Control Group

The Phantom captures a Blot which has been downloaded with Graft's brain, and learns the shocking secrets of his enemy's origin.

Rebecca Madison performs an experiment in which she downloads Graft's brain into a Biot. Graft and the GraftBiot track down the Phantom, who is investigating a Maximum, Inc. construction site. With the help of Sagan, the Phantom succeeds in apprehending the GraftBiot.

Back at the Phantom's Lair, the Phantom and Sparks examine the GraftBiot, and find they can tap Graft's memories and play them back in virtual reality. They discover that after he became a hero in the Resource Wars of 2015, Graft was hired by Maximum, Inc. However, when Graft revolted against Maximum's destruction of the rainforests and the decimation of indigenous peoples, he was horribly injured and became a cyborg under Maximum's control. Meanwhile, Rebecca Madison is pleased that the Phantom has gained possession of the GraftBiot, for when it returns to her, it will inform her of the location of the Phantom's Lair.

Maximum, Inc. is dedicating a memorial to veterans of the Resource Wars. The Phantom learns from Graft's memories that a deadly particle cannon will be part of the memorial. He goes to the memorial site and confronts Graft about his past. Does Graft want to be a hero as he was in his past, or does he want to aid Maximum, Inc. in its evil fight? Graft proves that a noble spirit lies within him, and tells the Phantom the secret to disarming the cannon. What the Phantom doesn't know is whether Graft will tell Rebecca that her most deadly weapon is now useless.

Kit Walker, Jr./24th Phantom, Rebecca Madison, Guran, Graft, Maxwell Madison, Jr., Maxwell Madison, Sr