Underworld Unleashed (Collected)

{{DC Database:Comic Template
 * Title              = Underworld Unleashed
 * Image              = Underworld Unleashed - Trade Paperback.jpg
 * Volume             = 1
 * Issue              = 1
 * Month              = April
 * Year               = 1998


 * Executive Editor   = Jenette Kahn
 * CoverArtist1       = Howard Porter
 * CoverArtist2       = Dan Green


 * PreviousIssue      = &mdash;
 * NextIssue          = &mdash;


 * Quotation          =
 * Speaker            =


 * StoryTitle1        = "Underworld Unleashed"
 * Synopsis1          =

Book One
The Rogues Gallery undertake a strange mission under the urging of Abra Kadabra. Given little explanation, they agree to strike at five specific though seemingly unremarkable locations across the United States. Each attack is committed simultaneously yielding explosive results far beyond their expectations. Each of the Rogues is consumed by raging green fire as their respective target sites go up in flames.

The incident does not go unnoticed by the super-hero community. In the Justice League satellite, the League members take note of the attacks and spring into action. Flash orders Blue Devil to call for back up as they leave him on the station. Blue Devil is the only one to realize the strategic pattern of the five random locations. By tracing a line between each site, Blue Devil draws a perfect pentacle. He knows that something has been set free.

In Keystone City, the Trickster is frustrated with the pedestrian pranks that he has been reduced to just to make ends meet. When he reads about the tragic fate of the Rogues, he grows depressed knowing that his fellow villains never rated higher than petty crooks. Trickster decides that he wants to go for the "big score".

At Belle Reve Penitentiary, a convict named Lou goes to the office of the prison's chaplain. He complains that a guard named Finney swiped his Betty Grable calendar, and the man behind the desk agrees to help Lou out. He provides Lou with a riot shotgun and tells him that Finney will be in the turbine room at precisely midnight. Lou doesn’t trust the "chaplain", but he accepts the weapon and agrees to carry out his vengeance at mid-nite. After Lou leaves, the man withdraws the missing Betty Grable calendar from behind his desk.

At midnight, Lou ventures down to the turbine room. He finds Finney and viciously guns him down. The gunfire sets off sparks that damages the turbines. Engineers races about to correct the situation, but there is nothing they can do. The power shuts down and the doors to the prison cells unlock. Dozens of super-powered criminals escape out into the night.

Back in Keystone, the Trickster allies himself with another old Flash foe – the Rainbow Raider. The Raider shows him a tapered candle with intricate carvings on the side. He tells Trickster that someone had delivered it to him, but he has no idea who or why. Before the evening ends, the Trickster surreptitiously pockets the candle and replaces it with a rubber chicken.

When he lights the candle, he finds himself instantly transported to an unknown location. The Trickster gapes in surprise as he finds himself in the company of dozens of super-criminals, many of whom are likewise in possession of a green, lighted candle.

A demonic being known as Neron steps out and introduces himself. He takes credit for staging the Belle Reve breakout and for providing the villains with their respective candles. In exchange for their souls, Neron promises each of them their fondest desire. Many of the villains are only too happy to accept Neron's offer. Some even feel that their soul belongs to him already. Others, such as the Joker, are present just for the sheer thrill of it. Some however, have little desire to play second fiddle Neron. Mongul for one, refuses to acknowledge Neron's power and attempts to strike him. Neron effortlessly punches Mongul to the floor, then stomps on him with his boot. Trickster debates the value of accepting Neron's offer. He then remembers that he wanted to "take the next big score" and thinks, "It doesn't come bigger than this".

There is one more guest who arrives after receiving a special invitation – Blue Devil. Blue Devil steps out from a spiraling green haze of smoke and addresses Neron.

Book Two
Blue Devil agrees to accept a mission on behalf of Neron. He knows that making a deal with the Devil is a poor decision, but Neron only asks him to destroy an abandoned power station. Blue Devil scopes out the territory and makes certain that no innocents will be harmed by his actions. He strikes his trident upon the ground, and a rippling wave of energy emerges, consuming the power station.

Meanwhile in Hell, Neron sets a welcome table for those villains who agreed to serve him; namely, Lex Luthor, Doctor Polaris, Circe and the Joker. Neron finds the Trickster scurrying about behind the others and pulls him out into the open. Trickster really has no idea why he is even bothering to listen to the arch-demon. Neron leaves, and the other villains have fun tormenting the Trickster, especially the Joker. Convinced that he knows the source of Neron's power, they interrogate him further, until the Trickster reveals that Neron's power is contained within his soul jar. The villains begin conspiring to steal Neron’s power for themselves.

