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Attention, police!

-What's wrong? -Vacate the building!

Police! Vacate the building!

Violeta, what's wrong?

There's smoke, I don't know.

Run!

Go right to the stairs!

The building has to be vacated!

To the stairs!

Don't worry, we'll help you!

Come with me!

Come with me!

To the stairs! Put this on your head.

Go down, please!

Go down, please!

The building has to be vacated!

Galiardo here, I'm going to secure the third floor.7

Evacuate the building, please.

Evacuate!

Are you alright? Can you walk?

Buddy, take her downstairs.

My husband! He's inside!

He's in there! My husband!

There are people inside, I have to go back in.

Let the fucking firemen do it, Javier! Come down now!

The building's going to collapse, do you hear me?

Can you hear me? Javier!

Javier, listen to me! Get down here now!

POLICEMAN DIES SAVING THREE LIVES

POSTHUMOUS MEDAL TO THE HERO OF CANILLEJAS

Fuck.

You're going to be late!

Again.

Jorge Elías.

I don't know why I bother.

Cosme, do you copy? I have something wild for you.

Thanks, Ibarra. Send me the address.

Dad.

Good morning. Package.

Let's see who has the balls to rob me now.

I've got the power!

Excuse me, kid, you have to sign.

Sure.

Thanks.

-Are these all the torches you have? -Yes.

Are they all this dirty?

I'll take these.

I was told you were here. Inspector Cosme Galiardo.

It's an honor to work with you, even if I'm replacing you.

-It's fine, I'm getting used to it. -David Valentín, sir.

Don't "sir" me. Shall we go?

GIFT STORE

Anything interesting here?

A smell like a dead dog is coming from inside.

There's no contract for rent, water or power.

Nothing. Just a neighbor complaining of noise.

She said he lifted weights all night.

Fat-free dough,

proteins,

steroids,

vitamins,

zinc, magnesium...

It's like the gym of a nutcase.

-What is this crazy shit? -I don't know.

What's with his skin? Is it the light?

No, it's not. His skin is gray.

-He smells like shit. -Right.

-Are you alright, son? -Fuck, it's disgusting.

My favorite suit.

Here.

Thanks.

In my day there were no laundromats.

I could've used them. I was widowed early,

I learned it all by sheer balls.

I brought up two kids. Have you got a wife?

With all the effort to make inspector, I had no time for girls.

This is good.

The first thing you learn in Homicide is to eat well on the street.

-Can I ask a personal question? -Sure.

Why did you become a cop?

-Why do you ask? -I read your record.

People think because my parents were killed I became a cop

out of justice, revenge...

But it's what everyone expected of me:

to do the right thing, to not let anyone down.

-I guess it sounds stupid. -But it's not.

The best cops are the ones with that stupid sense of duty.

The angry ones end badly.

Here, look at this.

I found it in the bodybuilder's place.

A prescription? "Balbino Blázquez."

I checked. He was reported missing a year ago.

He left us a clue.

David, Blázquez taught Physics at the Complutense.

And he worked with Brussels on an intelligent energy program.

And look at this.

-He was a runt. -Yes.

With normal skin color. Why?

-Only the killer knows that, right? -Homicide?

If it's not a homicide, I'm the Duchess of Alba.

Bruguera.

Hey!

Look who's here! Look who's here!

Cosme, you old fox, I thought you left without saying goodbye!

-What, no hug for me? -No, I'm not... Hold it.

This is Inspector David Valentín, he's really heading the case.

You who puked your guts up when you saw the shit pile, right?

-That's me. -Don't hurl on me here, eh?

-I can't promise you. -Then you should always...

come here without breakfast.

This morning we got the trunk of a 6-year-old girl.

Right, Federico?

This kid raped, dismembered, then decapitated her.

He refuses to say where he hid the rest of the body,

and as a minor, he won't set foot in prison.

Three years in a reformatory and out. Really, this world...

What can you tell us about the bodybuilder?

Loads!

Come here.

His body had a carnival of stuff in it.

He took steroids and a range of substances

to build his muscle mass to an obscene level.

See these stretch marks?

The muscle growth was so fast, his skin couldn't keep up.

-Cause of death? -Trachea crushed by the impact.

The bar was here, his wrists blew out, he dropped the weights...

And he has internal muscular tearing,

which means the guy was exercising non-stop

for a long time.

And why is he gray?

Sure.

At first I thought it was due to...

peritonitis or a lack of exposure to sunlight,

but there are subcutaneous pigments,

which is a very complex and specific process.

-So... -So the killer...

wanted him to be gray for some reason.

Bingo!

-Cosme! Holy fucking shitballs! -She caught me.

-Again? -Nice disguise, Inspector.

-Stay out of it, Bruguera. -Who's this lunatic?

-Your boss. -Her?

Yes. Top of her class and Madrid's youngest head of Homicide.

-Why is she dressed up like that? -Maybe I was in a cosplay

and this would-be Jessica Fletcher

runs my day off and my private life?

Maybe that's why I'm pissed off?

Who tipped you off, Cosme? It's Ibarra. Tell me.

I was helping Inspector Valentín.

-Your retirement's in the works. -You're forcing him to retire?

A man with his experience would do me good.

Do me a favor and pick up your things tomorrow. Okay?

And just so you know, I'm normally a fucking cool boss,

but don't push my buttons, you'll hit the wrong one.

Jorge!

When there's food, you come running.

Why are you in pajamas? You have to take out the garbage.

Pajamas? It's a T-shirt.

Oh, I didn't know.

At least I'm not dressed like a notary, like you.

What did Mum always say when you went to the station?

"Put on your suit and make this world a better place."

-That's so corny. -It's not. And Javi liked it.

Yes, my brother was a Gryffindor and I'm a Slytherin.

-I accept that. -Alright then...

