Issue(s): ClanDestine #5
Cover Date: Feb 95
Title: "Genie-ology"
Credits:
Alan Davis - Writer
Alan Davis - Penciler
Mark Farmer - Inker
Paul Neary - Editor

Review/plot:
After an introduction arc discovering the oddities of ClanDestine through the eyes of the kids, this issue is the origin story. We learn that the group's father, Adam, was born in the year 1168. When he was 16, he had an accident that should have killed him, but instead he was contacted by a female Djinn/genie.

In the year 1189 he joined the Crusades and wound up fighting an evil wizard named Sujanaa Min Raghbah, who had enslaved the Djinn, and was jealous that the Djinn favored Adam.

Adam managed to kill Raghbah...

...but he was betrayed by, Al Kadhdhaab, the man that asked for his help with the wizard.

Dying, Adam managed to free the Djinn. Al Kadhdhaab is said to have been "torn asunder" she was released. Adam subsequently had a love affair with her.

The love affair happened in a paradox "outside the logic of time" which I suppose explains how all of Adam's children are of different ages.

Beyond the telling of the origin, we see William Destine getting contacted by Cuckoo and told about everything that has happened in the past four issues (William's actress girlfriend Alice Springs passes out when Cuckoo telepathically manifests). We also see the rest of the family adjusting to Cuckoo being in a new body, and Rory and Pandora continuing to bristle against the "no crimefighting edict".

The use of the Arab characters feels a bit dated and cliched, but this is otherwise a fun continuation of Davis' series.

Quality Rating: B-

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - ClanDestine origin

Chronological Placement Considerations: This issue begins with the main group all having returned home, allowing a little to pass between the last arc and this issue. A 2008 series establishes that "a few weeks" before Cuckoo tries to claim her "mother's" estate, meaning that some more time passes before next issue. Pushed back in publication time because of Spider-Man's appearance in the next arc.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A