Meanwhile in St. Louis, the Flash races about the city putting out fires. Neron appears before him and makes him an offer. In exchange for his soul, he will grant his fondest desire – the return of his mentor Barry Allen. An image of Barry flickers in front of the Flash's eyes, but the hero knows better than to make deals with demons. He refuses the offer and runs off.

Later, Neron appears inside the Batcave. He addresses Batman and makes a similar offer. The visage of Batman's deceased former protégé Jason Todd walks up to greet him. Batman is haunted by the image, but staunchly turns down Neron's offer.

Neron appears next in Honolulu, Hawaii where he approaches Superboy. He offers Superboy the chance to become what he’s always dreamed of – Superman. Like the others, Superboy turns down the offer.

There are some heroes however, who actually accept the demon's deal. Hawkman, Ray, Triumph and the Spectre agree to sacrifice their eternal souls in exchange for their deepest desires.

In California, movie producer Marla Bloom flies across a remote bluff in the hopes of capturing some ideal stock footage. Her location brings her close to the power plant that Blue Devil only recently destroyed. Unable to see because of the loss of power, their helicopter collides with a power transformer and explodes. Blue Devil soon hears the news and falls into a state of shock.

In New York, Neron appears and finds Green Lantern averting a crisis in Central Park. He makes the same offer that he made to the others, but Kyle reacts violently and the two begin battling each other across Central Park. Neron gains the upper hand, but also mentions that the soul he covets most is one of purity and innocence.

Back in Hell, Luthor and the Joker come up with a plan to pierce Neron's Soul Jar. Polaris, Kadabra and Circe pool their mystical and scientific resources together and succeed in rupturing the container. As the jar is breached, a swirl of green smoke reaches outward spiriting Polaris, Kadabra and Circe away. Luthor and the Joker are not at all shocked by the spectacle. In fact, everything went exactly as they had planned. Now there is no one else to challenge their bid for power. The Trickster keeps a safe distance from them, and wanders off to come up with his own plan.

At the Justice League satellite, Flash and Green Lantern call in the reserves and tell them about their respective experiences with Neron. Kyle mentions Neron's quest for a pure soul, and the other heroes believe that he intends on capturing Superman. The Man of Steel is not present at this meeting and nobody knows where he is.

Book Three
As Neron's power continues to grow, the effects of his influence have taken hold of the Earth. The entire world appears to be erupting in waves of violence and panic.

The full might of the Justice League pierces the barrier to the Underworld and confronts Neron's demonic army. Convinced that Neron has captured Superman, they navigate through the circle of Hell to find him. Neron meanwhile, sits atop his throne with Lord Satanus kneeling before him. Satanus acknowledges Neron's power, and offers up his own sister Blaze in exchange for lenience. Blaze is outraged, citing that they have no chance of overcoming Neron if their power is divided. In a moment of brief defiance, Satanus remarks that there is a single word that would give even Neron pause. Neron destroys Satanus before he has the chance to utter the word, but the Trickster, having stayed hidden behind Neron's throne, now realizes that there is in fact a way to beat the Devil.

Back on Earth, the JLA reserves conduct damage control in various cities swept in a grip of violence. Triumph, Gypsy and Mystek fight demonic gargoyles in Paris. Blue Beetle and Booster Gold try to help crowds of people consumed by a mystical hunger. In Montana, Damage, Green Arrow and Black Condor protect a National Guard armory from civilian raids. In San Francisco, the Sentinels of Magic fights off hordes of cultists and demonic agents. In Gotham City, Major Disaster causes a massive traffic jam, which enables Gorilla Grodd, Metallo and Blockbuster the chance to hijack a truck carrying nuclear weapons. Fortunately, Batman, Robin, Black Canary and Huntress arrive just in time to stop them.

Back in Hell, the heroes continue their advance against Neron’s minions. Blue Devil is the first to reach him, and threatens to gain his “pound of flesh” for the inadvertent death of Marla Bloom. Neron turns Blue Devil's trident against him and the resulting energy surge appears to destroy him.

Soon after, the heroes discover that Superman is not trapped in the Underworld at all. Trickster begins to realize that Superman was never the "pure soul" that Neron sought at all. His true target was Captain Marvel. The evil influence of Hell begins to overwhelm the other heroes and they fall prey to their darkest, most base instincts. Neron manipulates them into attacking Captain Marvel, who thus far, seems unaffected by the corruptive reach of Hell. Captain Marvel tries talking to the heroes, but they keep coming after him.

