Last Time on Black’s Myth
When we last left our friends Strummer, Ben and Claire, they had once again taken on a job for Rainsford Black. This time chasing down a creature and Rainsford’s possible son. But when they returned home, they found a creature had invaded their home and threatened Strummer’s girlfriend Carly. They defeated the creature in a “Grim” way, who transformed back into the son that Rainsford was looking for. Unfortunately for Strummer, Carly had been unaware of her unique condition. Not being ready for that surprise, and scared about the whole incident, she left Strummer. Now the team had an eviscerated corpse, and as many questions as answers.
Waiting Too Long
The initial responsibility in the aftermath was to clean up the mess. That meant burying the body of the boy/creature. They took him to desolate area and Ben started digging a grave. Claire was supposed to be assisting but her idea of that was to “supervise.” Meanwhile, Strummer was off at a distance contemplating what had happened and the loss of Carly. She had wanted so bad to tell her about herself, but the right time never seemed to come. Now, it was possibly too late.
With that in mind, Strummer tried to reach out to Carly, to explain things. But it’s hard to explain how you get all furry and aggressive, especially when the person in question doesn’t answer the phone. Not to mention her voicemail being full. So, she tries to take her mind off the situation as best she can. By drowning the memory. Alcohol doesn’t appear to mind what your situation is.
Rainsford Black Arrives
As she sits by herself, a car approaches the area. Rainsford Black arrives with his driver. He walks over to her, asking for a drink from her bottle. As he hands it back, she asks him if he would like to see his son. Before they bury him. He declined saying that whoever the boy was, he wasn’t a son to him in the ways that mattered. But he did wonder why she was so sure that he WAS Rainsford’s son. She explained that not only did the boy look like him, but he also “smelled” like him. Her nose would confirm it even if her eyesight didn’t.
As for the boy mattering, it mattered to her that he tried to kill her. It mattered that he threatened the people that she loved. As he listened, Rainsford played devil’s advocate again and asked how she didn’t know that HE sent the creature to kill her. She told him that in her earlier experience with him, his plans tended to be neater, and more precise. This didn’t fit that M.O. Putting that aside, Strummer felt that the book mailed to her was a “grenade lobbed in her direction.” The boy came to find it but didn’t know who would be there or if Strummer, Ben or Claire would be there to fight back.
Locating the Informant
With that in mind, Rainsford asked if it could have been HE who was the target? While it amused her that Black always seemed to think HE was the center of the universe, she thought otherwise. Although, she did believe that it would have to be someone familiar with Black and her history. Strummer considered this and walked back to Black’s car and his driver. He fit the description that Black just discussed, but he asked her to be sure before she laid waste to his driver. As she considered the other possibilities, she went to visit ANOTHER possible suspect.
This time, it was Carly’s soon to be ex-husband Eddie Barnhardt. As Ben and Claire waited outside, Strummer applied her persuasive questioning to the man. Which in this case, meant dangling him outside an upper floor window. While it certainly frightened him, she had to give him some credit for not singing immediately. But faced at first with a raging werewolf and then an equally raging Strummer, he admitted that HE had sent the book to her address and put Black’s name on the return address. He was told that Black would take the fall when the creature took out Carly. He was promised that Carly would be killed quickly and painlessly and seem like collateral damage. Like THAT made it ok. When pushed for who arranged the incident, he said he didn’t remember.
Considering Witches
After leaving the man’s residence, Strummer told Ben and Claire what she learned. Ben considered and reconciled that it must be Witches. Claire didn’t know there WERE such a thing. She assumed that not EVERYTHING in the area of Myths was true. Surely there was a “line that was drawn” between reality and fantasy. Ben assured her that Witches indeed existed. A few different kinds in truth. Claire listened as Ben went through a brief witches’ history lesson. After Ben finished, Claire was intrigued. Not about just the Witches but by everything that had happened since she “clocked in” as their intern. It had made her consider something she had just studied in school.
