Pendragon Comics - The Pendragons

The Pendragons

Issue # 50

Brought together in defense of Avalon and the British Isles, the Pendragons are the officially-sanctioned heroes of Great Britain. Originally led by the Black Knight, the group is composed of surviving members of the old Knights of Pendragon group, as well as several other heroes. Willing to die for their beliefs, the Pendragons stand united as England's best defense against threats of a superhuman nature.

Special "Silver Anniversary" Pendragons logo created by Kell Carpenter, inspired by the logo created by Des Davies!

Pendragons Roll-Call: Pretty much everyone.

Written by Barry Reese
Plot Assistance by Gary Halpin

What Has Come Before: Adam Crown, ruler of Darkmoor, has asked Ginny Halpin for her hand in marriage. The ceremony has quickly become the event of the season, attracting continent-wide attention. In addition, Suzi Endo has located a new member for the team -- the durable Android Andy. Unfortunately, not all is going well for the Pendragons as one of their number, Shamrock, has mysteriously gone missing....

Molly Fitzgerald groaned in agony, feeling her broken ribs re-knitting themselves beneath her flesh. The last thing she recalled was Bruce striking her, sending her flying out into the sea... and then came darkness, punctuated by the lapping of the waves.

"I drowned," she whispered, water bubbling out over her lips and making her words almost inaudible. "I'm dead."

A fiery shape filled her vision, looking both beautiful and terrifying. Resurrection is at hand.

The emerald-skinned scientist sat hunched over a desk, using specially modified equipment that fit his oversized fingers and hands. A small pair of glasses were perched on his nose and a ponytail stretched down his back, over the large white lab coat he wore. She thought she noticed an odd lump on his back, but passed it off as her imagination... she'd seen him without his coat just yesterday and there was nothing strange about him then. Well, no more than normal anyway.

Seeing that the Hulk was too engrossed in his work to notice her, Shevaun Haldane -- the techno-mage known as Dark Angel -- stepped up to his side. She caught a glimpse of his notes, but could make little sense of them. They looked like gibberish, with various small doodles lining the pages. "Bruce," she began, reaching out to touch his sleeve. "I wanted to let you know that Betsy and I went on patrol again. There's no sign of her."

Robert Bruce Banner stopped in his writing, seeming to finally realize that he wasn't alone. He smiled wanly at his teammate. "Shevaun! Sorry... I didn't hear you." He took notice of her expression and sighed. "Damn. Where could she be?"

"I don't know." Shevaun crossed her arms, looking thoughtful. She was in full costume, her black leotard clinging tightly to her curves. Bits of metal lined the suit, melding technology to the Fabric of the Universe she wore. "It's been over a week. I feel like we're all failures for not being able to find her."

Bruce looked sad, as well. His heavy brow-ridge creased slightly. "I can't help thinking it was my fault. I... I may have pushed her too quickly. It's just that I haven't felt this way for a woman in a long, long time."

"I didn't want to be the one to broach the subject, but... she left all her belongings here. Neither Betsy nor I can trace her telepathically. It's possible that whatever's happened... she might not be alive anymore."

The Hulk rose from his chair, towering over Dark Angel. He looked at her with eyes filled with intermingled rage and sorrow. "I won't think that way until I see a body. And I don't think you should, either. Because if you think she might be dead, it might keep you from searching as hard as you should... And you know she'd give 100% for you."

Shevaun said nothing as the Hulk stepped from the room, seething. She knew how he felt -- helplessness was the worst sensation she could imagine. Especially when the person you most wanted to help was someone you loved.

A soft mental caress brought a smile to Shevaun's lips. It was a touch she knew intimately, for Betsy Braddock and she had forged a very strong bond with one another. Not only were they both rebels of a sort, but the fact that each possessed telepathy meant that they could share far more than mere words. Shevaun, are you ready to go?

What's right? Shevaun replied, moving towards the Hulk's work area. He'd left his notes behind and she couldn't deny a bit of scientific curiosity. In addition to the dark arts, her father Ranulph had trained her in a wide variety of sciences... She knew Banner's work was probably out of her league, but still... I don't know Molly all that well, but she doesn't seem the type to just run off on her own. One of our enemies must have gotten her.

I hope not. Old men are the worst sort of villains. Their hips break so easily and then I feel all guilty, like I'm trashing my own gran--

Betsy stopped in her tracks, surprised by the intensity of feeling that she felt from Shevaun. She was in her room, packing her bags for the trip to Darkmoor. All of the Pendragons had been invited for the royal wedding and Betsy could scarcely wait. She loved dressing up, even after all her years of modeling. What is it, Shevaun?

Downstairs, in the Hulk's lab, Shevaun Haldane was staring at the Hulk's notes. She lifted one up in her fingers, her eyes boring holes through it. "Bugger me," she whispered.

Betsy saw the images flash through her mind, transmitted via their link. On the page, intermingled with the equations and notes, were hastily scrambled words Let me out; dead; bitch is dead; fixit; sam, my name is sam; anger/merge/personality. But most frightening of all was a small doodle of a woman's head, the symbol of a shamrock sketched onto her forehead. A huge 'x' had been over her features, the force having driven straight through the paper and onto the desk beneath.

As one, the two women said "He killed her," and felt equal mixtures of dread and terror.

Most of the Pendragons had left for Darkmoor the night before, but Suzi Endo remained in her room. She had been invited to attend the ceremony, but she'd never felt a kinship with Adam Crown... in fact, she thought he was a terrible choice for Ginny Halpin. At the moment, she was tinkering with her old Cybermancer armor, trying to boost the power relays so that they could tap into the ambient magical energies that surrounded the island.

"Betsy's called for a lockdown of the castle. She and Shevaun are headed to Bruce's quarters even now."

Suzi looked up, seeing the holographic form of Gulliver Jones floating before her. "What's going on?"

