GVN Talking Comics Review: ‘A Legacy of Violence Vol 2’ Issue 5 And 6 – “No Escape Now”

Last Time

When we last visited the macabre world of Legacy of Violence, Dr. Andrew Smith had gone missing. It was later revealed that he had been forcefully recruited into the world of the Skull faced torturer. Smith was coerced to perform the experiments that were ordered by him. Including exposing their entrails and restraining the two patients with them. And while Dr. Smith wanted that to be the end of it, he was assured it wasn’t. Besides, they had a new patient to experiment on.

The Disappearance of Andrew Smith

Elsewhere, Drs. Williams and Shaw were discussing the disappearance of Andrew and if the Sheriff had any leads. Nick told her that unless the Sheriff was holding back that information, he hadn’t. Perhaps, as the Sheriff had suggested, Andrew had just decided to go back home. Nick certainly wouldn’t have blamed him with all the crazy things going on and the bloodshed. Cayce found it hard to believe. While she didn’t know Andrew well, he didn’t seem like the sort to just quit.

A Horrific Discovery

Upon entering their hospital, they were greeted with a horrific site. Three men were tied together by their own entrails. Apparently, the Skull decided the more, the merrier. The men were flailing around, obviously in agony. Their struggles only making matters worse for them. Drs. Brown and Patel entered the room and realized they needed to inject these men with a sedative. It was imperative to get them to calm down before they did even more damage. To themselves or one of them.

Of course, getting close enough to administer the sedative was a problem in itself. The men were thrashing about so violently and with such aggression, it was difficult to get anywhere near them. As Patel struggled to inject them, Cayce was unable to hide her horror, emptying her stomach as the scene continued around her. She just couldn’t cope. As much as she wanted to. It didn’t make it an easier that the three men were attacking the doctors as they tried to assist them.

Sedating the Old-Fashioned Way

Eventually, Cayce attempted to help only to have one of the men grab her by the throat. That made Dr. Brown change tactics and he punched the man holding Dr. Williams. They all tumbled to the floor, but the patient was finally unconscious. Although Dr. Brown got a broken hand for his trouble, at least all the patients were subdued. For now.

A Bridge Too Far

In the aftermath of the struggle, the doctors gathered to take stock of what they had seen. The question of “who could do such a thing?” was immediately pondered. As for Nick, he already KNEW the answer to that. At least to a point. Who the man was and what he was trying to accomplish were questions yet unanswered. But the one thing that Dr. Cayce Williams knew was she could not continue. She had thought she was strong enough to withstand most things, but this last incident was a bridge too far. She was leaving.

Once again Nick understood completely what Cayce was going through. In the end, no matter what anyone else thought, Cayce needed to do what was best for her. And whether that meant going home or somewhere else, all he wanted to do was help her…if he could. But before he could respond any further, the old man Nick had talked to previously had arrived at the hospital.

Flashback – Nick Shaw

From an early age at his grandfather’s house, Nick had heard about Unit 731. Not that he remembered it now. But it was in the attic of his Grandparent’s house that he first had heard about it. A box of old movie reels revealed the history of the Unit. A Nazi funded experiment to act as a means to win the war. It was led by Dr. Blessinger and a group of Doctor’s that consisted of exploratory surgeries, studies of the psyche and more. Nick’s grandfather was a member of this team.

Unit 731 History

With the higher ups blessing, the team had the freedom to use whatever means necessary to advance their findings. And when a patient had outlasted their usefulness, they were destroyed. usually by means of a flame thrower. Dr. Blessinger considered it a mercy they were performing. Eventually however, funding for the project dried up and with it, the availability of subjects. Regardless, Blessinger considered the work important enough that he continued experimenting…on himself. Unit 731 was vital, and though his followers, his work would continue for years to come.

The Present

The old man had come to warn Nick. He and his fellow doctors had been chosen…marked. They would be the next in the line of the Skull’s disciples. They cannot allow that to happen. The Skull imagines himself a “Doctor.” But he knows he is not. That is why he requires Shaw and the rest. The old man warns Nick to not follow the same path that he did. He knew it was wrong. But he did nothing to stop it. All the while, the old man starts bleeding from his mouth. Nick asks for assistance, but it is too late. Before he dies, he tells Nick to not let Unit 731 get a hold of them.

A Decision Made

Later, Nick was sitting outside the hospital. Pondering everything he was told. Cayce walked up, reminding him that it was dangerous to be outside alone these days. Nick acknowledged this but he was deep in thought. Cayce inquired if he was also leaving. After pausing a moment, he said that he was. Dr. Patel had told them he would arrange for their return home. for Nick, it was the one way to assure that he did not get entangled with Unit 731. The pair still wondered what had happened to Andrew. Cayce still hoped that the Sheriff had been correct, and Andrew had also gone back home. There was a hope anyway.

A Mercy

Back in the hospital, the three patients were on beds and hooked to IV’s. Their hearts being monitored as they slept. Dr. Patel looked over the three patients, carrying a syringe. “You’ve outlasted your usefulness. It IS a mercy,” he intones, as he injects their IV bags.