Pass the bread, please.

Up straight. Keep it up.

Go, up straight. Don't stop.

Yes?

No, I'm having dinner with some friends. Why?

I'll be right there. Give me the address.

I said not to move the body till I got here.

We didn't move it, Inspector.

The stretcher is part of the scene.

What is this?

I don't know what I'm looking at. What's he wearing?

The victim sold collector's weapons on the Internet.

We think it included armor, katanas, that kind of thing.

That's some unsatisfied customer.

-Got anything for me? -A magazine clipping,

on the back of the victim's neck.

Take it for analysis.

Jorge, clean up, I need the table.

-Fuck. -What?

What's this? He looks like the Hulk.

The Hulk should be green.

No, in the first issue the Hulk was gray.

-Really? -It happened a lot in the '60s.

The colorist would get flustered or do it any old way.

Or Stan Lee would change his mind for the next issue, like with Iron Man.

At first, in Tales of Suspense 39, his suit was gray,

and in the next it was gold. A real mess.

-Anyway... -What's wrong?

-It's a shame. -What is?

With your memory you could've gotten a government job.

Sign here.

Don't give me that look, you'll bum me out.

You're a good enough cop

to know you have a surprise party waiting for you upstairs.

Maybe I'm deliberately hiding.

I'm not going upstairs until everyone leaves.

Shit, Cosme.

-You're more childish than Jorge. -I doubt it.

He said you're going to help him in the store. Now you're retired...

It's crap, like a lot of what he says.

My knowledge of comics stops at "The Masked Warrior."

Right.

Here.

-How are you? -Retired.

What's that?

What?

Some guy who rips out hearts

Jack the Ripper style.

Look. Bruguera says he was kept alive for hours

with a transplant device. Freaky, huh?

-Sorry, and this? -I don't know...

Old press clippings. We don't know what it means yet.

-May I? -No.

But since you always do what the fuck you like, take it.

Thanks, Norma.

This isn't from a magazine.

ORIGIN STORY

-Dad, how's the party? -Fine, fine.

-Listen, son... -Is there cake?

Save me a piece. You know I like chocolate.

Hold on, listen closely.

In which collection did The Hulk first appear?

The Incredible Hulk 1. Why?

Dad...

Keep me a piece of cake, okay?

Tell your sister, she'll have some Tupperware.

-Want some? -Must you make so much noise?

-Move. -You move!

In the first murder

the killer recreated a comic, The Hulk,

and turned a skinny scientist

into a sack of gray muscles, exactly what happened

in The Incredible Hulk 1.

In the second, he recreated another comic, Iron Man,

and turned a weapons maker into an armored man

that needed a machine to make his heart work,

exactly what happened

in Tales of Suspense 39.

-So it's a geek thing. -Inspector Valentín,

given your astounding ignorance of the subject,

we thought for this specific case you'd have an external adviser.

Seriously? The comic thing is an excuse to kill.

Maybe the next murder will be based on pop song.

You said someone with experience would be of help to you.

-Yes, but I meant another type... -Here he is.

We think his knowledge may help us to stop more murders.

He's been helping us since the start of the investigation.

Listen...

-Give that back. -Piss off, it's mine.

-Hey, watch it! -Hold it, you fat bastard!

You're under arrest for stealing evidence.

-What's this? -Cake.

I was going to eat it outside to not leave crumbs.

-Norma, thanks for saving it. -David, this is Jorge.

Your new partner.

That's my dad.

Let's start all over again. I'm Jorge Elías.

-Inspector Valentín. -Cool.

-Can I call you Val? -No.

-But it's cool. -Do you want me to call you Jor?

-I'd love it. -I'm not calling you Jor.

-But it's so cool. -Will you stop saying that?

-Alright, Val. -What's your theory?

In the first note, the killer put "Origin Story."

That's what the genesis of superheroes is called,

how they became what they are now.

I studied Philosophy, not Criminology, but...

but from the modus operandi,

the killer recreates superhero origin stories.

Who knows why? What are you doing?

Your glasses are filthy. I don't know how you can see.

Here. Clean them now and then, don't be a pig.

Thanks, I guess.

Another thing... Do I get a badge?

-We gave you a special pass. -It's not as cool as a badge.

-It does the same thing. -It was to show off.

-Don't touch that. -You blocked it.

Leave it alone.

I don't know what you want me to do.

You're meant to be an expert. See if something doesn't fit,

something they missed. Work your magic.

-I like it, no pressure. -Antxon Azkar, the Suspense 39 victim.

Born in Bilbao. He had a weapons factory in Toledo.

But not like Tony Stark,

he made replicas of movie weapons, right?

-Collectors weapons? -Yes.

Look. That's Conan's sword.

Those are the katanas from "Kill Bill." Hattori Hanzo.

That's the ax from "Sleepy Hollow." And of course,

"Ice," Ned Stark's sword from "Game of Thrones."

It was only called that in the books. The books are always better.

I sell a lot of these beauties in my store.

Like that Leonidas thing, very good stuff.

Hold on.

Something's wrong.

-What's wrong? -That ax.

This showcase is all from "Lord of the Rings," except the ax.

-Are you sure? -Yes.

Unless Peter Jackson has

deleted scenes he's putting in an extended version, I'm sure.

-Can I hold it? -Don't touch anything.

It's the fourth full print I've found.

It's like it was put there on purpose.

It's fucking weird. Killers don't sign their works.

They're evil, but not stupid.

This concept of evil... They're sick.

That's a good one. Go on, take a walk.

And the results?

Do you think this is "CSI"? You just put in the prints?

The program will take time to find a match.

Is there nowhere you want to go?

"Want" isn't quite the word.

No, Dumbledore and Grindewald have fucked.

As sure as Luna Lovegood is in Ravenclaw...

-Val. -Fuck!

