In a war-ravaged America, Barb must navigate betrayal and military pursuit before helping a fugitive escape with vital bioweapon information.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
A Free City's Hard Edge
The war-torn United States and Steel Harbor establish a violent setting. Barb is introduced as the owner of the Hammerhead and a working mercenary.
Key Events
Second Civil War Era — The Second American Civil War ravages the United States in 2017. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Axel Hood, Colonel PryzerLocation: United States
Steel Harbor — Steel Harbor is described as the last free city. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb WireLocation: Steel Harbor
The Hammerhead — Barb owns and operates the Hammerhead nightclub. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb WireLocation: Hammerhead nightclub
Barb's Mercenary Life — Barb earns money as a mercenary and bounty hunter. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb WireLocation: Steel Harbor
Police Raid — The chief of police raids the Hammerhead while seeking a fugitive scientist. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb WireLocation: Hammerhead nightclub
The Fugitive Reappears
A police raid brings a fugitive scientist to the Hammerhead with Axel. The Red Ribbon threat and the need for retinal-scan evasion turn Barb's personal reunion into a dangerous mission.
Key Events
Police Raid — The chief of police raids the Hammerhead while seeking a fugitive scientist. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb WireLocation: Hammerhead nightclub
Axel Returns — Axel arrives with the fugitive scientist after years of separation from Barb. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Axel HoodLocation: Hammerhead nightclub
Red Ribbon Threat — The fugitive scientist carries information about a bioweapon called Red Ribbon. Characters: Axel Hood, Colonel PryzerLocation: Steel Harbor
Escape Plan — Axel tries to secure contact lenses that can defeat airport retinal scans. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Axel HoodLocation: Steel Harbor
Contraband Lenses — The lenses pass through several lowlifes before reaching Barb's nightclub. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Axel HoodLocation: Steel Harbor
A Fortune In Lenses
The contraband lenses reach Barb's nightclub after passing through criminal hands. Barb attempts to exchange them for money and an armed route to the airport.
Key Events
Barb's Private Bargain — Barb withholds the lenses and seeks a profitable escape arrangement. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb WireLocation: Hammerhead nightclub
Junkyard Deal — Barb trades for one million dollars and an armed escort to the airport. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb WireLocation: Junkyard
The Double-Cross — The junkyard leader betrays Barb as Pryzer and storm troopers arrive. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Axel Hood, Colonel PryzerLocation: Junkyard
Explosion At The Junkyard
The deal becomes a trap when Pryzer's forces appear at the junkyard. Barb uses a concealed grenade to kill the betrayer and launch an armored escape.
Key Events
Hidden Grenade — During a staged arrest, Barb receives a hand grenade instead of handcuffs. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb WireLocation: Junkyard
Junkyard Explosion — Barb uses the grenade to kill the junkyard leader and create confusion. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Axel Hood, Colonel PryzerLocation: Junkyard
Armored Van Escape — Barb, Axel, and the fugitive scientist escape in Barb's armored van. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Axel HoodLocation: Junkyard
The Harbor's Final Duel
A car chase ends with Barb fighting Pryzer on a crane-suspended forklift above the harbor. After Pryzer's death, the group reaches the airport and Barb gives away the lenses.
Key Events
Congressional Car Chase — The escaping group leads the Congressional forces into a high-speed chase. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Axel Hood, Colonel PryzerLocation: Roads near Steel Harbor
Harbor Crane Fight — Barb and Pryzer fight hand to hand on a forklift suspended above the harbor. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Colonel PryzerLocation: Harbor crane
Pryzer's Fatal Fall — Pryzer falls to his death while Barb escapes the suspended fight. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Colonel PryzerLocation: Harbor
Airport Arrival — The group reaches the airport after escaping the Congressional pursuit. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Axel HoodLocation: Steel Harbor airport
Lenses Revealed — Barb reveals that she still possesses the contact lenses and gives them to the fugitive scientist. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Axel HoodLocation: Airport tarmac
Flight To Canada — Axel and the fugitive scientist board the plane to Canada while Barb remains behind. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Axel HoodLocation: Airport tarmac
Rainy Tarmac Farewell — The plane departs, leaving Barb and the police chief on the rainy tarmac. Characters: Barbara Kopetski / Barb Wire, Axel HoodLocation: Rain-soaked airport tarmac
Story Breakdown
War-Torn Harbor — Steel Harbor survives as a supposedly free city while Barb runs the Hammerhead and works dangerous jobs.
Civil War Setting — The Second American Civil War has devastated the United States.
Hammerhead Ownership — Barb owns a nightclub that becomes the center of the escape plot.
Axel's Return — Axel reappears with a fugitive scientist, reopening Barb's unresolved personal connection to him.
Former Lovers Reunite — Barb and Axel were separated after Barb loved him at the war's outbreak.
Scientist Seeks Escape — Axel tries to help the fugitive reach Canada.
Red Ribbon Threat — Information about a bioweapon gives the escape mission international stakes.
Bioweapon Information — The fugitive possesses information about Red Ribbon.
Military Pursuit — Pryzer is tasked with finding the fugitive for the Congressional authorities.
Lens Hunt — The group needs contraband contact lenses to bypass retinal identification at the airport.
Criminal Circulation — The lenses pass through several lowlifes before reaching the Hammerhead.
Barb Withholds Them — Barb keeps the lenses while negotiating her own escape terms.
Junkyard Betrayal — A planned lens exchange becomes a trap involving military forces and a criminal double-cross.
Million Dollar Deal — Barb demands money and an armed escort to the airport.
Grenade In Hand — Barb receives a grenade during a staged arrest.
Armored Escape — The grenade creates enough confusion for Barb's group to seize a vehicle and flee.
Junkyard Explosion — Barb uses the grenade to kill the betrayer.
Congressional Chase — The escaping group leads Pryzer's forces into a car chase.
Harbor Showdown — The pursuit culminates in a deadly physical contest between Barb and Pryzer above the harbor.
Forklift Duel — Barb fights Pryzer on a forklift suspended by a crane.
Pryzer Falls — Pryzer falls to his death while Barb escapes.
Canadian Escape — At the airport, Barb chooses to help the fugitive and Axel leave despite remaining behind herself.
Lenses Handed Over — Barb reveals she still has the contact lenses and gives them to the fugitive.
Rainy Departure — Axel and the fugitive board the plane to Canada while Barb remains on the tarmac.
A sexy nightclub owner, Barb Wire moonlights as a mercenary in Steel Harbor, one of the last free zones in the now fascist United States. When scientist Cora Devonshire wanders into Barb's establishment, she gets roped into a top-secret government plot involving biological weapons. Soon Barb is reunited with her old flame Axel Hood, who is now Cora's husband and a guerrilla fighter, resulting in plenty of tense action.
