Previously…
The Justice Society of America works with three young allies to stop disasters that have sprung up around the globe. In Capetown Robin is left to deal with a fissure that is leaking hazardous gas as Doctor Fate and Green Lantern pass out. Hawkman and Doctor Mid-Nite witness the recently time-displaced Star-Spangled Kid manage an Earthquake in Seattle, and Power Girl makes her debut, revealing herself to Flash and Wildcat as she puts a cap on a newly formed volcano threatening Peaking. The mastermind behind the disasters is revealed to be the super villain Brainwave. Since his time as member of the Injustice Society he’s taken up art theft, become a tall muscle man and is out for revenge on the JSA.
Brainwave Blows Up!
This issue begins with Brainwave fighting an illusory Justice Society for his own amusement–the psychic equivalent of play fighting action figures–all so we can be teased with a splash page of his victory. A wrinkled man watches on impatiently and reminds Brainwave of the task at hand. The identity of Brainwave’s partner remains a mystery for now, but their goal of world domination–not merely revenge as suggested in last issue–is revealed.
Wildcat is not a happy camper, sulking as Power Girl carries him by the pits through the air. They arrive with Flash back at the JSA brownstone. Wildcat calls PG demeaning names like “Girlie” and “Sweetheart” while insisting non-members aren’t allowed inside. Flash thinks Wildcat must just be stressed and doesn’t seem to notice the sexism. Incidentally, did you know the JSA made Wonder Woman their secretary? Flash invites PG inside. Wildcat, outnumbered, clumsily attempts to bury the hatchet but gets the door slammed in his face when he calls PG a ‘broad’. Flash mediates and the three blast off in the sky-rocket JSA apparently has (I don’t know. There wasn’t a DC Database entry on it)
Robin leads a conveniently nearby dynamite truck into the fissure that has opened in Capetown, betting on the wreckage sealing the leak. In a stroke of luck the explosion does seal the leak, but gas, inexplicably, continues escaping. Robin realizes the gas is an illusion. Just then it appears that a group of henchmen attack Robin. As he starts to fight back, a newly revived Green Lantern uses the beam from his ring to reveal the henchmen to be another psychic trick projected onto innocent bystanders. Fate explains that he, GL and the rest had really been knocked out by a “psychic compulsion”, and that Robin’s actions to reveal the truth of the leak broke the spell. He concludes that this was the work of Brainwave.
Over in Seattle, Star-Spangled Kid finds a fault created by the quake and dives deep underground. Using the Cosmic Rod, Kid creates a “counter quake vibration” which calms the earth. Up in the sky five of Brainwave’s henchmen (these ones apparently real) gang up on Hawkman, who is carrying Doctor Mid-Nite. Mid-Nite attempts to shift his position to Hawkman’s legs so Hawk can punch some bad guys but fails his acrobatics check and starts plummeting. Kid races upward out of the closing fault and catches Mid-Nite just in time. The fight really turns around once Kid joins in. Despite being new to this time, he acts confidently and proves his skill to the others. After victory is achieved, one of the henchmen confirms that they work for Brainwave.
We flashback to Brainwave finding his previously unnamed partner at a homeless shelter. The man is Degaton, a fellow Golden Age villain. His memories of that time are foggy. He is weak and dying. Brainwave has and will continue to be an over-the-top, cartoonish villain, but this one scene is good at conveying a genuine concern for his old friend–a sympathetic motivation. Years of defeat had led Degaton to lose his “strength of will”, so Brainwave made an invention to help. Now, with the fantastic machine, brainwave is able to transfer the will that the JSA had been using in the crises on Earth to his colleague, restoring Degaton to his former glory.
Their celebration is interrupted when Power Girl punches through the satellite wall. The hole is sealed from the vacuum of space by the JSA Sky-Rocket, which has landed on the surface of the satellite. PG gets one satisfying punch that sends Degaton flying backward. Despite that strong start, the fight proves to be a difficult one for the heroes, even as the reinforcements of the Capetown and Seattle teams arrive. Brainwave’s makeover is more than cosmetic. He’s stronger than he was in years past. Amazingly, Degaton is able to Macgyver new inventions out of space lab junk as the fight continues. He creates a stasis ray that doubles as a protective force-field, a sonic cannon and apparently a statue animation ray. I say apparently because this isn’t shown. In one background we can see a statue of Atlas that Brainwave has stolen, and in the next panel the statue and Doctor Mid-Nite are trading blows.
The three young heroes unite to rush Brainwave, but he thwarts them with a few psychic blasts. That’s when things take a dire turn. Brainwave reveals he has the power to hurl the earth away from the sun with his “gravity displacement beam”, and threatens to do just that if the JSA doesn’t immediately surrender. The Society is stopped in their tracks. Brainwave could be bluffing, but he’s shown himself to be more powerful than ever. He might be telling the truth. There’s one thing Green Lantern can’t shake. No one’s yet figured out why Brainwave suddenly has such a different appearance.
When all seems lost, Doctor Fate hatches a plan. He and GL combine their powers to protect Power Girl in a yellow green aura, and she blasts into the vacuum of space. (We’ll just assume Fate and GL are keeping that hole plugged too.) PG uses her might to push Brainwave’s satellite closer to the sun. Everyone inside is sweltering, the place catches fire and machines start melting. Most importantly, Brainwave loses control of his powers and he reverts to his old appearance. The new and improved Brainwave was another psychic projection. GL surmises that Degaton and Brainwave’s relationship was symbiotic. Brainwave would return Degaton’s power and, in turn, Degaton would create a permanent physical version of Brainwave’s new form. I couldn’t tell you where GL got that idea. This is the first mention of Brainwave getting a new body out of the arrangement.
The day is saved. Power Girl is able to move the satellite back away from the sun, and the heroes old and new meet up at the JSA headquarters. Wildcat makes another attempt to not be a jerk. He’s come around to the idea of working with the new heroes. “…It’s just possible you youngsters can learn somethin’ from us old pros. Seeing as how you’re still wet behind the ears.” Power Girl is confused by Wildcat’s boomer lingo and correctly points out she, Robin and Star-Spangled Kid did basically everything. Everyone has a good laugh at Wildcat.