Sorry. Look, this is for you.

I spent all evening choosing

origin stories that might help you.

-Do you have any comics left? -What? I narrowed it way down.

I eliminate anything about magic, be it Doctor Strange,

Doctor Fate, or to do with gods, like Wonder Woman or Thor...

-Green Lantern is very likely. -With a green ring and imagination...

Oh, please! Shut up and listen!

-That voice rings a bell. -You don't pay me enough to...

It's a multi-use room. Mondays, Magic, Fridays, Warhammer

-and today, cosplay. -What?

Cosplay, anime costumes.

-Is that her? -Yes.

The girl's a geek.

With this, my magic hair and I conclude this class.

-You're shitting me. -The anniversary party is Friday.

If you want anything, speak up...

The students have clumsy fingers,

they can't thread a needle,

so they always get her to finish their costumes.

-She makes a fortune. -I don't want, Felipe,

any last-minute calls of "I saw 'The Avengers',

-make me a Scarlet Witch outfit." -Hold this.

-Well, that concludes... -Doing some moonlighting, eh?

Guys, you can go.

Why did you force Jorge on me when you're just as much an expert?

Excuse me, I've never read a comic in my fucking life.

I only watch movies, anime series and do cosplay.

So you're a totally "normal" girl.

Wait, I want to see this.

To what do we owe, Inspector, your presence among us geeks?

Let me guess, your hairdresser is nearby.

No. My boss told me I had an astounding ignorance,

so I came to learn.

Your boss must be very happy.

Now you just need to learn to read.

Aren't you kind of old for fancy dress?

Aren't you kind of an asshole to...

Will you get the fuck out?

Aren't you in fancy dress

with your cheap "I wanna be a '90s cop" suit

and clean-shaven baby face?

You're dressed up, Inspector.

As dressed up as any of us,

but with one small difference:

your costume sucks shit.

"Valar morghulis" to everyone, except the suit guy.

To him "dracarys."

Shut up, I'm here investigating a murder,

-not a loser like you people. -Don't you believe it.

Felipe is a dentist, Toño has a pharmacy,

Pepe is a property registrar, Isabel is a judge and...

and I don't know about him, he never buys anything.

I download it all from the Internet. I'm Galván,

I own the largest aeronautical company in Madrid.

I make in a month what a cop makes in a year. And...

Here.

This is my car. What car have you got?

There you go.

You have to pay for the comics, Val.

-How much? -145 euros. By card?

145 euros? Who'd pay 145 euros for this?

Maybe people who aren't losers?

I bet at school you called the other kids names

and scored with the cutest girl. But I'm sorry, not here,

in my store you're the freak.

You have no fucking idea who I am.

Have respect, he's my partner. If you want to laugh at him, buy something.

I download it all from the Internet.

WHITE BLACKBIRD

Is it that bad? It isn't by Bendix?

I've no idea who he is, but they rag on him at the store.

What are you doing here?

Oh, you had dinner alone,

-at your desk? -What are you doing here?

The ax thing worked.

Bruguera called, we have a suspect.

Move your ass.

The guy's called Jordi Fórum, a fireman with priors for pyromania.

He started a fire in Galicia. Seven dead.

The fucker convinced the court it was negligence,

so he was in jail just over a month.

He lives near the Retiro. Here are the details.

I'll be there when I've done the paperwork.

Don't forget to pick up Jorge.

This is exciting, eh, Val?

Hero and sidekick go to the villain's lair.

We just need the soundtrack.

-Pick that up. -What?

All that.

This is it.

I haven't "burned" a CD in years, but since that's all your car's got...

Awesome.

-Turn that off. -Alright, Val...

We're after a real killer. You know that, right?

-Sure. -Then fucking grow up!

This comic shit all the time!

Superheroes are ridiculous, they were created for kids to read.

Not all superheroes are for kids, some are for adults.

-Ever heard of the Watchmen? -Fuck the Watchmen!

What would you say if you met a superhero?

No, seriously, what would you say? "Hello, Superman,

I'm an adult male with boobs who wears the same T-shirts as an 8-year-old boy."

I bet that'd impress him.

-Why do you hate superheroes? -I don't, that's irrelevant.

There's a time when you say to kids: "The Three Wise Men,

Santa Claus and the fucking Tooth Fairy don't exist."

But nobody says to you: "Heroes don't exist."

Nobody saves the people you love, I learned that early.

This positivity made me really popular at school.

School wasn't great for fat kids either.

I got hit every day,

until my brother started to go to school with me, then they got theirs.

-Did you two get on well? -No.

He could fight three guys just for insulting me

and then call me "Lardass" all the way home.

-Is that what brothers do? -I don't know.

I've never had one.

Excuse me.

Officer, Inspector Valentín. What's going on?

That flue has been smoking for two days. Now it's entering the other flats.

We were called to check it out because it looks like the windows--

Lady, what are you doing?

Everyone back, shit!

-What do they say? -We have to wait for the order.

-Let me try. -No, no. Jorge...

-Val... -Where are you going?

Special Agent Jorge Elías Galiardo. I need to go inside immediately.

You don't say? Hold on...

Galiardo? You're "Lardass."

It's "Lardass." "Lardass..."

-Enough. -Enough of what?

What's going on? Alright...

Norma Celiméndiz, Chief of Homicide. Can you explain, please,

why my men are outside?

I told the inspector, we're waiting for the warrant.

You're right. This poor guy is new.

He was transferred and doesn't know things work here.

Hey, the door's open!

Police!

Police!

-Go up to the flat! Go, go! -Check it all out! Go!

Come on! Police!

-Go! -Fuck, it's cold!

-Come on! -Go, keep going!

Clear!

You can't see shit here.

Fuck! It's freezing!

-Keep going! -Go! Go!

-There! -Come on!

