Terror Inc. (2007) - 1 of 5

The Dismemberment Plan
August 2007
Written by David Lapham

Meet Mr. Terror -- he’s dapper, he’s charming, he owns and operates his own VERY successful business…and, oh yeah, he’s fifteen and a half centuries old and rotting fast.

The first half of the issue recaps who/what Terror is. During the 5th century, he and his Anglo Saxon tribes sacked Rome. Though a treaty was signed, apparently the Pope called upon dark forces and the creature known as the Mare attacked Terror's village. He single-handedly destroyed the demon, but its curse affected him and his body began to decay. In order to counteract this, he has to replenish himself with body parts from living creatures. He eventually met Draghighnazzo, a powerful shadow night, and became his squire. When Draghighnazzo fell in battle, Terror continued to fight for Talita, Draghighnazzo's love. In time, Terror and her also fell in love. During her final battle, she ordered Terror to cut off her limbs for him to use in order to survive. Not wanting to lose her limbs to decay, he had a witch and blacksmith forge metal on the arm so it would sustain.

Now, in Los Angeles, Terror runs a successful buisness as a mercenary of sorts. His newest job comes from Roger Harper, a high level official for Homeland Security, who wants him to kill Roy Montgomery, a mole inside the government. Terror infiltrates his hotel suite at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel with guns blazing. He ultimately encounters Montgomery, who doesn't know anyone named Harper, and is shot by Agent Manning, one of the government agents that were protecting him, before Terror could. Terror then muses out loud that the government was just setting him up, which Agent Manning confirms before he and the SWAT team shoot him up. Since Terror is essentially immortal, he blows up the room, but Manning was able to get outside the blast. In the last scenes, Manning is shown taking an ax to Terror as he orders the men to prepare an acid bath.

With no information ahead of time, this was a very interesting comic book. I was glad I picked up this first copy, but I may just wait until the series is released in TPB (though I may still review it). The $3.99 price tag is a bit much for me for 5 issues. Terror is definitely an interesting character and a great personallity, but I didn't fell as if the supporting cast was anything spectacular. All together, a good issue to see who/what Terror is.

Score: 3 / 5

Miracles - E10

Saint Debbie
First Aired: Friday December 5, 2003 (Canada)

A waitress' throat is slashed in a robbery attempt, but the wound disappears shortly afterwards. When the group investigates, the woman is further harmed and gets away. Something is not right, however.

The episode begins with a diner being robbed. During the robbery, the waitress tries to stop the masked man, but he slits her throat. Others than check on her, notice that the cut is no longer there, and she appears fine. Elsewhere, Alva is dreaming that Paul and Evelyn both leave the organization. When he comes into work the next day, disheveled from the dream, he is presented with Paul's spiritual mentor, Father Callero. It turns out that the Father has come to Paul and the organization with this possible miracle. Arriving in town, the three witness quite the ordeal with many people on main street near the diner. They meet the town's priest and mayor to discuss the possible miracle, which the mayor is proud about since it has brought buisness to the town. As the group encounters the woman leaving the diner, a crazed man throws a rattlesnake at her and runs away. The snake bite does nothing major to her and she is cleared from the hospital. Talking with the woman, Alva becomes close to her. He ultimately believes she is telling the truth and that what happened is real. Paul and Evelyn aren't convinced, so they investigate further, unveiling the real story about how the woman, the mayor and the "robber" set the whole thing up to make business for the town. The waitress wanted money so she and her mentally challenged brother could get him help and she could go to college. Alva confronts her with this but says he won't say anything. The woman's brother overhears and is still convinced she is a saint. He climbs a water tower and wants her to save him. She reveals to him, and all of the townspeople around there, that she made it all up. An older woman then pulls a gun on Alva, saying he was filling her head with the wrong ideas. The waitress steps in front of the gun and is shot instead. Miraculously, the bullet misses all vital organs. Thanks to Alva, the woman gets her money from the mayor on the condition she leaves town.

This was an average episode. The acting was solid throughout, but I felt that Alva was too out-of-character in this episode. I know that that was meant to be the point, but it just seemed to odd to me. It wasn't like anything triggered it besides the dream. I guess it was just the feeling of loneliness. The last couple of episodes have been fun to watch in the sense that you got to see actors/actresses before they hit bigger. Andrea Roth as the waitress was fun to see because I now know here as Janet Gavin on Rescue Me. She did a very good guest role, though not as good as Maggie Grace was in the previous one.

