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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:33:56 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:39:32 GMT -5
JSA: Legends of the Golden Age
Issue 1: “Attack of the Giant Nazi Robots!”
Written by David Charlton
Co-plotted by David Charlton and Scott Kruger
Cover by DrDread
Edited by David Charlton |
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:40:12 GMT -5
The New York World’s Fairgrounds
The Present day…
The building once known as the Perisphere was dark and derelict, and had fallen into disuse long ago… Thick carpets of dust coated the artifacts inside, most of which were draped with moth-eaten white sheets. There was much muted grandeur in the old building, but it was mostly unremembered now, a relic of glory days, which now only echoed across the decades… The last occupants abandoned these hallowed halls of justice in October of 1951.
There had been talk of turning the Perisphere into a museum. Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent had written a series of articles calling for a renovation of the grand old place, and Superman and Wonder Woman especially had lobbied for the project, but it never got off the ground. So the fairgrounds of the 1939 World Exhibition sat dark and forgotten into the 21st century.
Until now.
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:40:52 GMT -5
He appeared in a dazzling coruscation of light, stepping into the drear surroundings of the musty Perisphere from out of another place and time. His shiny black boots scattered billows of dust and sent scurrying the timid mice that gnawed on the remaining wood furniture. His thick thatch of red hair was graying at the temples, but his deep eyes still blazed in hatred as Per Degaton at last surveyed the former headquarters of his arch enemies!
Oh, the battles they had waged! What he would have given to have invaded their inner sanctum back in their heyday…! He could just imagine the surprise on Hawkman’s face, the dumbfounded expression of that imbecile the Flash…! And maybe he would still do it. After all, was he not now the master of the Chronocalculus? It was becoming as easy for him to step in and out of timelines as it was for a fish to jump from stream to stream…
But, no… Not yet. He would bide his time, and carefully calculate his assault. When he unleashed his attack on the JSA, he wanted it to be unexpected, brutal and final. He had much preparation to do if he was going to defeat them, and he wanted to defeat them at the height of their power! He wanted them to know at last he was their master!
So he had come here. To delve into their past, and to seek out their secrets.
Know thy enemy, Von Clauswitz had written. Degaton always admired the German martial mentality.
A glow-globe that he had brought back from the 22nd century hovered over his head, illuminating his surroundings. He walked around the old mahogany table, proudly carved with the emblem of the JSA. He kicked aside a trophy case that had fallen, curling his lip at the stuffed body of Dr. Midnight’s owl. He paused at last in front of a faded, sepia-toned photograph that hung on the wall. It was of the team in their early days, before Green Lantern and Wildcat and all the others joined them. He took it down off the wall and examined it almost nostalgically. Their smug, smiling faces stared back at them, and he remembered the day he had first seen them, the day they had first assembled, that day long ago on these very fairgrounds…
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:41:54 GMT -5
New York,
The World’s Fair,
June 1939…
It was a gorgeous summer day at the World’s Fair when the giant Nazi robots attacked.
The towering metal titans lumbered around the Lagoon of Nations towards the Hall of Science, crowds of innocent bystanders fleeing from the scene in a panic. The NYPD officers that acted as security fired their weapons uselessly, succeeding only in adding to the chaos.
But where everyone was running, Al Pratt was glued to the spot. He had chosen today to at last visit the Fair, to come and see the august assemblage of scientific minds; never in a million years could he have imagined the sight before him now! In disbelief, he watched as the mechanical men converged on the building that housed the greatest intellects of a generation, smashing aside everything in their path with monstrous strength!
“Mach schnell! Mach schnell, mein Uberbots!” Crowed the leather-clad man in the Prussian army uniform, marching in the midst of the robots. “We want the scientists alive! Kill all the rest!”
From the bucket-head of one of the Uberbots, a beam of light shot, vaporizing a policeman!
