MARVELOUS COMICS PRESENTS
... a new series of adventures chronicling the super-heroics of some of America's champions of justice, based on the original masterpiece of fantasy superhero issues by the famous Dan Jacobson. In this new and equally progressive, non-limited series we will take you to the west coast of the United States and describe all the super-powered struggles occurring there. So hang on to your foci true-assumers, this book is about to take flight!
PRE-ISSUE #1 "SETTING THE SCENE" Jan. 4, 1990 ------------------- UPI HONOLULU - Last evening's earthquake measured 6.2 on the Richter Scale and possible ocean disturbances are predicted along the Japanese and American coasts. Midway Island is on tsunami alert all day today through tomorrow afternoon. Seismologists and geologists are investigating possible volcanic activity in undersea plate faults. There were a reported six dead at a resort near Hilo due to falling debris. Windows and older structures were destroyed throughout the greater islands. Estimated damage is near 4.3 million dollars.
UPI LOS ANGELES - A UCLA physicist, Dr. Martin Gray was discovered in the reaction chamber of the campus nuclear reactor this morning. Administrators are describing the incident as a freak accident, yet sources close to Gray are not ready to dismiss the possibility of something more involved. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is investigating.
AP SAN DIEGO - Government officials were present yesterday for the opening of a new prison for super-powered criminals. Referred to as the SAFE, this new installation was approved by the senate and congress to draw funds from the same budget that the original facility, Stronghold, was funded by. Security designer Harold Engnus states that he has improved the standards of this new prison based upon statistics from Stronghold and The Vault which have had numerous containment problems. Engnus is confident that this new installation is the "most reliable incarceration facility ever constructed." Overseeing the transfer of its first prisoners, representatives of the West Coast Avengers; Hawkeye, Tigra, Mockingbird, Wonderman and Moon Knight were on hand. The identities of the new prisoners is still undisclosed at this time.
UPI LOS ANGELES - Stark Enterprises announced the successful launching of its research platform which should be manned by early March. The platform, referred to as Project Phoebe will hopefully be a new and innovative environment for scientific experiments in zero gravity. Company president, Anthony Stark, was not available for comment.
AP SAN FRANCISCO - City coroner's office and police officials disclosed yesterday that the sudden death of 49ers' quarterback Mitch Monroe was drug related. Homicide detectives would not state if the death was accident, suicide or possible foul-play.
Excerpt from San Diego Union, January 7, 1990:
Mayor Hartmann announced late yesterday that his land development program and low cost housing incentive would be attracting more people to the area soon. Projected estimates foresee a 30 to 34 percent increase in permanent immigration over the next two years. In a televised speech last week, Hartmann proposed the crackdown on drug smuggling and organized crime throughout the city. Part of this proposition is the so-called Gamma Bureau of the Southwest Law Enforcement Agency, which would offer superheroes opportunities for paid, benefited jobs in the southwestern United States. With the approval of state representatives, Gamma Bureau would be a tremendous help in the city's underground crime problems.
Notes on the status of San Diego:
After the nuclear accident and as much clean-up as was possible, the city was all but abandoned. Suburban areas of the county were demolished and the long process of sponging up the nuclear waste was underway. In the beginning of 1989, the Department of the Navy took control of all North Island and Coronado down to the Silver Strand. Downtown San Diego was rebuilt and the airport relocated to Mira Mesa. Miramar NAS was abandoned and demolished, most of it's personnel and equipment transferred to Coronado NAS. The wealthiest portion of the population is returning to the almost unchanged La Jolla community, and agriculture is being invested as far east as La Mesa. In December, 1989 the NRC declared that San Diego was 'safe' from radioactivity danger and that redevelopment could begin. Naval housing and Marine training centers are already finished on the majority of Point Loma and Mayor William Hartmann has long-ranged plans to bring San Diego up and above the level of the thriving community it had once been.
PRE-ISSUE #2 "DOWN UNDER" Jan. 8, 1990
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ UPI MELBOURNE - Two more bodies washed ashore this morning bringing the mysterious death count to fourteen now. As previously stated, the victims were found with long thin slices down the length of the body and cause of death is from blood loss. The identities of the two found today are listed as Mr. Jack Dinneyston and his wife, Mrs. Elanore Dinneyston, a retired couple who have no previous criminal or national record.
UPI MELBOURNE - A local night club called The Slammer was the scene of mass damage and injury. Eyewitnesses relate a pair of super-powered men fighting with unknown foes early this morning. When patrons were questioned about the occurrence, none could remember and identity or even a description of the assailants. Owner Sam "Suds" O'Malley relates that the two men who started the destruction came in early in the evening, then talks of mutant hysteria spurred a brawl in which another man and a woman were seen fighting with the two super-powered instigators. Details are still being gathered.
AP LOS ANGELES - A marine was found murdered in the market district of Long Island this morning. LAPD homicide officials are declaring the murder as a premeditated assassination, but the connection between the victim and the assassins in yet unclear.
ISSUE #1 "RAMPAGE" Jan. 10, 1990 Introducing: HAMMER and SCAVENGER
The new series starts off with a big Big BANG as we find two newcomers to the superhero community converging on a under- construction San Diego this fine morning. The normal peaceful serenity of the business district is rather violently awakened by the rampaging wrath of a brute that calls himself The MAGOG. Along side him is the not-so-impressive-yet-just-as-deadly LUMEN. The earth-shaking noise brings police, fire trucks, news crews and rubbernecks from far and wide, including our first to the scene hero, HAMMER. The scene that greets one and all is, to say the least, not a pretty sight. Many people lay around a construction site in various states of health; some dead, some dying, some hysterical. In the center of the site stand the foes, which the slow-witted HAMMER discovers are the root of this problem. A few punches are tossed back and forth as well as some aggravating philosophical banter and then HAMMER gets the kick-this-game-off-with-a-bang award for a 158 stun movethru on MAGOG. MAGOG is not seriously damaged but it's nighty-night anyway. This brings about a rather deserving presence attack which stop just about everyone in their tracks. Then the bizarre happens. A voice from nowhere says something to the effect of "poor display of violence," then the KO'ed MAGOG and the shocked LUMEN disappear into thin air. Just in time to field questions from reporters and police alike, SCAVENGER appears on the scene, just getting out of traffic, and is as bewildered as everyone else. This version of the superhero special Olympics ends with HAMMER taking a powder to SCAV's La Jolla digs (arr arr) where they will hole up until this can be cleared up. In the aftermath, Mayor Hartmann offers the heroes positions on the newly-ordained San Diego branch of Gamma Bureau, and a while to think about it. Cultural envoy and geologist Janet Walker will try to bridge the communication and social barrier between HAMMER and this human race.
ISSUE #2 "CRACKDOWN" Jan. 12, 1990 Starring: SCAV and Introducing NIX
This issue finds our crusty friend HAMMER taking a hike for a few days off the coast of La Jolla, and off the continental shelf, for that matter. Meanwhile Dr. Erik DuPar, the alter ego of NIX, decides to investigate this interesting specimen of life form, HAMM. Given the okay, the ever inquisitive doctor shows up at the current residence of HAMM, which just so happens to be the beach house of SCAV. To the surprise of all, the monolith is not around and has left no forwarding address except a few large footprints leading out into the Pacific. Dr. DuPar and the lovely Debra Ladestro, SCAV's secretary seem to hit it off rather well, and make plans for an evening dinner date. Later in the afternoon, SCAV receives a phone call from a distressed housewife who has a comatose son, and a cookoo husband perched on the roof. She suspects accidental drug use, and contacts SCAV to investigate without possible `official' involvement. SCAV in turn decides that he should probably contact proper medical help, in the form of a certain Dr. DuPar. Soon enough, mixtures of crack and cocaine are discovered in a packaged powder sugar used in the family cookies, and a quick check reveals the distributor right in town. The family is treated by DuPar and SCAV vows to investigate. That evening, DuPar, now as NIX arrives for his own investigation of Lupino Bros. Distributing and realizes two things: this is the place he drove by earlier and saw some suspicious roof activity, and that there is some activity still there. Already on the scene is a local super called PSYPHON who is met by NIX and the just-arriving SCAV. Introductions are made, a bit of recon reveals a car followed by a truck arriving and the heroes end up thwarting a drug smuggling operation. In the end, two Japanese villains are apprehended along with a large shipment of crack and the heroes are the talk of the town. NIX takes off early with a necklace from the female villain. Cory Fischer offers PSYPHON, SCAV and any other super hero an invitation to join Gamma Bureau.
MARVELOUS COMICS PRESENTS A TWO-IN-ONE ISSUE
ISSUE #3 "BATON-MAN TAKES A WRONG TURN" Jan. 14-16, 1990 Up front: SCAV, HAMM, NIX w/guest PSYPH
Late Sunday night, HAMM returns from his sea hunt with nifty presents for all, including seaweed, shells, water and a load full of sand. Janet Walker puts the dog out for the night. News reports over the last couple days are not good. Vital records from Lupino Bros. are destroyed in a mysterious explosion (hmmm, I guess that little black box WAS a detonator), and to top that, the SAFE transport was damaged when the two villains escaped from it. The Guardsmen claim to have lost their memory about the incident (good image for their first transport, eh?). Dr. Dupar does a quick examination of HAMM, but sets up an appointment for HAMM and SCAV later in the week for a more thorough examination. PSYPH calls to inform SCAV that he has a lead to the drug ring's new location, a topless bar called the Booby Trap. Police detective Gary Atkinson is assigned to the case and is in contact with both SCAV and PSYPH. There is some sort of deal going down the next evening. SCAV, HAMM and PSYPH investigate. Meanwhile NIX researches the medallion lifted from the Japanese woman-villain. He finds out via a professor of Japanese mythology at SDSU, Dr. Hirisho Nagataki, that it belongs to the cult priest(ess) of an ancient Japanese spirit called Yagig. Originally with intentions to offer his service to the newly founded SAFE facilities, NIX decides to interview in person, immediately (and maybe get some information about the shoddy show of containment a couple days ago). SCAV, HAMM and PSYPH show up at the Booby Trap ready to go in guns blazing. At 8:00 PM the place is cleared out and some new visitors arrive via a side entrance. This cues the heroes entrance to find that they have been lured here by a vengeful pair of Japanese villains whom they are already acquainted with. They seem to want the absent NIX about a particular missing medallion, but since NIX is not to be seen, they promptly show off their big mysterious friend KAGE and trash the heroes. Our heroes find themselves in a back alley with Japanese banners around their necks, claiming that face is saved and to stay out of their business from now on. Yeah, right. All in all, not a very pleasant confrontation this night. NIX finds that he has problems of his own... *TEMPORARILY CENSORED*
ISSUE #4 "A COMEDY OF COINCIDENCES" Jan. 17, 1990 Stars: SCAV Introducing The PSYCHIC and The LOGICIAN Guest star: SHADOWCAT
As the heroes go about their lunch time business this day a fire alarm alerts their attention. Arriving on the street just in time to see a swabby scrub the sidewalk with his own blood as he is extricated from a local pub, an investigation of this peculiar incident is warranted. Waiting in the pub are an irate REPULSE and a bored LUMEN (see issue #1 for LUMEN's first appearance). As could be expected, our do-gooders enforce their constitutional rights and fists begin to fly. In the middle of the debacle, SHADCAT drops on in, using an unconventional entrance. Some tricky, if not humorous occurrences later, the heroes and the villains are pretty much rubberized, except for a few well placed darknesses on LUM by PSYCH, which seem to freak LUM out fairly well. SCAV and REP trade punches, LOG imitates Mr. Spock, SHADCAT falls on her face a couple times and PSYCH aggravates LUM to the point that the villains bail outside where they mysteriously disappear, in a transporter-like effect (hmmm, a Mr. Spock impersonator, and a transporter. Could there be a connection?). As a side note, SCAV discovers from his description of an insignia from KAGE's robe, that KAGE is one of the top three assassins in Japan, and dangerous is an understatement. KAGE is wanted by law officials and crime lords alike, the world over.
ISSUE #5 "UN-CONVENTION-AL" Jan. 18, 1990 Brought to you by: SCAV, NIX and LOG
This morning a confused NIX wakes up in a motel room with all the symptoms of a wild night-before, including headache and loss of some memory. What is remembered, however, is suspicious to a small extent, but since more important things have cropped up, must be delayed a while. A note is attached to his person bearing a notice of fulfilled reciprocation of some sort. NIX understands. Filing through the old short-term memory reminds him that an appointment to examine SCAV and HAMM must be kept today, so NIX is off to his alter-ego's office. Once there, waiting patiently (no pun intended) is SCAV who informs the doctor that the ever elusive HAMM is nowhere to be found this morning. But inside Dupar's office is something of note, a floor safe has been ripped open (yes ripped) and Dupar silently notes that his magical staff is missing. A few convenient profession swaps later and SCAV has joined the investigation. The only immediate clues found are a strange goop in the rake marks on the safe, and the promise of non-reciprocation/leave-well-enough-alone clause. Also this day, Cory Fischer gets in contact with a reliable computer programmer via his contact at the SDPD. Emily, as she is known meets with Fischer and agrees to help with the computer and security at the new headquarters being planned for the Gamma Bureau, San Diego division. On a seemingly different tangent, a disturbance is reported at the convention center, in which a few heroes show up including SCAV, NIX, and LOG. What is found is a battle between someone named KATANA and another named SIROCCO. The purpose of the confrontation is unknown and the good guys are hard to tell from the bad guys, however damage is surely being done. Taking the only `logical' approach, our heroes decide to go after both. This proves to not only be fruitless, but also uninformative as both depart quickly. The only pertinent information is of some sort of feud between the two combatant's leaders...
ISSUE #6 "SCENE OF THE CRIME" Jan. 22, 1990 Featuring: LOG and PSYCH
The beginning of a new week, with a relatively relaxing weekend brings Emily Square to the offices of Cory Fischer to meet the man who will be assisting her in the construction of a new AID for the new group, Austin James. Meanwhile, mild mannered psychiatrist, Loren Davies is performing routine morning duties at the Prospect Health Center clinic when she spies someone entering an office under rather suspicious conditions, which are reinforced by a `feeling' of imminent danger. Concurrently, Emily and Austin have arrived at the clinic for non-medical reason, namely to perform some minor consultation work and discussing the AID plan, after discovering that the police-provided conference room had a hot mike in it. Curiosity leading our heroes by the nose, the interloper is soon discovered in the form of ONI snooping around a familiar office; that of a certain Dr. Eric Dupar. Some Rambo-like security men are made into temporary safe doors ala ONI as she searches the room for something undetermined. In the outcome, PSYCH takes off with a strangely familiar baton, which ONI is quite displeased with, and ONI makes a quick departure of her own to avoid law-enforcement complications. Note: In Monday morning's Union, a reply to LOG's personal - "Make me an offer". Reply is a set meeting place and time, Friday, 3:00 PM.
ISSUE #7 "FOREIGN RELATIONS" Jan. 22, 1990 Stars: NIX, HAMM, LOG, PSYCH Guest appearance by: DUSK
Shortly after the affair at the Prospect Health Center, Loren arrives back at the SDPD with her Buffum's Baton and awaits her boyfriend/cop Gavin MacDonald. Emily and Austin also head back to the dept. for materials to continue their collaboration. When Gavin returns, he steers Loren to Cory Fischer who puts out a call to SCAV's place, and eventually comes in contact with NIX, who agrees to check out this `baton' (hmm, wonder what that could be?). Also arriving in town is a representative from the Brotherhood of the Rising Star, a Japanese martial arts fellowship associated with UNTIL, named DUSK. She also shows up at Cory's doorsteps on the trail of a Japanese organization that has come to the US, by the name of the Dokukata. Eventually, a gaggle of superheroes are gabbing around Cory's office when a distress call comes over the police bands from PSYPHON who mentions the name Mankoff, a hotel in town. The name of KAGE is mentioned in the distress call which alerts some of the supers present that this could be an extremely dangerous caper. PSYPH is supposed to be on the trail of the Japanese organization in town, but his signal was faint and could be bad news. Soon, converging around the Mankoff Hotel are our heroes, plus a newly-arrived HAMM. After an exchange of ideas, information and some elevator rides, the hideout is found, a penthouse apartment atop the tall structure. Inside our heroes find not only KAGE, but his friend IKIRYO. Punches are traded like a stock market exchange and IKIRYO is KO'd as well as a couple of the heroes. Inexplicably, KAGE uses the better part of valor and whoops off in a waiting copter with his injured comrade leaving behind a seriously injured PSYPH, some surveillance equipment and some anxious heroes. In the course of events, NIX seems to have acquired some sort of poison, thanks to KAGE and is not feeling up `Du-Par' (heh-couldn't resist-GM).
ISSUE #8 "TAKE MY MUTANT, PLEASE!" Jan. 26, 1990 Stars: NIX, PSYCH, LOG Guests: DAZZLER and LONGSHOT
Throughout the week PSYPH has been recuperating while NIX and SCAV have been working out together at SCAV's beachhouse/Club Med resort. HAMM is nowhere to be found. The week drags on in peaceful bliss until Friday noontime, when various information sources announce a commotion occurring in the Kearny Mesa area. At the scene, a suburban house looks like it has been the receiver of a mortar grenade; glass windows exploded outward, cracked walls, unconscious people hanging out of window frames and doorways. Source? Well, two costumed dudes are just heading toward the house as our heroes d' jour arrive. As the heroes set out to get things straight, another complication arrives in the form of two X-Men; LONGSHOT and DAZZLER who have plans of their own. Within the house things become a bit clearer. The two men who have entered the house are attempting to nab a child who displays some kind of powerful psychic ability. The two offenders(?) are quickly dispatched with the help of more-than- confident DAZZ and LONG and the situation is brought under control. In the aftermath, however, things do not go quite as planned. A Safe transport is called for the two villains who are identified later as TRACER and SHRIEK. The two X-Men desire to `take away' the child and the police wake up long enough to realize that they would also like a few words with these X-Men. In front of news crews and police alike, the two X-Men, Jeremy Brockton and his parents are whisked away in a whining swirl of force, leaving most all with long chins. To twist the long arm of the law even further, the news tapes show nothing of the X-Men's appearance at all! It seems as if they were never really there... As hasty adieu's are made, NIX invites all participating supers to meet him at a La Jolla restaurant Sat. noon.