Score: 7.6 / 10

Miracles - E09

Mother's Daughter
First Aired: Friday November 28, 2003

A young Amish woman seems to be afflicted by stigmata. Paul and Alva investigate and find out that two souls are vying for control of the one body.

The episode begins with a young Amish woman afflicted with a sickness. Her family rushes to help her but are startled to find her in bed bleeding from the wrists. Paul and Alva come to investigate and see that there actually aren't any wounds now, even though there is blood. The two accompany the family to their home. The elder of the family dissapproves of their intervention, but before much more can be said, they all can here Hanna laughing in her room. They all go to check on her and Hanna is acting very strangely. Paul converses with her and finds out that she is Lucinda Morgan Bryant now. He and Alva, with Evelyn's help, investigate further and find a Mogan family in New York City that had lost their daughter to suicide ten years previously. It was on the same day and time that Hanna's father drowned and she almost did too. Alva begins to hypothesis that they are witnessing a type of reincarnation. Paul ends up going to New York and, after confronting the family, is surprised when Hanna shows up at the door. For a brief moment, Hanna returns, but she seemingly passes away. As Alva and her real mother show up, she is now completely Lucinda. With this comes the urge to commit suicide again by jumping off the building. Her Amish mother, however, is able to talk her down. Hanna/Lucinda ends up staying with the Bryant's while her real mother returns to her Amish life.

This was a good episode thanks to the acting of Maggie Grace and of the interesting take on possession/reincarnation. Consistently, this shows has been able take old ideas and shape then in a new way. While Paul and Alva act well in this episode, it more or less hinged on Grace's acting and she did a great job. I don't know what was keeping me from elevating this to a higher level, but I still felt the story was a little disjointed somehow.

Score: 8.2 / 10

Miracles - E08

The Battle at Shadow Ridge
First Aired: Friday November 21, 2003 (Canada)

While investigating will-o-the-wisps in Virginia, Alva and Paul are tipped off about a strange occurrence in a neighboring town. Turns out that the Civil War is still happening.

The episode begins with two children taking a short cut through the woods and encountering an apparition of a Civil War soldier. The children run home to their mother to tell about the ghost they saw while, seemingly at the same time, the soldier returns to his camp to tell the same thing to his fellow soldiers. Elsewhere, Alva talks Paul into heading to Virginia to check out some swamp lights. They are tipped off by a police officer about the kids experience. Meeting and speaking with the children, the two decide to check out the spot themselves. While there, they encounter two young people who tell them there had been some strange occurrences at the nearby quickie store. They decide to pay the place a visit and witness some strange phenomenon. Alva believes that time is being revealed to itself in different intervals. Apparently, the one soldier who is witnessing this as well is Henry Tucker, in the company of the South who are about to take on a dangerous mission. After Paul is shot when during an ambush when the times coalesce into one, he is able to pick Henry out of some old pictures. It seems that Henry's spirit can't rest without knowing what happened to his wife and child. Paul and Alva find this out. They set up speakers, hoping the sound will punch through the time barrier so that Henry can hear Paul telling him what the fate of his family was. It works and the spirits of the soldiers are at peace.

This was a very interesting concept to use. The first twist is when you believe this might be a typical ghost story, but the ingenious method that Alva relates to Paul is very believable. It is a fresh take on "ghosts". It kind of made me wonder, were they really ghosts or was it just time bending? What would have happened if Henry died without knowing? Would his spirit have been trapped forever or had it been all along? This episode made me ask questions, but in a good way. I find it funny how the last episode how great acting but a flat storyline and then this one has a great storyline and decent acting.

Score: 8.9 / 10

Miracles - E07

You are My Sunshine
First Aired: Friday November 14, 2003 (Canada)

When an old girlfriend has an accident in her rental home, Paul goes to help her recoup. Things aren't as they seem. Paul begins a decline into madness that is somehow tied with the house.

