Second Life of Dr. Mirage
Encyclopedia
The Second Life of Dr. Mirage is an American comic book series featuring the eponymous main character, co-created by writer/artist Bob Layton
, illustrated by Bernard Chang
, and published by Valiant Comics
. More than 2 million Second Life of Dr. Mirage comics have been sold since its debut in 1993. In 1994, Acclaim Entertainment bought Valiant Comics for $65 million. The Second Life of Dr. Mirage comics have been translated into a number of languages including German, Italian, Spanish, Norwegian, Filipino and Chinese among others.Valiant Entertainment are the current owners of the Valiant catalog (including Second Life of Dr. Mirage).
Hwen and Carmen Mirage are parapsychologists who investigate paranormal activity and supernatural mystery. They are hired to investigate two corpses whose vital signs are reading normal. While performing tests, the bodies, which turn out to be charged with necromantic energy, come to life and attack Hwen and Carmen. During the fight they reveal the name Master Darque
, a necromantic
sorcerer (powered by death energy). This was the first real paranormal experience for Hwen and Carmen, and Hwen sets out to find Darque.
After tracing the necromantic activities of Master Darque
to Ladakh
, Tibet
, Hwen confronts Darque, who immediately absorbs Hwen's life force in order to add it to his own. However, just as the Darque Power released by Hwen's death is at its peak, Carmen's love for her husband anchors him to this reality.
In the seconds where Darque is shaken from Hwen's escape from death, Carmen and Hwen escape the temple and headed home. During the escape, when they were attacked by undead priests who had been sent by Darque, Hwen discovers that he could control energy. Carmen also assists in the battle with her expertise as a martial artist. As it turns out, since Mirage is too powerful and Darque can use Hwen for his own purpose, an uneasy truce between Darque and Hwen is established.
Hwen realizes he has become a being of pure energy, that is, a "positively-charged" being of necromantic power. Their marriage is put under incredible strain as the couple struggle to return to their normal life. Their largest problem is their inability to touch each other. This is resolved over time; due to practice Hwen slowly gains the ability to affect every day objects. The two also continue investigating various necromantically powered entities, such as a sacred bull that two factions are fighting over. Over time, Hwen manages to gain control over his powers, enough to fool others into believing he is normal and even changing the look of his clothing.
They gain an ally in Enrico, who watches over their Miami home while they are away investigating. Middle-aged, overweight, he seems easygoing and helpful but is later revealed to have dark secrets of his own.
This effect continues to have repercussions. A haunted house becomes super-charged with necromantic energy, giving shape and form to the angry spirit that lives there. Hwen, Carmen and two new allies investigate the house. The house is finally destroyed via a gas leak and Hwen absorbs all the released necromantic energy.
Later, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
in New York
, Hwen's access to his ghost form is blocked by Deathsmith. The two race through the museum, getting utterly lost and finding monsters around nearly every corner. Both sides in the battle cause much destruction to the artifacts on display. The two manage to escape into Central Park
. At Cleopatra's Needle, Hwen concentrates enough to restore his power, at the cost of severely injuring Carmen.
Bob Layton
Bob Layton is an American comic book artist, writer, and editor, who has worked for Marvel Comics, Valiant Comics, DC Comics, Future Comics, and other publishers.-Early life:...
, illustrated by Bernard Chang
Bernard Chang
Bernard Chang is an Asian American artist/designer best known for his work in the comic book industry and entertainment design.-Career:...
, and published by Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics is a comic book imprint published by various publishers since its inception with Voyager Communications, Inc. in 1989, later Acclaim Comics, Inc. Its assets were purchased from the bankruptcy of the Acclaim Entertaintment by Valiant Entertainment, Inc. in 2007.-Voyager...
. More than 2 million Second Life of Dr. Mirage comics have been sold since its debut in 1993. In 1994, Acclaim Entertainment bought Valiant Comics for $65 million. The Second Life of Dr. Mirage comics have been translated into a number of languages including German, Italian, Spanish, Norwegian, Filipino and Chinese among others.Valiant Entertainment are the current owners of the Valiant catalog (including Second Life of Dr. Mirage).
Fictional characters biography
Master Darque
Master Darque is a fictional character, a Valiant Comics villain that first appeared in Shadowman #8 and later became a staple villain in both the Shadowman and Second Life of Dr. Mirage comic books...
, a necromantic
Necromancy
Necromancy is a claimed form of magic that involves communication with the deceased, either by summoning their spirit in the form of an apparition or raising them bodily, for the purpose of divination, imparting the ability to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge...
sorcerer (powered by death energy). This was the first real paranormal experience for Hwen and Carmen, and Hwen sets out to find Darque.
After tracing the necromantic activities of Master Darque
Master Darque
Master Darque is a fictional character, a Valiant Comics villain that first appeared in Shadowman #8 and later became a staple villain in both the Shadowman and Second Life of Dr. Mirage comic books...
to Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent...
, Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, Hwen confronts Darque, who immediately absorbs Hwen's life force in order to add it to his own. However, just as the Darque Power released by Hwen's death is at its peak, Carmen's love for her husband anchors him to this reality.
In the seconds where Darque is shaken from Hwen's escape from death, Carmen and Hwen escape the temple and headed home. During the escape, when they were attacked by undead priests who had been sent by Darque, Hwen discovers that he could control energy. Carmen also assists in the battle with her expertise as a martial artist. As it turns out, since Mirage is too powerful and Darque can use Hwen for his own purpose, an uneasy truce between Darque and Hwen is established.
Hwen realizes he has become a being of pure energy, that is, a "positively-charged" being of necromantic power. Their marriage is put under incredible strain as the couple struggle to return to their normal life. Their largest problem is their inability to touch each other. This is resolved over time; due to practice Hwen slowly gains the ability to affect every day objects. The two also continue investigating various necromantically powered entities, such as a sacred bull that two factions are fighting over. Over time, Hwen manages to gain control over his powers, enough to fool others into believing he is normal and even changing the look of his clothing.
They gain an ally in Enrico, who watches over their Miami home while they are away investigating. Middle-aged, overweight, he seems easygoing and helpful but is later revealed to have dark secrets of his own.
Chaos effect
When Hwen's energy levels dip once more, he seeks out Darque again but finds his sister Sandria. She replenished his energy and revealed that he was 'the one'. The meaning of 'the one' was revealed during The Chaos Effect where Hwen and Solar closed the rift leaking necromantic energy into the world.This effect continues to have repercussions. A haunted house becomes super-charged with necromantic energy, giving shape and form to the angry spirit that lives there. Hwen, Carmen and two new allies investigate the house. The house is finally destroyed via a gas leak and Hwen absorbs all the released necromantic energy.
Later, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Hwen's access to his ghost form is blocked by Deathsmith. The two race through the museum, getting utterly lost and finding monsters around nearly every corner. Both sides in the battle cause much destruction to the artifacts on display. The two manage to escape into Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
. At Cleopatra's Needle, Hwen concentrates enough to restore his power, at the cost of severely injuring Carmen.