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Volume 3, 15 April 1998 |
"On Cerne Abbas in England's Dorset County, thousands of years ago, someone placed a chalk outline of a giant. Over the ages, the why of it was lost." Lately a giant rose out of the ground in the Yucatan, and then one in Egypt. And now "England has its own problems." A giant named Cerne stomps across the countryside. Clay Brody chases a path of destruction on a motorcycle, then finds the giant towering into the sky. Not much he can do there, so he zips into the village in its path - and hears singing. A congregation with more faith than sense occupies a church. The reverend argues, "Who should we run to, if not the Lord?" Clay warns them, "This IS the valley of death! There's no 'shadow of' about it! Get out! Move!" People run. The giant stomps the empty church. Clay, in radio contact with Kenn, has a plan. "If this sucker wants a piece of me, I want a piece of him!" Clay jumps - and rides the giant's foot. Easiest way to track it...  |
At a temporary command post, Kenn connects his three comrades. He asks the general in charge, "Where's this expert of yours?" That would be Constantine (John Constantine, the Hellblazer), who can't be found. "The PM just have great confidence in you." Kenn replies, "I heard we were easier to reach than the Justice League..."  Brenda Ruskin, resident physicist, analyzes the giant's trail. It sucks up light, energy, and flame. And the monster is turning east. A local woman seeks out Brenda. She babbles about The King Under the Hill coming to claim his throne in the new world. Brenda calls it fairy tales, but Kenn is energized. "Kings who return at the darkest hour to renew the world!" |
Marlon Corbet, ace pilot, swoops in with a jet to get a close look. Brenda tries to warn him away - as his jet flames out. No power near the giant's trail! Marlon fights the stick. "No! You! Don't! I refuse to crash!" And clear of the energy-sucking field, zooms free!  |
At least from the air Marlon can see intersecting lines. Kenn demands a driver - he needs to get to the British Library. There he reads up on "ley lines", channels of energy. Cerne is following ancient lines from shrine to shrine. Repairing them? Who knows? The "librarian" lights a cigarette and walks out. Hey, that was John Constantine! Back at tent HQ, Kenn and Brenda compare notes. The giant seeks energy. Now, how to signal Clay their plan? Since only light works in the fields, they flash Morse Code. Clay gets the message about "electricity" and bails out. Brenda yells for everyone to clear out!  |
Kenn gets his testy general to cooperate. "Switches on, lads!" All over England, power engineers channel electricity to one spot - just as the giant touches power lines. "A new sun's" worth of energy zaps the giant - and lures him south. London is saved! The Challengers pick up Clay. He grouses, "You take the easy job next time, OK?" Kenn explains how they supercharged a ley line and steered the giant into the English Channel. Marlon adds, "And fried Great Britain's power system doing it. So France has asked that we NOT assist when the giant reaches their shores." As for Clay, he wanted a piece of the giant, and he's got it. A rock. |
Not long after, the Challengers visit Taos, New Mexico. Marlon meets an old friend from his Air Force days, Tim Blue Star, a Native American. Marlon has a question about Hopi religion - since the world might end. The Hopi is complacent. "For us, this is only the fourth of nine worlds. And its time is close to be washed away." In his opinion, the giants are early to destroy this corrupted world and rebuild a new world of peace and harmony. So likely they'll just destroy it. "In other words, kiss it ALL goodbye." Now what? Stop the cycle? Brenda notes if the cycle continues, "we're dead. Focus on that." Yet Kenn counters the giants might be correcting energy out of balance. Marlon figures this job is too big for the Challengers. "Let's go find Superman." |
So our adventure continues... |