The episode begins with a woman in a home alone. She believes she hears something coming from the cellar, so she decides to investigate (why God?) and falls down the stairs after being scared of the door shutting. It appeared like her neck snapped. Back in Boston, Paul and Alva are not talking still after three weeks, even when Evelyn tries to help. Paul receives a call from a hospital because he is still the emergency contact for the woman, who turns out to be an ex-girlfriend. He volunteers to help her around the house because she had only harmed her leg (wow, that's it?). At the home, strange things begin to happen along with a man watching and smoking. The next day, Paul and the woman sleep together. Afterwards, Paul goes into the cellar to check the breakers, but starts to become different when he comes back up. When Evelyn calls to check up, he reems her out and she becomes concerned enough that her and Alva decide to come. Paul has steadily become more and more agitated with his ex-girlfriend, leaving for the night in a huff. When Alva and Evelyn show up, he returns, apparently normal. When the two decide not to stay in the guest room, Alva tells Evelyn in the car that something is not right with Paul. They investigate and find out that a woman had died their the previous year. Turns out her husband had apparently ran off with his lover years previously. Evelyn goes to the home after meeting Paul and ends up in the cellar with the ex-girlfriend as Paul waits for Alva to show. He does, and the two get into a fight. In the cellar, Evelyn finds a wall hiding a door where the bodies of the husband and lover. Alva is able to subdue Paul, but when his ex-girlfriend tries to scald Paul with water and misses, the house catches on fire. Paul returns to Alva's organization thinking they would want him to leave, but they ask him to stay nonetheless.

This was an above average episode; the thing that saves it from mediocrity for me was Skeet's acting of being out of his mind. He was amazing. I think the story was a bit jump/complex for the normality of the show. Wedged in between two fantastic episodes, this one was a little disappointing.

Score: 7.7 / 10

Monte Cook's Ptolus - City by the Spire 3 of 6

Issue 3
December 2006
Written by Monte Cook

Sheva Callister is still mourning the disappearance of her dead partner, Parnell, but she won’t that stop her from getting revenge on Kevris Killraven, who is apparently behind the wild goose chase she has been sent on throughout the mysterious city of Ptolus. The best way to get back at him is to intrude on a private meeting on the site of an old church, and Sheva has no problem wading through the catacombs below to do so.

This issue begins in the Temple Asche, where the high priest Mand Scheben is using healing to bring Sheva back from the brink of death after being shot up by the Shuul at the end of the previous issue. After a brief respite, Mand converses with Sheva about an arcane spellbook which had come to the city recently. It might be from this book that Allister had used a spell that did something to Pallen. It turns out the book is currently in the possession of Kevris Killraven, who Sheva is beginning to think orchestrated everything along with House Vladaam . Before Sheva leaves, though, Mand tells her of a very unusual presence currently in the city (most likely the hellhound that entered in the previous issue). Sheva, Daersidian, and Brusselt decided to crash the meeting between Killraven and Gatara Vladaam by coming from underneath them through the sewers.

While navigating the sewers, the three encounter first a crypt worm, then the crypt of Narros, a wizard. Sheva sets off a magical trap by accident, but the group regroups, only to face off against some skeletons while waiting for Brusselt to open a locked door. After he does so, they are now in a expansive room with a bridge where more undead skeletons await them. The dispatch with these as well, after a close call on Brusselt's part, and continue on only to be confronted by the skeleton of Narros himself. He demands their lives for defiling his resting place as the issue ends.

This was a very good action packed issue, but about halfway through it seemed to me like the art work quality began to slip a little and not be as detailed. However, this is made up for in the good narrative and action sequences. I am finding myself really enjoying the comic relief of Brusselt, more than I thought I would. The beginning of the issue, we start to see the culmination of where the story is headed with an alliance between Killraven and House Vladaam. At halfway through the series, I am very pleased that I was able read it.

Score: 3 / 5

Buffy - S4E14

Goodbye Iowa
First Aired: Tuesday February 15, 2000

As the Scoobies regroup after finding about the attempted assassination of Buffy by Professor Walsh, Riley has to come to grips with her death and her creation; Adam.

The Scoobies and Spike listen to Buffy tell her story about the attack on Buffy's life by Walsh. Riley shows up shortly afterward to find out what Buffy knows. He becomes angry when he notices they are "friends" with Hostile-17 (Spike). The Scoobies then retreat to Xander's basement to hide from the commandos and the next day they see news of a child being killed. Thinking it is the previously captured demon, Buffy begins her search for it. The Initiative does the same when Riley finds out Walsh has been killed. Buffy and Riley encounter each other throughout the day, but he finally loses it in Willie's Place. It turns out he is getting sick and Buffy thinks it is tied to the Initiative, so she and Xander decide to infiltrate it. Upon confronting Walsh's second-in-command, Riley shows up and they are all ambushed by ADAM. He reveals that he was created by Walsh, that he killed her, and that Riley is her other "creation" through pills and genetics. ADAM is trying to find his purpose, but that includes death and destruction. Buffy tries to fight it, but nothing seems to help. ADAM finally gets away as the Initiative comes in and takes Riley away to be helped. The episode ends with Buffy and Willow musing about where he is and what is going on while the closing shot is of Riley in a hospital bed.