Unable to stand and watch anymore, Al Pratt raced forward with a fierce battle cry. Of course, it never occurred to him that a flesh and blood man of barely five feet in height could hope to stand against a twelve foot, armored construct with a head-mounted laser. It also never occurred to him that the cyclotron radiation he’d been steadily and increasingly exposed to over the last few months as the lab assistant of Terry Curtis (one of the very scientists trapped inside the Hall of Science right now!) had any effect on him at all--- until he cocked his fist (the way his boxing coach Joe Morgan taught him) and swung with all his might at the nearest Uberbot.
Then an amazing thing happened. A split second before Al’s fist connected with the steel leg of the robot, his fist tingled as if charged with electricity--- and then on contact, the charge exploded with the force of the blow, sending the robot toppling backward!
Stunned, but not unpleased, at the outcome of his rash action, Al Pratt could only stare in astonishment at his still-tingling fist, and the afterimage of what he took to be atomic particles swirling around his knuckles.
Unfortunately, he had now caught the attention of Baron Blitzkrieg. The cold-eyed Aryan menace regarded him like an insect that needed to be squashed.
“Kill the little man!” He commanded his robots. And thirteen head-mounted lasers swiveled towards him.
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:43:33 GMT -5
In a peculiar stone tower on the outskirts of the sleepy New England hamlet of Salem, an ethereal woman with wispy blond hair sat at a table in a room lined with bookshelves, and gazed deeply into a glass ball aswirl with mists. In front of her sat a man with closely-cropped blond hair and intense blue eyes that followed the play of the shadows within the glass as well.
“Last night, the sorcerer Ian Karkull stole the Claw of Horus from Midway Museum while Hawkman and the Flash battled the abomination called Solomon Grundy.” The woman intoned in a dreamy voice. “The English mage Roderick Burgess is close to finding the Spear of Destiny, and the fabled Ring of Rasputin is again on this earthly plane.”
“What else do you see, Inza?” The man asked intently, clutching the woman’s cold hand. She did not look up from her seeing glass.
“Nabu’s old enemy, the Scorpius Rex, Vandal Savage has assembled a Secret Society of Super Villains… They have been working behind the scenes for centuries, manipulating world events, but their plans are almost at fruition! If they bring together the Three Holy Artifacts, then all hope is lost!”
“Then the hour you have foreseen is come at last!” Kent Nelson clenched his fist and got up from the table. He went to the pedestal atop of which sat a golden helmet. He picked it up, and listened to the whisperings of the long dead wizard as he set it upon his head. <Against his Secret Society, I will assemble a society of just men and heroes…> Came his voice, much transformed from the depths of the helm. <A …justice society… So swears Dr. Fate!>
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:44:26 GMT -5
Inside the Hall of Science, Al’s college mentor, Terry Curtis, who had been only moments ago arguing with his colleague Dr. Robert Crane over the practicality of harnessing atomic fission for energy, helped Dr. Charles Grayson to bolt the door against the imminent attack.
“Robots!” Curtis gasped, staring through the window. “Giant, Nazi robots!”
From where they sat side-by-side at the conference table, Rex Tyler and Theodore Knight exchanged knowing glances.
“Sounds like our cue, Ted.” Rex popped a tiny yellow pill into his mouth. “Did you bring that cosmic rod thingamajig?”
Ted Knight patted the duffle bag at his feet and the two men rushed off, unnoticed.
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:45:20 GMT -5
Baron Blitzkrieg smirked as his robots turned on the lone young man, now staring pathetically up in shock.
“Kill him.” He repeated the order.
The nearest Uberbot loomed over Al, the laser mount trained on its target, glowing…
There was a streak of red, white and blue and suddenly the laser beam sizzling towards Al was deflected off two silver bracelets! The figure who had positioned herself between Al and the robot was a graceful, dark-haired beauty that caused Al Pratt to lose his breath! She gritted her teeth, and deflected another burst of light back at the robot that shot it, causing it to crumple into a sparking, mechanical mess.
