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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
…Lest Ye Be Judged!
Floating in the unimaginable depths of a black hole, Dazzler, dispatched there by Galactus with the mission to return him his renegade herald, Terrax, tries to evade Terrax’s razor-sharp axe blade. Terrax himself swears she shall never bring him back. He also just severed her lifeline to Galactus’ ship; there is nowhere for her to run! Dazzler cannot even communicate with him telepathically – as he can with her – to beg for her mercy! He assumes Galactus thought her beauty would sway him and convince him to return with her. If so, he was sorely mistaken. Terrax has betrayed his master – abused the Power Cosmic he bestowed upon him – but he will never return to him. Galactus’ wrath is too awful to even contemplate.
Alison thinks she’s got to get hold of herself. She shouldn’t think how horrible her situation is. After all, Galactus’ computer picked her as the only one in the universe who can bring Terrax back. Maybe they know more than she does. For now, though, she’d better concentrate on staying out of the range of Terrax.
Utilizing a small portion of the super-high-level energy that Galactus imbued her with, she propels herself beyond Terrax’s reach, takes a second to get her bearings and then blasts herself back towards her adversary and startles him with a full-force dazzler burst. On Earth, she could have leveled a small city with the amount of energy she now expends. Here, hampered by the light-consuming properties of the black hole, that energy is barely enough to keep Terrax at bay for a few seconds.
Outside of the black hole hovers the mighty starship of Galactus. Within that vessel, the robot known as Drone R-11 observes the battle on a monitor. Drone R-11 admires Alison for being truly valorous. If only its master had seen fit to send itself on this mission! But only Dazzler – in all the universe – was found worthy of the task.
The robot recalls how Terrax betrayed his master, Galactus, came to be ruled by vanity and self-love and set out to conquer worlds for his own glory rather than for the sustenance of his master. Galactus came to discovery of this and ordered Terrax to return and be punished. In fear of Galactus’ wrath, Terrax fled to a black hole – a place where Galactus could not follow, due to the fact the introduction of such an energy-intensive a being as Galactus into the black hole would destroy it and it was not Galactus’ wish to end Terrax’s life… yet.
Eventually, Galactus’ computers combed the universe and found the one being most suited to retrieve Terrax: the Earth mutate called Dazzler. Knowing of her ability to convert sound energy into radiant energy and to store that energy in high quantities, Galactus filled Dazzler with incredible power that she is now using to keep Terrax at bay. However, with her lifeline severed by Terrax, she may be in greater danger than they had foreseen. In spite of Galactus’ warning that he is not to be disturbed, Drone R-11 believes it must tell its master; he must know what to do.
Traveling on its personal jetstream, the robot soon reaches its master’s lab. The Drone asks its master to forgive this intrusion of his studies but the Earth mutate… Galactus interrupts the Drone, assuring it that it knows all that transpires; nothing is hidden from him. It reminds the robot, though, that it had told it not to be disturbed regarding the matter of Terrax and the female until she had either brought him back or perished in the attempt. The Drone, however, insists they must help her: she appears to be having great difficulty merely surviving against Terrax’s power and her lifeline has been cut.
Galactus retorts that he “must” do nothing – save that which is necessary to his survival. The mutate is of no importance. Despite the Drone’s pleadings, Galactus orders the robot to be silent since it was not programmed to advise but to serve. There are other, more pressing matters that require Galactus’ attention. Assuming that the Earthling has apparently failed, he orders the Drone to prepare all systems for immediate departure. The robot reluctantly complies.
Meanwhile, Dazzler is having a rough time with Terrax. She’s pouring on more radiant power than she ever imagined she could, and yet it barely slows him down. Terrax acknowledges she has courage but believes courage alone is not enough to defeat him! While uttering this phrase, Terrax attempts to strike her with his axe-blade – he barely misses her. Dazzler thinks she’s going to have to give everything she’s got. Summoning most of her power, she blasts him with multiple lasers. However, despite the fact Terrax’s power is muted by the energy-draining forces of the black hole, he still possesses a small portion of Galactus’ Power Cosmic and that still renders him unbelievably formidable.
Indeed, Terrax plows right through Alison’s lasers. In panic, Dazzler thinks she’s got no tricks left. Terrax tells her they don’t need to be adversaries. Soon, he will find the path which leads to the other end of this dimension they’re trapped in. According to Galactus, there’s a whole other universe there, a universe filled with unsuspecting planets – planets which will swiftly fall under Terrax’s merciless axe! He will rule them, safe from the vengeance of his former master… and he will have a beauteous queen by his side… Dazzler! “No!” Ali thinks. Terrax assures her there’s no purpose in struggling. Her only other option is to die!
Meanwhile, Galactus’ spheroid starship has just begun its journey away from the black hole. Inside the ship, in the energy bombardment chamber – the room where Dazzler was so recently saturated with incalculable sound energy – a deafening roar is again heard. Sound upon sound is fed into the energy chamber – the same sounds that filled Dazzler with enough power to challenge the black hole itself. These sounds, guided by some unseen hand, solidify and ricochet thunderously within the chamber. The individual shafts finally coalesce into an incredibly powerful beam of sound, a beam which soars from the hull of the craft. The beam passes through billions of miles of dark desolation and reaches its target, descending into the depths of the hole.
Back on Earth, in New York City
In the studio, Dazzler’s manager, Harry S. Osgood, and her road manager, Lancelot Steele, put her band through its paces. A furious Lancelot scolds them, asking them if they call that playing; that was the lamest excuse for music he’s ever heard! Beefer, Hunch and Marx, the members of Alison’s band, all gloomy, seem to silently agree. Hunch even openly admits that Lance is right: for once, they sounded terrible. The other band members remind him that Dazzler’s been missing for over a week: they need her. They hope she’s okay: that lady has a knack for getting into trouble.
Lance tells them to loosen up, telling them that both he and Harry are worried about Dazzler but they don’t let it getting to them. Lance asks Harry to back him on that. Harry, however, apologizes for not hearing him. He was thinking about Dazzler.
In Riverside hospital, Dr. Paul Janson tends to a young patient. His mind is on his work but his heart is elsewhere. Paul tells his patient, a young boy named Bobby that he can go home now; he should just make sure he takes care of that arm. The lovelorn Nurse Collins thinks that Paul is so gloomy since he returned from Canada – and all because Alison Blaire hasn’t called him. She hopes Alison has found someone else so that the doctor will finally find her.
In Gardendale, Long Island, Judge Carter Blaire ponders the fate of his daughter while looking at a photo he’d long ago sworn never to gaze at again: his wife, Katherine’s, photo. Talking to her photo, he “reminds” her that, when she was taken from him, he swore he’d take care of their daughter and raise her to be someone they could both be proud of. But she defied his wish to study law and became a performer instead. He disowned her, withdrew his love, refused to even speak to her. Now she’s missing and he doesn’t know what to do. She’s headstrong, just like Katherine was.
Carter’s mother, Bella, enters the room, apologizing for disturbing him. However, he seemed so upset. Carter assures her it’s alright. He needed to be startled from this reverie. There was a decision to be made and he made it.
In the black hole, Terrax tells Dazzler to cease her resistance. What he wants, he takes – and it is her he now desires! Suddenly, though, a beam of solid sound pierces the surrealistic stillness of the black hole. Terrax realizes the beam must be from Galactus! He was a fool to think he’d give up is search once she were defeated! He wonders, though, what weapon this is that he sends after him.
Ali believes Galactus must be probing with some kind of death ray, since he’s after Terrax. Thinking it’s better to go that way than spend the rest of her life with Terrax, Dazzler moves to the direction of the beam. As she screams, she realizes that she didn’t die as she expected. The beam didn’t hurt: she actually feels energized! This beam is solid sound like when she was exposed to in Galactus’ energy bombardment chamber. Galactus hasn’t abandoned her. He’s recharging her! Thinking with enthusiasm that she’s going to live, she blasts Terrax with a light beam.
As the sound beam locks in on her, it feeds her with a continuous stream of ultra-high-level sonic energy. Alison feels new energy coursing through her, filling her with power. Terrax attempts to retake the offensive. While relentlessly pressing her attack on Terrax, Alison ducks and weaves, avoiding Terrax’s energy cosmic blast.
Finally, Terrax is knocked out and collapses. Dazzler realizes she’s filled with such power even Terrax couldn’t stand against it. She thinks she owes Galactus for getting her out of the jam – only he’s the one who got her into it to begin with, which means she doesn’t owe him anything. She decides to leave Terrax behind her and split, since she doesn’t want to be around when he wakes up. Besides, she thinks that Terrax is better off this way. All he’s got facing him back with Galactus is certain punishment. At least, where he is, he’s got hope – hope of finding the other end of the black hole and attaining his dreams.
