THE STAR BRAND #18: 'Madman II' featuring Justice

March, 1989
(7 Pages)

Cover Artist: John Byrne
Writer / Colorist: Gregory Wright
Penciler: Kieron Dwyer
Inker: Jackson Guice
Letterer: Rick Parker
Editor: David Wohl
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Summary:

John Tensen, AKA Justice, has been drawn into the nightmares of the Madman (see "Madman" in THE STAR BRAND #16) against his will. He stands in a cavern before three paths, each of which is blocked by what seem like giant pods. Persuaded by a voice to choose one path, Tensen is confronted by a giant yellow-skinned beast which gnaws at him, managing to only tear part of his long coat. It is as he tries defending himself from the creature that he notices in the dream of the Madman, his sword hand will not fire.

Another of the pods opens, releasing dozens of long earthworm-like creatures which ensnare Justice, dragging him downward into darkness. He falls, only to crash down upon a mountain of human skulls, atop of which sits the Madman amid a harem of half-naked women. While imploring Justice to kill him, the Madman kicks him downward. Justice tries firing his sword hand again, concentrating harder. He manages to fire one blast, but the Madman is apparently unharmed, shouting that this is "My place, my rules!" In a move of desperation, Justice then covers the villain's face with his shield hand, concentrating so that the shields are shot down inside of him, expanding until they blow him apart.

Thinking the encounter is ended, Justice is knocked far from the explosion and nearly over the edge of a long cliff, only to hear dozens of tiny voices. When he turns to look, he sees that the Madman has become several Madmen, all no more than one foot in height, all with different, cartoonish appearances. They proceed to taunt Justice, pushing him over the edge and into oblivion, while Madman himself announces that he "wanted to be sure that I could not be destroyed."

Justice awakens far away as we see the Madman, laughing hysterically, eyes staring out into oblivion. He is straitjacketed inside a rubber room in a mental hospital. Men look on as they discuss the man inside, who, they say, "just might be the one killin' folks in their sleep." They await the arrival of Lieutenant Keith Remsen to confirm his identity, and if this is indeed the killer (of some 342 people, a paper states), he will be promptly lobotomized.

Summary written by Gary M. Miller.