Synopsis for "The Planet That Came to a Standstill"
This story is reprinted from Mystery in Space #75.
On the planet Earth, honorary Justice League member Snapper Carr, records his recollection of the Justice League of America's battle against Kanjar Ro, Hyathis, Kromm and Sayyar,[1] where the JLA had created a prison planet for the four evil aliens following their defeat. On the prison planet the four aliens continue to attempt to break the barrier around the planet created by the Green Lantern's power ring. Noticing a crack in the forcefield, Kanjar Ro uses his wand to fly up and through the crack leaving his three former partners behind. Kanjar Ro then recreates his Cosmic Ship to escape and plot his revenge against the Justice League. Inspired by the fact that Superman's powers are derived from Earth's low gravity and yellow sun, Kanjar decides to find a world that is powered by three yellow sun's predicting that it would make him more powerful than Superman himself.
Meanwhile, on the planet Rann, Alanna has taken Adam Strange to see the "Aurora Borealis" of Rann, and talks about how Adam managed to find a way to remain on Rann indefinitely (as depicted last issue.) Days later, after completing their research, they head back toward the city of Ranagan. Their trip is interrupted when they notice a group of men flying giant birds. Alanna recognizes them as Zooran Barbarians, and the two notice that they are in some sort of trance. One of the Zooran's uses a small bell that once hit, causes sounds waves that send Adam and Alanna shooting into the outer atmosphere of Rann, where they are stuck in a perpetual orbit.
Trapped in orbit, the two adventurers manage to reverse the effects of the bell by positioning themselves to pass through the "Borealis" they were studying before, and are able to crash land back on Rann. Returning to the city of Ranagar they meet with Alanna's father Sardath. Sardath informs them that the Zooran's are using the bell to take mental control of the people of neighboring cities. Using ear plugs, Adam and Alanna attempt to find out what is going on and pretend to be taken under control of the Zooran's to follow where all the other slaves are being led.
They are brought to the ruins of Vardana where Kanjar Ro has set up a laboratory where he has created a device that will bombard him with radiation from Ran's three suns giving him strength and speed greater than Superman and the Flash. He puts the slaves to work to perfect the device, little knowing that two of them aren't really under his control but are learning everything they can to stop him. Several days later, Kanjar uses the device again and tests his new-found strength on duplicates of the entire Justice League, defeating them all easily.
That night, Adam attempts to destroy Kanjar Ro's machine, but is soon discovered and Kanjar immobilizes him with his Gamma Gong, Alanna is captured soon after as well. Kanjar then traps them in a gravity-prison that will keep both Adam and Alanna fixed in chairs unable to move a finger unless they are given food to eat. At meal time, Adam and Alanna attempt to shut off the device by throwing their empty meal plates at the gravity-prison's switch. When Alanna's first throw misses, Adam's throw increases the gravity exponentially. Their increased weight causes them to crash through the floor, freeing them from the prison. Sending Alanna back to Ranagar, Adam steals Kanjar Ro's Cosmic Ship and travels to Earth, in hopes of intercepting the next Zeta-Beam in time.
Arriving on Earth, Adam leaves the Cosmic Ship in an ancient city hidden in the jungles of Zambebwe, Africa. Adam then uses the Zeta-Beam to return to Rann once more. A short time later, the Flash speeds through Africa, returning from a visit to Gorilla City, on his way back he comes across the Cosmic Ship. Recognizing the ship as Kanjar Ro's, he calls the rest of the Justice League and Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and Snapper Carr arrive to investigate. The JLA members decide that they should go to the prison planet to investigate the matter further.
Back on Rann, Adam reunites with Alanna and the two plot to take control of Kanjar Ro's Gamma Gong while on the prison planet, the Green Lantern, Batman and Martian Manhunter learn that Kanjar Ro has escaped and are told by the other prisoners that Kanjar always talked of getting super-powers from a three-star system. They then leave the prison planet signaling the other JLA members back on Earth that they are going to Rann to stop Kanjar Ro. While back on Rann, Adam Strange and Alanna find Kanjar's Gamma Gong and Adam uses it to immobilize everybody on Rann. Just then the Zeta-Beam wears off and Adam is returned to Earth where he meets up with the Justice League, and introduces himself.
