Countdown #38 "In Too Deep!" BY FREE STEVE CHUNG Last week in Countdown #38, we saw Mary Marvel and Zatanna aboard a cruise ship, and the last stand of the creature known as Slig. But who was Slig and what does he and his Deep Six brethren have to do with the events unfolding in Countdown?
The Deep Six come from Apokolips and have carried out destructive missions for their ruler, Darkseid. Each possesses super-human strength, fins, gills, and scaly skin. They operate underwater and it is unknown how long each of them could survive out of water. Their origin has never been revealed.
Gole, Jaffar, Shalligo, Slig, Trok, and Kurin comprise the Deep Six.
Slig is able to disintegrate objects by touching them.
Both he and Jaffar are able to mutate other living beings by touching them with their bare hands.
It is unknown if the other members of the Deep Six share these abilities.
Shalligo the Flying Finback is able to fly, while Trok uses an axe as his weapon of choice.
It is unknown what Gole and Kurin specialized in.
Orion of the New Gods was on Earth when he came across the dead body of a fellow New God known as Sea Grin. The gentle warrior dwelled within the deeps he loved, and was at peace in his element. It was here where Sea Grin fought and met his death. His mortal wounds were not common and his Mother Box remained untouched.
The Mother Box is able to perform her final duty by sending him to the Source.
Thanks to the Mother Box in his possession, Orion was able to find his friend, and for the moment, she maintains her silence.
The eyes of Darkseid surveys his work, for it was he who willed the New God's death, and the presence of his agents from Apokolips should not be detected by Mother Box. Even if Orion manages to overcome this setback, the Deep Six will be waiting for him, and their living weapon which can kill a god.
With the aid of Dave Lincoln, Victor Lanza, Claudia Shane, and Harvey Lockman, the New God adopts the identity of O'Ryan to locate the whereabouts of Intergang, a group of Earth criminals formed by Darkseid to serve him. Since they are Earthmen, perhaps his Mother Box will be able to learn where those of Apokolips dwell on Earth.
The Mother Box works her way through the city, until she focuses upon one solitary individual named Snaky Doyle. His favored locale is a pool hall and as an agent of Intergang, he knows about a "jammer".
After his game of pool, Snaky is in for a shakedown in an alley, and is forced to make contact with Intergang. It's his turn to watch over the "jammer".
Snaky Doyle is told that the O'Ryan Mob is moving in on the territory, and they're determined to put Intergang out of business. After following Snaky to his hideout, a car stops right in front of an old mansion, and armed guards emerge to have words with the driver. While going inside to call for a mechanic is out of the question, the hired thugs have no objection to pushing the stalled automobile while the girl steps on the gas.
While they are pushing at the small car, the lady driver rolls up the window, and presses a certain button on the steering wheel. The hired thugs are given the gas - knockout gas from the auto's exhaust.
The rest of O'Ryan's Gang emerge from the woods and enter the mansion. Although the "jammer" could shield those from Apokolips, it could not shield Intergang. It is now Mr. Lanza's turn to pretend to be O'Ryan's business manager, and uncover the location of the jammer. Entering through the door, the bespectacled older man is taken by Intergang to be O'Ryan himself.
Country Boy congratulates "O'Ryan" on finding his way here, thanks in no small part to the trail left by Snaky. The bound Doyle is about to receive his reward from Intergang for leading the competition to their door. FVVFFFSSSS
Snaky is now stiff as a board, a victim of a paralyzer gun. Lanza introduces himself and tells the red-haired mobster how they know much about Intergang. Seeing that O'Ryan's representative is not impressed, Country Boy turns a fishing trophy on the wall, revealing complex alien circuitry which could only be the "jammer".
RRRRSSSKK Now that their disguises have served their purpose, Orion arrives to put the "jammer" out of business. He is determined to battle Sea Grin's murderers on even grounds. When one of the thugs tries to get a bead on the New God, Lanza spoils his aim with a thrown bric-a-brac. It was not the O'Ryan Gang that Country Boy was up against, it was the crowd from New Genesis.
PING PING PING PING PING With the jammer out of commission, Mother Box is able to home in on the Deep Six. Indeed, she has already located their leader, Slig. As Orion glides his way through an airlock, Mother Box weaves a protective shield of air molecules, and he continues on towards the sea. There, he faces Slig of the Deep Six. He who can alter organic sea life with a mere touch.
A mass of undersea tendrils tangle Orion in their tight grip, but he is able to reach his unit containing the Astro-Force. PWOW The New God is free, but weakened from the exertion. When he turns to attack, he sees the deadly threat which the Deep Six have been keeping in readiness.
