SSOSV Book2: Issue 2

By now, readers must be wondering about the other members of the Secret Society. So let's check in on the Wizard and Funky Flashman in the Sinister Citadel.

The Wizard…William Asmodeus Zard…was a sorcerer who had studied magic in Tibet, and who had been an implacable foe of the Justice Society of America during the 1940's. As he aged, his magical powers had started to wane somewhat, but he was still a formidable foe.

Like Sinestro, the Wizard had opted not to take part in the battle between the Secret Society and Darkseid. Like Sinestro, he had returned to the Sinister Citadel instead, and had become engrossed in the sales pitch being offered by noted con artist Flashman. But unlike Sinestro, who had ultimately become disgusted by Flashman and left in a huff, the Wizard was still intrigued enough to hang around and hear more.

Just now, Flashman was lounging by the Citadel's indoor pool, half-watching a local newscast as he sipped a gin and tonic.

"And the latest report from the Sunset," the newcaster was saying, "is that the three super-villains have escaped with a million dollars in cash and jewelry…and ship's captain Timothy Nolan…"

"The flamboyant fools!", Funky asserted. "Their illegal actions are garnishing them tremendous tons of poor p.r.!"

He set down his drink, stood up and began pacing…which seemed to be a frequent habit of his.

"Wizard, my masterful magic-maker," he rolled on, "it's just this type of awesome incident that I'm anxious to avoid! If we are to sell the Secret Society to the buying public…we must avoid trial by the mass media!"

"You've got me sold, Funky," the Wizard agreed. "As long as I get to run the operation! Allow me to magically freshen your drink!"

Picking up the glass, the Wizard made a mystical hand-gesture over it, and a new gin-and-tonic cocktail appeared inside.

"Of course, of course, my fine friend!", Flashman grinned. "Funky Flashman never forgets his allies…and you'll be in this operation from its awesome initiation to its fateful finale!"

The Wizard said nothing more, but he took note of the fact that although Flashman had promised he'd be involved in the new Secret Society plans, he never promised that the Wizard would be in charge. He didn't worry, though…he had plans of his own, and Flashman would only be around for as long as he continued to prove useful to them.

Meanwhile, Funky had seated himself in front of the television again. "Now, if you don't mind," he said amiably, "let's view this gridiron grandeur!"

It was too bad that his television was on the blink. Had it not been, he would have seen what was going on at the city's Star Stadium, where the All Star game was to take place.

The quarterback of the Eastern division all stars, Jeff Peppard, let fly a long pass…which was intercepted by a boomerang! It stabbed into the spiralling football, puncturing it and leaving it a deflated blob as the boomerang brought it back to George Harkness' waiting hand.

"Interception!", Capt. Boomerang cried. "Now it's first and ten…for us!"

His partners, Capt. Cold and Capt. Stingaree, said nothing, but grinned in satisfaction as the crowd roared its disbelief and disapproval.

Peppard, for his part, let his anger at the game's interruption get the best of him.

"Hey," he told his teammates, "fancy dud bad guys! Tackle 'em!"

As one, the team charged forward, utterly confident in their ability to take down the trio of garishly costumed crooks before them. But Captain Cold had a new trick up his parka sleeve.

With his cold-gun, he quickly created a new block of ice and molded it into the form of an opposing football team. Even his two comrades in crime marvelled at the control it took to use the cold-gun in such a fashion so swiftly.

"Try it, fellas," Cold advised them, "but we've got protection from our own linemen!"

Unable to stop their rush in time, the human footballers ran headlong into the frozen defensive line, bouncing off as if they'd hit a brick wall. They fell back, stunned.

"Ha-hah!", Cold jeered. "Let them wear themselves out…then we'll get what we came after!"

Turning away from the linebackers, Cold then used the same technique to fashion a trio of ice-chairs for himself and his allies.

"Might as well relax while we're waiting," he noted with a touch of boredom.

"Yeah," Boomerang agreed. "The fans are too spooked to try and stop us!"

As the villains began to seat themselves, however, they were startled by a loud crash and a shrill sonic whine. Turning, they saw Capt. Comet burst through the frozen football players Cold had created, joined by Black Canary, whose ultrasonic Canary Cry was also having an impact on the icy defensive unit.