Suzi sighed. As annoying as the old PLATO unit had been, Gully had refined sarcasm to new heights. "What is wrong with Dr. Banner?" she asked, her voice slowly dipping from irritation to outright anger.

The expression on Gully's face changed a bit, reflecting the seriousness of what he was about to say. "They believe he is responsible for Ms. Fitzgerald's disappearance."

Suzi uttered an expletive in Chinese. If Banner had gone crazy again, there was no way in hell that two Pendragons -- even two as creative and powerful as Captain Britain and Dark Angel -- could stand against him. Without thinking it through fully, she pulled the Cybermancer uniform to her. The suit had teased her for months, but she'd held off on using it, fearful of becoming everything that her doppleganger had been*. Now, though, there was no denying that it was needed.

"But why me? Of all the people in the world, why me?" Molly's voice was incredulous, full of curiosity. She had no conception of how much time had passed... all she knew was warm flame and tantalizing words.

You have the fires of creation within you, the entity answered. You reshape reality.

And what is luck, other than a form of reality manipulation? Your limits have never been explored... Join me. I will show you the mysteries that lie behind the stars.

The Hulk was waiting for them in his private quarters. The doorway to the terrace was open, letting in a stiff breeze, but he seemed not to care as he stood before them in his lab coat and oversized clothes. His eyes were shadowed and sunken, making him appear even more dangerous than usual.

Captain Britain, flanked by Cybermancer and Dark Angel, stepped into the room, noting the smell of sweat and urine that permeated the place. The bed was overturned and all of Bruce's belongings were in a shambles, having been strewn about in an obvious rage. "Bruce... If you need help, we're here for you."

The Hulk smiled coldly. There was definitely something different about him, as if he were an entirely new person. "Take a good look at me, Betsy... Do I really look like I need anybody's help? I'm the most powerful being on the planet."

Betsy returned his grin, with just as much malice. Though she was regarded as extremely compassionate by most who knew her, she had also been trained as an assassin by the Hand organization. As such, she had no qualms about doing whatever she deemed necessary. "Suzi, do your thing."

Cybermancer activated her cybercloak, a protective shield that wrapped itself around her body like a force field. It wouldn't stand up to the Hulk's strength, she knew, but it offered better protection than nothing at all. At the same, she let loose a volley of E.C.M. Drogues. The Drogues were small computerized drones that sought out the Hulk, latching onto his emerald skin and emitting a powerful electrical discharge. Lightning crackled around the gamma-powered hero, staggering him.

"Now!" Betsy yelled, as she and Shevaun launched painful mental probes at their teammate. Despite his great strength, the Hulk was vulnerable to telepathic assaults, leaving them confident that he would fall before them.

The Hulk clutched at his head and made a strange noise, starting deep in his throat. To the dismay of his attackers, the noise became clearer as it grew in volume. It was laughter. "You might have stood a chance with that, were Dr. Banner still in control here... But he is not." The Hulk's smile returned as both Betsy and Shevaun screamed in agony. The two women clutched at their skulls as if knives were being plunged into them.

Cybermancer watched in shock as her friends fell to their knees... It looked like the Hulk had taken them by surprise, but how? What was he -- Telepathy, she realized. He's attacking them telepathically!

The Hulk turned his attentions on Suzi, his laughter slowing to a trickle. "And now you, Ms. Endo... If you're brave enough, that is. Your whole career has been one missed opportunity after another, hasn't it? At some point, one has to wonder if you're simply not built for success."

Suzi wondered at the Hulk's voice, which was altering to match his demeanor. It sounded somewhat arrogant now and nothing at all like Bruce Banner. Gritting her teeth, she lunged forward, very much aware that she was committing suicide. In the end, what else could she do? These people had risked their lives for her and others like her so many times....

The Hulk caught her by the throat, holding her several inches off the floor. He reached out with his other hand, flicking her visor away with a finger. He saw her features contorted in agony. "Such a beautiful young woman... The sort who used to look down upon men like me. Even after my transition into the greatest mind on Earth, women still scorned me. But now -- Now I am the perfect blending of the mind and body."

Suzi Endo wanted to scream, but her airway was blocked... She felt her vision begin to swim and then she was free of him, being tossed aside like a rag doll. She struck the wall, leaving a trail of thick blood as she slid to the floor.

The emerald giant looked at each of the women in turn, pondering what he should do with them. His control over the Hulk's form was still somewhat tenuous, though it had been growing stronger and stronger. Should he risk his hold over the Hulk in an attempt to mentally enslave the women? No. There will be time enough for that later... No need to take chances before I've asserted my control.

The Hulk looked down in surprise. Captain Britain was on all fours, a bit of blood spilling from her lip. "I'm surprised you're still conscious... But no matter." He raised a huge boot, holding it above her head. "You look good on your knees... and it's appropriate, too. You should always bow down before your Leader."

Molly flew from one end of the Barrier to the other, her mind lost in the stars. She felt beyond human now, merged with an entity as old as time. She saw the births of whole civilizations and she knew the folly of all those worlds, each thinking they would withstand the rigors of time. Each had slowly faded into extinction, in a process that seemed never-ending.

She thought of her father, who had tried to strike her down as a monster... He had seen her powers as something from the devil. He had allied himself with a villain named Arnim Zola in an attempt to kill her....

Look at me now, she thought. You'd barely recognize me, daddy. Her flames grew hotter around her. I hope it's warm in Hell.

"Weddings and birthdays are two of my favorite things," Android Andy said. He was standing outside the newly renovated church in Darkmoor, where numerous followers of King Adam were putting last-minute touches on the decorations.

Rathoon, stylishly dressed in a dark suit, smiled rakishly. The dragon had recently mastered the art of creating a humanoid form and was displaying it as often as possible. "I quite agree... though dragon marriages are a wholly different sort of affair."

