Doc Samson #3Doc Samson #3
Title: “Copycats”
Writer: Dan Slott
Script: Evan Skolnick
Pencillers: Roberto Flores and Andrew Wildman
Inkers: Brad Vancata and Ralph Cabera
Colors: Christie
Color Seperations: Malibu
Editor: Chris Cooper
Chief: Bobbie Chase
Patchwork holds up a newspaper talking about how the police have enlisted the help of Doc Samson. He says that it is hard to find the perfect girl, but that it is even harder to make one. He says that they try to fool you. He talks to the dead girl and says that is what she tried to do with her contact lens. He says that he can’t use her parts for anything but bait. He says that if she works as bait that he will have his green eyes very soon.
Samson and Geiger are “on patrol” on the rooftops. Samson says that this is embarrassing. She says that they have only been searching for a few hours, and that while she knows that her connection to Patchwork’s energy signature will enable them to find him eventually that he couldn’t have thought that they would find him right off the bat. Samson says that what is embarrassing is how much better she looks in his old superhero costume than he ever did. Samson thinks about how Geiger was recently connected to Patchwork’s energy signature, but that now she is copying his. Samson looks at her and sees how she is “calm, cool, collected, and every inch the hero wanna-be”. Samson thinks about the fact that Geiger doesn’t just copy the powers of the person she is mimicking, but that she also takes on the mindsets that go with them. He wonders if this is what she is getting from him and that deep down, for all his posturing, he really wants to be a hero. Samson asks Geiger what she was like before she developed her powers. Geiger lies and says that she was the typical shy, studious, withdrawn physics major, but as she lies she thinks about how she used to go clubbing. She says that it was all “rad” until the day she monitored an accidental surge in the university’s new experiment particle accelerator. She says that it wasn’t long after that when she started having nightmares about being the Patchwork killer. Geiger says that Samson knows the rest, and she thanks Samson for helping her realize that she wasn’t the killer. She says that she is still scared that it could happen again and wind up actually becoming a killer. Samson tells Geiger to remember what they talked about in their sessions, and that she just has to concentrate on his signature and not let Patchwork’s signature supersede. Geiger’s eyes glow green. She says that Patchwork is pulling a jogger into an alley. She says that it is this way and leaps off the roof. Samson tells her to take it easy, but he thinks that she has all his power and more enthusiasm about it that he ever had, or allowed himself to have.
The medical examiner says that unlike the previous killings that it seems like this body was left in a way that indicates that the killer wanted the body found. Sharp says that her men indicated that as well. Sharp takes a look at the body and the medical examiner says that the words “surgical precision” don’t spring to mind. She says that he cut off the limbs and left them the body. She says that he is toying with them now. The medical examiner asks what the significance of the green contact that they found on the body is. Sharp says that Patchwork must have removed the other one. The medical examiner says that Patchwork has never left an unfinished body, but that now he has done it twice in the same night. Sharp asks what he means. The examiner says that he thought her men would have told her. He says that they have a survivor and that she is covered with gamma traces. Sharp says that she wants to see her right away. The examiner say that he doesn’t see the point since she has lost a lot of blood and isn’t up to conversation yet. He says that they don’t even know her identity. Sharp immediately recognizes “Jane Doe” as Jennifer Walters.
Samson asks
Geiger how the “signal” is coming in as they walk
through an abandoned subway tunnel. He asks if they are still on
the right track. Geiger says, “Yes… we don’t want
to be seen…” Samson reminds her to stay focused on his
signature, and to only follow Patchwork’s while not getting
sucked in. Geiger thanks him for the reminder. She says that it
is so dark down there. Samson turns on a light he is carrying and
spots an arm lying on the ground. Geiger asks what he spotted. He
tells her that she doesn’t need to see this. Geiger says
that he is right, but more because she has already seen it and
worse inside Patchwork’s head. Geiger spots a leg and goes
to check it out. Geiger spots the jogger lying on the ground. She
tells Samson that the jogger is unconscious but alive. Geiger
says that she is going to free her from the rail she is bound
with. Samson realizes that something is off about this. He says
that Patchwork always saves his victim’s “bits and
pieces” and puts them to “good use”. Samson tries
to warn Geiger that this is a trap, but Patchwork comes forth out
of the darkness and welcomes them to his parlor. He says that
there are so many legs that he doesn’t know which to pull
off first. Patchwork slashes Geiger. She falls back into
Samson’s arms. She begins to transform into Patchwork.
Samson says that she has to resist and that he can’t fight
both of them.
Sharp tells the doctor that Jennifer Walters is trying to fight her way to consciousness so he had better help her or show her how to do it. She says that the next Patchwork victim may be on his head. The doctor says that if the patient dies that it will be on her head. Sharp says that is a deal. They give Jen the shot and she groggily wakes up. Jen says that Patchwork is much more dangerous than they suspected. Sharp says that they know and that they have got Samson on the case. Jen says that Samson is exactly who shouldn’t be on the case. Jen says that Patchwork steals gamma power and that Leonard won’t stand a chance.
Samson says, “Freudian slippers”
to Geiger and the post hypnotic suggestion works and causes
Geiger to fall asleep. Samson turns his attention to Patchwork.
He says that it is time for Patchwork to take his medicine.
Patchwork says, “Only if I gets a spoonful of sugar with
it… preferably from your liver!” Patchwork laughs and
Samson realizes that Patchwork’s gamma signature must be
stronger than his and that is why Geiger began to transform.