What's that? Can you hear it?

-Yes. -Where's it coming from?

-Can you get off me? -Yeah, yeah.

Great, protect the cute girl and fuck the fat guy.

-Shut up! -Relax,

the contrast in temperature made them blow out.

It's freezing here and the fridge motor is hot.

Let's go.

Move.

There's something here!

Jordi Fórum,

you're accused of the murders of Balbino Blázquez and Antxon Azkar!

He's on fire! We have to break that glass!

Hold it, we have to measure the internal pressure

and determine...

-He's dead. -That's obvious, isn't it?

It's the Fire Man origin story from The Fantastic Four.

Human Torch.

Jorge.

Yes, Marvel Comics nº 1. The Human Torch origin story,

but not as you know it.

This isn't the character from The Fantastic Four.

The classic Torch is an android

who bursts into flames on contact with the air,

but doesn't die because, as a robot, he's not alive.

-He's alive! -Hold on!

Jorge!

-Are you alright? -The dickhead fainted.

What the fuck is this shit?

Fuck this shit!

We confirmed that it's Jordi Fórum from his teeth.

And look at this.

Most of the skin sticks to the suit

when you try to take it off.

It's like peeling a grape.

Very "gore," like something from "Gantz" or "Berserk."

Bruguera, can you say something I understand, please?

All his bodily fluids started to boil.

His eyes boiled in their sockets

and he ejected gray matter through his nose and ears.

-And the suit? -Sure, the suit

kept his body refrigerated

and he was fed and hydrated by tubes.

It's like experiment to see how long he could stay alive

-is such extreme conditions. -How long did he last?

By the degree of the burns and the lack of necrosis,

I calculate he was boiled alive

for three days... simmering.

Alright then...

-What now, Inspector? -What...?

Fine, I could trace the refrigeration equipment,

or whatever the fuck it was, but Jordi Fórum probably bought it,

so we'll have fuck all. I'm going home

to shower and put on clothes that don't stink of sweaty fat guy.

It's the first time you've worn something that I like.

If it only fit you, it'd be perfect.

You're really being funny now?

Our suspect is dead

and you force the only cop who could help me to retire.

-Don't start. -Yes, I could do with his experience,

-his viewpoint, his methods... -Stop, I said it's impossible.

-Today was his last day. -You break the rules constantly.

Why are you so set on this?

Because Cosme has cancer, shit.

What kind of cancer?

The incurable kind.

You don't know him well, but you know his attitude.

He doesn't want chemo or anything.

-Does Jorge know? -No, he hasn't told him.

We'll have to tell him.

Don't you dare. He couldn't take it. Can't you see he's a kid?

If he wasn't prepared to lose his brother, do you think he will be

-for the death of his father? -That's not for you to decide.

Why not?

They found it in a checkup.

I came across the report, otherwise I wouldn't know either.

I retired him so he could rest, have time to enjoy himself.

Do you understand?

Do you think he'll enjoy being at home more than helping us?

-Yes. -A cop never retires.

His only retirement is death.

That's very movie buff of you. Did you rehearse that?

Yesterday in the gym.

It's got a good ring to it. I'm knocked out.

Val.

Can...

...you take me home? The subway's stopped.

Coming.

Hey, what a surprise.

-Am I in time for lunch? -Yes, of course.

See what that lazy Jorge's doing, his room's at the end of the hall.

-Here. -Thanks a lot. Lunch is almost ready.

-Like a banished angel... -...I came from heaven to earth.

-Original sin in my bag... -...and a destiny...

-...to matchmake rhymes and beats... -... and not...

-...to sell out like you guys... -...and girls, but...

...to do trap...

Respect my jam, yours isn't for me...

...your mama still dresses you. You got cash, are you sad?

Did you come to slam this hoop?

Problems, hear my motto. You still got...

...aphrodisiac rap...

Fuck, the money he's spent on this.

Dolls...

YOU SHALL NOT PASS!

-You idiot, why didn't you knock? -I knocked, shouted, threw a pencil...

Lunch!

Never open that door again.

Jorge, it's a reserve.

And you can tell.

Cosme, I noticed the photo of your eldest son.

You must be proud, he died...

Like a hero.

It's strange how everyone says the same shit.

Jorge, damn it.

You should be grateful to have a brother like that.

One who didn't beat me when he saw me read would've done me.

Your brother just wanted you to stop reading comics

and go play in the street like other kids.

A father who said something wouldn't have been bad either.

You've got nerve complaining about your father.

Your problem is you don't have one. What happened to yours?

-I know they "snuffed it," but how? -Jorge Elías, damn it!

No, it doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter.

If it makes him happy...

I was eight.

I knew it was a special day because I had new clothes.

On the way back from the movies and man attacked us.

He just wanted money.

He threatened my mother with a syringe

and my father defended her.

The guy had a gun.

I later found out he'd stolen it from a Guardia Civil that day.

And he fired.

My mother started screaming...

and he killed her too shut her up.

They never found him.

I just remember feeling dirty.

My mother had...

made me promise not to get dirty and...

sometimes I feel like I have all that blood on me.

Anyway, I've said too much.

That's the story, that's it.

Seriously? You must be kidding.

-What do you mean? -Out of curiosity,

have you never gone over your parents' case?

No. You can't see personal files.

Fuck that.

Dad, lunch is delicious, but we have to go.

Jorge.

Jorge!

-Call Norma. -Why?

Call her.

It was 1989.

This could take ages.

Don't whine, you were at home sewing a Naruto costume.

I bet this is more fun.

Shut up. If they see me here

searching personal files dressed as a bunny,

-I'll catch hell. -You're Chief of Homicide,

to come down here you just need to fill in a form.

Asking for permission bores me, it takes the thrill away.

YOUNG COUPLE MURDERED IN FRONT OF THEIR SON

This is it.