"Well, they take place several hundred feet in the air, for one thing." Rathoon looked skyward. It was quickly heading towards evening, but the weather was very nice. A stiff wind was blowing, but the temperature was warm and the skies were clear. "I'm glad you've joined the team, Andy... Particularly since I'm about to take my leave of them."

"Oh no! Not at all... It's just that I've recently heard about some dragon sightings in Ireland. I'd like to take a bit of holiday and investigate. I've invited along Fin Fang Foom and Izzy."

"Oh, perhaps... She told me she couldn't come with us because of her commitments to W.H.O., so she might look into joining in my stead. But I doubt it... She finds all the mysticism surrounding us a bit hard to take."

"Hello, gents!" Breeze James, dressed in a short skirt and off-the-shoulder blouse, sauntered up to the two heroes. She had been very dour in the weeks immediately following the Jaspers Warp, but her natural good spirits were beginning to return. "Adam wants to make sure we'll all staying for the dinner tonight."

Andy nodded with enthusiasm. "Though I do not draw nourishment from human food, I would be most honored to attend. In fact, I know a number of songs that might liven the--"

Breeze waved his words away. She liked Andy -- it was hard not to -- but his constant attempts to share songs or bits of old stories got old fast. "Good enough. Wynter and Kate just arrived, so pretty much the whole Pendragons gang -- old and new -- are here. We're still waiting on Betsy to bring the last of the Lyonesse crew, though." She smiled brightly. "Oh! And get this -- Jackie showed up about an hour ago. Big as a cow, but looking great... And she says that her son Kenneth is up and about again!"

Rathoon laughed. "You can't count a vampire out. Not ever." The dragon squinted off into the distance. He saw an emerald figure moving through the crowd, dressed in a lab coat that did nothing to hide his bulk. "There's one of our wayward Pendragons. Doctor Banner! This way!"

The Hulk noticed him and waved, but he never changed course. He headed straight for the palace, his face set in a mask of determination.

Breeze snorted in a most unladylike fashion. "That bloke thinks that just because you weight two tons and are strong as a tank, you can be rude to whomever you please."

Adam Crown stared at his reflection, wondering if he were living in a dream. Once upon a time, he'd been no different than any other young man in London... he'd had dreams of meeting the right woman, settling down to a life of teaching, growing old and fat while watching Manchester United win game after game....

But then the Lady of the Lake had appeared to him in his shower and announced he was King Arthur reborn.

Since then, his life had been a roller coaster of astronomical highs and terrible lows. He'd "died" in battle with the Red Lord, only to be reborn during the raising of the Black Mass Barrier. He'd proven himself a valuable member of the Pendragons but had never won the compete respect of his peers. Then there was the fact that he'd fallen under the sway of Jim Jaspers, betraying his lady love and his teammates.

And now he was King of Darkmoor, with more and more converts coming to his side every day. Even the Royals had acknowledged his old claim to the throne of all England and it was an inevitability that he would choose to take that crown at some point.

So why, on the verge of so much grandeur and success, was his heart doing backflips in his chest?

Mordred the Evil stood nearby, scowling. He was dressed in emerald-tinted armor, his dark beard and hair looking somewhat unkempt. "You know what I think of that bird. She's weak and ill-suited to the role of Queen."

Adam smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Is it so terrible being here, Mordred? You sound as if you detest me with every word."

"Come now -- You took a vow of fealty. You are my faithful servant, are you not?"

Mordred sneered in response "Is there some point to my being here, milord? Because if not, I would like to be excused."

"There is a reason, actually." Adam stepped over to him, looking resplendent in his golden armor. "I want you to swear something to me... that if something happens to me, you'll watch over and protect Ginny."

"Wouldn't you better off asking one of your Pendragon allies to do that?" Mordred asked suspiciously. "They actually have some appreciation for the cow that I might be lacking."

Adam's stinging slap echoed throughout the room and left a red handprint on Mordred's cheek. The evil mage touched his face in surprise. "She is soon to be your Queen. Show some respect. Now... Take the oath."

"Because there are worlds beyond this one, Mordred... And you know that I will my revenge upon you should you shirk your duty."

Mordred stared into the eyes of his worst enemy, seeing only steely resolve. "Very well. I take your damnable oath."

"Good man." The King turned towards the door as a servant stepped inside. "What is it, Eric?"

"One of your fellow servants of Avalon is here, my liege. Should I send him in?"

At Adam's nod, the man turned away. He returned a moment later with the powerful figure of the Hulk close behind. The servant and Mordred both left the room, leaving the teammates alone.

"I'm glad you made it, Bruce. It's going to be quite an event -- I just hope I don't screw something up."

The Hulk paused before nodding. "Betty was amazingly beautiful and much more than I ever thought I could get."

Adam smiled and sat down, gesturing for the Hulk to do the same. The larger man did so, causing the chair to creak in protest under his bulk. "So what did you want to see me for? Surely it was for more than a pep talk."

"I actually wanted to ask you about your sword... Caliburn. That's just another name for Excalibur, isn't it?"

"Well, people often confuse Excalibur with the Sword in the Stone. They're not one and the same. Excalibur was actually Arthur's second major blade and was an object of incredible mystical power... Caliburn is enchanted, too, mind you -- but it isn't nearly as potent."

The Hulk frowned slightly. "But I've heard you refer to your blade as Excalibur...."

"Because both the Lady of the Lake and Excalibur had told me that it was a part of that blade. And in many published texts, the names of the swords are used interchangeably. But the true Excalibur rests within Brian Braddock, just as the Amulet of Right does."

"No, it's just been enchanted to tap into the great power of Excalibur. It only grasps a small portion of it, relatively speaking." Adam leaned forward. "Now, tell me why you wanted to know all this."

