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The Hollow Man - chapter one
Cleveland, Ohio. Nicholas Gleason is a physically obvious mutant with brown fur, pointy ears, and big red eyes. He is being cornered by two technologically enhanced men. He is crying and afraid. One of them tells Nicolas that they aren’t going to hurt him. The other one asks what he’s talking about and that of course they are going to hurt him. Calling his friend Frank a moron, the first man tells him that when he says “we’re not going to hurt you”, Frank is supposed to say “Yeah, were going to kill you.” Frank calls his friend over dramatic, but they are interrupted by an order to step away from the boy. Looking around, they wander who said that. They assume that it was probably one of the kids’ mutant friends, a telepath due to the rattling in their head. Frank tells whoever it is to leave before he gets his face blown off. Jonothon Starsmore, also known as Chamber, shows himself and tells them that it’s a little too late for that.
They ask who the hell he is and Chamber replies that they must be psychic and he was just about to ask them the same question. He calls Chamber a freak and tells him that they are 100 % human. Frank adds that they aren’t that human having non-organic war-tech grafted to their bodies. Chamber asks them why they would make themselves look like that. He tells Chamber to get justice, blaming mutants for their business failing. Frank fires a shot at Chamber who quickly dodges. Chamber mumbles a rhetorical question to himself “Is there anything they don’t blame on us?” They tell more about their weapon enhancements and blaming mutants when Chamber realizes they are only talking long enough to re-charge their weapons. Chamber quickly acts and fires a powerful bio-kinetic energy blast at Frank. Frank’s partner is angry and fires a micro-inhibitor dart at Chamber, nullifying his powers long enough for him to re-charge. He continues his accusations about the filthy mutant creatures destroying the country and economy. Chamber quickly silences him by simply smashing a lamp against his head.
Chamber confronts the child and tells him that he will be okay. Petrified at Chamber’s appearance, the kid screams and tells Chamber to get away, calling him a monster. It is a reaction Jono has grown used to, since on the day his mutant power first manifested the bio-kinetic energy blasts tore a massive hole in his chest and the lower part of his face. Cyclops arrives, a little late, and asks Chamber if he is okay. Chamber tells him that he handled the “cyber bigots” but Cyclops had better see to the child. Cyclops squats down to Nicolas’s level and tells him that is okay, that they are the good guys. That he read about what happened to his parents and that they will take him to a school where he will be safe and that he will never be alone again. As Chamber hears this he stares into a broken mirror with saddened disbelief.
On the Blackbird en route to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, Chamber tells Cyclops, calling him Mr. Summers, that the kid finally has fallen asleep. Cyclops answers that Chamber is not a Generation X kid anymore he can call simply call him Scott. He then tells Chamber that this is exactly why he asked him to go on the mission to see if Chamber was comfortable in his new role as an X-Man. A little bit surprised, Chamber tells him that he supposes he is fine, and it appears that the others are not too disgusted with the crater he had accidentally put in himself. Cyclops tells him that he is not Xavier, so he can’t mindread, and if he has any problem with the X-Men then he should be vocal about it. That is when Chamber tells him the truth, that’s it’s not the X-Men that is bothering him but the actual school. He tells Scott that he appreciates what they are doing for the children but is concerned about them after they leave the school. Scott reminds him that he was a student once and that his education prepared him for what came next. Jonothon replies that while he did become a better soldier, he can’t imagine that every graduate of the school wants to dress in black leather and fight evil doers. That some of them probably want to become a banker or a ballerina, basically having a normal life. Scott tells him that they do prepare the students for the real world, but Chamber asks if he ever thought about being out in the world teaching humans about them?
Arriving at Xavier’s School, they are approached by Molly, a green skinned student with tentacles, who alerts Cyclops that something has happened and the X-Men are looking for him. Scott is carrying sleeping Nicolas off the Blackbird and tells Chamber that they will finish their conversation later. When Jonothon asks Molly what has happened she looks away nervously. He re-assures her that she can actually look at his face and he wants to know what happened. Molly tells she guesses that some mutant students were murdered. Chamber is shocked and wonders who of the students were killed, but Molly explains that it wasn’t at Xavier’s School but at Empire State University.
In the briefing room, Cyclops tells Chamber about the six openly mutant college freshmen were killed in an explosion, showing him holographic re-creations based on available Landsat photos. He continues that none of the usual suspects have claimed responsibility and the authorities have no real lead. Shocked Jonothon asks Cyclops about the students not hiding the fact that they were mutants. Cyclops tells Jonothon that they not only didn’t hide their being mutants but it was the reason why they were given a full scholarship. He explains that Empire State University has always been one of the more progressive colleges in the country and this was an effort by them to start making a more genetically diverse campus. Nineteen mutants were brave enough to accept the scholarship and the six who died were part of a co-species organization called Students for Tolerance. Their office was bombed leaving only survivor, human Gigi Martin who was saved by her mutant boyfriend using his body as a shield.
Seeing the beautiful face of Gigi on the holographic screen, Chamber demands that Cyclops let him investigate this case. Cyclops refuses the offer telling Chamber that he was only told this because it is necessary to stay informed, adding that the FBI is already on the scene and the case will be handled as a hate crime. Chamber is angry and says that Cyclops has to know that this case will be swept under the rug. Until a few months ago the Feds were still contemplating all mutants. Cyclops sarcastically asks what he is to do, send Jonothon undercover? They both know that he is visually too obvious a mutant. However Chamber answers that’s exactly why Cyclops could enroll him as Jonothon Starsmore, mutant student. Then he could analyze the situation from an inside view and eventually discover the person responsible. He begs Cyclops to let him do this mission, stating that he didn’t join the X-Men to be a teachers assistant. He says if they just stand by, then there is the possibility of future mutant killings at the university.
(one week later)
Empire State University. Jonothon Starsmore is walking on campus escorted by two armed bodyguards. Jonothon kindly excuses them, telling them that he will be okay from there. They ask him if he really thought he would have National Guardsmen following him to every class, and now that all the cameras are gone they are as well. As they leave Jonothon is hit with a tomato and hears the someone scream “Go Home, Homo Inferior”. A voice comes from behind him saying “the problem we all live with” Not understanding, Jono looks behind him seeing a bald girl with green skin and red eyes. She tells him that “The Problem We All Live With” is a Norman Rockwell painting that she often thinks of when seeing a new mutant on campus. Chamber replies that Norman Rockwell was a “bloody hack”. Realizing that he is British she tells him that British kids hate everything. Jonothon replies not everything, just everything American, then introduces himself as Jonothon Starsmore, called Jono by his mates. Amber tells him that she really doesn’t have any mates, but Jono replies that she’s got one now.
Suddenly they hear the words “Hey Mutie” behind them. Angered Jono and asks “What did you call me?” He turns to find five physically obvious mutants staring at him. Two girls, one with red skin and demonic wings, and three guys, two of them rather short with green skin, and a huge built guy, wearing a Magneto T-shirt who speaks up. He tells Jono to relax and that they have appropriated the word mutie from the humans using as a term of affection. When Jono asks just who the guy is he replies that his gene trash parents called him Kirk but that his mutant name is Neutrino Annihilator. He claims to be leader of the Magnetic North, the only mutant organization on Campus with a real bite. When Jono hears this he asks if they actually do worship Magneto. Kirk replies that Magneto was a martyr to their cause, who wasn’t afraid to stand to oppressors and by this showing them that they will not be kept down. Jono calls Kirk mad and tells him Magneto was a mass murderer and a lunatic. Kirk then asks if Jono is one of those Uncle Tom Mutants, who try hard to fit in with the norm of society. Amber tries to stop Kirk from commenting more but Kirk tells her to back off calling her a gene traitor. He asks why the Jono’s hiding behind all that wrapping anyway and that it’s time to let his freak flag fly. Kirk slashes Jono’s wrapping exposing his crater in his chest and face that is replaced by bio-kinetic energy.
Kirk rudely asks what happened to Jono’s face. He answers that is the same question Kirk will be asked tomorrow slugging him across the jaw. Poking fun at Kirk’s mutant name Jono warns him that if he ever lays a finger on him that his mutant name will be Rotting Corpse. Angry, Kirk is about to challenge him when they are broken up by Gigi Martin, re-informing them about the campus rules that use of mutant powers is cause for getting all mutants expelled. Patronizing her Kirk asks Gigi if she is here to sign another one of her peace treaties calling her a wannabe. Gigi tells Kirk to leave Jono alone as he doesn’t want to be part of their stupid club. Kirk's reply is cruel telling her she’s right, and maybe Jono wants to join The Cowards of Tolerance to get blown up just like her friends did. As the group walks away Kirk warns Jono that bad things happen to mutant students who aren’t with the North.
Jono apologizes to Gigi for the inappropriate behavior. He tells her that he is a journalism major who wants to ask her a few questions. Gig tells him that they can’t talk there, that you never know who is listening. A few feet away stands angry black male student starring at them. Jono tells Gigi that she is right. She is impressed that he communicates telepathically, telling him that it’s nice to have a voice inside her head again. Her old boyfriend, now deceased, used to communicated the exact same way. Gigi invites Jono to come talk to her tomorrow in her office on the third floor of the student center. Until then she tells him not to let anyone scare him at ESU, while they are not perfect, they are all about progress. Waving goodbye Gigi tells Amber that she will see her tomorrow in their Life Drawing class. Amber warns him not to get his hopes up that humans don’t date mutants, but when they do, (referring to Gigi) they only date really cute ones to make their parents mad. When Jono asks Amber why she doesn’t like Gigi, Amber replies that she is fine though a little naive. She offers to show Jono his room asking where it is. He tells her Brittany Hall. Amber tells him that that is really friendly building and she is sure that he will love it there.
