Appearing in 1st story
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Christopher
- Faisal (Death) (possessed by Raphael)
- David Fox (Death) (Resurrected)
- Gabriel (First full appearance)
- Rayna Masters
- O'Brien (Death) (Resurrected)
- Order of the Cross
- Raphael (First full appearance) (possesses Faisal)
- Team 7
- Backlash (Death) (Resurrected)
- Jackson Dane
- Grifter (Death) (Resurrected)
Adversaries:
- Black Angel (Death)
- Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
- Famine (Death)
- Pestilence (Death)
- War (Death)
- Herod (Corpse)
- demons
Other Characters:
- Cyberjack (Cameo)
- John Lynch (Cameo)
Locations:
Items:
- Sword of Heaven
Vehicles:
Synopsis for 1st story
On the roof of the World Trade Center, the Black Angel drains Christopher’s life force to open the gateway to Hell while Deathblow, Faisal, Mary, Fox, and O’Brien ride the elevator up to stop him. Around the city, Backlash, Dane, and Grifter receive Cray’s message to kill the Horsemen by destroying their sigils. They each succeed in doing so but not before being severely wounded. Deathblow and the others reach the World Trade Center roof and attack, but demons kill Fox and O’Brien immediately. Faisal tries to protect Christopher, but the Angel kills him, revealing him to be possessed by the archangel Raphael. Cray steps in wielding the Sword of Heaven, but the Angel gets him to drop it by tempting him with an offer to resurrect D’Angelo. Backlash and Grifter come to help, but the Angel incinerates them. A dying Dane arrives and persuades Cray to take back the Sword. Cray then impales the Black Angel with it, destroying him and closing the gateway. Christopher uses his powers to undo the destruction caused by the Black Angel and resurrects most of the people killed in the conflict. An exception is D’Angelo, and, when Cray asks why, Christopher explains that she actually died two years ago in London. Ever since, she had been possessed by the archangel Gabriel. Gabriel, Raphael, and another angel appear to escort Christopher away. With parting words of love from D’Angelo, Gabriel encourages Cray to live his life to the fullest in her honor. Three days later, cured of his cancer and having resigned from IO, Deathblow attends D’Angelo’s funeral and cries at her grave.
Notes
- This issue includes a pin-up of Team 7 by Brett Booth, Al Vey, and Jessica Ruffner.
- The Deathblow story is reprinted in:
- Deathblow: Sinners and Saints trade paperback (1999);
- Deathblow Deluxe Edition hardcover (2014).