Once Orion has recovered, he finds himself held fast by a giant clam. Slig was able to fashion his jailer, just as he is able to manipulate a small crustacean.
It swiftly mutates into a deadly threat for a guest of the Deep Six. In this case, Slig serves a bit of left-handed justice, and disintegrates it into random particles. It was with these hands that Orion was made a prisoner.
Before he was subdued, the New God saw something enormous. It was one of the Deep Six's creations, for use in Darkseid's campaign against the Earthlings. Left alone, Orion is able to make contact with the Astro-Force, and channel the power into his wrist circuits. RRZZRRZZ! The mutated creature has been clammed up for the duration.
Now free, the New God makes his way past the various undersea creatures which serve the Deep Six. A humanoid shark is no match for the sheer ferocity of the warrior from New Genesis.
He soon spots the giant harness used to contain the mammoth creature seen earlier.
Slig's brothers and their creature must be elsewhere. First, Orion must gather up his equipment, and deliver a proper goodbye to Sea Grin's killer.
When he catches up with Slig, he delivers an Astro-Force blast to show his displeasure. Even so, the Deep Sixer is far from being finished off, and only needs to lay his hands on Orion once more. Fast as he is, the New God is faster.
Tearing through his foe's armor, he finds Slig's Mother Box, and causes it to self-destruct.
His destructive actions have caused Orion's true face to be revealed. Were it not for Mother Box, he would be little more than a wild animal. When Slig laughs at the personal demons driving his foe, the New God prepares to end their battle.
Although the war goes on, Slig will not be there to participate. The pits below the caves will serve to hold him in their depths. The price has been paid, and Orion must now see for himself what the Deep Six have wrought. Whatever now lurks in the sea must be stopped, even if it means gliding into the jaws of death.
The leviathan makes its presence known when it cuts its way through ships, atomic submarines, and yachts.
Three people adrift in a raft from the S.S. Aurora are the ones whose paths cross with Orion of New Genesis.
They watch as the newcomer continues to survey the surrounding area in silence. He then activates an element transmitter on his harness to lock onto the raft below.
Without food or water, the trio of survivors must make a choice. Remain where they are with hopes of a rescue more to their liking or accompany their rescuer on his dangerous mission. The father makes the choice for his two grown children and agrees to follow him. The raft follows behind the Astro-Glider, as if they were the same vehicle. Mother Box leads them to a wooden craft with a bound figure as its mast. It should not be difficult for the Astro-Force to free the captive figure.
The Astro-Force is able to cut through the coils, causing them to come to life, and reach for the New God. They are steel-fibered kelp, another mutation done by the Deep Six. Orion fires away until the kelp falls away, and their prisoner is revealed. Lightray is welcomed to Earth, and the results of his first battle with the Deep Six is painfully clear to see. Although things look dark, the smiling New God hopes to bring a light touch to the proceedings.
It was difficult for Lightray to break his word to Highfather and journey to Earth. His Mother Box led him to the Deep Six, who overwhelmed him with their light absorbing kelp. Orion notes that they struck at his friend through his strengths. The trio of survivors make their way from the raft to the wooden tub. Although happy to see his friend, the New God is sorry that it is under these circumstances that they meet again. Together, they prepare to see what surprises are about the old wooden barge. The father has had enough and demands to know what can be done about their situation.
His name is Farley Sheridan of Sheridan Industries. As they shake hands, Lightray notes that the custom came from man's fear of the other carrying hidden weapons. Richard Sheridan knows that particular fear still thrives in today's world. Lynn Sheridan remains silent as her father berates her brother for being a conscientious objector. It just so happens that the New God knows of a place where everyone shares his beliefs. Orion calls to his friend to check out the creature in their midst. It was left by the Deep Six, who went off to perform another grisly chore.
SSHHREEEE! Both New Gods stare at the "organic director" created from sea life by the Deep Six. At their approach, the "sender" fires poison-tipped spines from its shapeless mass. Orion prepares to kill the mutation, but Lightray suggests that instead of destroying it, it should be changed.
Light plays with atoms to turn the creature into a basic form of life, the horrors of the Deep Six removed from it. Mother Box turns the former "sender" into a "caller" and will summon the leviathan back here. While the humans stare in fascination, a battle worthy of the New Gods has been arranged.
A NATO warship is to be the next target, but the sonic call reaches the sea beast, and causes it to turn from its former mission. With their control ship compromised, Jaffar heads back to settle things with Lightray. In the air, the New God uses his power to illuminate the sea, and Orion regrets that they've left the others unguarded on the boat. Using his powers of mutation, Jaffar is able to bend the New God's beams, and render himself undetected.
