Swamp Thing Vol 2 34

"Rite of Spring"
Swamp Thing
Title:	"Rite of Spring"
Volume:	2
number:	34
Cover date:	March, 1985
Cover price:	.75
Publisher:	DC Comics
Credits
Executive editor:	Dick Giordano
Writers:	Alan Moore
Pencilers:	Steve Bissette
Inkers:	John Totleben
Cover artists:	John Totleben
Cover inker:	John Totleben
Cover colorist:	John Totleben
Colorists:	Tatjana Wood
Letterers:	John Costanza
Editors:	Karen Berger
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"You are human. You need more from love than the taste of lime."

―Swamp Thing

"Rite of Spring" is the title to the thirty-fourth issue of the second Swamp Thing ongoing comic book series published by DC Comics. The story was written by Alan Moore with artwork by Steve Bissette and John Totleben. The story was colored by Tatjana Wood and lettered by John Costanza. This issue shipped with a March, 1985 cover date and carried a cover price of 75 cents per copy (US).

Synopsis

Spring comes, and Abby Cable is saddened that her husband Matt hasn't come out of his coma, and shows no sign of waking. Matthew is still unconscious from him expelling Anton Arcane and saving Abby. The doctor recommends that she move on with her life, and in her heart, she knows that she already has.

Abby and the Swamp Thing enjoy each other's company by a stream in the swamp, and she declares that she likes him best in spring time, with flowers blooming all over his body. Awkwardly, Abby tries to ask whether it would be alright if she moved on from Matt, given what happened. He responds that torturing herself with guilt is pointless, and that she should tell whoever she loves her feelings. Embarrassed, Abby admits that the one she loves is him, the Swamp Thing.

At first he doesn't respond, and she believes that he does not return her feelings. She feels ashamed of her feelings, and the fact that he is merely a plant makes her feel crazy. Finally, he admits that he has also loved her for years. They kiss, and she declares that he tastes like lime. Sadly, Swamp Thing reminds her that she needs more from the one she loves than the taste of lime. She understands that he is talking about sex, and assures him that she can live without it.

As a means of experiencing some kind of communion in lieu of sex, Swamp Thing offers Abby a tuber growing from his body to eat. Reluctantly, she takes a bite, and soon has a hallucinogenic experience. She sees the world as Swamp Thing sees it, experiencing a connection to The Green. She feels the connection between all things, and the connection between herself and the Swamp Thing.

Eventually, she regains full consciousness, and he helps her to her feet. Affirming their commitment to each other, they kiss again.

Appearances

Featured characters Swamp Thing Supporting characters Abby Cable Antagonists None Other characters Matthew Cable Locations Louisiana Terrebonne Parish General Hospital Houma Items None Vehicles None

Notes & Trivia

This issue is job number L-1881. As of this issue, Abby and Swamp Thing consider consider themselves to be married, regardless of the fact that their wedding is not legal. Outsiders will still refer to Abby as Mrs. Cable, but she will refer to herself as Mrs. Holland. The issue title and story are references to Igor Stravinsky's ballet / orchestral work The Rite of Spring. Its plot, however, is rather darker than that of this issue, concerning as it does a pagan rite in which elders make a young woman dance herself to death as a sacrifice to the god of Spring. The Swamp Thing's statement, "You ate... the fruit... Abby... You absorbed a little... of my consciousness... my perceptions...", recalls Genesis 3:6: "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat." (King James Version) The difference is that whereas Eve's (and, subsequently, Adam's) eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil has negative consequences (shame over being naked and distancing from God), Abby's "eating of the fruit" has positive results (expanded, cosmic consciousness).

Recommended Reading

Swamp Thing Vol 1 Swamp Thing Vol 2 Swamp Thing Vol 3 Swamp Thing Vol 4 Swamp Thing Vol 5 Swamp Thing Vol 6

See also

Swamp Thing Swamp Thing images Swamp Thing characters Swamp Thing cast & crew Swamp Thing films Swamp Thing comics Swamp Thing programs Swamp Thing miscellaneous

External Links

Swamp Thing, Volume 2 #34 at DCDP Swamp Thing, Volume 2 #34 at Comics.org Swamp Thing, Volume 2 #34 at Comic Extra Swamp Thing, Volume 2 #34 at Comic Vine Swamp Thing, Volume 2 #34 at the DCU Guide Swamp Thing, Volume 2 #34 at Read Comics Online Swamp Thing, Volume 2 #34 at the Swamp Thing Wiki