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For the storyline from JLA (Volume 1), see JLA: World War III.
I WILL SHOW YOU WAR!! 
World War III was a worldwide metahuman conflict which lasted for only one week. Precipitated by the mass slaughter by Black Adam in Bialya, which resulted in millions of deaths, the conflict raged over the surface of the Earth. Eventually, the combined forces of the JSA, JLA, Captain Marvel, China's Great Ten, Phantom Stranger, Martian Manhunter, and other heroes stopped Black Adam's rampage.
History
The War was ultimately the result of a confluence of several events:
The Road to War
Week 38, Day 2
The primary product of the Science Squad of Oolong Island were the Four Horsemen:
- Azraeuz - Silent King of the Age of Death (Death)
- Rogga - The Age of War (War)
- Yurrd - The Unknown in Formless Time Before Time (Famine)
- Zorrm - Lor of the Age of Fevers (Pestilence)
The first of these sent forth was Yurrd, who masqueraded as a kindly alligator-humanoid hybrid and was befriended by Osiris.
Week 39, Day 6
The Four Horseman were turned loose on the Black Marvel Family, killing Isis and Osiris. As Isis lay dying in Black Adam's arms, she told him that she was wrong - it was not he that required redemption, it was
- "the rest of the world. The world of men that made such horrible creatures. The evil needs to die. I thought we could be above them, but, for the pain, they have put our family through ... avenge us."
Week 45, Days 4-6
Black Adam then followed Azraeuz to the nation of Bialya, killing first the military authorities in league with Intergang, then the entire population of the country - every last man, woman, and child. The world, for unknown reasons, chose not to intervene.
After the destruction of Bialya, Black Adam is confronted by the Martian Manhunter. As they battle, Manhunter attempts to get inside Adam’s mind to stop him, but Adam shares the memories of all those he has killed. This causes Manhunter to collapse from the psychic feedback of the memory. Manhunter flees the Earth for the solace of space but cannot escape the psychic resonance of the fears among the citizens of Earth.
Mass murderer Black Adam flanked by some of his victims in Bialya
Week 45, Day 7
Succeeding in destroying Azraeuz, Black Adam learned that it was the Science Squad that created the Horsemen, and he set out for Oolong Island.
Week 46-Week 47
Black Adam, destroyed all of the defenses of the Science Squad easily, but they succeed slowing him down by attempting to unfold the hidden dimensions of space/time in his invulnerable brain. While Black Adam had appeared to heal from the damage done by the dimensional warp in his brain shortly afterwards, the short moment allowed them to place the Neuro Crown on Black Adam (Which rerouted the electrical impulses Black Adam's brain sent to his body. Although this device had only a momentarily affect on Black Adam, it allowed them to place him in restraints specifically designed for the Black Marvel Family). While he was captured, they also tried to torture him (The worst they could do was to use a device known as the Thunder Pliers to break off a piece of his toenail)
Week 48, Day 5
Chang Tzu offers Black Adam to the world community - by auction.
Week 49, Day 1
Arriving at Oolong Island, the JSA demands the release of Black Adam to stand trial for crimes against humanity. It is then, through the telepathically provided information of Thundermind that Alan Scott learns of the plot against Black Adam; Chang Tzu was a member of the Great Ten, China's metahuman defenders. Oolong Island was a Red Chinese stronghold. Under order from Beijing, Chang Tzu used Intergang money to design and build doomsday weapons for one purpose -- to destroy the Black Marvel Family.[1]
After entering the Island facility, Atom Smasher, unable to believe the charges against his former ally, lets Adam go free.
World War III
Week 50, Day 1
All over the world, citizens react to the chaos created by the rampage of Black Adam in the Middle East. World militaries mobilize, supervillains and ordinary criminals take advantage of the situation to riot and loot, and law enforcement authorities do their best to deal with the chaos. Jason Todd masquerades in Gotham City as Nightwing. Perry White wonders as to the whereabouts of Superman. The The Guardians of the Universe consider intervention on Earth. The serum that had granted the citizens of Sub Diego the ability to breath underwater begins to fail. Troia decides to don the armament of Wonder Woman, becoming Wonder Woman.
Father Time, leading S.H.A.D.E. forces, unsuccessfully attempts to stop Black Adam. Adam who rips off Father Time’s face. Adam throws an aircraft carrier at New York City. Jason Rusch and Lorraine Reilly form into Firestorm to destroy it before it can cause more damage.
Week 50, Day 3
After Atom-Smasher fails to take him in, Black Adam escalates his war against humanity. He fights Captain Marvel, Captain Marvel, Jr., and Mary Marvel in Cairo, Egypt and defeats them all, damaging the surroundings, including the Great Pyramids, during the battle. Captain Marvel tries to reason with him, but Adam is insane with rage. [2]
The serum that had granted the citizens of Sub Diego the ability to breath underwater continues to fail with more citizens losing their water-breathing ability. Desperate, Aquaman (Orin) uses the bones of his severed hand to summon Neptune and Poseidon. He begs them to save the people of Sub Diego. Orin is forced to make a pact with the Sea Gods. They agree to grant him the power he needs to raise Sub Diego back to the surface. In exchange, he becomes the vessel for something "strange, dark and terrible" as his mind and body are warped into a new form.
