Wolfpack #9 (April 1989)

It's that time again! It's time to rejoin the Wolfpack in their greatest battle against the Nine! Last time, Rafael Vega went a bit crazy, and Sharon...what is her surname?! paid the price for it. They also encountered a drug-addled hitman named Missionary who sought some redemption. And in his quest for redemption, he ended up causing some chaos in the South Bronx. What happens next?! Let's find out in Wolfpack #9!

The cover is a Ron Wilson and Chris Ivy piece. It's pretty cool, depicting a gang member trying to strangle Rafael while they fly out a window. It's a bit of a scary moment, seeing the other members of the Pack vainly try to save Vega. It's a rather exciting-looking cover. 

"Chaos"
Writer: John Figueroa
Penciler: Ron Wilson
Inker: Chris Ivy
Colorist: Max Scheele
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Editor: Terry Kavanagh
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The story beings with a bunch of kids hearing screaming from an alley. The kids run towards it, curious as to the source. At this, the narration states that kids are not born bad, they just imitate their environment. It turns out that a man named Lee is talking about an opportunity.

“And then everyone will HAVE to respect my sweet headband!”

Thanks to Rafael and the Missionary's actions in the last issue, there is a power vacuum in the criminal underworld. And from that, Lee sees an opportunity. This is a chance for the smaller gangs like his own to take control. Naturally, someone objects to this.

Naturally, someone objects to this. After all, just because the mobs are still fractured right now, doesn't mean they're not still dangerous. It's called organized crime for a reason, after all. They likely have contingencies in place for stuff like this (Especially considering it's the Marvel Universe after all), and Lee's plans will just get everyone killed.

Lee shuts up the dissenter with a bullet to the chest. He then asks if anyone else has an issue. After all, he presumably still has some bullets in his gun. Well, three of the Wolfpack have opinions.

"Your mothers also smelled of elderberries!"

Sam, Wheels, and Slag deal with the gathered gang members.

They manage to break up the meeting, but it's not been an easy time for them. They really could use Rafael right now, as Sharon is still recuperating in the hospital. However, he's still dealing with the events of last issue. Rafael is hanging at a streetlamp, lost in his own thoughts. He laments that when he gets something good, something happens to wreck it. A drug dealer walks up to him, thinking he's a potential customer. However, when he realizes it's Rafael, he runs like his butt was on fire.

The dealer is so scared, he dropped his crack. Rafael picks it up, thinking that the Pack would have dealt with the dealers easily. He notes that many people take drugs to forget, and he wonders why.

Over at the Spartans' headquarters, Lee is doing some target practice...while playing his idea of darts.

“Stupid PDC! I’ll show ‘em!”

He was able to be let go thanks to his ditching his gun. As such, the cops had no case. But that's the past. Lee is thinking of the future. He heard a gang called the Dragons are gong to buy some cocaine. The Spartans need a bit of spending money, so he figures why not take their money...and the cocaine as well? Sell that themselves for even more money, I presume.

Lee sees this act as a steppingstone towards his true dream: to be the top man in the Bronx. To be the number one man in the number one gang in the city. 

Meanwhile, Rafael had found...something. The art doesn't make it clear exactly what he has (presumably some form of drug paraphenalia), but a man warns him that it's chemical. He laments that crack is making kids go insane, and he has it hard enough with heroin.

"Kid, you look like life ran you over. And that's coming from ME!"

He offers some drugs to Rafe, but the boy gets a view of his arm. He sees the track marks from his habit, and evidently it causes the young martial artist to have a revelation. He's done running away from his problems. In a nice little moment, he tells the man that if he wants help kicking his habit, let him know. Remember this man.

That night, the Pack holds a meeting at the rooftop of the building Rafael lives in. They discuss that Lee was let out of the lock-up by the police. Something about him being a controlling factor. It's here that Rafael decides to join them. He apologizes to them for his actions in the last issue, and he wants to rejoin the team...if they'll let him. Slag, Sam, and Wheels are all happy to let him back on board. Then someone comes along to ruin the good times.

"You were expecting Matt Murdock?"

Yup, ol' Malvin Crenshaw, the Nine's sleazy ambulance-chasing lawyer. And he needs the Pack's help. You see, thanks to the Missionary deciding to have a little fun with his machine gun (heh, poet and didn't know it) in the last issue, there's chaos among the gangs. Crenshaw is doing what he can to keep things from falling apart, but even he can only do so much. He needs the Pack's help...well, more like he needs Rafael's help.

Remember, Rafael learned that he is the biological son of one of the Nine. As such, he can declare himself the new head. If Rafael does that, Crenshaw will have time to get new people in to take charge of the gangs and prevent some real chaos from breaking out. Rafael points out that the Wolfpack was formed to stop the Nine. However, Wheels convinces him to help. After all, keeping the gangs stable will help make things easier. Not to mention gang wars can get civilians caught in the crossfire. This move would likely save some lives.