The Subject of Vectors
She told them about Vectors. A Vector had magnitude and direction. If they consider the creature that attacked Carly like a vector, it also had magnitude and a direction. Pointed right at the book and Carly. But why wait for so long. Why not send the creature when the book first arrived? Why not attack the mailman delivering it? For that matter, why not attack Eddie, the person who sent it? Considering that, Strummer had to believe that the creature was sent to her home purposely and at a specific time. She needed to find the Witches involved in all this. That meant a trip to the Speakeasy.
The Speakeasy
With talk of a “Speakeasy,” Claire was surprised when they headed toward a refrigerator in the middle of an overgrown yard. She had thought that “speakeasies” usually referred to a bar or pub. Ben smiled briefly before opening the fridge door and pushing Claire in. After the door closed, Strummer warned Ben that she was sure that Claire “liked” him. Ben was skeptical as Claire was only 17 years. Still, Strummer reminded him to be careful. He acknowledged the warning as he opened the door again as he and Strummer also entered.
Asking about the Witches
On the other side was the “speakeasy” they discussed. A place where the magical and mythological beings can go to be themselves. Think of it like a magical Cheers. “You want to go where creatures know; their troubles are all the same. You want to go where every monster knows your name” (with apologies to Cheer’s theme). As Ben went to find Claire, Strummer went to talk to some folks about Witches. In this case, that was Madeleine. She sat at a table with two other witches. Strummer offered her one of Rainsford Black’s magical silver bullets in trade for a name. The name of a witch who had a spell that could make her victim forget everything about her…and wore a special ring. Madeliene said that description was a bit vague. It would cover almost any witch around. Strummer then produced a drawing of the symbol on the ring. That cleared things up. Madeliene would give Strummer a name and she could keep the bullet. She feared that Strummer might need it.
A Person of Interest
After leaving the Speakeasy, Claire was excited about all the people she met while she was there. She had talked to a Dryad, some Vampires, a woman who claimed to be the tooth fairy and a Minotaur. THE Minotaur Ben corrected her. As they walked, a man in a suit approached Strummer. He identified himself as a detective. Detective Chandler and he was investigating the death of Eddie Barnhardt. He would need for her to come in for some questioning. Questions about the victim and where she had been that evening. Apparently, she was a person of interest.
Thoughts
Poor Strummer. Just when she thought her life was on the upswing, things have taken a turn for the worse. The fact that her new and now perhaps former love Carly was purposely targeted just added to the pile. Although Rainsford Black seems to be on the outside looking in was better than she had assumed. But now she had some witches taking an interest in her. Why, she has no knowledge…as of yet. Of course, the fact that the man she just threatened is now dead, doesn’t help her position. Who killed him and why? And what did they leave that has pointed the police in HER direction? Just the kind of case that should intrigue a detective. Provided she doesn’t get locked up before she can get to the bottom of things.
Keeping Secrets
Once again, the creative team of Eric Palicki and Wendell Calvalcanti have intwined their werewolf detective and crew in a case that zigs when it appears to zag, while still carrying the personal, emotional baggage that many can relate to. Important rule in a relationship, keeping secrets from the ones you love ultimately turns out bad. Throw in the matter of Strummer appearing to be under suspicion of Carly’s husband’s demise and it gets even more complicated. You SURE you want to talk to Carly, Strums?
Juggling Hand Grenades
Then there is the matter of Claire’s possible infatuation with Ben. A tricky situation where Ben must keep intern Claire from getting any ideas about them while still maintaining a good working relationship. Because I doubt you want a teenage half-demon mad at you. Sounds like juggling hand grenades. Especially where a young girl who might feel spurned is concerned. Good luck with that Ben.
Ahoy Comics Black’s Myth: The Key to His Heart, Issue 3 by Eric Palicki, Wendell Calvalcanti, Rob Steen and cover artist Liana Kangas is available now where all great comics are sold.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
