Reprints Spectacular Spider-Man #64, 69-70, 81-82, 94-96, Marvel Team-Up Annual #6, Marvel Fanfare #19.
Written by Bill Mantlo & Al Milgrom.
Penciled by Ed Hannigan, Al Milgrom, Ron Frenz, Tony Salmons, Rick Leonardi, Kerry Gammill, Terry Austin & Kevin Nowlan.
Inked by Al Milgrom, Jim Mooney, Kevin Dzuban, Tony Salmons, Terry Austin, George Freeman.
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| Variant Cover. |
Spider-Man is hot on the trail of a drug dealer named Simon Marshall. Suddenly, Marshall is attacked by a teenaged duo who call themselves Cloak & Dagger!
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| Spider-Man encounters Cloak and Dagger for the first time. |
Cloak wears a cloak that envelops people and makes them cold. He also has the power of teleportation. Dagger is extremely agile and shoots light-knives from her fingers. She uses her light-knives to kill Marshall. Spidey is enraged, reminding them that even criminals have rights. He attempts to capture them, but Cloak teleports away with Dagger in tow.
Spider-Man looks into Marshall's activities and learns he was involved in a drug experiment conducted by the mob. Marshall and his cohorts kidnapped homeless teenagers, including Cloak and Dagger, and housed them in the ruins of Ellis Island. The teens were then injected with an experimental drug. All the other kids were killed, but Cloak and Dagger survived and gained super-powers.
Spidey checks out Ellis Island and finds Cloak and Dagger holding a trial for the other men involved in their drug experiment. Spider-Man intervenes, but one of the drug dealers gets the drop on Dagger. The dealers are accidentally killed during the ensuing melee. Spider-Man tells the duo that they need to stop acting as judge, jury and executioner, but they flee, telling him they have no choice. Cloak and Dagger then teleport away from Ellis Island.
Sometime later, Cloak and Dagger investigate another drug ring. It turns out the dealers are working for the gangster known as Silvermane, leader of the Maggia crime syndicate. Cloak & Dagger are determined to kill Silvermane for his crimes.
But Silvermane is barely alive. He's recuperating from a long fall and his mob doctors are helping him cheat death. Dagger attacks the bedridden Slivermane and appears to kill him.
We later learn that Silvermane's doctors turn him into a super-strong cyborg in order to save his life. His new "body" will act as a life support system. He goes on a rampage around New York, seeking to kill Cloak and Dagger. Eventually, he encounters Spider-Man. Dagger succeeds in killing Silvermane with her light knives, much to the disgust of Spider-Man.
Shortly thereafter, the New Mutants visit New York City to take in a performance of Cats on Broadway. But team members Sunspot and Wolfsbane are captured by gangsters who are trying to recreate the drug that brought about Cloak & Dagger's powers.
It will take the combined forces of Spider-Man, the New Mutants, and Cloak & Dagger to save the day.
Subsequently, Cloak and Dagger defeat a small-time drug pusher. They learn that his source is none other than Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime! Spider-Man learns of this is worried more than ever before about the teenaged duo. He tries to stop them from going after the Kingpin.
To complicate matters, the Punisher has escaped prison and arrived in New York. He's continuing his one-man war on crime, gunning for every criminal, no matter how minor their offenses. Punisher is determined to kill the Kingpin, but he'll have go through Spider-Man, Cloak, and Dagger first.
After that adventure, Kingpin hatches a plan to kill Cloak & Dagger. He has revived the cyborg body of Silvermane and will use it as his personal killing machine. Kingpin appreciates the irony of using one of his rivals to take care of the young duo.
Spider-Man does his best to protect Cloak & Dagger, but he's having problems of his own. His girlfriend and crime-fighting partner, the Black Cat, has been acting distant. She recently went to the Kingpin to get super powers and hasn't told Spidey about that for obvious reasons. This creates tension in the relationship.
