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"Invaders from Mars": Although greatly weakened, Superman begins to deduce that the Hyperclan members are actually Martians. As such, he determines that the Green Kryptonite that has been crippling him is just a psychic projection, with ps

Quote1 Stand firm. Right now, courage is all that can light the darkness! The Justice League of America won't let you down! Quote2
Superman

JLA #4 is an issue of the series JLA (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 1997.

Synopsis for "Invaders from Mars"

Although greatly weakened, Superman begins to deduce that the Hyperclan members are actually Martians. As such, he determines that the Green Kryptonite that has been crippling him is just a psychic projection, with psychosomatic consequences. Breaking through the mental programming, Superman regains his strength and bursts free of his restraints. While Superman and Protex go toe-to-toe, the rest of the Hyperclan's plan quickly falls apart.

The Martian Manhunter finally reveals himself. He has been masquerading as Armek ever since the League were first captured. The real Armek is still out in the desert with ZüM. The Manhunter deactivates the Flower of Wrath, then takes care of Primaid.

The rest of the League revive and blast their way through the top of the tower onto the surface. Flash sets up a ring of candles to contain Armec, allowing Green Lantern the chance to knock him out with a ring-generated 16 ton weight.

ZüM tries to take out Aquaman, mistakenly believing that he will be easy prey. Aquaman uses his telepathy to affect ZüM's basil ganglia (inherited from a species' marine ancestors) to give him a seizure, ultimately incapacitating him.

Wonder Woman and Primaid take to the sky. Locked together in combat, Wonder Woman ensnares her in the Lasso of Truth, forcing Primaid to assume her true Martian shape. She then power-dives back to the surface and knocks Primaid out.

Superman continues fighting against Protex. Heat vision vs. Martian vision proves pointless and Protex tries to cocoon Superman within his malleable form. Superman drills deep beneath the earth with Protex then lays him out with a good old fashioned haymaker.

While all of this is going on, Batman manages to capture A-Mortal and Zenturion. He brings them to the center of the citadel where the other unconscious Hyperclan members have been deposited.

Although they have defeated the Hyperclan, they still have a Martian invasion to deal with. Protex had already alerted his Martian Armada to leave the "Still Zone" and begin attacking Earth. From Z'onn Z'orr, Superman broadcasts a global message to the citizens of Earth. He tells them what they are dealing with and how to defeat them. The people of Earth heed Superman's inspired message of courage and band together to repel the Martian invaders with the one element available to just about anyone - fire. The Martians are forced to retreat back to the Still Zone.

With the threat of alien invasion alleviated, the Martian Manhunter uses his powers to lobotomize the Hyperclan. He forces them to assume Humanoid shapes and seeds them back into the population where they can now exist as productive members of the human race. Though bereft of their Martian identities, each of them feels as if there is now something missing from their lives.

Now that the JLA are officially reformed, they need a new base of operations. They use the wreckage from the old Justice League Satellite and erect a citadel on the Moon. This headquarters is now the Justice League Watchtower.

Appearing in "Invaders from Mars"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

  • Martian war ships

Notes

  • This issue is reprinted in JLA: New World Order.
  • The tagline for this issue is "V for Victory!"
  • First full appearance of the White Martian race.

Trivia

  • All four issues of this story-arc are named after famous Sci-Fi movies from the 50's. This issue is entitled Invaders from Mars after the 1953 film by William Cameron Menzies.


See Also

Recommended Reading

Links and References

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