Issue 11

Issue 11 is the eleventh issue of Bitter Root and was published March 24, 2021. The eleventh issue is included in the third collected edition, Bitter Root: Legacy.

Synopsis

2020 Ringo Award-winning artist SANFORD GREENE and his co-creators/co-writers DAVID F. WALKER and CHUCK BROWN return in BITTER ROOT: LEGACY, the third arc of the Eisner and Ringo Award-winning series!

As Earth is overrun by hideous creatures fueled by racism, a new evil force known as the Tree of Hate has literally taken root. The Sangerye family of monster hunters once again finds themselves divided, and fighting each other, as they confront their most dangerous threat ever. Family dysfunction meets steampunk during the Harlem Renaissance, and life on Earth will never be the same in BITTER ROOT: LEGACY!

Plot Summary

Harlem, 1925, most of the residents have become either Jinoo or Inzondo, it's something that the residents have come to accept as the norm in Harlem and have begun to live with. Some are fearful of what this means, but most of the residents have adapted to this new life. It has finally been discovered that the infection consuming Berg is the Inzondo. In a similar fashion to the others, Berg has adapted and learned to control the inner angers of the Inzondo, but his outward appearance is still tainted by the infection.

In an effort to continue her research and with the aim of finding a cure for the new infection that plagues them, Ma Etta continues her work with the roots. She is, however, accompanied by a new apprentice, Elijah, one of the young policemen. She compliments Elijah on his natural ability when it comes to working the roots, and gives an overview of her life. Ma Etta has long been in the business of curing folk with the roots, since long before Lincoln liberated the slaves. Ma Etta wonders if the hate is seeping back into society, however, as she talks about the release of a book filled with hate.

Following Nora's return from Barzakh, she has reunited with Blink and the two catch up after their long time apart. It quickly becomes clear that Blink has changed, however, through her experiences with the Jinoo and Inzondo. Whilst she no longer believes in religion and what it stands for, Nora remains much devoted to the cause.

Meanwhile, Enoch meets with the other monster hunting families in order to find a way to close the Gateways and prevent the Inzondo from coming through to Earth. He is largely unsuccessful, however, and his efforts seem futile. Tensions rise when he is reunited with his brother, Charlie.

Cullen has begun travelling with Ford in an effort to avoid his father, Charlie, whom he left for dead in Barzakh. The two visit Jonnie-Ray Knox's family and tell them of Jonnie-Ray's sacrifice for their cause. His family are saddened, but ask if his death links in anyway with the current Jinoo and Inzondo situation. Ford simply tells them that Jonnie-Ray turned his life around and was finally doing something good.

Whilst Ford tells Jonnie-Ray's family about his death, Cullen becomes bored and irritated. He decides to investigate a situation when Enoch's pets become aggrivated and begin going crazy.

Trivia

• Whilst not named explicitly, the 1925 book Ma Etta refers to is Adolf Hitler's autobiography, Mein Kampf, in which he details his hate for the Jewish population. This becomes a larger story arch for the Bitter Root trilogy.