Chapter Summaries

Black Super equipped Blade and Abraham Whistler to hunt Vampires, driving their enemies further underground while the human world grew calmer. At the end of June, Henry attended Cruella de Vil’s Paris fashion show with Charlize Theron and greeted Jasper Baden and Horace Baden backstage.

• Jasper Baden stayed at Blade’s secret base until Black Super confirmed he was unaffected by the Vampire Virus, then returned to England without delivering his invitation letters.
• Black Super upgraded Blade and Abraham Whistler’s surveillance and supplied the technology and equipment to make UV Bullets and Silver Nitrate Bullets.
• With Black Super’s sponsorship, Blade spent less time hiding to gather ammunition and intensified his attacks, forcing Vampires to conceal their activities more carefully.
• At the end of June, Henry went to Cruella de Vil’s menswear fashion show in Paris with Charlize Theron, who immediately argued with Cruella backstage.
• Henry greeted Jasper Baden and Horace Baden at the show, and Jasper warmly acknowledged Henry for helping him before.

Henry gave Jasper Baden a Continental Hotel gold coin for emergencies and explained how the hotel’s protection worked. Meanwhile, Cruella tricked Charlize Theron into wearing menswear for a runway show, leaving her furious as preparations continued.

• Henry asked Jasper Baden whether he had suffered any lasting discomfort, and Jasper said he could still walk in sunlight.
• Jasper asked Henry about the people who had helped them, and Henry showed him a Continental Hotel gold coin.
• Henry gave Jasper the coin and warned that hotel residents would obey its rules but might sell information.
• Cruella summoned Jasper and Horace Baden to fetch a jewelry box and tie rack while her assistants changed Charlize into men’s clothing.
• Henry realized Cruella had arranged for Charlize to walk in a menswear show’s finale, and Charlize cursed in Afrikaans as stylists worked on her hair and makeup.

Charlize Theron’s menswear runway appearance boosted her modeling and acting prospects, while Henry returned to Los Angeles and resumed his work and comfortable routine. An emergency signal from Abraham Whistler pulled Henry away from the office to respond.

• Charlize Theron stunned the Paris menswear runway in Cruella de Vil’s show, increasing orders and reviving interest in her work.
• J.J. Harris discussed new opportunities with Charlize, who asked Henry why he had not arranged a role for her in Titanic; Henry explained that its supporting roles were unsuitable and the schedule conflicted with her work.
• Henry and Charlize returned to Los Angeles, where she pursued acting jobs while Henry advanced the Undersea Laboratory, studied alien technology, and funded Blade and Abraham Whistler’s fight against Vampires.
• Henry received an emergency message from Abraham Whistler and left work, telling Julianne to take down callers’ numbers.
• Henry rode his repaired bicycle out of the parking garage, using it to evade the people tailing him.

Black Super returned to Blade and Abraham Whistler's base after they asked him to develop a serum for Blade's Bloodlust Syndrome. He examined Blade's blood and began testing its reaction to garlic extract.

• Black Super found Blade and Abraham Whistler alone at the secret base and asked why they had called him in.
• Abraham Whistler explained that he and Blade wanted Black Super to research a treatment for Blade's Bloodlust Syndrome at the base, keeping Blade's blood samples there.
• Black Super adjusted the medical equipment and had Abraham Whistler draw a tube of Blade's blood.
• Black Super examined the sample and found that Blade's human and vampire cells coexisted without the virus altering his normal cells.
• Black Super asked how Blade suppressed his bloodlust, then mixed garlic extract into the blood sample to observe the reaction.

Black Super examined Blade and explained why garlic extract's effects were wearing off, then offered two treatment options. Blade chose a recurring medicine that would preserve his Vampire abilities, and the group discussed obtaining a live Vampire for comparison samples.

• Black Super found that the Vampire Virus was gradually disabling Blade's red blood cells, while garlic extract restored only some of them and also harmed other cells.
• Black Super said an antidote could make Blade fully human, but Abraham Whistler warned that Vampires would target him if they learned he had lost his powers.
• Black Super proposed a reducing agent that would restore Blade's red blood cells temporarily, though Blade would need it for life and still have to resist his bloodlust.
• Blade chose the reducing agent, and Black Super agreed to prepare it at their base after receiving a list of required materials.
• Black Super asked for blood from a pure Vampire for comparison, and Blade and Abraham Whistler explained that a Vampire's blood sample turned to ash if its owner was killed.
• Blade and Abraham Whistler decided to capture a Vampire alive so Black Super could obtain a usable sample.

