Untouchable Comics/The Venusian/Son of Venus

The first issue of Untouchable Comics's The Venusian.

Synopsis
the citizens of the city of Fartherend are abuzz with gossip and rumors when a mysterious man in a metal suit begins combating its growing criminal underworld. This catches the attention of Police Captain John Kestler, who begins investigating the man in the armor. However, it also inspires the criminals in question to fight harder and go bigger to counteract their new foe.

Plot (unfinished)
A group of criminals stand out the back side of an unidentified building. Inside of the building, another criminal chucks boxes down to the others, who catch them and put them in the back of a van.

The underling shrugs at this and goes back to smuggling the boxes.
 * Leader Criminal: Be careful with those, you got me? The boss'll kill us if there's even a scratch on the goods.
 * Underling #1: What're we grabbing, anyway?
 * Leader Criminal: Questions like that could get you shot.


 * Leader Criminal: Pick up the speed, we gotta get out of her fast.
 * Underling #2: Why? Cause of the rumors?
 * Leader Criminal: Seriously? Don't tell me you actually believe that BS, man.
 * Underling #2: The world we live in now, anything's possible.
 * Leader Criminal: Yeah, anything but tha--

A noise is heard behind them. The leader turns around and sees that a trash can has been knocked over. He pulls a gun and approaches the trash can, only for a cat to walk out from behind it. He puts his gun away and turns back.


 * Leader Criminal: See? It was... nothing...

The leader stares at something off-panel.


 * Underling #1: What? What'd you see?

On top of the van stands The Venusian, donned in blueish silver armor and staring down at the leader. The leader grits his teeth and pulls his gun again, firing off several rounds at Venusian, the bullets bouncing off of him. He then jumps off of the van and runs towards the leader at superhuman levels, grabbing him by the shirt and quickly spinning around, tossing him away so hard and so far he flies into the back of his own van, smashing through the boxes. Diamonds pour out of the now broken boxes.


 * Underling #2: Diamonds!?
 * Venusian: Eyes on me.

The underlings turn to face Venusian.


 * Venusian: We aren't done here...

The criminal who was tossing the boxing from the window above and one of the underlings pull guns, firing off at Venusian, who simply stands there and allows the bullets to bounce off of him. He curls his hands into fists and his arms begin emitting a strange energy. He fires off a blast of energy behind himself, the force of which launches him forward. He punches the criminal by the van, using the momentum of his launch to knock the criminal out instantly. He then turns and fires a bolt of energy at the other criminal standing in the window, hitting him in the chest and launching him further into the building. We don't see what happens to him, but the loud bang that follows indicates he likely smashed against the ground. Venusian then looks around the area, counting the unconscious bodies.


 * Venusian: Two, three... Could have sworn there was a fourth...

The van drives backwards into Venusian, revealing the fourth criminal has gotten inside and is driving it. He runs over Venusian, who ends up on the other side of the van. He gets back up despite having been run over and the van instantly slams back into him. He grabs on to the van's front, placing one hand on the hood and the other hand underneath.


 * Underling #1: Come on and die, you piece of--!

The van suddenly stops moving. The tires are still going but the van is immobile.


 * Underling #1: Huh?

It's revealed that Venusian is levitating slightly off of the ground and has picked up the front of the van. He flies into the air, picking up the rest of the van as he does (the leader criminal falls out the back of it in the process) before letting it go and allowing it to crash into the ground. The underling crawls out the now smashed door window of the car, covered in blood but alive. Venusian lands next to him and crouches. He places his middle and index fingers on the underling's neck and stares off at nothing. The lenses of his helmet flash and make a beeping noise.


 * Venusian: High chance of a broken rib but you'll live.

He punches the underling in the face, knocking him unconscious too. The next day, Police Captain John Kestler slams a news paper down in front of his two employees, Eli Bloomer and Ian Rodie. Rodie picks it up.