Quickly explaining the situation to Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman and Snapper, they all take the Cosmic Ship to Rann, where they find that Batman, Martian Manhunter, and Green Lantern have been immobilized as well. Adam secures Kanjar's supersonic whistle and uses it to free Alanna, and the frozen JLA members. Kanjar Ro attacks Adam Strange and the JLA members, and the group cannot cope with Kanjar's new super-powers and soon they are all beaten to a stand still by Kanjar's might. Kanjar then starts using a anti-evolution ray on Batman, Aquaman and Snapper Carr reverting them into pre-historic cavemen. Adam manages to stop Kanjar by throwing Kanjar's own Energi-Rod at the villain as he is being struck by one of Ro's yellow energy beams. The rod strikes Kanjar and knocks him out instantly. With Ro defeated, Green Lantern uses his power ring to change his comrades back to normal.
Adam explains to everyone that he surmised that since Superman's weakness was Kryptonite which originates from his home planet of Krypton, then a metal native to Kanjar Ro's home world of Dhor would effect him in the same way, and that Kanjar's own Enegi-Rod was made out of Dhorite.
Suddenly Adam does not feel so well and has a doctor in Ranagar look at him. The doctor explains that exposure to Kanjar's energy beam had an effect on Adam that makes it impossible for him to survive on Rann for longer than a year and that he can only stay for short visits. Adam then leaves with the Justice League to return to Earth, planning to use the next Zeta-Beam to return to Rann once again, and resume his short visits to Rann.
Appearing in "The Planet That Came to a Standstill"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Alanna
- Sardath
- Justice League of America
- Aquaman (Orin/Arthur Curry)
- Batman
- Flash (Barry Allen)
- Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) (Flashback and main story)
- Martian Manhunter
- Superman (Flashback only)
- Wonder Woman
Antagonists:
- Kanjar Ro (Flashback and main story)
Other Characters:
- Snapper Carr
- Hyathis (Flashback and main story)
- Kromm (Final appearance) (Flashback and main story)
- Sayyar (Final appearance) (Flashback and main story)
Locations:
Items:
- Adam Strange's Jet Pack
- Adam Strange's Ray Gun
- Justice League of America robots (Single appearance)
- Zeta-Beam
- Gamma Gong
- Energi-Rod
Vehicles:
- Cosmic Boat
Synopsis for "The Case of the Patriotic Crimes"
This story is reprinted from All-Star Comics #41.
The Wizard, after escaping from jail, steals the Liberty Train without a trace. He dreams of making crime triumphant on earth, and has formed a new Injustice Society, recruiting the Fiddler, the Huntress, the Icicle, the Sportsmaster, and the Harlequin. Worse yet, using the Wizard's "Mind Eraser" machine, they have six of the JSA members in their underground lair, brainwashed, working as their servants!
In Gotham, the Black Canary, investigating the Liberty Train theft, tries to call an emergency meeting of the Justice Society, but finds their headquarters empty. She discovers the knocked out Harlequin under a table. Harlequin reveals that the JSA has been abducted (mostly by the Sportsmaster, using a lacrosse ball/concussion grenade), and she wants to doublecross the ISW and team up with Black Canary to stop the Wizard's gang. However unknown to her, the Injustice Society has already learned of her duplicity, and sent the Icicle back to JSA HQ, where he ambushes, freezes, and abducts them both. Icicle brings the girl outlaws back to the ISW's underground Gotham lair, in an abandoned coal mine. Now the ISW members plan to hold a contest to determine which of them will be the leader, with the one who commits the greatest robbery to be the winner. They plan the thefts of some famous American patriotic objects: the Freedom Bell, Plymouth Rock, Old Ironsides, and the Washington Monument. Most of the villains depart to get started on those crimes, while the Wizard, observing from a secret control room, remains behind.