"What?", Boomerang squawked as he stood up. "Captain Comet again!"

"And Black Canary, too!", Cold pointed out.

With that, the three villains scattered. Captain Cold, his weapon still drawn, ran towards Black Canary and began firing; Boomerang started backpedaling in an effort to retreat, only to get rocked back on his feet when Captain Comet flew forward and socked him in
the jaw. The angle was wrong, though, and it was only a glancing blow…just enough to stun the Australian adversary for a few seconds.

"You two handle those lubbers," Stingaree told his friends. "I'll collect our booty!"

Quickly surveying the field, Captain Comet called back over his shoulder, "The players have backed off, Canary…it's all up to us!"

Meanwhile, Captain Cold had finished using his cold-gun to erect a wall of ice between himself and the Songbird of Prey.

"That'll slow you down, lady!", he told her.

Barely hesitating in her stride, the Canary started hacking her way through the ice wall with her bare hands.

"Sorry, pal," she responded, "this lady knows karate!"

Meanwhile, the Rogue from Down Under had recovered and gained some room to maneuver. Whipping one of his own weapons from its holster, he tossed it at his flying foe's head.

"Have a stun-boomerang, Comet!", he cried.

Landing a short distance before his opponent, Comet clenched his fists and concentrated.

"Captain Boomerang's not too bright, it seems!", Comet thought. "He tried that trick in the Space Lab…but this time, I'll change my counter-attack…by mentally diverting the boomerang towards Captain Cold!"

Sure enough, as the waves of mental force emanated from Comet's mind, the boomerang slowed, then changed direction…cracking the frosty felon in the jaw, and taking him down.

As Comet turned back towards him, and the Canary came at him from another direction, the return-weapon rogue drew two more of his namesakes and tossed them at his distaff enemy.

"This calls for a double-dose!", he advised them.

"Looks like a job for my sonic power!", the Canary declared. Once more tensing her vocal chords for the effort, she released a sonic blast that acted much like Comet's
telekinetic powers had…first slowing the boomerangs, then reversing their direction so that they struck their master instead.

"Right back at you, Boomerang!", Black Canary exulted as her foe fell.

The two now turned towards the last of the villains, only to see him threatening the team captain with his cutlass.

"Hold it, heroes!", he ordered. "I've got a hostage! Give up…or I'll deep six him!"

The football superstar gulped in fear. "What..? Again?", Capt. Comet demanded.

Soon, the pair had left the Star City Stadium far behind, and were soaring over the dock yards at the harbor.

"Don't know the exact location," Comet explained, "but they're somewhere below! Only chance is to use my mental powers to slow everything in the area…to give you a chance to search!"

So saying, Comet came in for a landing, then sent waves of mental energy to all the machines within a five-mile radius of the docks. Inside a nearby warehouse, which looked at first glance like every other warehouse in the area, a bizarre and ghastly device also found itself slowed down to a crawl by Comet's telekinetic powers.

The gizmo was as Comet had described it to the Canary: a gigantic metronome, done in pale yellow and gold, the arms of which were adorned with small golden boomerangs at the tops. Tied to the left arm was Capt. Carone, the astronaut; strapped to the right one was Captain Nolan, from the S.S. Sunset.

Both men were fully conscious and aware of their situation. Both had also by this time despaired of being rescued before meeting their dire fate. As a result, their surprise at the sudden cessation of the metronome's movement was palpable.

"Hey!", Carone said, noticing it first.

"We're…slowing…downnnn…", Nolan agreed weakly.

And, twelve time-slowed minutes later, Comet and Canary entered the building, found the captives and freed them.

"Brr!", the Canary said with relief. "A couple more minutes…and these men would both be cold meat…literally! But what was the point of this crazy caper?"

"Who can understand the criminal mind?", Comet asked rhetorically. "They kidnapped captains from land, sea and air to prove their superiority over all! It was a senseless
crime…one that makes me reaffirm my vow to never rest until all the members of the Secret Society of Super-Villains are back in prison!"