Unexpectedly, Blue Devil rises from the dead – now a true devil, rather than a man trapped inside of a costume. As Blue Devil busies himself with Neron, Trickster sneaks out and approaches Captain Marvel. He tells him that Neron fears a magic word, and Marvel immediately knows what to do. He speaks the magic word "Shazam", and a powerful mystic lightning bolt erupts in Hell, freeing the other heroes from Neron's dark influence. While the heroes attack Neron, Trickster pulls Captain Marvel aside and tells him his plan.


 * Editor1_1          = Ruben Diaz
 * Editor1_2          = Alisande Morales
 * Editor1_3          = Brian Augustyn
 * Writer1_1          = Mark Waid
 * Penciler1_1        = Howard Porter
 * Inker1_1           = Dan Green
 * Inker1_2           = Dennis Janke
 * Colourist1_1       = Rick Taylor
 * Colourist1_2       = Heroic Age
 * Letterer1_1        = Chris Eliopoulos

Featured Characters:
 * Appearing1 =


 * Amazing Man (Will Everett III)
 * Argus
 * Atom (Ray Palmer)
 * Batman (Bruce Wayne)
 * Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance)
 * Black Condor (Ryan Kendall)
 * Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)
 * Booster Gold (Michael Carter)
 * Captain Atom (Nathaniel Adam)
 * Captain Marvel (Billy Batson)
 * Damage
 * Deadman
 * Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond)
 * Green Arrow (Connor Hawke)
 * Hawkman
 * Huntress (Helena Bertinelli)
 * Maxima
 * Max Mercury
 * Mystek
 * Superboy (Kon-El)
 * Justice League of America
 * Blue Devil
 * Crimson Fox (Vivian d'Aramis)
 * Fire (Beatriz da Costa)
 * Flash (Wally West)
 * Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner)
 * Martian Manhunter
 * Nuklon (Albert Rothstein)
 * Ray (Ray Terrill)
 * Triumph
 * Warrior
 * Wonder Woman (Diana)

Supporting Characters:


 * Flash (Barry Allen) (as an illusion)
 * Robin (Jason Todd) (as an illusion)
 * Marla Bloom

Villains:


 * Abra Kadabra
 * Airstryke
 * Atomic Skull (Joseph Martin)
 * Black Bison
 * Black Hand
 * Black Spider (Eric Needham)
 * Blackguard
 * Blockbuster (Roland Desmond)
 * Bolt
 * Carapax
 * Catman
 * Cheetah (Barbara Minerva)
 * Chiller
 * Chronos (David Clinton)
 * Circe
 * Cluemaster
 * Copperhead
 * Crazy Quilt
 * Deadline
 * Deadshot
 * Doctor Alchemy
 * Doctor Phosphorous
 * Doctor Polaris
 * Doctor Spectro
 * Dumas
 * Dummy
 * Earthworm
 * Fiddler (Isaac Bowin)
 * Ghost
 * Golden Glider
 * Gorilla Grodd
 * Hellgrammite
 * Hyena (Jivan Shi)
 * Jewelee
 * Joker
 * Killer Frost (Louise Lincoln)
 * Killer Moth
 * Lex Luthor
 * Magpie
 * Major Disaster
 * Metallo
 * Mister Freeze
 * Mongul
 * Ocean Master
 * Mammoth
 * Merlyn
 * Neron
 * Parasite (Rudy Jones)
 * Poison Ivy
 * Prankster (Oswald Loomis)
 * Psycho-Pirate (Roger Hayden)
 * Punch
 * Rainbow Raider
 * Riddler
 * Scarecrow
 * Scarface
 * Shade (Richard Swift)
 * Shadow Thief
 * Shark
 * Shrapnel
 * Silver Swan (Helen Alexandros)
 * Solomon Grundy
 * Spellbinder
 * Terra-Man
 * Trickster (James Jesse)
 * Ventriloquist
 * Rogues Gallery
 * Captain Boomerang (Digger Harkness)
 * Captain Cold
 * Heat Wave
 * Mirror Master (Evan McCulloch)
 * Weather Wizard

Other Characters:


 * Carl (a guard captain at Belle Reve)
 * Chuck (a pilot)
 * Chricton (the warden of Belle Reve)
 * Deke Hobbsner (a gunshop owner)
 * Finney (a guard at Belle Reve)
 * Jack Tomer undefined
 * Lou (a prisoner at Belle Reve)
 * Rob Chapman undefined
 * Scmidt (a guard at Belle Reve)
 * Simon (an engineer at Belle Reve)
 * Taylor Campata undefined