“Gee! Thanks, lady!” Al gasped.
She tossed her raven tresses, winked at him and declared: “It’s Wonder Woman!”
Just then, a red and gold figure with a green cape snapping behind him, burst from the roof of the Hall of Science, holding aloft a strangely shaped gold baton. From the hole in the roof he had just made bounded a hooded man in yellow and black, who with a reckless cry, leaped on the nearest robot!
“Hourman!” Gasped Al Pratt as he watched slack-jawed as the Man of the Hour rode a robot like a rodeo bronco, pounding the metal head with his fists. “And Starman!” He followed the fin-topped hero from Opal City with his eyes as he arced up into the sky, then pointed his gravity-negating cosmic rod at another robot and unleashed a blast of stellar energy at it, sending it hurtling into the Lagoon with a splash!
In the meantime, the dame who called herself Wonder Woman had not been inactive; she dodged a hammer blow from a robot with a graceful dive, then grabbed the metallic arm, heaved and jerked it off its feet. She then proceeded to spin, swinging with great effort the Uberbot that must have weighed a ton, battering down two others like Babe Ruth at Yankee Stadium!
Al Pratt could hardly believe his eyes. Here he was, witnessing two of his heroes in action, and falling more in love with Wonder Woman with every second! Hourman bent a laser-nozzle back towards its user, and the robot blasted off its own head, but not before the Man of the Hour leaped to the next one. A third took aim at the hero, firing its weapon, only to miss, and damage the robot the laughing mystery man was now leapfrogging off of. Starman dived low over the brawl, his cosmic rod blazing and two more robots fell.
“Take that, ya goose-stepping buckets of bolts!” Al cheered.
His exuberant cry died in his throat. Distracted by a pair of robots determined to stomp on her, Wonder Woman had not noticed the furious, jack-booted Baron Blitzkrieg rushing at her with his Prussian saber raised high! Al moved to block the mad Aryan’s path, hoping that he could come up with another punch like the one that had laid out the robot.
The Baron slashed with his saber, and Al bobbed and weaved like he had seen Ted Grant do in Madison Square Garden last night, then snuck in under his foe’s guard with an uppercut. He focused all his energy into the blow, and thrilled to feel again the sudden build-up then release of explosive force, sending the Baron hurtling backward.
“I gotta remember how to do that!” Al shook off his throbbing fist.
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:46:24 GMT -5
“Carter, stop squirming.” Shiera remonstrated as she straightened his tie for him. Carter Hall hooked a finger under his collar for some air, disturbing her perfectly tied knot, receiving a frustrated pout from his fiancée.
“Sorry, darling.” He winced. “I guess I’m still sore from the fight with that brute last night.”
The two of them were preparing for a fundraising luncheon at the Midway Museum with the Keystone City Chamber of Commerce, but after the theft of the Claw of Horus the night before, neither of them felt like doing anything but looking for it.
Shiera stood on her tip-toes and readjusted the knot, making sure to give the tall blonde man some breathing space. “Solomon Grundy, it called itself? Like the nursery rhyme?”
Carter grunted. “The thing kept us busy just long enough for someone to sneak into the museum and make off with the Claw.”
“And you still suspect that Russian fellow Karkull?” Shiera stepped back, eyeing him critically.
“Who else? He seemed determined to acquire the Claw for his mysterious Society. And now he’s conveniently skipped town…” He distractedly responded to Shiera’s approving peck on the cheek, then she went about to find her shoes.
“The brute led the Flash and I on a merry chase, but we lost it in the swamp. I hate to think how that thing is still on the loose…”
“You’ll find it tonight.” Shiera called from where she was rummaging in her luggage for the shoes she wanted. “And this time, don’t forget to get the Flash’s autograph for Speed.”