After knocking on his future bedroom door, a blonde male in a wheel chair opens, looking very annoyed. He asks him just what the hell he wants. Jono asks if he is Walter, and introduces himself as his new roommate. Walter is even more annoyed as he says that housing must hate him to stick him with another mutant. He then tells Jono that he has nothing really against mutants just the what the University is doing for them. Jono asks if he’s referring to them getting an education. Walter tells him that’s not the problem, but he is upset about the special treatment they get for their genetic make-up. He had to earn his way into the college, as he thinks that they should too. Walter says he doesn’t care about their unique abilities and that he can name the atomic weight of any element off the top of his head. Walter asks what his mutant powers is with a sarcastic comment about besides mumbling stuff telepathically and modeling turtle necks. Continuing his verbal attack Walter tells him that no college gave him a scholarship because of his physical limitations and that he’s been playing “sit and spin” all of his life. Jono tells Walter that he is really sorry about it, but comparing mutant genetics to being in a wheel chair is like comparing apples to snowshoes.
Jono then tells him that while the government was widening the doors on buses for humans they were creating sentinels to destroy mutants. Walter tells him that was ancient history, and that they are famous now. He points to the television which has X-Force on the screen. Jono tells him that a handful of mutants on the television has nothing to do with the struggle being over. Walter doesn’t want to have “the struggle” conversation again and that his last roommate whined about the struggle until the day he... Walter leaves, slamming the door, telling Jono that he’s going to the library for the night and that Jono needs to pick up some air freshener before he returns, claiming he smells like a sulfur mine.
That night, Jono is awakened by a click noise. He rises up from his bed thinking it’s Walter and tells Walter that he thinks they got off on the wrong foot. As he sits up he has a gun pointed at him. Before he can react three shots are fired.


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The Hollow Man - chapter two
Chamber is rudely awakened in his dorm room at Empire State University by six gunshots fired directly at him. After the clip is empty, the gunman flees out the open window. Shocked Chamber tries to question him as he falls back into his bed from the injury. Chamber is a mutant, and when his mutant power manifested it ripped a gaping hole in his lower face and chest. Screaming, he sits up out of bed, with six holes in his chest, his biokinetic energy spewing out of his wrap that covers his chest and lower face. He makes a sarcastic remark to himself about not being dead, as there is a knock on his door.
From outside his room he hears his R.A. who asks what the hell is going on in there. He warns that if he’s setting off bottle rockets, then he’d have to look for off-campus housing. Covering up Jono replies that he had just had the volume too high on his Soprano’s DVD. Not having a mouth Jono communicates telepathically. With Jono’s thought reply, the R.A. recognizes him as one of the Campus mutant students. He pathetically tells Jono that Empire State University does not discriminate against students based on their genetic differences, and that he is there to help him with his special needs. Halfway sincere, the R.A. urges not to report him, as surely his parents would kill him if he lost the free room and board. Jono replies that he knows how that goes.
Still aching and sore, Jono gets up to put on his robe, when he hears the door clicking open. Still alarmed he asks who is there. As the door opens he sees that it is only his roommate Walter, who bitterly tells Jono that he didn’t know he had to knock to enter his own room, and that next time if he wants privacy he should put a sock on the door knob. When asked where he was all night, Walter says that he was in the library like he had already told him before he left. Jono tells him that the library closed three hours ago. Now defensive, Walter tells him that afterwards he went to the computer lab, and asks Jono if he is now Walter’s den mother. Walter tells him asks if they can continue his “interrogation” tomorrow, with the first day of class only a few hours away, and Walter would really like to sleep. Jono bids him sweet dreams as he gazes out the window through which the gunman only recently made his escape.
(the next morning)
It’s raining hard and in the campus courtyard, Jono finds his new friend Amber, who greets him, “Hey it’s me new mate”. Jono tells her to stop talking like that because she sounds like a pirate. She starts to make a physics in cinema joke but is cut when Jono tells her the truth. He tells that when he told her that he was a student majoring in journalism that he wasn’t entirely truthful. That he is actually undercover. Amber jokes and asks if it’s like 21 Jump Street undercover. Jono doesn’t understand, never having heard of the television show. She guesses that the BBC didn’t carry that one. He tells her that he is a member of the X-Men. Amber has heard of them, or at least what she has read online, sworn to protect a world that hates them, “leather pants and all that jazz?”. He tells her more or less she’s right, and that his teammates call him Chamber. That he was sent to find the killer of the group Students For Tolerance. Amber tells him that that’s cool and all, but asks why she telling her. Jono tells her that it is for her own protection, that he is fairly certain that the person he is looking for isn’t done killing mutants.
Spotting a familiar figure in the background he tells Amber that it was the tenth time he has caught him staring at him in two days. When she asks if Jono wonders if he’s spying on him, he replies that there is only one way to find out. Angrily Jono confronts the student, who instantly replies no, and that he was just curious to see if Jono had ever acted before. Jono tells him that he hasn’t acted since grammar school and asks why he is even asking him this. The boy tells Jono that he is a film student and was wondering if he would like to participate in an upcoming project. Shocked Jono asks if he’s serious. The student replies that he had seen the “light show” that Jono had put on yesterday and it would make a sweet special effect, like a zombie being shot in the chest or.... Disappointed and insulted Jono walks away telling him he’s not interested. The student asks if he did something to offend him, because he has a great deal of respect for mutants, and that some of his best friends are mutants.
Walking back to Amber, she warns Jono to get used to it, as that sort of thing happens a lot. He asks if there is a place where they could talk in private, and Amber tells him that she knows just the place that should be empty right about now. Inside the building, a sign reads: Welcome to the dining hall! Today’s lunch: Salisbury Surprise. The dining hall is empty, except for the lunch lady. Jono starts arguing with the lunch lady asking why he should have a meal plan to come in, because he doesn’t have a bloody mouth. Telling him to relax Amber insists that she can put him on her card. Sitting in a far away table, she asks why he thinks mutants are in any danger now than any other day of the week.
Jono tells her that it is either just a hunch or the fact that someone had broke in his room last night and shot him. Surprised and concerned, she asks “ Shot you?”. Jono goes on to tell her that he was shot point blank six times in the chest. It was some kind of handgun, whatever American kids are bringing to school these days. He didn’t get a good look at his face. Still in disbelieve, Amber interrupts by saying it’s impossible. That he couldn’t have been shot with a real gun because he’d be dead, that it must have been a starter pistol or something, Then she asks if he is sure that he wasn’t just dreaming. Dropping the bullets on the table, he tells her that he knows because these came out of his body.
Examining the bullets, she stops and asks just how they came out of his body. When he simply tells her not to ask, she immediately drops them with an “Ew”. When she asks how he is still alive, he tells her what he says is probably the understatement of the century, but he is not like other boys. He continues telling her that he doesn’t have lungs or a heart but that his body is made up of energy. Psionic, biokinetic, or whatever it’s not human. And that not being human is exactly why the bigot had tried to execute him. Amber asks if he is sure meaning that whoever shot him, must have known that bullets couldn’t kill him, that perhaps they were just scare him. As Chamber tells her that they’ve already blown up a club of mutants, he doubts they’d have any problems killing him, he is grabbed by a giant gray hand with claws.
Jono says Hi to Kirk, asking how his face is. Kirk sarcastically replies that it’s Step and Fetchit, the resident house mutants, poking fun at Amber and Jono. Kirk says that his face is fine with a healing factor second only to the mighty Sabretooth. Jono asks what the hell he knows about Sabretooth. Kirk tells that Sabretooth isn’t ashamed to be a mutant like Jono is, and Amber suggests that the Magnetic North should just go back to their little clubhouse. Kirk says that they will as soon as Jono licks his boots. When Jono doesn’t move, Kirk tells him to do it before his comrades break his girlfriend’s arms. Jono reminds him that he would be expelled. Kirk tells Jono that the dean of the college cannot afford to loose any more mutant students, because the bleeding heart humans would stop sending their big donations. Amber in the clutches of Kirks two friends begs Jono not to do it. Bending down with his face towards Kirk’s boots, Jono tells Amber not to worry, that he’s going to get this over with. As Kirk tells him to shine them up real nice, Jono asks if he’s happy, as Kirk is now big mutant on Campus again.
Kirk lets them go telling them he could of avoided this if they would have joined his brothers and sisters in, Jono cuts him off with “whatever”, telling Amber to get out of there. Outside Amber tells him that she cannot believe that he actually kissed Kirk’s boots. Jono replies that he didn’t, as he has no mouth. Puzzled Amber asks what he was doing down there then, when they hear a “Woah!” from inside as Kirk falls. Jono explains that he was tying his shoe laces together and from behind they hear a death threat screamed at them. Jono tells her head for the hills before “Neanderthal” Annihilator comes back when he learns how to untie. That he has to head over to his interview with the human girl from Students For Tolerance, reminding her to watch her back, calling her “luv”. After he left, Amber stands alone in the rain asking herself “ love?”
