The Green Hornet #30
In "Penance," Kato grapples with guilt and addiction after believing the Green Hornet was killed in an explosion, only to discover no body was found. As he digs through law enforcement databases and fights the urge to drink, the unmasked Hornet endures escalating torture—until Kato finally breaks through the enemy’s defenses, confronting the mastermind behind the ordeal: Johnny Dollar. With a twist rooted in the past and a final, desperate act of loyalty, the truth behind the attack begins to unravel. Written by Geoffrey White and illustrated by Joe Bennett, with colors by Holly Sanfelippo and letters by Andrea Albert, this 1994 issue features a cover by Karl Kerschl and Barry Petersen.
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Continued from last issue: Kato, all but certain that his partner was killed in the explosion, struggles with feelings of guilt and an urge to return to drink (see Green Hornet 1989 series, aka Vol. 1, #5, March 1990). Paul's captor brands the base of his back with a Hornet image. Kato, having learned that no body was found in the building's remains, is back on the streets, finding that no gunrunner who dealt with that supplier got a look at him. The unmasked Hornet is further tortured. Kato starts hacking and cross-referencing various law enforcement databanks. More torture. The internet work has found nothing, and Kato catches himself about to take a drink. More and more torture, and finally the mystery man walks out to finish his captive personally, but Paul's condition prohibits recognition. As the mastermind raises a handgun, his assistant comes flying through the control room's mirrored window. The captor turns and sees a figure advancing from the door...Kato! And the torture-master is Johnny Dollar! Ironically, Dollar was using security systems designed by the Kato family's company, so that the masked man knew exactly how to bypass them. While he is dealing with Kato, Dollar is jumped by Paul, causing the gun to drop to the floor, although Reid is too weak to hang on. From somewhere inside his suit Johnny pulls a second pistol, and Kato must allow him to walk out. Hayashi tells Paul he found him because his "homing beacon was triggered."
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).