Kestler heads off as Eli gives an annoyed sigh.
 * Ian Rodie: "Mysterious hero foils diamond heist". You think it's the same guy as last time?
 * Capt. John Kestler: And the time before that, and the time before that.
 * Ian Rodie: Any suspects?
 * Capt. John Kestler: Of course not. If I had suspects, the guy would've been arrested by now!
 * Eli Bloomer: No leads, no suspects, nada. So, what're we here for?
 * Capt. John Kestler: I want the two of you's help in tracking this guy down. He's making hard-working cops look like idiots, and I won't stand for it anymore!
 * Ian Rodie: You think he'd be easy to catch? I heard he had these... abilities. Dangerous stuff.
 * Capt. John Kestler: He is a vigilante that is breaking the law. He can't go unpunished.
 * Eli Bloomer: Rodie has a point, how are we supposed to arrest someone who can likely kill us.
 * Capt. John Kestler: I don't know! Improvise!

Bloomer wraps an arm around Ian's shoulder and pulls him in.
 * Eli Bloomer: Great.. just freaking great…
 * Ian Rodie: Got any ideas, Bloomer?
 * Eli Bloomer: Can't say I do. But you know how it is.


 * Eli Bloomer: With you by my side, little man, I'm sure this guy'll be a easy as pie!
 * Ian Rodie: Please get off of me...
 * Eli Bloomer: Come on, don't get all up-tight, bud!

Bloomer noogies Ian, who groans in irritation. Meanwhile, the leader criminal from earlier in the issue sits in a prison cell reading a book when the door to his cell opens up.


 * Prison Guard: Hey, MacCulloch. You're free to go.
 * MacCulloch: Bail?
 * Prison Guard: Something like that.

MacCulloch walks out of his cell and sees a white-haired woman waiting for him. She smiles.


 * White-Haired Woman: Mr. MacCulloch.
 * MacCulloch: Do I know you?
 * White-Haired Woman: No, but you're familiar with my employer. The one you call "boss"?

MacCulloch's eyes widen. Later, the white-haired woman stands inside of a large building in front of the men's bathroom. The door opens and MacCulloch comes out, having changed out of his prison attire.


 * White-Haired Woman: Unfortunately, we couldn't get our hands on your actual clothes. I hope the replacements are good enough.
 * MacCulloch: I've worn worse. Now, which way to the boss?
 * White-Haired Woman: Just follow my lead.

MacCulloch follows the woman through the building.


 * MacCulloch: So, you got a name, sweetheart?
 * Molly: My name is Molly, and with all due respect, I'm not your sweetheart, Mr. MacCulloch.
 * MacCulloch: Jesus, alright...
 * Molly: So, have you and "the boss" met before?
 * MacCulloch: He gave most of his orders over email.
 * Molly: Then consider this an honor. He doesn't meet with many of his subordinates. He must have seen something in you.

MacCulloch gives a proud smirk. Molly stops in front of a door.


 * Molly: We're here. Please don't say anything you think will upset him.
 * MacCulloch: Got it.

MacCulloch opens the door and walks in. Inside is a room with no windows and no lights, with all of the light coming from lamps and TVs that display footage from around the city. In the middle of the room is a desk with a man sitting in a swivel chair that is facing away from MacCulloch.


 * MacCulloch: ...Boss?
 * MacCulloch's Boss: "Boss"... That's right, I never did give you my name. That won't do if we're going to work this close...

The man turns around to face MacCulloch, revealing he is a man in a green suit with scars covering his hands and an eye patch.

Maverick rolls his chair aside, revealing another TV behind him displaying what appears to be an alien spaceship in a bunker.
 * Michael Maverick: I am Michael Maverick. Don't make me regret telling you that. I see you failed your heist.
 * MacCulloch: You don't understand! The man who stopped us wasn't human.
 * Michael Maverick: You know… two of my subordinates said the same thing. Okay, I can hear you out. What did this superhuman do?
 * MacCulloch: I shot him and the bullets bounced straight off! All I remember was he grabbed me and tossed me. After that, I was out cold.
 * Michael Maverick: Interesting. It seems that we're facing a threat we aren't prepared for. You're familiar with the theory of evolution, right MacCulloch?
 * MacCulloch: Yes?
 * Michael Maverick: Well, we are like animals, MacCulloch. We have been the apex predator for a while. Then this mystery man arrived, causing us to plummet to second place. Second place isn't how an animal survives. They need to evolve to survive. Change. Adapt. Do you get what I'm saying?
 * MacCulloch: I... think so. But how're we meant to adapt to a monster like that?


 * Michael Maverick: I have an idea...