This was a very good episode after the previous. The opening sequence in Giles' place was very dramatic and also fun, thank to Spike. I think it was interesting to watch what was going on with the Initiative and with Riley as Walsh's death came to light. It was also funny when the Scoobies were hiding in Xander's basement. I forgot how cold and calculating a Big Bad ADAM was and I like him even more now. I am not to keen on the self-destructive Riley, but his acting was top-notch. This was a good episode to really present the Big Bad of this season and I am sure I remember the rest of the season being just as good.

Score: 8.6 / 10

Miracles - E06

The Hand of God
First Aired: Monday March 31, 2003

Someone is killing people that say the phrase "God is Nowhere" in blood. When Paul finds that Alva has been keeping information on these people from him, he begins to track them down.

The episode begins with a teenage boy seemingly talking to himself before killing a woman. It turns out that the woman is one of the people that saw "God is Nowhere" and that she had dreamed about Paul Callen. The cops come looking for Paul after finding his name and picture drawn in her personal effects. This leads Paul to break into Keels office to see the full files on the hemography people. He finds out that all of the people Alva has interviewed had dreamed about Paul and his life years before. After telling Evelyn this, he goes to Denver to find the next woman. He gets there, is arrested by the cops alerted by Evelyn, and the boy girls the woman before Paul can contact her. Alva shows up and reveals to Paul about what made him begin his searching; he heard his mothers voice in some bird calls a year after she had died. He gives Paul the last known address of the last person. Getting their, Paul is able to stop the boy from killing the man. However, in the cop car, the boy tells Paul he had seen "God is Now Here" as he had as well as Tommy. He says God wanted him to kill the nine people who had seen the message wrong, because they will bring horrible things. In the police station, the boy then kills himself after taking an officiers gun. The episode ends with Paul not telling Alva the truth, but still will help the organization.

It is really sad that this was the last episode because it really starts to show the focus of what the main storyline is and man, is it ever a stunning revealation. Was it really God? If so, what could these people have possibly done if they lived? I am beginning to think that the Darkness is using Tommy, or a derivation thereof, to sway Paul. This was a very engaging story with a good uppercut blow at the end. Skeet's acting was amazing as well. Such a shame.

Score: 9.2 / 10

Angel - S1E13

She
First Aired: February 8, 2000

When confronted with a mysterious extra-dimensional woman, he gets pulled into helping oppressed women from her world.

After an intro of Cordelia's house warming and of a man opening a burning box, this episode begins with Angel formally asking Wesley to join him and Cordelia. Cordelia ends up having a vision shortly thereafter. Angel investigates the warehouse where the man was burning alive and Angel is confronted with the demon Tae. Shortly, he meets Jheira, a woman from the Odin Tal dimension. Women in that dimension are "nurtured" by the men to make them subservient, but Jheira has found a way to bring them over to this world.

This was a somewhat interesting story that I feel I missed the first time around (as has been the case with most of the first season of Angel). The best part, I believe, was at the beginning where Angel pictures himself dancing and then near the end when Angel tries to crush the coffee beans. It was a nice, little one-off story, but I was expecting to see something from Wolfram and Hart having dealings with the men. The action sequences were the other high point.

Score: 7.8 / 10

Buffy - S4E13

The I in Team
First Aired: Tuesday February 8, 2000

Buffy finally joins up fully with the Initiative, to Willows dismay. Still, something isn't right as Professor Walsh has to deal with Buffy's abrasive approach to slaying.