Left unhypnotized and seemingly unobserved, the girls get free, and the Harlequin uses her special spectacles to hypnotize the brainwashed Justice Society members, and orders them to remember who they are. The revived JSA heroes set off in to prevent the robberies of the American treasures. Unfortunately, the Harlequin's hypnosis is only temporary, good for only an unknown length of time, and the heroes can be returned to a mindless state at any time, with the snap of anyone's fingers. Knowing this fact, the Wizard sets off to warn the other members of the Injustice Society.
Appearing in "The Case of the Patriotic Crimes"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Bill, escort pilot
- Steve, escort pilot
- Wally, train engineer
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Gotham Central Station
- Gotham FBI office
- JSA HQ
- ISW underground base
Items:
- Doctor Mid-Nite's Blackout Bomb
- Doctor Mid-Nite's Infra-red goggles
- Green Flame of Life
- Green Lantern Ring
- Hawkman's Nth Metal Wings
- Wonder Woman's Bracelets of Submission
- Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth
- Wonder Woman's Tiara
- The original Declaration of Independence
- The original Emancipation Proclamation
- Francis Scott Key's notes for "The Star Spangled Banner"
- Freedom Bell
- Black Canary's Two Way Radio
- Fiddler's Fiddle
- Harlequin's Diary
- Harlequin Glasses
- Harlequin's Mandolin
- Huntress' Invisible Lasso
- Icicle's Cold Gun
- Sportsmaster's Lacrosse Racket and Ball/Grenade
- Wizard's Mind Eraser
Vehicles:
- Liberty Train
- U.S. Jet Planes
Synopsis for "Suddenly... the Witness Vanished!"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #432.
Jean Loring questions her client, Henry Norton, during a trial. He is accused of stealing a first-edition copy of Carl Sandburg's poetry and microfilm copies of every issue of the Ivy Town Herald since October 9, 1871. Henry refuses to answer Jean's questions and when the judge demands answers, Henry begins to glow stating that he is leaving the courtroom and has a date with a hog-butcher. Ray Palmer, who was watching the proceedings waiting to have lunch with Jean, sneaks away and changes to the Atom. Recognizing Henry's glow as similar to that from the time pool, Atom heads to Ivy University to Professor Hyatt's lab. Atom changes back to Ray Palmer and Professor Hyatt tells him that the time pool shimmered and changed color about an hour ago (which Atom says corresponds to Norton's disappearance). Professor Hyatt leaves for a rest and Ray switches back to Atom. Deducing 1) that the Hog-Butcher refers to Chicago (as it was a nickname coined by Sandsburg's poetry), 2) that the newspapers would have no value to someone from the future meaning the time traveler was from the past, and 3) the reason he started stealing newspapers from October 9, 1871 was because he was from the day before, Atom sets the Time Pool to Chicago, October 8, 1871. He appears in the residence of Henry Norton who apparently has built his own crude time machine and wants to use the newspapers to bet on horseraces to get rich. Instead he learns he is destined to die in a fire today. Atom recognizes the day as that of the Great Chicago Fire. Atom tries to rescue Henry but in Henry's emotional confusion, he believes Atom to be some type of angel of death. Henry runs into Mrs. O'Leary's Stables and gets a pitchfork with which to defend himself. Atom and Henry struggle with Henry accidentally poking a cow which knocks over a lantern starting the fire. The barn catches fire so quickly that Atom is unable to rescue the now-unconscious Henry Norton and Atom escapes alone. He makes his way back to Norton's residence, grabs the stolen items and returns through the Time Pool. He returns the stolen items but refuses to tell anyone the whereabouts of Henry Norton saying only that he is dead and the case is closed.
