(Marshal Law (Epic) #1) - The serial killer Sleepman killed a number of women dressed up as the superhero Celeste, and Marshal Law was assigned to the case. Blood and semen samples revealed that Sleepman was a flyer, and heroes with that power tended to have unnatural sexual appetites. Marshal Law was convinced the Sleepman was the Public Spirit, America’s most beloved hero, who was engaged to Celeste. Marshal Law knew he wasn’t being impartial because out of all the superheroes he hated the Public Spirit most of all. Sleepman killed another woman, who he dropped from a roof, and she landed in the apartment of Sorry the Nearly Man. He tried to dispose of her body in the no-go zone of downtown San Futuro, but was caught by the deranged vigilante gang Gangreen. They were convinced he was the killer and strung him up from a lamppost but Marshal Law saved him. He had a brief brutal fight with Gangreen, and they fled after he tossed a car at them. Their leader Gangreen derided him for being a cape killer and a traitor to his own kind. Marshal Law visited his friend Mrs. Mallon’s bodega and had Father O’Brien keep Sorry safe at The Midnight hostel. Mrs. Mallon asked how her son was doing, crying that he never was the same after he’d been crippled in The Big One. At the BART station Danny patched up Marshal Law, who called up Commissioner McGland for genetic samples from Public Spirit. McGland flipped, saying Marshal Law’s job was to keep the vermin from downtown from bothering anyone and not to be messing with real heroes. Gangreen breeched BART’s defenses, looking to retaliate against Law on his home ground. Danny suggested they flood the tunnels, but Law said he didn’t want them dead because a power vacuum in their absence would lead to all-out superhuman gang war. Kiloton and Law forced Gangreen to flee after a firefight that killed several of the gang members.

(Marshal Law (Epic) #2) - Joe spent some time with Lynn, and was disappointed to learn she was thinking of dropping out of journalism school, seeing the media as corrupt for not exposing superheroes for what they were. He flinched when she said Marshal Law was an even bigger fascist than the superheroes. She told Joe she was going to the Superdrome, an amusement park that showed off S.H.O.C.C.’s creations, to protest superheroes, and would be dressed as Celeste. Danny Mallon hacked S.H.O.C.C.’s files of Public Spirit, and showed Law evidence that Public Spirit had murdered his fiancée Virago to ensure that he’d be able to go on his mission to the stars. Virago was pregnant, and if she gave birth he would have been disqualified because the program called for unmarried men with no children. Law intended to confront Public Spirit at the Superdrome. Mrs. Mallon and Danny accompanied him, and Danny mooned over Celeste, who was giving a demonstration of her powers. Mrs. Mallon bragged that she was much more beautiful in her youth, and walked off when Danny refused to stop ogling Celeste. During Public Spirit’s speech about his space flight he asked to lead the crowd in prayer. Mashal Law held up a piece of paper that asked if Public Spirit ran around with a bag over his head and attacked women. Public Spirit was furious, and out virago’s murder before Father Hood had his S.H.O.C.C. troops drag Law to a back room. He told Law he was undermining his work, with the mission to the stars heralding a great leap forward for all mankind. Law defeated the troops in a brutal fight, and Law grabbed Hood, telling him he was going to make sure the truth came out because he cared about his country. While he was fighting them the Sleepman attacked and murdered his girlfriend Lynn Evans. Sleepman released the evil rejects locked up under the Superdrome, including the Betrayer, Hitler Hernandex, Grimgram, Rimfire, Scapegoat and Slug Fest. They went on a murderous rampage and Marshal Law found Lynn, cradling her in his arms. Sleepman, hidden, watched him and hoped Marshal Law’s hatred of superheroes would reach new heights. He hoped Law would track him and every other hero down and give them just what they deserved. Law turned his attention to the escaped heroes, killing Blue Murder by shooting him through the chest.

(Marshal Law (Epic) #3) - Marshal Law gunned down Grimgram and Rimfire before he noticed the Sleepman and lost all interest in the others. Sleepman was hiding in Hero-Land when he spotted two little boys who were playing superhero. He didn’t want them to end up like him, so he told them to be brave and then murdered them. Marshal Law caught up with him and battered the hero. Sleepman admired Marshal Law because he taught heroes like him humility and made them pay for their arrogance. Law ripped off the bag he wore on his head, but Sleepman had another mask on underneath. He wasn’t ready for Law to learn his secret identity, and he knew he couldn’t stop his killing spree until he murdered Celeste, reflecting that people always destroyed the ones they loved. Sleepman overpowered Law, slashed his chest and flew away, confident that he’d worked up the courage to confront the real Celeste. The next week Lynn’s parents came to get her things and they complained that she’d fallen out with them and all she ever did was make them unhappy. Joe was furious but kept his temper in check. Law visited Mrs. Mallon’s bodega, and after she prayed for Lynn’s soul she started flirting with Law, who was in no mood for her advances. She noticed he wasn’t buying his usual treats, and guessed that Law’s girlfriend had left him. She said she remembered when Danny’s father left her and said time healed all wounds. Back at the station Danny revealed that Public Spirit’s records showed he was the same rare blood type as Sleepman, A Negative. Danny revealed that Celeste used her super lovemaking powers to seduce enemies of the state, and theorized that Public Spirit was jealous enough to kill women dressed as her. Kiloton said he’d overheard gossip at a party from She-Beast that Celeste and Public Spirit fought all the time, and he’d forced her to give up her career so they could get married. Commissioner Gland called Law into his office and after allowing Law to lay out his case against Public Spirit he decided to start spin control. Law had served under him when he was an officer in The zone, and he was confident he knew what made Law tick. He lied, saying that the spirit was being investigated by the SFPD, but they weren’t going to make any moves until after his wedding. He said the investigation had to be hush-hush because if the public knew the truth about their hero it would be heartbreaking for all America. McGland knew that as bitter as Law was he still believed in the American Dream. He finally got Law to agree to back down by revealing that Public Spirit was going to donate one million dollars to The Midnight, refuge for the down-and-out and handicapped surplus heroes. He forced Law to shake hands with Spirit at a press event highlighting Spirit’s generosity. Public Spirit ministered to the surplus heroes, and after the event they found Gangreen destroying Spirit’s car. They worked together to drive back the gang. McGland knew Law could be a headache, but the public loved a crazed, dark, violent vigilante at the moment, and he was happy to give the public what they wanted. He knew the budget for keeping Law as an operative was a fraction of what it would actually cost to properly police the no-go zone, and he liked having Rambo on a leash. Law promised himself that as soon as the check cleared he’d go back to bringing Spirit down.