GIANT-SIZED ISSUE #9 "ONE STORMY NIGHT" Jan. 26 and 27, 1990 To Arms: NIX and SCAV
* A GM-induced warp in the time stream will hopefully be set straight again as this issue progresses. Friday afternoon, LOG meets with LUMEN to discuss philosophies and motivations for criminology. Outcome unknown as of yet. This same Friday night SCAV and NIX take a dinner out at Piret's of La Jolla to discuss plans for a base-to-be. During the discussion, the heroes are approached by a pair a female admirers with ulterior motives. A pretty blonde named Donnah Hannah accompanied by a giggly brunette named Andrea Crusoe enlist the aid of the heroes to investigate a strange series of deaths following the discovery of an ancient set of scrolls uncovered in a Syrian dig by her grandfather, Dr. Clinton Avery. They agree to meet Donnah at the Avery estate tomorrow evening for dinner. The Saturday lunch crowd at Piret's is again distracted, but by the presence of NIX, SCAV, LOG and PSYCH. The discussion of base plans are continued and the outcome is not exactly favorable. The group seems to be split in half on beliefs, but are still pending more information to be attained from Cory Fischer. This evening, SCAV and NIX arrive at the Avery Estate, a large turn of the century mansion set on the coast of Sunset Cliffs, with several acres of surrounding land. The night is stormy and the rain is pounding. Donnah greets her guests and eventually they meet Dr. Avery who decides to trust them and gave them the low-down. It seems that these five scrolls are legendary mystical writings detailing the creation of elementals, creatures from other dimensions who can be summoned for destructive service. All the other researchers on the dig who had possession of a scroll have turned up dead, by some freak accident, the scrolls disappearing. Dr. Avery is the only one still alive with a scroll, and these deaths look fishy to just about everyone. During dinner, Donnah's friend Andrea comes over drenched to the bone in her jogging suit, suffering from a cold to boot. Donnah puts her to bed and rejoins dinner. The heroes decide to help Dr. Avery but need more information, which Avery collects upstairs while the heroes wait in the parlor and Donnah cleans up. Things begin to happen quickly then. The front door bursts open and two agent-types pop in for dessert, just as two more arrive with NIX to play some pool. The heroes dance a bit with their inept partners until they hear a scream from upstairs. Ignoring the stooges downstairs, SCAV and NIX take separate routes to the second level where they find Dr. Avery's study invaded by two more agents and a woman dressed to kill in a black leather body suit, displaying various mystic talents. What stops the heroes however, is the sight of Donnah holding a 38 special to her own head, finger on trigger. Dr. Avery is turning over the scroll to this woman, who by way of conversation, appears to know the doctor and vice versa. Fast moves are made and in the end, the woman disappears with her two agents, Donnah and the scroll. Downstairs all the bad guys have bugged out except for an unconscious one, a la NIX. Questioned later, he appears to be under a long lasting mind control, and also seem to be in the dark as to what or where his mistress is up to. Back upstairs, Dr. Avery has undergone a remarkable transformation. Donning old robes and trappings, DR. ARCANE, sorcerer of old, has returned for one final battle with his old enemy the BLACK ENCHANTRESS. The heroes will also help in finding the Doctor's granddaughter, as well as tracking down the BL ENCH, but ARCAN seems to be best suited for locating her. In the meantime, the Avery Estate is at their disposal. Eventually, PSYCH shows up to give her sixth sense worth (heh) which proves somewhat non-informative if not scary by the amount of evil she can detect coming from the now-lost Andrea Crusoe's jogging outfit. Bummer mumbo-jumbo...
ISSUE #10 "HACKERS' COUGH" Jan. 29, 1990 Stage Left: NIX, LOG, PSYCH
Sunday afternoon, the heroes meet once again to discuss plans for a base, this time with a proposed list of can-do's and can't-do's from Cory Fischer. Also, news has it that PSYPH is back on his feet after demanding his suit and doing some mental gymnastics. Outcome of meeting: don't ask the GM he only works here... LOG's alter ego, Emily Square is called Monday afternoon regarding a series of computer violations into the SDPD system. The violations are described and LOG sets out to program a few loop-the-loops for the next time. All the calls seem to happen between 11:00 and 12:00 PM, so LOG takes guard duty this night. On schedule, a stealthful foot is placed into the SDPD computer. LOG begins to make counter moves against the assault and continually stumps the perpetrator. Throughout the system various references to cold and ice are mentioned, perhaps suggesting a signature of some sort. But a direct electronic confrontation between LOG and the mystery hacker leads LOG to suspect that whomever id pulling this off must have some special help, possibly mutant origin. As a precaution, NIX and PSYCH are called and the line is traced back to the Motrobi Building in Mission Valley. At the scene, LOG's intuition serves her well as two costumed critters are playing at a terminal. NIX takes a shot from a guy called FROSTBYTE, and due to his body's revolt against cold, KO's him. FBYTE's partner, a familiar face called REPULSE also does his own shoving. From conversations and plea- bargaining, it appears as if these two don't want anyone hurt, but are just `fooling around'. For some reason (possibly mind control - yeah, that's the ticket!), the heroes agree and give them time enough to escape via window or electrical outlet. "I'm a little hazy on this good - bad thing..." and so are our heroes I guess...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ UPI QUEENS, NEW YORK - The corpse of a man was found this evening in the Queens area of New York. The man was identified as a self-professed vigilante in the battle against organized crime, known as The Punisher. The victim's throat had apparently been slashed, yet the coroner's office is reluctant to release nay additional information at the moment. A private funeral is scheduled sometime this week and representatives from the Avengers as well as other local super heroes are expected to attend.
UPI HAMPTON, VIRGINIA - FBI agents took control of the Punisher homicide case today when a new body was found and identified as a known mutant and X-Man by the name of Cyclops. The body was discovered early this morning floating in South Chesapeake Bay. Cause of death is as of yet unknown and FBI officials are not commenting on the incident.
AP MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - A battle ensued in the business district of Memphis today, when the Fantastic Four engaged anti-mutant opposition at a Memphis State rally. There seemed to be a strong air of anti-mutant sentiment among the participants, but involvement by a trio of supers brought its attention to the FF who battled on the campus grounds. Minor casualties resulted as well as the escape of the instigators. Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four had no comment for the press at the time.
ISSUE #11 "ON THE TRAIL" Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 1990 Stars: NIX, SCAV, PSYCH, LOG and Introducing IRONFIST
During a routine bank robbery, some of our merry band of heroes find themselves aided by a mysterious armor-clad hero who introduces himself as IRONFIST. LOG and PSYCH who happen to be on hand, witness the utter strength and force by which he deals with the would-be robbers o' the bank and are slightly taken aback. As a matter of fact, now that they get a good look at this guy, he looks very much like a New York based supervillian named Armadillo. Hmmm, maybe they should report this one...
Newsreel: Jan.31-Feb.1, 1990 Shannon Baker, international model and popular babe disappears from her routine visit to a local New Orleans spa. Melissa Grant, LSU coed is also reported missing somewhere on her way home from a basketball game. Ted Posner, New Orleans cab driver missing from 2:00 am fare. Car was found later, no clues revealed thus far.
Continuing: Feb. 2-4, 1990 Sure enough, word gets 'round and someone is very interested in this spotting of Armadillo, namely IRON MAN. Fe-MAN enlists the aid of the heroes who were on the scene to give him information about the what, where and when of this matter. In the meantime, NIX and SCAV have received word from ARCAN that he is ready get on the trail of the BL ENCH. Fe-MAN is led back to a business building where he proceeds to scan for some familiar circuits, which he detects on one of the upper levels. This turns out to be none other than our newest hero in town, IRONFIST. Unlike most confrontations among supers, this one is handled with conversation, rather than brute physical misunderstandings, and part of the truth is revealed. IRON is not Armadillo, but uses a suit of armor based on ARM's design with some variations. Fe-MAN offers to look over the armor sometime, but takes his leave on pressing business. Our heroes are now confronted with a new `hero' (they don't trust him as one at this point), and decide that they had better keep an eye on him, but since they are heading `out of town on business', must take him with them. Back at the Avery Estate, ARCAN has laid the designs for a powerful spell of teleportation, and within the hour the do-ers of good deeds are sitting in the plush confines of a New Orleans hotel, more specifically, the Royal Orleans in the French Quarter of the city. ARCAN leaves early the next day and informs the group that he will check in periodically. He is going to check with sources at LSU. By the way, ARCAN says he is somehow blocked by the BL ENCH in this city, which is why he couldn't get more accurate location information. SCAV decides that he also could do some good snooping on his own. Speaking of snooping, LOG and PSYCH also check out local names that correspond with Crusoe and run into some unrevealing deadends. During the local sweep, someone has tipped the local media about their residence in the hotel, and reporters are literally breaking their necks to get the inside scoop. The situation rises to a serious level when one newsman falls from several stories, critically injuring himself. UNTIL New Orleans branch is called to settle things down. Showing up on the scene is KNIGHT STALKER, UNTIL's local strong-arm. He clears the hotel of excess garbage, tells the heroes to report anything they plan on doing, and gives them warning to be careful, he has more than enough problems already with Mardi Gras coming soon. Unknown to the rest of the group, SCAV has been led from clue to clue to the back of a tenement building where he is ambushed by two very strong, very resilient demon-type forms. SCAV goes down for the count quickly. Meanwhile a SCAV doppleganger arrives back at the hotel and is admitted by NIX. This SCAV has information that he has found a tarot card clue leading to a local Voodoo/Mystic shop a few blocks away called L'Amoureux Charme. Our heroes, plus one well placed doppleguy, case the establishment and indeed find some connection. They also are surprised to find a bound, captured SCAV, the other which they had been traveling with now a demon- type that abducted SCAV in the first place. The little buggers are tough meat, but in the end one is blasted into the mortar of a nearby building by IRON, another is shown the light (lamp) by SCAV, and the third has some type of mental trauma which seizes it in mid battle with NIX. Clues found: shipping records for coffee, wicker and mass personnel payments at one location, Jules Bros. Imports. Also found, silty mud(?).
ISSUE #12a "THE DOCTOR IS OUT" Feb. 6, 1990 Solo: SCAV Guest:ARCAN
Snooping again on his own, SCAV decides to track down the ever elusive ARCAN at the LSU campus. Information is gathered which leads him to the deserted residence of a friend of Dr. Avery's (ARCAN's secret ID, you know, right?). At the apartment, the manager allows SCAV to browse about and finds the place in a shambles. SCAV finds a small glowing cube on the ground and... shackled magically to the wall. As SCAV attempts a rescue, a strange guard-metallic-thingy called MAGITRON attempts to foil the plan. However, once ARCAN is freed and SCAV begins to wield various pieces of furniture, the MAGITRON is quickly taken off- line. It is at this point that ARCAN does a quick mind scan location of the party and teleports to...
ISSUE #12b "SENTINEL IMPROVEMENTS" Feb. 6, 1990 Heroes: NIX, IRON, PSYCH, LOG, SCAV Guests: ARCAN, KNI STALK
Meanwhile, our mainstream heroes have followed massive clue deposits to the riverfront shipping district warehouse of Jules Bros. Imports. This time, with the aid of the local UNTIL man, who by the way, looks completely different, but claims to be the same person, the adventurers cautiously check out the place. Covertly entering the warehouse, crates are found that contain something slightly different from the wicker and coffee in the manifests. They find metallic gas canisters with a poison symbol on each, originating from a Chicago chemical company called Centurion. During the search, our paranoid heroes are rewarded by the activation of it's resident guard, a Sentinel; actually, this one refers to itself as the PROSENTINEL. With the power of its predecessors, the PROSENT begins to mop up the heroes one by one. The thing seems virtually unstoppable, and as a matter of fact, has the uncanny ability to analyze its opponents. A surprising revelation is unearthed when the PROSENT displays a more-than-passing knowledge of LOG. Something about a government project malfunction gone AWOL. In the end, the heroes begin to simply wear down the beast until it finally receives a blow from IRON and ARCAN that decommissions it for the duration. Some of the heroes decide that this monster may have some connection with the government, so the banks may contain more important info. However, KNI STALK claims the PROSENT as new property of UNTIL for `further research' by `TOP men' (who? TOP men.) In the middle of the fray, SCAV and ARCAN pop in for the title bout.
ISSUE #13 "INTO THE LAIR" Feb. 6-7, 1990 Abusing: NIX, SCAV, LOG, PSYCH, IRON with Guest: ARCAN
Things in the New Orleans area are beginning to brew as ARCAN detects some strange forces at work this night. With his prompting, the heroes are whisked off to the last known location of the BL ENCH's lair, a cave ARCAN had escaped from. Upon snooping around, the target of this journey is found. The BL ENCH is in the process of casting the final touches on her elemental creations, from behind a nice cozy force wall. Between her and the trespassers, however, are waiting 3 more of the rubbery demons she used to subdue SCAV and fight the party earlier. This diversion seems like enough, for as they fight and the spell comes to close, SCAV and NIX manage to combine their attack on the wall bringing it down. At the same time, the innocent victims who were once human forms have transformed into creatures of earth, fire and water. The air creature, which happens to be Donnah Hannah, ARCAN's granddaughter is nowhere to be seen. Conjecture is that she is invisible. The battle rages on, this time bringing in the elementals in the demons' place. The BL ENCH begins to cast what NIX discovers is a dimensional portal, probably intended for her enemies, when suddenly a wild wind whips up throughout the room. The BL ENCH is taken aback at this and ceases her spell. As a matter of fact, her body slowly begins to dissolve in the wind, much to her woe. Donnah Hannah, in her battle rage succeeds in completely dissipating the human know as the BL ENCH and collapses to the ground, now visible. During the initial onslaught however, ARCAN had tries to bypass the force wall in desolidified form. This proved fatal as he was struck by a strong electrical charge (in desolid form yet) and lost most of his chest region. He died a few minutes after the battle, praising his daughter, Donnah (huh?) and telling her that he would meet her on the other side. In epilogue, Donnah takes her grandfather back to San Diego where his funeral is visited by many of ARCAN's old friends, including: DR STRANGE, CAP AMERICA, SHAMAN, DOMINIC FORTUNE, MR FANTASTIC, INVISIBLE WOMAN, and NICK FURY. The media is kept out of the area via a spell by STRANGE, and Donnah is accompanied by our own little heroes. Donnah has decided to take up the crime fighting career her grandfather led, and assumed the name CORIOLIS. She has also offered the heroes use of the Avery Estate as their base, which the team is in the middle of deliberations. Plans and designs are laid down for the structure of a cohesive new superhero team!
ISSUE #14 "GUN RUN FUN" Mar. 3, 1990 Spotlighting: NIX, PSYCH with Guest: SHROUD and Introducing: SIMMER and POLARIS
Following up on more leads by the Dokukata for a possible source of illegal drug imports, our heroes find themselves in the Los Angeles district warehouse of Toronto Imports. Approaching at night, when the day shifts are gone, a figure is spotted on a nearby rooftop. The figure is approached by an invisible NIX, but the thing on the roof addresses him anyway. The man on the roof is actually SHROUD, doing a little recon on his own, so the teams eventually rendezvous and enter the now occupied building. Toronto imports turns out to be a storage place for all types of automatic and semi-automatic guns and ammunition. There are several stooges loading a truck, and supervised by an Aussie- accented villain by the name of SHRAPNEL. As it would happen to turn out, a newer hero named SIMMER happens to be across the street picking up a bottle of fine spirits, and yet another, at this time questionable hero is asleep in a trash heap outside the same warehouse (yes, I said garbage, and you are right, coincidences are running mighty thick at this point). The battle is short and sweet. SHRD takes out a couple of the guards while the others take care of SHRAP. Violent action of the day goes to POL, when in a stupor (or is that his natural state) telekinetically hurtles the aforementioned loaded truck through the warehouse, barely missing heroes and villains alike, and devaluing the property when it embeds itself in a car outside (after passing through the warehouse wall). SHRD sees fit to question one of the stoolies is his own charming way, much to the distaste of the other heroes. Meanwhile the formerly unconscious and trussed up SHRAP has escaped (did I mention that SHRAP has a suit of razor sharp objects protruding in all directions - which he hurtles towards others with barber-like efficiency?) In the end, SHRD gets a little peeved at the outcome of this operation, and the way these total strangers seem to have a certain lack of cooperation, so he leaves in a huff and roar of a nearby vehicle. When the sirens approach, our heroes recede into the night... SIM and POL in tow.
ISSUE #15 "MONUMENT TO HONOR" Mar. 6, 1990 Guests: NIX, SIM, SCAV, IRON, PSYCH, POL Special appearances: PSYPH and THORN
As this pseudo-convention of supers starts out, PSYPH is introduced to Brother THORN (aka Atom Smasher) and DUSK who have been following leads on the location of a headquarters for the DOKUKATA. It seems that their luck has just turned up, as sources have revealed a possibility in Koyzamti Park, a Japanese garden centered in central L.A. Little do our heroes know (but now they do) that the DOKU has set them up for this confrontation. At the park, guards are found slashed up, dead. And exploring further find that the source of all their troubles are stationed in the old monument in the center of the park. Waiting there are the entire contingent of the DOKU: IKIRYO, ONI, KATANA, BLACK PEARL and of course KAGE. The honorable villains offer to allow the early arrivals to alert their comrades, but this is waived by THORN and the battle begins early. Honor is tossed around like a thermally energized farinaceous tuber, and when the rest of the group arrives, the fireworks begin in earnest. Most of the group, acting on past experience-induced paranoia aim to take out (or kill) KAGE. They come mighty close, except for the healing ministrations of BLA PEARL. The fight eventually come to climax when PSYPH, using his power to telekinese IKIRYO through the roof(s), up several hundred feet, and then straight down on KATANA. Unfortunately for IKIRYO he passes through 2 ceilings on the way up, 2 on the way down, and finally meets a concrete floor at incredible velocity. The last thing the heroes see before the landing is an unconscious IKIRYO (he was out on the ascent) bodily shielded by THORN (who is also quite battered), who is screaming for this to stop, plow into the ground and KATANA. The DOKU reevaluates its position in this fray and decides that it will leave, but does make a point of marking the heroes for death. Meanwhile all that remains of the battle is the completely broken, bloody mass of flesh that used to be IKIRYO. The DOKU `ports away in the nick of time...
UPI LOS ANGELES - During a battle off the coast of Los Angeles today a startling mystery was uncovered, when the X-Men, presumed dead for the last several months, reappeared in the public spotlight. Reacting to the death of former X-Man, Cyclops, the X-men spokesperson revealed that their deaths were staged for the benefit of advantage in the war against super villains worldwide. When polled about their relocation, current X-Man leader, Storm stated that they would be residing on the west coast of the U.S. but would not reveal and exact location. Currently the official law enforcement agencies still regard the X-Men as vigilantes, wanted for questioning, but with no outstanding arrest warrants. Divided is the public opinion of these self-proclaimed heroes. Are they really the saviors that they would want us to believe, or are they the real mutant menace that others claim are taking over the world. Tonight on ABC, Dan Rather will be taking a close look at the hysteria of mutants and the current government and local solutions being addressed by the citizens of this world.
