Spectre (Volume 2) with a cover date of February, 1989.
Synopsis for "Ghosts In The Machine; Part I - Boyz Be Bad"
The invasion of Earth has come to an end and all who were affected by the "metagene sickness" are being released from medical care. Among them is Richard Redditch, but just as he steps outside the hospital, he is dragged along by a couple of men in black and placed inside a vehicle. The couple of agents claim to seek to protect Redditch, but their efforts are futile as they are killed and Redditch is drugged and kidnapped by a group of masked men.
Redditch is taken to a clandestine facility, where certain rogue government elements decide to use Redditch as a test subject for experimentation on triggering the metagene upon identified subjects. Dr. Eugene Shockley is the expert in charge of the process and he decides to use electricity to stimulate the metagene, placing Redditch in an experimental machine for this purpose.
Meanwhile, Tina Redditch has decided to contact Jim Corrigan, seeking help to find her missing husband. Although Corrigan suspects there's more to Redditch's case, he sends two members of his team to further investigate the disappearance of the man.
In the meantime, a detective known as Mr. Praxis has arrived to New York City, following the trail of a serial killer. Praxis has a meeting with Lt. Pete Quarral at the New York City Police Department, where they decide to work together to stop the unknown criminal.
Afterwards, Shockley continues his experimental procedure with Redditch, but the anesthesia has worn off and the man starts to feel the electricity through his body. Redditch's metagene is triggered and he is able to merge electricity with his own mind, creating a great explosion that allows him to escape from the experimental facility. However, Redditch's new powers are not limited to electric manipulation, but also his consciousness can spread across the electrical grid and he uses this power to transfer a bit of his mind into a young boy through an arcade machine.
The "possessed" boy then goes out to the streets, where he brutally kills a cat. The murderous intentions of the kid get the attention of The Spectre, who leaves Corrigan without transforming his body entirely, simply by using Corrigan's arm as a conduit for his physical form. Spectre reaches the kid and intends to kill the boy, but thanks to Corrigan's humanity, Spectre allows the kid to live, unaware that the cat was killed in a similar fashion to the victims of the serial killer on the loose.
Appearing in "Ghosts In The Machine; Part I - Boyz Be Bad"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Kim Liang
- Cynner
- New York City Police Department
- Lt. Pete Quarral
- Jake
- Mr. Praxis (First appearance)
- Cryptica Crimes Limited
- Hassan Al Armani
- Bug McGrew
Antagonists:
- Dr. Eugene Shockley
- Mr. Creach
- Richard Redditch (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Tina Redditch
- Luke
- Jamie
- Flash (On a TV or computer screen)(Cameo)
- Captain Atom (On a TV or computer screen)(Cameo)
Locations:
See Also