(at noon)
In the New Students Center, Jono approaches two very strong built students blocking Gigi’s office. They tell him that no one sees Gigi without an appointment. Frustrated Jono reminds them that he’s already told them he has an interview. As he is about to tell his name, Gigi opens the door, telling him she is glad that he could make it. She asks how the student body is treating him, she is wearing a mini skirt with a tight sweater. Jono stares at her, if he had a mouth it would probably drop open, coming up with some words he mutters that he has been treated fine. Inside her office, Gigi calls him a lousy liar, and apologizes for the security hassling him, but they’ve been a lot more serious since her last office was destroyed. Jono says that is exactly why he’s here. She tells him she will try to give him info, but that she does has to go to class soon. Asking his first question about being the founder of the group, she cuts him off. Co-founder she tells him, caressing a picture on the wall of her in a man’s arms. She explains that she and her freshman boyfriend Alex had started the group shortly after they started dating. She re-calls that they thought of themselves as Romeo and Juliet for the twenty-first century.
When he asks if she means that he was a mutant, he learns that Alex was one of the first to take advantage of ESU’s affirmative action program. He had the gift of telepathy, not unlike Jono’s own. When asked if he died in the blast, Gigi looks down and says that he and five other mutants were killed. According to the FBI, someone had hidden a bomb inside a storage closet. Remembering back, she claims that it all happened so quickly that no one had time to react except Alex using his body to shield her from the explosion. Jono tells her that he is very sorry, as she continues that he knows exactly what it’s like to live through tragedy, only to loose someone you love. Gigi tells that she knows that when his mutant power manifested it ripped a massive hole in chest and face, that the same burst of energy reportedly crippled his then girlfriend. When Jono asks how she knows all of that, she tells him he’d be amazed how much he can learn of the internet, claiming that he was “outed” on a website called Purity. That Purity is a website of on-line collections of lunatics who are dedicated to “preserving the human species. ESU doesn’t allow hate groups of any kind to congregate on campus, so they chose to place their anti-mutant campaigns on the internet.
Gigi is sure that they are the sick individuals who planted the bomb, but Chamber reminds her that while it’s clear that morons like them incite violence they can’t be really sure that they are to blame this time. Putting her hand on his chest, Gigi says that intuition tells her that as well as her knowing that he is interested more than just for a byline in the school paper. Agreeing with her, he leans towards her face as she tells him that when he finds the people responsible for the Purity Website, then he will find the monsters who killed her friends.
(dusk)
In the girls dormitory, Jono knocks on Amber’s door. A beautiful blonde girl answers, wearing nothing but a bra and a towel. Fumbling on his words, he asks if she’s single, then rephrases asking if she lives in a single room because... She cuts him off telling him he sounds exactly like Hugh Grant telling him to wait, as she calls for Amber.
Momentarily left alone, Jono sighs in relieve. A few seconds later Amber greets him with a “howdy, handsome”, asking if the fraternity boys sent him on a panty raid. Jono tells her he needs a favor, as he enters he asks if her roommate is into mutants. She tells him not unless they are ninja, turtle, and decorations on her pillow case. He tells that he needs help surfing the web, that he is lousy with that sort of nonsense. She tells him she is a fine arts major, asking if he assumes that every brainy girl is a computer whiz. Asked if she’s not, she sighs asking what he needs, taking the covering off her computer. Chamber tells her he needs to find the ESU students chapter in the Purity website. Asking why, Amber says she always thought they were just harmless nerds that compared to zillions of better funded terrorists, she is cut off when Jono says he just has a hunch. Claiming that’s fair enough, she starts with the moderator of the local board, stating that their security is pretty bush league, with outdated onion routing. She tells him that give her thirty minutes, and she should be able to trace their remailer back to the Ethernet’s original connection, and tell him exactly where the dorm of this creep is.
Somewhat later, outside the suspects room, Jono says to himself that he is glad Ms. Ororo taught the Generation X kids how to pick locks. As the door creeps open, he asks if anyone’s at home, jokingly telling them that they are missing the meeting about the perils of teen smoking. Trying to see in the dark, Jono removes the wraps that cover his mouth, illuminating the room with his bio-energy. Too late he notices a figure with a baseball bat about to swing. The baseball bat cracks him along his face. Jono asks if it is a Louisville Slugger, telling him that the one thing he cannot stand about this country is sodding baseball. He fires his kinetic energy, blasting the figure in the air. Getting a good look at his attacker, Jono realizes who it is. It’s the young student who was following him earlier, claiming to want to use him in a student film. He tells Jono to get his stinking mutant voice out of his head. Jono tells him he thought he “had a great deal of respect for mutants’’. The man tells Jono that he had lost both of his parents to a mutant, so he wouldn’t like mutants either, telling Jono to leave before he calls Campus security.
Chamber dares him to do so, but informs him that he would also tell them that he shot him. The students asks what he is talking about. Jono grabs his collar and tells him to save his stories for his next short film, that they both know that he is part of the internet cronies who tried to kill him. The mutant-hater asks Jono if he is insane. He’d never kill a mutant as that only makes them martyrs. That’s why him and his friends stick to psychological warfare, they embarrass and be-little mutants every chance they get. He claims that he makes them feel like the outcast they are, and is twice as effective at getting them to leave campus.
Jono asks if they came up with that strategy before or after they’d bombed the Students for Tolerance. Rolling his eyes, he saying oh, please, asking if he really thinks a bomb killed those people. Jono asks about what the FBI said, but the guy tells him that he of all people should know that the FBI could care less about finding the killers of a bunch of mutants. Jono asks but you do care? The guy tells Jono that he cares more than he knows, that one of his friends who is getting his master in forensics did his own sweep of the crime scene. He confirmed what they already had guessed: That the Students of Tolerance were not killed by a bomb, but from another mutant. Jono’s eyes are wide in shock.


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The world still needs Champions!
(UCLA campus, California)Two former X-Men, Warrington Worthington III, better known as the Angel, and Bobby Drake, also known as Iceman, are strolling through the campus and chatting about where they really belong. Bobby appreciates Professor Xavier getting him a scholarship, but he’d go back to the X-Men today. Unfortunately, the X-Men are no longer the team he grew up with. He mentions that Hank is now making it big with the Avengers, and wonders if that might be the way to go. Warren offers a reality check, asking if he thinks they’d really fit in with that group.
Mysteriously, a strange hole appears in mid-air in front of them, and out of it pours a quartet of mean, green Harpies. One of them grabs the first student who happens to be present, and demands that he tell them where Venus is. Before he can answer, Bobby creates a chunk of ice and projects it at the Harpies’ temple with a ‘thrud.’
Warren is concerned about Bobby using his powers whilst still in his civilian identity. “What about your parents?” Bobby replies that by the time anyone figures out where that icebolt came from, they won’t see Bobby Drake; they’ll see Iceman. His clothes shatter as his body becomes ice, and Warren asks him to hold the Harpies while he gets into costume. Bobby seems relieved that he is back in action once again.
The four Harpies close in on him, but he forms an ice-sled, which barges them out of the way. He then freezes one of them in an ice cube while they are still in flight. This causes them to drop like a stone, but another catches Bobby unawares from behind, and knocks him off balance. She orders her sisters to slice him to ribbons with their claws, but Angel arrives in the nick of time, and socks one of them in the jaw. Bobby is surprised that Warren, though in costume, isn’t wearing a mask to conceal his identity. Somebody’s bound to recognize him. The two heroes gather their thoughts, and Warren informs Bobby that he has made a decision; one he took before his mom died. “There’ll be no more hiding. For better or for worse, from here on in, the Angel goes public.”
Meanwhile, Natasha Romanov, otherwise known as the Black Widow, nervously waits for her interview at the university. She is accompanied by her friend, Ivan Petrovich. She asks him what he honestly thinks of her chances. He asks her to relax. The ad said they needed someone to teach Russian. Unless she’s forgotten her mother tongue, she should be a shoe-in for the job. Natasha hopes he’s right. They’re just about broke, and she needs this job badly. Ivan wonders if she wants the job to help her forget about Matt Murdock. She replies that it isn’t that. What she and Matt had was good while it lasted. They simply pushed their luck and kept the game going for too long. Ivan can see that she clearly isn’t over the relationship.
Suddenly, a glow appears in the room, and a group of Amazon warriors step forth. The leader points at Natasha, and informs her that they have come for Venus. They know she is there somewhere, and Natasha will conceal her at the cost of her own mortal life. Ivan reacts immediately, not liking the way she is waving her sword around. He lets her have it on the chin, and calls Natasha to strip for action. She removes her skirt, which is the only thing she is wearing in addition to her all-in-one black body suit.
Ivan grabs the leader around the neck, but is cracked on the head by a sword handle. Natasha then faces the group alone. One of the Amazons asks her leader if they should deal with the Black Widow, but she wants her for herself. Natasha taunts her by telling her that she gathers she is used to terrifying people with her oversized knitting needle; “But the Widow doesn’t scare!”
Approaching the room, oblivious to the action going on inside, Dr. Victoria Starr is on her way to interview Natasha for the post of humanities professor. It isn’t really her job to do this, but she really wants to meet the famous Natasha Romanoff. She is really Venus and, in her guise as Dr. Starr, she appears to have acquired an almost human curiosity.
As she appears in the doorway, one of the warriors points at her. Venus can’t believe Hippolyta’s Amazons are there. The leader orders her warriors to grab her, but the Black Widow has other ideas. She charges at them, using her widow’s bite to temporarily confuse her opponents. Venus informs Natasha that she can’t fight the Amazons; they’re the most fiercely-trained warriors in Olym… their world. Natasha doubts her K.G.B taskmasters were any less demanding in preparing her curriculum but, as she unleashes another blast, she feels it may be prudent to seek a strategic withdrawal. Unfortunately, this means leaving Ivan behind.
