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Juno Steel and the Case of the Murderous Mask (Part 1) is the first episode of the first season of The Penumbra Podcast. It was released March 18, 2016. As of February 28, 2017, it is considered non-canon.

Overview[]

Juno Steel has had a lot of clients in his time: high-profile and low. But when he's called in to investigate the murder of Croesus Kanagawa, head of the Kanagawa crime-family-slash-enertainment-network, it’s not the client that interests him. It’s what Croesus was wearing when he died – and an ancient curse that hangs over that very strange mask.

Episode Summary[]

Juno Steel, a private eye, receives a mysterious call from an old friend, Sasha Wire. Sasha, an agent at Dark Matters, calls to tell Juno about the recent murder of TV host, Croesus Kanagawa. During the call, it is revealed that Croesus was killed using the Death Mask of Grimpotheuthis, a mask known in Martian lore to carry a fatal curse. Aside from asking Juno to take on the case, Sasha also forces him to bring along a Dark Matters agent, Rex Glass, as well.

Rex Glass appears to be charismatic and flirty right off the bat. Juno describes Rex Glass's face as "lean but soft, with a cherub's smile and a fox's teeth. He looked like he was happy to see me and he'd be just as happy to kill me if push came to shove.'

Glass further explains the curse behind Grimm's Mask, stating that anyone who disturbed the mask would be killed by it. He also admits that Dark Matters only needed Juno on the case due to him being considered 'family' by the Kanagawas, who insist on only allowing people who are 'in the family' to investigate. Juno, in turn, explains that at one point in the past, he saved Cecil Kanagawa, Croesus's son, from rival TV group the Triad, although he was unable to prevent Cecil's arm from being cut off and eventually replaced with a cybernetic prosthesis. Juno saving Cecil's life contributes to why the Kanagawas have now asked for him personally.

Upon arriving at the Kanagawa house, Juno and Rex meet Cecil Kanagawa, who takes them to see Croesus's body in his art gallery where he was killed. While there, Cecil offers Juno and Rex contracts to sign to ensure they stay quiet about the crime in regards to the media. Rex initially refuses but ultimately gives in when Juno clarifies that it doesn't matter one way or another—they both signed a copy of the contract already when they signed the guest book.

The two make their way to the gruesome scene of the murder, where Croesus's body is hanging out of the cases where he had been keeping the mask. Juno describes Croesus' head as having been divided up by the mask and stuffed into three smaller portions of it.

During their investigation, Rex reveals that the glass case was smashed in from one side and the mask is the clear cause of death. However, the mask would have been unable to kill without the assistance of someone having pushed Croesus into it. Rex also states that the killer had written their name on the inside of the case. Juno confirms that the name inside the case, Shen Long, corresponds with the Triad's boss, who had most likely left it at the scene as a calling card.

As Juno continues to investigate the family's thoughts on the murder of their father, Juno goes to Cecil's twin sister Cassandra's room. When they arrive, Cassandra Kanagawa tells Juno that she's packing up to leave Mars. Tired of the constant cameras and lack of privacy, Cassandra wants nothing more than to get as far away from Mars and the Kanagawa clan as possible. In fact, Cassandra tells Juno that Croesus had finally promised to end her contract before he died, which would have allowed her to leave in the upcoming week. However, Croesus had given her a verbal promise to not renew her contract but nothing on paper, so she is still stuck. In the end, Cassandra is taken off the suspect list as her gun doesn't match what killed Croesus and Juno thinks she wouldn't have been likely to bother with using the mask as a murder weapon, anyway.

Juno and Rex go to investigate the Empire's Dragon, a Chinese restaurant owned by the Triad. Upon arrival, Juno finds out that they were tailed, not that that's unusual. The Empire's Dragon is empty aside from Rex and Juno, who take this time to get to know each other a little better. During their discussion, Rex repeatedly turns down every sample of wine handed to their table with a snarky remark and a request for their boss. The manager finally comes over just as it's revealed by Rex that all the wines had been poisoned by the waiter. They taunt the manger and they are finally taken further inside the restaurant to meet their boss. The episode ends with Juno and Rex being taken inside the Triad's 'inner sanctum'.

Cast and Crew[]

Cast[]

Starring

Additional Voice Work

Crew[]

  • Kevin Vibert, Co-creator, Lead writer, Sound-effects designer
  • Sophie Kaner, Co-creator, Director, Lead editor, Sound designer
  • Ryan Meier, Recording engineer
  • Ryan Vibert, Composer and performer of original music

Quotes[]

RITA: You got a caller on line one!
JUNO: They leave a name, Rita?
RITA: They said it was confidential!
JUNO: Never heard of him. Tell him I'm out.
JUNO: The Kanawagas breed like rabbits. Which is to say most of them don't make it past sixteen; but the ones that do are crafty, mean, and'll sell your arm straight off your body if they think they'll get five creds for it.
JUNO: He looked like he was happy to see me and like he'd be just as happy to kill me if push came to shove. It wasn't...an unpleasant look, all things considered.