Black Super captured and immobilized a Vampire, then studied his blood and bone marrow to understand Vampire biology and find a way to treat Blade’s Bloodlust Syndrome. He began testing garlic extract and developing a possible erythropoietin treatment.

• Black Super confirmed that Blade and Abraham Whistler had captured a Vampire and knocked the prisoner into paralysis with a precise strike to the neck.
• Black Super chained the Vampire to the workbench, warned Blade and Abraham Whistler to watch him, and drew blood and bone marrow for testing.
• Black Super found that Vampire bone marrow could produce red blood cells, but too slowly to replace those lost, which explained their need to drink blood.
• Black Super considered using erythropoietin to stimulate Blade’s red blood cell production and began synthesizing it based on his knowledge of Amgen’s process.
• Black Super started purifying garlic extract to identify the component that could restore Blade’s cells, using his Super Senses to speed up the tests.

Black Super developed a blood-red-cell reducing agent that worked on both Vampires and Blade, then prepared to test Erythropoietin on the captive Vampire. He injected the hormone into the Vampire’s lumbar spine while Blade and Abraham Whistler stood ready in case the subject broke free.

• Black Super tested garlic-derived formulas on Vampire and Blade blood, finding that the reducing agent affected both alike and recording options with different durations and strengths.
• Black Super found that the reducing agent did not kill Vampire-infected tissue cells and completed preparations for Erythropoietin testing.
• Black Super considered using Abraham Whistler’s or Blade’s bone marrow, but Whistler urged him to test the hormone directly on the captive Vampire.
• Black Super drew a large dose of Erythropoietin and warned Blade and Whistler to ready their weapons in case the injection restored the Vampire’s strength.
• Blade retrieved his silver-plated sword and Whistler readied a silver-round shotgun before Black Super injected the hormone into the captive Vampire’s lumbar spine.

Black Super tested Erythropoietin on a vampire, then explained its dangerous effects and prepared emergency medicines for Blade. He left the research and equipment with Blade and Abraham Whistler, who planned to test the treatments themselves.

• Black Super injected a vampire with Erythropoietin, and the vampire rapidly healed before Blade and Abraham Whistler killed him.
• Black Super learned from Abraham Whistler that killing a vampire did not kill the descendants he had bitten, and Blade confirmed that drinking blood restored vampires from injuries.
• Black Super explained that Erythropoietin could force rapid recovery by consuming the vampire’s body, causing severe atrophy, and warned against using it as an enhancement drug.
• Black Super made a restorative spray and a needleless Erythropoietin injector for Blade, and left the samples, research data, and production instructions behind.
• Blade thanked Black Super, who asked him to kill more vampires, and Blade agreed.

After Blade’s campaign against the Vampires sparked stronger retaliation, Henry and Abraham Whistler relocated their hideout. In Russia, Alexei Shostakov was arrested over faulty intelligence while Nick Fury and Barbara Morse wrapped up their covert investigation and withdrew.

• Vampire hunters warned Abraham Whistler of an impending attack, and Black Super helped him move the secret base to an abandoned steel mill.
• Alexei Shostakov was arrested for bringing back incorrect intelligence, and he shouted that Nick Fury had framed him when he spotted Fury’s convoy-side presence.
• Nick Fury explained to Barbara Morse that Alexei’s battlefield instincts made him dangerous despite his blustering manner.
• Barbara Morse reported that Melina Vostokoff had returned to seek General Dreykov’s protection and that recovered Alien Research Institute materials and records were incomplete.
• Nick Fury told Barbara Morse to judge the suspected alien by his actions rather than ancient Skrull records, then withdrew with her along Route C.

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s think tank debated whether Henry Brown was connected to Superman, but limited evidence and resources left the question unresolved. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Phil Coulson went to Stark Studios to ask Henry directly.

• S.H.I.E.L.D.'s think tank split over whether Henry Brown was Superman or whether the resemblance to the comics was coincidence.
• The think tank reviewed Henry Brown's history in a Red Empire research facility and his rise to become Stark Studios' CEO.
• S.H.I.E.L.D. approved limited research into Green and Red Sun Lamps and a search for Kryptonite, while placing surveillance of Henry Brown at the bottom of its priorities.
• Phil Coulson received authorization from his superiors, took a Superman comic, and entered Stark Studios to speak with Henry Brown.

