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Crime Syndicate Vol 1 4

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"First in War, First in Pieces Part 1: Emerald Light": One month after the Starro invasion, Johnny Quick and Atomica are at a dive bar, and the former is reading a newspaper about the "costumed heroes" who saved the world from the Starro swarm. However, not everyone see the super-villains as "he

Quote1 You're right about one thing, John. You've eliminated every fear... save one. Look around. Above all else, they fear you. Quote2
— Sinestro

Crime Syndicate #4 is an issue of the series Crime Syndicate (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 2021. It was published on June 1, 2021.

Synopsis for "First in War, First in Pieces Part 1: Emerald Light"

One month after the Starro invasion, Johnny Quick and Atomica are at a dive bar, and the former is reading a newspaper about the "costumed heroes" who saved the world from the Starro swarm. However, not everyone see the super-villains as "heroes". The dive bar is soon raided by the Keystone City Police Department, who are here to arrest Johnny and Atomica for the 73 crimes they have committed. The couple immediately make their getaway while leaving a path of destruction across the bridge to Central City, causing the bridge to collapse along with the people on it.

The act of wanton destruction is witnessed by the Emerald Knight John Stewart. Stewart's power ring informs him that Quick and Atomica's actions had made a precedent for all metahumans including John to be label as "weapons of mass destruction," and will spur the government to go after the Emerald Knight and Coast City. Stewart is not too worried, as he is sworn to protect his city in which he solely rules it. He returns to Coast City and is soon come into conflict with the U.S. Air Force, who came to liberate Coast City. Stewart subdued the jets with ease by trapping them with his ring before he "banish" them, turning them as his messengers to inform the world that Coast City is under his protection.

In Metropolis, Lex Luthor is busy coordinating efforts to clean up the Starro debris from the city. At the same time he is consulted by the New God Lonar, who is Luthor's benefactor and is responsible for providing Lexcorp's advanced technology, to help in assembling a coalition of metahumans. Lex takes Lonar and his assistant to his newly completed satellite headquarters, where he makes a global broadcast across Earth to beseech any metahumans who are willing to join his cause to help and defend the world from alien and superhuman threats. The first person to join Luthor is Thaal Sinestro, a former Emerald Knight who overpowered his power ring and turned against the Oans after they slaughtered his home planet of Korugar. Sinestro propose in adding the Emerald Knight John Stewart to the coalition, believing that Stewart can be turn to the side of good if he breaks free from his power ring just like Sinestro.

Meanwhile, Superwoman and Owlman traveled to Ultraman's fortress in the Arctic to seek his alliance. They find him in the middle of soaking up in Kryptonite. Owlman and Superwoman explains to Ultraman that the world is in a metahuman arms race due to the spike of meta activity following in the wake of the invasion and Luthor's broadcast, and the three of them intends to win it. What makes this arms race even more concerning is in regards to the Emerald Knight, who represents thousands just as powerful as himself. Superwoman deems the Emerald Knight a wild card that they need to align themselves with him. Hence why they came to Ultraman in the first place. Ultraman is convinced to join them after Owlman offered Ultraman of getting the head seat of their group and the opportunity to rule the world, and Superwoman want an heir with Ultraman. After forging their alliance, the three then come up with a way to deal with Luthor without having to physically attack him.

John Stewart is confronted by Sinestro, who uses his yellow ring to temporarily silence Stewart's ring and preventing him from making any constructs. The former Emerald Knight explains to Stewart that he seeks to break him free from the ring's control, if he knows how to resist and control it, and the chance to become a real hero. But Stewart believes that Sinestro is only twisting what he accomplished before breaking his ring free from Sinestro's ring. Sinestro is left mildly impressed with Stewart's willpower before telling Stewart that his actions have made Coast City's citizens to be living in fear of their so-called protector.

During in the middle of the cleanup in Metropolis that is now being aided by metahumans, Cat Grant is interviewing Luthor about the lawsuits against Lexcorp placed by Ambassador Donna Troy for allegedly stealing her people's technology. Luthor dismissed Troy's claims as a distraction from the real work that he and his people are doing. The interview is interrupted by Ultraman, who throws his efforts in removing Starro's corpse while calling out on Luthor as a glory-hound. Thomas Wayne suddenly joins in on ribbing Luthor, calling him an opportunist who is capitalizing on the tragedy in Central City and Coast City, and claiming that he is using Amerika's fears to build a metahuman army; in which Thomas plans to stop that from happening. With the TV cameras focusing on him, Thomas publicly reveals that he had bought enough shares of Lexcorp (some of which fell due to recent controversies) to be on Luthor's board of directors.

After Sinestro left Coast City, John Stewart is left shaken by Sinestro's words. He knows that Sinestro is right about him following a unwelcoming visit to his daughter Liza, who is terrified of him and screams at him to leave and never come back. This is enough to convince Stewart to take up Sinestro's offer and head to Luthor's satellite, where he meets Luthor’s metahuman coalition, the Legion of Justice.

Appearing in "First in War, First in Pieces Part 1: Emerald Light"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Legion of Justice (First appearance)
    • Lex Luthor (Joins team)
    • Lonar (Joins team)
      • Thunderer (First appearance)
    • Power Tower (Joins team) (Cameo)
    • Red Hood (First appearance) (Joins team) (Cameo)
    • Savanna (Joins team) (Cameo)
    • Sinestro (First appearance) (Joins team)
    • Venus (First appearance) (Joins team) (Cameo)
  • LexCorp

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:


Synopsis for "Walls Closing In"

John Stewart recalls how he was made an Emerald Knight that began five months ago.

Stewart was a beat cop who accepted money from a rich criminal to cover an expensive surgery for his daughter Liza. While escorting his daughter, Stewart come across the son of the criminal who gave him the money, who is violently hassling a man for not paying him. The son remarks to Stewart that he cannot arrest him as he still owe his father. This prompt Stewart to aggressively beat up the man right in front of his daughter.

Soon afterwards the power ring appears before Stewart, who he takes it after being tempted with the power of protecting his daughter when the criminal's son threatens to kill both Stewart and Liza. Under the ring's control, Stewart's first act is to incinerate the criminal's son in green fire. Stewart embraced in becoming an Emerald Knight with the intentions of bringing his brand of law and order to Coast City.

Appearing in "Walls Closing In"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Liza Stewart (First full appearance) (Flashback only)

Antagonists:

  • Unnamed blackmailer (Single appearance) (Dies in flashback)

Other Characters:

  • Coast City Police Department (Flashback only) (Cameo)
  • Mick (Single appearance) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
  • Emerald Knights (Mentioned only)
  • Unnamed blackmailer's father (Mentioned only)

Locations:

Items:

Trivia

  • Like in the previous issues, it is mentioned a fake comic named "Volthoom & the Overlords of Oa #0".


See Also


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