“Right.” Carter smiled ruefully. “For that scrapbook of his…”
His voice trailed off as the radio droning in the background caught his attention. It was Libby Lawrence’s daily broadcast, and Shiera never missed it.
“… Giant Nazi robots appear to be wreaking havoc at the World’s Fair in New York! Eyewitnesses report that the mechanical menaces have laid siege to the Hall of Science, site of an unprecedented International Symposium of the world’s greatest scientific minds. Though several of America’s heroic mystery men have reportedly rushed to the scene, the towering metal automatons fight on…”
Shiera heard it, too, and turned back to Carter in open mouthed amazement--- only to find her fiancé already wrenching off his tie and throwing open the wardrobe to reveal his wing harness and Nth Metal hawk talisman!
She sighed as he threw off his tuxedo and slipped into the garb of the Winged Avenger known as Hawkman.
“I have to go.” He said to her simply.
“You’ll do anything to avoid a society function.” She cocked a grin at him, as she passed him his mace. He kissed her before he draped his mail coif over his head, then threw open the sixth story bedroom window of their hotel.
Hawkman burst into the skies over Keystone!
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:47:01 GMT -5
As the heroes battled Baron Blitzkrieg and his Uberbots, one was able to break away from the melee, smashing through the wall of the Hall of Science. The terrified scientists inside cowered before the creature before them, lumbering through the rubble of cement and concrete and stone-dust. Giant pincer-like claws reached for Dr. Terry Curtis and Dr. Charles Grayson, scooping them up tightly despite their struggles. The robot turned his head to the hole in the roof made by Starman, and suddenly jets in the soles of its feet ignited, propelling it upwards! The stunned scientists could only watch in dumb disbelief as the robot streaked away with the two men.
Hovering in the air, Starman whirled around as the robot flew away with its prize. Unable to match the rocket-speed of the robot, he took careful aim with his cosmic rod, only to lower it with a curse, not wanting to hurt the unwilling passengers.
“Dr Curtis!” Al called after the swiftly dwindling figure of his mentor. “No!”
“Ja!” Baron Blitzkrieg snarled, surprising Al with a right cross that sent the young man crashing backward. “Puny Americans! You cannot stand up to the Secret Society!”
He loomed over the dazed Al Pratt, fists clenched and ready to pound his opponent into pulp.
“Ratzi.” Growled a voice from behind him. “You better hope that kid’s alright.”
The Baron turned in time to face an angry Hourman, striding forward to meet the Aryan ubermensch. He pulled his gloves tight, wiggling his fingers and made a fist. The two men ran at each other, snarling!
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:50:04 GMT -5
Meanwhile, across town in a private penthouse on the Upper West Side, the diabolical American scientist Ulysses Hughes watched the titanic battle raging at the World’s Fair on a large monitor screen, clenching his fists every time one of the hated heroes took down one of his precious Uberbots.
“Don’t get caught in a pitched battle, Baron, just snatch those scientists!” He yelled at the screen.
He did not notice the cloaked figure on the firescape outside his window. The Sandman pulled his fedora down lower over his gasmask, his long trenchcoat snapping in the wind. He had a stethoscopic listening device pressed to the glass, and heard clearly everything Hughes said. Wesley Dodds had had a particularly bad night, waking up in a cold sweat after a dream of a Neanderthal man setting the world afire with a mystic Spear… He awoke with a determination to seek out the one man who was linked to every one of the kidnapped scientists. His search had led him to the very penthouse he skulked outside of right now.
“Cursed mystery men! They’ll be the first to fall before me…!”
That was all Wes needed to hear.
The Sandman exploded through the penthouse window in a shower of glass, startling Hughes. The mad scientist gaped at the mystery man in his weird mask and strangely formal appearance, even as the Sandman raised an odd-shaped gun at him. Hughes threw up an arm, but it was no use against the clouds of green mist issuing from the Sandman’s gun.