ISSUE #16 "BIG MUTANTS ON CAMPUS" Mar. 8-11, 1990 Demonstrating: IRON, SCAV, NIX, LOG, PSYCH, PRSM, SIM
Late this week SCAV is contacted by Alicia Summerset, a family heir to a professional detective agency. She has recently revived the agency after the death of its founder, her father. She has opted to go keep up with the times and provide a detective agency that can effectively deal with the super-powered element in today's society. This organization now has the name Super Powered Investigations, otherwise known as S.P.I. Alicia Summerset has decided to expand her organization to the east coast and has asked SCAV to head up the new operations. SCAV says that he has to "sleep on it". She offers him a trial run for pay; a case taking place in Los Angeles this Sunday. After due and suspicious consideration, they decide to try out this little `agency', and see if it is legit. In LA, the heroes are given their assignment, protection and supervision at a UCLA rally concerning the Mutant happenings. As was predicted, opposers and proposers were present, but the main attraction came in the form of PURGE, TRACER and SEISM. These menacing demonstrators showed up and began to preach the evils of mutantkind, as well as actually accusing some of the crowd of being mutants. This began to get out of hand when the crowd took action. A few soft blows were exchanged, and SEIS and TRAC escaped, but PURGE seemed to pull legal rabbits out of his hat and eventually went peacefully. He was wanted for questioning, and in a police car when he disappeared. Watching and evaluating the scene was a representative from SPI, a super by the name of SYNAPSE. Afterward, a report if filed with Summerset and SCAV receives the evaluation, and another invitation. For the moment, SCAV has declined. >sniff<
ISSUE #17 "INCOGNITO" Mar. 11, 1990 Passengers: IRON, NIX, SIM, LOG, PRSM
Returning from their collegiate encounters, our intrepid band of world-shapers find that the airport terminal where they are to depart is besieged by police personnel. Apparently, some supers are ripping the place apart inside. With a slight white lie ("We're the Avengers, we'll check this out") they are allowed inside ("whew, sure hope the Avengers don't show up!"). Inside, the heroes find the terminal area under combat. Many security and police are in various states of injury, and debris is littered about. The apparent cause is... The Avengers!! ("Uh oh...") Acting very uncharacteristically, the WACKOs begin to make a bad name of themselves, injuring people right and left. Truth to tell, these aren't the real WACKOs, but actually some familiars in disguise. The credits go as follows: The MAGOG..............WonderMan REPULSE....................Hawkeye FROSTBYTE..............Moonknight LUMEN.......................Mockingbird Soon, the heroes overcome the fiends, but a security guard is killed in the process by a rampaging MAGOG. PRSM makes a bad career move when he moves through a dying FROST. Apparently, FROST bites it. MAGOG is captured, but the others get away. The source of the disguise is determined to be a module belt pack at each villain's hip. After the battle, an UNTIL heavy-carrier van shows up to take custody of the bodies. UNTIL rep SHADE takes the MAGOG in a drug-induced unconscious state back to UNTIL holding facilities. The next day, he reports that FROST has a bizarre biology that actually allows him to take damage like he did and survive. Unfortunately, they weren't aware of his T-porting ability, and he got away.
Interim: A general meeting is held by all members to discuss some of the groups policies and tactics. The Avery Estate has been officially cosigned into the groups name and each member has donated a portion of his/her time to the establishment of a base of operations. Legalities of super heroing are discussed and it is decided that the group needs some kind of in-house aide. Debra Ladestro, Brad Casey's secretary has decided to go to law school and she will be leaving. Also, Coriolis was contacted by a super group, one of which is a suspected do-badder, but offering to teach her how to deal with her powers. Coriolis decides that she has to check this out on her own, but that she will be careful and contact the group if anything comes down. Coriolis leaves that weekend. Just as the weekend is coming to a close, the doorbell rings and PSYCH finds the deeply unconscious bodies of two girls, later identified as New Mutants; MIRAGE and MAGIK. NIX diagnoses that they have suffered some sort of mental trauma and are in comatose states. They are being kept safe and comfortable in the Avery Mansion for the time being. MIRAGE was reported (by PSYCH) to have said something about an enemy and to choose the warrior. A small token spear around MIRAGE's neck then disappeared and she fell unconscious...
ISSUE #18 "SAFE-CRACKERS" Mar. 14, 1990 Headlining: NIX, SCAV, SIM, PRSM, POL and Guest Avenger IRON MAN
The day starts early with an unexpected guest at the front door. The guest is the West Coast Avenger, IRON MAN. He is concerned about the defamation of his colleagues in recent battles all over southern CA. Recently, the group fought some impostors at LAX and he wants to know more. Well, more is just what he gets. In confidence, NIX reveals that he has recently had a memory block partially removed, allowing him access to memories of capture and unpleasantries at the local super-villain brig, SAFE. I.M. wants to check out this lead immediately, and the heroes accompany. At SAFE, IM throws his Avengers clout around a bit and gets inside. There, a cooperative, but annoyed warden shows them around the complex; the labs, the corridors, security chambers, rampant villains, metal-reinforced... YES, rampant villains! Primarily, STASIS, LUMEN, and REPULSE. Thought of the moment: "Ooops!" Things get down and dirty pretty quick. In less than a round, SCAV is knocked out, IM is desolidified against his will, and the main shocker: POL takes a 3 from STASIS! POL is in for certain doom, until IM makes a heroic grab for the thrashed POL. A dislocated hip socket and critical wounds are the only things next to death for the poor transient. Just when things are looking bad, they get worse and 3 Guardsmen break into the room. The heroes are forced to do it the hard way; thumbs and nails. They bear down on the villains and with a little help from a traitor among the villains (Frostbyte), the incarcerated West Coast Avengers are released and combined, manage to take care of the Guardsmen. STASIS `ports away when the going gets tough, and the clean-up is left with the pros (whomever they may be). Afternote: POL's condition is stable but not good. After taking the near-to-death punch. The only thing that saved his skin was the catch my IRON MAN. POL's leg was dislocated and he will need a metallic insert, and the combination of system shock, surgical recovery and physical therapy will put him down for 3 to 4 months.
ISSUE #19 "WHO'S HORTON?" Mar. 21, 1990 Featuring: SCAV, NIX, PRISM, IRON
On Friday, March 16 the heroes d' jour interview a prospective employer by the name of Kara Michaels. Ms. Michaels was referred to the team by Cory Fischer and the team seems to think favorably of her. No decision yet, however. In other headline news, a landmark event in this Comic's history has taken place. The team has been officially named the SUN COAST ALLIANCE by its respective (but not always respectable) members. This same day, a representative from the mayor's office calls to invite the now-semi-famous SCA to be present at the grand re-opening of Horton Plaza shopping center. "Publicity, we need the steenking publicity..." When Wednesday finally arrives, the heroes find themselves at the neo-modern architectural Horton Plaza, situated very near its old namesake. Along with the `Alliance', other distinguished guest celebrities include; Steve "Big Daddy" Garvey, Jim McMahon, Burt Reynolds, Loni Anderson, William Shatner, members of the heavy metal group PitchforK, Sting and Peter Gabriel. The opening is a success with various speakers giving plugs for their latest product or movie, until the event is interrupted by a familiar group, namely PURGE, TRACER, SEISM and a yet-unnamed female. PURGE attempted to take control of the platform but was continually thwarted and taunted by PRSM. Eventually, hostility broke out and hell broke loose. The battle was well weighted, and fairly even, with good blows being exchanged until eventually our heroes gained an edge and some unexpected help from YELLOWJACKET (the female version from the MOE). She apparently was bucking for good publicity and did help the good guys on this occasion. Eventually, as villains were falling, PURGE and mystery-woman made good their escape, but PURGE came back for SEISM. In the aftermath, only TRACER was captured. However, on the bright side, the heroes were offered $200.00 gift certificates for the shops in the mall!
ISSUE #20 "W.A.R. ZONE" Mar.22-28, 1990 Stars: PRSM, SCAV, NIX, IRON, PSYCH, SIM and LOG
After the success at the Horton Plaza incident, the SCA has a press conference the next day in which representatives (ie. NIX, SCAV and IRON) inform the public that they are the new dudes in town and that they are ready to pave the way for apple pie and Chevrolets. On the 23rd, Stark Enterprises sends field reps to the SCA base to appraise the systems to be installed. Saturday, March 24th, a headline that catches people's attention is the death of the X-man (actually X-woman) Phoenix. Monday, Stark Ent. pays a visit to the SCA headquarters and begins installation of new systems. NIX notices that some systems being installed were not on the ordered list. This is explained as "compliments of Mr. Stark". Tuesday, the 27th is when the mainstay of this adventure takes place. In a joint effort of public relations between Mexico and the U.S., Mexican president Hernandez took part in a parade that originated in Tijuana, and ended at the courthouse in San Diego. However, several blocks short of the S.D. courthouse, Presidente Hernandez was quite brutally assassinated. Apparently his brain internally hemorrhaged when attacked by a supervillain from the crowd. Discrepancies in the reports led to no conclusive leads and the SCA was called in to investigate. A few hours search later, a hotel room was found to contain plane ticket stubs and a clipping about the mayor of Los Angeles. Brought into the investigation was a higher super-agent of UNTIL, called Colonel Seta. The SCA hops a flight to LA and meets Seta where he parts company for `other business'. A bit of computer hacking earlier provided a motel room along with the plane tickets, so our heroes are off to the Malibu Travelodge. At the motel, the SCA finds a half dozen agents holding the fort, which are taken care of handily. In the motel, a map of the mayor's neighborhood is found, demolitions equipment, and some sort of satellite uplink equipment. The heroes decide that this would probably be a good time to pay a visit to the mayor of Los Angeles.
ISSUE #21 "W.A.R. ROOM" Mar. 27, 1990 Heroes: PRSM, SCAV, NIX, IRON, PSYCH, SIM and LOG
Arriving on the scene of the Malibu home of Mayor Thomas, the heroes find things pretty much normal. The door is answered by an elderly gentleman who seems to be a houseman of some sort. He invites them in and is pleasant in demeanor. However, upstairs he has a slight personality change when he introduces the other members of his staff, namely DEADLOCK, NECROS, SHRAPNEL and himself as ANATOMI. This leads to a rather fierce battle which sways many directions. Many SCAs are KO'd and ANAT proves to be a thoroughly disgusting, morbid fellow, pulling various organs from his body, and doing to same to the heroes. His gizmo, however, is the team's undoing, as he sends the first 5 to "A cruel place". He decides that LOG poses a bit more interest so he repairs her systems, but the gratitude is not returned. He then begins to zap LOG and IRON away, but LOG lands a gadget-shattering blow on the machine just as it goes off. ANAT doesn't seem all too pleased with that outcome...
ISSUE #22 "LOST DIMENSIONS" Date Unknown Victims: PRSM, SCAV, NIX, PSYCH, SIM
Our heroes are plummeted, against their will, into what appears to be a very alien menagerie. Their single cell-mate, a floating piece of lettuce is not too interested in their presence, but the helium atmosphere turns even the toughest talking heroes into Mickey Mouse. An attempt to escape, combined with sheer luck, frees the heroes into the main complex, which they find out is run by robots of differing functions. As the 'bots discover the escape, the Earth-natives soon confront their would-be captors. These mechanical beasties seem intent on study, and soon the big guns are called in to "get the humanoids." Meanwhile, some time later in Earth chronology, a recovered POL also discovers that the occupants of the base have not checked in for nearly a month. The New Mutant MAGIK and the now- live-in housekeeper and aide, Kara Michaels explain the circumstances of their disappearance, and MAGIK decides to try to look for them in `her own way'. POL agrees and they set off for MAGIK's own dimension of Limbo. A bit of scrying later, she finds the heroes in a tight spot in a nasty little dimension. Zapping in quickly, MAGIK and POL succeed in freeing the transposed heroes and bringing them back to Limbo.
ISSUE #22b "SIDETRIP" Date Unknown Stars: LOG and IRON Guests: SETA, LVWR, SCUT
Destiny...preordained temporal pathway or someone else's idea of convenience. LOG and IRON were finding this out in their own bizarre way. ANAT, in an attempt to hurl them with the rest of the SCA out of this dimension was partially foiled by the focus-shattering blow of LOG. Instead of following their friends to the last issue, LOG and IRON were `pushed' a little too close to a powerful `observer' (whose identity must be disclosed at a later date). After a parley of sorts and a short discussion, LOG and IRON appeared in the heat of battle in a complex of high technological order. Their mission was clear and simple, deliver a strange artifact to a strange creature, then they would be on their way home. Not so easy, since the creature was really no where to be seen immediately, and there were much more important matters to attend to, mainly a group of agents and a couple of highly formidable ICADs. The ICADs and agents were beating on a couple of locals, one of which they recognized as UNTIL's New York strong-arm, Col. SETA, and his buddy-in-arms LIVEWIRE. Quickly surmising the good guys from the bad, they joined the fray and helped defeat the ICAD nasties and agents d' jour, as well as delivering the artifact to SCUTTLEBUTT, the aforementioned strange creature (who happened to be along with SETA and LVWR). The bad guys were down, but the base was about to go supercritical. Offering aid, LOG started to work with SETA in the computer core, but at that moment, notice of their fulfilled bargain was at hand, and LOG and IRON were wisked away and back to meet with their friends in Limbo. As for the three left behind in the complex, they will never know. However, it was deduced that this was some sort of alternate reality/timeline, so anything could be possible...
ISSUE #23 "ULTIMATUM:MUTACIDE" Dec. 31-Jan. 1, 1991 Heroes: NIX, IRON, SIM, LOG, PSYCH and Introducing: CHIMERA
Being in Limbo was the literal truth at the start of this adventure. Recently rescued and rendezvoused, the SCA found itself in the realm of MAGIK. Last time checked, MAGIK and MIRAGE had shown up on the SCA doorsteps in an unconscious state. Now one of the pair was here with them, and brought along POL who had also been down for the long count by a hit taken for IRONMAN. With a few quick good-byes, and even less explanation, MAGIK sent all home. Upon return to the SCA base, Kara Michaels, the now live-in staff member disclosed a shocking revelation: they had been gone for almost NINE MONTHS!!! (Yowza, zoinks and egads!) The actual arrival date was 12/15/90, and they have some heft catching-up to do, which happens over the course of the next couple weeks. Businesses go down the tubes, employers have replaced, and things are just not so easy-going during this time. Soon, however, things do look better. Stark activates the special base features, Gavin Mc Donald (PSYCH's DNPC) is made liaison to the SCA and on 12/22/90 a new person arrives on the scene. Referred to the SCA by KNIGHTSTALKER, a New Orleans UNTIL super, this SDSU coed meets to SCA informally, however, the timing is quite bad, as MAGNETO has made his ultimatum speech to match EMMA's and they are off to save the world (or at least a place called Dust Flats Colorado). Tagging along, she will ultimately prove her worth and abilities. When our heroes arrive in Colorado, things are not quite what they expected. The anti-mutant hype is much more intense and the area around Dust Flats has become a sick version of Woodstock. People from all over have come to see the latest `mutant massacre'. For the week beforehand, the SCA gathers intelligence and surveys the area. Finally New Year's Eve draws near and the tension is as thick as Tammy Baker's base. At 15 minutes to 12, the ground opens up and the main event emerges, 2 PROSENTINELS! At the same time, MAG makes his entrance and the representatives of EMMA crawl out of the holes as well. If that wasn't enough, as the SCA is reading to enter the fray, to visiting X-MEN, WOLV and DAZZ happen to join the scrap. BIG Big big SUPER Super super ACTION Action action... Omitting the necessary sound effects and ILM special effects, the outcome is in the hero's favor. EMMA is almost entirely captured, except TRACER, one PROSENT is KO'd, and the other is discovered to be something a bit more. It escapes as the battle winds down. The object of the battle seemed to be to lure all these people here, detonate a few megatons of warhead and blame the mutants. Not necessarily the annihilation, but a good start. However, some fast computer rolls from LOG and the danger is diverted, accompanied earlier by some <unnecessary?> death on the part of MAG. Everyone takes their leave as Stronghold arrives, and thus another ploy at global domination and world anarchy is averted by that little group of protoplasm known as the Sun Coast Alliance. Hey! What about Corbin Trask, the renowned senator from New Jersey? PSYCH says she saw him in the control center in a time frame sometime before. Sorry PSYCH it don't hold up in court...but maybe it does with the SCA...
ISSUE #24 "SHAKEDOWN" Jan. 9, 1991 Center Stage: IRON, NIX, LOG, CHIM, PSYCH and Guests: DIAMOND and CATALYST
Time for a break from the excitement of crime fighting Kara Michaels procures a set of box tickets for the San Diego Charger - Seattle Seahawks playoff game. What a great way to relax, right...? Wrong! The game starts as any major league pro game might, up until a few minutes before half-time when PSYCH overhears some stadium security conversing about a disturbance downstairs in the old locker rooms. Something about supers beating up on some ordinary guys. This looks like a job for... The SUN COAST ALLIANCE! But alas, looks can be very deceiving, and boy are they in this case. When the heroes arrive, it indeed appears that there are a couple of supers beating up on some well-dressed gentlemen. However, the gentlemen are packing AK-74's and high-tech audio- visual devices. Just as the heroes are moving in with some rather important questions, two more guests arrive. These two move quickly and it's difficult to figure out just who they are trying to hurt. They do get a few good punches on Nix and manage to plant a grenade in his shorts (so to speak). Nix gets the body knocked out of him, and is just this side of ground beef (a dog's natural food - Joel). The two newcomers vanish as quickly as they appear, but not before taking some solid beatings from the SCA. The outcome speaks for itself (or themselves) when the first two supers are identified as DIAMOND and CATALYST, two ex-Gamma Bureau supers who worked with PSYPHON before he was arrested. The guys they were `questioning' were agents of some sort. They, however, are finding speech to be fairly difficult with most of their brains on the outside of their craniums (courtesy of some self-destructing, formerly-mentioned head gear). As a sidenote, LOG noticed a strange creature near the end of the battle floating behind some lockers; that is if you call a floating piece of seaweed attached to a brain contained in an aquarium strange. Why, oh why did the SCA find themselves in such a standoff? That explanation will have to wait until a later issue, but suffice it to say that...the DOKUKATA is involved! <insert dramatic soap-opera music here>
ISSUE #24 "BOUNTY HUNTER" Jan. 9, 1991 Featuring: IRON, POL, PSYCH
Explanations are cut short as NIX bleeds over the cement floor, so after a quick patch/first aid, and even a bit of medical aid by SCAV who `inherits' a bit of Dupar's medical expertise, NIX is ushered to a waiting ambulance for transport to the SCA's medical facilities. On the way, the ambulance makes a quick right turn...off a bridge in Mission Bay!! (Yowza!) When the truck is lifted out of the water by CHIM, there are no traces of the occupants (curiouser and curiouser...). All possible clues are gathered and the group reconvenes at the SCA HQ. DIAM and CAT are a bit agitated but eventually impart their story. They had been following clues about what they believe to be the framing of PSYPH. They followed the clues to this meeting place and these men, but were interrupted before they could get much information. They are sure that PSYPH is innocent and the DOKUKATA have a large hand in it. They also thing that there is an outside force acting on the scene, and it was these agents who could have told the link. Now, NIX was kidnapped and they were no closer to finding out about PSYPH. The PSYCH, however, did learn the general de description of the kidnapper; a woman with magical powers. Following up on this clue, the SCA called various members of the magical community they could think of including the SCARLET WITCH and finally DOCTOR STRANGE. The latter eventually agreed to come by and help, but he was somewhat disturbed about being disturbed. After checking around the scene, he did find a residual portal and he recognized the description of the assailant; a woman named JHARDA who operates as an interdimensional bounty hunter. A fail-safe transport device in the form of a ring was placed in PSYCH's care. STRANGE sends the remaining SCA (minus a freaked-out SIM) through the portal where they find... A large room of incongruous architecture and design is occupied by a woman in bright robes. Introductions are long and sustained and after a few good licks that seem to have little if any effect, our heroes breath a collective `uh oh'. JHARDA wraps them up for the holiday season.