Ali also realizes she is able to follow the beam as she absorbs its energy and find her way back. She will just tell Galactus she failed and… Suddenly, she pauses as she realizes that Terrax failed Galactus and he was so terrified that he ran into a black hole! In order to evade Galactus’ punishment, she will have to take Terrax back with her. Floating towards his unconscious body, she tries to extract his potentially dangerous axe from his fist but finds out it’s impossible to pry it loose. Even unconscious, Terrax is holding onto it like it is a part of him.
Ali gives up on prying the axe loose but realizes she’s got another problem. How is she gonna get a grip on Terrax? He’s so big and bulky that he keeps slipping out of her grasp. Finally, she manages to grab him. Carrying him in one arm, she uses the other to focus the incoming energy and follow the beam. However, she realizes she’s not flowing with the currents of the hole; she’s going against them and it feels like they’re fighting back! Still, she presses on.
At Galactus’ starship, the Drone keeps watching Dazzler’s progress in the monitor. The robot is pleased to see that Dazzler has succeeded: the sound beam reached her and she defeated Terrax.
Suddenly, Drone R-11 hears Galactus’ voice behind him, calling its name. Galactus demands to know the meaning of this. Why were his commands disobeyed? Why is there transmission in progress from the energy bombardment chamber to the black hole? The robot nervously explains that it’s the Earth mutate: it couldn’t abandon her in the black hole. She did them no harm and wasn’t deserving of such a fate.
Astounded to hear such a response, Galactus asks the robot what it is about Earthlings that makes ordinarily rational creatures – even an inorganic one such as Drone R-11 – behave so insanely. The robot just disobeyed the word of Galactus which is a living law itself! The Drone however, ventures to say that it was faithful to Galactus’ intent.
“You… dared… presumed… the intent… of Galactus?!” the gigantic being exclaims, even more astounded. Gathering as much courage as it has, Drone R-11 tells Galactus that, even after he commanded the abandonment of the mutate, he maintained the invisible shield which protects Dazzler from the forces of the black hole. Galactus could have let it drop, leaving Dazzler to a crushing, choking death. He did not. The Drone believes that Galactus must harbor some feeling for the mutate.
Galactus does not respond. It’s not rage that he feels but an emptiness which no quantity of planets can ever satiate. Even though he knows the full gamut of human emotions, he cannot allow himself to respond to them – otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible for him to continue to consume worlds. Sometimes, though, in spite of himself, he is touched by one particular being or another. These are the times his emptiness seems greatest. When the Drone asks him if it’s allowed to return the ship to the black hole sector and continue the operation, Galactus’s response is affirmative. He then leaves the room, closing the door behind him.
Soon, carrying the unconscious Terrax and following the beam, Dazzler makes her way out of the black hole, unable to believe she made it! She realizes the sound beam is stopped. However, all that energy she was being fed with is more than she needs or wants ever again. The power is exhilarating beyond words but also terrifying. All she wants to do now is take all that remaining power and get rid of it!
Alison indeed sheds the incredible light energy she has been storing. After the indescribable explosion of light ceases, Dazzler and the unconscious Terrax are materialized aboard the nearby starship of Galactus. Drone R-11 secures Terrax with its master’s paralysis clamps, while it also intends to see to it that Dazzler does not perish, since the strain on her has been great.
On the Long Island expressway, a black Mercedes speeds westward towards Manhattan. Its driver is Judge Carter Blaire. Carter has swallowed his pride, realizing that the fate of his daughter means more to him than any differences which might exist between them. Thus, he goes to seek her out.
Paul Janson is also en route to Alison’s apartment. Riding his bicycle, Paul thinks that he can’t stand the suspense anymore. If Ali wants to break up with him – fine! But at least, he should tell him to his face! Paul’s cancelled all his appointments for the rest of the day and he’s going to camp out on her doorstep till he finds out what’s what.
Outside the skyscraper that houses the offices of Harry S. Osgood, Harry, together with Lance, Beefer, Hunch and Marx decide to get a cab and seek Dazzler themselves. Harry fears that if Techmaster has discovered how Dazzler thwarted his plans to do Harry in, she may be in more trouble than any of them dare imagine!
In Galactus’ ship, Dazzler fights a battle for survival. Drone R-11 realizes that the trauma of what she’s been through has finally taken its toll. Her frail human system wasn’t prepared for the sights she has seen and the things she’s experienced. However, the Drone has never programmed the healing chair for an Earthling, mutate or non-mutate. One miscalculation on the robot’s part and the spark of her life will be snuffed out! The Drone must not fail her – not after all she has done for her master!
For long seconds, R-11 looks on. Alison’s breathing seems to be shallower and shallower. Then, an eyelid flickers… a sigh is heard… and Ali opens her eyes, mumbling “Wh-where am I?” The robot informs her she’s on the starship of Galactus. Alison wearily replies she remembers it all now, though she’d rather have forgotten it. Drone R-11 tells her that – perhaps – in time she will, if that’s her wish. Now, however, it must transport her healing chair to Galactus’ laboratory. They have been summoned to attend the judgment of Terrax!
Minutes later, Dazzler, the Drone and a harshly bound Terrax are deposited on a platform, waiting for Galactus’ judgment. Finally, the Drone speaks, addressing Galactus. The robot reminds him that the transgressions of Terrax are known to them all. He has been self-seeking and rebellious. He has fled from Galactus’ judgment when his treachery was discovered. He has attempted to destroy Galactus’ chosen emissary, the Earthling Alison Blaire. Now, Terrax awaits his judgment.
Alison sits limply in her chair. Despite the miraculous healing powers of that device, she is still severely weakened. However, she cannot simply sit back and watch the proceedings. Straining, she raises herself to a standing position and dares to inform Galactus that it strikes her that something wrong is here. She may not know what the correct procedure is here but for all of Galactus’ show of his “divine wisdom” he is really not better than Terrax is! They both do what they must to survive… both follow their own natures.
Alison confesses to Galactus that she likes neither him nor Terrax. However, she also believes that if Galactus were honest with himself, he’d let Terrax off easy. Terrax wanted to rule planet whereas Galactus wanted to eat them – which of the two is better? As Alison finishes her speech, she’s overwhelmed by a wave of terror as Galactus locks her in one of his unwavering stares. Sensing his power and fearing for herself, Ali waits silently. She realizes she has doomed for herself because she stood up for Terrax – who a short time ago would have sliced her in two.
Finally, Galactus speaks. He explains that he chose Terrax as his herald because of his amoral character. He knew he would eventually betray him – and require chastisement. He believes his self-exile in the black hole has been punishment enough. Terrax has been humbled and will serve again as he has in the past. He then proclaims the end of these distasteful proceedings. In an instant, Terrax’s manacles disappear into thin air and Terrax finds himself once again soaring the spaceways in search of new planets for his master.
Drone R-11 congratulates Ali on her wonderful speech. Ali thanks him but insists that all the compliments on the world won’t get her the thing she wants most – to go home! The robot explains that its master can easily arrange that. Alison wonders why he hasn’t done it. Dazzler addresses Galactus and apologizes for yelling at him before; sometimes she loses her temper! Increasingly panicky, she urges Galactus to help her. She can’t get home without him. She’s got family, friends… a life there! Didn’t she do anything he asked of her? She begs him to just send her home.
Galactus gives no sign of hearing her. His mind is elsewhere, pondering some unfathomable problem. Alison keeps on ranting and pleading and fails to notice the beam of solid sound traversing the room until it touches her. Realizing what she must do now Dazzler lets loose a brilliant barrage of refulgent light, a barrage which this time succeeds in attracting the attention of Galactus. Distracted from his labors, Galactus believes her audacity is prodigious, although others from her planet whom he has encountered have also exhibited the same trait. Alison insists that she just wants him to send her home. Zapping her with blasts from his eyes, Galactus makes her wish come true and Ali is teleported away.
Watching from a monitor, R-11 is pleased to see that it happened as it had predicted. The sound infusion it gave Dazzler enabled her to attract Galactus’ attention, though the Drone itself could only watch on the screen, for fear of Dazzler’s luminescence disrupting its optical sensors. The robot suddenly sees Terrax on screen, announcing to Galactus that he has found a planet suitable for consumption. It is a transient golden galaxy, called Galador! When the Drone informs him of that development, Galactus instructs the robot to proceed to that location and also not to disturb his meditations until they arrive.
Back on Earth, Paul, Carter, Harry, Lance, Beefer, Hunch and Marx have all arrived at the building Alison lives. Paul recognizes Dazzler’s manager and her band from photos Ali has shown him. Paul introduces himself to them. The guys realize he must be that boyfriend she’s mentioned. Carter also approaches and nervously asks them where he can find Alison Blaire – he explains he’s her father! The guys explain they’ve been ringing her buzzer but there’s no answer.