Appearing in "Suddenly... the Witness Vanished!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Henry Norton (Single appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Alpheus Hyatt
- Unnamed Judge (Single appearance)
- Mrs. O'Leary's Cow
Locations:
- Ivy Town
- Courthouse
- Ivy University
- Time line: October 8, 1871
- Chicago
- Norton's Residence (on Gideon Street)
- Mrs. O'Leary's Stables (on Delancey Street)
- Chicago
Items:
- Size Controls
- Time Pool
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "Starro the Conqueror!"
This story is reprinted from The Brave and the Bold #28.
While swimming the Atlantic, Aquaman comes upon Peter the Puffer Fish who tells him about a strange alien menace. He witnessed a gigantic creature named Starro land in the sea and use its powers to transform three starfish into oversized monsters that resembled Starro itself. Aquaman decides to call an emergency meeting of the Justice League of America, and activates the communicator contained within his A-Belt.
Wonder Woman is the first to receive the signal, and cuts short her date with Steve Trevor to respond to the call. She pilots her invisible robot plane to the Justice League's cavern headquarters. Superman is the next to receive the signal, but he is too busy in outer space smashing meteors that threaten to enter Earth's atmosphere. Likewise, Batman receives the distress call, but a crime wave in Gotham City prevents him from responding. Green Lantern is test flying a jet fighter, but sets it on autopilot, then flies off for the meeting. The Flash meanwhile, disrupts a powerful tornado, and then speeds away in response to the call. Fortunately, it is easy for detective John Jones to excuse himself, as the police chief tells him that he has earned himself some much needed vacation time. John hears the signal with his Martian hearing and flies off.
At Justice League headquarters, Aquaman tells the assembled team what he has learned of Starro. The Flash, as acting chairman for the League, delegates orders to each League member and gives them the locations of each of the Starro agent sightings. Green Lantern is to patrol Rocky Mountain National Park, while Wonder Woman and the Martian Manhunter investigate a sighting at Science City. Aquaman is to patrol the ocean depths, while the Flash himself will investigate a Starro's presence in Happy Harbor, Rhode Island.
Green Lantern charges his ring, and begins patrolling the skies over the Rocky Mountains. He sees one of the Starro agents flying through the air to attack an Air Force jet bomber. The crew of the bomber fights back, but the Starro is invulnerable to the jet's machine guns. The creature's tentacles snake inside and steal one of the atomic missiles from the bomb bay. The plane dives into a tailspin, and Green Lantern uses his ring to set it down safely. When he turns his attention back towards the Starro, he sees to his horror that the monster has detonated the atomic missile. Hal quickly envelops himself in a protective bubble and begins firing blasts of energy at the Starro's thorax. After several well-placed hits, the creature weakens and reverts to its normal state.
In Science City, Wonder Woman and the Martian Manhunter arrive just in time to find another Starro spore attacking the Hall of Science. The Starro wraps its huge body around the entire building, picks it up off the ground, and begins flying through the sky with it. During it's flight, the creature uses its mental powers to absorb the accumulated scientific knowledge of everyone in the building, and the scientists inside are placed into a state of suspended animation. Wonder Woman stands on the wing of her robot plane and ensnares the edge of the building with her magic lasso. The Martian Manhunter makes use of falling meteor rocks (those that Superman missed) and uses his Martian breath to blow them at Starro. The attack is mildly successful, but it also ignites a fire on the exterior of the building. The Manhunter then uses his breath to create a suction that draws in nearby rain clouds. The rainfall succeeds in dousing the flames. Starro however, concentrates its attack on Wonder Woman. Having absorbed atomic power from its fallen cousin, it generates blasts of energy from each of its tentacles. Wonder Woman deflects the blasts with her Amazonian bracelets, and the Manhunter uses a piece of lead roof plating to protect himself. With the lasso still fastened to the building, Wonder Woman ties the other end to her plane and manages to jerk the Hall of Science free from Starro's grasp. She sets it safely upon the ground then resumes the fight with Starro. After several intense minutes, Starro finally weakens from the assault and collapses down onto the Earth. It returns to the state of an ordinary starfish. Like the other spore, this Starro's knowledge and power transfers to its third partner.
