At
James-Michael Starling’s school, John Nedley, brutally beaten by Nick Delbello
and his gang, staggers into the lunchroom and collapses. As the school nurse
ministers to him, the voices in James-Michael’s head rise into a clamor of
which the only word he can hear is “revenge” from a boy named Thomas “Tank”
Tyson, who then runs out of the room. John is taken to the hospital….
Meanwhile,
Omega the Unknown runs over the rooftops to reach the home of El Gato just as
his limo pulls up. The villain emerges with Teresa Mendez, an enemy who he has
hypnotized into becoming his wife; he commands her to make the announcement to
his gathered acolytes. He leaves her in their hands, ordering them to prepare
her for the Ritual of Purification. Omega enters the mansion through an upper
window and discovers El Gato’s study. He becomes fixated on a cat’s skull
candleholder and a pair of demonic cat spirits attack him; he tries to fight
but the omegas on his hands appear upside-down thus his power is turned inward and
his body explodes….
Amber Grant
takes James-Michael with her to the offices of the Daily Bugle to confront J. Jonah Jameson
over payment for her Hulk/Omega photos. JJJ tries to put her off
by claiming the photos weren’t all that good which James-Michael claims is
untrue because Jameson proudly published them on the front page and requested
exclusive rights. Jameson buckles and writes her a check. Peter Parker asks if
he can hire James-Michael for consultation but Amber brushes him off….
Amber takes
James-Michael to the soda shop, which has been repaired in the two weeks since
the Hulk wrecked it (issue #2). JM tells Amber about John Nedley’s injuries and
how the voices in his head grew louder. He detects Ruth Hart walking by outside
and knows she is thinking about someone named Richard; he also has a vague
impression of some grotesque creature [it’s Man-Thing]….
Omega finds
himself outside Gramps’ pawnshop and staggers inside. He spots a voodoo charm
with a snake on it; Gramps talks about believing in magic which gives Omega an
idea….
With Dr.
Barrow’s intervention, James-Michael and Dian Wilkins are admitted to the
hospital to see John Nedley. Surgery went well but he is still in critical
condition. The sight of his battered and broken body is a shock to JM and
Dian….
At El Gato’s
home, the ritual begins. The old ladies bring Teresa in, still under hypnosis.
El Gato produces a branding iron with a cat on it, intending to lock within her
any spiritual powers she has. Omega crashes through the window and El Gato
orders the hags to destroy him. While their corporeal forms are immobile, their
astral forms attack him. Omega is able to sort out truth from illusion and
defeats the old ladies. El Gato transforms into a black panther and pounces on
the hero; in the melee, Teresa is jarred out from under the villain’s spell.
The man versus cat fight spills out into the street where Omega unleashes his
energy blasts on his foe, forcing him back into human form. Teresa brands El
Gato on the forehead with his own branding iron, locking his mystic powers—and
his consciousness—inside of him forever….
At the
hospital, another badly injured boy is wheeled in and James-Michael and Dian
recognize Nick Delbello….