Grendel Tales: Homecoming # 2 - [Susan and Avril]

Overview

Something's in the air, and Susan's mistaken it for love. Having returned to her hometown after a decade absent, she's reunited with Avril, and romance from days past is reawakened. But Susan's town is now run by a gang of punks called Orion's Bastards, and Avril is under their jurisdiction. They're looking to shatter the romance just as they've crushed the once-quaint town. Will they succeed in destroying love's young dream? Or will the blood on their hands be their own?

Also in this issue: "Babylon Crash, Part 2." The latest installment of Matt Wagner's fully painted epic, Devil Quest, opens the doors of the Khan's palace, revealing an empire in its last, sordid days. Jupiter III seeks salvation in his quest for the devil, but he may end up finding his destruction instead.

Spoilers

Back at Avril's home a romance between Susan and Avril is rekindled.  Susan and Avril recount their pasts, Avril telling a story of how Susan had hurther as a young child.  Susan realizes that Avril works for the Bastards and is hooked on their drugs.  Susan urges Avril to go away with her, leaving it all behind.  Avril relents, and Susan leaves to gather supplies.  

Neither Susan nor Avril realized that the Bastards were monitoring them in Avril's home.  While Susan was gone Buster, the leader of the Bastards, and some of his thugs arrived at Avril's home.  The beat her severely and left her for dead.  Susan arrives just in time to have Avril die in her arms.