You're not tellin' this archer he's just a piece on somebody's chessboard! This is all a lotta bunk! Maybe you don't know it, but there are folks back in Star City who need help, ordinary people, folks like you and me... And I'm the only help they've got! I'm not wasting my time up here listening to a lot of hooey about about king-size chessmen and invisible mah jong players! Me, I'm splitting! 
Justice League of America #178 is an issue of the series Justice League of America (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1980. It was published on February 11, 1980.
Synopsis for "The Chess-Master of Mars"
The team gathers on the JLA Satellite. Another giant chess piece suddenly materializes, downing Green Arrow, Superman, Batman, and Atom, before Aquaman and Black Canary, protected by Zatanna's magic, destroy it. When Atom's analysis of its fragments proves the chessman to be of extra-terrestrial origin, Zatanna discovers a clue planted secretly by J'onn J'onzz in the memory bank of the JLA computer. Despero's chess game, in which the captive Martian Manhunter is being forced to participate lest his people die by fire, comes to an abrupt end when the Justice League locates the villain's starship orbiting Mars II. They defeat him and his animated chessmen, and free J'onn J'onzz.
Appearing in "The Chess-Master of Mars"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Flash II (Statue only)
- Green Lantern (Statue only)
- Hawkgirl (Statue only)
- Hawkman (Statue only)
- Wonder Woman (Statue only)
Locations:
- Space
- JLA Satellite
- B deck
- Laboratory
- B deck
- Mars II
- JLA Satellite
Items:
- Despero's animated chess figures
- Green Kryptonite
Vehicles:
- Despero's starship
See Also