Week 50, Day 3
Black Adam attacks Australia. The Justice Society of America coordinates their actions in Australia. Atom-Smasher (Albert Rothstein) briefly returns to the team. He tries to explain the actions of Black Adam (Teth-Adam), but the others think that he is trying to defend him.[3]
Week 50, Day 4
Black Adam vs the Doom Patrol
In space above the Earth, Supergirl is returned after disappearing from the Zeta Beam transport after the Infinite Crisis. She passes through the intangible body of Martian Manhunter causing him to regain his senses, which had been psychically assaulted by the terror of the citizens of Earth. Supergirl crashes to Earth, unconscious.
In Gotham City, Harvey Dent battles Killer Croc. Croc insists that he is truly Two-Face, but Dent denies this. Dent is able to defeat Croc.
Deathstroke approaches Batgirl telling her that Batman never trusted her as evidenced by the fact that he asked Harvey Dent to watch over Gotham rather than her. Slade tells her that he, rather than Batman, knows what she truly is, a killer. He offers her acceptance and an end to her seemingly never-ending quest to become what she fears she can never be, a hero.
Black Adam rampages around the world, killing countless civilians. Adam fights the Doom Patrol in Italy. The battle damages the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Wonder Woman (Donna Troy) surveys the damage in Australia. [4]
Week 50, Day 5
The Justice Society of America arrives in Italy to lend a hand. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is toppled onto the ground. Mister Terrific gets word from Checkmate that Black Adam has been spotted in China. [5]
In Greece, the Teen Titans oppose Black Adam at the Parthenon. They prove unable to stop him.
Week 50, Day 6
In the Himalayas, the Teen Titans again oppose Black Adam. They are again unable to stop him. Terra is killed.
It is revealed that federal authorities are investigating events surrounding Kate Spencer stealing her Manhunter equipment from evidence holding. They believe Damon Matthews)) is responsible. Kate and Damon meet with the lead investigator, who threatens to prosecute Damon unless, of course, Kate has anything to confess. Damon and Kate quit before they can be fired. Unbeknownst to Damon, Kate has made a deal with Mister Bones. She and Damon will work as defense attorneys with funding from DEO and, in return, Kate will continue to work with the DEO. Kate confesses to Damon that she used his ID badge to access evidence holding and then tells him that she is Manhunter.
Amanda Waller recruits Bronze Tiger for a new secret Suicide Squad.
Martian Manhunter suffers under the crushing weight of the fear and chaos of recent events. He begins to question everything. He returns to his old private detective office in a now-abandoned building. He destroys the building in a fit of anger. After this he leaves determined to end the chaos.
Black Adam fights members of the Great Ten in the skies over Beijing. He kills Immortal Man in Darkness. Ghost Fox Killer and Seven Deadly Brothers attempt to stop him, but their efforts barely even slow him down. August General in Iron denies the world community the permission to assist them.[6]
Week 50, Day 7
By Day 7, the JSA, JLA, Teen Titans, Doom Patrol and the other assembled heroes stand ready at the Chinese border, prevented from entering by virtue of a possible nuclear escalation. Black Adam easily defeats the Great Ten and, eventually, China allows international help. The JSA attack Adam.
Captain Marvel, petitions the Egyptian gods that power Adam to remove his powers, but they refused to make Adam mortal again, apparently supporting him in his quest for blood.
As the battle rages, the "heroes" of the Everyman Project retreat from the field, leaving the JSA and the other collected heroes to continue fighting.
They could not stop him in battle. Coordinated by Zatanna, Flash (Jay Garrick), Green Lantern (Alan Scott) and Power Girl try to force Adam into the skies, where Captain Marvel has called down the lightning of Shazam.
Captain Marvel caught the Bolt in the air. Phantom Stranger and Zatanna use their magical abilities and force it to strike Black Adam, transforming him into a mortal again.
Falling from the sky, Adam is apparently caught by Atom Smasher and escapes.
Captain Marvel reveals that, although he couldn't get the gods to rescind Adam's powers, as Guardian of Magic he did have the power to change his magic word to something Adam will never be able to guess, which he has done.
Issues
Notes
- Black Adam eventually learned the new magic word, Chocolate Egg Cream, by accident in Black Adam: The Dark Age #4.
- Ares tried to implement World War III during Wonder Woman: Gods and Mortals.
Recommended Reading
| World War III | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EVENT: World War III | Overview: 52 Week #50 | Part I: World War III #1 | Part II: World War III #2 | Part II: World War III #3 | Part IV: World War III #4 |
Links and References
Related Articles
| Previous World War II |
World Wars |
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