As a dagger lands in the wall, inches away from her head, she uses her widow’s line to swing herself and Venus from the window and off to safety. As they swing, Venus tells Natasha that she needn’t concern herself with Ivan. She has arranged his safety. Natasha wonders just how she could have done that, and demands an explanation of who she is, and why these warrior women pursue her.
(meanwhile)Johnny Blaze is riding through the UCLA campus, and sees the terrified looks on the kid’s faces. He wonders what’s going on, so he stops and asks. One of the students points, and informs him that there’s some kind of thing back there. Johnny has been enjoying being a free man, yet his freedom has made his life increasingly complicated. He wonders why this should be so. He will find no relief for his puzzlement here; only danger. Suddenly, a strange mallet flies past his head, missing him by inches.
He guesses there must be a fracas, as he is beginning to change, just like he did when the Trapster attacked. It’s too bad for whoever threw that thing, he thinks, because now, on top of fighting Johnny Blaze, the world’s greatest stunt rider, he’s now got to deal with the Ghost Rider!”
Still riding his motorbike, the Ghost Rider approaches the wielder of the mallet, a giant calling himself Cerberus, guardian of the depths. The giant warns Ghost Rider to hold fast. No one must pass him, for his master will brook no interference with his plan to crush the man-god! Ghost Rider replies that his master appears to be a member of the same club as an old acquaintance of his and, that being the case, he can take his plan and stuff it!
He unleashes a blast of hellfire at Cerberus, who cowers under the attack. However, he tells Ghost Rider that he was created to be many guardians and, what one is ill-equipped to battle, another can destroy. He changes form into that of a giant dog. Ghost Rider gets it now. Cerberus is the guardian of Hades in Roman mythology. Judging from the way he’s flashing his pearly whites at him, his bark isn’t even in the same ballpark as his bite. He opts to vamoose at high speed, narrowly avoiding Cerberus’s attack.
(meanwhile)Enjoying the Californian sunshine is a somewhat unique lecturer; his subject being ‘Mythology: What it means to you.’ The speaker is none other than Hercules. He meets with Richard Fenster, a lecture agent at the university. He hopes Hercules can wow the audience tonight, as he needs to score some points with the campus brass. Hercules assures him that he has nothing to fear. When he tells the young people of the glories of Olympus, they wilt swoon with wonderment. Fenster hopes so. The last off-beat speaker he hired didn’t work too well; a real Hitchcock type. He asks Hercules to picture, “A mop-haired New York writer who spends all his time writing about some blood-thirsty barbarian he called Co- ulp!” Hercules wonders why fear crosses Richard Fenster’s face like a bleak shadow. He soon gets his answer.
He is grabbed from behind by one of a group of mutates. Hercules tosses the beasts aside and picks up the podium, which he hurls at them. Unfortunately, he is attacked from behind and struck on the back of his skull. This only serves to anger the big guy, and he grabs the hammer his assailant wields and crushes it within his vise-like grip. His foe tells him that he is the most savage mutate of all and, in all the years he has ruled, only Thor has ever defeated him. Hercules lands an almighty punch, stating that, whatever Thor can do, he canst accomplish more mightily.
He is beset on all sides by the rest of the mutates, who actually crash him through the wall of the university. He fights on as they fall, knowing he will not be injured by a mere drop to the ground from a great height. Ghost Rider, meanwhile, despite riding at speed is still concerned about the pursuing Cerberus. Luckily, he notices Hercules fighting the mutates and realizes this is an opportunity he cannot miss. As the Olympian throws his opponents around like rag dolls, he is approached by Ghost Rider. He wonders what new enemy dares to lay his hand upon him in the midst of battle, but the Rider tells him to just grab a seat and swing onto the cycle. Ghost Rider assures him that he’s on his side, and tells him he’ll clue him in once he’s on board.
Hercules does as he is asked, sensing true valor within the Rider, despite having a voice that reeks of evil. Rider points ahead of them, and informs Hercules that the whole campus is going crazy. Before them, they can see the Black Widow, Venus and the two former X-Men being pursued by the sword-wielding Amazons and the flying green Harpies. Hercules leaps from the bike, asking Ghost Rider to do what he can to help them. He will deal with the devil hound on their trail. Rider wonders how the winged terrors will react to a burst of hellfire. His blast scatters the Harpies, and one of them calls for them to flee, as this unnatural fire can destroy them.
Hercules uses his awesome strength to pummel Cerberus, telling him it has been ages since he didst vanquish him and drag him from the pits of Hades. Still, he remains his master. Iceman is relieved that the cavalry’s arrived and figures it’s time for him to cut loose. He unleashes waves of ice that freeze the Amazons in their tracks. Their leader calls for her sisters to use their swords and hack themselves free. They can then turn their sharp steel on those who attempt to keep the goddess from them.
Angel notices that both the Harpies and Amazons are recovering quickly, and also sees the mutates approaching. Venus asks the Black Widow to delay them as long as she can, and asks Warren to fly her above their attacker. Warren does as requested, and Natasha uses her stinging widow’s bite to keep the mutates at bay. Once airborne, Dr. Starr reveals her true colors and, as her green outfit becomes the pink costume of Venus, she uses the golden girdle around her waist to try and affect their assailants.
Venus has the power of love over man and god, but her powers affect the mutates differently than she anticipated. They bend their knees as their minds begin to reel. This renders them harmless. Hercules congratulates his cousin, but says that, given time, he could have accomplished the same end. He asks if Natasha is okay, and she replies that she is, but she’s terribly confused. She asks what’s going on there.
Venus explains that apparently their foes were seeking to capture her for some reason. Iceman comments that one could hardly blame them for that, but the Ghost guy said the mutates were after Hercules. Angel wonders if someone else may be involved; somebody running the whole magilla.
Out of nowhere, a white blast causes the whole group to reel in agony. A voice from above tells Angel that he is indeed a base fool. Of course there is someone else behind the weaving of the day’s events. Someone with power enon to smite them all with but a single blast. Natasha can feel her strength draining from her, and Iceman feels like he’s been run over by a Mack truck. He sees another hole appearing, just like the ones the Amazons charged out of. Venus’s face widens in horror as she recognizes the new parties.
Hercules calls the newcomers villains. He tells them they have perpetrated their final scheme upon the prince of power, but he is told to be silent. The man standing before him brings a decree from Hercules’s own father - their lord, Zeus. “Heed the words of Pluto, Hercules, for the dread ruler of the underworld doth merely echo the words of Zeus.” He informs Hercules that, before the day is done, he shall wed Hippolyta, standing to his left, queen of the Amazons, and serve loyally as her prince consort. Venus, on the other hand, will become the spouse of Ares, standing to Pluto’s right. Should either of them resist these matches, he adds, “The universe dies!”


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Whom The Gods Would Join...
On the campus of U.C.L.A., six gathered heroes - the Angel, Iceman, Venus, Hercules, Black Widow and Ghost Rider – stare in disbelief at the three figures that have stepped out of a glowing energy portal that materialized right in front of them. Hercules and Venus are well familiar with them, for the three are none other than Ares, the Olympian Gods of War, Pluto, the Olympian God of Death, and Hippolyta, green-tressed Queen of the Amazons. Pluto explains that they have come because of a decree of Zeus, the ruler of the Olympian Gods: Before the day is done, Hercules shall wed Hippolyta to forever serve her, and Venus is supposed to marry Ares. If either one resists, the universe will die.
Venus wonders if he could be speaking the truth, whereas Hercules is convinced that his father, Zeus, would never condemn him or his cousin to such fate. He accuses Pluto of being a liar and angrily storms forward, but he never reached the God of Death, for Pluto lets Ares deal with the situation and he punches Hercules in the gut. Just as Ares teases Hercules about his half-human heritage, the demigod recovers and returns the blow that was just landed on him. Hippolyta now gets involved, and she warns Hercules that whoever strikes her allies must also face her sword, although she has no desire to harm her “husband to be.” Being addressed with these words annoys the Olympian even more and, while he slams Ares right into Hippolyta, he angrily yells that he would rather marry all three of the Gorgons rather than her.
The two lackeys being dealt with, Hercules’ attention shifts back to Pluto, ready to battle him. The god of death has only laughs for him, though, for as soon as Hercules makes contact with him, he weakens. Pluto easily overpowers Hercules and holds him in some sort of wrestling grip, reminding the demi-god that battle is betwixt equals, and that Hercules is far from being on the same level of power as Pluto. Seeing their comrade in danger, Angel, Iceman and Ghost Rider want to help him, however the Black Widow stops them. She reasons that, even with Venus on their side, they can’t withstand the power of Pluto. However, she has a different plan how to help their friend.
Meanwhile, Hercules has passed out, and Pluto has dragged him into the portal, while gloating that the Olympian Avenger must have some lack of memory for having forgotten about the unbreakable Olympian contract he signed that renders his powers useless against Pluto. Right then, Angel and the Ghost Rider start an attack on Pluto, but he sees them coming and releases a force blast against the two, by merely raising his hands in the air. The blast has a devastating effect: the Ghost Rider is knocked of his bike, and Angel out of the sky.
Their attack was only meant as a distraction, though, and, while Pluto was not looking, Venus and the Black Widow dragged Hercules out of the portal, back to safety again. Iceman uses his powers to seal off the glowing portal, to stop Pluto and his comrades from pursuing them. Still, the heroes fear that the ice-shield won’t hold for long and, with Hercules still out cold, the Black Widow suggests for them to clear the area until he recovers. No sooner said than done and, while Iceman carries most of the others on his ice-ramp, he can’t help but think that, in spite of what they have just gone through, Warren seems more together than in months.