The super suddenly appears, telling them that maybe he can help them. He’s also been worried about Alison, since he hasn’t seen her around for awhile. The super guides them towards the service elevator – since the regular elevator is busted. Carter protests that they dawdle too much – this could be a matter of life and death! One of Ali’s musicians advises him to take it easy and be mellow. Carter retorts that “being mellow” is what musicians do, with all the drugs they take!
Simultaneously, a brilliant flash of light suddenly illuminates Alison’s apartment. The shimmer takes form… solidifies… and Dazzler is, at long last, home.
The men enter the apartment where they find Alison lying exhausted on the couch, her eyes closed. Everyone is wondering if she’s okay. Harry asks her where she’s been. Utterly exhausted, Alison mutters that she’s been in space… in a black hole. Harry’s interpretation, from hearing this, is that she’s been in a week-long party. He tells the other men that it’s time to go: she’s okay.
To this, Carter heatedly asks if this what they call “okay.” He believes their values are sick – as sick as his daughter has become! He’s done his duty and made sure Alison is alive but she’ll never see him again until she straightens up.
They all depart save for Paul. He wishes there were some way he could make Ali happier so she wouldn’t have to go to such extremes to find such thrills. As he kisses her goodbye, he hopes some day he’ll find that way. For now, though, he’s just going to let her be. She doesn’t seem hurt or ill; all she needs is rest. As Paul turns to go, he is too far from Alison to hear the words she softly mutters in her sleep: “Goodbye, Paul… my darling… I love you…”


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

[Assistant]
Endless Hate
Having just had a hot bath, Alison Blaire looks herself at the bathroom mirror. She thinks it’s hard to believe she’s there in her flea-bitten old apartment, when just a few days ago she was a zillion miles away in space, in a black hole, fighting for her life against Terrax! Absentmindedly, Alison converts the sounds of Olivia Newton John coming from the stereo to a mellow glow that reflects her good mood.
Sitting on her kitchen table to read her mail, Ali is displeased to see many bills piled up. She can’t even afford to look at them, much less pay them. Realizing she’s hungry, she puts them aside. After all, as a little reward for all she’s had to go through lately, she spent all her cash in groceries. No more ketchup sandwiches for her – at least not this week! However, when she opens the fridge, she finds out that the refrigerator went on the blink again. Everything’s spoiled! Compromising with the situation, Ali makes a ketchup sandwich for herself, thinking she’d better wolf this down so she can be in time for her appointment with Harry.
Suddenly, the phone rings. It’s Paul! Happy to hear him, Ali glows even more brightly than before. It’s been so long since the two of them really had a chance to see each other. Paul agrees and asks her if she’d be free for dinner. “There’s a real special event tonight and I’d like you to join me,” he adds. Ali admits she has been anxious to see him and accepts the invitation. Paul tells her he’s going to pick her up at seven and then hangs up as he has to get back to work: his patients are waiting.
Replacing the receiver, Alison’s enthusiasm fades away as does the glow that accompanies it. She thinks that Paul sounded so cheerful and loving over the phone… but her career and crazy adventures have wreaked such havoc with their relationship. Can Paul still really care for her?
In Saddle River, New Jersey, Harry S. Osgood exits his house, ready to go to Manhattan, leaving two bodyguards behind to protect his home and family and taking one along with him. Harry asks his bodyguard if he’s checked the grounds, to which the latter replies affirmatively. As Harry and the bodyguard get in the car, the former starts driving and wishes that Techmaster – the man that tried to previously kill him – will make his move already. Just waiting like this is driving him crazy. Plus, the police are useless, as they claim there is no proof that Techmaster was behind the Enforcers’ attack on Harry. Later, in his plush 39th floor officer, Harry tries his best to go about business as usual, talking with his friend, Lou, over the phone, arranging their having a dinner together and finalizing a contract.
Meanwhile, outside Harry’s office, his receptionist, Cassandra Ferlenghetti is trying to discourage Lancelot Steele’s – Dazzler’s field manager – romantic interest in her. Lance is persistently asking her to go out with him, just for once, when Ali walks in and greets everybody. Lance tells her she’s lucky: Harry would’ve dropped any other act for disappearing like she did. He must have a soft spot for Ali. While Cassandra notifies Harry that Alison Blaire is there, Jack, Harry’s bodyguard, wonders whether she needs to be frisked. Lance urges him to control himself: Ali’s okay. Alison is puzzled to see “the hired muscle”: has someone been filching Harry’s cigars?!
As she walks into Harry’s officer, Harry replies that she ought to know that better than anyone. Harry’s had to take steps to protect himself from Techmaster. Dazzler saved Harry from the Enforcers when he sent them after him, but Techmaster is bound to strike again. However, Harry decides to cut to the chase and asks Ali what possessed her to disappear like she did last week. She came to him and asked him to build a career for her and then she’s not around when things start coming together. She shouldn’t blame him if she ends up waiting tables!
Even more rigid, Harry reminds her that she’s supposed to act as a professional and suggests she starts acting like one. Dazzler wonders how she could tell Harry she was in outer space. He’d think she was crazy – and who would blame him? She assures Harry she sympathizes with his situation but her life hasn’t been better lately. She’s sorry if she caused him any problems but he has to believe her – it couldn’t be helped. She reminds him she’s here and ready to work – and he’s still her manager.
Harry explains that, ever since she failed to show up for the concert at the Flash Club, no one’s wanted to take a chance on her. It’ll take him a while to smooth things over. Harrry, however, gives her the card of a colleague of his who might be able to find her some work in the meantime – though not work of the highest caliber. As Ali is about to leave, Harry urges her not to call him; he’ll let her know if anything develops. “No problem,” Dazzler replies while actually thinking, “You ungrateful bum!” As she closes the door behind her, Harry wonders “what’s the matter with me?” He only meant to give her a mild scolding. His nerves are quite frazzled.
Turning to the paperwork on his desk, Harry is unaware that he is being spied through a camera planted on a statuette on the bookcase of his office. Techmaster watches him from his WTC office – in fact, he has been monitoring Harry’s every move. His home, his office… even his car. Techmaster aka William Bitzer once was the most sought after electronics expert of show business and Harry’s right hand man, until he made a fateful mistake which left many innocent dead and himself, scarred, and ever since blames Harry for these tragedies.
Techmaster thinks he’s waited long enough. Calling Harry’s friend, Lou, from his vocal-simulation phone, he pretends to be Harry – he merely speaks to the invention and the sound converts the sound of his voice into a perfect imitation of Harry’s – and cancels the lunch appointment Harry had made with him. Hanging up, Techmaster triumphantly thinks that Harry has a date with death now!
Meanwhile, in the basement office of Sid Sterling, starmaker, Dazzler is discussing with him. The man assures her that any friend of Harry’s is also his friend. He can get her some work but she shouldn’t expect it to be Carnegie Hall! Dazzler thanks him. Indeed, a little bit later that afternoon, at a nearby suburban shopping mall, Alison finds herself one of a tastefully dressed quintet – Ali herself dressed as a milkmaid – helping to celebrate the opening a fast food chain’s newest outlet. As Ali keeps singing with the others on top of a bus, thinking that this is the most ridiculous thing she’s ever done… but it beats the unemployment line.
That night, outside of the L’Escoffier restaurant, Paul assures Ali she’ll love Dr. Sloan and his wife: they’re wonderful people. And even if she doesn’t, he urges her to be nice to them as they could be very important to his career. Ali assures him not to worry. She’ll be on her best behavior.
Later, on their table, Dr. Sloan comments on how Alison must be bored by his medical talk with Paul and asks her to tell them a little more about herself. Ali nervously replies she’s a singer. Mrs. Sloan finds it very cute: that’ll give Alison something to do until she settles down and gets married! Alison admits she hadn’t really thought about that yet. Right now, she’s trying to establish herself in the music world. Dr. Sloan assures her he loves music and asks her if she follows opera. Ali admits she prefers popular music – especially rock. Displeased, Dr. Sloan asks her if she means like Elvis Presley and that… ilk. “Something like that,” Ali admits.
Suddenly, Ali has a great idea and proposes to the others to go and watch the midnight show of the Plasmatics at the Ritz. She thinks she can get them some tickets if… Puzzled, Mrs. Sloan asks if the Plasmatics are a group of medical students! Feeling hapless, Paul addresses Alison, mumbling that the Sloans wouldn’t be interested in that! Ali replies that if they don’t want to go to that, she’s sure they can…
Suddenly, though, her clumsy moves cause the vase on the table to overturn, the water being poured all over Dr. Sloan’s suit! Ali hastily apologizes. Visibly annoyed, Dr. Sloan mumbles that accidents happen. Paul urges the doctor to accept both his and Alison’s apologies. Having already paid the check, he announces he and Alison are going since she’s feeling a little tired. Mrs. As Paul and Ali depart, she admits she’s embarrassed. Paul insists that’s okay: he didn’t want that promotion anyway.
