SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for “Call/Response,” the latest episode of Cloak & Dagger.


Cloak & Dagger just reinvented an important piece of Tyrone Johnson's mythology: the origin of his costume. In "Call/Response," the latest episode, Tyrone's father Otis revealed he is part of the Mardi Gras Indians and invited his son to join. At the organization's headquarters, Tyrone selected a costume for himself -- one which just happened to be a black cloak.

Midway through the episode, Otis discovered Tyrone stole his bolt cutters. When they got into an argument over it, Otis ordered Tyrone to follow him and took him for a ride in the car. On the way to their mysterious location, Otis told him, "Now look here. Don't say a word to no one unless somebody asks you something first."

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When they arrived, Tyrone was surprised to encounter a backyard teeming with people who were laughing and playing music. The group went silent as soon as they caught a glimpse of Otis and his son. Then, to Tyrone's consternation, Otis burst into song, which got a response from the "Big Chief" of the "Red Hawks." After a faux showdown, Otis and Big Chief embraced. With that, Tyrone and Otis were welcomed into the fold.

Venturing inside the building, Tyrone discovered walls lined with newspaper clippings and costumes, only to see a photo of his late brother Billy. "He was getting trained up to be the next Spy Boy," Big Chief explained. "The Spy Boy travels fast, across great distances. He runs out into the unknown, unprotected, where nobody can see him, looking for trouble so we all know what's coming."

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According to the Mardi Gras New Orleans website, "On Mardi Gras Day, if you're lucky enough to see some of the Mardi Gras Indians, the first Indian you're likely to see is the Spy Boy. His job places him ahead of the Big Chief's procession. Each Spy Boy has a method to signal potential trouble or approaching rival Indian tribes... with dancing, whooping, hollering and hand language. His observations are communicated to the Big Chief who, in return, sends a set of directions and instructions back down the parade procession."

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Following Tyrone's encounter with Big Chief, Otis explained the significance of their costumes. "Each bead has its place, part of a larger design," he said. "You've got to pay attention, because -- if you mess up and you don't notice till later -- you've got to undo hours, days, even months of work. It's no joke. It takes years to develop the mastery of bead work, and each year you've got to remaster it again."

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When Tyrone asked if they made a new costume every year, Otis added, "Every year you're a new person, so we spend that time working on a new suit. Some give up. Never finish. There's a room over there full of failure stories. Enough to drive a man crazy, but not the man with patience, diligence and of grace, control of your actions. If you can't control yourself, then you can't control a damn thing in this world. This regalia, it helps us find that control, and with it comes the strength we need." Unbeknownst the Otis, this was the kind of advice Tyrone really needed, as he still does not have control over his budding powers.

As he wandered through this room of failures, Tyrone was pulled towards one costume in particular: a black cloak with black beaded stripes. When Tyrone emerged from the room holding it, his father grew upset, taking Tyrone aback. "That was your brother's," Otis explained with a catch in his voice.

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"I'll finish it for Billy," Tyrone said immediately. "I owe him that. I'll make it perfect. And I'll march for him." With that, Otis gave in and helped his son complete the costume, which is modeled after Tyrone's infamous Cloak from the comics.

Tyrone dons his infamous cape in Cloak & Dagger #4 (1983)

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In the comics, Cloak's costume was more a creation of circumstance. After he and Tandy were injected with experimental drugs, they escaped and swam from Ellis Island over to the mainland of New York. When they hit the shore, they began to change. Tyrone caught a glimpse of his reflection in a shop window and, horrified by what he saw, grabbed a ream of cloth and wrapped it around himself. This random piece of cloth went on to become his infamous cloak, from which he took his name. In Freeform's Cloak & Dagger, then, it seems his cloak has a much more profound meaning.

Airing Thursdays at 8 pm ET/PT on Freeform, Cloak & Dagger stars Olivia Holt as Tandy Bowen/Dagger and Aubrey Joseph as Tyrone Johnson/Cloak, as well as Andrea Roth as Tandy’s mother Melissa Bowen, Gloria Reuben as Tyrone’s mother Adina Johnson, Miles Mussenden as Tyrone’s father Michael Johnson, Carl Lundstedt as Tandy’s partner in crime Liam, James Saito as Dr. Bernard Sanjo and J.D. Evermore as Detective Connors.