On the other side of the now-blocked portal, Ares pounds on the ice-shield with his blade, but it doesn’t break. Hippolyta urges Pluto to help break the barrier, as otherwise they can’t pursue their foes, but the god of death declares this an unnecessary effort, for Hercules and Venus will never submit to them. That’s also the reason why he has already returned their defeated allies to Olympus. Pluto reasons that there is only one person who can compel Hercules and Venus to obey, and so he decides that they have to leave and seek an audience with Zeus, as after all it was his “wish” that they would be married.
(partially flashbacks)No sooner said than done, with one gesture does Pluto teleport himself and his two allies to Olympus, right in front of Zeus and some other gods assembled there. Zeus is rather unhappy with this intrusion, and exclaims that it is already enough that Pluto has led him to betray his own son; he doesn’t want to be bothered by the sight of the god of death. Pluto remains calm, though, and simply reminds Zeus that the balance of power in the universe has shifted somewhat. Zeus knows what Pluto is referring to, but that doesn’t stop the god of death from repeating his tale of how he realized that other rulers of the dead throughout the dimensions might have felt oppressed by their peers, and how he contacted them about forming an alliance. Some refused most haughtily, but the majority welcomed Pluto’s offer with open arms. A pact was made, and Pluto claims that the rulers of the dead seek nothing but peace and security. He reminds Zeus that not even Olympus could withstand an attack by this alliance for long, not that this is what he and his allies are intending. All he desires in exchange for continued harmony between Olympus and Hades, is that two of Zeus’ loyal subjects to be wed to Ares and Hippolyta. Pluto concludes his narration with the statement that marriages have been arranged with far less cause.
(present)Zeus answers that Pluto well knows that, if Olympus falls, the universe would soon share its fate, and this is the only reason for why he agreed to Pluto’s demand. The Lord of the Underworld couldn’t care less for Zeus’ reasons, all he insists on is that Venus and Hercules will be made to abide Zeus’ command into marriage. Zeus’s temper gets the better of him; he smashes the landing of the balcony he is standing on and says that they will abide, but then threatens Pluto – if there is any further deceit on his part, he will feel Zeus’ wrath like no man or god has ever felt it before. He then storms away into the palace, leaving a grinning Pluto behind.
Of course these marriages aren’t all he desires, they are just one step on the way to reach his goal. There is a certain law, one that Zeus himself inscribed, which says that wife may not oppose husband, nor husband wife. By wedding Hercules and Venus to his loyal allies, Pluto binds the sole two Olympians who could prevent his attempt to overthrow Zeus. Just of the thought of replacing Zeus is enough to make Pluto gloat, Hippolyta and Ares further encouraging him.
Back on Earth, Hercules has recovered, and the gathered heroes are talking about the situation. Iceman and the Angel still feel a bit out of their league – a goddess posing as a university professor standing right next to them, and it having been the Grecian god of the Underworld who just kicked their tails. The Black Widow wants to correct Iceman on that statement, but Bobby points at the Ghost Rider, who is driving by, and reminds the others of how Pluto blasted him and his bike about thirty yards. Hercules asks what the Ghost Rider has discovered while scouting around on the campus, and he tells him that all of their opponents from Greek mythology have disappeared, just like the glowing energy portals they came through.
Hearing the bad news, Hercules gets angry. He wonders out loud what evil game Pluto is playing with him, or who else could be behind the attacks. Warren tries to calm him down, reasoning that they have only Pluto’s word for Zeus’ involvement. Iceman agrees with his friend, after all Pluto didn’t seem to be the most trustworthy. Hercules doesn’t believe them, though, for they have no conception of Zeus’ power. It is so overwhelming that nobody, not even the Lord of Hades, would dare to use his name in falsehood, he claims.
“But there is one who is freely given to call upon the name of Zeus! For he is the only being in all the cosmos to be endowed with a fraction of thy father’s matchless energy!” someone answers from above. The heroes look up and Venus immediately recognizes him as the Huntsman – the one creature that no Olympian can conquer. Iceman is surprised and questions how such a skinny guy could pose any threat. The Huntsman tells him not to disparage his physical appearance and that, besides his Zeus-given abilities he now also commands the flaming weapons of Pluto as well.
To prove his words right, the Huntsman throws a flaming spear at the gathered heroes, capable of paralyzing those it strikes. The six heroes are engulfed in mystic fire and, indeed, they can’t move – all but one. The Ghost Rider feels that his satanic power is protecting him, and he decides to use his own fire powers against his unsuspecting opponent. The Huntsman is hit by the hellfire bolt, and is knocked out of the sky.
His power disrupted, Angel, Iceman and Black Widow are free again, however Hercules and Venus are both unconscious. The Widow reasons that the Huntsman’s weapon must be most effective against Olympians. Warren doesn’t like that one bit, for the way the Huntsman blinked out before hitting the ground, it’s obvious that he isn’t defeated yet. Iceman tries to revive Hercules and Venus with some cold-compresses, but it’s no use – they won’t wake up. Warren answers that then it’s just the four of them who have to battle the Huntsman, but the Widow corrects him – just the three of them. She explains that, as the Ghost Rider is the only one who can withstand the Huntsman’s spears, she wants him to stay with their unconscious friends and guard them. None of the males can argue with that, and Warren comments on it looking like as if the Widow has become their team leader in record time. In a frosty tone, she questions if that is an objection, but he quickly says that he doesn’t have any problem with that. In fact, she is a darned sight more attractive than the last team leader he worked with.
That settled, the Black Widow, Iceman and the Angel depart and have soon spotted the Huntsman nearby. Recognizing his pursuers, the Huntsman thinks himself a fool for having trusted in Pluto’s devices and prepares to use his Zeus-created staff to battle the heroes. Holding the glowing staff in front of him, the Huntsman recites a certain enchantment:Slain by Zeus’ dread thunderfire –Rebel thou were and so thou you died –But now, o Titan from Hades’ mire –Arise to do battle at my side!
No sooner has he finished the spell than does a giant figure appear, four times as big as the average human, his entire body alit, glowing with crackling energy. His pitch-black, inhuman eyes burn with hatred and rage. This is Menoetius. In the early days of Zeus’ reign, he and his fellow Titans went to war against Olympus, and Menoetius was felled by one of Zeus’ awesome bolts; so awesome that it transformed portions of the giant’s own flesh into living energy. Forced into obedience by the Huntsman’s summoning, Menoetius attacks the three attacking heroes and tries to grab the flying Angel.
Iceman lends his fellow mutant a hand and zaps the giant with a frost blast from behind, which shows next to no effect. Menoetius turns and, more annoyed than actually harmed, he releases a burst of energy towards Bobby, shattering his ice-ramp. Still the long hours training in the X-Men’s Danger Room weren’t wasted, for Iceman manages to form a second slide in mid-fall, and he even comes back fighting, now making the ground slippery with his ice. Menoetius topples and falls backwards.
Meanwhile, the Black Widow has climbed up a nearby building, well aware that the victory is only temporary; while for now Menoetius can’t regain his footing, his intense energy will melt the ice in no time. Remembering her past experience with fighting electrical empowered opponents, the Widow comes up with a more permanent solution. She wraps her spare web-line around a steel flagpole, and tosses the other end into the smoldering mixture of fury and ice.
The results are devastating; Menoetius is struck down in the short-circuit, followed directly by the Huntsman receiving a similar shock. Strangely, his staff that is made of Olympian wood, is conductive. Forced to let go of his staff, the Huntsman can only watch as the Angel grabs his weapon and flies away with it, out of his range. The heroes believe themselves victorious, now that the Huntsman can’t conjure up some other creatures, and prepare themselves for engaging him in a direct battle. However, they have underestimated the Huntsman yet again. With a few gestures, he taps into his own powers and teleports the three heroes in front of him away.
Nearby, the Ghost Rider is still watching over the unconscious Venus and Hercules. He doesn’t like waiting, while the others fight, when suddenly there’s a strange glow in the air. A portal forms and, from its center, the Ghost Rider see three figures approach – Ares, Pluto and Hippolyta, all charging forward. Ares wonders what has happened to the Huntsman, while Pluto says that they are back where they left the Ghost Rider. Hippolyta wonders why he doesn’t see to be recognizing them. Not willing to let the three Olympians make another grab for Hercules and Venus, the Ghost Rider blasts at them, nailing them all with on blast. However, as the three collapse on the ground, their forms change, and the revert to their true looks – Iceman, Angel and Black Widow.
The Huntsman not only teleported the three heroes, he also created illusionary disguises around them. While the Ghost Riders is still in shock over having possibly killed his friends, the Huntsman sneaks up from behind, and knocks him over with a punch to the back of his head. Also having regained his staff, the Huntsman then teleports away with Venus and Hercules. His parting words are “Rejoice, o’ humans! This day there be weddings most auspicious in fabled Olympus!”
Seconds later, the remaining heroes come around. Iceman blames the Huntsman getting away on the Ghost Rider, who now no longer has his flaming skull appearance but has reverted back to hum. Bobby angrily questions where his ghost tricks are now, now that he has screwed everything up for Hercules and Venus. Johnny Blaze tries to explain that he only turns into Ghost Rider when there is some danger present. Bobby is still mad and says that, with Pluto having got what he wanted, the danger has sure passed. The Black Widow tries to comfort Johnny Blaze and tells him not to blame himself, they can track down the Huntsman and rescue the two Gods. Johnny knows better, though, and asks how four mortals should track somebody to Olympus. None of the heroes has an answer, and they fall quiet.


