Vanadium Comics Presents:

📰 THE ARKADI-LAMPPOST

“No Story Is Too Dark!”

By Staff Writer, Tina Hayward

Issue #472 — July 8th, 2025

Retri-Butcher Strikes a Major Blow in Drug Bust! Independence Organization Emerges! Märlük Teams Up with Ben & Hiro Against the Renfields!

This past weekend in Southpoint Docks, chaos met justice as the Retri-Butcher tore through one of the largest Spores-X drug operations Arkadium has ever seen. Witnesses described the sound of steel clashing against flesh, the whirr of traps being dismantled, and the sight of the Butcher—towering, blood-streaked, and righteous—carving a warpath straight to the kingpin’s den.

And he wasn’t alone for long.

In an unexpected, awe-inspiring turn, four heroes descended from the night sky: Ms. Liberty, Sonic Boom, Stump, and Shrink—the long-whispered-about squad known only as the Independence Organization. For months, they’ve operated in the shadows, taking down arms deals and human trafficking rings outside city limits. But Arkadium's growing darkness has now pulled them into the fray.

Ms. Liberty, radiant and commanding, delivered justice with every swing of her energy shield. Sonic Boom tore through enemy lines in blurs of red and white. Stump, the towering eco-brute, shook the docks with seismic blows that leveled entire crates of Spores-X. And Shrink, small in size but massive in tactical presence, dismantled the smuggling operation from within—literally.

Their coordinated assault brought a crushing end to the Sons of Crete’s grip on the drug trade in Southpoint, crippling their finances and leaving a very clear message: Arkadium is not theirs to poison.

Meanwhile, in the shadowy streets of Old District, another front in Arkadium’s war for its soul ignited. Märlük, the rooftop-running vigilante once thought to be myth, was seen engaging a horde of twisted, mask-wearing Renfields alongside the indomitable Ben Ferguson and sharp-minded Detective Hiroshi Miike.

Together, the trio is hunting down the Empusa threat, facing off against ancient creatures crawling from underground nests and dark alleyways. “We’re not backing down,” said Ben, his spiked bat dripping with ichor. “This city still belongs to the living.”

With the Retri-Butcher hammering crime rings into splinters, the Independence Organization taking center stage, and Arkadium’s own defenders rising to meet terror in the streets—it seems this city has found new hope. Hope forged in fire, blood, and unyielding grit.

This is Tina Hayward, signing off. And remember...

In Arkadium—no story is too dark.

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