-Let me see. -Look.

Let me see.

-Fucking shit. -What is it?

A list of items found at the scene of the crime.

There was a clipping with a word and a number.

Detective 33? That's a comic, right?

Yes, Detective 33 is...

the first time Batman's origin story was told.

Thomas and Martha Wayne come out of the cinema and...

they're killed in front of their son.

You're kidding, right?

He was a junkie, a nobody.

We don't know what he looked like or if he was working alone.

I was there.

It's impossible, it can't be.

It can't be.

It can't be, fuck! It can't be!

It's impossible!

David...

These are some of the possible future murders.

Do you want me to tell you who they are, or...?

-Forget it. -Yes.

No, no.

We don't know how many murders he has left to do, or the order.

Even if we knew, it wouldn't do any good.

If it was based on the 7 deadly sins, it'd be easier.

It can't be that hard. We look for a fat loser

-obsessed with superheroes. -Not all of them.

So far he's chosen origin stories from the Silver or Golden Age,

-so they're really old comics. -He's not the loser you say.

He got a transplant machine, expensive refrigeration equipment,

premises, silence...

-The guy's fucking loaded. -Okay, you're right.

We're looking for a rich freak who likes old comics.

That doesn't change a thing.

Hold on.

Yes, it does change things. Come with me, Val.

-Where? -Just come.

Norma, by the way,

turn off the lights when you close up.

Fine, see you later, motherfuckers.

-"Mask." -Hi, Paco. It's Jorge Elías.

Sure, so you say.

Password or riddle?

-I don't know the password. Riddle. -"It looks like gold...

-"Pyrite: fool's gold." -You're with someone? Who?

A stupid friend of mine.

-What if they're tricking us? -No.

The answer is

"Mu, Aldebaran, Saga,

Mask of Death, Aioria, Shaka, Dohko,

Milo, Aioros, Shura, Camus and Aphrodite."

The Knights of the Zodiac who appear in gold.

The answer was "pyrite."

Paco shut his store due to the crisis, now he sells illegally.

He's very wary, so let me talk to him.

-Hello. -Jorge, Jorge, Jorgito Elías.

You must need something very important

to visit The Mask.

Who's your boyfriend?

I need to know who has this list of comics.

An interesting collection.

This information can only be given by the auction houses

-or stores with a CGC license. -Do you have that license?

I had it. Using the codes now

would mean admitting I'm active.

It'd help us to stop a killer. People are dying.

I don't... give a shit.

People are overrated.

When they start killing kitties, tell me.

-We'll pay. How much? -Jorge.

-We're not paying this guy... -Be quiet.

What do you want?

-Neil O'Neil. -Five Against Neil O'Neil,

autographed by all the protagonists on the cover.

-You stole it from me. -I won it at an auction.

Yeah, sure, whatever you say.

That's the price, right?

Yes.

What the fuck is going on here?

It's like you're selling your soul to the Devil.

There's a register of comic owners

called the Siegel-Shuster Almanac.

There as special comics, like the first issue of "Superman,"

-that cost over a million dollars. -A million?

All the comics used by the killer cost at least half a million.

But I bought those comics at your store.

We're talking original American comics,

published over 60 to 80 years ago.

Maybe the killer bought them and they're in the Almanac.

-It's worth a try, right? -But why the hell...?

In Spain...

there's only one person...

who has those four issues.

And where might he be?

-In Madrid. -Thank you.

Go. It's late, I need my dinner.

Then I'm going to jerk off.

Victor Vid. Google says

he's a developer and philanthropist. We have to go to...

What's wrong?

That's me, isn't it? I'll end up like him.

-What? -Like Paco.

Alone and surrounded by cats. My version of "Days of Future Past."

-Rubbish, you have your father. -And if he gets sick?

-The people from the store? -They don't give a shit about me.

-Norma will get a boyfriend... -Does she like somebody?

...and leave the store.

You have me, right?

We're friends.

-We are? -Sure.

C'mon, I'll take you home, your dad will be worried.

-And Víctor Vid? -First we have to tell Norma.

We'll go for him tomorrow. C'mon.

C'mon.

Thanks a lot, really.

C45 here, I need an address.

-Go ahead. -His name is Víctor Vid.

"First we have to tell Norma." He thinks I'm a dickhead.

There you have Víctor Vid. He's who you're after, right?

Just as well he's dead, or you'd be in trouble.

A hero should have a cooler head.

Heroes don't exist, you psycho!

True, you're not a hero.

But you did solve the enigma and find the villain's lair.

There's no villain here, just a sick fuck!

Yes, someone's sick here, but it's not me.

Sorry for the hallucinogenic gas you've inhaled,

but having a more open mind will help you to learn the lesson.

If you're going to kill me, at least tell me who you are.

You can call me Professor Nóvaro.

-What kind of shit is that? -"Nóvaro" is my name

and "Professor," my profession. There's much I have to show you.

Do you know why you couldn't defeat me?

Because you're just a man.

You have to learn to be more, even if it's beat into you.

Then you're in luck, because I'm more than a man.

-I'm a woman. Get away from him. -And if I refuse?

What a stupid question. I'll shoot you dead.

Shit!

So there was nobody? We've got nothing.

See you later.

There were two more occupied flats, but down the other end.

So nobody saw anything.

He's been able to do what he wanted all this time.

Thanks for backing me up.

Thank me by not doing such dumb shit again.

-I had no time to tell anyone. -Do you think I'm stupid?

-You wanted to get him alone. -No, that's not true.

Yes, and you never do that.

You should never play along with these fuckers.

Tattoo that on your brain!

My head feels like I was hit with a baseball bat.

That's about what happened.

I remember a metallic face, a monster.

You were affected by the gas. It was a guy in a mask.

-To me it was a real monster. -It was just a man.

