Espy’s psychic visions increase in intensity, warning of a force deeper and darker than the government that created the Tenth. Hunters close in, forcing the Tenth into open combat as the Black Embrace begins manifesting more clearly — shadow-creatures, corrupted technology, and unexplainable phenomena.
Espy battles to maintain control over the Tenth’s rage, but the psychic corruption threatens to sever their bond. Government operatives weaponize the chaos to intensify their pursuit.
The issue ends with Espy sensing that another experiment — possibly a sibling or inverted version of the Tenth — may be awakening through the Black Embrace’s influence.
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| Series Group |
The Tenth |
| Genre |
Action, Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction, Super-Heroes, Supernatural, Teen |
| Color |
Color |
| Barcode |
70985311115300221 |
| Country |
USA |
| Language |
English |
| Release Date |
1999-04-21 |
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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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