Later, at Alison’s apartment, Paul asks Ali if she took lessons at the Lucile Ball School of Social Graces! Dazzler admits she’s not a model of proper ladyhood but, if she were, she wouldn’t be herself… the person Paul is in love with. Paul thinks she’s right. There were both too nervous on that dinner. He shouldn’t have put her in such a potentially awkward situation on their first date after such a long time. He urges her to forget that: now they’re alone. Indeed, the couple starts kissing passionately.
Several hours later, Paul admits he must be crazy to go but he’s got to get to his shift at the emergency room. Ali sees him off, assuring him that there’ll be other nights. As Paul turns towards the elevator, he thinks that Ali’s a wonderful person and he likes her a lot but their lives… their interests… are so different. He’s got some heavy thinking to do. Blissfully unaware of Paul’s ruminations, Dazzler unfolds her rickety sofa-bed and turns in, thinking that he’s so wonderful. He may not be able to tell the Blue Danube from the Blue Oyster Cult but she loves him… and he loves her.
In the morning, Alison’s phone rings, waking her up. Sid Sterling is on the phone, having a great little gig for her. Thrilled, Ali tells him to hold on while she gets a pencil, unaware that it’s not Sterling but Techmaster she’s talking with! A few minutes later, Ali quickly gets dressed, thinking that she can make some bread doing these jobs for Sterling while Harry works on finding her first-class engagements. Sterling told her to get there right away. Ali hopes this job isn’t as silly as the last one.
Dazzler soon reaches a building in Long Island City, owned by Techmaster. Outside the building, Alison approaches a man, asking him where the office is, since she’s supposed to meet someone there to audition. The man explains he’s the company chauffer and proceeds to escort her to his employer: he’s the one who will audition her for a publicity event they’ll put on.
Inside the factory, Alison admits that this place looks strange. The chauffer replies that it’s a factory like any other, only it’s fully automated: they employ no workers at all. Ali notices it’s noisy in there and asks him what they manufacture. The chauffer replies that, in this particular plant, his employer is using sophisticated laser-engraving grids and computers of his own panted design and manufacture sound transduction equipment – components which can turn sound into light. They’re used in everything, from rock concerts to space shuttles, with new uses every day. Ali admits she knows a little something about that stuff, secretly thinking this is due to her being a living sound transducer herself.
The chauffer leads her to the master control booth for this bank of lasers where his employer is waiting to meet her. As the chauffer leaves, Dazzler meets his employer: Techmaster. Ali instantly recognizes him and assumes he must have found how she saved Harry and now he’s going to get her! The deformed Techmaster urges her not to be alarmed by his unfortunate appearance. Apologizing for his rudeness, for knowing her name while she doesn’t know his, he introduces himself as Techmaster.
Dazzler thinks that maybe Techmaster doesn’t really know and decides to play dumb and see what happens. She asks him to tell her about this show she’s to be performing in. Techmaster admits there is no show. That was merely a ruse to get her there. He’s heard some information that, as part of her act, she creates a lightshow – apparently, out of nowhere. Techmaster even attended one of her performances and tried to figure out how she transudes sound with no visible apparatus. He deduced that she – or someone in her employ – has developed the secret of manufacturing micro-transducers! He wants that secret and is prepared to pay handsomely for it.
Ali realizes that he refers to her mutant talent – there is no “secret” for her to sell. She tells him she’s sworn to secrecy about her stage effects. Still, Techmaster names a figure, doubles it and then doubles it again. Finally, realizing she’s stubborn, he removes his gloves, revealing metallic hands – another unfortunate result of his accident. Grabbing a paperweight made of solid steel, he easily crushes it and believes she can imagine what his hands are capable of doing to human flesh.
Techmaster announces he must now leave, as he has a luncheon appointment. He informs her that the door will lock behind him and automatically open at 4 a.m. He asks her to think his offer while she’s here. They’ll be in contact again… and if she remains silent then, his next offer may not be so generous.
The door clicks shut behind Techmaster. Furious, Dazzler thinks that, as soon as she gets outs of the room, she’s going straight to the police. She realizes this booth is soundproof, so she can’t transduce any ambient factory noise. However, the radio she always carries with her should provide enough sound to power a laser. Still, Ali finds out there is really bad reception in the factory: this is going to take a long time. She will have to concentrate hard and absorb all the sound she can in order to produce as strong a laser as possible. It won’t be easy.
Meanwhile, Harry and his bodyguard, Jack, await Lou’s arrival at the restaurant. Harry hopes nothing’s happened to Lou: it’s not like him to stand him up like this. However, Techmaster shows up, informing Harry that it’s not for his friend’s safety that he should be concerned. Horrified, Harry tells Jack that this is Techmaster and asks him to protect him. Techmaster, though, easily grabs Jack’s Magnum from his hands, insisting that he would like to speak to his old friend undisturbed! He asks Jack to leave as his employer no longer requires his services. Frightened, Jack indeed leaves, telling Harry he’s sorry!
Harry reminds Techmaster that this is a public place and he wouldn’t dare try anything here. Techmaster explains that to kill him here would needlessly complicate things – but if Harry runs or calls for help, Techmaster will kill him. Plus, he will also signal his men to detonate the explosives he’s placed under Harry’s home. Harry’s going to die. The only question is: will he take his family along? If he comes along quietly, his loved ones will live. Harry decides to come along.
Meanwhile, Dazzler concentrates, narrowing her light beams to pinpoint focus and finally manages to get the door opened. Ali rushes out of the room, only to watch Techmaster on the lower floor dragging Harry with him. Ali realizes she can’t let them see her. She’s got to get away and call the police.
Techmaster orders Harry to move along, while twisting his hand. When Harry complains, Techmaster replies that, at least, he’s still got hands to twist. All Techmaster’s got are inhuman, artificial devices he was forced to create, thanks to Harry’s sabotage of his control panel that night! Harry insists he didn’t sabotage anything. It was Techmaster’s own carelessness that… He is cut short by Techmaster, who twists Harry’s hands harder. The villain exclaims that he’s heard his lies before but in a few minutes they’ll never be heard again! Harry reminds him that all those people saw at the restaurant. There’ll be inquiries and… Techmaster replies he doesn’t care an iota. For he’ll have disappeared into a new life far, far away!
Hearing this, Dazzler realizes the reason Techmaster thought he could hold her prisoner and threaten her on a whim – because he intends to disappear. He just wanted her off the picture until after he’d offed Harry and vanished. Dazzler wonders how she’s going to save Harry and herself, since there’s no time to get help now.
Techmaster goes on to show his manufacturing equipment to Harry, particularly his laser-barrage. He stresses that one must wear specially filtered glasses to protect his eyes from repeated exposure to the barrages’s glare; a problem Harry shouldn’t concern himself about. He explains the barrage uses a series of ultra-precise lasers to process raw metal into delicately machined parts for any number of industrial uses.
The two men ascend to the upper floor, with Alison hiding behind the booth. Techmaster is very proud of the barrage: it uses a phenomenal amount of power. He shudders to think what would happen if anyone was accidentally caught in its blazing crossfire! Realizing what he implies, Harry exclaims in horror that he wouldn’t… Not even Techmaster is that crazy! Techmaster replies he’s not crazy; he’s just a man who repays his debts… and he owes Harry an eternity of pain and suffering!
Grabbing Harry by his neck, he tries to push him over the catwalk and into the crossfire. Alison sees Harry holding onto the railing but realizes he can’t do it forever. Revealing herself, she orders Techmaster to leave Harry alone and then blasts him with a light beam. Harry slumps unconscious to the edge of the catwalk.
Techmaster is shocked to see that Dazzler’s transduction technology is greater than he imagined. It enabled Dazzler to free herself and, if Techmaster hadn’t been wearing protective glasses, he would have been also rendered unconscious. More than ever now, he must have the secret of her transducers! Ali asks him to stay back: she doesn’t want to hurt him. Techmaster, though, approaches her until Ali blasts him with a laser beam, ruining his glasses. Techmaster grabs Ali’s wrist, arguing that, as sophisticated as her weapons are, they are useless without sound! With startling suddenness, he backs Alison into the soundproof control booth, slamming the door behind them and flinging her to the floor.
Techmaster proclaims that he’s going to force her secrets from her – and, if that fails, he will glean them from her remains! Ali attempts to break the windows of the booth, to no avail. She decides to turn her radio on: it may not be the perfect sound source but it will give her a fighting chance. Techmaster, however, realizes what she’s about to do and crashes her radio with his artificial hands.