Locations:


 * California
 * Justice League Satellite II
 * Gotham City
 * Batcave


 * Hawaii
 * Honolulu


 * Kansas
 * Keystone City


 * Louisiana
 * Houma
 * Belle Reve


 * New York City
 * Manhattan
 * Central Park

Items:


 * Captain Cold's Cold Gun
 * Candle of Neron
 * Green Lantern Ring
 * Medusa Mask
 * Philosopher's Stone
 * Trick Boomerangs
 * Trident of Lucifer
 * Weather Wand

Vehicles:


 * Batmobile


 * Cast1              = Citizen Abra (New Earth)
 * Cast2              = Airstryke
 * Cast3              = Atomic Skull (Joseph Martin)
 * Cast4              = Albert Rothstein (New Earth)
 * Cast5              = John Ravenhair (New Earth)
 * Cast6              = Black Hand
 * Cast7              = Eric Needham (New Earth)
 * Cast8              = Blackguard
 * Cast9              = Roland Desmond (New Earth)
 * Cast10             = Daniel Cassidy (New Earth)
 * Cast11             = Lawrence Bolatinsky (New Earth)
 * Cast12             = George Harkness (New Earth)
 * Cast13             = Leonard Snart (New Earth)
 * Cast14             = Conrad Carapax (New Earth)
 * Cast15             = Thomas Blake (New Earth)
 * Cast16             = Barbara Ann Minerva (New Earth)
 * Cast17             = Chiller (New Earth)
 * Cast18             = David Clinton (New Earth)
 * Cast19             = Circe (New Earth)
 * Cast20             = Arthur Brown (New Earth)
 * Cast21             = Copperhead (New Earth)
 * Cast22             = Crazy Quilt (New Earth)
 * Cast23             = Crimson Fox (Vivian d'Aramis)
 * Cast24             = Deadline
 * Cast25             = Floyd Lawton (New Earth)
 * Cast26             = Albert Desmond (New Earth)
 * Cast27             = Alexander Sartorius (New Earth)
 * Cast28             = Neal Emerson (New Earth)
 * Cast29             = Thomas Emery (New Earth)
 * Cast30             = Dumas
 * Cast31             = Dummy (New Earth)
 * Cast32             = Earthworm
 * Cast33             = Isaac Bowin (New Earth)
 * Cast34             = Beatriz da Costa (New Earth)
 * Cast35             = Wallace West (New Earth)
 * Cast36             = Alec Rois (New Earth)
 * Cast37             = Lisa Snart (New Earth)
 * Cast38             = Gorilla Grodd (New Earth)
 * Cast39             = Mick Rory (New Earth)
 * Cast40             = Hellgrammite
 * Cast41             = Hyena (Jivan Shi)
 * Cast42             = Jewelee (New Earth)
 * Cast43             = Joker (New Earth)
 * Cast44             = Justice League of America
 * Cast45             = Killer Frost (Louise Lincoln)
 * Cast46             = Cameron van Cleer (New Earth)
 * Cast47             = Lex Luthor (New Earth)
 * Cast48             = Margaret Pye (New Earth)
 * Cast49             = Paul Booker (New Earth)
 * Cast50             = Baran Flinders (New Earth)
 * Cast51             = J'onn J'onzz (New Earth)
 * Cast52             = Arthur King (New Earth)
 * Cast53             = John Corben (New Earth)
 * Cast54             = Evan McCulloch (New Earth)
 * Cast55             = Victor Fries (New Earth)
 * Cast56             = Mongul (Elder)
 * Cast57             = Neron (New Earth)
 * Cast58             = Orm Marius (New Earth)
 * Cast59             = Rudolph Jones (New Earth)
 * Cast60             = Pamela Isley (New Earth)
 * Cast61             = Oswald Loomis (New Earth)
 * Cast62             = Roger Hayden (New Earth)
 * Cast63             = Punch
 * Cast64             = Roy Bivolo (New Earth)
 * Cast65             = Edward Nashton (New Earth)
 * Cast66             = Rogues Gallery
 * Cast67             = Jonathan Crane (New Earth)
 * Cast68             = Scarface (New Earth)
 * Cast69             = Richard Swift (New Earth)
 * Cast70             = Carl Sands (New Earth)
 * Cast71             = Shark
 * Cast72             = Shrapnel (New Earth)
 * Cast73             = Helen Alexandros (New Earth)
 * Cast74             = Cyrus Gold (New Earth)
 * Cast75             = Spellbinder III
 * Cast76             = Tobias Manning (New Earth)
 * Cast77             = Giovanni Guiseppi (New Earth)
 * Cast78             = Arnold Wesker (New Earth)
 * Cast79             = Mark Mardon (New Earth)
 * Cast80             = Princess Diana (New Earth)
 * Cast81             = William Everett III (New Earth)
 * Cast82             = Nicholas Kelly (New Earth)
 * Cast83             = Raymond Palmer (New Earth)
 * Cast84             = Bruce Wayne (New Earth)
 * Cast85             = Dinah Laurel Lance (New Earth)
 * Cast86             = Ryan Kendall (New Earth)
 * Cast87             = Theodore Kord (New Earth)
 * Cast88             = Michael Jon Carter (New Earth)
 * Cast89             = Nathaniel Adam (New Earth)
 * Cast90             = William Batson (New Earth)
 * Cast91             = Connor Hawke (New Earth)
 * Cast92             = Ronald Raymond (New Earth)
 * Cast93             = Cynthia Reynolds (New Earth)
 * Cast94             = Helena Bertinelli (New Earth)
 * Cast95             = Kyle Rayner (New Earth)
 * Cast96             = Marla Bloom (New Earth)
 * Cast97             = Maxima (New Earth)
 * Cast98             = Mystek
 * Cast99             = Raymond Terrill (New Earth)
 * Cast100            = Kon-El (New Earth)
 * Cast101            = William McIntyre (New Earth)
 * Cast102            = Grant Emerson (New Earth)
 * Cast103            = Jared Stevens (New Earth)
 * Cast104            = Phantom Stranger (New Earth)
 * Cast105            = Zatanna Zatara (New Earth)
 * Cast106            = Spectre (Jim Corrigan)
 * Cast107            = Alan Scott (New Earth)
 * Cast108            = Sentinels of Magic
 * Cast109            = Richard Occult (New Earth)
 * Cast110            = Artemis of Bana-Mighdall (New Earth)
 * Cast111            = Timothy Drake (New Earth)
 * Cast112            = Satanus (New Earth)
 * Cast113            = Blaze (New Earth)
 * Cast114            = Katar Hol (New Earth)
 * Cast115            = Max Mercury (New Earth)
 * Cast116            = Boston Brand (New Earth)