"I'd read in the files that the Sword of Might was capable of granting extraordinary abilities upon its wielder. I thought it might help me cure my condition... rid me of the gamma powered fury that I still possess." The Hulk held up his hands, staring at them in disgust. "Molly's disappearance has only made me realize that my life is never going to be normal, not as long as I have the capability of becoming the Rampaging Hulk again. I hoped that the sword might cure me and fuse my different personalities back into the core persona -- Dr. Robert Bruce Banner."

Adam looked thoughtful. "Well, I've never really tapped into most of the sword's power. Theoretically, I guess it might be able to accomplish what you're looking for -- the combination of the Sword of Might and the Amulet of Right are what allows Brian to do the amazing feats of healing that he's now known for."

"Could I try it?" the Hulk said. He extended an open hand. "If it fails, so be it. But I'd like to take the chance."

Adam sighed, not sure about pursuing this. But he also knew how badly self-loathing of any kind could be. He'd been crippled by his own doubts for far too long. In the end, he drew the sword forth and placed the hilt of the blade in the Hulk's hand. "Good luck."

The Hulk held the sword aloft, his smile growing cold. Energy began to race along the length of his arm, casting his emerald skin in shades of blue. "It's astonishing just how stupid you Pendragons are...."

Adam gasped as he realized that he had just made a terrible mistake. There was no sign of Bruce Banner left in those eyes which now turned towards him. The energy that had snaked about the Hulk was solidifying now into a sort of rough armor, akin to that which Adam himself wore. "What are you planning to--?"

The Hulk slammed the flat of the blade against Adam's shoulder. The strength of the blow shattered all the bones in the hero's left arm and set him hurtling towards the wall.

As Adam Crown fell into a stupor, the being in control of the Hulk brandished the sword like a new toy. "I appreciate you setting things in motion for me, 'King' Adam... This little kingdom of yours will be the perfect starting point for my own empire. An empire steeped in the cold, unflinching logic of the Leader."

Gray Poldark spent approximately 22 hours a day on the move. Cursed with a peculiar form of hyperactivity, he was constantly on the go, pumped full of adrenaline. In the past, he'd burned off excess energy by throwing himself into work and exercise... but as of late he'd found something better. He was now a costumed vigilante called Nocturne, charged with protecting London by his childhood idol, Night Raven*.

Nocturne knelt beside Captain Britain, slipping his hands under her mask and lifting it away. Her nearly flawless features looked relaxed, but he could see the hint in her thinly drawn lips. He'd come here in hopes of catching her before she left for Darkmoor, but had instead been met at the door by a holographic being named Gully. "How long has she been like this?"

"Nearly two hours. Vital signs for all three are strong, but we can't afford to wait any longer... the others need to be warned."

"Don't you have a way of contacting them?" Gray asked, turning Betsy's head to the side. There was a small bruise on the side of her forehead where she'd hit the floor, but -- like Gully had said -- there didn't appear to be anything serious.

"The Hulk took care to disable my long-range communicators before he left," Gully said, with a touch of anger in his words.

"He's not the Hulk," a female voice said, bringing both men around to look at her. It was Shevaun, who was now sitting up with her back against the wall. "Back away from her..." she warned, pointing a hand towards Betsy.

Gray did as he was told, watching in amazement as Dark Angel cast a healing spell on both Betsy and Suzi. The women glowed brightly for a moment as their wounds healed.

Nocturne offered a hand, enjoying the fleeting smile she gave him. "You said the Hulk didn't do this?" he asked of Dark Angel. "But Gully seems convinced otherwise."

"Our minds touched when he psi-blasted us... There's another entity inside the Hulk, controlling him. His name is Samuel Sterns, but he's better known as the Leader." Shevaun rose to her feet, stretching as she did so. "You know more about him, Gully?"

The holographic being nodded. His eyes were flashing as he accessed the team's databanks. "Samuel Sterns. Formerly a common laborer until exposed to high levels of gamma radiation. Gained genius-level intelligence, though it came with physical alterations including green-tinted skin and an enlarged cranium. Over the years, he's clashed repeatedly with the Hulk... Eventually founded a colony called Freehold, designed to serve as a home for gamma-irradiated humans. Attempted to mentally ascend to a higher plane but was apparently killed. Unconfirmed reports indicate that his consciousness may have survived, seeking mental domination over one of his former followers*."

"I think we can alter that report to say "confirmed reports" now, Gully." Captain Britain looked around Bruce's battered room. "Maybe Molly uncovered his secret and he had to deal with her. Bloody hell! How could we have missed this?" She turned to Shevaun. "We're both telepaths!"

"I may have an answer," Gully said. "For a number of weeks, the Hulk has been spending many hours in his lab, especially during the nighttime hours. I'm usually downloading news feeds during your sleep cycles, so I may have overlooked his actions. Perhaps the Leader was only coming forth at those times."

"None of that matters now," Nocturne pointed out. "Kicking yourselves isn't going to resolve anything. Does anything know what he was working on in the lab?"

"My records indicate that his recent research has been involving the mixture of gamma radiation, the Barrier Gene and mystic energies related to Avalon."

"On his notes -- there was a reference to Caliburn. That's another name for Excalibur -- Adam's sword draws its power from there."

She floated next to the western boundary of the Barrier, her new powers allowing her to peer past the mystical wall. Memories of a woman named Jean Grey flooded through her mind, showing her horrors too profound to bear. She pushed the thoughts away from her, looking back towards England. How long had it been, since she'd been flung into the icy waters by the Hulk?

He wasn't in his right mind, she thought to herself. There was something new in his eyes, something different.

Breeze James stood outside the great dining room doors, feeling a bit perturbed that they were locked. She'd been told that dinner started at seven o'clock sharp, but so far she was the only one on hand. That's what I get for being on time -- all the other Pendragons are 'fashionably late.'