Ali seizes the nearest potential weapon – a fire extinguisher – and uses it against Techmaster. The villain is amused to see her releasing fire-retardant foam but all she’s achieving is ruining his suit! Ali throws the tank on him, to no avail. As Techmaster keeps attacking her, and Ali keeps avoiding his punches, she thinks that Techmaster is an inventor and a businessman but not a fighter. His speed and agility are erratic, unlike hers which she’s constantly honing for her stage act. Still, she can’t dodge him forever and decides to take a less passive approach. Indeed, she punches him, only to realize she’s not much of a fighter, either, since that punch hurt her hand!
Angrier than before, Techmaster breaks off the lever from the control panel. Ali frantically thinks anything she can use as weapon until it dawns on her: her purse! Catching him by surprise, she starts hitting him incessantly on the face with her purse. As she keeps hitting him, Techmaster asks her to stop: everything’s spinning! He stumbles heavily out of the booth, staggering unthinkingly back and falling over the railing! Alison realizes he’s too far away: he’ll never get to him in time!
As Techmaster falls over the railing, he screams “Help!”… and is surprisingly grabbed by Harry! Holding him suspended between life and death, Harry considers for a moment to let him drop … and then proves himself a hero and helps him climb up. Techmaster admits he and Harry are now even: he won’t bother him again. Indeed, he walks away. Neither Dazzler nor Harry tries to stop him.
Harry admits he owes Alison his life again. He asks her if she’s alright. Furious, Ali reminds him that he didn’t ask her that when she came to his office yesterday! He’s one of the few people she’s ever trusted with the knowledge of her being a mutant; yet he seems totally unaware that she might have special problems because of that fact! She then decides to leave, telling him that she has to go home.
Harry watches her walk away, unable to speak, awash in guilt and shame. Still, Ali feels divided between her affection and anger for him and finally turns back to face him, asking him if he’s the real Harry Osgood – her friend. He hasn’t said anything alliterative for a while! Harry asks her to forgive her. Only if it’s mutual, Ali replies. The two of them depart together, finally reconciled.


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

[Assistant]
Trial… and Terror!
Alison Blaire sifts through a trunk of memorabilia in the attic of her father’s home in Gardendale, Long Island. Alison didn’t even know this old stuff of her mother existed. She never knew her mom and her dad never talks about her. If Dazzler’s grandmother, Bella, hadn’t shown her this trunk, it would still all be a secret to her. Sifting further inside the trunk, Ali finds a brooch – a heart with wings. She wonders if it had any special meaning to her mother and decides to take it with her.
Her grandmother’s voice is heard, warning Ali that her father’s home! Dazzler realizes she’s got to split before her father sees her and puts everything back in the trunk. Ali thinks it’s absurd she’s running from her own father. He’ll never forgive her for becoming a singer instead of a lawyer, like he wanted her to be. Ali loves him but she’ll never let him dictate how she should run her life. Getting downstairs, Ali apologizes to Bella for getting lost in thought up there. Bella understands but reminds her that her father sees red when she’s around… especially since the time she was missing for so long. If Ali hurries, she can run out of the back door before he gets to the kitchen. Alison hugs her, telling her she’s so wonderful; if only her dad was…
Suddenly, Judge Carter Blaire walks into the kitchen. Alison lunges for the door, then stops, frozen by her father’s gaze. She would love to embrace him and laugh with him. For a moment, their differences seem to disappear… and then Carter glimpses the brooch his daughter wears. His face grows grim and his choice is made: he shuts the back door, effectively throwing Ali out of the house. Turning to his mother, Carter informs her he’ll be in his study. Bella thinks it’s so difficult for her to be caught in the battle between her son and her daughter. If Alison knew her mother’s full story, she’d understand her father better. However, Bella would be betraying her promise to Carter if she ever told Ali. She thinks that perhaps Ali is better off not knowing.
A little later, in the midtown Manhattan offices of Harry S. Osgood
Standing on a ladder, Dazzler’s field manager, Lancelot Steele, tries to arrange a plant on the ceiling. Judging from his moves, Harry’s secretary, Cassandra, ironically wonders where Lance learned to take care of plants… in a butcher shop?! Lance insists he’s got the magic touch with women and plans; she’d find out if she ever gave him the chance! Cassandra advises him to keep his magic touch to himself and just make sure he doesn’t drop any leaves on the carpet.
Dazzler walks in and Lance greets her, telling her he heard she wowed the crowds with her performance at the Burger Clown opening. Ali jokes it was a really high class affair: in exchange for singing up a storm, she got all the grease-burgers she could wolf down! Cassandra remarks that it shows in her complexion… not that it was that good before!
Puzzled by why Cassandra needles her so, Dazzler congratulates her on her witty remarks and asks her if she thinks them up on Saturday nights while she’s waiting for the phone to ring! Cassandra retorts that she knows Alison is unemployed but she’s got work to do and then suggests Ali goes inside and sees Harry. As Ali is about to enter Harry’s office, she advises Lance to be careful as that ladder doesn’t seem very sturdy; nobody wants a broken field manager!
As Ali enters Harry’s office, a crash is heard from outside and Cassandra calls Lance “a clumsy oaf!” Harry welcomes Ali and thanks her for saving him from the terrible fate Techmaster had devised for him. Ali admits it’s an experience she’d rather not go through again but is glad Harry will no longer have to live in fear of that creep. She asks him if he’s got any work for her. Harry admits there’s a prospect in the offing but it is a bit premature for him to speak of it. In the meantime, Ali can go see Sid Sterling again. Sid might be able to find her something less spectacular. Ali admits that she’d happy if Sid finds her something that isn’t downright illegal! Harry retorts that Sid is somewhat lacking in class, but he’s also his friend and advises her to trust him.
Ali soon goes to Sid Sterling’s office, where he hands her a card with an address on it and tells her to ask Mr. Hyfler. A little bit later, at a midtown demolition site, Ali is singing “happy birthday” to one of the workmen, a man named Vinnie, on behalf of all the guys in Local 1142 and the Sensational Singing Telegrams! Much to his colleagues’ entertainment, a moved Vinnie starts crying!
Later that evening, Dazzler arrives at a restaurant. She hopes Paul’s not angry that she’s later for their dinner date. It took him forever to land a reservation at this place. Ali apologizes to Paul for being late and explains she got this really weird job at the last minute. As they sit on a table, Ali thinks that something’s wrong: Paul didn’t even kiss her hello. She asks him if he’s okay to which he responds he’s fine. He just thinks they need to talk about…
The waiter appears, cutting Paul in mid-phrase. Paul orders a double Scotch and Dazzler orders a brandy Alexander. After the waiter leaves, Ali confesses she’s amazed he ordered a double Scotch: he hardly drinks at all. She asks him what it is he wants them to talk about. Paul explains he wants to talk about their relationship. He admits they do like each other a lot – “I love you, Paul” Alison corrects him – and yet, something always seems to get in the way. She’s always running off here or there, dropping off without a word. Paul admits he needs something – someone – more normal and stable. What he’s trying to say is – it’s over between them.
Shocked, Alison mumbles that, if he’d only told her, given her a chance, maybe they could’ve… Suddenly getting angry, Ali realizes he knew they’d be in a crowed restaurant! He figured he could spare himself an embarrassing scene by speaking in a public place. Alison tells him he’s wrong, because she’s making a scene here and now! Alison leaves the restaurant, raising heads with her screaming that “the whole world’s gonna know what a cowardly rat Doctor Paul Janson is!” Paul can barely respond.
Later, outside her building, Frank, Alison’s neighbor, who’s about to go for a run, tells her not to worry: guys like Paul are a dime a dozen! Approaching her apartment, Alison feels like such a fool. She was so lovestruck she didn’t see that coming. She thinks Paul’s probably right; she’s not what he needs. Maybe this’ll give that nurse of his a shot at him.
Suddenly, Alison sees two men standing her apartment. “Ms. Blaire?” one of them asks her. “Y-yes. Who are you?” Alison asks them. The men inform her they’re federal marshals and ask her to come with them: she’s under arrest… for murder. “Murder?! Whose murder??!” Alison exclaims in shock. The men clarify it is for the murder of a man named Klaw at Project Pegasus. Ali protests that wasn’t murder: it was self-defense. He was going to kill her! The men insist they’ve got their orders as well as deputies equipped to neutralize her “dazzle” powers.
Ali indeed sees two men in the corridor, dressed in strange, space-like suits and carrying guns. Alison’s hand slowly inches its way into her handbag and clicks her radio on to a hard rock station. Ali exclaims she’s taken enough abuse for one day and she’s not going to take any more – and then instantly converts the sound into dazzling bursts of light, knocking the two marshals out. As she starts running away, in order to avoid what the men in the suits, she ducks into the stairwell. The men approach only for the stairwell door to suddenly swing open, causing them to lose their balance. Ali, now having her skates on – the reason behind her using those few seconds in the stairwell – rushes to the service elevator and quickly flees the building.
