The glowing spectral projection of a feudal Japanese warrior sitting at his kitchen table is a being by the name of Kabuki Dan. Richards is more than familiar with Dan because Kabuki Dan is one of the living tattoos etched into the flesh of Mark's back. In a completely unprecedented move, Kabuki Dan has apparently gone rogue - manifesting himself without Mark's knowledge or permission. And, as evidenced by the blood soaked stack of ten thousand dollars sitting on the Richards' table, it was Dan who murdered the Ded Boyz gang member the other night. Before dissipating the luminescent samurai warns of a "serpent" that grows stronger day by day - a serpent that Dan claims must be beheaded if they are to save the community.

Realizing that Kabuki Dan's avatar has gone missing from Mark's back, Michelle worries that this event coupled with Mark's recent string of bad headaches could be symptoms of a form of mind control. Though troubling as that is and certainly worthy of investigation, Mark Richards however is more than aware who is behind at least this deadly attack. So eager to inked into the Avenue Reds street gang, Mark's son Leon had summoned Kabuki Dan and had used the spirit to complete his initiation rite. But his superhero obligations must come before his familial ones and there is something fishy about the stack of money and Mark wants to get to the bottom of it.

The bills are of course fakes. But the reproduction quality is so great that it takes a microscopic inspection from Superman himself to prove it. Obviously the Ded Boyz are behind the manufacturing of the paper but they couldn't operate something this big without cooperation from at least a few crooked cops. So after de-commissioning their printing factory, Richards heads directly to the Ireland '57 watering hole, a favorite dive bar for the boys in blue. McAllen and the others may be crooked but they're not rich and probably not smart enough to set up an operation like this. Knowing this, Tattooed Man makes sure that his message is delivered loud and clear to whoever McAllen's boss is - the "serpent" - get out of Liberty Hill!

An enemy of the police and a hero to the public, Richards receives the televised accolades of Baltimore's own Kim Tanaka. Mark might not be completely comfortable with the spotlight but it seems as though Kabuki Dan has a crush on Tanaka - crashing through her dressing room window and giving her a glowing Japanese lily usually given by a potential suitor. Unexpected and unpredictable, Kabuki Dan's appearance reminds Mark that he still has his wayward son to deal with. When his daughter Laurel presents him with the Avenue Red's ceremonial dagger that she found in Leon's room - Mark decides that he cannot wait any longer and sets out to find his son.

Leon's hit has made him the enemy of the Ded Boyz who now want him dead. But Mark's super-heroics have made him a much more powerful enemy. And after saving his son from a drive by, Mark Richards is attacked by two very angry looking meta villains named Cannon and Slipknot. His message has been received loud and clear by the "serpent" and it seems that the "serpent" has a very clear response back for the Tattooed Man!