ISSUE #26 "EXPERIMAGICAL" Jan. 10, 1991 Starring: IRON, PRSM, NIX, SCAV, SIM, POL, PSYCH and Cameo: MASQUERADE
STRANGE is worried about the length of the heroes journey so he re-visits the SCA HQ to enlist more aid. This time, the rest of the members are ready to go. After a bit of mental scanning for the PSYCHic's psyche, STRANGE pinpoints their location and sends them on their way again, this time to arrive in yet another bizzarre scene. This time, the SCA finds itself in a white walled menagerie of experimentation and pseudoscience. Tending to the subjects are a collection of yellow alien lobsters who stand erect (we the readers know them as Genoans). The Genoans are a hardy little crustacean, but the SCA manages to free NIX and the rest of the captives (minus a secret ID or two) as well as a self-sacrificing woman calling herself MASQUERADE. In the fray, NIX manages to take some more body which yet again places him at death's door. The whole kit and caboodle 'ports out by the seats of their tights. Hmmm...no sign of JHARDA during that encounter...
ISSUE #27 "DOUBLE-CROSS" Jan. 22, 1991 Your Hosts: IRON, PRSM, SCAV, NIX, PSYCH and Guest: CAT
Life at the SCA HQ is finally resembling a state of normalcy. The electronic and computerized systems are intact and functional, the medical facilities are expediting NIX's recovery, members are happily arguing over the ethics of their charter. One fine morning a large cuncussive blast rocks the base and security claxons begin to sing. At the site, a large hole has been torn into the computer room doors and Kara Michaels stands in its stead. Members are beginning to question Kara when red glowing eyes and laser-turreted fingers suggest that she may not be quite the human they thought she was. As a matter of fact, she turns out to be rather the juggernaut. Blasting heroes right and left and taking little damage from her assailants, she makes it to the front door on her mysterious mission. Just in the NIX of time, he arrives back to help in the capture. Also arriving late on the scene is visiting hero CAT. Eventually the KARA droid is stopped, be she begins to self destruct. CAT prevents the corrosive acid which was her body to harm the environment, but eventually she is nothing but fuming H2SO4. A mysterious letter found inside her describes Kara's importance and the symbol on the paper suggests that the kidnappers are none other than W.A.R.! Where to start looking... Also, as people are cleaning up the mess and just beginning to worry about the attempted security breach (she was caught with Avengers security files open which sounded the alarm), LOG, IRON and PRSM discover that several backdoors, bugs and virii have been planted in the home computer!
ISSUE #28 "LITTLE TOKYO" Jan. 25, 1991 Sponsors: IRON, PRSM, NIX, SCAV, SIM, POL, CHIM, PSYCH
Just as the SCA is gearing up to hunt down the missing Kara, CAT (who arrived late on the scene last issue, remember?) announces that he has some lowdown on the DOKUKATA. Namely, that he has narrowed down a location where they are going to be setting up a base of operations called Little Tokyo, a new cultural facsimile in downtown L.A. Needless to say, the heroes are torn by priorities, but past experience and a few vengeance motives lead them to the lovely scapes of Los Angeles. This time, the SCA decides to do things with a different twist, that is, go into a combat situation with a plan (GM sarcasm, courtesy of your editor). Although popular opinion varies, the plan was successful with the SCA pulling some of the DOKU heavyweights out early. By the same measure, they happened to do the same to a couple SCAers. The DOKUKATA decide that leaving the scene would be the best course of their action, and so grudgingly both sides part company, but after learning that there is a new player on their team, a man that goes by the name of KOKORO. The 'KATA are still on the SCA's top ten hits-list.
ISSUE #29a "FOLLOW THAT JAGUAR!" Jan. 26, 1991 Heroes: IRON, PRSM, SCAV, NIX, POL, CHIM, PSYCH
A tracer had been set in the SCA HQ to follow the electromagnetic signal that a bug transceiver would produce when they were being monitored. As fate would have it, right in the middle of a busy week, the signal appeared. Following the signal led them on a few wild green Jag chases, but eventually they found their way to Buena Park, Los Angeles. The signal was finally pinpointed to a block occupied by Medieval Times. Inside, as expected, was the cheery face of ANATOMI with his buddy DEADLOCK. They were trading a well known Major Domo (Doma?) that the SCA knows as Kara Michaels. Who were they trading her to? Surprise...Sebastian Shaw, the owner and CEO of Shaw Industries; a veritable Donald Trump of industry. Even more surprising was the way he used his powers to trash a few heroes. However, barring a few agents and some toe-to-toe with the heavies, the did manage to get Kara out of the area. The baddies were making good their escape, but POL wanted to get his parting shots...by crushing the helocopter they were escaping in! Needless to say, this was not a handshake of friendship toward the occupants, and Deadlock returned the favor by turning the Repulse-1 (POL's old- time car) into a Roi-Tan box will occupants still inside. By virtue of the car's mass, the passengers were unhurt, and Shaw and his cronies did make their escape after a bit of a heated debate. It was a dirty operation, but the job got done...
ISSUE #29b "ROOM SERVICE" Jan. 26, 1991 Roomies: NIX, CHIM
Following a hunch and lead, NIX and CHIM meanwhile find themselves at a convention of western state senators at the Anaheim Hilton. There must be something going down here, right? Right. In fact, they stumble upon a robbery of one of the senator's rooms by some old time acquaintances, ECLIPSE and STALKER. Add to the guest list one SPIDERMAN and you have a hotel room party! With the help of SPID, the heroes clean up prett handily, but are left with a lot of corruption mumbo jumbo and no one wants to stick around. NIX decides the best way to dispose of the trash is to share it, so he photocopies the kit and kaboodle and sends it off to a few key government officials. Wonder how that turned out...?
ISSUE #30a "BORDER RUN" Jan. 28, 1991 Heroes: IRON, NIX, SCAV, CHIM, PSYCH Guest Star: BROTHER THORN
Mondays are never fun, and this one is no exception. The SCA receives a call from an UNTIL aquaintance named THORN. He enlists their aid in apprehending a group of villains who recently escaped the Los Angeles UNTIL base. Intercepting them at the border, in disguise is a small task, but one easily accomplished by such resourceful masters as they. Their quarry: TORRENT; super strong woman, and all-around stuck-up babe, HOLOCAUST; a fire- armored fellow whose physiology is unstable at best, VOLT; >ZAP!< need I say more? and some old favorites, STALKER and ECPLISE. The battle is long and drawn (as far as these battles go) with several bruised heros and 5 escaped bad guys. Time for that Margarita?
ISSUE #30b "OLD AND NEW ACQUAINTANCES" Jan. 30, 1991 Stars: IRON, PRSM, SCAV, POL and PSYCH (last?)
After returning from a fun-filled adventure in Los Angeles, everyone is ready to do some serious relaxing. POL takes care of personal business; getting his car replaced and Kara seems a bit paranoid, with good reason (her brother wants her and knows where she is). Just when you don't need them, guests arrive,on the doorstep as usual, bypassing security. They introduce themselves as representatives of a mercenary group called ZODIAC. The reps are none other than TAURUS and LEO. Taurus is your average 7 foot minotaur, but Leo is recognized as an international rock star, leader of DonnerStrasse. They give the SCA the drift that they are brokers dealing in every type of commoditiy, anything to anyone for a price. With a little more tact that your average vacuum cleaner salesman, they are given the proverbial boot (however Kara may not be dismissing them as soon). It should also be noted that ZODIAC seems to know quite a bit about this little super group. Later that day, POL picks up a police band transmission at his 'home' and enlists the aid of the SCA in a Nazi-riot in Balboa Park. Typical skinhead vs. society issues, led by a particularly strong guy named SKINHEAD. But shadowing this gig is the appearance of a ghost from POL's past; a certain Dr. Braun von Richter, evil Nazi stooge and all around war criminal. The SCA reps find he is very powerful indeed (and has some powers remniscent of the X-Man HAVOK), but before he leaves, demonstated his new ability to mutate living tissue...demonstating on the PSYCHIC!! From this day forth, the PSYCHIC would never be the same as she undergoes a nearly complete re-mutation of her body. Mission success: LOW. SKINHEAD: forgotten in the shuffle.
ISSUE # 31 "TRANSFER" Feb. 8, 1991 Heroes: IRON, PRSM, SIM, POL Introducing: REVISION
The world is watching closely as news of the capture of one of WWII's more notorious villains spreads. The United Nations Tribunal on International Law (UNTIL) is called into special session and it is declared that with the cooperation of the U.S. government, the man known as Dr. Braun von Richter, aka Der Korpermeister will be brought to the World Court for trial and sentencing. Transfer of the captive is overseen by UNTIL representative MASQUERADE and her enlisted help; some members of the Sun Coast Alliance. She suspects that if there will ever be an escape attempt, it will come in transport. Well, our heroes are not disappointed. On cue, over a desolate area of Nevada the SAFE VTOL is hit by some sort of strong energy force and brought to ground rather violently. The surprise comes when the jailbreakers turn out to be none other than a group of European villains called EUROSTAR. MASQ notes that this villain group has been rated by UNTIL as one of the most ruthless, dangerous groups around. Wonderful. Rescue however, is anything but successful as the SA holds their own against some rather tough villains, and some fairly dramatic moments. First, REVIS takes a horrible blow due to knockback and is super-critically injured. However, she disappears before anyone can react to her demise. Shortly after, BORA od EUROSTAR uses her power to lift the entire ship, but is hit in mid lift, and ends up droping the craft and all those inside (including an unconscious POL). Miraculously, no one is injured seriously, and EUROSTAR has to bug out, along with their target, von Richter, much to the SCA's chagrin.
ISSUE #32 "REMATCH" Feb. 9, 1991 In this corner: IRON, PRSM, SCAV, POL Introducing: TESSERACT Guest: MOONKNIGHT
Although the trasfer mission may have failed, UNTIL was prepared for the eventuality by placing a homing device on Von Richter himself. The villains were tracked from Nevada to Texas and finally to an abandoned airstrip in Florida near the everglades. Joining the team in this dangerous undertaking were MOON KNIGHT of the West Coast Avengers and an added bonus from UNTIL, SILHOUETTE. Meanwhile, another creature happened to find itself near the same spot and watched EUROSTAR's arrival. Not long after, another group of costumed creatures appeared and then the silence of the evening was destroyed by battle. This time, however, the heroes were a bit better prepared, and aside from interesting diversions, such as the appearance of the observer, TESS (who delivered a 3 as its first blow in this campaign, sending WHITE FLAME into the next county), overcame most of the opposition. Near the climax of the battle, in a poorly judged move, MASQ leveled a large portion of the airstrip taking EUROSTAR's jet, several villains AND heroes, as well as buildings. Outcome: success, but bitter. Captured: PANTERA, LE SONE, DURAK. Bad news: Von Richter escaped once again. (drat!)
ISSUE #33 "HEY! THERE'S A ROBOT IN MY SAND CASTLE!" Feb. 27, 1991 Beach Bunnies: POL, CHIM, TESS and Guest Star: HAVOK
Public transportation is a wonderful thing, especially if you can get a cab when you need one. POL is a frequent patron of the cab service in San Diego, and one of its drivers, Mike Callaruso has taken to hero worshiping the old style hero. As a matter of fact, Mike (who is well received by many of the SCA) is finding himself at their drive more often. This day it's a drive out to the shores where Mike and CHIM seem to hit it off, at least under the hood. Unknown to them, their day at the beach is soon to change tone. Screaming through the ionosphere a large chunk of metal plummets into the sandy beach (no injuries) followed quickly afterward by a familiar robot, or one that has an uncanny similarity to the PRO-SENTINEL! POL takes advantage of a newly- constructed exosuit and quickly finds a way of defusing the nasty beach-goer. However, the chunk of metal is actually a piece of a satellite with a nuclear reactor ready to go critical. HAVOK succeeds in disarming it (and the heroes) as he scoots off with a friend of his, introduced briefly as FORGE. Well, at least there's still time to work on their tans...
ISSUE #34 "ASYLUM" Mar. 2, 1991 Keepers: IRON, POL, TESS Introducing: AYAL
Downtown La Jolla is a place that was barely changed by the accident those years ago. Most of it exclusive charm has survived and the rich still come there to play, dine, shop and in general, blow lots of bucks. This day, they came there to dance on their cars, striptease, do the bunny-hop and...die. The SCA got the call early in the fray as an officer on-the-scene was doing a pretty poor rooster imitation. Upon arrival, all was not well with the citizens of La Jolla. Chaos was swathed across the main drag and people were doing some ludicrous acts. In the center ring was a man called SCATTERBRAIN. His accomplices: SPASM and DIMWIT. They could be laughable in another circumstance, but this was real, and they were causing a lot of trouble. The fellow called SPASM was causing outright torturous agony to several citizens. Quickly dispatching SPASM, the group concentrated on SCAT and DIMWIT (who was the proverbial brick). SCAT was easily KO'd, but this seemed to upset his rather simple-minded companion. After tossing a few blows, he leapt off with the unconscious SCAT. Post-Note: This team had been dubbed ASYLUM, but why they ever formed...who knows.
ISSUE #35 "OPERATION:RESCUE!" Mar. 7, 1991 Stars: IRON, PRSM, REV, NIX, SCAV, CHIM, LOG Guest:PUNISHER
Over a period of months strange superhero deaths have been reported in the papers around the world. Most heroes would be found dead after they were missing for some time. One of the those 'dead heros' happened to wash up on the SCA's beach. He wasn't dead...he was the PUNISHER! In a camatose state, the PUN recovered in the SCA's capable medilab and his story upon waking was one to cause the whole team to take notice. It seems that a man who is known as TANTALUS is capturing supers, putting dead, altered people in their death-place and performing some not-so- nice experiments on the heros. PUN happened to get away during one of the tests and swam the whole way to land. He also knew that they had a child there who was next slated for the horrific experiments and he had little trouble getting the SCA's help. About 25 miles off shore the heros found a floating facillity dubbed Nautilab, and indeed it wasn't! Cover stories on both sides were as thin as cellophane, but both played the part until they got sick of the charade. Tantalus, also known as Col. Brian Deheney (not to be confused with that bitchin' actor Brian Denehey), bugged out invisibly and left the greenpeace envoys to the hands of his soldiers and two annoyingly familiar faces of STALK and ECL. Other guests to the Lab were the eccentric financier Thomas Whitman and his more-than-a-woman bodyguard, Ms. Sharp. They found that the exits were much easier made than found. In the end, all bad dudes were rounded up, sans TANTALUS, and after a liuttle hectic killing on the part of PUN, some transportation from the recently emancipated PHOENIX and other prisoners, escaped the Lab before it blew itself to small bits. Post-notes: other prisoners - CYCLOPS, WARLOCK, WOLVESBANE, NOMAD
ISSUE #36 "SWEET VENGEANCE" Mar. 10-12, 1991 Supers: REV, IRON, NIX, LOG, CHIM, AYAL
After recuperating from the high-seas experience of last adventure, the SCA HQ is contacted via phone by a certain Mr. Talbot regarding some information in the PSYPHON frame. IRON and TESS check out the meeting place, pier 103 of the port of San Diego. There, they meet the mysterious Mr. Talbot who shows up quite suddenly and describes the group responsible for PSYPHON's frame, a group calling itself P.S.I. which stands for Parapsychological Studies Institute. He informs the meeters that an attempt to kidnap a child will take place in San Francisco the next night and they will be able to catch the team there. However, as the SCA soon finds out, there is indeed a kidnapping attempt, but ur Mr. Talbot has also shown up and is, shall we say, not quite normal. For when his cloak is taken off, he is revealed as a cybernetic humanoid possessing some extraordinary mental capabilities. Call him PSIBORG. PSIBORG has plans of his own in the revenge department as he proceeds to blast a goodly portion of one of the kidnapper's face off. In the mean time, the kidnappers, identified as PSYMON (leader and faceless), TORMENT (who likes to share his agony with others), MIND SLAYER (who is ruthless in her own right, but has a thing for PSYMON), and SOULFIRE who like his namesake begins to toast the hosts. Most of PSI are put out early, especially by a few well placed shots by REV (new, improved model) and PSIBORG himself. However, it becomes apparent that the teleportation devices they were warned about work at peak efficiency, and only the desruction of TORM's keeps him at the scene. What happened to the agents outside... brain fry city, verrry familiar. After the authorities arrive, the household members are identified as former Senator Mark Pinchard, his wife and his 6 year old daughter Lucy. Late on the scene, a local super team called the Protectors shows up in their fancy airship and gives the SCA a lift home where TORM will be held until further notice. Outcome: PSIMON dead? PSIBORG escaped. PSI escaped. Family safe.
ISSUE # 37 "BLASPHEME" Mar. 23, 1991 Starring: NIX, IRON, POL
Upon regaining consciousness, TORMENT finds himself back in agony, but it is also discovered that he is taking a very rare drug to keep him from going utterly mad with pain. Dr. Dupar (NIX's alter-ego) isolates the drug and makes TORM a tempting offer. He can be free to go with full knowledge of the drug, this way PSI will have no hold over him. However, TORM realizes that this may force PSI to kill him if he betrays the team. The decision is to take TORM to a place where he can claim he escaped and make his own attempt to take out his team if he wishes. He knows that the SCA also holds the key to his pain, so after drugging him to unconsciousness, they let the experiment fly. Later in the week, the SCA is approached by a man who works for Stark (actually, he is helping in the de-bugging and reconditioning of the computer) named Miles Covet. He informs the SCA that he is working on designs for an AID of his own. Something based on the original Austin James design but with a bit more 'humanity'. The SCA doesn't say yea or nay. On the evening of the 23rd, the SCA and POL pick up a strange police broadcast about two people who walked into a downtown church and began to trash the place. Since the showed signs of super powers, the SCA was hot on the case. At the scene there indeed seems to be some random havok flying around (no, not the X-Man!). Inside, a walking anachronism called BLACK PALADIN and his as yet un-identified partner are destroying the church yelling obscenities and hailing pagan deities. The woman seems to be the most threat as she is near invulnerable and has a low regard for human life. As the battle is taken outside and several pedestrians are injured by her attack, NIX makes a grab with quite unexpected results. As he grabs her and begins to immolate, she seems to actually catch fire herself and in mere moments, the screaming agonized corpse that was his opponent is nothing more than a smoldering flesh and bone puddle. NIX is arrested for suspected murder! BLACK PAL decides he's had enough and leaps away.
