Pendragon Comics - The Pendragons #94

The Pendragons

Issue #94

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 the remnants 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.

Pendragons logo created by David Wheatley
based on designs by Des Davies and Kell Carpenter!

Written by David Wheatley

What's Been Happening: The Bane's influence over Adam Crown has been growing since the loss of the blessing of the Green upon the Pendragons, and with the aid of Mordred, Adam has surrendered to the Bane and has become the latest incarnation of the Red Lord. With Darkmoor within his grasp and Caliburn in his hand, the only one thing stands in his way - Union Jack, but he's going to need allies to stop the First Prime of the Bane!

Jacqueline Falsworth-Chapman, the Pendragon known as Spitfire, moved through the castle at super-human speeds, hunting for Pen Dragon and Jessica Drew. They had made their move and were trying to escape from the cells, though after Joey had talked to them, he was unsure that they were threats as Adam had said. It wasn’t difficult to find them, as they were knee deep in guards, though Jessica looked very pale, with Pen Dragon doing a lot of the work. He was firing barrage after barrage of hot knives, and he was ensuring that people didn’t die as well.

“ENOUGH!” she demanded and the fighting stopped as the guards knew that a Pendragon was here.

“The Bane is in Darkmoor,” Jessica said, coping with the obvious pain she was experiencing. Then Darkmoor shook. “No,” she whispered.

“Caliburn has shed innocent blood at the hand of the Red Lord,” she said, looking at him mournfully. “Adam Crown is lost to us, he’s been transformed.”

“How does she know all this?” Spitfire asked. Adam had never had this kind of connection with anyone.

Jessica turned to her. “I know because Adam and I are linked. Betsy did something to me with Excalibur, using the connection of that sword with Caliburn and affirmed it. We’re of the same heritage and what affects him also has an affect on me. There’s never been a situation where Arthur’s heirs are in the same place at the same time.”

“I’ve been a Pendragon a long time,” Jackie said, “and I’ve never seen anything like this before.” Then she had a thought. “Joey! He went after Adam.”

“If Adam’s now the Red Lord, then Joey’s pretty much fucked,” said Pen, and Jessica glared at him.

“Jackie,” she said, “I need you to find Etorian Kaine and as many other Pendragons as you can. Without them, we’re not going to be able to defeat the Red Lord, not while he holds Caliburn. You’re the only one who can move fast enough. We’ll take the fight to the Bane until you get here.”

“Trust me,” said Jessica. “I’ll die before I let him take him from you.” Spitfire looked in to the woman’s eyes and saw a determination and a fire that she recognised. It wasn’t the spirit of Arthur in there, not without the Green, but it was as if she’d accepted that she was his heir.

“Good luck,” Jackie said. “You men, go with them – the Bane must not be allowed to take Darkmoor.” Then she was gone.

“After I’m done with you,” the Red Lord said, his hands around Joey’s throat, “I’ll go after the other ‘Pendragons’ and kill them all one at a time.”

“Not fin’ised yet,” Union Jack said. Even with the Green behind him, he was no match for a Red Lord at full strength, and while there were still vestiges of the power left in the forms of strength and power, there was very little he could do but he had to try something. He pulled his guns and fired as best he could at the Red Lord. The shots were wild and not aimed but he hope to throw him off, and the impacts pushed the First Prime of the Bane back and he dropped Joey.

“You always have had spirit, Joey,” the Red Lord said, his voice almost sounding like Adam. “Especially after what happened to you with Jim Jaspers, only this time you won’t be coming back.”

“Don’t you get it?” The Red Lord hissed. “I AM ADAM CROWN! He is my vessel, and by the spilling of his wife’s blood he has bound me to him. You know how powerful blood is – just ask your wife.” Union Jack’s eyes narrowed. Jackie was out there somewhere and he wasn’t going to let him get anywhere near her. He charged towards the Red Lord, slamming his fists in to the man repeatedly, bloodying his hands from the impacts on the armour, but he was pushing him back. “Enough.” The Red Lord only said one word and then caught the fist and twisted it. “If I pull hard enough, will your hand come free or will it take the rest of the arm with it?” He smiled. “Let’s find out.”

“I’ll be right back,” the Red Lord said and cast Joey aside. Even though he was hurt, his first instinct was Ginny. She was still alive, but losing a lot of blood and she was cold to the touch. Unless they got help fast, they would lose her. Thank God, Peter was nowhere near here, being looked after by Kenneth who was also looking after Joey’s son. He sat up and held Ginny close, trying to somehow stop the bleeding and keep her warm and he watched. Pen and Jessica had a contingent of the guard with them and he didn’t know how Jackie had done it, but she had. What concerned him was that she was missing and he hoped she was gathering other Pendragons to help this fight.

