The Surrogates

In the year 2054, people use surrogates (humanoid remote control vehicles) as a form of telepresence in their daily lives and interactions with one another. In Central Georgia Metropolis, Lt. Harvey Greer investigates the destruction of two surrogates. Greer soon discovers a mysterious figure (whom he nicknames “Steeplejack”) plots to permanently disable all surrogates in an effort to eliminate people's dependence on them.[3] Greer considers the anti-surrogate religious leader named “The Prophet” a suspect, but The Prophet is later killed by Steeplejack.[4] Similar to Steeplejack and The Prophet, Greer feels people have become too reliant on surrogates for superficial reasons. Greer chooses to work the investigation in-person after Steeplejack destroys Greer's surrogate. Greer later discovers Steeplejack himself is a surrogate controlled by Lionel Canter, the inventor of the original surrogate.[5] Lionel designed surrogates as a tool for the physically impaired and became dissatisfied with their widespread personal use by the non-impaired. Eventually Lionel/Steeplejack successfully disables surrogates throughout the city. Greer later discovers his wife Margaret, a surrogate-addict, has committed suicide because her attractive-looking surrogate was disabled.[6]

Writer Robert Venditti signing a copy of The Surrogates Operator's Manual, which collects both miniseries, at Midtown Comics in Manhattan.

Flesh and Bone is set fifteen years before the original Surrogates story. It explores the early days of surrogate availability, including riots that take place in the wake of a surrogate-related murder.[7] Harvey Greer is a patrolman investigating the beating death of a homeless person by a teenage boy who uses his father’s surrogate without permission. The father’s lawyer claims the father operated the surrogate in self-defense. The police reluctantly drop the charges after their witness is murdered by an assassin. Thousands of members of a religious group riot for several days, protesting the dropped charges and the growing popularity of surrogates. The mayor meets with the group’s leader “The Prophet” and negotiates an end to the riots by giving the group a large parcel of land to establish a reservation. Greer is promoted to detective after his investigation leads to the teenage boy’s involvement in the beating death of the homeless man. The lawyer is charged (framed) with plotting the witness’ murder, although the murder was actually orchestrated by The Prophet.