"Nóvaro,"

he called himself "Nóvaro." He said something about being "just a man."

He used me as a shield, and you still fired.

Me?

-That's the gas talking. -Are you sure?

How could I do that? I'd have to be crazy.

Do you think I'm crazy? Let me see that.

Here I am.

Why is he dressed like that?

Because today's the anniversary party?

In... 14 hours?

I put it on last night and I can't get it off.

I can't reach it.

Ibarra, make my day. What do we know of Víctor Vid?

It's his building. His accounts confirm that he was a millionaire.

But in a few years he squandered half his fortune on extravagances

and the other half was withdrawn little by little in cash.

We're checking his properties in case the killer used another as a safe house,

but there are too many. He even has a mansion in central Madrid.

Start with that.

We sent a team to check and there's nothing there.

Alright then.

-Tell me if there are prints, okay? -Yes.

-We're looking for prints. -Come on!

This is Amazing Fantasy nº15. The Spider-Man origin story.

And this is the X-Men origin story.

See anything that can help us predict the next murder?

Like so many origin stories, Spidey and X-Men

are linked to radioactivity.

That's why mutants are called "Children of the Atom."

But...

I doubt this guy has an atom bomb, right?

A blank.

It's Bruguera, about Víctor Vid. Let's fucking move it.

Shouldn't he smell more?

He's embalmed. What do you want?

We can't say how long he's been dead, but...

at least 4 or 5 years.

And all this time he took Víctor Vid's identity.

The bastard has more patience than George R.R. Martin fans.

And he was taken out of formaldehyde very recently.

From the postmortem bullet holes,

maybe it was for target practice.

I found no signs of violence,

so I looked for poisoning.

And here comes the shocker.

There are traces of polonium-210.

-And? -Fucking hell!

-I know. -"I know" what?

-What's going on? -I'm sorry.

-Norma, what the hell's going on? -It's radioactive material.

Radiation is a national security issue.

Intelligence will take the case.

-Is the any way to hide it? -Are you crazy?

Some years ago we had a case with polonium-210.

Some tiny samples were mislaid

and Internal Affairs went nuts.

-So, is that it? -I don't know.

-It's over? -I don't know.

Although...

I could delay the report a little.

It won't be that suspicious if I take until tomorrow.

-No. No, no. -Yes, yes.

We can't let him to do that. If they find out, they'll go after him.

Let them. All I do is open up the victims of killers

who go free because of some mistake. So, this time,

I'll make the mistake if that means they're caught.

Bruguera, thank you so much. Thank you!

Hey...

-Where are you going? -To find the best cop I know.

Wait, wait. Have you forgotten that I'm your boss?

You think you can go just like that?

Sorry, I forgot.

No... I didn't mean that, but...

okay.

About time you came. Come in.

Why take the body out of hiding?

It makes no sense, the body undermines him.

And he could've kept stealing this identity for a long time.

Yes. He either made a mistake

or he thinks there's something else we have to find out,

that we have to uncover.

Let's think.

The name Víctor Vid led us to the wall

and the wall should lead us to the next step.

I don't know. I sent someone to the pet store where he bought the spiders...

Yes?

...and Bruguera's tracing the polonium, but it'll take a few days.

By then, it'll be too late.

I think it's already too late. Look.

...dramatic events.

The victim, male, 16, unidentified,

was discovered this morning outside this exhibition site.

The body was found hanging from the roof by its wrists

with what one police officer described as

the worst bite he has ever seen.

What do we do?

-I'm going to do the shopping. -What?

Until Ibarra gets to the station, I can't get access.

What about me?

Honestly, you should call your "external adviser." See you.

...of macabre performances

carried out all over Madrid that the Police cannot explain...

-It's the origin story of... -I know. I'm not an idiot.

Anything else? Anything that could help us?

Fine, a boy died today.

In a few hours Bruguera will send the report

to Intelligence and we'll lose the case.

And we still don't know what this fucker wants.

Do you not know or do you refuse to accept it?

-What? -Nóvaro thinks he's a super villain

and he's trying to create a superhero, which is you.

He killed your parents 20 years ago and the murders began

when you arrived in Madrid. It's obvious, right?

Of all the crap you've said,

that's by far the wildest.

Norma, please, bring a bit of sanity here.

I agree with him. It's fucking crazy,

-but it's obvious. -Seriously?

Yes.

You think it's fun to live life like a role play,

but people are dying, not fucking comic characters!

David, we're not going to do anything this bastard says,

-but you have to accept reality. -Leave me alone, both of you!

Do you know your father's sick? Very sick.

That's what happens in real life while you two play fancy dress.

Jesus!

Dad.

What are you doing here? What's with the get-up?

Today's the anniversary of the store.

-Right. -How are you? Want some help?

-No, there's no need. -Yes, let me...

Let go, damn it!

Thanks.

-I'm sorry, Dad. -About what?

For being an asshole since the thing with Javi.

It's alright.

I wish you'd seen eye to eye, but...

It's hard to compete with a ghost or with David now.

Jorge, stop competing. You're here

and I'm very proud of the person you've become.

-Very proud. -Really?

Yes. And your brother...

became a cop to please me.

But I never told him I was proud of him.

Let's go home, I want to show you something.

Jorge...

Alright, Jorge...

That's Javi's gear.

Yes, it was hard to get, but...

I've had it since then.

And I don't want to keep it in here.

I'm taking it to the store because it's a hero's suit.

-Sorry, I lost track for a moment. -Don't worry.

-Don't leave your sister alone! -She didn't want to play with me!

No grumbling! Go!

Don't push it!

Give me your hand... Wait!

Your brother's asking for it today!

10th ANNIVERSARY

-You can't come in? -What?

You have to be in costume. Are you in costume?