The hot knives flew through the air, but were swotted aside by Caliburn as the guards charged forward en masse, hoping to overwhelm the Red Lord by sheer weight of numbers, but he swung his sword through the air, felling them left and right.

“Screw this,” Dragon cursed and fired as many hot knives as he could, but the Red Lord simply laughed and this time he gestured in the air and returned them towards Pen.

“You’re no match for me,” he jeered. “I wonder if killing you a second time will be as amusing as the first time.”

“Like you’re going to get chance to find out,” Dragon said, and Jessica dropped from the roof, having used her spider-like abilities to crawl up and over him. As she dropped, her hands clenched around the sword. “Kick his arse,” Dragon muttered, as the two of them fought for the sword.

“The power belongs to me,” the Red Lord said. “Not even the heirs of Arthur combined can wrest it from me now.”

“What say I try anyway?” she retorted. “I think you’ll find the sword well remembers my touch.”

“You think you can simply take it from me?” the Red Lord sneered. “Blood binds it to me now.”

“It is mine by birthright,” Jessica said, as the two of them grappled, her proportionate strength of a spider versus his mystical might.

“As it is mine,” the Red Lord said. “Caliburn belongs to Adam Crown, and he belongs to me, and your claim…” He threw her back, and Jessica slammed in to Dragon, resulting in both of them being knocked to the floor. “Is revoked!”

“This can’t be good,” said Pen. “Tell me you have another plan, babe?”

Etorian Kaine and Feron still with Molly, and Kaine had opted to stay here while the alarms sounded. Kaine wasn’t too popular with Adam since he’d quit the Pendragons and it was safer to be out of sight. Feron had gone in a much deeper trance to see if he could get more details. After everything they’d been through, the arrival of an anrgy and hungry cosmic force would be a lot to deal with.

“As far as I can tell,” Feron said, starting from his trance, “the Phoenix Force is outside this time line, but it has part of Molly’s consciousness with her. Wherever the Phoenix has fled to, it’s hurt and in pain. I don’t know what happened to it, but it seeks vengeance and it’s using Molly to find it’s way back.”

“So we have a potential Dark Phoenix on our hands,” Eto replied, more a statement than a question. “I’m surprised it’s not arrived already.”

“Time is wrong,” Feron answered. “I had to go deep to find the Phoenix Force and it is not finding the return journey easy.”

“Yeah,” Kaine said, thoughtfully. “There’s a reason for that. Time was pretty fragile anyway and when Pen Dragon and Jessica Drew sealed off the alternate future that belonged to the Martians, they broke time.”

“They broke time?” Feron said, raising an eyebrow. “I didn’t think that was possible.”

“Everything can be damaged,” said Eto, softly. “The problem is that too many people have abused time over the last few years and the problem with the Martian future is that that world started to collapse, the whole of it’s universe being sucked in to nothingness.” Feron stared at him in horror. “Otherworld is monitoring things, but there are going to be rips and holes in time, things are going to happen that nobody can predict and there is a great effort to minimise the effects, but…” His voice lowered. “We’re going to fail, and the Time War will begin.”

“And that was the price of saving humanity?” Kaine nodded. “Then it was too high. The Martian future being obliterated was too high…”

“I’m glad they’re dead,” said a voice and Kaine turned to see a familiar form.

“Kate?” he said. “Kate McCellan? Bloody hell…” Kate had quit the Pendragons just after the battle defending the UK from the Martians, sick of the death and loss that being a Pendragon seemed to bring. Now she was here.

“I came to see how she was doing,” she said, looking at Molly. “No change?” Kaine shook his head and Kate sighed. “It’s good to see you, Eto.” The two former Pendragons embraced, knowing they’d fought side by side for a little while and that had given them a bond of friendship.

“Cam’s still missing?” he said and she nodded. So many were still unaccounted for, heroes and civilians alike and with extremely limited technology finding out what had happened was almost impossible. “I’m sorry.”

“Me too,” she replied. “I only heard the last bit of that, but the Martians would have destroyed us all. I can’t be sorry they’re gone, not even in a way as terrible as that.”

“Can we do this another time?” asked Eto. “I’m not in the mood for a fight. What are you doing so far from London anyway, Kate?”