ISSUE #38 "PROJECT INDIGO" Mar. 25, 1991 A-Team: POL, IRON, SCAV, REV Guests: NICK FURY, STALKER
Things are jumping at the SCA HQ these days. The preliminary hearing date has been set for March 28 and a professional super- rep lawyer has been contacted by the name of Matt Murdock. However, the life of a hero must go on, and after a brief call from DUSK of LA. UNTIL, the Nautilab case has been turned over t 'other authorities', namely Col. NICK FURY of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick arrives at the SCA base to ask for their assistance in the final crackdown of this organization. In the course of the briefing, many things are revealed, most of them surprising. STALKER, the SCA's oft-time foe and his sidekick ECLIPSE were actually products of a government experiment on super powers called Project Indigo. The Nautilab caper was a branch of the same cover operation. STALKER had decided that it was in his and the societies best interest if he helped bring this corrupt organization down. He and ECLIPSE were just 'following orders', so he says. Meanwhile FURY has identified the main HQ for this project as a geothermal processing plant in Utah. With the impression that FURY was running this operation fairly covertly, the remaining SCA headed out to the wily frontier of Utah. After pulling a few SHIELD strings, the heroes found themselves on the grounds of Geopontics Inc. STALK took them to the main buildings where an elevator shaft should be found and sure enough they were able to find it. At the bottom, as expected, they were greeted by a warm reception committee consisting of several specialized agents (whose uniforms bore a striking resemblance to STALK's), as well as some very advanced robots that unnerved FURY. With good reason too, as the robots began to systematically plow through our heroes like a weed wacker through a dandelion patch (well, maybe it wasn't that bad). In the end however, several significant things did occur. The heroes were attacked by two of these metal monstrosities, as well as the agents. All were either knocked out or incapacitated, except STALK who got away during the battle and REV who died in the battle (and rather violently at that!).
ISSUE #39 "SEND IN THE RESERVES!" Mar. 27, 1991 Heroes: POL, IRON, NIX, SCAV, SIM, LOG, CHIM, TESS, AYAL Guests: FURY, STALK, CORIOLIS
The next morning, the SCA receives an unexpected visitor; CORIOLIS*. She has returned upon hearing about NIX's incarceration and offers to help. But this is not necessarily the best time for her to arrive as LOG has just put out an SCA alert to call in ALL members due to the disappearance of the away team. It is quickly apparent that COR is different than she was last time they saw her. Instead of the shy teenage girl who lost her grandfather and went away to school, COR returned as a very self- confident woman who pulls her own connections and gets NIX out of Safe on the $1,000,000 bail! Joining the remaining SCA and the So.Cal. SHIELD director, Jon Harbor, a rescue team is formed and all are off to the Utah site to find out what is going on. Under cover of night and with a stealthy approach, the team reaches the objective only to find that all the external security devices are non-functional. Apparently there is no power reaching them. Accident or planned? The elevator shaft is still opened and the team slips into the complex. At the same moment, Nolan "IRONFIST" Walker and Nick Fury are awaking to find themselves in a high security cell somewhere in the complex. FURY begins his own plans for escape. Yet elsewhere, POL and SCAV find themselves in a danger-type room, bereft of all accessible foci and facing two nasty droids intent on pushing them to their own limits. The only thing on their minds at this time is survival! The rescue team makes it to the bottom to be confronted by the two combat robots. The battle is fierce and very close. COR loses her control several times during the fight and nearly injures her teammates, but in the end, all bad guys are dealt with. Meanwhile, after an initial failed escape attempt, FURY and Nolan finally make it out of their cell and free STALK who is kept in the next room. Nolan, feeling rather naked without his suit is targeting on the labs, while FURY makes his way to the computer core and STALK to the security room. All teams eventually make it to each other, IRON makes his triumphant return (Nolan is nowhere to be seen...hmmm), SCAB loses his lucky Medallion, the body of REV is discovered (to SCAV's horror), and all bail out using one of the VTOL's stationed here in the base. In a matter of minutes, all are fleeing the scene with a recently recovered robot on their tails. Recovered: all SCA members (in one state or another), computer storage devices (or parts thereof) and a degree of sanity. Later, FURY heads a team of SHIELD agents to gut the place, recover data and survivors and finds POL's shield as well as SCAV's Medallion. After searching through the computer banks, it seems that there is enough information to put these bozos out of commission for a while, however, the leader involved in both scenarios is never identified. All captured supers are matched up except for 2, the SCARLET WITCH and WASP of the east coast Avengers! Hmmmm...
ISSUE #40 "PROMETHEUS POINT" Mar. 30, 1991 Do-gooders: IRON, LOG, TESS Cameos: NIX, SIM Guest: CAPTAIN AMERICA
After relaying the information about SCAR WITCH and WASP to CAPTAIN AMERICA, he invites the SCA to the east coast HQ, Hydrobase for an informal regrouping. CAP discovers that the WITCH and WASP were on a mission with him 2 weeks past after which they took leaves of absence and have only been back periodically. Suspicion: duplicates and kidnapping. CAP invites all concerned to take a field trip to the U.S. government's Prometheus Point AFB and space control center. At the Maryland site, CAP springs a surprise inspection and the commanding officer, Gen. Reginald Collins is more than happy to grant access. Leading the tour is the 2nd in command, Col. Brett Atkinson. The colonel takes CAP to all the places he was previously, including the public offices and lounges, but LOG, who steps into a nearby bathroom to refresh herself (and check it out) is soon missing. A quick search later provides the group with a teleporting bathroom stall. Did someone say teleporting? No, it wasn't me! Oh well, SIM has already heard it and he plants his mental anchor securely in the bathroom floor. Everyone else heads through (no pun intended). On the 'other side', the heroes find themselves in a completely different complex, much more advanced and stinking with illusions. LOG discovers the illusions change frequently and are also intended to play on the individual's emotions and predicted reactions. As all members appear, it becomes clear that there are three droids here, a nasty fellow named NUCLEON (whose powers seem to screw up electrical systems and bodily functions as well), and the mastermind, Col. Atkinson, a.k.a. TANTALUS (remember him form Nautilab?). The heroes show their own merits and take out the opposition quickly. Working alongside CAP is also no small event as they discover what this legend is all about (until someone gets the bright idea to poison him!?!). TANT gets away, and sets the self destruct, but all escape even with the unconscious body of the SCAR WITCH. Where was WASP though?
ISSUE #41 "MONSTER!" Mar. 31, 1991 On Call: POL, SCAV, TESS, LOG Guest Appearance by: AURA
After jetting around the western US of A for the past several days, our heroes find little time for rest when the SDPD calls for their aid in a serial killing case. Normally this would be something the SDPD would not bother such worldly heroes about, but the M.O. of this particular killer is disturbing, to say the least. The brutality of the murders and the sparse witness accounts are leading to one suspect: MONSTER! Who's MONSTER you ask? Well, he's a nasty little interdimensional creature that happens to enjoy tearing people apart all the while thinking it's 'great entertainment'. From a bit of background research it appears that MONST has been defeated several times in the past, but has come back again, this time with certain adaptations to his last defeat, which makes him an extremely dangerous foe. The SCA set out to trap him at his current hunting ground, SDSU campus. One of the most recent opponents of MONST was the then- UNTIL representative AURA, now of the San Fran based group, QUORUM. AURA joins the SCA in their hunting trip. They do not need to wait long as he is found this dark evening scampering around the SDSU quad. SCAV in the new SCA- mobile puts a few across his bow, and with the concerted effort of some UNTIL surveillance equipment (hey, we gotta get us some of these!) MONST is taken down, but not all the way out. This time there is no escape for the little guy and he is SAFEly put away...
ISSUE #42 "PAST DESIRES" Apr. 1, 1991 Partiers: POL, IRON, NIX, SIM Special Guest(?): IT(?)
The trans-temporal adventure which would normally appear here has been shifted to another location in the space-time continuum. Please refer back to this locus in your future.
ISSUE #43 "SPARE ARMADILLO?" Apr. 5, 1991 Heroes: IRON, PRSM, TESS, POL Guest: CORIOLIS
The ever-observant SDPD have noticed a strange occurrence at pier 102; a large sketched iron superimposed over a fist. With deduction rolls a-flyin' they figured that the had better call the current residence of IRONFIST, the SCA. After a preliminary scouting mission, the pier appeared to be empty, so that night several members of the team entered the buildings. Yes, you guessed it! It was not quite deserted. Waiting for them was a double surprise. Someone who looked uncannily like ARMADILLO (and therefore also like IRON) as well as a former opponent, PSIBORG happened to be in residence that evening (see Issue #36 for first appearance of PSIBORG). They made it quite clear that the goal of luring the SCA here was for purposes of revenge; PSIBORG for his reasons, and ARM for his. There was something strange about this ARM, however. The battle went well and PSIBORG was forced to retreat out the bottom of the pier, but ARM was captured. Surprisingly, when the armor was removed (and later put in UNTIL custody) they found a rather old man in the armor. It was general knowledge that ARM was a rather unintelligent doofus type. Hmmm...
ISSUE #44 "MEETING OF M.I.N.D.s" Apr. 10, 1991 A-Team: IRON, TESS, PRSM, SIM, POL
The superhero profession has its ties to the media and one of the hottest lines of press is HeroTalk Magazine; a weekly rag with latest poop on the superhero scoop. One of their star reporters, Shari Taylor, has called the SCA and requested an interview. Being the good heroes they are, the SCA is soon on the way to spend a day at the Bay (San Francisco, that is). However, public transportation is soooo unreliable these days. Some of the heroes incognito discover that the crew is acting a bit 'strangely'. Soon, it is quite certain that they are indeed being taken for a ride, as they have headed out to see for much more time than usual for a coastal trip. Their hosts make themselves known as members of M.I.N.D. (Mutual Intervention against National Deterioration), codenames CONFEDERATE, PATRIOT and GLORY (how corny). These would-be terrorists have one large advantage; a jet-full of passengers. Soon, it appears as if the jet is going to crash land in the ocean, but an unknown force seizes the jet and brings it down to an emerging submarine (very weird looking, pontoon style). The heroes make their collective moves, but the sub is carrying opposition of its own and they appear to ditch all of the passengers and crew except two, Lisa Graham and Steve Brooks. The sub makes it's get-away, but not before taking a rather startled SIM with it. A subsequent investigation at the SDSU dorms where the kidnapped victims reveals very little information.
ISSUE #45 "SAVING FACE" Apr. 12, 1991 Heroes: NIX, IRON, SCAV, PRSM, LOG, SIM, CHIM and Introducing: SYMPHONY Special 'guest': PUNISHER
Early this Friday morning, the SCA receives a pair of visitors who identify themselves as special agents for the Japanese Secret Service. They warn of a possible attack by the SCA's old nemeses, the DOKUKATA. The warning is cryptic, but they leave a hotel location if the SCA finds out anything. Soon afterwards, the SCA receives another visitor, but this one is not so welcome, mainly because he penetrated security all the way to the SCA's conference room. NIX gives PUN a big welcome and hello. After the greetings are concluded, PUN brings a warning of his own. He tells the SCA that the two Japanese who just left were actually members of the Yakuza, a powerful Japanese crime gang at constant opposition to the Dokukata. Something big is going to happen. Later that morning, the gauntlet is dropped. A package arrives for PRSM which contains his wife's wedding ring and an invitation to meet at Miranda Park, a small nature preserve in east county. The SCA arrives in time to step right in-between two very rival factions. PRSM's wife is saved with the help of a quickly hopping IRON, but the DOKUKATA is not pleased with the turnout of the Yakuza members. Trust and negotiations are thrown out the window when the punches begin to fly. In the aftermath, two Yakuza members, MONGOOSE and MAKO are captured, the DOKUKATA members get away, PUN places a few well aimed shots at the Dokukata and arriving on the scene to help with the mop-up are CHIM and a new friend who is introduced as SYMPHONY (who is this chick, anyway?)
ISSUE #46 "SHOP 'TIL THEY DROP...DEAD" Apr. 15, 1991 Featuring: NIX, SCAV and SYMPH (her 1st real adventure)
Sales! Shoppers! Refunds! Department Stores! Agents! Specialty Foods! Agents? Yes, we have agents too... running around the mall and creating a distraction while the real crime is being committed behind the scenes by a mastermind named MECHASSASSIN. Many of the agents are captured, but the ringleader himself gets away with a tidy little cache of jewelry (very well hand-picked), however, this new girl...SYMPHONY, seems to be holding up her end. And who is the new girl you ask? She's none other than the self-confessed sister of Loren Davies (a.k.a. PSYCHIC a.k.a. REVISION a.k.a. R.I.P.), Emily Davies. Seems she's in town on business; superhero business. And she's here to take over where her sister left off, but with a few new sounds in her repertoire.
ISSUE #47 "RETRO-TIME" Apr. 16, 1991 Stars: PRSM, IRON, SCAV, POL
In the ongoing cooperative effort between the SDPD and the SCA, the police enlist their aid in a puzzling series of robberies. Apparently, various high-tech pieces of equipment are being stolen from ultra-high security vaults in scientific corporations. In the past two weeks, four pieces of equipment have disappeared, simply disappeared from the vaults. No break-in, no break-out, just gone. The revelation comes to PRSM as he studies the components stolen; a bio-chromograph, cyclohistabank, juxtaposition console and an unknown component, but very familiar to PRSM. These are the machines of STASIS, the time manipulating villain of past opposition (see Issue #18)! Piecing together what was confiscated by UNTIL and doled out to various research agencies for further study, it is concluded that only one piece remains; a series of batteries called Protobarium Cells, currently residing in the high security vault of Moleco Chemicals. The SCA decides this would be a good place to watch and wait. They are not disappointed, however, the first to arrive is their old friend FROSTBYTE who appears inside the vault with a much-more-powerful IRON. Frostbytes it early. Outside, STASIS appears with a new ally, LUMEN (a.k.a. "the Baskin-Robbins Babe"). The heroes make short order of STASIS, but not before he uses his t-port darts to whisk away LUM and FROST (unconscious). The unconscious STASIS is shipped off to UNTIL (it is made a point NOT to send him to SAFE after their first encounter with him there).
ISSUE #48 "REBIRTH!" Apr. 21, 1991 Present: NIX, SCAV, POL, PRSM, SIM
What do you do on a Sunday night when the power goes out all over town? You find out what the cause is. Searching the nearby neighborhoods it is apparent that this is a large-scale blackout, except there is that one building in the warehouse district with lights on. Hmmm.... Arriving at the warehouse, our heroes find it is far from deserted. As a matter of fact, this 'government classified' building is housing some pretty advanced machinery which is in the process of tapping incredible energy from the San Diego power grid. Just as they are about to check on this guy's meter deposit, his experiment is concluded and a ancient life is reborn unto this planet again, that of MAXIMUS. The engineer is known as MASK and he is unhappy at having his sanctum laboratorium infested, so he a MAX begin an assault of their own. In the ensuing battle, SCAV and POL are KO'd and a self destruct mechanism is set in motion. The villains escape, and a strange battle of minds is played out between MASK and LOG! It appears as if MASK is more than your average bruiser, he also has formidable mental powers. Power enough to almost affect LOG either through a com link or mentally over a distance. The SCA decides that the protection of their base is more important so they head back, but leave a watch. Later that evening, when the base is re-entered with some more backup, the entire place is deserted (where'd they go? - question of the day).
ISSUE #49a "YAEGER" Apr. 23, 1991 Bon Voyage: NIX, SYMPH and guest: SPELL
In response to NIX's query regarding possible sources of information about magic, a call from SPELL (of NY UNTIL) pans out. She guides NIX and a vacationing SYMPH to the rumored location of a mysterious woman. Soon, the trio finds themselves in the small shire of Wellington, England. There, things seem quite quaint; small shops, curios, good English cooking, few tourists, and a town square statue that likes to bop heroes on the head. After a brief bit of demolition on the 'statue' it is discovered to be nothing more than an illusion created as a test by the woman they have been searching for, Yaeger Carlson. Yaeger is anxious to get this little business going (informing NIX that he is late) and the four leave for Yaeger's cottage in a small wooded area nearby. GM note: Yeager is known by the locals as a lone hermit- type. She owns and runs a small English lore and occult shop in town and lives about 20 miles out of town in the local woods. She is also known to be quite good with animals and has become a local 'vet' as well.
ISSUE #49b "DAEMONS AND DRUIDS" Apr. 24, 1991 Tourist: NIX with Guest: SPELLBINDER
An afternoon of small talk and several pots of herbal tea later, the three jet-lagged adventurers are fast asleep at the cozy little cottage of Yaeger Carlson. Therein they find that the forest is as much inside as it is outside. She seems to be living quite the druid's life. In the morning, Yeager, NIX and SPELL head off to take care of the 'trouble' in the forest. After a day of travel they make it to an ancient druidic circle in which a recent dimensional aperture has been created, bringing with it two nasty little daemons. The little guys aren't tough, but they do give a good fight, and a mis-cast spell by SPELL sends her on an interdimensional sidetrip for a week or so. NIX finishes up the battle by himself, to the point of absolute exhaustion, but gets the job done. Yaeger announces she's moving to Washington (state) to study the apparent similarities of North American magic and the magic of Great Britain.
ISSUE #50 "AFTERLIFE" Apr. 26, 1991 On Call: IRON, PRSM, NIX
Sometimes you have to look for trouble, and other times it just comes to your door. This Thursday visit by LIBRA (of the superteam ZODIAC) fits into one of these categories. Seems she did a bit of work on the deceased PSYCHIC and wants a bit of her handiwork back. The SCA gives it all the consideration it deserves (got a stopwatch?) and with a consultation to PSYCHIC's sister Emily (a.k.a. SYMPH) say "naaaaaah". Needless to say, the SCA doesn't believe for a nanosecond that LIBRA will leave it at that...and by golly they're right! The next evening, after placing some underground sensors around PSYCH's grave, the buggers go off and the SCA is on the scene. Showing up for the ghoulish festivities is LIBRA and a couple of real ghouls! During the battle another ZODIAC member shows up; AQUARIUS, who seems a bit bent out of shape that the SCA is attacking his buddy (buddette?) and lends his own hand. After fists to fists for a while, the SCA is the decided victor, but alas, the ghouls were actually converted humans which died of their damage after reverting back to normal form. As the SCA is searching the unconscious exhumers, they happen to trigger some sort of emergency beacon. They clear the premises and await whomever shows up. The wait is not long and the SCA finds themselves facing off against the remaining ten ZODIACs. TAURUS is, however, willing to talk it over and he brings up his point of view (which the SCA takes with a grain of salt), tell them that he will discipline LIBRA and AQUARIUS himself, but to let UNTIL arrest them as a formality (and an inconvenience for the two renegades). The SCA judges that LIBRA is the one that got 'em in that state in the first place so she's responsible so off to UNTIL they go. Somehow this victory was not as sweet as it could have been (GM note: it's also not as messy as it could have been at the end there!) Post (mortem) Script: PSYCH's remains are moved to another cemetery and an unmarked grave to prevent this from happening. It is also revealed that UNTIL actually took possession of the parts in question before PSYCH was buried.