A little later, Ali thinks she’s lost them – though she doesn’t feel much safer in the creepy alleyway she’s right now. Seeing a homeless man dosing next to her, Ali decides to take his hat. She read in a detective novel that, if someone’s on the lam and keeps his eyes hidden, he gets a better chance of not being nabbed. She quickly takes the metro and enters a 42nd-street all-night movie theater. She thinks that she may be safe here for a while but wonders what she’s going to do next. Several hours later, at 8 a.m., a man wakes her up, telling her she’s got to do; the theater’s closing. Again wandering in the streets, Ali tries to think where she can go. She thinks that maybe the X-Men could help. Storm always seems so concerned about her. However, Ali also recalls that she rejected their offer of membership. She can’t go running to them now she’s in trouble. She’s got to turn herself in and face whatever fate has in store for her.
Without further delay, Alison walks into the 23rd Precinct Police Station and informs a sergeant that her name is Alison Blaire and she’s here to turn herself in. “Into what… a butterfly?” the man jokes. Ali insists she’s not kidding. She’s wanted for murder! The sergeant thinks she’s wasting his time and suggests her to go home. However, at that exact moment, Kronsky, one of the federal agents pursuing her all night, walks in and informs the sergeant that it’s true: she’s wanted and he’s taking her into custody.
Soon, Alison finds herself in the Lower Manhattan chambers of U.S. Circuit Court of Judge Evander Clinton. Clinton tells Dazzler that he’s known her father for years and is shocked a child of his could stand accused of murder. Clinton introduces her to Mr. Kenneth Barnett. Since Alison has no counsel of her own, Barnett will be her court-appointed judge. Clinton explains that, ordinarily, they’d have considered letting her out on bail. However, she resisted arrest rather violently – thus, until her trial commences, she’ll be remanded to the only facility equipped to hold special inmates like her: Ryker’s Island. Hearing this, Alison exclaims that she’s heard that place is a jungle! Barnett whispers to her that pressure is on from above to get her trial underway. The trial will begin tomorrow so Alison will be spending one night there.
Later that night, a very tense Alison tries to sleep in her specially soundproofed cell in Ryker’s Island. Her sleep is violently interrupted by three women breaking into her cell. The women order her to rise and shine; nap time’s over; she’s coming with them! Frightened, Alison asks them who they are and what they want. One of her tells her to can the questions. “When the Grapplers tell you to move, you move!” she adds. All three Grapplers – Letha, Poundcakes and Screaming Mimi – grab her from arms and legs and drag her out of the cell. Poundcakes orders her to keep her trap shut, otherwise they’ll snap her like a wishbone. Letha advises Ali to keep her strength for her initiation! “My what?” Ali exclaims. Screaming Mimi also orders Ali to shut up and then leads the way for the other Grapplers to follow.
The Grapplers enter a large dark room and announce she’s there, tossing Ali to the floor. Titania – the fourth Grappler – turns the lights on, curious to have a look at the chick that offed Klaw! The lights flood on and Alison finds herself amidst a prison mess hall, surrounded by dozens of female inmates. Titania is sitting on her impromptu “throne” – a chair placed on top of a table – and remarks that Dazzler doesn’t look so tough to her. She asks her fellow Grapplers if they’re sure she’s the right one. Poundcakes’ response is affirmative. Just like Titania, the other inmates are puzzled by how weak Dazzler seems to be. Still, one of them finds her cute!
Titania introduces herself and welcomes Ali to Ryker’s women wing. She informs Ali that she and the other Grapplers run this place at night. The 	Grapplers are wrestlers and mercenaries and since they got busted a while back and got stuck here, they decided they might as well make the best of it. A few well-greased – or well-threatened – guards and they’re able to do what they please! Still, Titania assures Dazzler she shouldn’t be scared of them – not if she killed Klaw, like the grapevine says she did. She asks Ali how and why she did it. Ali replies she didn’t kill him – she didn’t mean to… Losing her patience, Poundcakes decides to grab Ali’s hair to see if she can help her collect her thoughts!
With Letha holding her arms, Pouncakes punches Ali to her face and stomach. In vain, Ali begs them to stop. In response, Screaming Mimi opens her mouth wide and unleashes a high-pitched howl from her electronically modified chords that drags Ali to the brink of madness. With Dazzler collapsed on the floor, a disappointed Titania admits she’s not fun at all; she fell right over. She wonders how a piece of fluff like this could ever have killed anyone, much less Klaw. She thinks they ought to bust a couple of her ribs; see if they can get any answers!
“You want answers, Titania? How about this?” Dazzler suddenly exclaims and quickly kicks Titania, catching everyone by surprise! Titania holds her leg, unable to believe that wimp hurt her! Alison reminds Titania she’s a performer, too. She can sing, dance, skate… and dancers learn to kick, she adds, again demonstrating that on Titania! Letha grabs Ali from behind, with Poundcakes telling her she shouldn’t do that; they’ll make her cry for daddy now! Dazzler assures her she stopped crying for her daddy long time ago and then kicks her away.
Poundcakes rises, arguing that Dazzler may have caught her by surprise with some fancy tricks she learned in ballet school but now she’s ready for her! As Poundcakes approaches her again, Dazzler rears back and then fists Pouncakes with everything she’s got – causing her hand much pain! Poundcakes punches her back, causing Ali to collapse to the floor. With all Grapplers circling on her, Ali thinks she can’t take much more… she’s got to do something.
Screaming Mimi orders her fellow Grapplers to hold it: they’ve been having all the fun! She wishes to finish Dazzler herself. Finally coming up with an idea, Alison encourages Mimi to come on and finish her. Mimi screams and Dazzler’s world starts coming slowly apart. However, as devastating as Mimi’s assault may be, it is still sound. Alison struggles to clear her mind and ignore the effect of Mimi’s scream. Clenching her teeth, she absorbs the regular, rhythmic sound and converts it into a dazzling light blast which knocks all four Grapplers out!
Standing above the unconscious Grapplers, Dazzler – who doesn’t want the other inmates to know how weak she is – turns to them and orders them not to move for another five minutes after she leaves… unless they want the same the Grapplers got. The prisoners assure her they won’t give her a hassle. Groping her way through the blackness of the corridors, Alison decides to trip the alarm before she goes back to her cell to ensure there’s no encore performance. While a team of guards fans out over the entire prison, a battle-weary Alison returns to her bed.
The following morning, Alison meets her lawyer, who informs her they’ve got lots to prepare and very little time: her trial is in a few hours. Alison retorts that if he’s so smart, he tells her how she’s going to handle this. Barnett replies that, if she’s going to be so hostile, she can go get herself another counsel. Ali explains that if she had money, she would. However, she doesn’t and she can’t go begging to her family and friends – they can’t find out about this… Barnett remarks that she’s stuck with him then. Ali thinks that she shouldn’t be so belligerent but she sees in Barnett how she could have been – an eager young lawyer – and partly envies him.
Barnett presents her with the prosecution’s major piece of evidence: the videotape of her battle with Klaw and her subsequent absorbing of his entire… being. Barnett informs her that the state will argue she could have saved herself without killing Klaw or that she could have released his energy under controlled conditions and restored him to his living form. Barnett advises her to plead not guilty and asks her if she agrees. Alison’s response is affirmative.
Several hours later, in a courtroom closed to the public…
Alison apologizes to Barnett about earlier. She confesses she’s upset about all this. Barnett tells her not to worry about it. He’s had a few clients who were even ruder than her! He shows her the prosecution: district attorney O’Mara and his assistant, a young woman. Ali thinks that this woman could be her. Instead, she’s on trial!
Judge Clinton announces that the court will now come to order. The judge informs the court that Alison Blaire is charged with murder and that the alleged crime took place on the grounds of the top secret U.S. government energy research center called Project Pegasus. Due to the secrecy of that project, the trial has been closed to the public. Judge Clinton also instructs everyone present to not reveal anything about it.
The trial begins. The jury is shown the videotape of Klaw’s demise. Both Barnett and Alison know that the tape is a damaging piece of evidence. A little later, O’Mara is questioning his first witness, Dr. Bronner of Project Pegasus. Dr. Bronner believes that the defendant could have returned Klaw to his original form. They advised her to release the energy under controlled conditions but she instead used it to flee the Project. Barnett then cross-examines Bronner, asking him if he’s ever found himself infused with enough power to level a mountain! Bronner’s response is negative. Barnett asks him how he thinks he’d react if he were. Bronner doesn’t really know.
Later on, O’Mara questions Mr. Bannion, guard duty the night Dazzler attempted to forcibly leave the Project, after being legally bound to stay there. Bannion explains that Dazzler used her “freaky light powers” to brutally knock him and his partners out. O’Mara asks him if he believes she’s capable of murder, to which Bannion replies affirmatively. O’Mara then proceeds to the examination of Wendell Vaughn aka Quasar, security chief of Project Pegasus. O’Mara reminds him that he came in direct physical conflict with Dazzler and asks him if – given the chance – she would have killed him. “Definitely not!” Quasar retorts. He stresses that Alison showed excellent judgment and restraint, even in combat.