In Happy Harbor, Rhode Island, the Flash investigates the sighting of the third Starro agent. This one is using its powers to mentally control the town's populace. The Flash finds the one civilian who appears to be unaffected by the hypnotic attack – Snapper Carr. Snapper is the midst of sprinkling lime on his front lawn when he sees his family wander away from the house in a daze. They join with several other expressionless people who begin slowly walking towards Starro. Starro notices the Flash's presence and begins blasting at him with his energy attack, but the Flash is too fast for him. By encircling the creature at super-speed, he manages to trap it inside a vortex and propel him out to sea. He then begins drumming his feet on the shoreline at super-speed, causing the water around Starro to part. When he stops, the water crashes back down on top of it, rendering the creature unconscious. With Starro inert, the townspeople regain control of their senses.
The original Starro absorbs the knowledge and power of its defeated underlings and glides towards nearby Turkey Hollow. The Flash radios the rest of the League who gather together for the final showdown. With all of its accumulated power, Starro plans on taking control of the entire world. Starro learns of Green Lantern's weakness against the color yellow, and changes its own color so that it will be invulnerable to GL's power ring attacks. Flash is still curious as to why Snapper Carr was impervious to Starro's mental control. With Green Lantern's help, he learns that the lime covering Snapper's clothes was proof against the alien's power. Armed with a means for combating the monster, the Justice League gather up several barrels of lime and Green Lantern uses his ring to sprinkle it all across Starro's body. The lime hardens around him imprisoning Starro within a hard, white shell. Grateful for unintentionally providing them with the means to defeat Starro, the Justice League make Snapper Carr an honorary member of the team.
Appearing in "Starro the Conqueror!"
Featured Characters:
- Justice League of America (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
- Captain Harding (Cameo)
- Snapper Carr (First appearance)
- Steve Trevor
Antagonists:
- Starro the Conqueror (First appearance)
- Starro's spores (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Peter the Puffer Fish (Single appearance)
- Snapper Carr's family
- Janet Carr (Single appearance)
- John Carr (Single appearance)
- Mrs. Carr (Single appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- Batmobile
- Snapper Carr's Hot Rod
- Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Justice League Recommended Reading
- Justice League of America (Volume 1)
- Justice League of America (Volume 2)
- Justice League of America (Volume 3)
- Justice League of America (Volume 4)
- Justice League of America (Volume 5)
- JLA (Volume 1)
- Justice League (Volume 1)
- Justice League (Volume 2)
- Justice League (Volume 3)
- Justice League (Volume 4)
- Justice League International (Volume 1)
- Justice League International (Volume 2)
- Justice League International (Volume 3)
- Justice League Europe (Volume 1)
- Justice League America (Volume 1)
- Justice League Task Force (Volume 1)
- Justice League Quarterly (Volume 1)
- Justice League Dark (Volume 1)
- Justice League Dark (Volume 2)
- Extreme Justice (Volume 1)
- Justice League Elite (Volume 1)
- Justice League Odyssey (Volume 1)
- Adam Strange Recommended Reading
- Justice Society Recommended Reading
- Adventure Comics (Volume 1)
- All-Star Comics (Volume 1)
- All-Star Squadron (Volume 1)
- America vs. the Justice Society (Volume 1)
- Infinity Inc. (Volume 1)
- JSA (Volume 1)
- JSA (Volume 2)
- JSA: All Stars (Volume 1)
- JSA Classified (Volume 1)
- JSA: Strange Adventures (Volume 1)
- JSA vs. Kobra (Volume 1)
- Justice Society of America (Volume 1)
- Justice Society of America (Volume 2)
- Justice Society of America (Volume 3)
- Justice Society of America (Volume 4)
- Last Days of the Justice Society Special #1
- Atom Recommended Reading