Cloak and Dagger #4 Review

Issue Review
Cloak and Dagger #4

Direct Market Release Date: September 3, 1985

Credits

Title: Ultimatums
Writer: Bill Mantlo
Pencils: Rick Leonardi
Inks: Terry Austin
Letters: Ken Bruzenak
Colors: Petra Scotese
Editor: Carl Potts
Editor-in-chief: Jim Shooter

Summary

Returning to Father Delgado's church, Cloak and Dagger inform the priest that there may be a connection between his church and a drug shipment they were investigating. The heroes and the priest have a disagreement over the other's methods for dealing with the underground elements of society, with Father Francis Xavier Delgado preferring reaching out and prayer, and Cloak and Dagger using vigilante justice.

Later that night, Cloak and Dagger stumble across an out of place Beyonder wandering the crack houses of the city. Taking advantage of his curious nature, some pushers promise him the happiness and contentment that he is seeking, and plan to give him a lethal dose before robbing him. Cloak and Dagger jump in to save him seconds after the Beyonder's body is injected with the drug.

After disabling the pushers, the Beyonder angrily wonders why Cloak and Dagger have stopped those who promised him all that he desired. Sensing their preference for physically punishing those who commit evil acts, the Beyonder decides to deal with them in the same manner and attacks each of them with the other's power. Surprisingly, Cloak's darkness and Dagger's light powers cancel the other's out, and the Beyonder's attack results in the duo losing their powers. Cloak and Dagger thank the Beyonder and explain to him that the dealers weren't offering happiness, but poison.

The Beyonder, who had prevented the heroin from entering his system, decides to allow it to take effect, and he experiences a hellish trip. Afterwards, he realizes that the dealers weren't offering happiness at all, and returns Cloak and Dagger's powers. He then begins to wipe out of existence every drug dealer in the area. The Beyonder is only stopped by Daggers tears, as her and Cloak realize Father Delgado's point of view, that they need to try to reform the dealers, not just be a witness to their extermination. The Beyonder restores to existence those he sought to punish, and disappears.

Quotes

Father Delgado: You're both so... so naive! Do you really think that all of the world's problems -- crime, drugs, moral and spiritual decay - can be so simply solved if only one possesses power?
Cloak: And are you so naive as to believe, Priest, that the world can be saved through prayer?
Father Delgado: That is the core of my faith, Cloak. The basic tenet of my beliefs.
Cloak: Then get down on your knees and pray to your god to cure the world's ill - or, at the very least, to free Dagger and I from this power He has allowed us to be CURSED with!

The Beyonder: As judge, jury and executioner, I have convicted, condemned, and now carry out sentence upon every individual engaged in the narcotics traffic in this urban area! As you desired to do, I have done.
Cloak [thought balloon]: Lord, he sounds like the priest -- is he right?
Cloak: NO! It is not... right! Some of those slain might not have been evil! Perhaps they were merely helpless addicts themselves -- or perhaps they dealt drugs because their environment taught them no other way to make a living! Dagger was right - There are DEGREES of good and evil -- shades of right and wrong! Did you make that distinction before you punished?
The Beyonder: You do not, and so neither did I!
Cloak: But I'm human... or I was! And so we leaven our power with humanity! We punish, yes... but the purpose of our punishment is to make evildoers realize that there is a price to be paid for their wickedness! We punish... in order to REFORM!
Cloak [thought balloon]: My god! Now I sound like the priest - our whole world is turning inside out!

Dagger: Don't you see? If Cloak shows a bad person what'll happen to him if he continues down the path of darkness -- maybe he'll turn aside and choose the light!
The Beyonder: And so, Cloak represents the darkness -- the despair a man may expect as his punishment should he commit a crime.. while you are the light of his salvation?
Dagger: I - I never thought about it like that before, but, yes -- maybe! All I know is that we do some good, we save some lives -- and that killing anyone... even evil... would make us no better than those we punish in the end!

Commentary

Bill Mantlo steps up to plate again, and writes his third Secret Wars II crossover. Like his previous attempts (Incredible Hulk #312 and ROM #72), this issue does not disappoint. Here, Father Delgado plants the seed in the Cloak and Dagger that criminals are in need of reformation, and the Beyonder's actions act as the catalyst for them to adopt this mindset. Unlike a few other Secret Wars II tie ins, the Beyonder's involvement actually helps develop the main characters, and proves to be a lasting influence on the both the title and characters.

The message of reforming criminals and drug users does get a bit preachy near the end of the story, but makes sense when one considers that Mantlo, at this point in his life, was taking the first steps towards becoming a lawyer. It's only natural that themes of crime and punishment would find their way into his stories.

Walking around the slums in his now familiar white jumpsuit, the Beyonder's portrayal in this issue makes his seem more naive than some of his previous appearances. And it is strange how at some points in the series his omnipotence is evident, and other times he's quite clueless - in this issue, he has no knowledge about illicit drugs. These differences in character are likely due to the fact that so many writers had to use the Beyonder, and there was no previously established characterization to build upon - essentially, every writer was starting with a relatively clean slate. Brian Michael Bendis and Brian Reed have written in a perfect way to explain and incorporate these inconsistencies with a line of dialogue in their Secret Wars II related New Avengers: Illuminati issue. In the story, the Illuminati's sudden appearance surprises the Beyonder, who exclaims, "Did I put you here? Did I surprise myself and make myself forget I surprised myself"?

The Beyonder's exploration of heroin use is also well done. On the surface, the drug does sound like it is the perfect answer to the Beyonder's search for happiness and contentment. Mantlo found a great way to take a different look at a solution to the Beyonder's curiosity.

Up next...

Secret Wars II continues in Power Pack #18!