ISSUE #51 "HONOR-BOUND" Apr. 29, 1991 Heroes: NIX, IRON, LOG, SYMPH
Not very often when a superhero can make an honest buck, but this Monday is an exception. Bob Hodge of Tectronics Inc. (Mr. Shack, himself) has asked the SCA to supervise and install security for the So. Cal. electronics show that weekend. Well, the heroes have several in their ranks who would qualify as security experts and packing up their IR, seismic, thermal imaging and laser conductive gear, they are off to the San Diego Convention Center. However, they are expected, but not by 'Mr. Shack', rather by Mr. MASK! (see issue #48) Seems MASK is not quite pleased with their last encounter and would like to compensate by tanning their hides. Mask also has a couple of accomplices who take part in the vengeance, after the heroes are softened up by a few droids. The henchpeople, GYRUS and TORRENT are definitely nothing to sneeze at, as they put up quite a good battle. However, as things look hairy for the bad guys, MAXIMUS (the now-former-henchman) is mind controlled to kill LOG. MAX is not pleased with this outcome, but still succumbs to the powerful suggestion. LOG is nearly cleaved in half by the attack, but MAX snaps out of it and begins to systematically find his way to the hiding place of MASK ("mine honor is bound by higher ideals than the debt to this man can claim" - did he really say that?). The henchmen both take off at this point, MAX finds the control room, complete with holographic projection of MASK (MAX takes his frustrations out on a defenseless computer console. IRON quickly grabs the memory). Although the battle was unresolved, they have found a new drinking buddy in MAX, who makes himself at home at the SCA base, and keeps the fridge full of suds - poor POL!).
ISSUE #52 "DREAM-TIME" May 6, 1991 Snoring: IRON, PRSM, POL, TESS, SCAV
Nothing more disorienting than waking up where you don't remember falling asleep. This group of heroes wakes up on a grassy field next to a large tree! Looking around, it appears that things are definitely not right, and the tree agrees. After a brief conversation with the Ent, a figure appears and bids them to help him. He asks them to seek out someone called "The Twisted One". He also warns them that this shady fellow behind them bears ill-fruit towards them. At that moment, the formerly-mild tree shows his bark. The heroes lumber over and whittle him down to size (you knew they wood, didn't yew?) - okay, too sappy... and underneath the trunk is a large overgrown hole which leads right to their beds and a new morning. Weird, eh?
ISSUE #53 "THE TWISTED ONE" May 6, 1991 Lumberjacks: IRON, PRSM, POL, TESS, SCAV, NIX
After an extensive search with various magic-types that NIX knows, it is determined that the person called the 'Twisted One' was last heard of in Los Angeles. Using a bit of ingenuity and a lot of patience, the SCA finds their quarry at the Beverly Hills Saks Fifth Avenue; a lingerie model, no less! The Twisted One invites the group back to 'her place' which happens to be a dimension displaced from Earth's, and listens to their story. She seems to recognize the man they describe and tries to scry for him. She receives a garbled plea for help which is cut off quickly, but not before she locates its source; another dimension ruled by a nasty sorceress who likes to collect things, namely other-dimensional people. The SCA chooses (reluctantly) to go find this Oracle guy, so TWIST gives NIX the means of 'porting there and back again. The journey is swift and the heroes find themselves outside of a strange keep of a Möbius nature in which are the captured remains of various beings as well as a couple of guardians, OCULOR; a psionist, RAI; a roguish force field generator and GURANDOTH; an extra dimensional bruiser who can literally suck the strength from you. Leading this magical crew, they find the sorceress herself, but to NIX's chagrin she turns out to be a familiar face, that of JHARDA! (bounty hunter who is looking for NIX on a regular basis - see issue #24) The battle is long and fierce, but in the end, NIX expends the charge of his transport device to bring the group and JHARDA back, instead of the intended Oracle. Needless to say, JHARDA is not pleased to find herself back at TWIST's sanctum sanctorum and appears to allow herself to be hit a she disappears. The SCA heads back to Earth via an interdimensional spell and NIX stays behind to recuperate and...rest.
ISSUE #54 "INTRUSION" May 16, 1991 Good Guys: NIX, PRSM, TESS
PRSM is informed by UNTIL that they have been monitoring unusual psychic emanations from various parts of Los Angeles and that they need his aid in investigating one of the sources. The SCA members on duty, IRON and TESS decide to help out. The source of these brain-waves is an abandoned World War II watch tower on the Santa Monica coast. When they arrive, the place appears to be abandoned, however, they find signs of a passageway leading in the top of the cliff which shouldn't have been there. Unfortunately, the aliens who are using this watch tower as a base of operations aren't happy with the intruders and attempt to expel them quickly. This proves to be a challenge, but they are definitely advanced in their technology which in the end, wins for them. Our heroes go down in the clutches of an unknown alien adversary...
ISSUE #55 "MOP-UP" May 16, 1991 Reserves: NIX, POL, SYMPH Special Guests: CABLE and RICTOR
UNTIL has recently mounted a massive investigation into the occurrence of the strange psychic emanations from many different places on the planet. They had their suspicions, and now the have come true. The first attempt to get some information proved disastrous; around the world, of approximately 75 suspected locations, 22 were inhabited by an alien presence, most had advanced monitoring equipment honed in on world leaders, figureheads and corporate giants. In all intrusions, not one alien was captured and UNTIL had heavy casualties, including 13 supers and the three from the SCA. Some of the remaining SCA members want to get to the bottom of this and head up to the watch tower; the last known location of their comrades. There they find an UNTIL mop-up crew and a lot of damage, but no sign of the missing heroes. They are greeted by two unexpected visitors; a man called CABLE and a youth named RICTOR, who claim to be part of the mutant superhero team NEW MUTANTS (a younger version of the X-MEN). CABLE claims to be their teacher and he is unhappy with the way this investigation went, so he informs all concerned (and they are very concerned) that he has a possible way of locating the SCA's missing members. Using a portable Cerebro unit, CABLE has located the possible alien brain-waves at the monastic Coit Tower in San Francisco. Using the New Mutant's jet, the crew makes like Henry VIII and heads off to the Bay City. At Coit Tower, they indeed find the source of Cerebro's scans; along with 3 aliens. They are subdued, but for some reason insist on either self destructing or trying to escape. POL attempts to render one into deep unconsciousness, but only succeeds in killing it (he rolled a 3, bummer...). No sign of the missing heroes.
ISSUE #56 "FINAL STAND" May 17, 1991 Gamblers: NIX, POL, SYMPH, CHIM with Guest: CABLE
In a last effort to locate their missing friends, CABLE attempts to modify Cerebro to scan for TESS's unique alien mind- signature. After a bit of work, he thinks he is successful, and the jet heads off for its next destination, Las Vegas, Nevada, with REPULSE 1b piggy-back. In Las Vegas, the Cerebro unit leads them to Regal Tower, a large hotel and casino just off the strip. There they find their adversaries and two unexpected surprises; the alien commander, and a room full of TESS's!!! The battle is engaged and the heroes find their fate sealed as CABLE and NIX are 'ported away, while the rest fall under the relentless attack of Commander T'PEK and his alien pack of devil dogs (well, okay, they're just aliens).
GIANT-SIZED ISSUE #57 "OUT OF THE FRYING PAN..." May 19, 1991 Starring: IRON, NIX, POL, SYMPH, CHIM Fellow jailbirds: LVWR, EMRLD, INFNTY, NMSIS, LULL, RNDM, CRNA and CABLE
As the heroes wake up, they find themselves in alien containment cells, which seem to be designed with tough super-types in mind. Escape is difficult at best, and many find that their first attempts are thwarted quickly. To make matters worse, most of their foci are missing, and they are split up into small groups. Even that, however, is not enough to shatter their hope, for even as they ponder their own fates, others are being made. A group of UNTIL supers was also captured and placed in high security cells, but with a little luck and a lot of ingenuity, they are able to slowly break their confinement. To help in the escape, CABLE has somehow managed a ground assault from the surface (of the Sahara Desert, it turns out!). As the aliens scatter to face this new foe, they allow the heroes enough time to get themselves free, but only to do that. A self-destruct mechanism has been triggered and the heroes find themselves in a mad battle to escape the holdings with their lives. RNDM attempts to disarm the complex and alien self-destruct mechanism, but unknown to him, T'PEK has returned to make sure the base does indeed destroy itself and everything contained within. A rescue team, composed of CABLE, MAGIK and MIRAGE of the New Mutants manages to help all get out in time, but alas, many of their precious belongings are destroyed in the nuclear implosion which followed. Outcome: three dead aliens retrieved, Sahara base destroyed with lethal amounts of underground and some above-ground radiation, all UNTIL supers escaped, along with SCA members, minus TESS (hmmm...). Clean-up and investigation should yield preliminary results in 7-9 months after nuclear debris cools down. Operation SCRAMBLE success: poor.
ISSUE #58 "DOUBLE-TEAM" June 14, 1991 Heroes: NIX, SIM, SYMPH, SCAV, CHIM, LOG
After a few weeks respite from the desert affair, the SCA receives a call from a PR man for yet another heroic task; guest stars at an AIDS-ß benefit. This seems like an excellent low-END way to get out of the mansion, but nooooooo! It seems that two separate groups of nasties have their oculars on the beauteous SYMPH. Crashing the party are a duet consisting of BELDAM; a gypsy witch, and her bodyguard KORVAL, and another duet of ELEKTRA; a top-notch assassin and PHOTON; a light-generating merc villain. What ensues is a three-ring matchup, with ELEK being ko'd early and drug off by her companion, however BEL is not so easily defeated and takes off with a subdued SYMPH. The ever alert and cooperative media catches the whole shebang on TV...great.
ISSUE #59 "PARCEL POST" June 17, 1991 Carriers: NIX, SCAV
As any magician worth his salt will tell you, a spell component in hand is worth several thousand in a Northwest Orient terminal. SCAV and NIX are off to pick up a rare Indochinese Lapoati Brick (?) from customs holding when those ever-beady eyes of SCAV notice a couple grappling hooks dangling from a nearby building. Quickly deducing that grappling hooks are non-standard airport terminal equipment, the dashing duo (and they really are quite handsome) race off to encounter a crime in progress. However, these are not your run-of-the-mill baddies, they are Shadow Warriors of the Hand; a mystic Japanese ninja cult, being led by an even more mysterious woman, KUMO, who bears a likeness (and many abilities) of her namesake, the spider. Important safety tip for NIX and SCAV: Shadow Warriors are tough, and KUMO is tougher. With a few well placed entangles, SCAV and NIX are down while the ninjas make good their escape.
ISSUE #60 "TEA AND SYMPHONY" June 18, 1991 A-Team: NIX, SCAV, POL, PRSM, SYMPH
Tradition is hard to break, even in a liberated country like America, so finds out SYMPH as she is told that she is now the object of a certain Jacques Armand's affections. Armand was betrothed (in old style) to her late sister Loren (a.k.a. PSYCH) but now has eyes for her younger sister. To this end, SYMPH is a guest at the penthouse suite above a Greek restaurant called the Pharaoh's Rest. Among her captors BEL and KOR, a new member is introduced, whose name fits quite well with his attire; JESTER. The lovable Brit would be quite funny but for the fact that he appears insane. Fortunately for SYMPH he is not a genius with electronics. With SYMPH missing, and no clues available, it is good fortune that somehow her communicator is activated for a short period (by above mentioned 'genius'). This gives the team time to develop a triangulation upon its next broadcast, and after a bit of 'leg' work by SCAV and some of his cronies, a very suspicious character is spied entering a closed department store. With a well laid plan, the SCA converges to discover a restaurant with a lot of overhead; namely SYMPH and her captors! The mission is (uncharacteristically?) successful and SYMPH is safely swept away. PRSM is introduced to a new way of getting to the bottom floor, via plate glass window, but like the true hero he is, survives the fall with only a few bruises and a case of sidewalk ear. It should be noted that Mike (a.k.a. POL's DNPC) was the wheel man for this gig and did a good job of demolishing the penthouse floor of the building, but providing both distraction and means of escape for the fair damsel.
ISSUE #61 "SPIES AND TOYS" June 19, 1991 Stars: NIX, PRSM, SYMPH, POL and Introducing: SABRE
As LOG is going through her normal computer core routines, she notices that there is a discrepancy in the user logs. Apparently, someone using her account has been accessing the Avengers files in the middle of the night when no one is supposed to be there. As a matter of fact, security cameras really do show no one in the core, but the machines coming on just the same. After an intensive security sweep, the culprit is found. Apparently, one of the devices confiscated from TRACER, his gun, had transformed into a wall-crawling surveillance device which had attached itself to the inner door jab of the security core. Rather than terminate it immediately, the SCA used the signal to trace (no pun) it to its source; an underground sewer complex containing some sophisticated machinery, a couple advanced prototype robots and TRACER himself, along with a non-talkative companion. Streetside, a local gym is sponsoring a fencing tourney, with a rather special spectator. A new lawyer in town with the name of Ennio Montoya ("hallo...") who is also known as the Spanish-born superhero SABRE gets wind of the action and joins the SCA caper. TRAC is ko'd quickly leaving his mysterious companion the task of bailing him out of the area while the two MARY (acronym unknown) robots complete the job. They are tough, but the SCA is tougher and soon both are piles of scrap metal. The message, however, is clear. EMMA is back in town, they are well armed and are ready for the SCA. SAB offers his service to the SCA as legal counsel and is put on the standard 'probationary' status.
ISSUE #62 "CONSPIRATORS" June 21, 1991 Featuring: POL, PRSM, SAB, TESS Guest starring: SHAD, LOCK
With the Operation Scramble long past, the whereabouts of TESS is still unknown. However, the SCA is contacted by the X-MEN as they know of a possible way to locate TESS by means of a portable Cerebro unit. With some modifications, a possible source for TESS' unique psychic emanations is located, somewhere in the Colorado Rockies. With the aid of SHADOWCAT and her friend LOCKHEED, the SCA is off to investigate. It doesn't take long to find what appears to be a ranch house nestled in the mountains. A quick look around reveals what they were looking for; a laboratory containing several containment tanks, and many TESS's! The master of the house is not pleased about this intrusion and is rather bothered by the nuisance. His guest is even more annoyed as it turns out, the alien commander T'PEK is visiting for reasons not yet revealed. In the course of freeing TESS, it is discovered that TESS's body has been cloned and that contact of two reforms them to one. Other complications arise in that not all of the captives are so eager to help in the escape. A rather miffed alien decides to vent his frustration of the SCA, but some quick breaths by LOCK keep him at bay. The master meanwhile, known as DAEDALUS has painted reality to his own liking. The house has now transformed into a castle and he leaves the scene for his guests to handle. The operation is a success, but for some reason, the heroes just count themselves lucky that they got the heck out of that place. The escape route is a teleport platform which SHAD rigs to self destruct so the bud guys can not follow, but as a parting gesture, PRSM grabs T'PEK's battlestaff and phases away.
ISSUE #63 "RE-PURIFICATION" June 22, 1991 Invited: POL, PRSM, SAB, TESS with Guest: WOLV
The SCA 'ports out of the Colorado house and into the midst of a rather inquisitive super hero team, the X-MEN! As twelve pairs of mutant eyes listen to the story, SHAD and PRSM are able to glean some patchy information from some pilfered data banks. The information gives them some new clues and many many more questions. The X-MEN are having troubles of their own and ask the SCA if they would be willing to lend a hand. Explaining that a radical super-villain group known as the PURIFIERS is back in the war against mutants, it is made clear that this group is especially nasty, as they are known for the cold-blooded murders of children who carry the x-factor gene. The SCA is sent to rendezvous with WOLV and STORM following a lead in an old warehouse of LA. Upon arrival, WOLV is taking a beating by a couple of armored goons and some gun-toting baddies. With the SCA to even the odds (heh), these guys are made into so many spare parts and it is reported that STORM has left for a hospital with a seriously injured child found in this building. Yes, the Purifiers are back as mean and ruthless as before. The X-MEN have their work cut out for them.
ISSUE #64 "ASSAULT" June 26, 1991 Defenders: NIX, POL, PRSM, LOG, TESS, SYMPH
After several recent thwarts at the hands of the SCA as well as the theft of his personal battlestaff, Commander T'pek has decided to take matters into his own hands. Launching an assault against the SCA base, T'pek and his fellow X'al are out for blood, and blood they get. From different directions, the first assault force is a pentad of GLT-2N assault drones, known in top secret areas of the US government as Guillotines. The base defenses do a good job of disabling one completely and slowing down the rest, but in their wake, four of the aliens and T'pek himself descend on the HQ. The battle is as serious as it is brutal. The offenders are not pulling punches. T'pek recovers his staff and leaves with his full crew and 4 GLT's. On the SCA side, casualties are high. LOG is critically injured; impaled on an exterior laser cannon and put to repair for a couple months. In the trashed danger room, an even more grisly discovery is made. The broken body of PRSM is found in a pool of his own blood. His death is the second for this team. Epilogue 1: As the US Navy comes to the aid of the SCA, an UNTIL team is also dispatched and takes matter into their own hands, shoving the US government out of the picture. Apparently they are not at all pleased with the carelessness of America's government and discloses that these 5 GLT-2N's were stolen recently in a transfer from their Arlington VA holding. Epilogue 2: With the bloody remains of PRSM, a note is found. It reads; We are here among you. We are your doctors, your leaders, your neighbors and your families. Your defeat is inevitable. We are watching you and it should be known that those Terrans who are wise will be asked to lead with us. Those who oppose us, or interfere with us will be properly dealt with.
ISSUE #65 "CAFE TO YESTERDAY" June 28, 1991 Heroes: POL, SCAV, NIX, SAB, SYMPH
On his regular patrols of the crime-infested streets of San Diego, POL makes a startling observation. His old arch-nemesis, Der Korpermeister a.k.a. Dr. Von Richter is stepping into a local tavern. Going through proper channels, POL informs the SCA of this event and pursues. The rest of the SCA arrive at the establishment and enter, however, things are not quite what they seem. For as the SCA steps through the doorway to the small pub, they find themselves in the main foyer of a dinner night-club in Paris, France, on June 18, 1940!! They do indeed find POL, but he is a bit different: a youthful POL of his heyday, dashing, idealistic, quite the stud d' jour. Along with the young POL, the SCA discovers many other interesting items, including Nazi mutate- death squads, Von Richter, and his companion... STASIS (STA is a time-manipulating baddie the SCA ran into a while back at the SAFE - see issue #3). When the Nazis show up in powered battle armor and begin to search for mutants with scanners, things get a bit confusing. The Nazis are no match for the heroes from the future, but STA and RICHT have no weaknesses. The place is soon a mess and a full contingent of SS troops are heading downtown toward the place. POL intros himself quickly and makes for his flat. Welcome to the wonderful world of Socialism!