She was smoothing down her elegant black dress when Andy stepped forward, with Rathoon looking dapper at his side. "Did you guys hear anything about the party being cancelled?"

Rathoon nodded, his slitted eyes sparkling. "There was a note under my door just now -- It said that the gala event had been cancelled and only current members of the Pendragons were to join Adam in the dining room."

"Too bad. I was really chuffed about meeting some eligible head-of-state," Breeze said.

The door opened then, unlocking and swinging open seemingly of its own accord. The three Pendragons stepped into the dining hall, impressed by the sheer length of the room. A table capable of seating nearly a hundred people dominated the room, with huge candle-bearing chandeliers illuminating the room. Exquisite tapestries hung on the walls, collected from anonymous donors loyal to Adam's cause.

But none of these things were what caught the attention of the three Pendragons. Even as the door shut and locked behind them, they were staring up at the head of the table... for there sat the Hulk, his massive physique emphasized by the golden armor he wore. Standing slightly behind him was Adam Crown and his bride Ginny, both bearing expressions of glazed peacefulness.

Rathoon was the first to break the silence, blurting out "What the shiznit is going on here??"

The Hulk rose from his seat, bearing an odd expression on his face. It took Breeze a second to place where she'd seen such faces before... and then she placed it. Once, years ago, she'd gone on assignment to Los Angeles. On the beach she'd stood and watched a group of body builders preening in front of the mirrors, showing off... the Hulk had that same air about him now, as if he were overly impressed with himself.

When the Hulk spoke, though, it was all too easy to ignore his expression... for the words were laced with menace. "Welcome to the new kingdom of Freehold II, where all those who are... different... will find a home. My main emphasis will be on gamma-irradiated beings, of course, but all others will be welcome as well."

Android Andy tilted his head to the side. "I am afraid I do not understand... Adam is giving power over his kingdom to you?"

"He's wearing Adam's sword," Breeze whispered. A sudden feeling of dread overtook her and she backed away, channeling her Pendragon spirit. Instantly, her fancy dress disappeared, leaving her clad in her yellow and orange battle suit. "Something's wrong here."

"That's putting it lightly," Rathoon rumbled. His humanoid form was beginning to shift, as if he were preparing to become a full dragon, despite being inside the palace. His skin became harder and more reptilian and wings protruded from his back, ripping through the jacket he wore.

The Hulk drew Caliburn, his eyes narrowing. "Don't worry -- the sword's only if you aren't going to prove susceptible to my new powers."

The Pendragons felt a presence invade their minds, wrapping around their brains and holding. Rathoon tried to resist, but the Leader's mind was far too powerful... even Andy seemed mesmerized.

"Well... the sword boosted my power just as I'd hoped." The Hulk reached up and touched a dot of blood that had begun to ooze from his left nostril. "But the more minds I control, the more taxing it becomes. I might have reached my limit." He reached back with an oversized hand and scratched a place just under his armor. The growth on his back was much larger now, having been egged on by his mental powers. Soon... Soon he would be ready.

Captain Britain took a deep breath before beginning, taking a moment to look around the circle. She felt her companions' minds linked to her own and drew strength from their presence. She knew that what awaited them could be very deadly indeed... On the trip over, she'd made several attempts to telepathically contact Adam or the others, but found them beyond her reach for some reason. But when she'd turned her attention to others....

All the reserve and active Pendragons that she could find were on hand: Big Ben, Dark Angel, Grace, Kate, Miracleman, Miraclewoman, Tangerine, both Thunderfists (who, Betsy noted, stayed far away from one another), Nocturne and Wynter. The only ones who had not answered the call were Spitfire (too pregnant to assist), Albion (still recovering from the Bane's possession) and the two outcasts -- the Black Knight and Sersi, neither of whom would ever be welcome in their ranks again.

"The Hulk has been possessed by the Leader... How difficult it will be to reach Bruce Banner's mind -- if at all possible -- is unknown. In addition to the Hulk's incredible strength, the Leader has a number of mental abilities that put him on par with the most powerful telepaths. We also believe that he may have Adam's sword in his possession, which could increase his powers by an unknown degree. This could get ugly."

The enigmatic mage called Wynter said "We should try and limit the severity of our attacks in hopes that Banner can be saved."

"That may not be possible, mate." Big Ben tugged at this gloves, making sure they were securely in place. "Crime waits for no man, after all. And I--"

"Have no time for crime. Yes, we know." Kate McClellan resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She didn't take well to some of the Pendragons who joined after she'd left the group... too many of them seemed odd for the sake of being odd. A bowler-wearing superhero? A distaff version of Miracleman? And some bloke who fancied himself a modern version of the old pulp hero, the Night Raven? Bizarre.

Betsy pressed on. Many of those in this group hadn't worked together before and she knew that personality conflicts were bound to arise. "Wynter says he can drop us right into the heart of the palace... Assuming the Leader's still there, maybe we can take him by surprise. Our best guess about his plans are that he's looking to create a new Gamma Bomb... one that's set to interact with the so-called Barrier Gene that Moira McTaggert discovered. We found a new notes back at Lyonesse indicating he's been doing research into the effects that Gamma radiation might have on the Gene."

Nocturne cleared his throat, indicating that he had something he wished to say. At Betsy's nod, he stepped forward. "Sorry for butting in here, since very few of you know me at all... but I was thinking that we should make some hard and fast plans before we drop in and start fighting. Maybe we could have the weaker members -- like myself -- focus on getting civilians out of the way, while the stronger folks -- I'm thinking the Miracles, Big Ben, Betsy, etc. -- focus on the Hulk. Eventually all of us might be needed to take him down, but our first priority should be minimizing the danger to bystanders."

