Swamp Thing (Volume 5) Issue 32

## "Blue/Green"

"*Plants pre-date people down here by* billions *of years. This is* my *kingdom more than it is yours. For the* moment*, I'm happy to share. But* don't push it*.*"
―Swamp Thing
## Synopsis

### Blue/Green"

Having learned of a plant-anomaly in the South Pacific from Aquaman, Swamp Thing is now in the Apo Reef near the Philippines, where he has decided he needs to spend more time with the aquatic plant-life there - they *speak* to him differently. However, his primary focus is the massive clump of algae that has been growing and *killing* every animal that comes near it. And *it* won't speak to him at all. As he attempts to get closer to it, it grabs him, and he realizes that it will kill him if he doesn't pull back. When he does, though, he finds himself skewered by Aquaman's trident. Angrily, the man warns that he is *ready* this time.

Earlier, Alec had asked Brother Jonah what *he* knew of Atlantis, but he knew nothing, surprised it was real. Moving on, Alec explained that some kind of Algal Bloom that he had caused has been behaving like it has *agency*, killing every non-plant it encountered. He couldn't *feel* it in The Green, though. This, at least, Brother Jonah knew about - but rather than explain, he decided it would be best to call the *other* former avatars to discuss it.

Derisively, The Wolf explained that Alec's foolishness had won him a *Kreuzblütler*. This is the *consequence* of destroying the Parliament of Trees. Despite Alec's low opinion of them, the Parliament had done *more* than merely squabble. It had maintained the stability of the Green. The Avatar acts as guardian, but the Parliament acted as *manager*. A Kreuzblütler is an offshoot consciousness, a barely sentient plant mind that wishes only to consume and grow. The powers of an avatar cannot touch it, and the Kreuzblütler sees him as a threat.

Now, Aquaman calls a herd of Dugongs to *eat* Alec, which prevents him from reconstituting himself. In the meantime, he sends a school of fish to *eat* the algae of the Kreuzblütler, but the creature *destroys* them. Taking the form of a small piece of vegetable matter, Alec warns Arthur that the plan won't *work*. He needs to be allowed to take care of the problem himself, and he needs Arthur to stop treating him like an enemy.

Alec reaches out and finds himself in *another* Green - the Green belonging to the Kreuzblütler. The name translates from German to "Crossblossom" - which is when a portion of the Green splits off and forms a pocket reality. It knows everything Alec knows, but *he* doesn't know what *it* knows. Suddenly, Alec faces a monster of the Kreuzblütler's creation - its own attempt at an avatar. Fortunately, it is not a very well devised avatar, and Alec believes that he can defeat it.

In the meantime, Arthur attempts to destroy the thing *himself* in Alec's absence, but learns that he is no match for it. So, he calls to Neol for backup, seeing no other option but to *burn* the area clean with missiles - at the cost of uncounted species' lives. Suddenly, Alec gains control of the algae blob, and warns Arthur to hold his attack. He hopes that the creature will not come back, though Arthur doesn't trust him. Alec responds that Arhur tried to have him eaten and blown up - the fact that his kingdom still stands is testament to Alec's trustworthiness. Aquaman states that while that may be so, the people he protects are his responsibility, and Alec should not enter the ocean again without his permission. Alec reminds that the plants of the sea predate the Atlanteans by *billions* of years - but he is happy to share.

Returning to Louisiana, Alec demands that the former avatars tell him *everything*. He is *sick* of surprises. Wolf responds that the destruction of the Parliament also destroyed billions of years of collective knowledge - for which they are no replacement. As far as Lady Weeds is concerned, he brought it upon himself. Jonah cannot help but agree that Alec has made his own bed. Alec responds that even without the Parliament, he has the three of them to rely upon. Knowing that the gesture will largely be symbolic, Lady Weeds produces a knife and thrusts it up through Alec's skull, warning that he does not *have* them, and he never *did*.

## Appearances

### "Blue/Green"

#### Individuals

* Swamp Thing ***(Flashback and main story)***
* Brother Jonah ***(Flashback and main story)***
* Wolf ***(Flashback and main story)***
* Lady Weeds ***(Flashback and main story)***
* Aquaman
* Kreuzblütler
* Neol

#### Locations

* South Pacific
	+ Philippines
		- Apo Reef
* Louisiana

#### Concepts

* The Green
* The Grey ***(Mentioned only)***

## Notes

* This issue is reprinted in the *Swamp Thing: The Sureen* collection.

## External links

* *Swamp Thing (Volume 5)* Issue 32 on DC Wiki
* *Swamp Thing (Volume 5)* Issue 32 on Comic Vine