Dark Crossings
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Cover: Dwayne Turner, Steve Firchow
Writer: Charles Holland Pencils: Dwayne Turner Inks: Dwayne Turner Colouring: Steve Firchow, Jonathan D. Smith, John Starr, Richard Isanove, Liquid! Letterings: Dreamer Design’s Robin Spehar and Dennis Heisler Release: June 2000 Original Price: US $5.95 | Can $9.50 Issues in Set: 2 (Dark Crossings: Dark Clouds Rising & Dark Crossings: Dark Clouds Overhead) |
Lara Croft is asked by a martial arts instructor to find a sword that dates back almost over 2,000 years. When she returns it to the instructor, he tells her that he used to wield the sword in ancient times but he has now chosen his successor. However, his successor kills him and Sara Pezzini is called in to deal with his murder. Lara too is called in, and soon enough, so is Jackie Estacado.
Allies:
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The Master / Gideon
(? - 2000) He was also known as Gideon the Dragonslayer. After a short fight with Zara, Queen of Bones in 359AD, he visited Merlin to be healed. He then found Lancelot Du Lac to ask him to help defeat Zara and Bolo the Bastard. Lancelot refused at first but when his life and the life of his lover was threatened, he agreed to help. After agreeing to be transformed into a dragon by Merlin, Lancelot joined Gideon as they headed straight for Zara's Keep, the Castle of Aquitane. Gideon killed Bolo as Lancelot killed Zara. In modern day, Gideon became known as The Master and taught apprentices martial arts. In 2000, he asked Lara, a previous student of his, to find the Sword of Lucifer, a sword he once used. Once she found it and gave it to him, he gave it to his current student, Daria. When his back was turned, she stabbed him with it. Seen in part 1. |
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Sara Pezzini
In 2000, Sara had a dream about an evil creature that the Witchblade was afraid of. In the middle of the night, she was sent to investigate the murder of the man called 'The Master'. After finding out that he had hired Lara from the accountants file, Sara paid her a visit. She told her of the Master's murder, and Lara provided her with possible suspects. Sometime later, the Witchblade spoke to her of dread forces and powers of Darkness. This led the pair to find out Jackie Estacado, only to find that Daria, the Master's last student, had gotten to him first and had stolen his powers. They followed Daria to Paris, and for a brief moment at confrontation, after Daria had reanimated the Butcher Knight, the Witchblade was too terrified to move. When Daria began to use Sword of Lucifer, the Witchblade fought back, until Daria and the gargoyle flew away. Seen in part 2. |
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Jackie Estacado
Jackie was at a bar when he was seduced by a witch called Daria. She stole his power and Lara and Sara helped him to get it back by following Daria to Notre Dame. After a short battle on the roof of the cathedral, the Darkness returned to Jackie, and Daria and the Butcher Knight flew away. Seen in part 2. |
Artefacts:
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Sword of Lucifer
The Sword of Lucifer is said to have been wielded by Lucifer in the war against God. When Michael knocked the sword from his grasp, Lucifer was defeated and the sword fell to earth, where it is fabled to draw power from hell. In 359AD in England, it was used by Gideon the Dragonslayer to defeat Bolo the Bastard. It then lay in Zara's Keep, the Castle of Aquitaine, until in 2000 when Lara retrieved it for the Master, Gideon. He took it back to his apprentice, Daria, who took it and killed him with it. She then used the sword to bring the Butcher Knight back to life on the roof of the Notre Dame. Seen in both parts 1 & 2. |
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Key of Solomon
The Key of Solomon was a book that was briefly seen at the end of the comic. Gideon, the Master, was picking it up to hand it to his apprentice, Daria, before she stabbed him in the back with the Sword of Lucifer. He told her that if she learnt it, she would have enough power to shake the universe. Seen in part 1. |
Baddies:
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Zara / Queen of Bones
(? – 359AD) Zara was the Queen of Bones, half demon, a wielder of the Witchblade and lived in the year 359 in England. She also wore a mask, which allowed her to fire red laser beams from her eyes. Her lover was Bolo the Bastard, who was also a wielder of the power of The Darkness. When Gideon the Dragonslayer and Lancelot Du Lac sought revenge against Zara and Bolo, Lancelot was transformed into a gargoyle by Merlin and in this form; he was able to defeat Zara. Seen in part 1. |
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Bolo the Bastard
In 359AD, he was the lover of Zara, Queen of Bones and wielder of the power of the Darkness. He was later killed by Gideon the Dragonslayer in the Castle of Aquitane. Seen in part 1. |
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Merlin
