Black Jack (comic)

Black Jack is a horror, dark fantasy, anthology comic published by Dark Horse. Each issue in the series tells a different story with completely different characters. Every issue is completely self-contained, having no recurring characters, plot elements or themes what so ever.
==Issues==
===Volume One===
No 	Title 	Published
1 	Home 	March 28, 2018
A man vomits up a strange creature in an alleyway that resembles a bloody fetus. The creature is adopted by a couple, who both pity and are horrified by it. The creature, now named Max, becomes the subject of controversy when a priest who calls him a demon goes missing and turns up dead. There isn't enough evidence to put Max away so he is allowed to continue his life as normal. More controversy arises when Max begins attending High School and a girl who rejects him has her family slaughtered and she herself is left tied up and gagged in the basement. The girl is left unable to say who did this and once again Max is let go. Another time skip later, Max is now in college and is speaking with his mother, who is on her deathbed. She dies next to Max, who returns home and has a breakdown before running into the forest completely naked. Max meets his true father, who sheds his skin and reveals himself to be a horrifying, worm-like creature that has a sack on its stomach with the faces of all of Max's dead friends, family and enemies prodding out of it. Max then realizes why he has been the way he is: he isn't whole. He needs to be whole to live the life he was made to live. After having this realization, Max hugs the worm and is absorbed into it, proclaiming that he is home. 	A man vomits up a strange creature in an alleyway that resembles a bloody fetus. The creature is adopted by a couple, who both pity and are horrified by it. The creature, now named Max, becomes the subject of controversy when a priest who calls him a demon goes missing and turns up dead. There isn't enough evidence to put Max away so he is allowed to continue his life as normal. More controversy arises when Max begins attending High School and a girl who rejects him has her family slaughtered and she herself is left tied up and gagged in the basement. The girl is left unable to say who did this and once again Max is let go. Another time skip later, Max is now in college and is speaking with his mother, who is on her deathbed. She dies next to Max, who returns home and has a breakdown before running into the forest completely naked. Max meets his true father, who sheds his skin and reveals himself to be a horrifying, worm-like creature that has a sack on its stomach with the faces of all of Max's dead friends, family and enemies prodding out of it. Max then realizes why he has been the way he is: he isn't whole. He needs to be whole to live the life he was made to live. After having this realization, Max hugs the worm and is absorbed into it, proclaiming that he is home. 	A man vomits up a strange creature in an alleyway that resembles a bloody fetus. The creature is adopted by a couple, who both pity and are horrified by it. The creature, now named Max, becomes the subject of controversy when a priest who calls him a demon goes missing and turns up dead. There isn't enough evidence to put Max away so he is allowed to continue his life as normal. More controversy arises when Max begins attending High School and a girl who rejects him has her family slaughtered and she herself is left tied up and gagged in the basement. The girl is left unable to say who did this and once again Max is let go. Another time skip later, Max is now in college and is speaking with his mother, who is on her deathbed. She dies next to Max, who returns home and has a breakdown before running into the forest completely naked. Max meets his true father, who sheds his skin and reveals himself to be a horrifying, worm-like creature that has a sack on its stomach with the faces of all of Max's dead friends, family and enemies prodding out of it. Max then realizes why he has been the way he is: he isn't whole. He needs to be whole to live the life he was made to live. After having this realization, Max hugs the worm and is absorbed into it, proclaiming that he is home.
2 	Family 	April 18, 2018
Lorcan McLoughlin, a 17-year-old Irish student, gains a little sister that he despises in the form of the British, 14-year-old Emily Wilson. Lorcan, "Orca" as his sister calls him, spends most of his time trying to avoid Emily for as long as possible, but she somehow keeps finding him, as she is so clingy to him it actually somewhat upsets him. Luckily, not all is that bad is Lorcan is dating the most popular girl at school, named Olive. The two hit it off on their first date. Or so Lorcan thinks, as the next morning he gets a text from Olive informing him that she doesn't like him back. Lorcan is left depressed but is cheered up by Emily, who asks if he can take her to a movie. Lorcan grows quite the respect for his new little sister, as she extremely adorable. However, Lorcan's depression sparks back up when Olive is revealed to be dead and rumours fly that he was the one who killed her. This all ends in an outburst where Lorcan claims that just because she rejecting him doesn't mean he wanted to kill her, showing off the texts as he says so. Olive's best friend then reveals that Olive didn't send those texts as her phone was stolen just before she went missing. When questioned who stole it, the girl's description of the thief is exactly like his little sister. He confronts her about this, with her admitting that she did it, claiming that no one should have her big brother but her. Lorcan threatens to call the police, but Emily asks a simple question: "who'd believe you?" She then leans on Lorcan's shoulder, as Lorcan screams in silence. 	