RITA: THE FORMS, MISTA STEEL!
JUNO: Funny, you never cared about these forms before.
REX: Oh, come now. Er, Rita, was it? Did you say something about forms? I'd rather talk about yours...It's fantastic.
RITA: I--uh-- [begins to giggle] ...Really?
REX: What tangles a nice boy like you up with a family like the Kanagawas, Juno? Marriage? Adoption? Cousin-twice-removed?
JUNO: In my line of work, it pays to have powerful friends. Keeps all those powerful enemies at bay.
REX: Oh, don't be serious. Marriage? Adoption? Cousin-twice-removed?
REX: Well, isn't this exciting. [singsong] Off to solve a murder, to prove an ancient curse--
JUNO: Disprove!
REX: --And despite all that I feel as though that by the time we're through I'll have solved a far greater mystery--Juno Steel. How...intriguing.
REX: You don't take anything seriously, do you?
JUNO: You got a problem with that?
REX: No. I think it's admirable. Standing up against the big, mean world and laughing.
JUNO: I was there when Cecil lost that arm. I'm the reason he didn't lose the other too, along with his legs, tongue, and most of his head. I saved his life. I try not to beat myself up about that too much--everybody makes mistakes.
CECIL: Thanks for coming right in, Juno. We'll make it worth your while.
JUNO: I'd rather you didn't.
REX: I don't think I like this man, Juno.
JUNO: He's not even the worst one.
REX: Oh, do hold me.
REX: [incredulous] You're joking.
JUNO: Maybe. I won't know until you say the punchline.
JUNO: The Triad...I didn't want it to be them. It's this funny thing of mine, where I like my fingers to stay on my hands.
JUNO: Rex, stay here.
REX: Woof, woof.
JUNO: I don't joke, Cassandra. The universe does it for me.
JUNO: Had to hand it Glass. He had a nice voice. And good cologne, too-- I didn't notice it 'til he came really...really close.
JUNO: The Triad's got two primary exports running out of Hyperion: corpses and chow mein. Morgue's closed, so we're going to dinner.
REX: Detective! How bold! I'd love to, of course. But be forewarned, I'm a very expensive date.
WAITER: [angry] You little--
REX: You big!

Trivia[]

References[]

Season 1
Juno Steel

Juno Steel and the Case of the Murderous Mask Update (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Case of the Murderous Mask Update (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Prince of Mars (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Prince of Mars (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Day That Wouldn't Die (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Day That Wouldn't Die (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Midnight Fox (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Midnight Fox (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Train from Nowhere (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Train from Nowhere (Part 2) · Peter Nureyev and the Angel of Brahma (Part 1) · Peter Nureyev and the Angel of Brahma (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Final Resting Place

Second Citadel

Second Citadel - The Head of the Janus Beast (Part 1) · Second Citadel - The Head of the Janus Beast (Part 2)

One-Shots

Shaken · The Coyote of the Painted Plains · Home

Bonus Episodes

Bonus: The Rita Minute · Bonus: The Revenge of the Janus Beast · Bonus: The Rita Minute 2 - The Rita Detective Agency · Season 1 Q&A: Fan Questions Answered · Bonus: Merry Christmas, Mary Anne! · Bonus: The Thief Among Us · Canon: The Full Penumbra Tour, Presented by the Concierge

Juno Steel Episodes
Season 1

Juno Steel and the Case of the Murderous Mask Update (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Case of the Murderous Mask Update (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Prince of Mars (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Prince of Mars (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Day That Wouldn't Die (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Day That Wouldn't Die (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Midnight Fox (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Midnight Fox (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Train from Nowhere (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Train from Nowhere (Part 2) · Peter Nureyev and the Angel of Brahma (Part 1) · Peter Nureyev and the Angel of Brahma (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Final Resting Place

Season 2

Juno Steel and the Kitty-Cat Caper (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Kitty-Cat Caper (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Lesson Learned (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Lesson Learned (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Dragon's Den (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Dragon's Den (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Stolen City (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Stolen City (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Promised Land (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Promised Land (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Promised Land (Part 3) · Juno Steel and the Time Gone By (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Time Gone By (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Monster's Reflection (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Monster's Reflection (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Monster's Reflection (Part 3) · Juno Steel and the Long Way Home (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Long Way Home (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Man of the Future (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Man of the Future (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Soul of the People (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Soul of the People (Part 2)

Season 3

Juno Steel and the Man in Glass (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Man in Glass (Part 2) · Juno Steel and the Tools of Rust (Part 1) · Juno Steel and the Tools of Rust (Part 2)

Other Episodes Bonus Episodes

Bonus: The Rita Minute · Bonus: The Rita Minute 2 - The Rita Detective Agency · Bonus: The Thief Among Us · The Rita Minute 3: Happy Birthday, Mista Steel! · Mick Mercury and the Night Before

Live Shows

The Penumbra Podcast Live!: Juno Steel and the Case of the Murderous Mask

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