Cloak & Dagger – Negative Exposure #2

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The issue opens up with Dagger and her current boyfriend, a detective by the name of Brandon, facing off against monsters, changed by Mister Negative; who has changed them to be channeled with Lightforce, the same power, from which Dagger draws her power – making her useless against them. She shouts for Brandon to run, and as she does so – she thinks about how when she and Cloak were fighting, she never had to worry about Cloak – he was always able to take care of himself – because he had powers like her – and they’d worked so well together.

However, as Dagger gets dragged away, Brandon refuses to flee and instead turns and begins to unload his gun, firing at them – only to discover they seem impervious to bullet wounds.

Elsewhere, in the Darkforce dimension, Cloak and his date, Vivian, find themselves in trouble as well. Vivian who had been running through the eerie Darkforce Dimension, found herself captured by one of the many monsters that dwell in the shadows – and begs for Cloak to save her and teleport them away – and Cloak explains he can’t teleport within the Darkforce Dimension, since it’s his doorway – a void to him, within the Darkforce. However, when Cloak sees her in danger, he discovers he is able to manipulate the Darkforce Dimension itself – and kills the two monsters who had Vivian – and she laughs, telling him she always knew he’d save her – and that she knew he had more power than he realizes – as the two kiss.

Back on Earth, Mister Negative grabs Dagger – and tells her that he’s looked forward to making her his pawn again – and begins to twist and change her – so that the Lightforce drains away from her, as it’d done before – and the Darkforce takes over. She calls out to Cloak, in the Darkforce Dimension, to come back – as she explains what Mister Negative is doing (clearly, Cloak and Vivian sealed their relationship, as their bare bodies are barely covered beneath Ty’s Cloak) – and Mister Negative says it’s too late – he’s felt her turn. But she uses the Darkforce power which is now hers to wield to shove him away and begin attacking Mister Negative’s pawns – explaining that with the help of Spider-Man, they have found a way to prevent him from ever gaining control of them (in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man #6 through 8). Mister Negative manages to get a hold of Brandon, and influence him with some Darkforce, before Dagger collapses. Cloak and Vivian appear and Cloak disperses the Lightforce monsters with ease. After the fight, Cloak and Dagger get into a serious argument that ends with Cloak grabbing Vivian and teleporting away, leaving Dagger fuming and upset about how the fight had gone.

It switches over to Mister Negative and we see him being pushed around by a spherical light that demands that Mister Negative deal with Dagger; and is furious that Mister Negative can’t control her mind anymore. Mister Negative explains he still can – just indirectly. The scene cuts to Dagger and Brandon talking, and Dagger shares her frustrations about Cloak – and with dark eyes, clearly under the influence of the Darkforce Mister Negative had imbued him with, he recommends to Dagger to stop calling Cloak and to set him free.

Speaking of Cloak, the scene shifts and he and Vivian are in the Darkforce Dimension, clearly less fearful, after seeing what Cloak could do. He continues to manipulate the landscape, allowing Vivian to ride her motorcycle and do insanely dangerous stunts, when one of the stunts goes wrong, and Vivian is severely wounded. Cloak rushes to his side, and uses the Darkforce to seemingly heal her wounds instantly.

At Beverly Hills, Mister Negative and his goons are destroying a car dealership, and we see Brandon in the helicopter giving Dagger words of encouragement, about how she doesn’t need Cloak, and we discover, it’s Mister Negative using Brandon like a puppet. Mister Negative and his goons flee after a quick fight; and in the car, Mister Negative is seen talking to “the cosmic eye” who now demands that Mister Negative bring Cloak to him.

Cloak and Vivian return to Earth, where they’re met by Mister Negative. Cloak threatens to tear Mister Negative apart – but in doing so – the unexpected happens – the two personas of Mister Negative appear to be two actual people – Martin Li, and the actual Mister Negative! Martin Li comes free – and he looks at Cloak and shouts, “He’s gone! He’s gone! What have you done?”

We cut over to Dagger and Brandon enjoying some burgers – and Dagger thinks about how of late – Brandon’s been perfect. He’s been understanding, he’s been there without being clingy, and now he wants her to dance – and despite all of that – she can’t help but also realize one thing – something seems off – and, well, she’s not that into him. Dagger excuses herself, to go clean the food off of her face and heads to the bathroom – and a short while later, Dagger shows up at Cloak’s place, and Martin Li is sitting there – still trying to understand what is going on, while Vivian is asleep on the couch. Dagger confesses – that she was wrong. She was wrong to push Cloak away. Wrong to say it’d never work. And that she’s sorry – but she has to confess – she wants Cloak back. She wants to be a team. An item. And she’s sorry because she knows he has this new girl – but she’d regret the rest of her life if she didn’t say something.

Cloak looks at her, then pulls Dagger in for a kiss.