Phil Coulson visited Henry Brown on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D. to investigate whether he was Superman, while Henry considered how the agent might affect his plans. Henry denied being the comic-book character, but Coulson persisted by pointing out that both were Kryptonians.

• Phil Coulson asked to meet Henry Brown and was shown to his office after mentioning Nick Fury.
• Henry greeted Coulson and learned that he was a Level One agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fury's subordinate.
• Coulson placed a Superman comic on Henry's desk and revealed that S.H.I.E.L.D. wanted to know whether Henry was Superman.
• Henry laughed off the idea, explaining that Superman had existed in comics long before he was born.
• Coulson refused to give up and told Henry that they were both Kryptonians.

Phil Coulson tried to recruit Henry Brown to become a Superman-like hero, but Henry rejected his appeals and made clear he was content with his life at Stark Studios. Coulson left disappointed and joined Nick Fury’s car, where Fury guessed the recruitment had failed.

• Phil Coulson urged Henry Brown to develop his abilities and help S.H.I.E.L.D. fight crime, but Henry questioned the danger, low pay, and value of taking on that role.
• Henry mocked Coulson’s assumption that he was Superman and argued that he had no duty to save the world or prove his patriotism.
• Henry ended the conversation, told Coulson to find Aladdin’s Lamp if he wanted to make a wish, and returned the Superman comic book.
• Phil Coulson left Stark Studios and got into Nick Fury’s car.
• Nick Fury told Coulson that he was not surprised the conversation had failed.

Nick Fury explained to Phil Coulson why S.H.I.E.L.D. could not prove Henry Brown was Superman or justify taking action against him. He left Coulson with the warning that Henry was an alien with Steel Body, powerful connections, and no easy means of restraint.

• Nick Fury told Phil Coulson that investigating Superman’s comic creators could not establish that Henry Brown was Superman, and criticized Coulson’s attempt to confront him with the comic.
• Fury recounted Henry Brown’s history, including his arrival in Alaska, work as Audrey Hepburn’s assistant, involvement in the senator’s massacre, and later activities as the underground doctor Tinkerer.
• Fury described the Sony Building bombing as a warning that Henry’s property was dangerous to seize, while emphasizing that investigators had no direct evidence tying Henry to it.
• Fury cited two apparent Superman-like figures—the Joker in 1992 and a mysterious man in black during the Skrull-Kree conflict—but said neither could be conclusively connected to Henry.
• Fury explained that S.H.I.E.L.D. could only investigate Henry with minimal surveillance because an operation based on circumstantial evidence would violate rights and provoke backlash.
• Fury warned that Henry was confirmed to possess Steel Body, was an alien rather than a Mutant, and could not be easily subdued with a Mutant Power-Suppression Collar.

Cruella de Vil’s Paris fashion show stunned audiences when Charlize Theron led Tiger down the runway, while Kitty’s performance convinced designers not to repeat the stunt. After Charlize returned to Los Angeles with Henry, customs stopped her and announced that her performer visa had been canceled, leaving her barred from entering the United States.

• Cruella de Vil sent Charlize Theron and Tiger onto the runway, and Tiger later walked without a leash before responding to Charlize’s whistle.
• Designers issued a statement promising not to put wild beasts on runways after learning Kitty’s precise performance could not be safely replicated.
• Charlize followed Henry back to Los Angeles to promote That Thing You Do! and help with media interviews.
• A customs officer stopped Charlize and told her that her performer visa, sponsored by Stark Studios, had been canceled.
• Charlize cooperated as airport police escorted her away, and Henry showed his passport and asked to speak with her briefly.
• Henry reached Charlize and saw her struggling to hold back tears.

Henry sent Charlize Theron to seek protection in Europe while he stayed in the United States, then faced more administrative obstruction when he tried to bring Kitty home. Kitty caused chaos in quarantine, forcing CBP to approve her release, and Henry left with her after calming her down.

• Henry gave Charlize Theron money and told her to find Cruella de Vil in the United Kingdom or Hubert de Givenchy in France, while he remained in the United States.
• Henry struggled with CBP over Kitty's quarantine clearance as officials tried to send the tiger back over disputed paperwork.
• Kitty shook and bent her cage, dodged tranquilizer darts, and caused the animals in the quarantine warehouse to panic and escape.
• Henry threatened legal action and compensation if officials harmed Kitty, while Kitty's roar frightened the staff.
• The supervisor approved Kitty's release, and Henry soothed her before taking her out of the warehouse.

