S L I N G E R S . # 3

Slingers #3
"With Friends Like These..."
Creative Team: Joseph Harris (writer) / Chriscross (pencils) / Rob Stull with Hillsman, Morales, and Candellario (inks)

SUMMARY OF EVENTS:
Continuing from last issue's events, Ricochet desperately tries to dig his way to Hornet, who is buried in a pile of rocks. His efforts are hopeless, however. In the rubble of rocks, Hornet lies unconscious, but Dusk appears to him and teleports him out. Dusk saves him, but just disappears. Still dazed, Hornet doesn't know what just happened, as he appears to Ricochet. The two friends have a heart-warming moment. :)

The two leave the tunnels, and rest outside. Hornet still has no idea how he got out from the rocks. As Ricochet sits down, he finds something pointy stuck to his... *ahem* butt. What else could it be but a "spider-tracer" (see last issue). As the two discover they've been traced, Spiderman reveals himself. He seems to only want to have a talk. Ricochet's not up for talking, and attempts to throw a disc at him. Spiderman shoots his webbing at him before Rico's able to throw anything, as Hornet wonders just what is going on. Rico orders Hornet to fly away, and he does so. Spiderman, using his webbing, grabs a hold of Hornet, only to be flung along with him in the air. With the two superheroes flying around, a driver is distracted, which causes a highway accident. With their combined efforts, Spiderman and Hornet manage to put things right again. As Spiderman holds a rail, Hornet gets away.

Later, in the Empire State University campus, Eddie tries to learn more about the original Grand Royale Hotel. He learns that it was burned down, with many casualties, and there was a movie made after it. Going back to his dorm room, Eddie knocks into a girl. She offers to help pick up his books, but is stopped when her friend (boyfriend?) grabs a hold of her and pulls her away. Leaving, the guy tells the girl, Susan, "What are you doin' with that gimp for anyway, huh?"

Eddie makes it to his room, still upset about the incident which just occured, and as he turns on the lights, he finds a visitor. Dusk. She pleads him not to be scared of her, but Eddie isn't sure whether or not he's dreaming. Dusk soon disappears, and as she does so, Eddie cries and apologizes.

In Brooklyn, Johnny is at work. Well, technically, he's not working, but he's at work. His girlfriend, Kathy, wakes him up from his dream about Spiderman and giant rats. Kathy seems to suspect something about Johnny... She tells him that she was saved from a masked "super-wannabe" who resembles Johnny. She grabs Johnny's backpack to see what he's hiding and finds a copy of "The Black Marvel Strikes" movie. Johnny, upset, takes the movie back and tells her to mind her business.

Elsewhere, Black Marvel finishes watching his movie (again, see last issue), as he dresses into his old superhero costume. Prodigy then appears and tells him that there was an explosion at the hotel, and he believes Rico and Hornet are dead. Prodigy is surprised that Black Marvel is not upset with him, instead, he is proud of Prodigy for having the heart of a "true" superhero. Black Marvel tells Prodigy to leave, since they have a busy day ahead of them...

COMMENTS:
First of all, is it me or is there a lot packed into every issue of Slingers? Just look up above at the summary and tell me that's not a lot for one issue? :) Not that I'm complaining -- just wanted to point that out. Anyway, Chriscross's art seemed much more appealing to me this issue than last. He is definitely improving by the issue. The story is moving along fairly slow. There are still plenty of questions left over from last issue which are not answered here. However, Black Marvel's intentions are becoming clearer and clearer. And nice move by Harris by adding in the scene where Eddie gets knocked down and ridiculed. Eddie's got my vote for "Slinger Most Deserving Of Our Sympathy" award. :) One complaint I've got about this issue is that to understand what's going on, you must have read the past issue, as it continues directly from there.