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Huntress: Cry for Blood 2

Cover Date: July 2000

 Writer: Greg Rucka

Artists: Rick Burchett

Colorist: Tatjana Wood

Letterer: Clem Robins

Associate Editor: Joseph Illidge

Editor: Dennis O’Neil

And Now … She Can Not Be Forgiven

After paying her respects at her cousin Claudio’s wake, Helena was forced to screech to a halt as The Question was standing in the road. She gets out to confront him. He tells her the story of a man dreaming he’s a butterfly that suddenly thinks perhaps he is a butterfly dreaming he’s a man. Helena is not impressed and drives off.

The next morning Helena heads out from her apartment to the school where she teaches. On the way she sees a sensationalized article linking the Huntress to mob killings. Helena thinks the reporter, Karen Frazier, must be mobbed up herself to write such a story. But Helena is disturbed by the article in another way. If the cops really are after the Huntress, there is the possibility Batman will reveal her identity to them. Then the ruling families of Gotham really will come for her blood.

 Meanwhile, Nightwing is talking with Oracle. He believes Helena did not kill her cousin despite one of the Huntress’ crossbow bolts sticking out of his chest. Oracle is not so sure and isn’t happy when he says he’ll be talking to the Huntress.

 In an elegant house, Mario Cassamento, son to the mobster Santa Cassamento, and Vinnie joke around about seeing Helena the night before and how they’d like to get her out of her coat and into a warm bath. Mario’s father proceeds to hit him in the head with a rolled up newspaper before storming out.

 That evening Nightwing pays Helena a visit at her apartment. He wants to offer his help but Helena isn’t impressed. She still resents how she was manipulated by Batman during No Man’s Land and isn’t interested in Nightwing’s help. 

 Later that night dressed as the Huntress she visits the apartment of the reporter and finds her dead with two of the Huntress’ crossbow bolts in her chest. The crime must have happened recently but a pounding on the door surprises Huntress. It’s the cops.  As she heads out the window, she can see plenty of cop cars below. 

 She makes her way onto the roof only to find Batman and Nightwing waiting for her. Batman insists she is coming with him and it’s not a choice. Instead of complying she tries to escape. But in the scuffle she accidently shoots Batman with her crossbow. Incensed, Nightwing comes for her full out. Her only chance of escape is to jump off the highrise roof into the Gotham harbor below.

 The fall nearly kills her but who is there to help drag her out of the water but The Question. He says she no longer has any friends in Gotham except for him and he has someone he wants her to meet. Collapsed on the dock, Huntress pitifully ties to be defiant, saying she won’t go anywhere while she can still fight. So The Question kicks her in the head.