Aboard the wooden boat, father and son continue their argument. Farley Sheridan is determined not to be stymied by his son, but Richard knows that there's more to the situation than meets the eye. He knows that they must come from another world. As long as they're helping them, the elder Sheridan doesn't see anything wrong with that, but his sister's presence concerns Richard deeply. Their yacht trip was supposed to be a way to work out their differences, but old habits die hard. Farley Sheridan fought at Normandy, but his son is more concerned about what's happening in the hold. The "caller" has begun to change.
ZZZEEEIINNGG The life cube has expanded to creating machinery along the walls and deck of the ship. Richard suggests that they head for the raft, but his father figures that Richard just wants to run away. Lynn is the first to spot their unseen enemy of the Deep Six.
Jaffar sees how his presence causes the humans to quiver with fear. Richard tries to get his father to back away, but the elder Sheridan is petrified with fear, and Jaffar is ready to play. As the older man slumps to the deck, his son charges forward to buy them some time.
Whatever the threat, Richard won't let any harm come to his family. With little time to waste, Jaffar reaches for the human gnat, and turns his face into something for the New Gods to remember him by. As a result of his mutation and death, Richard Sheridan has been left with no face. Jaffar has lingered a moment too long, for Orion has arrived, with vengeance in his eyes. FZOWW As the Astro-Force bursts forth, Jaffar dives for the sea, and dares his foe to meet him there.
TZOM! Jaffar does not reach the water, for Orion unleashes the Astro-Force again and again. No doubt the Deep Sixer took the precaution of making his form resistant to the shocks, but here comes a big one. WHAAAAM! Jaffar has paid for the death of Richard Sheridan, and down below, Lightray has arrived to witness a family's pain.
With his son dead, the father tries to make sense of what's happened. His faceless body will be carried to the Source as one of the New Gods. Lynn watches as Lightray carries Richard's body to the hold, and places it against the machinery. The girl is strapped into the glider, which will carry her to safety. Her father is determined to remain behind with the enemy.
For once, the Astro-Harness is on a mission of mercy, but the wind is rising, and the enemy is approaching. With the deaths of Slig and Jaffar, the Deep Six now number at four. The fish flee at their approach. The first attacker is Shaligo the Flying Finback, who demands to know what happened to his brothers.
A mighty punch from Orion is his answer. Trok prepares his whirling axe, while Gole longs for a piece of the New God. Between the two of them, it should be easy, but Orion is too agile. He ropes Trok and Gole.
Both of them are hurled off the ship. The New God watches as they are hauled into their waiting Manta-Sled, and Brother Pyron projects fire at the boat.
When he turns, Orion sees that Lightray tied Sheridan to the mast, but before he can move, his friend drags him into the hold. With their enemy present, all is in readiness. The sea reflects the conflict, as the Deep Six's craft continues to rain down flames, and the leviathan is causing tidal waves in its wake.
It has been lured by the siren song from the wooden boat and the Deep Six command it to destroy in the name of Darkseid.
From the wooden ship comes a fully grown life cube, carrying Orion, Lightray, and the restored body of Richard Sheridan. If they must die, then New Genesis shall live. If they go to the Source, then so shall their demonic foes.
The massive impact of the combatants creates a colossal offering to the Source. From the epicenter emerges a flash of light, with the New Gods victorious. Even Lightray wasn't completely sure it would work, but his friend had faith in him. The Deep Six and their pet are no more. With the arrival of daylight, there is wreckage drifting in the sea. A conscientious young man has chosen a warrior's death and his father wonders what to do in the remaining days of his life. When the Glory Boat fired its way from its wooden shell, the barge was sent far from the fiery area.
Even after these events, Slig would return to battle Orion once more. The other members of the Deep Six would also return. They would prove very difficult to kill or the technology of Apokolips would be responsible for their resurrection.
The Deep Six first appeared in The New Gods #2 (April-May, 1971).
Orion fought Slig in The New Gods #5 (October-November, 1971).
The Battle of the Glory Boat was fought in The New Gods #6 (December, 1971- January, 1972).
The Deep Six and the New Gods were created by Jack Kirby
posted
I remember that humanoid shark in the story... Orion referred to it as "Shark-seid", if I recall correctly.
I haven't picked up this issue of Countdown yet, but it's nice to see the creators remembered the mutation powers the Deep Six have. Some creators didn't seem to play up that aspect to them in recent appearances.
Posts: 662 | Registered: Jan 2002
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quote:Originally posted by abelp: I remember that humanoid shark in the story... Orion referred to it as "Shark-seid", if I recall correctly.
"...Ohhh that Shark-Seid has such teeth, dear...Orion starts to bellow... and he's left for dead..." Posts: 3533 | From: San Bruno | Registered: Aug 2002
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