ISSUE #66 "THE PENTAD" June 19, 1940 GIs: POL, SAB, NIX, SYMPH Introducing: HSU-JIN
After the SCA stops reeling with the fact that they are in a bad place at a bad time, POL (a-version) decides to get the scoop from his underground connections. His baker friend, LeBoe Nepart, gives him the info he kneads; there is supposedly some sort of heavy meeting going down this evening in a chateau outside of town. The UG already has some people watching the house, but they could probably use some backup. So, the intrepid heroes make their way to the cottage. There they indeed find the UG members, as well as an interesting guest; a Chinese gentleman who goes by the name of HSU-JIN. HSU joins the SCA and POL-a on the mission as they close on the house. Meanwhile, STA and RICHT are having a cup of tea and enjoying the fire. Little do they know that the SCA is heading their way, as well as a group of mutant operatives known as the PENTAD. Three of their members, MIND, BODY and SOUL, are on the scene and what ensues is almost literally a three-ring circus. STA and RICHT depart, leaving the PENTAD and the SCA to duke it out and by the end, both sides have taken some good blows, but the PENTAD escapes, leaving an unconscious SYMPH and a dead(?) HSU. After a weird occurrence, HSU appears unharmed. Hmmmm.... Outcome: French chateau gets a new garage.
ISSUE #67 "PAST PERMANENCE" June 20, 1940 Stars: POL, SAB, NIX, HSU
Upon returning to POLs pad after a tough fight in the country, the group discovers two trespassers, the two members of the PENTAD that didn't show in the fight; POTENTIAL and DEED. They are not there to fight it turns out, but to discuss their involvement in the scheme of things and the new groups possible (permanent) future in the past. Each group distrusts the other, a bit of posturing is made and the PENTAD reps depart. POL gets back to Mssr. Nepart and finds out that the evil duo has headed north to Germany where they are going to meet members of the German underground. They don't have a definite meeting place, but they narrow it down to two possible locations. As it turns out, the SCA meets more battle-suit Nazis and a mutant leader called PURIFIER (hmmm, sounds familiar) and kick some butt. However, the real meeting is at the other place from which they were distracted. The two members of the PENTAD who met with the SCA earlier show up and give their two pfennigs worth (which is worth even less to the SCA), make some more warnings about getting stuck in this timeline and bug out. The SCA takes some of the new components found on the battle armor as souvenirs and heads back to the farmhouse they have been staying at.
ISSUE #68 "HITLER'S HIDEAWAY" June 24, 1940 Lookouts: POL, SAB, NIX, HSU
After a couple days reconnaissance the time-displaced heroes have located a well-defended compound outside of the city. This could be Hitler's home away from home and with the regular shifts and heavy security, it looks promising. During the stakeout, however, the SCA notices an unscheduled car approach. Parking along the road, its occupants ditch the car and head into the compound. The SCA bides their time and soon hears the sounds of sirens and whistles. Almost simultaneously, NIX gets hit by a wave of psych-magical energy, emanating from the compound ahead. When the group arrives, they are greeted by a very startling scene. The arch-villains STASIS and VON RICHTER are immobilized in a force field and a tall man in a funny hat is standing in the middle of the room waiting for the heroes. He explains that he has some control over time travel, waves his hand and brings SCAV to the room from Berlin (can we say 'powerful'?). He then sends everyone back to their respective times and places in the course of history. Arriving safe and sound back in 1991, the SCA gets back to its state of normalcy; NIX begins a project for SYMPH, IRON is working on his secret project and the mystery of how HSU was sent back with the base recognizing him as the deceased PRSM. SCAV leaves suddenly and abruptly with a pale complexion and tiny winged feet that carry him into the air. It is when the morning paper describes Chancellor Hitler's upcoming visit that the time-travelers realize that all is not well. A bit of historical consultation reveals that the mutant scare happened much too early in this history and that mutants eventually ended the war, thus projecting them into a status of near royalty. It is also discovered that Hitler is indeed alive and in charge of Germany. Before many more questions can be answered, the man with the tall hat visits and explains that they must travel back to the first nexus of time-problems; the day that STASIS and RICHT began their evil machinations.
ISSUE #69 "Time Busters" Oct. 19, 1936 With: NIX, POL, SYMPH, HSU, SAB
A quick trip to a popular 1930's cafe/bar is made to pick up a young grad student named Vince Schwartz. After some vague but interesting banter, the SCA is there to witness the very first appearance of the costumed soon-to-crimefight POLARIS! Then it's off to their final destination, a military installation somewhere in Europe. It is here that the heroes find their nemeses, currently beginning the very first experiments on the poor individuals that would become the first mutates. The surprise is complete (STASIS and RICHT had no idea that their plan was known) and a battle royale ensues. During the course of the battle, some truth about motives is revealed and neo-POL discovers that Von Richter also known as PARAGON has traveled back in time to create agents to assassinate Hitler! His family was being held captive and he claims to have been forced into doing his horrible acts. He gives up peacefully as STASIS is overcome and the whole lot are transported to a pocket of Limbo. Waiting in Limbo are the mysterious one known is IMMORTUS (hat-man), the heroes, Von Richter and STASIS. They are soon joined by a bureaucratic-looking gentleman named Bryce Nemandoff, Omega Justice for the TVA (Time Variance Authority). He is displeased about the blatant unauthorized use of time stream manipulation and will send everyone back where they belong, but keep STASIS as a prospective employee. It is also judged that RICHT can not be convicted of anything in his authority, so he will transport everyone back to their place of origin. Which he does. NIX finishes his project, which is a success. HSU remains with the SCA (still a mystery), SCAV is with the East Coast Avengers on hiatus from active duty, and POL is clueless as to what really happened.
ISSUE #70 "THE HAND" July 1, 1991 The Crew: POL, NIX, SYMPH, SAB
During a routine neighborhood prowl by POL, he spots an intruder in a warehouse near the waterfront district. When SCA backup arrives they discover a group of stealthy robbers. The operation is familiar to NIX and he recognizes KUMO, spider-lady leading the ninja cult of the Hand. As he found out previously, these Shadow Warriors are elusive, powerful and mystical. The SCA is able to thwart some of their operation, but KUMO and two of her servants are able to escape. Their intended cargo is unknown...
ISSUE #71 "NEW PLAYERS" July 3, 1991 Old Players: POL, SCAV, TESS with Guest: NICK FURY
Without much room to breathe after the cross-time caper, the SCA gets a mysterious call from Col. Nick Fury, director of SHIELD who wishes to pay a visit. Being the perpetual hosts, the SCA meets with FURY who discloses very little but enlists their aid. Soon, the SCA reps find themselves over the tropical jungles of Columbia and the telltale signs of a SHIELD operation. FURY leads them into an abandoned X'al base and shows them the problem; a group a semi-dissected, mainly dead aliens. There is also a proposal for assistance from the one responsible, initials DD. It is quickly surmised that these initials do not stand for Doctor Doom, DareDevil or Death Dachshund. It is clear that earth's most deadly and ambitious villain is back; Doctor Destroyer! FURY, the SCA, an operative named Wendell Lockley and a couple SHIELD agents resume the search of the complex and accidentally find a surprise...MECHANON!! Yikes! and he is not at all pleased by the way he's been handled. As a matter of fact, he makes his feelings(?) quite understood by using the heroes as bowling pins (and he rolls a strike).
ISSUE #72 "MECHANONAMOUS" July 4, 1991 Waking: POL, SCAV, TESS, SAB, HSU With: FURY, MOON, LOCK
Sometimes not wearing tights and lifting 747's can be to a person's advantage, as it was with Wendell Lockley. After MECH finished his rampage on the heroes, he gathered them all up and took off. Wendell was left for dead, but was able to make a recovery and assemble some of the remaining SCA members and the Avenger MOON KNIGHT to boot. After some analysis by the SHIELD boys, it was discovered that MECH had 'ported the whole caboodle into a vehicle in geosynchronous orbit, which is where they would be going (hopefully). As luck would have it, the group was not introduced to the vacuum of space (although that was a consideration via transport) and found themselves in a orbiting ship. After a short but dramatic battle, MECH was overcome and the missing heroes rescued. FURY was able to pilot the ship back to ground but not after MECH core-dumped his memory into 3 separate drones which launched into the blackness of space. Crafty little devil, ain't he?
INTERIM July 5, 1991 10:00 hours
The long-awaited day is here for one of the largest meetings of paranormals ever. Present on the front lawn of the Avery Estate, a.k.a. Sun Coast Alliance Headquarters are the following representatives:
Captain America and Quasar representing Avengers; East Iron Man and Doctor Pym representing Avengers; West Mr. Fantastic and Thing representing the Fantastic Four Cyclops and Beast rep'ing the X-men; blue team Storm and Marvel Girl for the X-Men; gold team Mirage and Magik from the New Mutants Cable and Cannonball from the new team X-Force Emerald from the SF based female group Quorum Psyphon representing a new Portland-based group called GAMMA Vindicator and Guardian from the Canadian group Alpha Flight Taurus and Leo from the disputed ZODIAC ("hey who invited them?") Col. Seta and Livewire representing UNTIL and independents: Spiderman, Doctor Strange, Nick Fury
All intelligence is pooled with CYCLOPS, FURY, MR. FANT, SETA and NIX moderating. It is decided that DD's proposal is too risky and that the X-Men's detection device should be used to covertly locate them and when most have been found, eliminate them simultaneously. In the meantime, all else will be working to make weapons based on their weaknesses; cold, desolid, etc.
ISSUE #73 "GENERAL QUARTERS" July 5, 1991 Investigating: HSU, SYMPH, LOG, SIM, IRON
After an analysis of a computer remnant it is decided that a certain General Strickland should be investigated. Thus, our intrepid adventurers find themselves in a Chicago suburb which is the current residence of the general. However, it is soon obvious that security is not a problem as two GLT-2N's (a.k.a. GUILLOTINES) greet the visitors. The SCA does not need to be reminded that these are the rogue U.S. nasties that trashed their base, killed PRSM and put LOG in traction for a few months. And they live up to their reputation; one holds off the entire group while the other transports the general out of the way, then the other leaves relatively unharmed. These are tough suckers! However, the speedy SIM is able to track them to a old missile silo in the next state, Detroit Michigan.
ISSUE #74 "POWER PLAY" Aug. 1, 1991 On the scene: HSU, SAB, SYMPH, LOG
A faulty power grid and a report from a SDG&E crew brings our supers to a transformer station near the old Lindbergh Field, where they find some serious trespassing in the form of a man named GEMINI. Up to no good, the Zodiac standard is tapping large amounts of energy for some type of experiment which the heroes are investigating when a third party shows up on the scene; a rather nasty fellow by the name of MALEFACTOR. The new guest is not impressed by the current company and does a fairly good job of holding everyone at bay until he deduces what is going on below him. Meanwhile, the SCA members are doing their own job of disassembling the experiment and GEM is rather perturbed. The whole affair goes down the proverbial toilet and all parties decide to vacate the premises. If anything, the SCA got to meet a new potential playmate.
ISSUE #75 "SISTERS" Aug. 6, 1991 Relatives: IRON, NIX, CHIM, SYMPH, SIM, POL
Following up on the lead obtained by SIM, the SCA arrives in force at the supposedly abandoned silo in suburban Detroit, Michigan. But is it really abandoned...? Nooooo! The heroes find the little bunker quite active with soldiers, and villains galore, including an alien monstrosity called ZLORAK and a metallic exoskeleton over the body of Gen. Strickland (who likes to be called ALLOY). In a twilight-zone sort of theme, things get even stranger when LOG meets her self-proclaimed sister, JASA-5! This new construct is fully capable and comprehensive of the situation around her. She is also determined to protect the security of the base and pays dearly. ALLOY is taken out of the picture and JASA-5 is knocked into the off position. But NIX decides to put her out of commission permanently and delivers an AP strike that effectively scraps her. LOG is very "put out". Speaking of being teed off, FURY is not at all pleased about finding a fully functional ZLORAK in the base after the SCA gives the all clear. "Damn amateurs!"
ISSUE #76 "UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS" Sep. 23, 1991 Starring: HSU, IRON
School is back in session and IRON is continuing his education with a guest today, his friend HSU-JING. However, there is crime afoot in the basement of the science building. An abundance of leaking liquid nitrogen attracts the attention of the students incognito, leading them to a confrontation with a fellow named NEXUS, who has the ability to absorb and reflect energy (even the mental variety) back at his foes. Although his theft of some chemicals is thwarted, NEX is able to make good his escape.
ISSUE #77 "JUNKYARD DOGS" Oct. 10, 1991 Snooping: IRON, POL
On one of POL's regular neighborhood watches, he is informed of an extortion racket happening at a local junkyard. With the help of IRON and the aid of Mike Calaruso, the do-gooders get to the bottom of the operation. They discover several well-armed thugs and familiar, but no-so-familiar face of SKINHEAD. Apparently, he has had some 'improvements' and now has the ability to modify his form into sharp nasty weapons, which he uses quite threateningly. However, he is still one of the axis powers and our allies are able to win this little war, delivering him to the capable (?) hands of their local SAFE.
ISSUE #78 "SAMURAI CODE" Oct. 28-29, 1991 Investigating: IRON, SYMPH, HSU, POL
The SCA has been called upon to investigate a very strange robbery at the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. After an extensive search, the only missing item is a teak flute, from an ancient Japanese collection. With a bit of electronic detective work, and a bit of luck, the intrepid heroes are able to discover a series of thefts of Japanese artifacts. In each theft, only a certain item was stolen, out of collections of much more expensive items. Within the vast magical library of one of Earth's master mages, NIX, the SCA finds that these items are tied by their previous ownership, a samurai named Shushinko. The legend states that upon the death of the Samurai's warlord master, he entrusted his family possessions to his faithful servant. The Samurai swore that the items would forever remain within the lands of Nippon (Japan), or curse the man foolish enough to remove them. A Tong eventually overcame the Samurai and stole the items, not knowing of the blood curse. The items ended up in many parts of the world, to be collected by an unknown group or person. Most of the items are unaccounted for, however, there is an exhibit at the San Francisco Met Art Museum, which is worth investigating. The SCA finds the item in question, a silk tabard, and sets a trap. Sure enough, a trio of villains arrives to steal the item and the SCA intercepts. The tabard is kept safe and the villains are forced to flee, however, when the heroes track down the villains vehicle, POL finds that it is waiting for him!! By the time the rest show up, all that is left is a mysterious message suggesting an exchange of POL for the tabard in Battery Park the next evening. At the park, POL is recovered, but in the course of the battle, the tabard is lost to the villains (bummer). SPECTRUM, DAHRKE and WOLFE are now on the SCA top ten list.
ISSUE #79 "RAIDERS OF THE LOST ART" Oct. 31, 1991 Starring: NIX, SABRE, HSU, POL
After gathering more information, via an expert in San Francisco (the uncle of the partner of Inspector Harry Callahan), the SCA heads back home and plans its next move. In the meanwhile, HSU does his own investigation and finds the location of a possible item. Unfortunately its kept in a Japanese exhibit in Los Angeles which is a Yakuza front. Nevertheless, the SCA is on the scene and so are the perps. Bonus villain time! The YAK is not too thrilled about being roughshod over on their own digs and sends a rather nasty villain called KUMO and a couple SHADOW WARRIORS to defend the place (see issue #59). After exchanging some heavy blows, the SCA is victorious, saving the sacred Onyx Ring (and the whole collection, for that matter) by purchasing it! Who would have thought it, they actually did something above the board and legal (heh)! Well, HSU did buy it on the black market, but...SPEC and DAHRKE get away, however. As the scoreboard reads: the baddies probably have all the items except the ring, which is held safely(?) at stately SCA manor. It has been advised, that the options are as follows: 1) if an item is destroyed, it will bring back prematurely the wrath of the Warrior upon the destructor 2) if all the pieces are brought together in the same place, the Warrior will come back and kick some booty all the way back to Japan, 3) if the pieces are brought back to Japan, they can be safely destroyed or put out of harm's way. Decisions, decisions...
ISSUE #80 "BOOGEY WOOGEY" Nov. 8, 1991 Witnesses: HSU, NIX, LOG, IRON
At the request of SYMPH, NIX has been working on a new magic item for her, an enchanted flute to replace her lost ring (where was it lost? shame on you! see issue #57). The time is ripe and the ceremony has started, but... an unexpected and uninvited guest shows up. And boy is this guy mean and nasty! NIX calls him a Bogeldaemon, but he's also known as a BOGEYMAN. He does some cosmetic damage to the house until IRON tags him with a 3 and knocks him back to his own dimension. BTW, the flute project was a success...
ISSUE #81 "RUSSIAN ROULETTE" Nov. 27, 1991 On Guard: HSU, IRON, POL with Guest: CYBER
For the past three weeks or so, the SCA has been investigating the background of the Spectrum gang, with some success. However, a call from FURY sends them in a new direction. He explains that Gorby is coming to San Diego for a little shopping! So what, you ask? Well good ol' WAR has been making time on the phone with all sorts of threats, so SHIELD is sending an operative to town and asks for the SCA's help. Being the good responsible heroes they are, they bend over. After the arrival of CYBER, a cyborg of the female gender and the itinerary of Gorby, the heroes stake out the visit. Sure enough, an attempt is made during the visit by our good friends in WAR, but where is ANAT? He's currently sitting next to POL's DNPC, Mike, where he shifted from the disguise of Gorby!!! Mike takes a good one from ANAT, but is not seriously hurt. However, ANAT and NECRO are captured! SHRAP and DEADLOCK get away. The adventure is classified a success, but sure leaves a lot of questions unanswered.
ISSUE #82 "BOLLARDS" Nov. 29, 1991 On the trail: NIX, HSU, SYMPH, POL with Guest: CYBER
SHIELD is able to track down a time when they lost contact momentarily with Gorby's transport, and a search of the area leads to only one possibility. A supposedly non-functional oil derrick in the New Mexico desert seems to be functioning. The heroes are on the trail again! Arriving just in time to scare the living crap out of kids in 4WD's (security sure is getting competent these days), they also find a Bollard-Bound elevator to an underground WAR base, fully equipped, but currently unoccupied. Oh, except for a prisoner that is not happy at all... the alien commander T'LAK! The SCA opens up with both barrels and soon has the alien down for the long count. As a matter of fact, he is in peril of croaking, so they call in another expert; Reed Richards, a.k.a. MR. FANTASTIC. SHIELD secures the area and yes folks, we have out first live-alien capture to date! Yaaaaaah! Now what...? It was suggested to just let the aliens come to retrieve the battle staff and take care of WAR for them, but...
