What follows is a post salvaged from an old blog
At a tense JSA meeting, Doctor Mid-Nite informs the Society of a message they’ve received warning of three imminent disasters around the globe. One in Seattle, another in Capetown and the last in Peking. On top of that the JSA’s computer has determined that all three events together will cause a chain reaction that will destroy all life on Earth. It’s all unbelievable, but the risk is too great. The claim must be investigated. Their leader, Hawkman, divides the team into pairs, one for each of the three locations.
Star-Spangled Kid is already in Seattle, or rather, flying above it with aid of the cosmic rod. The hero Starman was recently put out of commission by a broken leg and has relinquished the cosmic rod for Kid to use in his stead. Kid gets to showcase some more of the rod’s capabilities right away, as a nearby bank robbery interrupts his flight. The rod can create a protective force field to protect Kid from the criminals’ bullets. What’s more, Kid can use it to melt their guns with some starlight-converted energy. With the playing field leveled, he takes the robbers on in some old-fashioned hand-to-hand combat.
Star-Spangled Kid easily wins the fight, but he’s left feeling hollow. He’s from the 1950s, but some recent comic book stuff has left him stranded in the present day, which, by the way, is the 1970s. He can’t go home and he’s lonely because his fellow time traveler and sidekick, Stripesy, has retired.
There’s not much time to be sad though. An Earthquake starts shaking the city. It’s one of the three predicted disasters. Star-Spangled Kid sets his mind to thinking of a way to stop the quake with the cosmic rod. An onlooking Doctor Mid-Nite suggests that he and Hawkman should hang back and watch for a while. He explains that Kid is in desperate need of a confidence boost since coming to this time and, basically, he needs a win. The two agree to only intervene if absolutely needed.
Dick Grayson is in Capetown on assignment from the United Nations. During a dinner party with some politicians and diplomats, there’s an explosion blocks away–the second of three disasters. The city is covered by gas and Dick witnesses party attendees start to faint. Before being affected himself, he suits up and heads out to investigate. Remember, on pre-crisis Earth-2 Dick Grayson remained Robin even in adulthood.
Doctor Fate and Green Lantern arrive elsewhere in the city, just after the explosion. Fate notes that there are no nearby gas pockets, and Green Lantern’s ring shows that the gas is one that used to be used in aerosol cans. The disaster is man-made. Fate uses magic to create a rainstorm that will dispel the gas, but more continues to pour out of a giant hole created by the explosion. GL creates a giant cork construct to plug the hole and the gas dissipates. The two discover Robin on the ground near the plugged hole, unconscious. As he comes to, Robin chastises himself for forgetting his nose filters. The elder heroes find it odd that Robin happened to be in town, but, before they can investigate further, the green cork pops and gas erupts from the earth once again. A wave of force knocks Green Lantern and Fate unconscious, but their bodies shield Robin from the explosion. Remembering his nose filters this time, Robin turns his attention to fixing the gas leak for good.
Flash and Wildcat discover a volcano has erupted from the ground in Peking. It’s the third disaster. A quick thinking Flash runs back and forth in front of the lava flow, creating a trench to protect the city. Wildcat steals a motorbike and not much else, but it makes him look cool. Just as Flash is relaying to Wildcat that his trench is only a temporary solution, look up in the sky!
A new superheroine appears, flying over Flash and Wildcat, toward the volcano. “What’s happening should be fairly obvious” says the narrator. She lifts the massive lava flow, folds it back onto itself and, with a stomp, the volcano is sealed. The stranger introduces herself to Flash and Wildcat as Superman’s cousin Power Girl, and she reveals to Flash and Wildcat the identity of the man behind the disasters: Brain Wave.
Brain Wave spent years in jail after being defeated by the JSA way back in the golden age. In prison, he figures, he was kept away from the beauty of the world, so he’s making up for lost time by decorating his orbital satellite with a collection of stolen art. Also of note, Brain Wave usually looks like a short, nerd scientist. He’s a tall, buff man now for some reason. The narrator assures that this will be explained in time. As Brain Wave monitors the JSA’s progress from space, he thinks about his plan aloud and reveals to the reader that he aims to destroy the JSA. The Earth’s fate is just a side effect. His plan is actually a bit more complicated, but that will have to wait for next time.