4 Sals
Spider-Man looks into Marshall's activities and learns he was involved in a drug experiment conducted by the mob. Marshall and his cohorts kidnapped homeless teenagers, including Cloak and Dagger, and housed them in the ruins of Ellis Island. The teens were then injected with an experimental drug. All the other kids were killed, but Cloak and Dagger survived and gained super-powers.
Spidey checks out Ellis Island and finds Cloak and Dagger holding a trial for the other men involved in their drug experiment. Spider-Man intervenes, but one of the drug dealers gets the drop on Dagger. The dealers are accidentally killed during the ensuing melee. Spider-Man tells the duo that they need to stop acting as judge, jury and executioner, but they flee, telling him they have no choice. Cloak and Dagger then teleport away from Ellis Island.
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| Cloak & Dagger break up a drug deal. |
Sometime later, Cloak and Dagger investigate another drug ring. It turns out the dealers are working for the gangster known as Silvermane, leader of the Maggia crime syndicate. Cloak & Dagger are determined to kill Silvermane for his crimes.
 |
| Spider-Man tries to discourage Cloak & Dagger from going after Silvermane |
But Silvermane is barely alive. He's recuperating from a long fall and his mob doctors are helping him cheat death. Dagger attacks the bedridden Slivermane and appears to kill him.
We later learn that Silvermane's doctors turn him into a super-strong cyborg in order to save his life. His new "body" will act as a life support system. He goes on a rampage around New York, seeking to kill Cloak and Dagger. Eventually, he encounters Spider-Man. Dagger succeeds in killing Silvermane with her light knives, much to the disgust of Spider-Man.
 |
| Silvermane gives his new "body" a workout. |
Shortly thereafter, the New Mutants visit New York City to take in a performance of Cats on Broadway. But team members Sunspot and Wolfsbane are captured by gangsters who are trying to recreate the drug that brought about Cloak & Dagger's powers.
It will take the combined forces of Spider-Man, the New Mutants, and Cloak & Dagger to save the day.
Subsequently, Cloak and Dagger defeat a small-time drug pusher. They learn that his source is none other than Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime! Spider-Man learns of this is worried more than ever before about the teenaged duo. He tries to stop them from going after the Kingpin.
To complicate matters, the Punisher has escaped prison and arrived in New York. He's continuing his one-man war on crime, gunning for every criminal, no matter how minor their offenses. Punisher is determined to kill the Kingpin, but he'll have go through Spider-Man, Cloak, and Dagger first.
After that adventure, Kingpin hatches a plan to kill Cloak & Dagger. He has revived the cyborg body of Silvermane and will use it as his personal killing machine. Kingpin appreciates the irony of using one of his rivals to take care of the young duo.
Spider-Man does his best to protect Cloak & Dagger, but he's having problems of his own. His girlfriend and crime-fighting partner, the Black Cat, has been acting distant. She recently went to the Kingpin to get super powers and hasn't told Spidey about that for obvious reasons. This creates tension in the relationship.
Plus:
Spider-Man gets a new villain in the form of the Answer! He works for the Kingpin and has the "answer" to every problem!
Also, Dagger wants to feel like a normal teenager again, so she goes out to dance club. But she runs into an infamous drug dealer.
Review:
This is a great introduction to Cloak and Dagger. I'd read most of these tales, but their first appearance was a story I never owned. Bill Mantlo created the duo and writes most of the stories contained here. I get the impression that Cloak and Dagger mean a lot to Mantlo.
Story:
The first story in this book is a great debut for Cloak & Dagger. They make an exciting first impression. We see them in action, killing a drug dealer and we get an origin story as well. Mantlo also makes nice use of New York landmarks: Spider-Man discovers the drug dealers hideout is on Ellis Island. This story took place when the famous immigration center was abandoned and in disrepair. I found this especially interesting, since, like Mantlo, I had family that arrived in America through Ellis Island.
I also enjoyed the Marvel Team-Up Annual story that featured the New Mutants. I can't recall any other stories where Cloak & Dagger interacted with their peers.