Issue 6 – Flashback – Nick Shaw

Nick had been watching the film of Unit 731 in his grandparent’s attic. The film had been disturbing and mesmerizing. Young Nick stared unresponsive at the screen. Even after his grandmother found him in the attic. He didn’t respond to her or say anything. She decided to take Nick to the Doctor’s office. But his grandfather realized what Nick had been doing up in the attic as he examined the film can. He had been exposed to Unit 731.

The Present

Nick and Cayce were walking back to the hospital. Inside they found no one. but upon entering the room where the three patients were supposed to be, they only found Dr. Patel. Mumbling about usefulness and mercy. The patients were gone. Only blood bed sheets remained. As Nick attempted to question Dr. Patel about the whereabouts of the patients, Dr. Brown entered. In just that mumbling, Nick had gotten more out of Patel than Brown had. He had searched for the patients but found nothing. It was like they had imagined the whole thing.

The Wisdom of Leaving

As they looked over at the subdued Patel, Cayce asked Dr. Brown if he too was going to leave. He hesitated a moment and said he should. They ALL should. Someone is trying to mess with them, hurt them, maybe even break them. And whoever is doing this is using the villagers for their game. By staying, they may be doing more harm than good. As doctors, they all made a pledge to do no harm. They ALL should go.

The Foolishness of Staying

But as Nick and Cayce leave the room, Nick hesitates and tells Cayce that he doesn’t think he can go. Whoever is doing this, is not only experimenting on the villagers. He is experimenting on THEM. Even if he were to leave, the cruelty wouldn’t stop. The experiments wouldn’t stop. He keeps hearing about Unit 731. The old man had mentioned it and he had been hearing about it before he had arrived in Disante. They needed to see if anyone in the village knew the old man. Anything about him to give them a lead.

Nothing to Like

Nick and Cayce talked to many of the villagers, but no one seemed to have any information. Or perhaps were too afraid to talk. As they walked, Nick told Cayce a little about what he knew about Unit 731. He was sure there was much more to it. He also was sure that when he found out more…he wouldn’t like it.

From Team Member to Example

Meanwhile, Dr. Brown had gone to find Dr. Monica Miller. He wanted to find out if she too was leaving. But upon opening her door, the Skull was there with a gag around Monica’s mouth. He told Dr. Brown that Monica had a mistaken idea that she was leaving. Right when he needed all of the Doctors the most. He couldn’t allow that.

Dylan charged into the Skull, knocking Monica away from him. He was rewarded by a scalpel plunged deep into his abdomen. For his part, the Skull stated his regrets. Brown could have been a valuable member of his team. Now, instead, he would just be another example, as he pulled the knife out and plunged it in again.

The Search

Cayce and Nick had found the old man’s residence. As they searched, they hoped to find anything that might shed some light on Unit 731 and by extension, what the Skulls motives are. What Nick DID find was an old photo. A photo taken at Unit 731. Which appears to have been a NAZI facility. In the picture are a group of people. One appears to be the old man when he was young. Nick also recognized another person in the photo. His grandfather.

The Possibilities

So, as Nick and Cayce walk from the residence, they discuss what they know to this point. The old man knew and worked with Nick’s grandfather at Unit 731. He still had no idea of what they did (at least he doesn’t remember). Cayce pondered if someone was trying to take vengeance upon Nick for something his grandfather did. Nick dismissed this idea. If vengeance was what they craved, they have already had ample opportunity to get it. And furthermore, why would they involve anyone else?

Distractions

As they walked, they came upon Monica’s residence. A trail of blood going up the stairs. Nick and Cayce raced through her door. Upon entering they found Monica. Kneeling on the floor with a scalpel in hand. Blood covered the floor as did the dismembered body parts of Dr. Dylan Brown. She told them that the Skull made her do it. He told her he would do the same to her if she didn’t. He was testing her. Testing to see if she could work amongst distraction. Like the distractions of Dylan’s screams as she cut. Because he was still alive when she began her work.

Thoughts

Leave it to the Nazi’s to come up with such a heinous and cruel method of “experimentation.” This explanation goes a long way in defining the horrific scenarios the Doctor’s have encountered. At this point, we now know that at least three of the Doctor’s are involved. Smith, Patel and now Miller. Whether they wanted to or not. Regardless, since Patel was supposed to be the one arranging for Cayce and Nick’s departure, you can assume they aren’t going ANYWHERE.

Will Nick be able to piece things together from his forgotten childhood memories and the current circumstances to somehow put a stop to it? Or will he become just another member of Unit 731, and their hope to relive the glory of the Nazi’s? As we moved into Vol. 2, Writer Cullen Bunn and artist Andrea Mutti have continued to create a disturbing and gripping narrative, combining evil, medical experimentation and psychological mind twists that reflects the villainy that would make a man like Josef Mengele cringe. And that was one sick individual. As much as I am appalled by the events, I am also addicted to the narrative. No escape now.

Mad Cave Studios A Legacy of Violence, Issues 5 and 6 by Cullen Bunn, Andrea Mutti and Rus Wooton are available now on Mad Cave’s Subscription site as well as where all great digital comics are sold.