In this week's issue of The X-Files by Topps, first published in May 1996, Mulder and Scully are captured by anti-government survivalists in their forest compound and discover that the owls are not what they seem. Read after the jump to find out how our favorite FBI agents get on in part one of "Home of The Brave.
This week’s issue opens with a difficult narration from a young woman whose name we do not yet know. She discusses her native country where sons are valued higher than daughters, and where many couples now choose abortion upon hearing they are having the latter. Our narrator tells us how she herself has a baby daughter with a husband - Henry - who picked his wife “from a catalogue” and brought her to America, naming her after “a dog he used to kick”. The couple walk through a forest dressed in army clothing as she continues her story. Henry, whom we see has a swastika tattooed on his forehead, shoots at a mysterious green light which turns out to be a glowing green owl. His wife tells us that this “would have been considered an omen” in her native land “but here we are free”, perhaps too free. Soon after, what appear to be jet planes tear over the treetops and the two run for the safety of their compound. Two days later, Mulder and Scully head for the forest in their rental car, discussing what Mulder believes to be a UFO. Mulder’s sources have informed him that the ship crashed, making it “the second ‘Fallen Angel’ in four months”, possibly a reference to the previous issue. As they argue about what it could be, they hit a landmine and their car is thrown from the road in an explosion.
Scully wakes up in a bed with a bandage on her head, tended to by the wife from the previous scene who is nicknamed Naida. Scully learns that Mulder is still bleeding and demands they be taken to a hospital. Naida was told not to help the pair but manages to get some medical supplies while the men of the compound are busy so Scully can patch Mulder up. As she does, Naida watches and comments to herself that “there’s a fierceness in the way they protect each other that I think would put many lovers to shame” - aww. When Mulder regains consciousness he and Scully both catch sight of a large gun rack and an even larger Nazi flag hanging on the wall, Mulder quipping that their situation “doesn’t look good”.
The men soon return and on discovering Naida’s actions, Henry begins to beat her. Scully pushes him off Naida but is grabbed herself. Another of the men sarcastically suggests she “show us what you got” without her gun, which she does happily, knocking Henry unconscious before the others can stop her. Go girl! Scully doesn't take schtick from anyone, least of all abusive, bullying men. The group’s leader - Gavin - tries to insult Mulder by asking what kind of man he is to “let a woman fight for you” but naturally Mulder’s usual sarcastic response only earns him more pain. Gavin explains proudly that their anti-government, fed-hating, survivalist group are “racist, misogynist, white supremacists” awaiting the year 2000 when The Lord will destroy the “Leftist Establishment”. Mulder’s quickly explains that he and Scully were looking for something the government wants kept secret, buying them some time.
The group (including Mulder and Scully) march out into the woods in search of the downed craft, the agents are held at gunpoint while Naida is forced to leave her baby behind. Scully tries to explain to Naida that the glowing green owl she saw earlier was caused by a phosphorescent fungus that gets stuck in the feathers. Naida, who knows the full scientific name for the fungus, is amused by both Scully’s assumptions that she is merely a "foolish peasant" and by her ignorance of traditional beliefs, yet she is warmed by Scully’s attempts at kindness. The group wade out into quicksand where a man who questioned Gavin earlier begins to sink. Mulder tries to help but is pulled back by Gavin and warned that “pretty soon” he will suffer the same fate.
They reach a clearing and a bright light appears with a blinding brightness forcing everyone to run for cover. Mulder stops to help one of the survivalists but Naida runs back to the compound to protect her baby. She debates locking herself in and leaving the others to their fate but decides against it. The others all quickly arrive and bolt the doors behind them while Scully starts shouting warnings about leaking radiation that - of course - fall on deaf ears. The light reaches the compound casting the shadows of elongated figures on the ground, ones that Henry has seen before, and trapping everyone inside. The group blame Mulder and Scully, believing this all a government trick. In order to try and discover what is outside, Gavin decides to give the shadow figures “one of their own - in pieces” and instructs Mulder and Scully to decide between them which one of them will die.
