The Empty Man virus has been with us for a long time, stretching back to caveman days. But the reign of terror has only increased as the destruction and death has started to obliterate society as we know it. It’s up to our main characters to overcome the deadly control or die trying.
Note: This recap may contain spoilers!
The destruction left behind at the motel has made the news, even though details are sketchy at the moment. However, the mysteries that Monica and the group left behind are enough to start a panic. What is this dead spider-like creature inside the motel room? It’s certainly got the uniformed officers freaked out. And when the image slips to the media, it freaks out the general public, too. But the denial is strong as well. They cannot believe it’s connected to the Empty Man, as rumored. It more resembles an alien creature bent on annihilation. But maybe they are one and the same. And maybe the leak was done on purpose, to send a message to the Empty Man. The time has come, the time is now.
Meanwhile, the group is trying to get medical help for Owen. But maybe the hospital is not the safest place for him, as he tries to warn before he’s taken to the back. We see a brief image of all the hospital staff being revealed as the red Empty Man creatures, but we’re not sure if that’s Monica’s hallucinations coming into play or if she’s seeing what’s truly there. She’s certainly being haunted with the images, as we see again during the fight over who should drive upon their departure from the hospital and again during the car ride.
What’s clear is that the creature was left behind for a reason, a sacrifice, and the image released on purpose. Monica knows it, and Melissa does as well. We learn that it was the work of Karl and he’s got a long-term plan in place, even if his bosses do not approve. But if the image wasn’t enough, perhaps a mass murder in the name of the Empty Man will be, which Karl goes through with. And we end the issue with the image of a man hooked up to multiple medical machines, gaining consciousness and leading us to question who he is and what part he plays in the overall Empty Man plan.
I can’t say whether Monica is hurting or helping Melissa and her family. She does seem to be out for her own good in trying to recover her partner, and she is indeed compromised mentally from the Empty Man virus, as is Melissa, but perhaps that is a good thing. She and Melissa have a glimpse at the true face of the Empty Man, and can key into the mindset of willing followers that he has gained. Hopefully this will not be their downfall as well. An intriguing story that leaves us with more mysteries to solve.
Rating: 3 / 5 Stars