Samson realizes that Patchwork’s signature is stronger
because he is in tune with his deepest desires while Samson
denies his. Samson says that he must embrace his desires. Samson
whacks Patchwork twice, but Patchwork just whacks his and says
that his punches aren’t bad. He says that they are better
than “li’l Miss Greenskin did… but not good
enough!” Samson asks Patchwork what he did to She-Hulk.
Samson says that all the people that Patchwork has killed and
maimed ends now. Patchwork’s jogger wakes up and starts
calling for help. 
Samson rips up
some track from the old subway and nails Patchwork in the face
with it. Patchwork falls over and starts twitching. Samson
wonders if he killed Patchwork the same way he killed Punisher
and Crazy Eight. Samson leans down and searches for a heartbeat
in Patchwork’s immense chest. Samson can’t hear
anything and goes to check his pupils. Patchwork shouts that
Samson is a sucker and grabs hold of him. Patchwork says that
Samson is supposed to be smart as he starts leeching
Samson’s strength out of him. Patchwork says that if he was
really smart that he wouldn’t have fallen into his trap.
Patchwork compliments Samson’s green eyes, but says that
they are boy eyes and that he has no use for them. He says that
now that he has his strength that he may as well put him out of
his misery. Patchwork decides that he can’t do that because
he owes Samson one. Patchwork says that it is time for him to
finally get his green eyes. He walks over and kills the jogger.
Samson starts to crawl after Patchwork as Patchwork is walking
away with the dead body of the jogger. He says, “No…
stop, you need help… it’s okay… everyone
does… sometimes… I can help…” Patchwork says
that Samson has helped enough already.
Later at the 18th precinct, Sharp sees Geiger with her arm in a sling. She says that she has been looking everywhere for them. Geiger says that it has been a total washout. She tells Sharp about how Patchwork laid a trap for them, knocked her out, stole Doc’s power, and killed another girl. Sharp asks where Samson is because she wants to talk to him. Geiger says that Samson told her to tell Sharp that he was off the case and headed home.
Samson is sitting in a cab stuck in traffic. The cabbie says that it might be a while until they get to JFK. Samson says to take him to Laguirdia then or wherever he can get quickest to get out of the city. The driver is saying that it will still be twenty minutes to clear the tunnel when the cab’s tire is shot out. Samson realizes that the tire was shot out. He gets out of the cab and sees the Punisher standing on top of a building. Samson says that is impossible because he watched Punisher die. He thinks that he stood by and did nothing while Punisher was executed in the electric chair. Samson grabs a flagpole and uses it to catapult himself to the top of the building. Samson figures that this guy has to be an imposter, but that he is as trigger happy as the first one. Punisher spins around with a rifle in his hands and starts firing. Samson realizes that it really is Frank Castle instead of an imposter and then realizes that with his powers depleted that he may not be bulletproof. Samson dives for cover and thinks that at least Frank’s being alive explains the hostility. Punisher reloads and says that this is for the broken promises Samson made to bring the killer to justice. Samson says that if he is so worried about the killer that he should go after him himself. Samson lobs a huge chunk of the roof at Punisher. Samson realizes too late that Punisher isn’t invulnerable and thinks that he may have killed him yet again. Punisher dodged the concrete and says that the old Punisher would have taken matters into his own hands. Punisher presses his gun against Samson’s temple. He says, “…now I’m waging the war a new way… a way that allows me to win. And in this particular case, you’re the perfect weapon against Patchwork… not me. Remember that.” Suddenly Punisher is gone.
Samson sits down and thinks about what a
failure he is as both superhero and psychiatrist. Suddenly
Samson’s cell phone rings. Samson answers the phone and the
man on the other side identifies himself as Kyle Barker. Samson
is wondering to himself who that could be when the voice says
that he is the man that Samson saved on the bridge the other day.
Samson asks Kyle how he is doing. Kyle says that he actually
called to ask Samson how he was doing since he heard over the
radio that he was quitting the Patchwork case. Samson says that
he appreciates the concern, but that things just got too
complicated. Kyle says, “Yeah, I understand about things
getting complicated… messy. But are you sure that
you’ve thought this through? I mean… maybe nothing
makes sense anymore… maybe you keep on trying to make things
better… but they only seem to get worse. Maybe you end up
hurting those you try to help… or even get hurt by them. But
I think you’re a good person, doc… and that’s all
you need to make the right choice.” Samson smirks and says
that the advice sounds familiar… familiar and sound. He says
that Kyle is right and that he is not a quitter. He says that he
will stay on the case until it is solved. Samson thanks Kyle and
says that he really needed to hear that. On the other end,
Patchwork holds the phone in one hand and two green eyes in the
other.
Patchwork
says, “Like you tolds me… everyone needs help
sometimes… even you!”
Leader’s Lair rating: 7.5 out of 10
I really like the twists the story is taking. Samson saves the man that he was sent there to stop. I dislike the part with the Punisher, but that has more to do with my general dislike of the Punisher. I really like Geiger and Patchwork’s characters and wish they would show up more often (or at all) in places other than this book. I’m not sure if She-Hulk turning from her gamma form into her regular form is a mistake or not. It may be that Patchwork sucked the radiation off She-Hulk that would prohibit her from changing back and forth. I prefer Flores’ art over Wildman’s, but both have their moments and look shoddy in others. Sometimes the art is detailed and well done and other times it seems sketched on too quickly.