"That's a good idea," Betsy said. She was impressed with the way Gray handled himself... he always seemed so confident, almost as if he knew how things were going to turn out -- and that it would all be okay. She wondered if she'd ever have that much faith in herself. "Everyone ready? Then let's do this...."

The Leader tossed aside a half-eaten roast chicken, letting it splatter to the floor. The Hulk's body required enormous amounts of food to sustain it, which had led the villain to gorge himself on the lavish meal that had been prepared for the party. Sweat poured off his body and he felt fevered and angry. In addition, the growth on his back was no huge... far too big to fit beneath the armor he'd worn. The Leader had taken off the chest piece to let it breathe. It looked bulbous and fluid-filled at the moment.

He rose from the table, staggering towards Ginny Halpin. The girl wore a lovely lavender dress that brought out the color of her eyes exquisitely. The Leader had spent quite a bit of time staring at her beauty, wondering if he could force her to share his bed... he'd heard Adam Crown's insipid whining about how the girl had been violated by Jim Jaspers. If that simpleton could enjoy her pleasures, why shouldn't the Leader?

He started to reach out and rip her garment from her when his hand stopped in midair, trembling. He felt Banner within, straining to regain control. "Go away," he hissed. "My mind sought out yours months ago, worming its way inside just like I did with Omnibus*. You belong to me now... I've expended too much effort to--"

(*The Leader's old henchman, see Incredible Hulk # 440 for his most recent appearance)

The Leader paused in his actions, pleased to feel Banner's mind retreating from his own. He had felt a brief intrusion into his thoughts, just as he'd suppressed the uprising in his brain. The Pendragons had arrived....

Miracleman was the first to burst through the dining room's door, closely followed by Miraclewoman. They looked like beautiful golden gods, their eyes twinkling with all the majesty of heaven. It made the Leader sick.

The Leader roared his defiance, feeling an uncharacteristic flood of adrenaline. He'd always been a planner more than a fighter, but the Hulk's body seemed to demand the release of physical combat. Rushing forward, he slammed his fists against Miracleman in a blow so mighty that the entire palace shook.

Miraclewoman wrapped her hands about his throat as Miracleman staggered from the blow he had taken. The Leader psi-blasted her until she released him, then shook off a punch from Miracleman.

Captain Britain rushed forward in an attempt to strike the Leader with her psychic knife, but the villain caught her with a backhand before she got close enough. Dark Angel unleashed a powerful energy burst that staggered the behemoth, though, knocking him back on his heels.

A short distance away, Big Ben and the Thunderfists saw their opportunity. The three of them lacked the sheer power of the Miracles, but they were more than capable of adding raw power to the team's array. "Come along, mates -- It's our turn now!" Ben yelled.

Before he managed to take a single step, however, Breeze sped towards him. Her wrist-blade dug deep into Ben's stomach, causing blood to spurt in a thick wave.

Robbie Sinclair, the male Thunderfist, felt his heart skip. This was exactly what they had feared -- that the Leader had turned the other Pendragons against them. True enough, he saw the android -- Andy -- moving towards him. "Sorry to do this to a fellow Pendragon," Robbie whispered, "But there's no way around it." He slammed a powerful roundhouse against Andy's head, sending a thundering boom throughout the room.

Robbie's sister Izzy found herself squaring off against her friend Rathoon. The dragon was in some sort of intermediate form between human and dragon, his wings bearing him aloft. "Please, Rathoon... Don't make me do this!"

The dragon didn't respond, but his lips tugged upwards as if amused. Izzy realized that he wasn't frightened of her in the least... and with good reason. He was the last of the Elder Dragons and heir to a power older than man. He opened his mouth and belched forth a plume of fire. The flames engulfed her, causing her to scream in terror.

"Izzy!" her brother cried. He tried to reach his sister, desperate to save her despite the strains in their relationship. She blamed him for so many things, including the death of their father... but they were blood and that could not be ignored. He grabbed for her, but she whirled away, her flesh beginning to fall away in wet strips.

Dark Angel cursed under her breath, watching the whole affair. She broke off her assault on the Leader and focused her magic on Izzy. She managed to suffocate the flames and keep her in a form of stasis, but it was obvious that her burns were quite bad and would require a lot of medical care. Rathoon's going to hate himself when all this over. He really cares for her.

Meanwhile, the Leader stepped back, breathing heavily. His head pounded and the growth on his back hung heavy and full. Caliburn gleamed in his grip and he bellowed "Come on, you cretins! I've dreamed of having the power to do this -- Bring it on!"

Miraclewoman did just that, despite the terror that she'd felt. It hadn't been too long ago that she'd been simple Winter Moran, housewife and mother. Now she was practically a goddess, fighting monsters that would have sent her screaming away in days past.

The Leader cared nothing for the woman's responsibility as a mother -- she was an enemy and he was increasingly beyond caring about anything other than fighting. He stabbed upwards as Miraclewoman came forward, catching her just below her ribs. Despite the fact that she and Miracleman were immensely powerful, they could not compare to the Hulk's massive strength. The sword burst through her skin, protruding out the other side.

Miracleman caught her in his arms, gently carrying her to the floor as the battle continued around them. Their relationship was a complicated one to say the least, but he responded warmly when she squeezed his hand. "You'll pull through," he said. "We heal very quickly...."

Captain Britain saw all this but continued to press her own attack, noticing that the Leader was making a strong effort to protect the odd growth on his back. Betsy stared at it for a moment, not even noticing that a bloodied Big Ben was battling Rathoon right next to her. The dragon had his teeth buried deep in Ben's shoulder while the Man with No Time for Crime pounded away on the side of his attacker's head.

