Family Values (comics)

Plot

Dwight McCarthy is sent by Gail to investigate a mob hit at a small diner. After deflecting the advances of a female cop by claiming to be a bisexual masochist, he enters a bar near the hit and attempts to charm a drinker named Peggy. He also spots Fat Man and Little Boy, which later aids his mission. Peggy realizes Dwight is only seeking information about the hit and reveals that Bruno was killed by Vito, one of Don Magliozzi's nephews.

Don Magliozzi ordered the hit because Bruno had murdered his niece years earlier, violating a treaty with mob boss Wallenquist. Dwight leaves the bar and is confronted by Vito and other hitmen alerted by Fat Man and Little Boy. The thugs kidnap Dwight, but he focuses on Vito's car, vowing to take it after killing them. Vito boasts about killing everyone at the diner, including a stray dog.

Dwight signals Miho, who kills Spinelli. They stop at a hilltop rest area overlooking the Projects, where Miho toys with a hitman and Dwight forces Vito to kill his own brother Luca. Dwight and Miho then go to Sacred Oaks to confront Don Magliozzi. As Miho kills the guards, Dwight tells the Don and Vito they will die because Vito's gunfire at the stray dog accidentally killed Carmen, an Old Town girl calling from a nearby phone booth.

Carmen's lover Daisy arrives and guns down the Don and his associates. Dwight remarks that a mob war will follow but that he and the Old Town girls will not be affected. He takes Vito's car and drives away.

Characters

Dwight McCarthy is a criminal who avenges Carmen's death by taking on the Magliozzi clan. He is also the protagonist of The Big Fat Kill, A Dame to Kill For, and The Babe Wore Red, and appears in That Yellow Bastard. Miho is an Old Town prostitute and ninja assassin who also appears in The Big Fat Kill and The Babe Wore Red. Vito is a mobster who kills Bruno and accidentally kills Carmen; he is forced to shoot his brother Luca and drives Dwight and Miho to his uncle Don Giacco Magliozzi's home.

Spinelli is short Mafia muscle who wears a hooded coat similar to a slicker and is the first of Vito's thugs killed by Miho. Luca is Vito's brother and a Magliozzi hitman whom Dwight forces Vito to kill. Vinnie is Mafia muscle who is incredibly racist, especially towards Japanese. Don Giacco Magliozzi is the leader of the local Mafia residing in Sacred Oaks and is the sworn enemy of Herr Alarich Wallenquist; the prostitute Daisy kills him.

Carmen is an Old Town girl who ran away from her father's sexual abuse and fell in love with Daisy; she was killed in crossfire when Vito shot up the diner. Daisy is Carmen's lover who massacres the Magliozzi clan. Peggy is an alcoholic who supplies Dwight with information on Vito; a flashback indicates she could be Bruno's wife. Fat Man and Little Boy are two loquacious mob hitmen who also appear in That Yellow Bastard.