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Assault on Olympus
Black Widow and Angel are both in their swimming costumes, relaxing, as Iceman skates around on a patch of ice he’s created. Natasha feels that Bobby looks to have taken their recent defeats in his stride. One would think that the loss of Hercules and Venus to the Huntsman could not be swallowed so easily. Warren asks her not to let Bobby’s games fool her. He’s just as sick about it as they are, maybe more. He just doesn’t show it like other people. Then again, he adds, aren’t mutants supposed to act like  normal people? Natasha says she’s heard the same bitterness in his voice from others that are made outcasts by this society; like women for instance, and ex- Russians.
Iceman overhears her and agrees, but this doesn’t make it right. They are failures all the way down the line. They blew it with Hercules and Venus. He’s messed things up as far back as he can remember, and it shows. As he circles the ice, he thinks about how Scott and the new X-Men sound like they’re doing fine without him and Warren. Hank’s got it made with the Avengers, and the girl that he loved, Lorna Dane, has forgotten all about him. The only thing that matters to her these days is Alex Summers. The thing that really riles Bobby is the fact that the world may be right. Mutants may be dangerous, but only because some of them are failures.
He recalls recent events, about how their problems began with Pluto sending his mutant hordes to capture Hercules and Venus, and ended with the Huntsman taking them both from under their noses. Once again, he thinks…failures!
His thoughts are interrupted by the appearance of Johnny Blaze, who calls for him to snap out of it. They have work to do. He’s figured out how to get Hercules back. Angel and the Black Widow join them, and Johnny explains that it’s not every day that a mere mortal figures out how to get himself and his buddies - to Olympus! He tells them how he came about this idea.
(flashback)
After their little altercation, Ghost Rider returned to UCLA, and overheard a bunch of students talking about a mountain or something on campus. He figured out that this must be the ice mountain that Bobby had created as they fled Olympus. He headed over there, and saw the mountain was still intact.
(present)
It takes a while for the importance of the mountain still being there to sink in to Bobby’s thick skull, but he finally gets it. Pluto wasn’t able to close the portal to Olympus, due to the ice blocking it. Therefore, it should still be accessible.
(Olympus)
A sentry sounds the horn over Olympus. Zeus is furious. It is the day of the black double-wedding of Hercules to Hippolyta and Ares to Venus. Zeus asks Dionysius to tell him it’s a lie, but Dionysius assures him it is indeed true. It must be, if Olympus is to survive. Zeus knows that Pluto conspired with the other lords of other hells to unite against Olympus. He also knows that this wedding is a mockery.
Nearby, Pluto sits and gloats over his cunning scheme. He asks Ares and Hippolyta to gaze on the king of the gods, and look on the end of Olympus. Zeus, he exclaims, believes that this marriage will end the threat against him. Does he not know that he is bound by his own sacred laws? That husband may not oppose wife, nor wife go against husband! By wedding Hercules and Venus, he has bound the only two Olympians who could have prevented the overthrow of Zeus. The taste is sweet, he tells Ares. Victory is Pluto’s, now and forevermore.
Meanwhile, Hercules is being taunted by the mutates, and he uses his formidable physical prowess against them. He tells them that there will be no wedding. His father will not allow it. One of the mutates replies with glee, that it is Zeus who will marry them. “Tis by Zeus’ decree!” Hercules can’t believe it. Looking from a window above, Zeus tells his son that there is nothing he can do about it - nothing.
Hercules calls him a coward and a cur, but Venus tries to calm him down. She explains that whatever passes here, whatever evil may befall them, the fault is not with his father, but with Pluto. Venus holds Hercules by the arm, as he replies that she is ever ready to spare another hurt, even if she must shoulder the pain herself. She replies that this is love, and she is what she must be, as is he and his father.
(meanwhile)
In the wooded slopes surrounding Olympus, the Huntsman is out preying on errant Olympians. He soon comes across Iceman’s ice mountain, and notices that it appears to warm itself form within. Suddenly, the ice breaks, and the four remaining Champions pour through the hole, right into the Huntsman’s path. He is a formidable foe, as the Black Widow points out, but he is also assisted by more mutates, who appear on his command.
Angel takes to the air, organizing things from his superior position. Natasha points out that they cannot be delayed with battles against foes such as these. Hercules is their main concern. She suggests he and the Ghost Rider go on ahead, and leave the fighting to herself and Iceman. Angel leaves his calling card as he departs, smashing through a group of mutates to remind them he was there. Ghost Rider likewise lays on the hellfire as he rides past. With the Black Widow at his back, Iceman feels confident that they can overcome their numerical disadvantage.
(elsewhere)
With Pluto standing smugly by his side, Zeus tells his son to cease complaining about the wedding. Dionysius bows his head, sad that it breaks Zeus’ heart to have to carry this through. Ares tells Hippolyta that he can think of worse fates than being wed to Venus. Her fate, for instance. She replies that he is not a goddess, and doesn’t’ see what a goddess sees. Suddenly, the Huntsman appears from nowhere, and informs his lord Pluto that they are undone. Pluto is anxious that the ceremony take place and orders him to leave, before… His pause assures Hercules that his comrades are coming to help him. He is pleased they have not forgotten him.
The Huntsman is about to conjure forth more warriors, but Angel grabs his staff and swings him around, crashing him hard into a stone wall. Pluto calls for Ares, the god of war, to stop them, but Ares is concerned about Zeus. Pluto assures him that he will not interfere. This union must pass if Olympus is to be saved. Ares stands, sword in hand, and approaches the muscular Hercules. He insists he is a match for Hercules, as long as the power of Zeus entraps his rage. Zeus conjures a spell to hold Hercules’ fist at bay, but his anger breaks the spell, and he punches Ares hard to the ground. Zeus emits a low chuckle, as he sees his son’s determination shine through.
Hippolyta is angry that she is now probably not going to marry Hercules and runs at Venus, brandishing a sword and exclaiming that if, she can’t have him, neither can Venus. Amazingly, she transforms Hippolyta’s sword into a plow; a weapon of war changed to an instrument of peace. The plow then falls on Hippolyta, knocking her out.
The Champions then make their appearance, with Iceman and the Black Widow having caught up their two companions. Hercules places his hand on Venus’s shoulder, and smiles as he sees them arrive. Iceman tells him that the feeling’s mutual.
Unfortunately, the party is disrupted by Pluto, who drops the four Champions with one charged assault. Iceman remarks that it feels like he’s being killed and allowed to watch it happen. The furious Pluto points at them, and declares that, twice, they have dared the wrath of death; twice they have defied him. There will be no third time.
Hercules calls for his teammates to get behind him. Their strength is no match for Pluto. Venus holds on tight, reminding him that neither is his. Natasha’s says that they cannot hope to win over Pluto. That is for another power; another strength. Ghost Rider picks up her cue, and heads straight towards Pluto. Instead of confronting him, though, he heads right past him. He walks right up to Zeus himself, and tells him that he is the only one in Pluto’s league.
Ghost Rider asks Zeus, “Was it easy to sell your son to death, pal?” The enraged Zeus replies that he dost toy with doom! Ghost Rider replies that he’s done that all his life. He thought he couldn’t make it on his own, and he asked the devil for help - and accepted it; the way he accepts Pluto’s lies. Zeus looks downwards, and loses himself in thought. “Lies.”
The Rider asks what he thinks Pluto had to promise those other Demi-Gods in order to get their unity. Didn’t it occur to Zeus that it might be his head on a platter? Zeus shouts over at Pluto, telling him that he allowed a mortal weakness to possess him, so he did not see the duplicity. He warns Pluto to leave. He will deal with him later. Pluto skulks away, fearing the wrath of Zeus.
Zeus turns to his son, Hercules. He admits that it was against him that he did err. He gives him the choice of punishment. He can name what should be done to the miscreants, and it will be so. Before Hercules can speak, Venus cuts in, and asks for their forgiveness. The Champions are surprised at this request, but Venus explains that they would be no better by taking vengeance upon those who seek to hurt them. Pluto, Ares and Hippolyta are doomed to a hell of their own making; a hell of petty plots and schemings into which no light of purity may ever reach. Is that not punishment enough? she asks. Zeus makes it so.
Angel is impressed with Venus’s performance, but thinks UCLA has just lost a department head. Hercules adds that she has indeed done with her mortal guise for the time being. She has learned that love is needed in heaven, as well as Earth. Zeus and Hercules shake hands, regaining their respect for one another. Hercules says he must return to Earth. He has left much undone, including a lecture about himself as a myth. Zeus would like to hear it, but he will detain him and his friends no longer. A portal opens, and the Champions disappear through it, with Angel wondering what will be next for them.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Murder at Malibu
(Malibu, California)
Hercules and the Black Widow walk along the beach. Hercules is annoyed at Pluto’s recent actions, but Natasha says the war is over, and he should give it a rest. Pluto gambled, and he lost. Hercules thinks not. There’ll be no ending so long as Pluto lives to covet his father’s throne. Behind them, on a sand dune, an unseen foe stalks them.
Suddenly, he leaps from the dune and attacks Hercules. Natasha cannot see who he is due to all the loose sand; but first things first. She loses her coat, and delivers a deft kick to the aggressor’s chest. Surprisingly, he gets up immediately. He’s not just strong; he’s fast too. She kicks him again, but is prevented from providing a fight-ending chop by an incoming wave. It distracts Natasha long enough for her foe to grab her.