Merlin was the son of Lucifer and Lord of the Wizards, and lived in a cave called 'Merlin's Lair'. In 359AD, he healed Gideon the Dragonslayer and guided him to find Lancelot Du Lac to help defeat Zara, Queen of Bones. Then he went to Zara and told her the name of Guinevere, the one woman who could take away the Witchblade from her, in exchange for having an altar built in his name and being declared a god. After Bolo the Bastard fought with Lancelot Du Lac, the Black Knight, Lancelot sought help from Merlin, who transformed him into a dragon so that he could kill Zara. When he had done so, Merlin, against his word of not holding a grudge towards him, transformed him into a gargoyle so that he could sit on the roof of the Covent that Guinevere would live and die in. He also picked up the Witchblade after Lancelot, as a dragon, bit off Zara's arm. Seen in part 1. |
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Daria
In 2000, a 20 year old Daria was the apprentice to a man called 'The Master', though his real name was Gideon. She was learning to hone her telekinesis. When the Master returned to her with the Sword of Lucifer, she stabbed him in the back with it. She then travelled to Ruby, California, where she summoned the demon Botis. She asked him what she would need to restore her mother, and he answered that Merlin's blood would do it but she'd need the power of the Butcher Knight to make him bleed. She then went to New York City where she was able to steal Jackie Estacado's Darkness power from him. Then, she travelled to the Notre Dame cathedral, where the gargoyle of the Butcher Knight sat. Using the Sword of Lucifer, she was able to bring him back to life, and the pair returned to Ruby, where she transformed the knight back to Lancelot. Seen in both parts 1 & 2. |
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Lancelot Du Lac / The Black Knight / Butcher Knight / Luther Washington
In 359AD, he was the lover of Guinevere, and champion of the Round Table, master of the blade, lord of the joust, and also nicknamed as the 'Black Knight'. When Bolo the Bastard came after Guinevere, Lancelot fought him but was pushed over a cliff edge into water. When he visited Merlin for strength to defeat his enemy; he had to give over his soul. He was transformed into a dragon and then known as the Butcher Knight, and soon after, he defeated Zara, Queen of Bones. However, Merlin then condemned him to be a stone gargoyle to sit on the roof of the convent that Guinevere would live and die in. In modern time, that was the roof of the cathedral Notre Dame. In the year 2000, Daria used the Sword of Lucifer to bring the statue to life. After a brief battle against Lara Croft, Sara Pezzini and Jackie Estacado, and losing, Daria flew on the back of the Butcher Knight to Ruby, California where, in a click of her fingers, the gargoyle was transformed back into a man. She gave him the alias of Luther Washington and told him that she wanted revenge against Merlin. Lancelot then spent his time putting on muscle and 'indulging his flesh' whilst remembering his time sat on the roof of the Notre Dame. Seen in both parts 1 & 2. |
Location:
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USA – New York City – Plaza Hotel
USA – New York City – Hot Zone USA - JFK Airport USA - California - Ruby |
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England – Lair of Merlin
England – Zara’s Keep / Castle of Aquitane |
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France – Paris – Notre Dame
France – Paris – Charles De Gaulle International Airport |
Other Characters:
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Ho Ling
He was an aide to Lara Croft and her adventures. However, he later betrayed her for an ancient evil mask, which she shot off his face and killed him. Seen in part 1. |
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Guinevere
In 359AD, she was the lover of Lancelot Du Lac. According to Merlin, Guinevere was the only woman who could take the Witchblade away from the current wielder, Zara, Queen of Bones. Bolo the Bastard soon went after her, and his Darkness gremlins pushed her into the water. She was rescued and taken to the Castle of Aquitane, Zara's Keep, where Merlin showed her to Lancelot, who believed that she was dead. However, Merlin forced her to live in a convent. Seen in part 1. |
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Botis
Botis, also known as the Duke, was an archdemon who stole the soul of one of the Master's apprentices. The apprentice was the mother of Daria. In 2000, Daria summoned him from hell to ask him how she can heal her mother. Mentioned in part 1 and seen in part 2. |
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J. F. Mortimer
He was the accountant to the man called 'The Master', a martial arts instructor also called Gideon, was killed in 2000. Seen in part 2. |
Weapons:
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Lara's Pistols
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Bolo's Sword
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Zara's Battleaxe
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Variant Covers:
Dark Clouds Rising Gold Foil Variant
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