The operative rolls up his sleeves.

The work of Damage Control is rarely pleasant, and has never been a task for the queasy or easily spooked. With the ousting of Commissioner Gordon and his Justice League by the forces of corporate greed, the job had become more difficult than ever. So the newly solo chief executive operative went recruiting to prepare for millennial madness.

Before moving through his numerous dossiers of undercover agents and assorted nefarious henchmen, the old fashioned feel of the online steez was just so 1998. Frames? Please. Nary a rollover ... it was just not hip enough to freak it for Y2K. He cracked open the Adobe suite of products and freaked it. Once a new headquarters to launch strikes from had been created, it was time to round up the usual suspects.

The first one was a no-brainer -- the second shooter was a real stand up guy, skilled in numerous methods of nocturnal liquidations as well as a follower of Allah and a flavorful MC. He'd been down with the operative since Los Angeles Sentinel editor Marsha Mitchell Bray had him as her man Friday and intern back in '93. His scuffles with Shaolin soldiers notwithstanding, he was well known for his samurai-like serenity and honor. Reppin' the Bay Area, straight outta San Jose and already an ordained Bishop of Hip Hop, Adisa Banjoko would be a fine go-to guy for this planned crew of operatives.

The operative ticks a checkmark off on his list.

Bringing the godfather, Daniel Ruiz into the scenario was also a savvy move. A very vocal and inspirational activist, this Xicano firebrand had grown tired of the purely SoCal scene and was looking for ways to work locally and make moves globally. The operative handed him a black matte Heckler & Koch MP5 and a biscuit and welcomed him to the team.

The operative ticks another checkmark off on his list.

Three was a good number for a start -- rotate and hit a guest spot, maybe making it a foursome. But what's on the millennial agenda that needs to be dealt with? Has anybody called Frank Black?

The operative shrugs and moves on.

First up in the new millenium (aside from a new numbering scenario to accomodate multiple writers) will be the state of hip hop publishing, a drastic difference from the last roundup. The godfather will check in with the first installment in a series on the war that's goin' on, while the second shooter drops a gem on the definition of a holocaust. Heavy hitters on board, a new X-Clan album due in early 2000. The bad guys better fortify their ivory towers and houses ... thangs is gettin' serious.