“Adam summoned me. He wants to talk about me having a place on his Round Table.”

“I’ve not said yes yet,” she replied, shaking her head. “I’m not as angry as I was before, but I still have issues with Adam, with the Green. I’m not sure I can be part of all that again, but I’ve promised I’ll listen to him.”

“That’s the best you can do,” Feron said and Kate looked at him. He seemed very familiar somehow, but she shook her head.

“Fancy getting a drink somewhere?” she said. “We can catch up a bit.” However before they could answer the earth shook beneath their feet. “What the hell?”

“That can’t have been good,” he said and he looked at Feron, who gestured in the air, a mystic aura forming but it vanished in a blood red haze, sending bolts of eldritch energy about the room and he staggered a little from the feedback of his magic against the other.

“Is it…?” Kaine started to ask, wondering if the Phoenix had arrived but he shook his head.

“This is dark magic,” he said. “The darkest I’ve seen for some time.” Kate and Kaine looked at each other, knowing it had to be the Bane. Who else would strike at Darkmoor when the legacy of the Green was at it’s weakest.

“We’ve got to get to the castle,” Kaine said. “I might not be a Pendragon anymore, but they might need our help.”

“If the Bane takes Darkmoor, do you think that’ll matter?” Eto said. “For old times sake?” He looked at her. “It’s not like there’s anything left to lose, right?” She sighed and nodded.

“You know I’ve no powers now that the Green is gone. Maybe a bit more strength than the average woman, but nothing special.”

“I was never touched by the Green,” Kaine said and he manifested his fire claws, “but I think I’ll get by. Feron, it’d be good if you could help out.”

“I’ll do what I can,” he said. “The feedback a moment ago caught me by surprise, but I should be able to deal with it better next time”

Eto nodded. “Let’s go then…” Before they could do anything, Jackie was in front of them. “This is becoming a Pendragons reunion,” Eto remarked.

“It’s worse, he’s the new host of the Red Lord, and it’s us, Joey, Pen Dragon and Jessica Drew against Adam. They’re fighting him now.”

“Yes,” said Jackie. “I know, we’re outclassed at the moment, but we’re all there is.”

“We’re getting our arses kicked here,” said Pen, as he looked at Jessica. The two of them and Joey had been doing what they could to take on the Red Lord, but the villain was toying with them more than anything else. His defeats at the hands of Dragon and Drew made him want to savour this more than anything and as for Union Jack – that was his way of showing the Green that it’s great champions were nothing. If the old enemy was still watching.

Jessica wasn’t that hurt, but Pen had done what he could to protect her and he had taken the brunt of many serious attacks. Joey’s broken wrist was one thing but he’d also taken a great deal of punishment and he could taste blood inside his mouth.

“So this is what is left of the legacy of the Pendragons, a fool, a pretender and a zombie.” The Red Lord smiled. “I should have done this a long time ago.”

“They just got reinforcements,” said a voice and the others arrived. Kate, Jackie, Eto and Feron looked on in horror at the site of the majesty of the Red Lord, and their battered comrades.

“About damn time,” said Pen as Jessica marshalled the heroes. It was going to take everything they had, and if those of them who were true Pendragons had any power of the Green left in them, now was the time to use it, and she hoped she could call on whatever power she had to aid them. Feron began to cast a spell over the Red Lord, but the creature reacted with magic of his own, but it was enough of a distraction. Joey redoubled his assault, with Jackie slamming in to the Red Lord with her super speed. Jessica threw venom blast after venom blast at him and Kate joined with Joey in the attack. Eto and Pen looked at each other and they focused, summoning their soul flares and putting all their respective energies and power in to an almighty attack.

“DOWN!” shouted Jessica and the Pendragons scattered as the two of them fired a massive amount of energy at the Red Lord. These shots were capable of felling Martian war machines, or taking down armies. Surely this would take the Red Lord down, and he was bathed in the power being generated. The assault gouged away the floor and scorched the very walls and then it was over and Eto and Pen collapsed, exhausted from the effort. It took all they had to bring this off but it was all they could do. Smoke filled the air, obscuring the view

“Is that it?” The Red Lord’s voice came through clear and strong as he stepped through the smoke. His armour was dented to the point of being mangled, but he was still standing, Caliburn still in his hand. “A worthy strike, and if not for the sword it might have worked.”

