Ep 12. The Superhero in the Alley

The Superhero in the Alley is the twelfth episode of the first season of Bones, an American crime procedural drama television series. The episode premiered on February 1, 2006, on the Fox network, and was directed by Tawnia McKiernan and written by Noah Hawley.

The plot of the episode revolves around a decomposed body which was discovered in an alley. Initially, the identity of the victim remains unknown, but the team discovers a superhero belt buckle near the body, which leads them to investigate the case through the lens of comic book culture.

Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan, a forensic anthropology expert, and her partner FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth lead the investigation. Together with the rest of the forensic team at the Jeffersonian Institute, they strive to piece together clues and solve the case. The team consists of forensic artist Angela Montenegro, Dr. Jack Hodgins, an entomologist specializing in forensic science, and Dr. Zack Addy, a graduate student and forensic anthropologist.

The episode begins with the discovery of the body in an alley, dressed in a superhero costume and a mask, which leads Booth and Bones to believe that they are dealing with a vigilante. However, as the investigation progresses, it becomes clear that the victim was most likely just a comic book enthusiast, not a real hero.

The team analyzes the victim's remains, which are in a terrible state of decay, and his pockets for any clues as to his identity. After some time, Angela is able to reconstruct a 3D image of the victim's face, and Booth recognizes him from a comic book convention as a vendor of rare comic books.

As they try to find out the cause of the victim's death, the team interviews various individuals at the comic book convention. They interview the victim's boss, a fellow vendor, and the victim's partner, who turns out to be not only his business partner but also a romantic partner.

Together with Hodgins, they discover that the victim was killed by a rare poison found only in a South American tree frog. They track down the assassin, a woman named Leona, who was hired by the victim's romantic partner to kill him for his share of the business.

In the end, justice is served, and the victim's killer is brought to justice. The case is solved, and the team returns to the Jeffersonian Institute, where Bones and Booth muse over the nature of heroes and justice, and how they relate to comic book mythology.

The Superhero in the Alley is a compelling episode that explores the fascinating world of comic book culture and its intersection with forensic science. It's an excellent example of the unique and imaginative storytelling that sets Bones apart from other crime procedural shows.