Meanwhile, footage of Venusian's earlier fight is projected on to a wall, though it is currently paused. Standing beside the projection is Ian and Bloomer and Kestler watches from the back of the room, smoking a cigar.


 * Eli Bloomer: So, after a couple hours of investigating, we found out that the crooks forgot to break one of the cameras outside the building they were robbing. And guess who's in the footage?
 * Capt. John Kestler: So we know what he looks like now. How does that help us actually fight him?
 * Ian Rodie: The footage demonstrates a number of abilities that the vigilante possesses. We can't be certain that it's all of them, but the hand full we have may make it easier to counteract them in the future.

Kestler thinks about this and smiles.


 * Eli Bloomer: Hey, the captain smiling! That's a first.

Kestler's smile drops back into a grimace.


 * Ian Rodie: Just break down the footage, Bloomer.
 * Eli Bloomer: Heh. Fine, fine.

The footage plays, showing off Venusian's abilities.

Kestler sits back in his seat and smokes while thinking.
 * Ian Rodie: As you can see, the vigilante allows the criminal's bullets to bounce off of him and sprints towards the criminal at Olympic-level speeds. Unknown if this is his top speed.
 * Capt. John Kestler: So, what I'm hearing is that our weapons are useless against him.
 * Ian Rodie: Sadly.
 * Eli Bloomer: And he's tossing that guy... Right now! Woo!
 * Ian Rodie: It is impossible for a human of the vigilante's estimated height and build to have the strength to toss someone through the air as far and as fast as he managed to, indicating a form of superhuman strength.
 * Capt. John Kestler: What're those beams he's firing?
 * Ian Rodie: We aren't sure. We're currently having in-station scientists examine the footage to find out.
 * Eli Bloomer: In the words of Nelly in the labs, "I ain't never seen crap like that my whole life".
 * Ian Rodie: That's not how she actually said it, for the record.
 * Eli Bloomer: You're no fun.
 * Ian Rodie: I'm getting to the point.
 * Capt. John Kestler: Anything else?
 * Ian Rodie: You see that armor he's wearing? We can't identify it.
 * Eli Bloomer: We can't identify anything about the guy. It's like he's an alien that crashed to Earth!
 * Ian Rodie: Not funny, Bloomer.
 * Capt. John Kestler: So, any ideas how we can take this guy down?
 * Ian Rodie: Unfortunately, no. Or at least nothing we have authority to use.
 * Eli Bloomer: Meaning we might have to hand this off to somebody higher up. And by higher up, I mean higher up. Like, the FBI or CIA.
 * Ian Rodie: Hopefully it won't have to come to that, though.

Ian nods and walks out of the room. Bloomer follows shortly behind. Kestler rests his head in his hands. Some time later, Kestler stands on the roof of the station, still smoking and thinking about Ian's words. He hears laughter and looks down, seeing a group of children playing superhero. A solemn look crosses Kestler's face.
 * Capt. John Kestler: Alright. Call them up.
 * Eli Bloomer: Sorry, one more time?
 * Capt. John Kestler: Call up the bureau and see if they can work with us on the case. Explain the situation.
 * Ian Rodie: Are you sure? This early into the investigation?
 * Capt. John Kestler: You two said it yourselves. There's nothing we have that can actually beat this guy. But maybe there's something they have that can.
 * Ian Rodie: We don't even know if he is a threat.
 * Capt. John Kestler: Explain.
 * Ian Rodie: He only assaults criminals. We don't truly know what he wants.
 * Eli Bloomer: You know… he's right. Maybe this vigilante is like Shrek.
 * Ian Rodie: Shrek?
 * Eli Bloomer: You've never seen Shrek? Basically what I think what both me and Rodie are trying to say is, what if this vigilante doesn't want to harm innocents?
 * Capt. John Kestler: Vigilantism is illegal. I don't want to say this again. Call in the damn bureau...


 * ???: They look happy, don't they?

Kestler turns, only to see no one is behind him. He slowly looks up and it's revealed Venusian is floating above him.


 * Venusian: It's good to meet you.
 * Capt. John Kestler: Wish I could say the same...

Venusian lands.


