Appearing in "Kismet Once... Kismet Twice... Kismet Deadly!"
Featured Characters:
- Mantra (Lukasz) (First appearance as Mantra)
Supporting Characters:
- Archimage (Hologram)
- Eden Blake (possessed by Lukasz)
- Evie Blake
- Gus Blake Jr.
- Barbara Freeman
- Warstrike
- Hamath (Death)
Adversaries:
- Kismet Deadly (First appearance)
- Repo Men (all die)
- Edgar Strauss
- Thanasi
- Boneyard
Other Characters:
- John Dalmas
- Evans (First appearance)
- Brent Maxwell (possessed by Thanasi)
- Sharon Trask (First appearance)
- Yaron (Death)
Locations:
- Ultraverse
- Earth
- Godwheel
- Boneyard's Realm
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Kismet Once... Kismet Twice... Kismet Deadly!"
The identical men—a.k.a. the Repo Men—fail to remove the mask from Lukasz’s face. Recalling the mantra Katinya told him to cite, he uses it to muster his elemental powers and incinerate the Repo Men. Deducing Strauss sent them, Lukasz flies off to confront him. A bystander who heard Lukasz say the word "mantra” mistakes that for his name, and that is what the media quickly dubs him. Once Mantra arrives at Strauss’s office, they cut a deal: Lukasz keeps the mask, and, in exchange, he will help Strauss on occasion. Realizing he left Eden’s kids behind, Mantra returns to the movie theater and drives them home. On the way, he feels frustrated with his female body and yells at Evie, Eden’s daughter. Later, he apologizes to the girl, but Evie realizes that Lukasz is not her mother. The next day, Eden’s boyfriend Brent stops by to suggest they slow their relationship. To find out who betrayed Archimage, Lukasz starts by visiting his lawyer. He does not recognize Lukasz's new form, and Lukasz distracts him long enough to search his files. Suddenly, Lukasz is pulled into a psychedelic landscape by a woman calling herself Kismet Deadly. They battle until Mantra gets the upper hand, and a hologram of Archimage appears, explaining that Kismet is an artificial construct for training purposes. Returned to the lawyer’s office, Mantra finds an enchanted ring that leads him to a rural house in the countryside. There, he finds Hamath possessing an old man and Yaron trapped in the body of a dog. Hamath reveals the ring is his, and Mantra returns it to him. As they speculate on who betrayed Archimage, Kismet Deadly reappears and attacks. Having had a taste of life, she wants to take over Mantra’s body. In the ensuing fight, she kills Hamath and Yaron. Scared of dying herself, Kismet vanishes. Brent, who has been tailing Mantra, ambushes him and knocks him out. Back in L.A., Warstrike questions Strauss. Elsewhere, Mantra wakes up to Boneyard standing over him, gloating that a bride should be conscious for her wedding.
Notes
- This issue includes a pin-up of Mantra by Paul Pelletier and Al Vey.