A short recess is called, during which Ali thanks Barnett on doing an excellent job. Barnett urges her to call him Ken. Alison, in return, urges him to call her Ali. Barnett confesses he can’t believe how hostile the Pegasus witnesses are – except her fiend, Wendell Vaughn. Alison explains they’re a tight little group and she wasn’t their most cooperative guest. Apparently, this is their way of getting back at her.
The trial resumes and Barnett enquires Mr. Meeker. Meeker admits that he shadowed the defendant for weeks and then coerced her into accompanying him to Project Pegasus. Meeker insists that national security demanded it. O’Mara then cross-examines Meeker and asks him why he requested Dazzler to visit the Project. Meeker replies that they believed both Alison and the country would benefit from study of her mutant abilities.
Eventually, the prosecution calls Alison herself to the stand. O’Mara asks them how long she’s had these powers of hers, to which Alison replies that she discovered them in her early teens. She admits she’s been practicing and honing their use for ten years now and uses them in public as special effects when she sings. O’Mara finds it odd that, after demonstrating so much control, she claims she were unable to prevent Klaw’s total absorption. Barnett cross-examines Ali, making her reveal that, when she confronted Klaw, security chief Vaughn was unconscious, about to be killed by Klaw, with the rest of the Project’s staff in retreat from the villain. Ali also reveals that, if she was willing to let Klaw kill Quasar, the villain would have let her alone, but she didn’t give in. O’Mara returns, asking Ali if she thinks her special abilities out her above the law. Ali admits she’s got to observe the law more than anyone else.
Less than sixty minutes later, the jury finds Alison not guilty of the charges. Barnett congratulates her and an exhilarated Ali thanks him; after all, it was he proved her case for her. Quasar also hugs her and Dazzler thanks him for taking her side. Even O’Mara apologizes to her, clarifying he was just doing his job and his personal view is that Klaw got what he deserved. Barnett believes they should go celebrate in Chinatown. As he leads the way, Alison thinks that, however justified her actions were, a man died by her hand. That’s a fact she’ll have to face forever.


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

[Assistant]
Without Getting Killed or Caught…!
In a seedy Los Angeles hotel room, a somber man sits and prepares the tools of his trade: his guns. He is a hired killer. Tonight he will strike again. On his bed there are several photos of a man and a newspaper article about Dazzler’s concert.
New York City:
Harry Osgood begs Dazzler to hurry. Her flight leaves in forty-five minutes. If she’s late for the show tonight, all his work to find her this gig will have been in vain! Ali tells him to take it easy: she still has a few more things to pack. Bordering on nervous breakdown, Harry assures her he’ll send her everything she needs: they should just get going!
 Packing her things, Ali confides in her teddy-bear that, if they keep Harry waiting any longer, he’ll bust – and good managers are so hard to find these days! The duo hastily exits Ali’s apartment and enters a taxi waiting at the front of the building. Later, in Kennedy Airport, a Jumbo 747 lifts off and reaches L.A. within six hours.
After a frenzied cab ride to downtown Los Angeles, Dazzler meets her band, Beefer, Hunch and Marx at the place they’re going to perform, the Memorial Auditorium. She asks them how they’re feeling after their last-minute flight. Beefer remarks that, at least, they made the flight… unlike Lance! Hunch believes they shouldn’t worry about their semi-moronic field manager. Marx admits that all he’s thinking about is how good they’re going to play. They’re going to make tonight’s crowd forget they’re paying to see Bruce Harris and that they’re just the warm-up act. Ali urges them not to be so tough on ol’ Bruce. If he hadn’t hired them for this West Coast tour when his regular warm-up group quit, she’d be still delivering singing telegrams!
Entering her dressing room, Ali sees a bouquet of flowers waiting for her. Wondering who her secret admirer is, Ali reads the card (There is no defense against your charms. Lots of luck, Ken) and realizes Ken Barnett – the defender who successfully defended her against murder charges – telegraphed the bouquet all the way from New York. Beefer and Hunch retort that nobody sent them flowers. Apparently, they’re not cute enough. The guys leave, telling Dazzler they’ll see her on stage.
A little bit later, Bruce Harris walks into her dressing room. Ali instantly recognizes the rock star: any red-blooded American girl would! “Yeah, I am something special, aren’t I?” Bruce admits! He came to wish her luck and offer her some advance consolation: the audience is here to see him, so if they’re hostile to her, she will just have to remind herself she’s getting paid. Ali replies that’s very thoughtful while thinking this guy is a conceited butthead!
 After he leaves, a too hasty sound check and rehearsal follow. Ali then sits in her dressing room to put on her make up, thinking it’s been so long since she had a real singing gig, she’s forgotten what it’s like.
Outside the auditorium, a youthful group of rock’n’roll fans gathers, waiting for the auditorium’s doors to open. Among them is also the hired assassin. Soon, the doors open and the crowd shuffle inside. Among them is Lance Steel, Ali’s stage manager, who’s looking for the stage entrance. Bernie, one of three men in tuxedos, points him to the correct direction. As Lance moves to the stairs, one of Bernie’s friends, Ed, tells him to cool it: they don’t want anyone to know he cased this place. The third man, Phil, tells Ed not to worry. What harm can that clown do?
A little later, Ali is about to go on stage to perform. No matter how many times she does this, she still gets butterflies every time she goes on stage. As the piano plays the intro to her first song, she finally goes on stage and welcomes everybody to the show.
 The audience is apathetic at first: they have come to see Bruce Harris, not some time-filling warm-up act. However, as soon as the pounding music flows into her body – and out again as equally frenetic light effects – they are awed. As she performs, Alison’s thinking that this is what she was born to do. The Avengers and the X-Men may get off on saving the world from super menaces but they’ll never know the satisfaction of making a hall full of people feel a little better about life.
Suddenly, Ali spots a reflection on a box far away, on her right. No one but her can see it through her dazzle effects. She is suddenly able to tell what it is: a rifle’s telescopic sight… and a sniper! Ali realizes the sniper’s about to fire and releases a strobe blast that dazzles him, causing him to throw his aim off, missing his target. The bullet merely grazes the shoulder of its intended victim – a man in the audience – and embeds itself in the seat in front of him. The crowd is unaware of it all.
The intended victim is none other than Joe Cartelli, a man who makes his living as a top man in a New York crime family but dedicates his life to smashing crime as the Blue Shield. Feeling the bullet grazing his shoulder, Joe realizes that someone’s out to get him. He came to this concert to see his friend, Dazzler, perform. But it looks like things aren’t going to be that simple. Cartelli goes to the bathroom and changes to his Blue Shield colors. From the angle at which the bullet grazed him and hit the seat, he can tell where it came from. If he hurries, he still has a chance to nab whoever fired it.
Meanwhile, realizing it’s dangerous to stay here, the assassin decides to leave the box. The Blue Shield breaks through the door of the box, though, and fiercely kicks him. The assassin shoots at point blank range but his 45 caliber shells bounce off the Shield. The Shield corrects him: not off him but off his impenetrable blue aura! Blue Shield knocks the sniper out with a punch, thinking that he knows all the East Coast hitmen but he doesn’t know this one. He deduces it must be a local guy.
The Shield wonders whether the sniper is stupid enough to carry any ID. As he searches the unconscious hitman, he discovers a card with a number: the number to his own New York office! He wonders whether there could be a mole in his organization. He needs to adjust his plans. He came out here as Cartelli, ostensibly to take advantage of the chaos in L.A.’s underworld and muscle in on behalf of his “family”. What no one knows is that he is also the Blue Shield who will do anything to break up the entire mob - but now someone’s got an eye on him as Joe Cartelli.
Unbeknownst to the Shield, the three guys in tuxedos are watching him from another box in the auditorium, thanks to their binoculars. They realize the Blue Shield just scragged LaFarge. One of the men, Bernie, is shocked to see Blue Shield being here: New York is his turf! Ed remarks they’ve got enough trouble here that puts pressure on them. They don’t need extra aggravation now! Ed believes they can forget Cartelli for a while. The Shield’s the one they’ve got to eliminate first. The others wonder how this is going to be: they can’t shoot him or even get near him.
As the three men exit the auditorium and move towards their limo in the street, Ed asserts that if, they could figure out who he is and get the drop of him while he’s not the Shield, they could put him out of the commission. Ed believes he must be somebody from New York – and he’s got to be built pretty well. It suddenly dawns to him that the stage manager for that woman, Dazzler’s band – he could be the Shield! How else could the Shield have so coincidentally been at the concert? Ed confides in the others he’s getting an idea which will not only get rid of him for them but will also put Ed himself on top of the L.A. mobs, all with the help of his “secret weapon”.