-I want to speak to Jorge, it's urgent. -Jorge told me

-only costumed people get in. -Don't talk crap. Is he here?

No, he's getting pizzas. He left me in charge.

I am Heimdall, Guardian of the Rainbow Bridge.

Guardian of the fucking Rainbow Bridge, is Norma here?

No, not yet. She made this beauty for me.

I'm happy for you, it's beautiful. I'm a cop.

Go in.

-From which movie? -A real cop.

Jorge had a costume for you, in case you came.

Are you kidding?

Good evening.

Fuck, do you want the nutcase to fire me?

The last favor. I brought you marzipan.

Thanks.

...then the Nazi gets the most expensive cup,

like gold, with rubies and such. He lifts it up and says:

"The cup of the King of Kings" and drinks, but he's screwed up

because he has no fucking idea and becomes a melting skeleton.

Then Indiana picks up the shittiest cup and says:

"This is the cup of a carpenter." It makes my hair stand on end.

-Amazing. Remember the movie? -No.

You don't remember...? We'll talk later.

You found the costume.

Norma did a job to outdo Edna Mode.

-You two are happy? -You need a name.

Have you got one? Night Guardian? Yellow Hood?

-Can we talk outside? -The name has to command respect

and say that you're not afraid to face danger alone.

-Please. -But you're not, there are three of us.

Hence the triangle, and you're the apex.

-Fine, I'm Triangle Man. -No, you're Apex.

Apex, now I have a superhero name. Can we talk outside, please?

Whatever it is, tell me here. Then go, we're doing karaoke.

I need you, okay?

If anyone can help me, it's you.

-And what else? -I apologize.

Thanks. I accept your apology and I apologize too.

Kiss, kiss, kiss!

-For telling Norma you're impotent. -What?

Guys, you look like assholes!

According to your theory, what happens now?

Normally, if the villain doesn't get what he wants

he raises the stakes in his final murder.

He gets personal and goes for the hero's loved ones:

family, friends, partners...

Like Kingpin did with Daredevil in "Born Again."

And the Joker with Batman in "The Killing Joke."

And Green Goblin when he killed Gwen Stacy.

Guys, this is a private conversation, not a round table.

Go fuck yourselves.

No problem, I have nobody.

Right, then the first to get it are the sidekicks.

Robin is killed every five years, but then he's revived.

No way. You're my sidekick and you're in good health.

You finally admit that I'm your sidekick, huh?

-Shit, of course. -What?

-To Nóvaro, I'm not your sidekick. -How come?

I didn't save your ass the other day.

Norma!

Got long to go?

No, I'm finishing up.

-Celiméndiz will kill me. -Right.

PROPOSAL: PERMANENT DISABILITY

TRANSFER REQUEST

To make your wait more fun, I'll sing the intro to "Dragon Police."

-She's such a geek. -What's she saying?

Fucking voicemail.

Norma!

What's wrong?

-It's Cosme. -What about my dad?

He was attacked in the street, an hour ago.

-Really? -Listen...

Hello, hero.

You haven't been a good student, but I'll give you another chance.

It's Nóvaro.

-What have you done with Cosme? -Where's my father?

Don't worry about Inspector Galiardo and listen to me.

What's wrong?

-What have you done? -Oh, good.

I imagine the polonium in the lemonade is taking effect.

-It's the lemonade. -No one else drink the lemonade!

-Did you bring it, Jorge? -Me? What do you think this is?

An American prom night? I brought Coke and red wine.

The Chamberí reservoir provides water for all of Madrid.

What I did to the lemonade, I'll do to tap water.

Unless you come alone, I'll kill your mentor

and then the whole city.

And I warn you: I don't want a cop, I want a superhero.

Unless you convince me, goodbye Cosme and Madrid.

I have to go right now. He's at the Madrid reservoir.

No, let's call the police station. We'll send a fucking army.

We know where he's hidden, we can trap him.

-An X... -We can't trap him,

but he's going to kill Cosme.

-He's going to poison the whole city! -I don't care. I don't care!

A group of misfits, hated by everyone,

affected by radiation. Motherfucker!

We can call City Hall! They can cut the water,

we'll call Special Forces, but we'll do it right!

Norma.

In any of those scenarios, he'll kill my father.

-I'm going. -No, I'll come with you.

-Me too. -Not you!

Okay. But come with me a moment.

Fucking hell!

I brought it this afternoon, but I didn't have time to set it up.

It's...

The outfit of the greatest hero I've ever known,

my brother.

POLICE

It's from China. They're banned in Europe because they're fucking nasty.

Shit, if they can't drink, they shouldn't.

Fuck!

Yes, all that cosplay, but then you're wasted...

Let me have your car for Apex.

Chill out, no one touches my car. Who the hell is Apex?

I don't have time for this.

He's... He's fucking awesome.

Any lemonade left?

You're the guy who downloads it all from the Internet?

Yes.

Then yes, there's some left.

Inspector... Galiardo.

Ironic, isn't it?

The title of my final murder is "Uncanny," for the X-Men.

And you've ended up in a wheelchair,

like Charles Xavier.

It's more ironic is that my son, who owns a comics store,

has never anything about you.

And take that off.

Even more ironic

is that they retired

the one cop who was able to guess my identity.

How did you do it?

The doctor who certified Víctor Vid's disability...

was "Jonathan B."

-Jonathan Bruguera. -Bravo.

I expected no less of you.

Now...

Welcome...

to the origin story of the first real world superhero.

Superhero?

That'd be stupid anywhere, but much more so in Spain.

You think so?

A corrupt country,

with no faith in justice.

It's the ideal breeding ground for heroes.

Don't be an idiot, Bruguera.

What Spaniards have the least faith in is heroes.

While in England they were writing "King Arthur,"

here we wrote "Don Quixote." We think only a madman does good.

Then I'll create a madman!

Fuck.