Within the growth sac, Betsy saw what looked like amniotic fluid... and a spindly figure, curled up like a fetus. Captain Britain waited until Miracleman had risen from the side of his partner, catching the Leader's attention once more. Just when it was obvious that the villain was completely ignoring her, she flew up beside him and grabbed hold of the sac. Pulling with all her strength, she was rewarded with an earth-shattering scream from the Leader. Green-tinted blood, along with thick fluid, gushed out over Betsy's uniform.

She backed away quickly, staring in open-mouthed horror at what spilled out from the ruins of the sac. It was a green-skinned man, nude, with an elongated cranium. A thin bit of hair was growing about its mouth and chin, making it easily recognizable. Betsy summoned her psychic knife and raised it high, intending to end this new threat....

The Leader, meanwhile, was in a rage of anger and pain. He gripped Miracleman hard about the throat and threw him away, not caring that the hero struck Breeze and knocked her out of the fray. He had other, greater concerns.

Using techniques he'd learned from studying the High Evolutionary's recent cloning experiments*, he'd grown himself a new body -- a strong one, built out the Hulk's own powerful flesh. "Don't touch that!" he yelled, but he knew that Betsy Braddock would ignore him... his beautiful new form would die, unless he acted quickly.

Just before Betsy's knife struck home, the Leader's cloned body opened its eyes for the first time. It rolled away from the blow, which missed it by mere inches.

Captain Britain cursed, watching as the Leader struggled to his feet. The new body's muscles were still weak, but she could see powerful musculature... and realized that this new body of his contained at least some of the Hulk's strength. "You bastard... You're in there, aren't you? You hopped in at the last bloody minute...."

She stepped towards him, watching as he sneered in response. "You can't stop me, Braddock! I've watched and studied you from the interior of Banner's brain! I know you!"

Captain Britain stopped in her tracks as a strong hand came to rest on her shoulder. "Let me do that, Betsy... If you don't mind, that is." Bruce Banner, the Incredible Hulk, stood beside her. His back was a bloody ruin and he looked half-crazed with pain, but there was no denying the fact that he looked damned good to Betsy at that moment.

Betsy forced a smile, looking past her teammate to see that Adam Crown and Android Andy -- the two remaining members of the Leader's mind controlled group -- were now free and stared about themselves in confusion. "You have his sword. He doesn't have the strength to control anyone else now...."

The Hulk looked down at the blade, as if seeing it for the first time. "So I do." He tossed it to Adam Crown, who snatched it out of the air. "I believe this pig sticker is yours," he said. Then he turned back to his old foe and cracked his knuckles. "Normally I try to avoid saying this, Sterns... I really do. But sometimes it really does sum up the whole spectacle."

"What do you mean?" the Leader said, his eyes narrowed. He had backed away slightly, well aware that he was now vastly outnumbered -- a fact made even more apparent when the remaining Pendragons burst into the room, led by Nocturne.

The Leader said nothing, though the words echoed of their own accord in his head.

The first blow from the Hulk sent the Leader hurtling out of the palace, through a gaping wall in the stone. A powerful flex of his legs sent Banner flying after his old foe. He landed with earth-shattering power, his eyes narrowed as the Leader rose to his feet once more.

The villain held up a hand. "Stop this, Banner... Now, more than ever, you and I should be united in this. Think of the possibilities! We alone have the power to bring order to all this chaos! We can rule side-by-side--"

"Just shut up," the Hulk replied, throwing himself against the Leader. The two men began trading blows, each shot being more than enough to rip a normal man in half. The Leader found himself unable to concentrated on his tremendous mental powers, though, making the conflict a bit more one-sided than it would have been otherwise.

The Hulk grabbed hold of the Leader's throat, hefting him up high. "You bastard... You made me kill a woman I loved very much. How many times do you think you can steal from me and not have me kill you? How many times?? Tell me!"

Banner's grip tightened and he saw the Leader's eyes begin to bulge. "This is for Molly."

She landed in front of him, her flames dying away. She was truly touched to see how how much emotion was present in the Hulk's eyes. Molly embraced him quickly, smiling as he lifted her easily in his arms."I'm back, Bruce... Better than ever." She pulled back slightly, looking deep inside him. "I know it wasn't you who hurt me."

"You didn't." She reached up and brushed away a tear that ran down his emerald cheek. "Don't we have a wedding or something to go to?" she asked, laughing softly.

"Adam, I promise to love you for both your strengths & your weaknesses. I promise to be your lover, your companion and friend, your partner in parenthood, your ally in conflict, your comrade in adventure, your encouragement in adversity, your confederate in revelry, your accomplice in mischief, and your associate in the search for enlightenment."

Adam Crown stood before his wife, seeing the love shining in her eyes, and he felt close to weeping himself. The ceremony had gone off beautifully, with a ceremony that was the envy of lovers both young and old throughout Europe. Television cameras whirred silently away as Adam leaned forward to kiss the new Queen of Darkmoor. It was a moment that none present would ever forget -- even Harrison Halpin, whose hatred for the Pendragons had been birthed in loss and pain felt his heart lift at the sight before them.

The King and Queen turned to face their assembled friends and followers. A brief smile between the two of them turned into a tumult of celebration as they raised their joined hands high.

Gray Poldark stood off to the side, watching the end of the ceremony with a sense of detachment. He felt like an outsider at the moment, intruding on a private affair... not that it was very private, with all the cameras and heads-of-state. Even Doom had sent a present from Latveria -- though Gray wouldn't have been the one to open it for all the money in the world.

He stepped back, hiding himself in the shadows. To his surprise, he felt a body behind him. Ready to apologize, he turned around and saw the crudely sculpted face of Android Andy. "Sorry, mate... Hope I didn't hurt you."

Andy's sing-song voice sounded amused. "It would take far more to harm me, Mr. Poldark."

Gray watched the procession move from the chapel to the nearby meeting hall, where the reception would be held. He was surprised by how comfortable he felt around Andy... the thought of a mechanical man was strange to him. "Are you excited about being a Pendragon, Andy?"

