Underworld (1987) 4

Underworld (1987) 4       

Mar  1988

Getting Steven

by Robert Loren Fleming, Ernie Colón, Jerry Serpe, John Workman, Len Wein

Brian Doyle, a priest, searches for Steve, his brother. Steve murdered his wife Meredith and their two children. The police are aware of what happened but not why it happened or where Steve can be found. Clover, the uniformed police officer who was run over and almost killed in the previous issue, grew up with Brian, Steve, and Meredith. 

Brian eventually catches up to Steve at the top of the Empire State Building. The two brothers have it out. Brian was in love with Meredith and never really stopped caring for her in that way. He resented Steve for luring her away from him.

Underworld (1987) 3

Underworld (1987) 3

Feb 1988

Saving Grace

by Robert Loren Fleming, Ernie Colón, Jerry Serpe, John Workman, Len Wein

Clover gets run over but miraculously survives the incident. Valdez and Chapel go to extreme lengths to keep a civilian, William Grace, from killing himself not long after he saves the life of a young boy. . 

Thoughts

I like the street level aspects of much of this issue but the things that Valdez and Chapel did to save Grace from himself, on two separate occasions, were a bit too much and seemed out of character with the rest of the story. 

Underworld (1987) 2

Underworld (1987) 2

Jan 1988

Keep Away

by Robert Loren Fleming, Ernie Colón, Jerry Serpe, John Workman, Len Wein

Jackson Vale kidnapped Stacy, his young daughter, from her mother who has left him for NYPD Detective Ronald Kurt. Vale’s wife wants a divorce and wants Jackson out of the picture. She wants to marry Kurt. Jackson refuses to acquiesce to her demands and responded by taking Stacy.

Clover, Valdez, Xaviera, and Chapel meet Jackson Vale after he runs into them on the street. He’s carrying a rifle and in his rush to get where he’s going he knocks down Clover. The officers chase Vale down but then Detective Kurt arrives on the scene after they take Vale into custody.

Underworld (1987) 1

Underworld (1987) 1

Dec 1987

Prowess

by Robert Loren Fleming, Ernie Colón, Adrienne Roy, John Workman, Len Wein

This story, according to the note on page seven, is about the underworld, presumably the criminal underworld. For the most part what I found in this issue was a story about four police officers. I’m not sure how they directly and indirectly interact with the criminal underworld. Maybe this issue is the preface or the introduction. Maybe some of these police officers have ties to the criminal underworld or will develop them as the story evolves. I don’t know.