Lorcan McLoughlin, a 17-year-old Irish student, gains a little sister that he despises in the form of the British, 14-year-old Emily Wilson. Lorcan, "Orca" as his sister calls him, spends most of his time trying to avoid Emily for as long as possible, but she somehow keeps finding him, as she is so clingy to him it actually somewhat upsets him. Luckily, not all is that bad is Lorcan is dating the most popular girl at school, named Olive. The two hit it off on their first date. Or so Lorcan thinks, as the next morning he gets a text from Olive informing him that she doesn't like him back. Lorcan is left depressed but is cheered up by Emily, who asks if he can take her to a movie. Lorcan grows quite the respect for his new little sister, as she extremely adorable. However, Lorcan's depression sparks back up when Olive is revealed to be dead and rumours fly that he was the one who killed her. This all ends in an outburst where Lorcan claims that just because she rejecting him doesn't mean he wanted to kill her, showing off the texts as he says so. Olive's best friend then reveals that Olive didn't send those texts as her phone was stolen just before she went missing. When questioned who stole it, the girl's description of the thief is exactly like his little sister. He confronts her about this, with her admitting that she did it, claiming that no one should have her big brother but her. Lorcan threatens to call the police, but Emily asks a simple question: "who'd believe you?" She then leans on Lorcan's shoulder, as Lorcan screams in silence. 	Lorcan McLoughlin, a 17-year-old Irish student, gains a little sister that he despises in the form of the British, 14-year-old Emily Wilson. Lorcan, "Orca" as his sister calls him, spends most of his time trying to avoid Emily for as long as possible, but she somehow keeps finding him, as she is so clingy to him it actually somewhat upsets him. Luckily, not all is that bad is Lorcan is dating the most popular girl at school, named Olive. The two hit it off on their first date. Or so Lorcan thinks, as the next morning he gets a text from Olive informing him that she doesn't like him back. Lorcan is left depressed but is cheered up by Emily, who asks if he can take her to a movie. Lorcan grows quite the respect for his new little sister, as she extremely adorable. However, Lorcan's depression sparks back up when Olive is revealed to be dead and rumours fly that he was the one who killed her. This all ends in an outburst where Lorcan claims that just because she rejecting him doesn't mean he wanted to kill her, showing off the texts as he says so. Olive's best friend then reveals that Olive didn't send those texts as her phone was stolen just before she went missing. When questioned who stole it, the girl's description of the thief is exactly like his little sister. He confronts her about this, with her admitting that she did it, claiming that no one should have her big brother but her. Lorcan threatens to call the police, but Emily asks a simple question: "who'd believe you?" She then leans on Lorcan's shoulder, as Lorcan screams in silence.
3 	The Trenches of WWII 	May 24, 2018
An Axis soldier named Marco is fighting alongside other soldiers in the trenches against a group of Allies. Marco and his friends all duck into the trenches and slowly build up the courage to burst out after the Allies. However, all the Allies are dead. A nurse looks at the bodies while Marco talks with other soldiers, revealing that he has a family and that the only reason he became a soldier is to protect them. After this, the nurse reveals the Allies were killed by something inhuman, causing everyone to step back in shock. Because of this news, everyone scatter when they hear a strange noise coming. One soldier attempts to get out of the trench but is dragged away by something once he does. They all attempt to survive for as long as possible, but one by one everyone is picked off until Marco is the only one left alive. Because of this, Marco moves as fast as he can and runs out of the trenches and into a building where he grabs a gas tank and a matchbox. The creature then bursts in, revealing itself to be a horrifying reptile with a skull-like head. Marco dumps gas all over the lizard and sets it on fire before sitting down to catch his breath. In a short epilogue, Marco is seen returning to his family, who have been waiting for him this whole time. 	An Axis soldier named Marco is fighting alongside other soldiers in the trenches against a group of Allies. Marco and his friends all duck into the trenches and slowly build up the courage to burst out after the Allies. However, all the Allies are dead. A nurse looks at the bodies while Marco talks with other soldiers, revealing that he has a family and that the only reason he became a soldier is to protect them. After this, the nurse reveals the Allies were killed by something inhuman, causing everyone to step back in shock. Because of this news, everyone scatter when they hear a strange noise coming. One soldier attempts to get out of the trench but is dragged away by something once he does. They all attempt to survive for as long as possible, but one by one everyone is picked off until Marco is the only one left alive. Because of this, Marco moves as fast as he can and runs out of the trenches and into a building where he grabs a gas tank and a matchbox. The creature then bursts in, revealing itself to be a horrifying reptile with a skull-like head. Marco dumps gas all over the lizard and sets it on fire before sitting down to catch his breath. In a short epilogue, Marco is seen returning to his family, who have been waiting for him this whole time. 	An Axis soldier named Marco is fighting alongside other soldiers in the trenches against a group of Allies. Marco and his friends all duck into the trenches and slowly build up the courage to burst out after the Allies. However, all the Allies are dead. A nurse looks at the bodies while Marco talks with other soldiers, revealing that he has a family and that the only reason he became a soldier is to protect them. After this, the nurse reveals the Allies were killed by something inhuman, causing everyone to step back in shock. Because of this news, everyone scatter when they hear a strange noise coming. One soldier attempts to get out of the trench but is dragged away by something once he does. They all attempt to survive for as long as possible, but one by one everyone is picked off until Marco is the only one left alive. Because of this, Marco moves as fast as he can and runs out of the trenches and into a building where he grabs a gas tank and a matchbox. The creature then bursts in, revealing itself to be a horrifying reptile with a skull-like head. Marco dumps gas all over the lizard and sets it on fire before sitting down to catch his breath. In a short epilogue, Marco is seen returning to his family, who have been waiting for him this whole time.