Henry received an invitation from James Arden and suspected it came from the Mayflower-linked old-money elite. After learning Charlize’s visa had been canceled, Henry planned to meet Arden and told J.J. Harris to be honest with Charlize’s work partners about possible delays.

• Old Gary delivered Henry an invitation addressed to him and signed by James Arden, with lily-of-the-valley designs and an address in Montecito.
• Henry told old Gary that Charlize had flown to London or Paris after her visa was canceled, then promised to cook Dongpo pork when she returned.
• J.J. Harris arrived and asked Henry what had happened to Charlize, and he showed her the invitation and explained the visa problem.
• J.J. Harris suspected the invitation was connected to the Mayflower Compact’s old-money families, while Henry said the trouble was probably meant for him.
• Henry said he would meet Arden that night and asked J.J. Harris to coordinate Charlize’s work arrangements.
• Henry told J.J. Harris to be upfront with Charlize’s partners and said he could not promise she would return to Los Angeles by the next day.

Henry Brown visited James and Lilith Arden's mansion and discovered that the couple were Vampires tied to Gitano Dragonetti. After they confronted him over ignoring Dragonetti's proposal, Henry learned that the Ardens had regained their youth through Dragonetti's gift.

• Henry drove to the Arden estate and used his Super Senses to detect two Vampires and a disturbing scene in the basement.
• James and Lilith Arden received Henry in their dining room with a line of suited men watching.
• James squeezed Henry's hand to test his strength, and Henry concealed his resistance by pretending to be hurt.
• James confronted Henry for failing to respond favorably to Gitano Dragonetti's proposal, and Henry dismissed it as unworthy of his attention.
• Henry called James a young man, prompting James to reveal that he was ninety-three and Lilith was ninety-one, and that Elder Dragonetti had restored their youth.
• Henry pulled out a silver cross and pretended to fear the Vampires, but James told him that crosses did nothing to them.

Henry listened as James and Lilith Arden threatened him and explained their belief that youth and vitality could be taken from the young. He recognized that Charlize and Kitty had already been targeted, and asked whether the couple would give him any chance to refuse.

• Henry wondered how Vampires in the Marvel Universe aged and considered capturing one for experiments.
• James Arden warned Henry that power could disrupt the lives of people around him, citing Charlize’s canceled visa and Kitty’s customs troubles.
• The Arden couple drank blood in front of Henry while a nervous sommelier served them.
• Lilith Arden explained that she sought youth by taking it from young people and said she had envied Charlize.
• Lilith mentioned wanting to bathe in the blood of beautiful women, and Henry asked whether the Ardens would let him refuse.

Henry killed James Arden and Lilith Arden with a silver cross, then let the bodyguards restrain him and call the police. He avoided leaving fingerprints or other evidence as he waited to be handed over.

• James Arden and Lilith Arden declared that vampires were superior to humans and tried to intimidate Henry.
• Henry threw his silver cross into James Arden’s heart, causing him to burn to ash.
• Henry scraped the cross’s coating away and struck Lilith Arden in the temple, killing her as well.
• The Arden bodyguards fired at Henry, but the bullets left him unharmed and some ricocheted into the men.
• The bodyguards restrained Henry and called the police because they had no family decision-makers present.
• Henry cooperated and took care not to leave fingerprints or other evidence that could implicate him.

Henry Brown challenged the murder accusation by pointing out that the police had no bodies or forensic evidence, while his attorney Scott Jefferson sought his account of what happened. Henry claimed the Ardens had become vampires and that holy silver had destroyed them, leaving Scott uncertain whether he was joking.

• Prosecutor Will interrogated Henry and urged him to accept a plea deal, but Henry insisted he was innocent and asked where the Ardens' bodies were.
• Henry argued that the witnesses might have been ordered to make false accusations and demanded forensic testing of his cross necklace.
• Will left to seek more information, while Scott Jefferson questioned Henry under attorney-client privilege.
• Henry told Scott that James and Lilith Arden had become vampires and that holy silver had destroyed them, prompting Scott to recall rumors and question whether Henry was joking.