You hear me now, Alec Holland?!! I speak to you through the winds of death! I am Sethe, God of Storm and Lord of the Rot! 
- — Sethe
Swamp Thing (Volume 5) #9 is an issue of the series Swamp Thing (Volume 5) with a cover date of July, 2012. It was published on May 2, 2012.
Synopsis for "Broken Bones"
Having finally become the Swamp Thing that he was intended to be, Alec Holland now faces The Rot in full force. He has perhaps invested his faith in Abigail Arcane's ability to resist the call of the Rot, even as she has already transformed into the Black Queen and holds him menacingly over her gaping maw.
Her voice is not her own, as she thrusts her sharp claws through Alec's bark armour and into his more human core. Sethe speaks through every mouth in the horde, taunting this new Swamp Thing. With abandon, Abby tears off his wings and leaves him bleeding in the dirt. Even as she leans over him for the kill, Alec tries to connect with her human side, and finally he orders her to wake up.
Suddenly, something changes inside the Black Queen and she reels in pain. From within the Black Queen's insectoid exoskeleton, Alec encourages the growth of orchids, which push aside The Rot's influence, and help Abigail to emerge. He reminds her who she is - a compassionate nurse, who likes sweet things like canned peaches. The Black Queen remembers how Alec had done something to her peaches. He had freshened them with vanilla from tiny imperceptible orchid seeds, which she had consumed unawares. With the help of The Green's protective influence, Abigail manages to tear her way out of the Black Queen's shell.
Angrily, Sethe turns on Alec, determined to kill the Swamp Thing and stomp out the last remnants of the Green. Still injured, Sethe manages to throw Alec's body around like a rag doll until a voice stops him in his tracks.
Abby has regained her strength, and while the Green's influence protects her, she can use the power of the Rot against Sethe and his minions. Bone by bone, she breaks Sethe down, to her half-brother William's horror. Mercilessly, she destroys the creature utterly, leaving William promising a pile of putrefied flesh and bone that he will always listen faithfully to the Rot's call, even if Abigail will not.
Abby turns to Alec's fallen form and helps him to his feet. While his injuries are great, she embraces him and he is healed. The two of them decide to return home together.
In tears, William keeps begging Sethe to call out to him. Once Abby and Alec are out of sight, he does hear something. A voice tells him that someone else is coming. This has all been part of the plan, and the next step is the return of Anton Arcane.
Appearing in "Broken Bones"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Abby Arcane (Mutated) (Flashback and main story) (Cured)
Antagonists:
- Anton Arcane (Cameo)
- Sethe (Dies)
- William Arcane
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Prime Earth
- United States of America
- California
- Death Valley
- The Bone Kingdom
- Death Valley
- California
- United States of America
Items:
Concepts:
See Also