S L I N G E R S . # 4

Slingers #4
"The Black Marvel Strikes!"
Creative Team: Joseph Harris (writer) / Oscar Jimenez (pencils) / Eduardo Alpuente (inks)

SUMMARY OF EVENTS:
It's the grand opening of the newly renovated Grande Royale Hotel. The debut attracts the rich, famous and influential. Some of whom are members of the Maggia, the ones who seemingly paid millions to rebuild the hotel to its former glory, as well as an out-of-costume Black Marvel. However, as expected, the grand opening also brings trouble. Outside, Prodigy watches, and waits for Black Marvel's queue to go inside when real trouble starts.

That very moment, Hornet flies Ricochet as fast as he could possibly go to the hotel. Apparently, Eddie had figured out the Black Marvel's plan, which involved setting the hotel in fire and "saving" the day. Through his research in last issue, Hornet found out that the Grand Royale Hotel was burned down, and though he tried to save as many people as he could, the Black Marvel failed miserably. Now, it seems, the Black Marvel wants another chance at being a superhero.

As that happens, Dusk returns to where her dead body was found. She is still confused, and wants answers. However, Spiderman appears behind her, and wants to know where the Slingers got the costumes. Dusk refuses to answer since Spiderman does not tell her the reason why he needs to know. Dusk teleports away, leaving Spiderman alone.

Hornet and Rico finally arrive at the hotel, only to meet up with some resistance, and he goes by the name of Prodigy. The three of them get into a rumble, and Hornet goes down fast. Ricochet puts up a fight, but he is clearly no match. As Prodigy is about to throw Rico off the building, Hornet gets up and tackles Prodigy. Bad move, Eddie, since Prodigy lets go of Rico and he falls off the building. Luckily, Dusk appears and teleports Ricochet to safety before he hit the ground. Hornet and Prodigy's battle continue inside the hotel restaurant now, and since Hornet is not strong enough to fight, he uses his mind against Prodigy. Eddie tells Prodigy there's something going on in the basement.

Down at the basement of the hotel, Jimmy Eyes and other Maggia members prepare to leave the hotel. While in the lobby, Kathy, Rico's girlfriend, enters the hotel with two of her friends. It seems the movie she found in Johnny's bag (see last issue) tipped her off...

Back to the restaurant, members of Maggia interrupt Hornet and Prodigy, and start shooting their guns everywhere. Hornet takes cover, but Prodigy, who is bullet-proof, takes a table and throws it at them like it was a frisbee. Ritchie then takes one gangster by the throat, and asks him what's down at the basement. Before Prodigy could kill him, Hornet blasts him with his sting laser, which he just added to his suit. However, instead of fighting, Prodigy flies down to the basement, leaving a hole in every floor.

We then see the Black Marvel get into costume, and sets off a bomb in the hotel. Just as the bomb blasts, the Black Marvel appears to the public, "...As the Black Marvel strikes!"

COMMENTS:
A great issue, in my opinion. Jimenez's pencils were very well done -- I wouldn't mind him doing the pencils if Chriscross ever decides to leave the series. Jimenez has a very realistic style, which is a nice contrast to what we've been seeing with Chriscross's work in previous issues. He really captured Black Marvel's age very nicely, if you ask me. And who else but me thinks Jimenez draws a kick ass Hornet? As you can tell, I'm very impressed with Oscar Jimenez's work. Hope to see more of him soon!

Ah, the story finally progresses. Black Marvel's plans are all revealed here, and what a plan, huh? Who would have thought he was that messed up? Joe Harris also captured Prodigy's confusion very well. It was great seeing him struggling as to whether or not he should listen to Hornet. A few questions still remain, however, namely what the Maggia's plans are, and what they're doing with those bio-chemicals.