The Pack agree to help, and Crenshaw gives them some information on the Spartans. They're the gang that is causing the most trouble right now. With them subdued, things should be a bit more peaceful, and Crenshaw will have everything under control in three days. They agree to help, but as soon as this is over, the Nine are going down.

Over in Chinatown, said gang are preparing an ambush.

"After we kill them, we'll throw the rotten vegetables at the building!"

They're going to attack another gang called the Dragons, and steal their drugs, presumably to sell themselves. The Wolfpack aren't able to save the Dragons, but they do catch the Spartans' leader. Rafael warns him that he's in charge around here now, thanks to the events of the last issue. As such, if the Spartans want to start a fight, they only do it with his say-so. 

Inspector Cassidy arrives and wants some answers, but the neighborhood is clammed up. One little girl does tell him about the Pack's attack on the Spartans. Unaware of what's really going on, Cassidy worries that the Wolfpack have gone to the dark side. He did not need this today!

Rafael briefly visits his home, where his mother is demanding to know what's going on.

He assures her that all the chaos will be over in a few days, and tells her he loves her. 💓 It's also Saturday today, so he can spend the day with Sharon, who is recovering from being shot in the last issue. He notices a kid nearby. The kid is there to give the Wolfpacker a gift.

"Hey, wait a minute! This isn't a water gun!" 

A gift of hot lead. Rafael dodged the bullet, and the kid runs for it.

Another kid tells Rafael the attempted shooter was with some guys in a car...wearing Spartan colors. Likely they were trying to take out Rafael while maintaining plausible deniability. Afterwards, the kids think that maybe they should form their own gang as things are getting tough out here. 

However, there is some good news. Over at Bellvue Hospital, it's revealed that Sharon's prognosis is better than it was originally believed. The bullet she was hit with missed her spine, and the surgeons were able to get it out. And since her spinal cord wasn't damaged, it means she is still able to walk. Not just walk, but she will still be able to run.

Rafael goes into her room and begs Sharon for forgiveness. She seems to be in a forgiving mood. With that out of the way, the rest of the Pack can get down to business. Rafael reports the Spartans' attempt to kill him. The Wolfpack make their way to the Spartans' HQ, and brawl with the gang. The teenage crimefighters demand to know where Lee is. He's hiding out back. When the Pack investigate, they find a shocking sight.

"They said they had punch and pie!"

It was already bad enough that the Spartans have what looks like an innocent man in this simple death trap, but Rafael recognizes this man. It was the same man he had met earlier. Lee believes this man knows about a big score is coming but refuses to talk. It's possible that he's unaware of any big score, Lee. Lee then engages Rafael in a fight.

The brawl attracts a crowd. Lee is physically stronger than Rafe (and is willing to knock him around with a trash can), but Rafael is a smarter and better fighter. He knocks the Spartans' leader down a few pegs, pointing out that he's no son of Apollo Cora. He's the son of the streets of the South Bronx. He's no different than anyone in the borough, except in one aspect. He has dignity. He respects his neighborhood and its people. Sirens are heard. The cops are coming.

The crowd and the Pack scatter, leaving Lee lying among the trash. I can imagine that Sam, Slag, and Wheels rescued the junkie while Rafael and Lee were brawling. 

A week passes. Crenshaw meets with the Pack. He gives them props for dealing with Lee and the Spartans. He's got the new bosses in, so things should go back to normal. But with that, the Wolfpack declare they will bring down the Nine, and these new bosses. After Crenshaw leaves, Rafael announces his plans for his inheritance: Afte Uncle Sam collects the taxes, he plans to sell his new car, fix up his home, and then put the remainder in the bank. He also plans to pay Sharon's hospital bills and any therapy she'll need. Also, he'll set up a fund for the Pack in case they need any money. 

Wheels points out that they're taking on a big task, but he's feeling optimistic. The streets will be free of the Nine!

In epilogue, a group of kids are heading towards the park, where they're stopped by another group of kids, who have formed their own gang called the Junior Spartans, and this park is now their turf. The narration reiterates that children are not born bad, they just imitate their environment...

I did enjoy this issue. Rafael is the one who gets the most character development in the issue, which makes a lot of sense. I do admit, I did feel a bit thrown off by the prologue and epilogue of the issue focused on the kids, but I think it was meant to show that the rough streets of the South Bronx can perpetuate a dark cycle, the violence and gangbanging passing from one generation to another. One plotline I do wish was picked up here was with Crenshaw and Slag. You see, all the way back in issue #3, his mother got a new job working for Crenshaw, unaware that Crenshaw is involved with the Nine (he's not a member, he's their attorney). I would have liked to have seen that plotline explored further here. 

The art is strongest when it comes to the close-ups. You really get a good view of characters' expressions with them. 

If you want to read this story for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2018 trade paperback Wolfpack: The Complete Collection. Thanks for reading this blog entry! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!