ISSUE #83 "ON THE W.A.R. PATH" Nov. 30, 1991 Sniffing: POL, SYMPH, IRON, HSU Tagging along: CYBER
An investigation of the abandoned WAR base leads to only one clue. A computer core dump to another computer in Canada at the research facilities of DB Atomics. The clue seems to be a little 'too easy' to find, hmmm... What the hell, they head up to Toronto anyway and sneak their way into the HQ and downstairs to a rather sophisticated and secret research lab. There they find the apparatus for atomic research as well as mucho radiation protocol equipment, but nothing going on. They also find a heavily armored core, which is impervious to desoliding SYMPH, however, before anyone can complain, the door opens on its own and they are welcomed by an unusual caretaker: an elaborate as well as deadly robot calling himself OMNI. It takes a bit of teamwork to deactivate OMNI, and with the insistence of CYBER, is destroyed completely. Also in the room is a cryo tank with a woman who identifies herself and Karen DeBeck, CEO and owner of this little corporation. Uh oh, does anyone else smell impersonators around here? Sure enough, Ms. DeBeck has been cooped up since 6/89! Outcome; no good info, maybe they can wring it out of the alien commander...
ISSUE #84 "HOME BASE" Dec. 1, 1991 With: IRON, HSU, POL, SYMPH Special guest: CYBER
After heading back to the N.M. base to check on NIX and MR FANT's progress with the alien, it is apparent that they need to transport him to a better facility. The NY Fantastic Four HQ is nominated, and so they make preparations for the trip. However, upstairs, IRON detects the arrival of more uninvited guests. This time, they are not just some kids in 4WD's. They are agents and supers from W.A.R. who want to know what the heck is going on. Actually, they try to pass themselves off (very unconvincingly) as reps of the owner of the land, but soon it is apparent, they mean business. A fellow calling himself the HIGHLANDER is quickly put down, but IMPULSE and NEUTRALIZER (who has invis power effects and is quite effective at neutralizing our heroes powers) are able to hold their own. Especially with the aid of POL who rolls an 18 on himself and knocks himself out! This is becoming trademark. The villains are able to get away, but the agents are not so lucky, especially one who is the recipient of HSU's own brand of 'justice'.
ISSUE #85 "CEREMONIAL MASK" Dec. 18, 1991 Roaming: SAB, HSU, SIM, LOG with 'Guest': TAURUS
Soaring the scenic skies of San Diego one early evening, our sometimes SCAer SIM spies something unusual over Balboa Park; a small disk shaped UFO trekking over the buildings of the city. He follows it for a short bit, noticing that it is going in a perfectly straight line, only adjusting for altitude if something gets in its way and decides to report it back to the SCA. Meanwhile, bored with Matlock reruns, the SCA members in attendance decide to use this as a diversion. Little did they know that it Would Lead Them INTO A WHOLE WORLD OF DANGER THAT COULD VERY WELL SPELL THE END OF THEIR INSIGNIFICANT... ah hem. Anyway... they pile into the SCA-mobile, atomic batteries to power, etc. and catch up with the curious UFO. HSU and SIM are able to notice some small markings of the side of the disk, but can't recognize them. The disk flies all the way out to the high Borrego desert, where they find its ultimate destination. Erected in a shallow valley is a full size, very real, solid marble Greek Acropolis. Holy anachronisms! What's more, there is a strange ceremony in full swing, starring some familiar but not-so-loved villains; MASK, TORRENT and GYRUS. The heroes rush to the...interruption and begin to butt heads with the baddies. However, their monkey wrenches seem to do no good, as the object of MASK's summoning appears, a huge horned demon, with rough red skin, bellowing in the open air. MASK orders his new minion to do his bidding, but to the surprise of all, TAURUS (you know, from Zodiac) steps out and in his own eloquent way, suggests an anatomically impossible action for MASK. At this point, MASK is ready to throw in the trowel and begins his 'bug-out' sequence. GYRUS is KO'd and knocked through the emerging teleportal. HSU and SIM have been KO'd but get caught in the transport, leaving TAUR, SAB and LOG alone in the desert.
ISSUE #86 "UNWANTED GUESTS" Date ? Rescuers: SAB, LOG, HSU, SIM, NIX, SYMPH Invited guests: GEMINI, VIRGO
TAURUS offers his resources to find the missing heroes, and after a quick pick up of more SCA members and a couple of Zodiacs, GEM and VIRG, they group is ready to go. NIX offers his specialties to the mission by transporting the whole lot to a nearby pocket dimension of Limbo, where MASK has made his current base. There they find MASK,, TORR and GYR as well as the incarcerated SIM and HSU. Also in their way, are 4 security droids, which pose only a delay problem, and not much of a threat. With sheer numbers and raw power, the villains are overcome, and before they are able to escape, MASK and TORR are captured, leaving behind a lonely GYRUS. MASK and TORR take up new residence in the local SAFE.
ISSUE #87 "PRELUDE TO DOOMSDAY" Mar. 30, 1992 Combatants: NIX, HSU, POL, SYMPH Introducing: OMEGA
After extensive research by the many super hero teams of the planet, a plan has been formulated to offensively strike against the aliens that have infiltrated society. CYBER, NICK FURY and IRON have invented a device that will negate the holographic projectors the aliens use. XAVIER and MR FANT have developed a ranged detection device, as well as a potent weapon that can be used against the aliens. And finally, UNTIL has set up an elaborate and extensive network of transmitters that will be able to simultaneously affect nearly all of the aliens simultaneously. The plan is to place super groups in key concentrations of the aliens, then turn on the projectors, which will nullify their holographs as well as weaken their defenses. At this point, the teams will move in a sweep them away, hopefully forcing them out of hiding and back to where they came from. The SCA has been assigned its task, to infiltrate and sweep the NORAD HQ in Boulder, Colorado. With the aid of SHIELD's intelligence, getting into NORAD is not too difficult. However, the two alien commanders found within pose more of a challenge. In total, they heroes find 2 commanders and 3 subordinates. The subs are taken out efficiently, but the commanders are able to barely escape. As the pursuit commences, QUASAR contacts the heroes to tell them that the whole kit and caboodle is heading for a suddenly-appearing mother ship! It appears as if the preliminary bout is out of the way and ready for the main event!
ISSUE #88 "THE MAIN EVENT" Mar. 30, 1992 In this ring:
MARVELOUS COMICS PRESENTS THE FIRST IN A LIMITED(?) ISSUE SERIES DARKSTAR #1
ISSUE #89 "DRUG BUSTERS" Apr. 6, 1992 Enforcing: HSU, SYMPH, IRON, POL, OMEGA
The City can be cold and hot at the same time. It has its bright spots and its dark spots, its rain and sun, night and day. Tonight, the blackness will be lit up by a new band of heroes; vigilantes who fight for good around the obstacles that a bureaucratic society has placed before them. This night, the City will be lit ablaze by... DARKSTAR. On a typical night, the San Diego avenger POL and his friend OMEGA hit crime where it strikes most frequently. Not in the elaborate machinations of some megalomaniacal mastermind, but with the normal city folk; the tax-paying, 40-hour-a-week, ring-around-the-collar hump busters. Purse snatching, assault, rape, drugs, gangs are the targets for these heroes. This evening, they discover a new sickness on the streets. POL and OMEGA find a rash of young people being poisoned by a new street drug called SEM. It is serious enough to bring to the attention of the SCA, and with a joint effort by all the heroes, they are able to backtrack the source to an Ecuadorian drug lord. Hopping a flight to South America, the heroes know that they will be crossing many jurisdictional boundaries, but they know the end result will be worth it. After appropriating a Mexican government airplane, equipped with several loads of napalm, they are able to find the drug lord's estate. OMEGA is given the task of disposing of the fields of drugs surrounding the estate, while the others infiltrate the house and take out the occupants. However, they find only one line of defense, a pack of four HOUNDRONES which are very good at protecting their charge....but not good enough.
DARKSTAR #2
ISSUE #90 "UNHUMANE TREATMENT" Apr. 6, 1992 With: SYMPH, HSU, IRON, POL
The house is strangely silent and the heroes take it slow and careful, but what they find is even more disturbing; two gentlemen having a quiet dinner, and enough empty place settings for them to join! Needless to say, the conversation is anything but congenial, and when it looks like push is going to come to shove, the hosts reveal themselves. The drug lord turns out to be an old enemy by the name of PSIBORG and his newest recruit is a nasty fellow named MIDNIGHT. Both of these guys turn out to be pretty tough cookies, but the heroes hold no bars and let 'em have both barrels. PSI is blasted and must escape into the jungle, unfortunately for him, just as OMEGA is making a napalm drop on his head. The obedient lackey MID retrieves a part of PSI (his head) and the two are able to scoot, but the heroes find plenty for their compensation, including 1.5 mil dollars, many export and import connections, as well as some unusual computer interfacing equipment. But no pertinent information to the big man himself; El Lobo Blanco. Now, what to do with all these resources...?
ISSUE #91 "MALEFACTOR" Apr. 25, 1992 Starring: HSU, POL, SYMPH, IRON with Guests: DIAMOND and CATALYST
The SCA is called to an unusual occurrence; a break-IN at the local SAFE facility. Upon their arrival, it is clear that some force has broken into the facility and taken out several of the GUARDSMEN stationed there. In addition, the two designated heroes, DIAM and CAT are in battle with someone the SCA recognizes from a brief past encounter; a fellow by the name of PHOTON. PHOT holds the top level pretty well, while his partner is heading down the elevator shaft, but a vigilant POL is not going to let them get away with this so easily. He jumps down the shaft to find himself next to a fully armored menace called MALEFACTOR. And what a menace he turns out to be. POL gives him his best shot, but MALE seems to shrug it off...completely!! It is apparent that MALE is more than your average supervillain. He is little concerned with the heroes' presence, but PHOT is having trouble upstairs. He is knocked for a loop and has to retreat topside, where a waiting IRON ko's him...temporarily. The remaining heroes resign to follow MALE around in his search for some cryptic item in the labs of SAFE, with the idea of nabbing the item before MALE can, but MALE has other plans as he zaps the whole entourage before they can say boo. Upstairs, PHOT blindsides (no pun intended) IRON and both escape with the mysterious item. After a quick inventory, it is discovered that the object of MALE's search was the infamous Neutralizer Weapon, created by the X-Man FORGE. A weapon that has the ability to permanently remove mutant powers. The good news is... OMEGA, who was scouting around outside, was able to track the escaping villains back to their home base; the Hotel Intercontinental on the Embarcadero. Good boy, Mike!
ISSUE #92 "WHO'S IN MY BED?" Apr. 25, 1992 On the mound: POL, SYMPH, HSU, IRON with Special guests: HAWK, MANT, IRNMN
As the SCA picks up the pieces, their call to the West Coast Avengers is answered and showing up on the scene is HAWKEYE, MANTIS, IRONMAN and DR. PYM. After a quick rundown of the goings-on, all are ready to pursue. The hero entourage arrives at the I-C in force and take the direct approach. ("room serv- ah, what the hell" <blam!>) However, the opposition they expected to confront is not what they find. As a matter of fact, MALE is nowhere to be found, but PHOT has three other roomies, a deadly little lady named TYPHOID MARY, a familiar fiend called NEXUS, and a new surprise named TORQUE. The heroes are spread out in different positions, and the Avengers find themselves in over their head as HAWK, IRNMN, and MANT are all KO'd in the first round (so to speak). The SCA have to do the dirty work, which is a tough battle, but they make headway. That is until MALE chooses this moment to make an entrance. The bad guys get away clean (sans fresh undies), except for a little homing device PYM was able to attach to the get away ship. IRNMN is badly injured and HAWK has contracted a strange disease from MARY, so they are taken to SCA HQ for treatment by the world's premiere super-powered doctor (no, not Dr. Doom).
ISSUE #93a "THE GHOST IN THE MACHINE" May 1, 1992 On Duty: NIX, IRON, SYMPH, POL, HSU, OMEGA, LOG Visiting: BEAST, ROGUE
Business as usual at the SCA International HQ in San Diego, Ca; a heated debate over membership rights and privileges, discussions of new transportation methods, ongoing projects and personal goals, as well as some teleporting intruders! The halls are electrified by a transdimensional portal opened up in the foyer, where two menacing figures wait for interception. One is a familiar woman called JHARDA who professes to be an interdimensional bounty hunter currently seeking NIX's ears as a prize. Her companion is a huge (15') brutish demon-type thingy called MORBANE who turns out to be as tough as they come, in this world or otherwise. The duo begin their appointed tasks, JHAR attempting to capture NIX and MORB searching for NIX's newest tower resident, the friendly, yet mysterious ghost known as MAGAI. Visiting the SCA this day (to discuss the existence and possible reappropriation of FORGE's neutralizer) are ROGUE and BEAST, who give a hand in the battle. ROGUE is able to sap some of JHAR's power, while MORB is busy making a beeline to the tower and extracting his target. Things are not looking too good (especially with NIX getting wrapped up every so often, causing him to flip-out) when JHAR is finally KO'd and her body begins to disappear, drawing the body of MORB with her. MORB is none too happy about this but seems to have little choice. Eight heads turn towards NIX with the inevitable questions...
ISSUE #93b "ON THE TOWN" May 16, 1992 Painting the Town Red: SYMPH with Guest: LEO
As Shari Taylor of HeroTalk Magazine put it: "Beauty and the Beast never looked so good together". Yes, you heard it right! The SCA's own SYMPH is hot and heavy with the lead singer of the progressive rock band Donnerstrasse, also known as LEO LOWE (aka LEO of the renegade group Zodiac). They have been spotted all over the west coast during Donnerstrasse's latest tour. When the two are not shaking it up in the underground discos, they are shaking up the underground. As a matter of fact, this evening they happen to break up an assault in L.A. which is not what it appears to be. The assualter and assaultee turn out to be KORVIL and JESTER, the two operatives that kidnapped SYMPH under the direction of BELDAM many issues ago (see ish 23 for the specs). The mystery is that they apparently have their own agenda, which is unknown at this time. They make a valiant attempt to sack the little lady, but with the aid of her beau, SYMPH fends off the pair of mashers. The evening is just warming up, so SYMPH and LEO head on to bigger and more exciting things...
ISSUE #94 "SAMURAI VENGEANCE" May 27, 1992 On Call: SIM, NIX, SYMPH, IRON, HSU, POL
Back to the mundane orders of business around SCA HQ, the base is relatively quiet while a visiting SIM is caught up on the recent goings-on. The members in attendance decide it is time to track down the malificent MALEFACTOR and hot-foot it to the West Coast Avengers' compound. However, it seems as if the base will once again play host to a party of evil-doers. Teleporting into the base is a ghostly figure in ancient Japanese armor. He has a purpose, and that is to retrieve a certain onyx ring that is kept locked tight in the base's computer core. As if this wasn't bad enough, another trio of villains makes its entrance through the front doors, the recognizable faces of SPECTRUM, DAHRKE and WOLFE. Currently holding the fort is LOG (who takes a small gulp of air before screaming her diodes out to recall the SCA. Upon the arrival of the new trio, there seems to be a conflict of interests and the separate factions begin to battle each other. The ghostly figure holds his own and forces the trio to fall back. Meanwhile, LOG and the resident ghost MAGAI are ready to cut and run. LOG is fairly surprised when the ghostly samurai floats through their highly defended (desolid-proof) core. LOG completes the hand-off and MAGAI takes the ball down to the 40-yard line, where it is intercepted by guest ghost. The trio has recovered and the battle begins anew, this time giving the SCA time to arrive and enter mid-battle. What transpires is a free-for-all of deadly proportions. The samurai is defeated and disappears to the ether (with the ring, unfortunately), and the trio is getting beat back well (with Avengers and X-Men back-up mere seconds away). Then... DAHRKE is knocked through a few walls and WOLFE is mind-controlled to kill him....which he does! Know what that smell is? It's the proverbial feces hitting the windmill. There are tense moments as bargains are made, deals are shot and it looks like another fight will break out, when SPEC decides that discretion is the better part of valor. What's left is a very questionable death occurring in the SCA base which is under investigation.
ISSUE #95 "RED SKY AT MORNING" June 3, 1992 Doomed: NIX, SYMPH, IRON, HSU, POL with Guests: HAVOK, FORGE
After taking a few deep breaths, the SCA is once again ready to pursue their current enemy d' jour, MALEFACTOR. They give the Avengers a call, but find them keeping a safe legal distance from the SCA's activities. So, after a call to the X-Men, who do cooperate, the group is off in search of danger and suspense. After a brief jaunt out to sea, the Blackbird closes on its target, a good-sized fishing boat with several seedy, suspicious and outright belligerent lackeys aboard. So...its done the hard way. The SCA takes their clout directly to the boat and the lackeys are anything but lacking in firepower, however, they don't get much of a chance to pull their triggers as they are taken out quickly. In the middle of the fray, however, a nagging suspicion rears its head in the form of SYMPH's danger sense which urges her to 'get off the ship NOW!' In the next few seconds, heroes and villains alike are jumping ship and making distance. In the midst of the hero panic, there are lackeys diving below for their take-home pay, until one of them trips one of the booby-wires. Time stops momentarily (as the GM assesses the relative position of every character) ...then... KABHWOOMPHTH! (or some equivalent) Matter is converted into energy in a big way where the boat used to be, and catches several humans in its wake. The outcome is... bleak. Many of the lackeys are flash burnt to a crisp, the closest heroes are washed in the incredible fire and are critically injured, and the Blackbird is assailed by a shock blast that flips it over in mid-air. FORGE is able to keep control of the plane, HSU and HAVOK are able to retrieve the many still and lifeless corpses from the water and the survival percentages are still being calculated.
INTERLUDE -
In the aftermath of the recent events, the SCA has many loose-ends to tie up. First, SYMPHONY has survived! She was in very bad shape, but over the next few days, she makes nothing less than a miraculous recovery. She is left with the physical scars of blindness and the loss of some power, as well as the emotional shock of the situation she was in. Prognosis: good. The rest of the SCA recovers quite nicely and its back to business as usual. Secondly, the trial of the state vs. HSU and MALEFACTOR vs. the SCA has its ups and downs. On the up-side, HSU is acquitted of his charges on the basis of lack of definite evidence that he was directly responsible for the death of DAHRKE, but on the down-side, the assault charges against MALE are dropped and he gets off with several finable property damage, trespassing, etc. charges. However, WOLFE is taken into custody by the government for further study of his lycanthropy. Moreoverly (neat word, eh?), LOG takes a powder to Texas to infiltrate and keep an eye on her good friends in Karrigan Enterprises (the suspected tie-in with SPECTRUM and Co.). Simultaneously, NIX does a bit of research himself and concurrently discovers the whereabouts of the DAHRKE entity; the home of a retired professor who now lives in San Diego. Loose ends are coming together rapidly, as FORGE informs the SCA that he has detected, and located the source of his neutralizer weapon, most likely in the hands of MALEFACTOR. Options are weighed, and a joint SCA/X-Men assault team is on its way to kick butt and take names!