Unable to break free, she can’t do anything about his punch, which almost knocks her out. He throws her around like a rag doll, saying, “Billy’s gonna kill you,” repeatedly. Hercules picks himself up out of the sand, and sees his teammate in danger.
Sensing he will not reach in time, he instead punches the ground with tremendous force. The shock wave causes Billy to lose his balance, and he drops the Widow. Hercules then heads towards him, but finds that Billy’s anger and hatred pushes him on. He smashes Hercules in the face, but the Olympian replies with a solid punch of his own. Billy is sent flying into a nearby rock.
Natasha walks back to Hercules, and they see their assailant clearly for the first time. They can’t believe it. Billy is an old man - though he possesses the strength and physique of a man a quarter his age. Billy pleads with them not to hurt him no more. He’ll be good. The tag on his green shirt reads, ‘San Marino State Hospital.’ Natasha assures him that they won’t hurt him, and calls for Hercules to get Billy back to Angel’s house and have Ivan phone for an ambulance.
Suddenly, six uniformed goons appear, and tell Natasha it won’t be necessary. They are armed with rifles, and they want Billy back. Hercules stands between them and Billy, and he informs them that Billy is now under his protection. One of the goons raises his gun, which appears to be no ordinary weapon. He tells Hercules that, if he wants to get involved, then he’s going to have to pay the price. Hercules and the Widow both fall to his weapons’ blast.
(San Marino State Hospital)
In this ageing building, Dr. Edward Lansing sits behind a large desk as his goons bring in Hercules and the Black Widow before him. He welcomes them to the hospital, and tells them he is honored to have them as guests. Hercules takes offence at this remark and breaks his shackles as if they were made from paper. He immediately takes out the nearest guards, but Dr. Lansing flicks a switch that sends an electrical charge through Natasha’s neck brace. He warns Hercules to yield, or his beauteous companion dies.
Hercules submits, but asks his keeper his name. Natasha interjects, and says he is Dr. Edward Lansing… and he is insane. Grabbing a comb to sort out what’s left of his hair, Lansing replies that he is hardly insane; he is a visionary. He is a man who will expand the frontiers of human knowledge. Natasha calls him a butcher. Lansing asks to be allowed to explain his work to Hercules, so he can make up his own mind.
(flashback)
Dr. Lansing explains that he wasn’t always as Hercules sees him now, director of a tenth-rate hospital. Once, he held a full professorship at a great teaching hospital. But, the administration disapproved of his theories and methods. They dismissed him, so he came to San Marino - a dumping ground for those society wishes to ignore, or forget. They are the old, the sick and the mentally infirm.
His dream, he continues, was to recreate the legendary super-soldier serum, to create a race of invincible warriors. He experimented on the population of outcasts. No one was interested in their fate, or cared. After years of failure and of deaths recorded as ‘accidental,’ he succeeded. He created his mutate, his warrior supreme.
(present)
Billy was his prototype. He managed to escape which is why Hercules ended up fighting him on the beach. Unfortunately, Lansing adds, the process seems to affect the men mentally. It tends to turn them into childlike simpletons or mindless beasts. But, it’ll work out in time.
Hercules has heard enough. He lashes out at the guards once again, saying that butcher is too kind a word for someone such as he. He’ll see Lansing damned before he torments another in this place. Lansing holds the remote control in his hand, and warns, “At the cost of the Black Widow’s life, immortal?” Hercules once again backs down. Dr. Lansing smiles. He’s pleased that Hercules has some feeling for the Widow as it makes his job that much easier. Hercules tells him to enjoy his triumph whilst he can. He has won the battle, but not the war.
The Black Widow apologizes to Hercules, but he says there’s no need. They will yet prevail. Lansing laughs like a madman. He informs Hercules that it is he that will prevail. When he’s finished with them, he cackles; they’ll tell him their innermost secrets, and serve him as blindly and loyally as any of his mutates.
(Angel’s beach house - an hour after sunset)
Warren is dressed in his red and yellow Angel outfit, and chatting with Ivan Petrovich, the Black Widow’s friend. Bobby sits nearby clutching an X-Men comic. Ivan’s worried about Natasha. He explains that she’s been gone all day without a message, a phone call - nothing. Warren replies that she’s not a kid. She can take care of herself. Bobby adds that besides, she’s out with Hercules. What could happen to them? He had to ask.
Suddenly, Hercules comes crashing through the exterior wall, followed by the Black Widow and several of Dr. Lansing’s mutates. Hercules cries, “In the name of the master, all within these walls must die!” Bobby drops the comic book, and asks if this is some kinda joke. Warren asks him to look in Hercules’ eyes. This is no joke. Their friends want them dead!
Angel takes to the air to avoid Natasha’s initial lunge. Hercules takes a swing at Bobby, but he ducks, and creates a patch of ice beneath him, causing the Olympian to lose his balance. The other mutates jump on Bobby, and Ivan is forced to get in on the action. He chops one of the mutates, but wonders who on Earth they all are. They’re swarming all over the house.
Suddenly, Bobby changes to his ice form, and throws away several of the mutates. As he prepares to blast them with ice, Hercules punches him, and Bobby is sent reeling through another exterior wall. He lands at the feet of Dr. Lansing who is operating a control box. The two Champions are performing better than he had hoped. With Iceman surrounded by both Hercules and a group of mutates, Dr. Lansing orders them to administer the coup de grace, for the moment the Black Widow and Hercules kill their friends, his conditioning will be compete.
As he ends his sentence, he turns at the sound of a motorcycle engine. Over a sand dune, he sees Johnny Blaze heading straight for him. In mid-flight, Johnny turns into the Ghost Rider, his flaming skull serving notice that whoever these guys are; they’re bad news.
Angel takes advantage of this distraction, and flies right into Hercules, but fails to knock him over. Hercules says that his courage is great, but he and his companions face one who has stood blow-to-blow with Thor. He swipes at the incoming Ghost Rider, and knocks him clean off his bike, withstanding one of the Rider’s strongest bolts of hellfire. Iceman picks up the pace, laying ice layer upon layer on Hercules. Unfortunately, he is so powerful that even this cannot hold him. He soon faces all three at once but, in his mind-controlled rage, he is virtually unstoppable.
Ivan, meanwhile, continues to fend off the mutates. The Black Widow attacks him, and manages to catch him with a kick. Ivan attempts to reason with her, and explains who he is. It does no good, as Natasha’s mind-control is too powerful. They battle hard, each throwing blows at the other, and parrying as many as they can. Eventually, the Black Widow manages to get on top of Ivan, and he begins to strangle him. As she squeezes ever tighter, she says, “Nothing personal, friend.” This appears to shake her out of her miasma. She stops squeezing, and sits up. She repeats the word, friend. “You, you are a friend… my mind, burning as if it’s on fire inside. Can’t… think.” She suddenly comes to the realization of what she has done, and asks Ivan to forgive her.
Lansing is furious and calls for her to kill Ivan, who she has at her mercy. Natasha turns and sees him. He is carrying a weapon, and again orders her to kill Ivan. She replies that he should worry more about his own life, because she’s coming for him. With the mind-control broken, Lansing blasts away at Natasha, but her agility keeps her safe from danger. She asks what’s with the toy. Lansing replies that it’s no toy; it is a neural disrupter that will fry her nervous system in an instant. Natasha swivels in mid air, replying that it will only do that if it hits her. She tumbles to the ground, and spins, landing a two-footed kick in Lansing’s face. He flails backwards, and drops the gun.
He lands hard, losing his glasses in the process. He immediately begins to search for his control box, as he still controls Hercules. He sees it nearby but, as he reaches for it, the Black Widow’s foot stomps on it, smashing it to pieces. Natasha tells him it’s just him and her now. Lansing stands, and makes a run for it. He wishes to rally his mutates. As he heads toward them, he suddenly realizes that, without the box, he no longer controls them either. They show no mercy, and beat Dr. Lansing to death.
(dawn)
Hercules watches the mutates, shuffling around Lansing’s body, waiting for the police to take them away. Warren catches up with Hercules, and asks if he’s okay. He’s been out there all night. Hercules replies that he is well past his… brain sickness. Warren tells him that the cops will be there soon. They’ll make sure that Lansing’s mutates will be well looked after. Hercules turns, with fire in his eyes. “Looked after, aye - but they can never be cured! They can never regain the humanity Lansing stole from them!” He says they were innocents, and trusted Lansing to care for them. He repaid their trust by destroying their souls.
Warren objects to Hercules shouting at him like this. He replies that there is evil in the world, and Lansing was part of it. But, there’s good as well, and the Champions are part of that. The question is, do they do anything about it, or do they sit around crying in their beer? Like it or not, he continues, they’ve got power, and he hopes the responsibility to use it wisely. Surrounded by his fellow Champions, he adds that they can help those who can’t help themselves; the innocents, the victims of people like Lansing. The world still needs Champions.


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
The economy is so bad that…
The high-flying Angel, Warren Worthington, is with Bobby Drake in the offices of Emerson Bale. He is one of the world’s finest legal minds, and he has some interesting news for Warren. The family estate has been fought over by Warren’s relatives, but as a dear family friend, Bale has Warren’s interests at heart. He’s followed Angel’s exploits with the X-Men in the news, and feels he could put the money to far better use than the relatives he refers to as sharks. They claim that his parents wouldn’t have made him sole beneficiary if they’d known he was the Angel, but Bale thinks that’s poppycock.
Bale hands Warren a partial list of holdings, which he and Bobby take a look at. They can’t believe it. “That’s more money than God makes,” exclaims Bobby. Warren throws the papers into the air, and pronounces, “I’m rich… I’m rich!