{Your days of evil are done, Hughes. Dream no more of conquest, and surrender to the mists of truth!} Came the muffled voice from the depths of the gasmask. Hughes staggered against his console, feeling his will overpowered by the chemicals that were swiftly filling the room, and that he was inhaling. {Tell me where the other scientists are!}
“We took them…” Hughes bit off the words, struggling against the compulsion to speak the truth. “The Society…”
In his swirling vision, Hughes saw the figure of the Sandman, made grotesque by his altered consciousness, looming over him.
{What do you want with them?}
Through his clenched teeth, Hughes spat: “I want their brains! I want to know what they know! I want to suck them dry, to become ultra…! They will help me build my DynaGun, with which we will force the nations of the world to their knees!”
{Bid farewell to your monstrous ambitions.} Spoke the Sandman, coldly. {Where are you holding the scientists?}
But by a supreme force of his own considerable will, Hughes pushed away from the console and barreled passed the surprised mystery man. Wes whirled to follow him, dashing down a long, sumptuous corridor in hot pursuit.
His mind fevered, and his reason deranged, Ulysses Hughes made for the elevator at the end of the hall, pulling aside the accordion-style gates.
{Hughes, no!}
The Sandman had noticed what Hughes in his madness had not: the elevator car was not on this floor, and beyond the gates was nothing but an empty shaft and a long drop!
Seconds before Wes could grab him, the oblivious Hughes stepped into the void, his cry dwindling as it echoed down the shaft!
The Sandman cursed under his breath, realizing that his quarry could not have survived such a fall.
<Wesley Dodds, avenger of the evil that men dream, I need you…> A sepulchral voice came from behind Wes. He turned, his gun raised, and stared at the apparition hovering just off the carpeted floor: a man in blue and gold, his cape billowing about him, and the eyeslits cut into his golden helm glittering.
<Dr. Fate is not your enemy, Sandman.> The apparition intoned in its deep, inflectionless voice. <There is a great peril in store for the world, unless we men who fight for justice can band together to oppose it. Will you come with me?>
The man who called himself Dr. Fate extended a hand to Wes.
Dr. Fate. Wes had dreamed of this man once, long ago… He felt somehow that his destiny was upon him. He reached out and took Dr. Fate’s gloved hand.
And the two men vanished in a cloud of smoke!
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:51:24 GMT -5
Theodore Knight was a soft spoken, earnest man, who was most comfortable in his Opal City Astronomical Observatory, gazing at the stars and enjoying a good pipe while he mulled over a particularly knotty scientific equation. It always amazed him when he found himself, cosmic rod in hand, streaking through the air, blasting at giant Nazi robots…
Not that he’d ever fought giant Nazi Robots before today…!
He blamed Rex Tyler. His big, jovial chemist friend was always getting him into trouble of some sort or another. In fact, it had been at Rex’s suggestion when he learned of Ted’s invention of the cosmic rod that he put on the fin-headed costume of Starman for the first time, and join the growing ranks of mystery men, keeping America safe in an increasingly dangerous world.
Still…! Giant Nazi robots…?
Scorning gravity, Starman hung in the air over the World’s Fairgrounds and poured a concentrated blast of stellar energy straight down at the Uberbot menacing the woman in the star-spangled skirt. He’d heard reports of her recently, breaking up an espionage ring in Washington, D.C. Wonder Woman, she called herself.
“Starman, look out!” She returned the favor, warning him of a pair of Uberbots, their heel-jets flaring, rising to meet him.
They may have had him beat when it came to speed, but he had maneuverability! Holding tight to his cosmic rod, he swooped between them, causing them to almost collide, with each other, and as they made their ponderous way around, he was already unleashing the fury of the stars at them!
The two crashed down into the Lagoon of Nations, little left but molten slag. However, he had gotten their attention, and they were replaced by four more jet-powered Uberbots, all of whom rocketed at him, their lasers flaring. It was all Ted could do to corkscrew out of the way, one of the intensely hot beams slicing a whole through his cape!
