When we last left our hero Kit, she was trying to comes to terms with a lot of things. The Highwaymen had murdered her father, looking for the drone she had found. She was in contention with Dez, not only because he kissed her/him but because she was joining the Eagle trials. This was unprecedented as before, only one member of each troop was allowed to participate. But Dez’s father, the Scoutmaster had made an exception in this case. Much to the consternation of Dez. This was brought to the attention of his father.
And while his father understood his angst, he made sure that Dez knew that by questioning his decision, he was breaking the fourth Scout law. “A Scout obeys his Scoutmaster without question.” Dez knew the laws as well as anyone. In the end, it wouldn’t matter. Kit would be just one more Scout to get past to his ultimate goal: The Eagle’s Guard. He stopped by Kit’s place to let him know. He knew Kit was just trying overstep him. But he wouldn’t let him. So it would come down to Dez vs. Kit. And if thats what Dez wanted, Kit was ready for the challenge.
Eagle Trial #1
The next day, the Eagle trials commenced. Their first trial was to go against the Suicide Hornets. Dez had a slight advantage with his automatic weapon over Kit’s Bow and Arrow, but they each were holding their own. At least until Dez attempted to kill the Queen with a Rocket Launcher. But all that did was make it mad. The Queen communicated telepathically with her workers. Soon she unleashed the whole hive. As the Scouts tried to take cover, Kit frantically considered what to do. She got behind the controls of a wrecking ball and swung the weight hard at the Queen. She had not noticed the attack and was smashed by the weight of the swinging ball. Without the Queen in command, the drones fell as if having their strings cut. Kit had helped them pass the first Trial.
Eagle Trial #2
The next trial consisted of moving through the shattered forests and the irradiated springs. Eventually, they would come upon a satellite that had crashed down upon the start of the war. They called this Steel Mountain. The trial consists of carrying a full supply crate up the Mountain by sundown. Only those who make it by that time will move on. But there were more dangers to be found. A fellow scout named Brownsfield made the mistake of stepping on a mine. Once he fell, Dez reminded the others of the Sixth Law. “A scout shall not become a burden to others.” With that in mind, the others left Brownsfield. All but Kit. Eventually, after the others had set up camp, Kit appeared carrying Brownsfield. They asked him what became of his crate. He quickly reminded them that the Scoutmaster had said to “carry a burden of survival.” There was no heavier burden than a full grown man. And no better protection that having someone to watch your back.
Eagle Trial #3
The next day, the Scoutmaster praised Kit for his performance in the trials thus far. It would have been very easy for Kit to fold after losing his father. But instead, he has been using it to motivate himself. Even their great founder Hancock would be proud. But it was time for the third trial. Dez had already passed his. Now it was Kit’s turn. To expedite this, the Scoutmaster injected Kit with mindbreaker venom and then dropped him into a deep well. The test was to target an individual scout’s fears. For Kit, that was facing her father and the possibility of disappointing him. He started out looking like a rotting corpse. But as Kit talked to her Dad and admitted that all she was or would be was because of him. As they talked, her Dad slowly began to look like himself. It was not Shepard or even Hancock that made her a Ranger Scout. It was him. And the best thing she can do is to complete what she started…for him as she climbed out of the well.
Final Trial
So it came down to a one on one confrontation between Dez and Kit. The winner would become an elite Ranger Scout. A member of the Eagle Guard. As the conflict commenced, the battle was fairly even. Both Dez and Kit go their shots in. But as the fight started to Kit’s way, she asked Dez to relent. She didn’t want to hurt him anymore. But Dez was beyond that, he knew they would never stop hurting each other. Kit reluctantly agreed and using an arm bar, broke Dez’s arm. Kit was the Victor and newest member of the Eagle Guard. This meant she could go to the top of the Eagle’s Nest and plug Webelo in. She would find out if what she suspected was really true. That the Ranger Scouts had indeed murdered their founder Dr. Hancock.
Confirming the Worse
After climbing to the top of the Eagle’s Nest, Kit hoped beyond hope she was wrong. That it had been a systems glitch. But it was not. The information downloaded by Webelo confirmed it. The Ranger Scouts had not only killed Dr. Hancock, but they were selling weapons to the Highway Men. However, before Kit could digest what she learned, she was discovered. And along with the men surrounding her was the Scoutmaster. He told her that he was disappointed in “him.” He was charged with breaking the Scout Laws and the sentence for that was immediate death. Man, those Scouts are really strict.
Thoughts
David Pepose story keeps ratcheting up the drama while continuing to pile up the questions. Why did the community that Dr. Hancock worked so hard to build turn on him? What else is going on that they are willing to partner with the Highwaymen? What will happen when they discover that the best man among them is actually a woman? Will Dez do anything to help Kit? Will Webelo? From what’s laid out before us, it seems that Scouts Honor is about to explode. I wouldn’t miss it if I were you.
As the narrative’s drama picks up, the visuals needed to follow suit. Fortunately for Scouts Honor, Luca Casalanguida has been up to the task since the beginning. This issue requires a fair mix of action and some emotional segue ways that help to carry Kit’s journey, especially in Kit’s Trial #3 where she came face to face with her dead father. Wonderfully written and drawn. It is this kind of depth that makes Scouts Honor a great read. Be sure to check it out 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.