 * Venusian: I heard that you're leading an investigation into me. And I want to talk about that.
 * Capt. John Kestler: How in god's name could you know that?
 * Venusian: I have my ways.
 * Capt. John Kestler: And those "ways" are...?
 * Venusian: You and I know that I can't tell you.
 * Capt. John Kestler: Of course...
 * Venusian: Now, do you mind telling me what's the matter?
 * Capt. John Kestler: The "matter" is that I have a comic book superhero running around my city like it's normal! Look, I don't know how it works where you're from but here, the police are the ones that take care of the bad guys. Not some untrained wacko with some neat powers and a costume.
 * Venusian: Could I at least get the chance to explain myself? I think that we could get along better if I did.
 * Capt. John Kestler: You can try. Can't guarantee I'll understand you, though...
 * Venusian: Thank you. First off, and likely most importantly, where I come from I am the equivalent of a police officer. And where I come from... is Venus.

Kestler goes quiet.


 * Venusian: Take your time. I've been told that most species don't react well to first contact.
 * Capt. John Kestler: V... Venus? Like... second rock from the sun Venus?
 * Venusian: The same.
 * Capt. John Kestler: How the hell did anything manage to live on that planet? And if you're an alien, why do you look human? Not to mention, what do you mean you're a cop?
 * Venusian: I'm going to answer all of your questions, just slow down. First...

Flashback panels revealing Venusian's origin are shown as he narrates over them.

Kestler goes quiet and lights another cigar, putting the first one out on the bottom of his shoe.
 * Venusian: Yes. I am from Venus. My people have our own word for the planet, but that's unrelated. And you wouldn't be able to pronounce it's true name anyway. The people of Venus, the "Venusians" as they would be called in your language, are headed by a small council that have managed to make the planet go without war, famine, or disease in generations. Deciding to spread that peace, the council trained an elite group of soldiers and sent them out to defend the planets of the cosmos. One soldier for each planet.
 * Capt. John Kestler: And that's what you are?
 * Venusian: Yes. Although I compared myself to police, the closest translation for what I am would be "Magistrate". I was trained from my childhood to be the protector of your home. If there is ever war, violence, disease, or chaos in any form, my job is to put a stop to it.
 * Capt. John Kestler: And why should I believe you?
 * Venusian: You're alive.
 * Capt. John Kestler: What?
 * Venusian: I am infinitely more powerful than the vast majority of humans on the planet. If I was lying and you were on the verge of exposing some sort of invasion or conspiracy, I would've just killed you and there'd be nothing you could do about it.
 * Capt. John Kestler: Jesus...
 * Venusian: I know it's hard to trust me. But I need you to.
 * Capt. John Kestler: So, why do you look human if you're an alien?
 * Venusian: I was given this form to help blend into human society. My true form would frighten you Earthlings.
 * Capt. John Kestler: Aliens actually use the term "Earthling"?
 * Venusian: I do, at least.
 * Capt. John Kestler: Comedian, huh?
 * Venusian: Hrm, yes, humor. Now... I want to make a request, and it's quite a big one.
 * Capt. John Kestler: Uhuh?
 * Venusian: Can you call off the investigation?

A wordless panel of Molly and MacCulloch approaching the spaceship shown before is shown.
 * Capt. John Kestler: ...I'll consider it.
 * Venusian: That's all I ask.
 * Capt. John Kestler: So, if you're an alien, how'd you get here? You just... fly?
 * Venusian: I landed here on a spacecraft, yes.
 * Capt. John Kestler: And what happened to the ship?
 * Venusian: It was stolen not long after I made it here, sadly.


 * Venusian: Luckily, no one knows how to pilot it except for me.

MacCulloch runs his hands across the ship.


 * MacCulloch: So, if you guys don't know how to fly the damn thing, then why am I here?
 * Molly: While yes, we have failed to comprehend the controls, there's one part of it we've not only managed to duplicate but in mass quantity, too.

Molly runs her fingers across the guns of the ship as a man in a blank mask hands a high-tech gun to MacCulloch.


 * Molly: We wanted to perform more tests before debuting it, but the vigilante has forced our hands. So, what do you say, Mr. MacCulloch...?

MacCulloch smiles.


 * MacCulloch: I say it's time to settle an old debt.
 * Molly: Mr. Maverick would be pleased.
 * MacCulloch: I'm curious, what do I get in return of helping Maverick kill this hero?
 * Molly: You still being alive. Maverick isn't usually this kind.