-What the hell's going on? -Hold on. Stop!

Something's under the car.

Relax, I'll look.

Son of a bitch!

Hey, moron, you're deserting me?

How often do I have to save you for you to admit you need me?

I need you, Norma, but it's my turn.

He said to come alone and I'm not risking it.

For Cosme's sake.

On one condition:

I want you back alive.

I want you back alive, I love...

Well, you understand, you're a fucking idiot.

But... I like you.

I know.

Bastard... He quotes Han Solo without even knowing it.

Thinking someone will dress up and fight crime is a childish dream,

it's ridiculous.

It's innocent. And only a sick society

would consider innocence a sign of weakness.

Innocent like David, when you killed his parents?

Cosme, please...

I didn't kill them.

From what I read, a junkie tried to rob them, it got messy...

But don't listen to me, I wasn't there.

-There was a clipping. -There was nothing.

I put that in the file around a month ago.

You took credit for a murder you didn't commit?

Yes, that's right.

Other cops would've been easier to attract,

but David's story was so perfect,

with the alley, the movie theater...

-I couldn't resist it. -That lie will be your undoing.

If David comes here thinking you killed his parents...

That's precisely what I hopes he does.

Nóvaro must die...

so that a hero is born.

Don't call me now, I'm in "stealth mode."

Put it on silent!

Norma called, she's mad as Imperator Furiosa.

I'm at the reservoir, no one's here.

He'll be waiting up top for the final showdown, as usual.

-There are stairs. Do I go up? -Go on.

It's the paradox of Joe Chill,

the killer of Batman's parents.

If Batman knows who he is,

his revenge is against him.

If he doesn't,

his revenge

is against a faceless criminal,

against crime as a concept.

It's infinite.

That's why I...

will die as a question,

not an answer.

I may even beg to make it more believable.

"Please, please, I give up!

Alright, you win. Help me up."

Maybe that's a bit hammy.

-Anyway, I'll see how it goes. -This conversation is absurd.

David won't come, much less dressed for a carnival.

Look at that costume.

Cape and everything, as it should be. Good.

I'm sure it was my son's idea.

Sorry, I didn't tell you.

I drugged you up a little.

I don't want you to suffer when I kill you.

You were a great cop,

but David needed an objective.

His parents' death was long ago.

I don't mind sacrificing my soul by killing you

if it's to create someone who protects us all.

You think you're a saint? You even killed a boy.

That "boy," as you call him,

raped and dismembered

a six-year-old girl.

Her parents still can't bury her head.

Balbino Blázquez hid chemical dumps near schools.

Antxon Azkar's arms factory was a cover for drugs.

-Jordi Fórum was a pyromaniac... -You think that justifies it?

All actions are justified if the result is a hero.

Get ready, Cosme,

the curtain is going up.

Jorge, I'm entering the top section.

Jorge?

-Jorge! -Val?

-Val. -Jorge.

Are you talking to him?

-I just lost the signal. Norma... -What?

It's his turn now. You have to trust him.

By the way,

did you know that the actors that go down in history

aren't just those who play Batman?

There are those who play the Joker:

Jack Nicholson, poor Heath Ledger...

I have a story about that. A journalist

told Jack Nicholson that they'd just found Ledger dead.

Good old Jack was on the red carpet

with journalists, photographers...

He stopped and said just one thing...

"I warned him"!

He said "I warned him"!

Freeze!

Drop it.

Welcome.

Drop the gun or I'll kill him.

Alright.

No!

Dad!

Son...

Son,

I'm so proud of you.

-Why? -Why what?

Why did I kill your parents?

Because I'm evil. Why did I kill Cosme?

Because I can.

Why does God allow

bad things to happen to good people?

To create men to stop it.

"Are you that kind of man?,"

that is the question.

Is that everything?

What a disappointment.

I expected something more astounding.

Something like this?

Who are you?

I'm nobody.

I am the first of many.

What are you laughing at?

At your hope.

You were hoping that the killer was the butler,

but in this world evil has no face.

I'm only the space on the board.

The missing piece is you!

Okay, alright, I give up.

You win. Help me up.

Aren't you a cop?

Arrest me.

Do you see a cop here?

I am Apex.

...and sitting with God the Father in His mercy, you'll know the peace

he strived for in life.

Amen.

A vat of green acid you say?

It was like out of a '60s Batman episode.

Is that a geek reference?

It's not a geek reference, everyone saw that series.

Don't ruin it.

David Valentín, you just graduated.

This could be the end of the story,

but it'd be too sad.

It all changed three months later. Val, Norma and I

followed the trail of the mysterious disappearance of Bruguera.

He never informed Intelligence.

Bruguera combed the spectrum of polonium radiation to find it himself.

The triangulations pointed to the mansion of Víctor Vid,

the millionaire whose identity Nóvaro had stolen.

In the search, the Police found nothing,

but we had more luck.

Luck, or the Police hadn't read comics from the Golden Age

and don't know the time when Bruce Wayne's parents were killed.

Xanadu was full of surprises.

Nóvaro ran it all from here.

A place with access to the deep web

and police files on criminals all over the world.

It had everything a superhero could dream of.

And Val suddenly realized we could only do one thing.

If only Apex weren't necessary, but wouldn't life be more interesting

if we could call him when we needed him?

Val once asked me what I'd say if I met a superhero,

Now I know my answer.

I'd tell him: "Put on your suit

and go out and make this world a better place."

SECRET ORIGINS

Who are you?

-How did you get in? -You used your codes.

-What? -You're still operational.

You sell comics off the books. That's illegal and you'll pay for it.

You can't convict me for that.

They're just comics, it's not important.

It's important to me.

We have to be able to work it out some way.

I have lots of things in this store.

You can choose whatever you want.

I'll take that.

Translation: Lindsay Moxham