The story opens with a retrospective voiceover: “It was about a year ago when it all began…” setting the stage for the prior creation of the Tenth. We then shift to the present, where the monstrous artifact known as the Tenth is trying to stay hidden, tethered by the only human who understands him: Esperanza “Espy.” She is psychically linked to him, the result of the same experiment that birthed him.
Strange killings surface in the city—bodies mutilated in ways suggesting something inhuman. The government program that created the Tenth uses the incidents as cover to intensify the hunt. Espy begins suffering psychic seizures and visions of shadow-hands wrapping around her mind, telling her that the threat isn’t just external. During a midnight ambush, the Tenth is called into battle: his savage strength is unleashed, but only Espy’s mental control keeps him from full destruction.
By the end of the issue it’s clear: there is a new dark force behind the scenes—the “Black Embrace”—that reaches both into Espy’s mind and the corridors of power. The Tenth and Espy are no longer just fugitives—they’re pawns in a game greater than themselves.
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| Series Group |
The Tenth |
| Genre |
Action, Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction, Super-Heroes, Supernatural, Teen |
| Color |
Color |
| Barcode |
70985311115300121 |
| Country |
USA |
| Language |
English |
| Release Date |
1999-02-11 |
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| Collection Status |
In Collection |
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The Tenth series is classified under Superhero because its core structure, themes, and character design follow the same conventions used throughout the first two volumes and the broader 1990s Image Comics style. Although the book incorporates horror and sci-fi elements, it still maintains the foundation of a superhero title. This includes:
A super-powered protagonist created through a scientific experiment.
Ongoing conflicts with villains, monsters, government agents, and antagonistic forces.
A narrative centered around protecting (and endangering) an ally, in this case Esperanza “Espy.”
A character operating as an anti-hero, which is a common type of superhero archetype in 1990s Image comics.
Consistent genre classification in earlier volumes (Vol. 1 miniseries and Vol. 2 ongoing), both of which are recognized as superhero titles across collector databases and fan communities.
Even though The Black Embrace leans into supernatural and horror themes, the overarching traits of a superhero book remain intact: a powered central character, episodic battles, moral conflict, and a narrative framing typical of the era’s superhero storytelling.
For the sake of database consistency and accurate cross-referencing across all volumes, “Superhero” remains a valid and appropriate genre tag for this series.
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