Suicide Alley

***Suicide Alley*** is the sixth issue of *Before the Incal*. Like the fourth issue, it's not divided chapters.

It was published in 1995 by Les Humanoïdes Associés. It was written by Alejandro Jodorowsky, illustrated by Zoran Janjetov.

## Plot

In the Forest
of Singing Crystals, Tanatah is trying to prevent Animah from leaving the
Interior Sun, so she hits one of the crystals, which makes both of them fall asleep.

Meanwhile, the Flying Star, a pirate craft
commanded by Kaimann, takes over Diavaloo’s satellite. Diavaloo manages to escape, and the pirates have an orgy with the women to celebrate. The ancient pirate Olaf informs his commander, Kaimann, that there’s an aristo
of pure blood on board, Luz. They find her chained, but upon removing her helmet
he kills two of Kaimman’s men by using her halo, however, Kaimann stops her with
his reptilian tail, leaving her unconscious. Kaimann decides that is time to leave the satellite, and they all return to the Flying Star, with Luz on board.

Back in Terra, candidates for Private Detective
are randomly given cases using a lottery, which also assigns an eye-cop observer as a partner. John is assigned the notorious case 1313, which concerns the House of Dorian Grae, a haven for
deformed aristos, where forty bloody murders have taken place. The House of
Dorian Grae is where aristos who have used up the limited number of cloning
available go to spend their last days, with bodies filled with tumors and
lesions. Since their relatives never visit them, they’re only permitted animal
companions, such as silke paleo-dogs from Aldebaran or winged cats from
Nubia-5. Five years ago the first victim was discovered: madam Tenka
d’Oligaforte, strangled by a fine cord, and, since then, there’s been one victim
per month, despite the fact that all furniture, curtains, cords and string-like
accessories have been eliminated.

Meanwhile, in the Center of the Planet Animah and Tanatah
are finally woken up by the Arhats. The Arhats have left an Ultra-psychorat who speaks the
high speech -called Raphaela- for Animah, so that she can get to the surface. After circumventing Gorgo the Foul,
Animah reaches City Shaft.

Back in space, Luz wakes up in the legendary pirate stronghold
Tortuga Island, which is inside a hollow asteroid. Luz questions Olaf about
Kaimann’s origins, which he explains: Kaimann is a direct descendant of the empire's greatest noble house, but because of his reptilian tail he was stripped of his legitimate rights. Despite the fact that the descendants of mutants sired to a
noble are killed at birth, Olaf, who was the most senior palace servant, was so
touched by the child’s refined spirit that he decided against killing him,
leaving everything behind. They arrived at the asteroid, which at the time
was inhabited by a band of apemen who also had tails, so they adopted Kaimann as one of their own. Olaf expects Luz to marry Kaimann, but she's not interested in being the commmander's bride, she wants to be a warrior. When Kaimann declares his love for her, Luz
tells him that she’s in love with John DiFool, but Kaimann says his spies have told him that John has moved on. Luz decides to go back to Shaft City with Kaimann to verify his claim.

Meanwhile, DiFool goes to the House of Dorian Grae, where he's harassed by the aristos. While being chased by them
he accidentally jumps on of the resident’s animal, a lizard, exposing the
animal’s cord-like tongue, revealing that the creature was the killer all along. The pet's owner gets
angry and tries to choke John, but the eye-cop blows his head. Now that John has
solved the case he gets his diploma, while Luz and Kaimann -disguised as Technos-observe him. Luz, unaware that John's memory has been erased, tries to make John remember her but he doesn’t recognize
her. Luz leaves the planet disappointed, but at least now she will be the Queen of
Tortuga.

John goes to a homeo-brothel and picks a random
homeo-whore. Whoever Animah, who must procreate with John to save the Incal, secretly takes her place. She has sex with John and nine months later Solune is born. Animah gives Solune to the
Metabaron, since he is the only one fit to serve as his protector and mentor.
But when Animah returns to the Interior Sun she learns that Tanatah has stolen the
Black Incal in a fit of enraged jealousy. The Luminous Incal calms Animah’s worries, indicating that Tanatah's
treason is expected, since is part of an age-old plan, although Tanatah believes she has deceived
them, she’s actually carrying out the Incal’s supreme design.

A lot of the events depicted or hinted at in The Incal happen next: Tanatah tries to join forces with the
Technos-technos, but they betray her and she’s left for dead in the Great Acid
Lake, where she’s rescued by City Shaft outcasts, eventually becoming the Queen
of Amok. Ten years after Solune’s birth Animah reenters the outside world. The
Incal tells Animah that Raphaela should pretend to stumble and Animah should
pretend to pass out, so that Gorgo can steal the Incal, which will later be
stolen by Bergs in homo-camouflage, who will eventually hand the Incal to John.
Animah breaks into a luxurious conapt, stealing two
holomask generators (one is the virtual body of an old lady and other virtual
body is one of a beatiful aristo), assumes the identity of Nimbea S. Quinq, and hires John DiFool, putting into motion the
events that begin the Incal.

## Other issues

1. *Farewell, Father* (1988)
2. *Class "R" Detective* (1990)
3. *Croot* (1991)
4. *Psycho Anarchist* (1992)
5. *Vhisky, SPV and Homeo-Whores* (1993)
6. ***Suicide Alley*** (1995)