Gray thought of his own father... distant and stern. It seemed silly to envy a robot's relationship with the man who built him, but he felt jealous nonetheless. He put an arm around his new teammate, glad to have someone equally new to pal around with. "Let's go sample the spread, shall we?"

Shevaun Haldane sipped her champagne and stared jealously at her best friend, ignoring the music and chatter surrounding them. The reception hall was packed with well-wishers, while the bride and groom sat at a large table near the front of the room. "If that was the case, Betsy, why did you elbow me in the ribs? You wanted that bouquet and you know it!"

Betsy smiled to herself. The bouquet was lovely... and she'd be an absolute liar if she pretended that it meant nothing to her. Still, being Captain Britain left precious little time to think about marriage.

Betsy looked up, following Shevaun's gaze. Molly Fitzgerald was dancing with the Hulk, both of them looking more alive than she could ever recall. "It gets stranger every day," Betsy agreed. "Sometimes I wonder if we're really accomplishing anything... villains like the Leader or Blackheart come back all the time; while people like Peter Hunter and Gawain rot away in their graves."

"Molly's back," Shevaun pointed out. "Sometimes we get the benefit of death's revolving door, too. Are you worried about us losing Rathoon and Adam?"

"Not really... I mean, I'll miss them -- even Adam -- but we'll be okay. Andy and Nocturne will be capable replacements... and Molly's got a pretty big power boost." Betsy stirred her own drink with a straw. "But I was an X-Man and I've heard all about what the Phoenix Force can do to a person... I hope Molly knows what she's let herself in for."

"This whole Phoenix thing... It's kind of like the Pendragons as a whole. Every time it looks like we're down for the count, we replenish ourselves, come back from the brink." Shevaun smiled, her eyes twinkling. She raised her glass in a toast. "To new beginnings and the permanence of friends."

Betsy's glass clinked against her friends. She let her telepathy reach out, touching the minds of her teammates. Their happiness bolstered her own mood. "To new beginnings... and the permanence of friends."

Welcome! I hope you enjoyed our fiftieth issue -- it was quite a bear to write, but fun as well. Months ago, I told Avengers 2000 Editor-in-Chief Gary Dreslinski that I wanted to end Pendragons with issue 50. He argued against that decision, saying that I should end the series only when I have no more stories to tell... and that my fears of not "going out on top" were unfounded. After thinking it over, I decided that I do have more tales I'd like to share... but I'm not sure how many, to be honest. So there will be an issue 51... and an issue 52... and we'll keep going as long as it takes for me to end this saga.

A lot of people thought I'd be writing the Hulk out with this issue, but I never intended to do that. Despite the fact that his membership has been hotly debated, I enjoy writing the intelligent Bruce Banner -- and as long as I enjoy it, he's staying :-)

Beginning new issue, the team's lineup will be: Captain Britain, Nocturne, Shamrock/Phoenix, Android Andy, Hulk, Dark Angel and Breeze. A nice mix of members, I think, with some intriguing directions that they could go in. And what will the Pendragons do with the knowledge of what lies beyond the Barrier? Only time will tell...

Thanks! :-) Giving credit where credit is due, Gary H. is the guy who suggested infusing Molly with the Phoenix Force!

Well Barry, every time I think I get a handle on what you're doing and where you're going with the story you throw me a curve.

Bravo on this issue. For all your worries that UJ was flat (which is crazy, what you thought was flat, was easily better than half the fanfic I normally read) you were really on the top of your game with this issue. It made me want to read 50 right away.

You keep pushing the level higher and higher on Pendragon and I look forward to each issue as they come out.

Glad you enjoyed the Union Jack series, Robert. I had some fun with it but it just didn't turn out quite like I wanted. As for keeping you surprised with the twists and turns of the Pendragons saga, that's something I work very hard on. I like to shake things up from time to time, pulling the rug out from under you. Thanks for the comments!

With all the hoopla about the big five oh approaching I decided to catch up on my reading. A lot to take in, so excuse me if I jump around.

I like that you are using these three lead up issues to do smaller, tie up the loose end stories. These guys ( and me ) need a breather.

While I enjoy your take on the Hulk, he still doesn't work as a member of this team. I keep thinking there must have been someone a bit more UK related that could fit his role on the team.

I like what you're doing with the V-Battalion. Somebody needs to do a story or mini with them. Lots of potential here. I'm even starting to like evil Hammond. Okay, let's all say it together... Citizen V is... Bucky!!! I'll wait and see what you do with him, but you may have gone too far out on the ledge with this one.

Elsa and the new Strange have an interesting dynamic. I'm interested in seeing more of them.

Andy's got potential, but you are the guy that busted Gawain into tiny pieces. Not sure if I trust you with another robot.

If I even become a super hero, I'm joining the Pendragons. I can't think of any other group that gets to have sex this much. I'd be too tired to save the world.

It's always good to hear from one of our oldest supporters. Trav, as some of you probably remember, wrote issues 3 & 4 of this series and did a bang-up job on them! Glad you liked the approach I used for building up to issue 50... this issue has some surprises, a lot of action and a few surprises, I hope.

Sorry you don't care for the Hulk's role on the team. I'm a big fan of Peter David's run on the character and had a desire to use him somewhere -- and when Gary Halpin suggested Big Green for the team, I jumped at it. I've enjoyed him so far, but reaction has been mixed (to say the least).

The Bucky thing was what I always had in mind, dating back to "Citizen Doom." I played with just not saying it "out loud" but what the hey... He's Bucky. :-)

I agree re: Jackie. Her life has been hell lately. :-) At least now she has Kenneth back, right?

The Pendragons have a lot of good looking, young people on the group... many of them are in love (or lust) with their teammates and/or friends. Sex happens! I try not to be gratuitous, but I also want to be realistic.