Before he even had time to wonder how he was going to face four flying Uberbots, another mystery man had joined the fray. He flew in out of nowhere, striking silently, but with devastating effectiveness: Hawkman fell out of the sky with clenched teeth and mace raised!
One Uberbot was sent hurtling to the ground, its metal head caved in, while the Winged Avenger spread his pinions and gained some altitude for another aerial strike. With surprising speed, Hawkman dived back amongst the confused Uberbots, who were having trouble targeting between Starman and Hawkman. Taking advantage of Hawkman’s surprise assault, Starman zapped one enemy, while Hawkman’s mace sent an Uberbot head sailing like a golf ball. The last Uberbot let loose with a barrage of laser-fire, which both Hawkman and Starman neatly dodged, and then it fell victim to a combined attack from both heroes!
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:52:24 GMT -5
Rex Tyler was in trouble.
He circled the enraged Aryan madman, his arms up in a fighting stance, lowered only to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.
During his Hour of Power, his muscles tightened and swelled, his nerves and glands fired on all cylinders, and he was a match for any man on earth! But this bruiser was like no other man! He took whatever Rex dished out, and gave it back in spades. Nor did he show any signs of tiring! Rex, on the other hand, always more of an adventurer than a pugilist, had taken a few good hits, and was starting to see funny little birds circling his noggin! And to top it all off, the effects of his Miraclo pill would not last much longer.
And the lunatic seemed to know that.
“I know of you, Amerikaner!” Spat the Baron, waving his fists threateningly, jabbing at Rex’s defenses. “Hourman, the Man of the Hour! Well, your hour is almost up! But even with your puny power, I will crush your spine---.”
The Baron’s words died out as his gaze focused on a point just over Rex’s shoulder. Risking a quick glance behind him, Hourman felt himself grin. The last of the Uberbots had fallen, and at his back stood Starman, Wonder Woman and Hawkman, looking none-to-pleased at the good Baron.
For a brief moment, it seemed like Baron Blitzkrieg intended to take them all on--- but discretion won over valor and he turned and fled.
But he didn’t get far. Al Pratt had woken up, woozy from the Baron’s punch, but eager for another round! The Baron had just enough time to notice the charging atomic particles circling around Al’s fist before it slammed into his face.
He went down, unconscious.
“That’s for Dr. Curtis, ya crum-bum!”
And just like that, the fight was over.
“Not bad.” Hourman observed, rubbing his aching jaw, as he looked from the fallen Baron Blitzkrieg to the diminutive Al Pratt. “In fact, you pack quite a punch. What do you call yourself, kid?”
“Al Par---.” Al looked up at the admiring faces of the assembled heroes, and was struck by inspiration.
“The Atom.” He blew dramatically on his fist. “The, uh, Mighty Atom!”
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 20:59:13 GMT -5
That’s when the Flash arrived.
“I came as soon as I heard!” The speedster protested, after a quick glance around. Several broken husks of Uberbots still fizzled and sparked, and Baron Blitzkrieg was trussed up in scrap metal that Hourman twisted around him. “You fella’s couldn’t’ve saved me one robot?”
Wonder Woman arched one perfectly sculpted eyebrow, causing all nearby male hearts to flutter.
“Oh!” The Flash doffed his silver helmet. “Begging your pardon ma’am.”
"You know, with a name like the Flash," Observed Hawkman dryly. "You'd think you wouldn't always arrive late for these sort of things..."
The Flash rubbed his jaw ruefully.
"Yeah, that's what my girlfriend says, too..."
<You shall have foes aplenty, Scarlet Speedster!>
The heroes were amazed to see a flash of light, and two figures step from it! One was clad in a trenchcoat and a fedora pulled low over a gasmask, and the other was caped and wore a glittering golden helmet.
“That’s the Sandman.” Hourman whispered out of the side of his mouth to Starman. “But who’s Mr. Mysterioso?”
