Issue 4
Created and Written by Joss Whedon
Pencilled by Karl Moline
“I’ve met you a thousand times. I’ve killed you a hundred ways – in a rage, cool as ice, giggling like a schoolgirl… never like this. Like I’m frozen, cold frozen and trying not to pee myself. Jesu, Melaka, get up, get up, get up…”
Melaka Fray
Another flashback tells of Melaka and her brother Harth coming face to face with Icarus in the past. Mel battles Icarus and orders Harth to flee. However, Harth is drawn to Icarus, who dangles Mel off the building and holds Harth in his grip. As he lets Mel fall, Icarus bites into Harth’s neck and kills him.
In the present day, Mel is having trouble believing that Icarus is in front of her. He proceeds to fight her and is notably disappointed by her fighting abilities.
In the Tavern, Loo’s parents are annoyed at the fight which is still continuing thanks to Mel, and as Loo searches for her friend, she spots Urkonn in the distance and runs towards him. Outside, as Icarus prepares to kill Mel, Urkonn and Loo appear out of nowhere and Urkonn throws Icarus into the river. Mel wants to kill him, but she faints in Urkonn’s arms before she can pursue her brother’s killer.
Later, Icarus is talking to his master who claims that they need Mel and without her his plans involving the totem and the amulet are nothing. Urkonn meanwhile is communing with the spirits who tell him to kill Mel if she is unprepared for war. Urkonn is reluctant and states that he will get her prepared.
Dreaming again, Mel relives the beginning of the strife between her and Erin as a result of Harth’s murder. Waking up, she tells Urkonn of her history with Icarus and also informs him that Harth was her twin brother. Showering and loading up her weapons, Mel tells Urkonn that she never knew Icarus’ name and she wants to know how he knew hers. She travels to Gunther’s place in an attempt to find Icarus, but he’s uncooperative, even for his best ‘grabber.’ Suddenly, Mel is hit by a laser blast, and Erin stands over her, reading her rights.
Before Erin and her partners can take Mel, Lurks attack them and Melaka fights valiantly. She orders Erin to safety, and then is knocked unconscious. Waking up, she finds Icarus over her again, but this time they’re in his leader’s lair. Looking up at the leader, Mel looks at him in shock. It’s Harth.
TRIVIA
The details between the Fray family finally become apparent in this issue: Mel was a thief, which is how they stayed alive. She took Harth on a grab with her and they encountered Icarus who attacked them and killed Harth. Erin resented Melaka for taking Harth and getting him killed and has always blamed Mel for his death. The two sisters are opposite sides of the same coin, with one being a thief and the other a cop.
Harth and Mel were twins, which has some significance to the Slayer line.
CONTINUITY
Urkonn communes with two spirits who are the unidentified voices from Big City Girl. They’re named Vrill and Boluz.
The Watcher's Guide 