Pariah #4

Released by: Dark Horse Comics
Released on: May 28, 2014

The vitros are getting desperate, now that they've discovered their true enemies, Marinus Corporation, is launching nuclear warheads into space in an attempt to destroy them.

[IT DOESN'T TAKE VITRO-LEVELS OF INTELLIGENCE TO KNOW THAT SPOILERS FOLLOW.]

It's Hyde that rallies everyone to work as hard as they can to stop the attack. Since the vitros were able to eliminate their tracking data the corporation is launching their nukes in a pattern, hoping to eventually narrow down where the vitros' space station is at (a'la Battleship). So now the self-appointed leadership of Lila and the suspicious Hyde must try and formulate some plan that'll save them all. Hyde wants a solution that stops the missiles but Lila wants to somehow capture them, to turn this attack to their advantage.

As these two debate this in front of all the others, Lila finally reveals the extent of Hyde's complicity with Marinus: He's been sending them the schematics for everything they have created on their satellite and Marinus is putting those plans into production models globally. Their “sheriff” steps in angrily and punches Hyde and then, soon, Lila punches Hyde as well. It's Marks who steps in, having had enough posturing and seeing how this leadership model isn't working.

Marks is against the idea of any leadership, leaving it just to everyone. He has Lila and Hyde hauled off so they can actually do something about their predicament. He and Sam hit upon how to accomplish Lila's idea of capturing the nukes, by placing the missiles in orbit around the satellite and jamming the detonation codes. With a nuke heading directly at them and no time to test it, they fire their plan into action - and it works. Suddenly, they're reading multiple inbound missiles, as the vitros now know that Marinus is aware that “a bunch of kids who hate them just became a nuclear power.”

Aron Warner and Philip Gelatt continue their excellent work writing this series with each issue raising the stakes even higher. Brett Weldele's artwork keeps giving this an almost otherworldly sensibility (the vitros are technically creating a new, independent reality in space, after all) while keeping recognizable elements grounded by calling them out selectively. It's an outstanding collaboration that just keeps getting better and better.