Fringe Comic Number 5

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Fringe Comic Number 5

Fringe #5

Number	5
Release Date	May 27, 2009
Writers	Alex Katsnelson Danielle Dispaltro
Artist	Tom Mandrake
Colorist	Wildstorm FX
Letterer	Wes Abbott
Editors	Ben Abernathy Hank Kanalz
Assistant Editor	Kristy Quinn
Previous Issue	Fringe #4
Next Issue	Fringe #6
Transcript

It Runs In The Family

Synopsis

Walter and William explain to Hans Froelich, Walter's father, how they traveled back in time from the 1970's to 1940's Nazi Germany. Expecting disbelief from Hans, he leads Bell and Bishop to a warehouse where they've been building a time machine--identical to the one Walter and William built. Hans explains that today was the first time they turned it on, so Bell figures that the original programming of the machine is what sent them to 1940's Germany. Another Nazi officer named Klaus Schulz is becoming suspicious of Bell and Bishop, but Hans covers for them saying they are defecting American scientists here to help with the project.

Later that night, William worries about the repercussions of Hitler having access to a time machine. Walter assures him that they will not let anyone rewrite history.

The next day, Walter and William are working on the time machine when another scientist taps into a military report, which says that Hitler and Eva Braun have just committed suicide. This forces Hans, Bell, and Bishop to speed their plans. Hans tells them he will dismantle and destroy the machine after they are sent home. Walter asks Hans if he can help save Levi Berger, the man who helped them in the prison, but Hans tells Walter he cannot risk damaging the fabric of space-time, and that he is under enough suspicion already from Schulz.

Later that night, Hans arrives to sneak the two men to the time machine. They come across several guards with Eva Braun, preparing to sneak her out of the country. Hans assumes the report must have been a cover-up, but if she is alive..then where's Hitler? The three of them continue to the time machine, but Schulz is waiting for them. Hans tries to explain but Schulz will not listen and the two of them draw their guns and fire. Schulz is killed but Hans is dying, causing Walter to begin disappearing into thin air. William explains that if Hans dies, Walter will never be born, so he quickly takes a knife and pries the bullet out of Hans, stopping the bleeding. Walter returns to normal, highly relieved. Hans then says his goodbyes while Walter and William step into the time machine. Inside, they find a Nazi uniform and Bell fears that Hilter may have already used the machine. Walter tells him not to worry, as he has rigged a fail-safe. Hans activates the machine, and William and Walter are enveloped by bright light before arriving back in the lab in Boston a few moments later.

The next morning, William and Walter look up Levi Berger on a computer and learn that he was a holocaust survivor who went on to become a famous author. He currently lives in Ohio with his wife Julia and dog Walter, where they operate their own Jewish delicatessen. William wants to know how Walter "rigged" the time machine, but Walter just replies that if Hitler did get away..he got what he deserved.

65 million years ago, two large Tyrannosaurus' corner a terrified, naked Adolf Hitler in a swamp.

Image Scans

Fringe Comic #5 - It Runs In The Family, Page 1

Fringe Comic #5 - It Runs In The Family, Page 2

Fringe Comic #5 - It Runs In The Family, Page 3

Fringe Comic #5 - It Runs In The Family, Page 4

Fringe Comic #5 - It Runs In The Family, Page 5

Fringe Comic #5 - It Runs In The Family, Page 6

Fringe Comic #5 - It Runs In The Family, Page 7

Fringe Comic #5 - It Runs In The Family, Page 8

Credits

Writers: Alex Katsnelson & Danielle Dispaltro
Artist: Tom Mandrake
Colorist: Wildstorm FX
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Assistant Editor: Kristy Quinn
Editors: Ben Abernathy and Hank Kanalz
Special Thanks to: Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman

Preview courtesy of DC Comics - Wildstorm

Hard Copy

Synopsis

UBS Newscaster Michelle Taylor reports on several strange incidents that have occurred, all unexplainable in nature. Later on, she talks to her boss Aaron, saying she has done some research of her own and that the three stories she reported on, as well as over a dozen others all have one thing in common--Massive Dynamic. Aaron is shocked, as Massive Dynamic owns the parent company of their network. He tells her to go home and take a night off, and that she shouldn't investigate the people who sign her paycheck. As she arrives home, she answers her phone to find it's a call from the public relations office of Massive Dynamic in San Fransisco. They'd like to give her a tour of one of their new research facilities. Michelle wonders how they got her number, but she is told they got it from the network, apologizing for the intrusion. She's told that Massive Dynamic is impressed with her work, particularly her focus on the sciences. Michelle hesitantly accepts the offer, and drives to the research facility the next day.

Upon arrival, she drives up to the ranch house and is greeted by a Dr. Crisafi. Michelle tells her a farm wasn't what she had expected for a "research facility", but Crisafi explains that Mendel Ranch is both a working farm and home to some of Massive Dynamic's most promising research initiatives, though she does not explain further. She leads Michelle into one of the larger barns on the ranch for a demonstration. Inside is a large empty room save for two pedestals next to each other. A Dr. Wagner is introduced to oversee the demonstration, and both doctors assure Michelle that there are no "tricks" to what they're about to show her.

Dr. Wagner holds a live chicken in his arm, named Beatrice. He asks that Michelle take note that both eyes of the chicken are orange. He then places Beatrice inside one of the pedestals and hands out protective eyewear. He then activates the machine, and a bright light emanates from the pedestals. While Dr. Wagner removes Beatrice from the first pedestal, Dr. Crisafi opens the other to reveal an exact copy of Beatrice. Michelle stares in disbelief, asking for an explanation. Dr. Wagner tells her that the science behind the process it would require many hours to explain. In short, they have found a way to make instant copies of organic life forms, though the process is not entirely perfect. All subjects suffer from Heterochromia, as one eye changes color in every case. Michelle has more questions, to which Crisafi promises answers... but first, some lunch.

Michelle asks if the chicken they just ate was a clone, but Crisafi tells her it is all natural. The cloned meat is perfectly healthy, and Nina Sharp has it flown to her office in New York regularly. Michelle asks Crisafi to think of the implications of what they're doing, that they can create instant clones as easily as photocopying paper. Crisafi interjects that an optimistic view is that they can now prevent famine by cloning crops, and that just because a corporation is large doesn't mean it's evil. Michelle presses further, saying that she's been investigating Massive Dynamic for months and wants to know why they suddenly invited her to a research facility to show her technology that shouldn't be possible. All of a sudden, Michelle begins to feel ill, and falls out of her chair. Dr. Crisafi shouts to her that she will go get help.

Back in San Fransisco, Aaron questions Michelle in his office. He wants to know why she has dropped her investigations into Massive Dynamic after visiting the farm, thinking that they have bought her silence. Michelle says that the farm was just an agricultural research lab, and that she was drawing connections that weren't there. Aaron subsides, glad to have Michelle back at the anchor desk, but before he sends her away, he notices something and asks her that he always thought both her eyes were blue. Michelle tells him she usually wears corrective lenses... but he's much too busy a man to notice little things like that.