Comic Commentary : Targets #1-6

So issue one is titled Cherry Gig, and we open on the premier building helipad where Beast Boy is distracted by some photos of Queen Perdita on his phone.

Stargirl expresses concern that this rescue mission might be too personal for him and not a great fit for his return to the Outsiders.

But Gar stubbornly insists on going just as the Outsiders are ready for immediate departure.

We then cut to two days earlier where Perdita's private jet lands at the Star City Airport.

Waiting on the airfield is Bowhunter Security, consisting of Will, Roy, and Jim Harper alongside Harlan Matthews.

Much like Gar, Will is taking this protective detail incredibly personally, which triggers a flashback from a decade prior.

Ten years ago, Red Arrow was operating solo in Vladova, where he knew that the League of Shadows had accepted a contract to assassinate King Joseph Vladek, Perdita's father.

As usual during that timeline, he felt he could handle the situation alone.

However, the assassin turned out to be Sportsmaster, who used the Cadmus trigger phrase Broken Arrow to paralyze Will.

And before Will even knew it, he was knocked unconscious with a single punch, and when he woke up, King Joseph was dead, leaving young Perdita an orphan.

So, back in the present day,

Will vows never to fail her again.

Meanwhile, at the Markovian National Penitentiary, Count Vertigo is busy complaining about the quality of prison food before four armored soldiers break into the facility.

They extract Vertigo and his associates in a prearranged breakout that Vertigo failed to mention to any of his fellow inmates.

And back at Star City, Bowhunter Security escorts Perdita towards a scheduled tour of Star Labs, which is looking to open a new facility in Vladova.

Inside, they are greeted by Dr. Serling Roquette from all the way back in Season 1. and her two new colleagues, supposed doctors Dinah Lance and Oliver Queen, who has a doctorate now.

Because Dinah definitely does.

Oliver's the one I'm worried about.

Perdita and Roquette briefly bond over owning the same Forever 16 purse, but that moment of levity is shattered when six more armored mercenaries crash through the glass ceiling.

Will and Denny immediately move to cover the Queen, while Will gives Harlan the authorization to go full Clayface.

Oliver draws his bow, scoring a hit thanks to a quick Maneuver 7 from Jim.

However, another mercenary manages to tag Oliver with a tranquilizer dart, knocking him out.

In rapid succession, Denny, Dr. Roquette, and Dinah are all also taken down by darts.

Clayface attempts to mold a protective barrier around everyone, but the mercenaries deploy specialized sonic weapons that melt him into a harmless puddle, and the attackers overpower the remaining security, seize Perdita, and fly away, leaving a furious Will Harper swearing to recover her.

So issue one is titled Cherry Gig, and we open on the premier building helipad where Beast Boy is distracted by some photos of Queen Perdita on his phone.

Stargirl expresses concern that this rescue mission might be too personal for him and not a great fit for his return to the Outsiders.

But Gar stubbornly insists on going just as the Outsiders are ready for immediate departure.

We then cut to two days earlier where Perdita's private jet lands at the Star City Airport.

Waiting on the airfield is Bowhunter Security, consisting of Will, Roy, and Jim Harper alongside Harlan Matthews.

Much like Gar, Will is taking this protective detail incredibly personally, which triggers a flashback from a decade prior.

Ten years ago, Red Arrow was operating solo in Vladova, where he knew that the League of Shadows had accepted a contract to assassinate King Joseph Vladek, Perdita's father.

As usual during that timeline, he felt he could handle the situation alone.

However, the assassin turned out to be Sportsmaster, who used the Cadmus trigger phrase Broken Arrow to paralyze Will.

And before Will even knew it, he was knocked unconscious with a single punch, and when he woke up, King Joseph was dead, leaving young Perdita an orphan.

So, back in the present day,

Will vows never to fail her again.

Meanwhile, at the Markovian National Penitentiary, Count Vertigo is busy complaining about the quality of prison food before four armored soldiers break into the facility.

They extract Vertigo and his associates in a prearranged breakout that Vertigo failed to mention to any of his fellow inmates.

And back at Star City, Bowhunter Security escorts Perdita towards a scheduled tour of Star Labs, which is looking to open a new facility in Vladova.

Inside, they are greeted by Dr. Serling Roquette from all the way back in Season 1. and her two new colleagues, supposed doctors Dinah Lance and Oliver Queen, who has a doctorate now.

Because Dinah definitely does.

Oliver's the one I'm worried about.

Perdita and Roquette briefly bond over owning the same Forever 16 purse, but that moment of levity is shattered when six more armored mercenaries crash through the glass ceiling.

Will and Denny immediately move to cover the Queen, while Will gives Harlan the authorization to go full Clayface.

Oliver draws his bow, scoring a hit thanks to a quick Maneuver 7 from Jim.

However, another mercenary manages to tag Oliver with a tranquilizer dart, knocking him out.

In rapid succession, Denny, Dr. Roquette, and Dinah are all also taken down by darts.

Clayface attempts to mold a protective barrier around everyone, but the mercenaries deploy specialized sonic weapons that melt him into a harmless puddle, and the attackers overpower the remaining security, seize Perdita, and fly away, leaving a furious Will Harper swearing to recover her.