Meanwhile, Stuart Clarke’s lawyer is in a heated argument with his client. Clarke owes money to the government, to his sub-contractors and to the lawyer himself. Ignoring the problem isn’t helping matters. The lawyer, Crawley, informs him that, if he’d sold out two years ago, he’d be a rich man. But now, Clarke must declare bankruptcy. Clarke grabs Crawley by his jacket’s lapels and calls him a spineless worm. Clarke Futuristics means the world to him. He put his soul into the company, and he asks how he could sell his soul to some corporation.
He throws Crawley backwards, and tells him he’s to blame for all of this. Clarke thinks he should have planned for this recession. It’s tough enough competing with all the big outfits before the idiots in Washington started running the economy into the ground. “Why didn’t you plan?” he screams. No answer is forthcoming from the terrified lawyer, so Clarke lets go and fires him, adding that he’ll get in touch the next time he wants a dream destroyed. He needn’t worry about his creditors either. “I’ll find a way to pay them back.” He storms out into the street, and screams the sentence again. A passer by recognizes his frustrations; thinking that between the L.A. smog and the Republicans, they’re all gonna flip out before long.
(elsewhere)
Natasha Romanov, the Black Widow, is chatting with her friend, Ivan Petrovich. She asks him to tell her what’s up. He’s been pouting like Gary Cooper in High Noon. He’s concerned about the call she received from Warren Worthington about the new Champions team. He thinks it’s too similar to the Avengers, or even her relationship with Daredevil. Each time she ties herself to anybody, she gets burned, and he doesn’t want to see it happening again. He asks what makes her think this time will be different. “What makes you think you won’t get hurt again?”
Natasha pictures her teammates in her mind. She replies that it’s nothing that makes any logical sense. It’s just a feeling she has. She thinks the Champions are really a lot like loners. She doesn’t feel that Iceman or Angel ever felt truly comfortable in the X-Men. It didn’t allow them much individual growth. Johnny Blaze belongs to a west that doesn’t exist anymore. As for Hercules, on Olympus he was a man amongst Gods, but on Earth he’s a God amongst men. She just thinks it might work this time. Ivan doesn’t add anything further, but guesses she should play it her way, and prays he can pick up the pieces later.
Nearby, Hercules joins a game of American Football with some skeptical UCLA students. The figure they can take him, but Natasha knows they don’t have an inkling of what they’re getting into. Seconds later, Hercules has crossed the goal line, and the entire team is sprawled on the ground; one thinking if it’s too late to try out for the debating team.
While the UCLA Bruins have second thoughts on their athletic endeavors, Richard Fenster emerges from a building saying he’s been fired, out loud. He can’t believe it. It’s like they blame him for the damage Pluto’s army caused to the campus. Unfortunately, he now has to tell Hercules and the Widow that the university no longer requires their services. He wonders what’s next for him. Out of nowhere, Angel swoops down and grabs him, taking him high into the air. “How about business manager of Champions, Inc.?” asks Warren.
Fenster quickly finds himself being carried along on one of Bobby’s ice-slides. Warren adds that his first job will be to find them a suitable headquarters; nothing too big. Twenty or thirty floors ought to do it. Fenster stutters, caught out by this exhilarating ride. Iceman asks him what the matter is. “Cold feet?” With little else on the horizon, Fenster accepts their proposal.
Meanwhile, Stuart Clarke returns to Clarke Futuristics, and he’s in a lousy mood. He feels the deck was stacked against him from the start, even though he was first with his product. He could never supply it as economically as Stark or Roxxon. He had high hopes for his exo-skeleton uniform. He enters the lab, and begins putting on his creation. He thinks it could have revolutionized modern police work. But, when
Stark’s L.A. operation started work on a similar project; it got all the fat government contracts.
As he connects all the straps on his outfit, he wonders if there’s another way he can utilize his investment. As each section of his outfit is snapped into place, thoughts that once wouldn’t have entered his mind take shape. He is not an inherently evil man, but he’s been pushed beyond the point of reason. He pauses before slipping on the mask but, as they say, he thinks, time is money. He has an insane plan to save his flailing business.
Miniature generators charge the exo-skeleton costume, and boot jets flare into life. The costume is mainly red, with a yellow band across the mid-section and with a yellow face mask. He smiles inwardly at the gut-level justice his scheme offers. He plans to take what he needs to revive Clarke Futuristics from F.D.I.C protected banks. He figures that this way, no real people will suffer loss. The bank’s losses will be covered by the government - the very government whose ill-conceived policies caused the recession which has put his business in such dire straits. He takes to the air. In one hour, he will be the most wanted man in Los Angeles.
(elsewhere)
Seated around a large table, the Champions discuss their future. Warren hasn’t been able to contact Ghost Rider and Bobby is still with Richard Fenster, but he feels there’s no reason they can’t get the ball rolling. Hercules says he seeks to include him too swiftly. He came there at the behest of the beauteous Black Widow. He cares not for Warren’s desire to place the ‘lion of Olympus’ at the command of mere mortals. Ivan sarcastically comments that he’ll get his violin. Natasha tells Herc that it’s not exactly what Warren has in mind by the Champions becoming ‘store-front superheroes.’
Warren tells him that he’s palled around with other superheroes long enough to know that most of them are too involved in their own affairs, vital as they may be, to be of much help to the common man. He thinks the Champions can change that. He reminds him of their battle with Dr. Lansing’s goons, and how they helped his patients be free of him. Warren thinks they’ve got power, and that equals responsibility in his book. Can he walk away from that? Hercules replies that he speaks with conviction, and so, for the time being he will join them.
Bobby Drake wanders the streets, lost in thought. He hopes Warren can sell the idea to the others. It’ll make his decision to quit easier. Unlike Warren, he doesn’t wish to lose his secret identity. He knows what effect that would have on the rest of the Drake family. He passes a couple of bystanders who feel a sudden shiver as he walks by. Bobby thinks that he may want to chuck the whole Iceman bit - someday.
As he passes a National Bank window, he notices a disturbance inside. He can see Stuart Clarke in his costume, and realizes it’s being robbed. The manager is reluctant to open the safe, but using the augmented strength the costume offers him, Clarke simply rips the door off its hinges. Bobby ices up immediately, read for action. He wonders if the Champs will pay for all the threads he’s freeze-dried out of existence with this quick-change number.
He slides into the bank and creates an ice battering ram. “Gangway, folks!” he warns, as he makes his way through the bank towards his intended target. Clarke smashes the ice with ease, and sends Iceman flying through a window. If the battering ram hadn’t absorbed the brunt of the punch, he’d have been busted into as many pieces as the window. Clarke charges him, so Bobby creates a barrage of ice blocks which he hurls at Clarke. He shrugs them off with ease, and picks up a street lamp, yanking it clear out of the ground. He swats Bobby with it, and Bobby knows that, if he connects properly, he’s a gonner.
Fortunately for Iceman, Angel appears and pulls him clear of danger. “Didn’t your mom and I warn you to stay away from the neighborhood bully, junior?” he asks as they head skywards. Luckily, he’d heard about the bank raid on the radio and thought he’d check it out himself. Clarke swings the lamppost around, and prepares to swat them both with it. Hercules has other ideas. He grabs the post, and between them, they crunch it like it was made of paper. Herc tosses it away, but Clarke keeps coming. Herc says he’s like a man crazed. Clarke punches Hercules, and even manages to momentarily faze him; asking if a madman could develop an armor powerful enough to fell even a swaggering Olympian. Hercules responds in kind, and knocks Clarke clean into a wall, which shatters upon impact.
Clarke appears to be down and out. Hercules stands over him, and will never understand how a mortal can gain such power, and yet do so little with it. “I suppose Ares is a boy scout,” comments Warren. Natasha asks him not to make light of Hercules, but Ivan reckons the Olympian will be too busy congratulating himself to take offense. Hercules informs them that Ares is the god of war. It is his nature to act as he does. Suddenly, Natasha tries to warn him, but her call comes too late.
Clarke has recovered, and he grabs Hercules from behind, smashing his face into the asphalt. He tells her they hadn’t figured on his rig’s protective power. Angel takes to the air, and Bobby goes on the attack. Natasha is concerned that they don’t appear to have a battle plan, and reckons they don’t stand a chance. Iceman lays on the ice, encasing Clarke in a cube of solid ice. Clarke’s exo-skeleton makes short work of this prison, and he busts out in no time. Bobby is hit on the forehead by a chunk of ice, and Angel reckons he has one opportunity to take Clarke down before he starts on him.
He punches Clarke in the head from behind, but cries in agony as his fist makes contact. Clarke grins, and informs him that his helmet is made of the same invincible alloy as the rest of his armor. He swats Warren away like a fly, and figures he’d better grab some money before the cops arrive. Before he can get far, though, the Black Widow launches her own offensive. Her Widow’s bite makes almost no impact, and Clarke swings for her; not wishing to be stopped by a mere woman.
Ivan and Hercules close in, but Clarke smashes Ivan in the chin, before being hurled against a car by Hercules. The car crumples, and is then used as a weapon by Clarke, who tosses it with ease at his assailants. Iceman manages to create a defensive wall to protect them, and once the car has gone, Herc smashes the wall, wishing to put an end to this. Natasha calls for him to wait, and Bobby tells him to listen. The creep has got them by the short hairs.
Clarke orders them to back off. Clutching the unconscious Angel by his blond hair, he warns them that, if they come one step closer, he’ll smash his fist right through the Angel’s skull!