I enjoyed Mantlo's portrayal of the Punisher. He's depicted as a total madman here, sentencing passersby to death for littering.
If there's any problem with Crime And Punishment, it's that some of the stories seem a bit too similar to one another. Several stories center on generic drug dealing gangsters. It doesn't ruin the book, but it's something that's more effective when it's spread across several months (which was the case when these issues were published).
Art:
The early parts of this book are penciled by Ed Hannigan. This represents some of Hannigan's best work. To my eyes, the covers and splash pages look like homages to comics legend Will Eisner.
In fact, you can even see a sign for a business named "Eisner Industries" in the background of one panel (see image below) . Al Milgrom does a fine job inking Hannigan.
Milgrom takes over as penciler for the later stories, so there's not a drastic stylistic change. The portion that reprints Marvel Team-Up Annual #6 features pencils by Ron Frenz inked by Kevin Dhuzban. Their art isn't flashy, but it's solid.
The final story of the book features 3 different art teams, each getting 10 pages a piece. The best of these are penciled by Rick Leonardi and inked by Terry Austin.
How Does it look?:It looks great. Here's another scan from the book:
Extras:
We get several full-page pinups of Cloak & Dagger, plus some covers that feature the duo.
Rating:
Cloak & Dagger: Crime And Punishment features action-packed stories from start to finish, with plenty of 80s grittiness thrown in for good measure.
Spider-Man gets a new villain in the form of the Answer! He works for the Kingpin and has the "answer" to every problem!
Also, Dagger wants to feel like a normal teenager again, so she goes out to dance club. But she runs into an infamous drug dealer.
Review:
This is a great introduction to Cloak and Dagger. I'd read most of these tales, but their first appearance was a story I never owned. Bill Mantlo created the duo and writes most of the stories contained here. I get the impression that Cloak and Dagger mean a lot to Mantlo.
Story:
The first story in this book is a great debut for Cloak & Dagger. They make an exciting first impression. We see them in action, killing a drug dealer and we get an origin story as well. Mantlo also makes nice use of New York landmarks: Spider-Man discovers the drug dealers hideout is on Ellis Island. This story took place when the famous immigration center was abandoned and in disrepair. I found this especially interesting, since, like Mantlo, I had family that arrived in America through Ellis Island.
I also enjoyed the Marvel Team-Up Annual story that featured the New Mutants. I can't recall any other stories where Cloak & Dagger interacted with their peers.
I enjoyed Mantlo's portrayal of the Punisher. He's depicted as a total madman here, sentencing passersby to death for littering.
If there's any problem with Crime And Punishment, it's that some of the stories seem a bit too similar to one another. Several stories center on generic drug dealing gangsters. It doesn't ruin the book, but it's something that's more effective when it's spread across several months (which was the case when these issues were published).
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| The Answer captures Dagger & flies away. |
Art:
The early parts of this book are penciled by Ed Hannigan. This represents some of Hannigan's best work. To my eyes, the covers and splash pages look like homages to comics legend Will Eisner.
In fact, you can even see a sign for a business named "Eisner Industries" in the background of one panel (see image below) . Al Milgrom does a fine job inking Hannigan.
Milgrom takes over as penciler for the later stories, so there's not a drastic stylistic change. The portion that reprints Marvel Team-Up Annual #6 features pencils by Ron Frenz inked by Kevin Dhuzban. Their art isn't flashy, but it's solid.
The final story of the book features 3 different art teams, each getting 10 pages a piece. The best of these are penciled by Rick Leonardi and inked by Terry Austin.
 |
| Dagger wants to go out dancing & feel like a normal teenager for just one night. |
How Does it look?:It looks great. Here's another scan from the book:
Extras:
We get several full-page pinups of Cloak & Dagger, plus some covers that feature the duo.
Rating:
Cloak & Dagger: Crime And Punishment features action-packed stories from start to finish, with plenty of 80s grittiness thrown in for good measure.
4 Sals
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