“Sorry, Jess,” said Pen looking at her, and letting her know they were on their own now. Eldritch energy flared, striking at the Pendragons and dropping them to their knees with the force of power, and the Red Lord began to glow with dark magical power, his armour becoming whole again as he drew on the power within Caliburn and he was restored to full health once more, as if the attack had never taken place.

“It’s been a good day,” the Red Lord mocked. “Adam Crown is gone. Darkmoor is mine, Caliburn is mine and soon the death of many Pendragons and the last of Arthur’s heirs.” He looked at Jessica. “I remember you stabbing me with this sword in our last confrontation. Now I return the favour.” He thrust Caliburn down and she grabbed the blade just before it could pierce her breast, holding it in place with the last, desperate bits of strength. She could feel the magic within the blade, torn between her and the Red Lord, letting her keep her hold on it while he tried to push forwards. The two of them fixed their gaze on each other and behind his visor, Jessica didn’t see the eyes of the Red Lord, but the eyes of a man. Under the armour, Adam Crown still lived, and she realised that unless they found a way to separate the two of them, he would be a prisoner. She wasn’t just fighting for her life, but for the life of Adam as well.

“Get off her!” shouted Kate and charged in to the Red Lord, pushing him back and protecting Jessica. The Red Lord fell back, Caliburn falling from his hand as Kate punched and pounded at him, but she got too close and he slammed in to her with a headbutt, breaking her nose, and he cast her aside, retrieving the sword, by which time the others were on their feet.

“A temporary respite at best,” he said, with a low chuckle. “You have no power here. None of you.”

“Not quite,” said a new voice and Dark Angel arrived. Shevaun knew she was no match for the Red Lord, but that wasn’t why she was here. An old friend had alerted her of the conflict, and had also given her a task to perform. She threw a sword to Jessica, who caught it and there seemed to be a new and powerful electricity in the air as she did. “Betsy says she wants it back when you’re done.”

I really am on a roll with this at the moment, it's lucky I have some spare time on my hands to get everything out. As you can see my Pendragons line-up is taking shape, though not everyone seen in this issue will be joining the new team. I still have Dragon's Claws to rebuild yet, so I need a few spare people. For those who are interested in when the nextr issue of DC is due, it'll be after this arc is done. I intend to do one arc here, one there and so on. Running them concurantly would be nice, but at the same time I want to tell the stories and I figure this is the best way of doing it so far.

Damon Fibraio's written to me with to address a certain issue in regard of #92, and here's what's on his mind.

I have to ask. You said something in 92 that the Hulk was lost in the war with the Martians. This, I find hard to believe. Lost as in dead? If so, what is up with people killing off the guy? If not dead, then what happened? Last we heard, was from his own series, which is incomplete, then he made a cameo in the saga to bring down the barrier, but then he disappeared. I am a huge Hulk fan and love the series that you guys have going on here, but if the Hulk is dead, I want to know how and if not, what else happened to him?

It's a fair comment. Tthe Pendragons membership and cast from the previous 91 issues is quite large and I know who I want and Dr Banner isn't a part of my plans. The fate of the Hulk, however is rather undecided. He is just lost. Nobody can say where he is. He may be dead, he may be living. He was last seen fighting the Martians and after the battle, he simply disappeared. I doubt he is dead, but as I have no plans for him any time soon, maybe another of the writers will do something with him. With the support of readers like yourself, Damon, I'm certain we've not seen the last of the Hulk at Pendragon Comics.

Harry M VanHoudnos III is a avid supporter of the Pendragons and he's written to me a few times on my other series, and he's kindly continuing the tradition here as well.

A very interesting issue. We have a king who is now being possessed by the very thing he swore to stop from arising, a woman about to be executed for a crime she didn't commit, and above all else, the possibility of a Dark Phoenix on the loose somewhere!

And this is just the beginning!! This is little more than a foundation for the main events and, as Barry has reminded me, there's the small matter of #100 to deal with. I just hope I can keep the momentum going!

All I have to say is this: BRING ON THE NEXT ISSUE! We want answers and we want them soon!

Here's the next issue, but you're not really any closer to the answers, I'm afraid, Harry. Is Ginny beyond help? Can Adam be saved or will he go the same way as Brian Braddock? When will the Dark Phoenix arrive? Will the Pendragons regain the faith of the Green? Stick around and you'll find out, next issue. I'm quite looking forward to it myself.

If you have any comments, criticisms, anything, you can reach me at dewheatley@yahoo.com. I will reply personally and that reply may slightly differ from the ones seen here. New days, new ideas. See you on the flip side.