The episode begins with Xander, Anya, and Willow musing about the Initiative and how it might not be a good thing for Buffy to be a part of them. Buffy is missing from the gang because she is out working and fighting with the Initiative. The next day, Willow reminds Buffy they are to meet at the Bronze to all hang out, but when Buffy gets the grand tour of the Initiative, along with being given a pager, Buffy brings along Riley and some of the guys. Not long after arriving, though, they leave as their pagers beep. Buffy asks too many questions at the monster briefing, which seems to perturb Walsh much. Two scenes are interlaced then; one where Riley and Buffy face the creature and a jump to their sex scene afterward. Walsh monitors this in the base and begins to despise Buffy. She decides it might be best to dispose of her. Sending Riley after a now tagged Hostile-17 (Spike), she sends Buffy alone under false pretenses. Buffy ends up facing two very tough demons that she had seen contained in the Initiative. The rest of the Scoobies are able to remove the tracker from Spike before Riley and his guys could get to Giles place. Upon returning, Walsh tells Riley that Buffy is dead. However, Buffy shows up on the communication monitor to threaten Walsh because she knows it was a set-up. Riley, seeing the truth, stoically walks away as Walsh calls after him. Buffy joins the Scoobies and Spile to tell them that it isn't safe for any of them. The episode ends after Walsh makes a monologue about how she can still fix things, but she is killed by a newly awakened Adam, the experiment housed in room 314.

This was a good episode. The humor with Spike, as well as with Buffy and the Initiative, were spot on. Filming of the fight/sex scene between Riley and Buffy was also very well done. We also begin to see the relationship between Willow and Tara begin to take form. Finally, I am glad to see Walsh go, because she was a very deceptive and deceitful person.

Score: 8 / 10

Monte Cook's Ptolus - City by the Spire 2 of 6

Issue 2
Written by Monte Cook

Sheva Callister knows she’s on a wild goose chase - but she’s in too deep now, and her ghostly partner is destroyed in a surprising skirmish. With the help of a couple of hired swords, Sheva continues her journeys through Ptolus, the city by the spire, hoping to uncover who - or what - is behind her trouble. But danger lurks at the end of this chapter, and Sheva may not live to see the end of the story!

The issue begins with a flashback of three years ago, showing Sheva and Pallen taking on the dragon to get the Crown of Ki-Lias. The flashback ends after Pallen is incinerated. Back in the present, Sheva is still facing off against Godfred Vladaam as Allister Vladaam, his brother, looks on. They are demanding her hungersword, which Sheva had revealed in the first issue that it was something their father, Itistrul, wanted. Using an old magical device, she is able to escape through the window only to be surrounded by werewolves such as those she encountered on the way in. She explains what she had done to their companions and that they should know she has a hungersword. They back off as she gets away. Elsewhere, a hellhound enters the city, most likely in search of Sheva.

The following day, Sheva begins to investigate who might be behind the trap at House Vladaam. She believes Lord Dorant of Khatru believed the Brooch of Khatru really was there, but to play safe, she tries to get answers from Norvan, a waiter/butler of House Khatru. He tells her that the information on the Brooch came from Havander, a mage working for the Sorn, a mercenary sorcerer group. Deciding she needs back up, Sheva calls upon old friends Daersidian Ringsire and Brusselt Airmol who agree without any questions. Another one page flashback shows Sheva conferring with a Gaen priest about bringing Pallen back, but since he was holding the Crown when incinerated, he is stuck between worlds. She then vows to get a necromancers help.

The three go to find the sorcerer, but encounter the Shuul guarding the place. The Shuul are an organization bent on bringing science and technology back to the forefront of the world. After invisibly scouting the building, Brusselt says there are many Shuul and some mages inside. The three agree that the direct approach would be best. Another quick flashback before the battle shows Pallen and Sheva talking for the first time thanks to ghostweed. He is grateful for her being his friend and doing this. Sheva confronts Havander after a bloody entrance to his hideout and questions him where he got his information. It turns out it came from Kevis Killraven, one of two major players in the criminal underworld of Ptolus. With their guard down, they didn't realize that additional Shuul were in the complex. They come bursting through the door, guns blazing, and gun down Sheva. The issue ends with a panel of her shot to hell looking dead.

Wow, I am glad that I went out of my way to find this second issue. As with the first, the art is amazing and really adds a lot of atmosphere to the comic. Monte Cooks world just gets more and more complex. Certainly, technology in medieval settings isn't something new, it was fun to see the Shuul look kind of Matrix-y. I also like the added friends of the elf and halfling. They are very neutral characters, enjoying killing but not being evil about it. I am getting a suspicion that Pallen has had a hand in what is happening. This may be payback for what Sheva had done by not helping him. I am very pleased with this comic and where it is headed.

Score: 4 / 5