Who IS the Munson?

The Shadow War crossover continues in Blood Syndicate #10, but what shape will the gang be in after their encounter with the Demon Fox?  You may remember that the last couple of issues of Blood Syndicate dealt with the Demon Fox decimating the team, incapacitating half of them by making them face their darkest fears while draining the life force of their leader Wise Son.  This issue, by the creative team of Ivan Velez, Jr. & ChrisCross, is a 48-page blockbuster that opens up with the team attempting to collect themselves after the battle.

Kwai, the sworn enemy of the Demon Fox and newly created alter ego of young Nina Lam, is able to return Wise son to his normal self by sharing some of her life energy with him.  Meanwhile, the rest of the syndicate pulls themselves together after they manage to shake off the after effects of Demon Fox’s attacks.  However, what they each saw hits each member differently.  Some let their guard down and reveal secrets they have wished to keep from the others, like Boogeyman & Masquerade.  Boogeyman changes back into his human form, which reveals him to be as Flashback calls him “just a White Boy”.   Masquerade just may have the biggest secret of all as HER true form is revealed:

This little exchange reminds Fade that his own secret came out during the battle, the fact that he is gay was revealed by the Demon Fox as she probed his mind.  He secretly hopes that everyone did not hear the Fox’s exclamation, or his deepest fear of having to “come out” to his gang will come true.

The gang assembles inside the factory and introductions are made to Kwai by Wise Son who insists to all that she is welcome on Syndicate turf.  No real objections are made particularly after she heals both Dogg’s wounds and DMZ’s broken psyche.  However, of note during the introductions is Kwai’s reaction to seeing Fade.  She seems to know him by sight as she notes:

It certainly appears that Kwai knows a little bit more about the Syndicate than she is letting on.  Her words seem to suggest that she has been in this situation before, almost saying that she is stuck in a cycle of rebirth sending her to this moment each time.  Clearly this new subplot will develop over time, as Ivan Velez’ scripts have shown he enjoys doing over the last few issues.  After her musings about her past/future,  Wise Son manages to convince Kwai that she should join the up with the Syndicate.  He sells her on the fact that they aren’t what they should be yet and that her healing powers could help them until they come into their own.  She is hesitant, but realizes it is something she must embrace.

So I bet you’re all wondering… hey what about this crossover thingie?  Well, while all this is going down, Dharma is in the Shadowspire.  He is once again seeing future visions, and decides it is time to try and recruit the Blood Syndicate.  He places a call to one of the members of the Shadow Cabinet, Sideshow, and tells him to put together a “recruitment party” and visit the gang members.  Sideshow uses the group’s communicator to contact one of the members of the Shadow Cabinet.  This member is also a city of Dakota police officer, who is on duty when he receives the call:

Mighty interesting that we have a police officer affected by the Big Bang, particularly since Icon can’t even place any member of the force on the scene in his investigation that takes place in his own series.  Meanwhile, never too far behind, the Star Chamber is preparing to make their move:

The Chamber is focusing on Fade & Flashback, but for what purpose they would use their temporal ability is unclear.  While these two groups make their plans, personal developments are afoot back at The Factory.  The strange underwater woman seen in previous issues “stalking” Wise Son is shown checking out DMZ as he continues his ever present vigil atop the Factory.  Masquerade is watching Fade rather sinisterly, thinking that he best not reveal the truth of his/her gender or Fade would regret it!  Perhaps the funniest/ quirkiest moment of the issue comes when Third Rail and Brickhouse are talking about some of her memories coming back as they are watching over Dogg:

Kind of embarrassing, but it leaves you wondering how in the name of hell that a brick-wall is going to get some action.  Plus, Dogg gets in another one of his classic lines, great writing and character development there.  Wise Son recovers from the site of T.R. & Brick going at it to assemble the group as the Star Chamber arrives.  The Chamber tries to recruit them, and they fail badly.  Unlike previous recruitments seen in this crossover, they try to sell the Syndicate on the power and wealth available to them if they join them.  Unlimited wealth and power would be theirs if the Chamber gets their services under “contract”.  They fail miserably in this attempt, as Wise Son proclaims that the Syndicate cannot be bought!  It is after this rejection that the Chamber decides that if they won’t join them, they won’t be around to join any organization and at that moment the Shadow Cabinet jumps into action:

Here is the first actual evidence that would suggest the Shadow Cabinet are definitely on the side of the angels, and that the Chamber is just another bunch of bad guys.  Since both sides want the Syndicate to join up, and the Syndicate wants both groups off their turf, you all know what is coming next!  It is time for the obligatory big crossover fight scene folks!  Each member of each group has time to shine in the next few pages as ChrisCross and Velez spotlight each character and have them show off their powers. The good guys (Syndicate & Cabinet for those keeping score) are of course close to winning the day when the fit proverbially hits the shan!  The Syndicate is playing “pig-pile” on the Chamber member Slag, when his power’s kick-in and his flesh begins to burn threatening to destroy everyone in sight.  Add that to his power-hungry attitude and you get one crazy out of control burning man.  Both the Chamber and Cabinet, realizing there is no hope in recruiting the gang, abandon the fight and teleport away rather than burn to death.  This leaves the Syndicate to deal with Slag, and how do you deal with fire?  Water, lots and lots of water.  Enter the strange water-woman, stage left please:

The watery stranger (go ahead and look… she’s at the top of the wave) has neutralized the threat of Slag for the Syndicate, and the issue ends with the realization that all that is left to do is clean up after their battle….. and boy do they hate housework!    

I totally dug this issue as the creative team have been firing on all cylinders for the past few issues on this book.  I was patricularly impressed with the fact that this issue really cemented the Syndicate firmly into the “gray area” of the Dakota-verse.  In rejecting both the Star Chamber and the Shadow Cabinet, the Syndicate shows that they embrace neither good nor evil in the world. They will do what they want, to whom they want, whenever they want to. Nothing will stand in their way, and consequences be damned.  It’s an interesting direction that normal super-hero groups really wouldn’t adopt.  They are also the only members of the Dakota-verse that have not gotten sucked into the Shadow War, despite some heavy recruitment from both sides. The rest of the crossover will tell whether or not they remain on the sidelines for good.

The next part of this crossover wings your way on Wednesday with Static # 8, so come on back then!*

*yes, I know I promised a whole week straight of columns, but between work and life there is just not enough time to get it all in.  I don’t know how some of you bloggers do it!

Posted on October 8th, 2007 by Munson
Filed under: Milestone Mondays