<I am Dr. Fate!> Came the answer from the depths of the golden helm. <I come before you because enemies of peace and freedom are on the move, and unless men and women of courage band together, no nation of the world shall remained unconquered!>
The heroes stood agape at this declaration.
It was Hawkman that spoke for them.
“Now wait just a minute! We don’t know you, mister. We hardly know each other! How can we be sure you aren’t one of those enemies of peace and freedom?”
<It is the champion of Nabu that speaks, Son of Horus!> Dr. Fate held up his palm, his middle two fingers down, and an image wavered in the air before them of a antique spear, a rusty iron ring, and a taloned glove. <Behold! The Three Holy Artifacts: the Spear of Destiny, the Ring of Rasputin, and the Claw of Horus! He that wields but one of these is mighty, but he that wields all three can make himself master of the world!>
Wonder Woman’s gasp was involuntary, but they all shared the same sentiment.
“The Claw of Horus was my responsibility. I’m going to get it back. I’m with you, Dr. Fate.” Hawkman stepped forward.
“Man’s World has too often been subjugated by tyrants.” Wonder Woman remarked, also stepping forward. “If I must fight for peace, I will.”
And one by one, they all echoed their willingness to join Dr. Fate--- including the newly christened Mighty Atom.
“Isn’t he a little young for this sort of thing?” The Flash wondered allowed, with an apologetic glance at Al.
“You can’t leave me behind! I wanna help save Dr. Curtis!” Al protested.
Hawkman gave the young man a long, measuring look, glanced at the still unconscious Baron Blitzkrieg, then said: “I say let him come. He’s earned it.”
Much to the Al’s delight, there were no further objections.
The heroes stood side by side, ready to face whatever evil or danger that lay before them: Hawkman, the Flash, Starman, Wonder Woman, Hourman, Dr. Fate, the Sandman and the Atom!
<Never before has there been a greater assemblage of heroes devoted to the cause of justice…!> Mused Dr. Fate, throwing wide his arms, and conjuring up the mystical forces necessary to magically bear them all away. <Let our enemies beware! For today is born the Justice Society!>
Swirling waves of power emanated from Dr. Fate’s hands, wrapping around the team, and in a flash, they were gone!
On the field of battle that had once been the World’s Fair, the crowd of people that had dared to remain started cheering, and a lowly lab assistant crawled out from the wreckage of the Hall of Science, glaring at where the heroes had once been. Dusting stone dust out of his red hair, Per Degaton, jealous of the accolades of the crowd for these mystery men, bitterly yearned for the kind of power he had seen on display here… And he swore to himself that he would have it one day--- at any cost!
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 21:00:25 GMT -5
The New York World’s Fairgrounds
The Present day…
Degaton curled his lip at the naive fool he had once been. How easy he had thought it would be! Oh, he had risen fast and far, though mostly on the stolen achievements of greater intellects, he had to admit, and he had come close on many occasions, but he had never been able to defeat the JSA!
Ah, if only he had known then what he knew now…
He glanced once again at the yellowing photograph in his hands, his blood boiling at the thought of his old foes. Some of them were beyond his vengeance now, but some of them still lived, kept preternaturally young by the side effects of the chrono-bomb he had unleashed upon them in their last encounter all those years ago. He would follow their timelines, learn their secrets, and when the moment was right, he would show them that he was indeed their better!
In the stillness of the long-deserted Perisphere echoed the sound of the picture-frame’s glass shattering. Degaton’s booted heel fell upon it, grinding the shards into the photo as he walked away; but in the faded sepia-tone image, the heroes of yesteryear looked out confidently at whatever challenge awaited them!
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Post by Admin on Feb 21, 2006 21:00:50 GMT -5
To be continued!
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Post by mockingbird on Aug 2, 2011 16:53:26 GMT -5
To let us know what you think of this issue, please visit the letters page here!
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