Copyright Date: March 1996

Written by Sean Ruffner and Brett Booth
Pencilled by Brett Booth
Inked by Mark Pennington
Coloured by Jessica Ruffner
Lettered by Chris Eliopoulos
Edited by Mike Heisler
Cover by Brett Booth & Al Vey


Solicitation:
Please add the solicitation for this issue


SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT
Synopsis:
Backlash says he doesn't know what crimes Battalion is talking about. Battalion says that StormWatch knows about Marc's dealings with International Operations and that he will answer for his betrayal and for breaking Taboo out of Purgatory Max.

Upstairs, Taboo has used her suit's powers to control Hellstrike's mind. She pretends to be Hellstrike's prisoner until they join the others, where she then attacks. The power restraints StormWatch had put on Backlash were designed for his old genetic code, so he is able to mist out of them and join the attack. He diverts Fahrenheit's heat blast so that it hits Fuji, rupturing his containment suit. Fuji is forced to return to SkyWatch because his leaking radiation is a danger to everyone. Meanwhile, Crimson uses her superspeed to punch and kick Cannon repeatedly, breaking his nose in the process. Backlash tells Taboo to go outside with Crimson while he holds StormWatch off, then he flees down a passageway with Hellstrike and Fahrenheit in hot pursuit.

He runs into Taboo and Crimson who are lost in the tunnels...he points them to the elevator and tells them to commandeer the ship that StormWatch used to get to Link's ranch. Elsewhere, Fahrenheit sees Backlash in the distance, goading her on. She attacks, but it turns out to be one of Link's robots. While she's distracted, Backlash attacks from behind and takes her out. Cannon finds Fahrenheit unconscious and while he tries to help her, Backlash attacks. They fight and eventually he brings the roof down on Cannon, trapping him. Then Battalion arrives and they fight. Battalion says he found a vid-journal belonging to the late Diane LaSalle in which she said she suspected Backlash of being an I.O. mole. Battalion accuses Marc of letting Diane die because she knew his secret, which just makes Marc mad. They fight some more and Backlash eventually wins.

Meanwhile, Taboo and Crimson take StormWatch's ship by Taboo posing as a lost, naked camper. This distracts the guard enough for her to get close and take him out. Jodi questions the tactic, but Taboo was having fun with the guard.

Hellstrike arrives to find Backlash standing over Battalion. Hellstrike attacks, but Link shows up and allows Backlash to escape. He makes it to the StormWatch ship, but then he gets a message from Michael Cray, a.k.a. Deathblow. He needs to go meet Deathblow so he takes the ship and dumps Amanda and Jodi in the middle of nowhere to get home on their own. They eventually find a phone and check the messages at home. There's a message from Cyberjack saying that he's found other employment and won't be returning anytime soon. Amanda finds that strange because Jack has never called her Taboo before. So she decides that she and Jodi will head to Gamorra to find out what's going on with Cyberjack.

Backlash next appears in:	Deathblow Series Index	Next Issue: Deathblow Vol 1 #25
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