comic Finally Getting a Collected Edition (And We Have The First Look) [Exclusive]

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The early 1990s were an exciting period for comic books, with a surge in self-publishing allowing many creators to share their work independently. One such creator was Stephen R. Bissette, known for co-creating John Constantine and his work on Alan Moore’s famous Swamp Thing. Bissette also created Tyrant, a comic about the struggles for survival of a Tyrannosaurus rex, even before it hatched. Though nominated for an Eisner Award in 1995, only four issues were ever released. Now, Lighthouse Press is collecting the series, and ComicBook has a first look at the collection.

Lighthouse Press is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for a special Deluxe Edition of the comic Tyrant. This edition will collect all four issues of Tyrant, featuring large-format scans of the original artwork directly from the hand-drawn pages. It will also include different versions designed by Jim Rugg, and a brand-new 7,000-word introduction. This is being hailed as the definitive version of Tyrant.

The New Tyrant Deluxe Editions Will Be the Most Complete Version of the “Lost” Comic Ever

The upcoming Kickstarter for Tyrant will offer two editions of the comic: an oversized, 100+ page hardcover called the Original Art version, and a more expansive Complete Edition. The Complete Edition is a 200+ page hardcover with a slipcase. Both books will be the definitive collection of the series, including all the original back pages, plus letters and articles about paleontology, pop culture, and other related topics. This is a project fans have been requesting for years, and it’s finally becoming a reality.

“It’s really happening,” Bissette confirmed. “Lighthouse is helping me revive my long-abandoned project, ‘Lost Odysseus,’ and bring it to completion. I’ve been incredibly impressed with what I’ve seen so far, and I owe that to Lighthouse, Chris Stevens, and Jim Rugg. They made it possible for this project to move forward when it otherwise wouldn’t have.”

Rugg praised Tyrant as a visually stunning comic, saying, ‘Dinosaurs have never looked better!’ He fondly remembers discovering the book in the 90s and is excited to introduce it to a new audience. He believes it’s a unique and universally appealing comic, perfect for readers of all ages, from young children to adults.

Lighthouse is starting with the comic Tyrant, and plans to release several more titles over the next few years, especially those from the 1990s and early 2000s. They’ll be focusing on high-quality editions of both hidden gems and popular cult classics. You can find their new Kickstarter campaign for Tyrant and see what rewards are available here.

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2026-03-17 17:43