The other two mobsters ask Ed to tell them. They’re his lieutenants: they ought to know. Ed narrates how this sporty little compact zig-zagged past his car on the Santa Monica freeway the other day, as if he was standing still. All of a sudden, the other car was overturned and was totally wrecked. Ed pulled over to help out and this is when he made his big find. The cops came by a few minutes later and found an empty car… whereas Ed found a goldmine! The others ask Ed how this “secret weapon” is going to beat the Shield. What is it? Ed corrects them: it is not a what… it is a who! The limo stops outside a warehouse. What awaits them inside is… She-Hulk!
Sometime later, backstage, Dazzler and her crew relax after the show with a friendly game of poker. Ali has found out that none of the guys saw or heard anything about that sniper before. Lance believes she was all excited and nervous about the show, so she must’ve imagined it. Dazzler insists she didn’t. Suddenly, she asks the guys if they heard something outside. She thought everybody had gone home…
“Everybody has, lady. Which is how we got in here” a man is heard saying and then grabs Dazzler from behind and puts a gun to her temple. Another man – whose face is covered with a mask, just like his colleague’s – enters the backstage and grabs Lance, telling him “You… Blue Shield! You’re coming with us!” He informs him that Dazzler is also coming with them as insurance, so that Lance doesn’t give them any trouble. Flabbergasted, Lance asks him how he called him: the Blue Shield?! The man insists he called him that because that’s who he is! He also doesn’t care if Lance switches his lousy “aura” on, because if he tries anything, they’ll off his lady friend!
The two men drag Lance and Ali to a car and instantly depart. Ali thinks that she’s one of the few people who know the Shield is Joe Cartelli. These guys think Lance is the Shield. It would be funny… if it wasn’t so deadly serious.
A little later, the two men – who are actually Bernie and Phil – have delivered Lance and Ali in the hands of Ed, in his truck-filled warehouse. Lance keeps telling them he is not the Blue Shield. Ed believes he’s lying; he’s afraid to take on anybody who’s ready for him! For Ed, the Shield’s being here is just what he needs. Once Ed’s secret weapon demolishes the Shield, everyone will fear him. He’ll be king of the rackets out here! Turning to another of his accomplices, Doctor von Stratten, Ed asks him if everything is ready. Von Stratten’s response is affirmative.
The tractor-trailer’s rear doors swing open, revealing She-Hulk. Ed explains he found her dazed and disoriented after an accident. He knew he had a hot item and knew the one guy who could help was Doc Von Stratten here. Ed hustled her over to him and von Stratten rigged up a mind-control machine that has just about made her his slave! Von Stratten insists it wasn’t quite that easy. Ed believes it was easy for him: he just had to pay the Doctor and She-Hulk will do whatever he says. Indeed, as if to prove this, he orders her to kill the Blue Shield now!
“He… shall… be… killed!” the brainwashed She-Hulk pronounces and moves towards him. Lance insists that she may be big and green but she’s still a girl and he can lick any… He doesn’t have the chance to finish his phrase as She-Hulk knocks him out with a punch. Seeing Lance unconscious, Ed believes he’s faking it and orders She-Hulk to finish him off. Dazzler, however, instantly turns on her radio and transduces the sound into a light blast that knocks them all out… save for She-Hulk.
Ali thinks that the blast didn’t have any effect on her, just like it couldn’t handle the Hulk. Jennifer quickly moves menacingly towards her and Ali barely avoids being hurt by one her adversary’s punches, which smashes the truck behind Dazzler instead. Ali tries to make She-Hulk understand they’ve got her brainwashed or something – in vain she tries, as She-Hulk is programmed to defend her masters and destroy their enemies no matter what. Running away from her, Ali locks herself inside the coach-work of a truck, hoping she’s safe… only She-Hulk easily rips the coach-work apart!
She-Hulk jumps inside the coach-work and tries to get Ali with one of her punches. Dazzler notices that she seems a little unsure of her movements and wonders if this is because of the mind-control she’s under. Jennifer finally grabs her and violently hurls her away like a fly. Ali tries to get herself together after being thrown like that and sees She-Hulk moving towards her again. Ali thinks she should be able to slow her down with a light burst. She just has to turn her radio on. However, as she looks into her purse, she finds out that her radio was broken when she was hurled to the ground.
As She-Hulk approaches again, Alison kicks her in the face. She feels like she just kicked a brick wall but she realizes she surprised her adversary: She-Hulk didn’t expect her to recover from her attack so soon. Seeing She-Hulk down for a second, Dazzler feverishly thinks she’s got to do something… like run or hide! Seeing a truck with the keys on the ignition, she hops in. She never took one of those drive-a-truck courses but she can drive a car, thus she should be able to figure out how to get this truck to kick over. The motor growls and whines and Ali finally gets it on.
Alison starts driving the truck, just as She-Hulk crawls on the driver’s window. Alison absorbs the cacophonous noise produced by the mighty roar of the motor and the continuous blast of a high-powered air horn and unleashes another blast of searing light. She-Hulk reminds Ali that her light blasts can’t stop her. “Wanna bet?” Dazzler retorts and focuses it all on She-Hulk on point blank range, finally knocking her out!
Ed and his accomplices wake up and realize that Dazzler has inexplicably beaten She-Hulk. The men decide to hightail out of here when suddenly the Blue Shield breaks his way into the warehouse! They finally realize the Blue Shield can’t be that Lance guy.
 The mobsters wonder how the Shield found them. The Shield explains it took a little persuasion on his part to convince LaFarge to tell him who he was working for. As he starts savagely beating the mobsters, Ed and his men try to get themselves out of here in one piece. Ali watches the action and realizes how brutal the Shield is when he goes into action against criminals. She knows that both he and his alter ego are good people, but he sees every mobster as the one who killed his father. As the mobsters flee into the night, the Shield relentlessly pursues them, intent on smashing them.
She-Hulk again shows up but now asks Ali to give her five: she gave her one heck of a fight! She-Hulk is grateful because Dazzler’s light attack snapped her out of the mind-control those creeps had her under. She asks Ali how she put on this impressive display. Nervously, Ali replies it’s a professional secret. She-Hulk believes they should get out of here. Dazzler agrees but also wants to see if Lance is okay. She-Hulk tells her not to worry about that wimp: he took one of the gang’s cars and beat it. Ali is amazed he could drive, after She-Hulk hit him so hard. She-Hulk explains she barely touched him: it was more his own fear that got to him!
The two women get on the truck Ali started up and She-Hulk starts driving, asking Ali where she’s headed. “The Memorial Auditorium” Ali replies and nervously asks She-Hulk if she’s driven one of these things before. “Wheels are wheels” She-Hulk replies with a mischievous smile and then drives right through the wall of the warehouse, demolishing it and leaving Dazzler more than a little shaken! Ali starts whining that she should have listened to her father and gone to law school: show business only gets you into trouble! She-Hulk reveals she went to law school and became a lawyer. But when she got this power, she decided it was more fun enjoying life as She-Hulk than spending her time as Jennifer Walters with her nose buried in some dusty books.
Ali recognizes the name: Jennifer Walters is well known as a legal eagle in New York. Jennifer thinks it would’ve pleased her father if she stayed that way. Ali admits she knows what it’s like. Jennifer tells her she can’t spend her life trying to please other people. She assumes Ali enjoys using her own light power. Ali admits it is fun – and scary sometimes, too. She-Hulk remarks that freedom is always scary and advises Ali to hold tight as they turn hard! Jennifer confesses that sometimes she thinks she should’ve listened to her dad or her conservative boyfriends and given up being big and green. However, in the end, she believes that one has to follow their heart.
A few blocks away, Dazzler’s band and the Auditorium’s manager, Mr. Minton, confer anxiously. Beefer tells the others that he got Lance all set up with that icepack. He’ll have a bump on his head but that’s all. Hunch hopes Lance gave the police the right directions to find Dazzler. Minton suggests they should go there themselves. Marx thinks they should give the cops a chance first and then, if they fail…
Suddenly, though, the truck appears. While the men watch in amazement, Alison says goodbye to Jennifer. She-Hulk advises her to keep singing, shining and trusting herself. As She-Hulk departs, Beefer asks Dazzler what happened to her. Ali admits she’d rather not talk about it now. Mr. Minton believes she can tell them the details later. Right now, though, he must say a few words to her on behalf on the management.
 As they walk into the Auditorium, Minton confesses that when Harry told him she was good, he took it with a grain of salt. However, she was fabulous and he’d like to invite her back to perform next year as a headliner. She’s going to be big, maybe even bigger than Bruce Harris and he wants to sign her before she becomes unaffordable! Bruce is eavesdropping and he is not too happy to hear this.