4 	The Beast of Britain 	June 16, 2018
In a British forest, a massive grizzly bear is found beheaded and cut open. Two months later, three teenagers, named Harris, Mort, and Sophia, are camping in the forest, with Harris attempting to scare the other two by telling them about sightings of a large monster that people claim had killed a grizzly bear. The others obviously don't believe him, but Sophia, the more superstitious of the three, is still off-put. The next morning, Harris and Sophia wake up to a screaming Mort. They run out and see that he is screaming at the sight of a half eaten deer. the sick part is the fact the deer is still somehow alive and is clearly in pain. Harris reveals he stole one of his Cherif father's guns and uses it to put the deer out of its misery. Realizing there is no one who can help, the three make it their goal to find out who did this, coming across a river that has blood running through it and a group of dead rabbits before ending on their first encounter with the beast, which is devouring a horse it dragged out a field. It spots them and lets out a deafening cry before chasing them. The beast manages to capture Sophia and later on they find her corpse hanging from a tree. After seeing this, Mort tries to run away only to be tackled and eaten by the beast. It then begins coming for Harris, who has a short battle with the beast, managing to shoot it in the skull. Harris then lays against a tree and, inside it, finds a baby version of the beast eating two other baby beasts. The final panel shows the sound effect of Harris shooting his gun twice, not showing what he hit with his second bullet.	In a British forest, a massive grizzly bear is found beheaded and cut open. Two months later, three teenagers, named Harris, Mort, and Sophia, are camping in the forest, with Harris attempting to scare the other two by telling them about sightings of a large monster that people claim had killed a grizzly bear. The others obviously don't believe him, but Sophia, the more superstitious of the three, is still off-put. The next morning, Harris and Sophia wake up to a screaming Mort. They run out and see that he is screaming at the sight of a half eaten deer. the sick part is the fact the deer is still somehow alive and is clearly in pain. Harris reveals he stole one of his Cherif father's guns and uses it to put the deer out of its misery. Realizing there is no one who can help, the three make it their goal to find out who did this, coming across a river that has blood running through it and a group of dead rabbits before ending on their first encounter with the beast, which is devouring a horse it dragged out a field. It spots them and lets out a deafening cry before chasing them. The beast manages to capture Sophia and later on they find her corpse hanging from a tree. After seeing this, Mort tries to run away only to be tackled and eaten by the beast. It then begins coming for Harris, who has a short battle with the beast, managing to shoot it in the skull. Harris then lays against a tree and, inside it, finds a baby version of the beast eating two other baby beasts. The final panel shows the sound effect of Harris shooting his gun twice, not showing what he hit with his second bullet.	In a British forest, a massive grizzly bear is found beheaded and cut open. Two months later, three teenagers, named Harris, Mort, and Sophia, are camping in the forest, with Harris attempting to scare the other two by telling them about sightings of a large monster that people claim had killed a grizzly bear. The others obviously don't believe him, but Sophia, the more superstitious of the three, is still off-put. The next morning, Harris and Sophia wake up to a screaming Mort. They run out and see that he is screaming at the sight of a half eaten deer. the sick part is the fact the deer is still somehow alive and is clearly in pain. Harris reveals he stole one of his Cherif father's guns and uses it to put the deer out of its misery. Realizing there is no one who can help, the three make it their goal to find out who did this, coming across a river that has blood running through it and a group of dead rabbits before ending on their first encounter with the beast, which is devouring a horse it dragged out a field. It spots them and lets out a deafening cry before chasing them. The beast manages to capture Sophia and later on they find her corpse hanging from a tree. After seeing this, Mort tries to run away only to be tackled and eaten by the beast. It then begins coming for Harris, who has a short battle with the beast, managing to shoot it in the skull. Harris then lays against a tree and, inside it, finds a baby version of the beast eating two other baby beasts. The final panel shows the sound effect of Harris shooting his gun twice, not showing what he hit with his second bullet.
==Notes and Trivia==
*The series' art changes quite a lot. Some issues feature realistic characters, others have sketchy art and some others have a more manga-inspired style. This is to go with the fact that there are no themes connecting the stories.
*Issue four is based on an actual urban legend about a group of teenagers who encounter a monster that had ripped the heads off of two bears.
Category:Comics