 * Location1          = Justice League Satellite II
 * Location2          = Kansas
 * Location3          = Keystone City, Kansas
 * Location4          = Louisiana
 * Location5          = Houma
 * Location6          = Belle Reve
 * Location7          = Hell
 * Location8          = Missouri
 * Location9          = St. Louis
 * Location10         = New York City
 * Location11         = Manhattan
 * Location12         = Central Park
 * Location13         = Gotham City
 * Location14         = Batcave
 * Location15         = Hawaii
 * Location16         = Honolulu
 * Location17         = California


 * Item1              = Captain Cold's Cold Gun
 * Item2              = Candle of Neron
 * Item3              = Medusa Mask
 * Item4              = Philosopher's Stone
 * Item5              = Trick Boomerangs
 * Item6              = Trident of Lucifer
 * Item7              = Weather Wand
 * Item8              = Green Lantern Ring
 * Item9              = Batarang


 * Vehicle1           = Batmobile
 * Vehicle2           =


 * Notes              =
 * This 158 page collection reprints the following issues of the ''Underworld Unleashed limited series:
 * Underworld Unleashed #1
 * Underworld Unleashed #2
 * Underworld Unleashed #3


 * The Underworld Unleashed trade paperback is ISBN 1563894475.


 * Trivia             =
 * Recommended        =
 * Underworld Unleashed: Abyss - Hell's Sentinel #1
 * Underworld Unleashed: Apokolips - Dark Uprising #1
 * Underworld Unleashed: Batman - Devil's Asylum #1
 * Underworld Unleashed: Patterns of Fear #1


 * CustomSection1     = Related Articles
 * CustomText1        =
 * Underworld Unleashed
 * Underworld Unleashed Crossovers

}}
 * Links              =
 * Underworld Unleashed article at Wikipedia
 * Underworld Unleashed series index at the Grand Comics Database
 * Underworld Unleashed series index at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
 * Underworld Unleashed series index at DC Indexes
 * Underworld Unleashed series index at Comicbookdb.com
 * Underworld Unleashed crossovers