| Storyline |
Book
1: Once Upon a Time
Darkseid, content with the order on Apokolips, turned
his attention to the heroes of Earth. He launched
Operation: Humiliation. One of his demons, Brimstone,
appeared in a laboratory overseen by Professor Martin
Stein. Stein merged with Ronnie Raymond in hopes
that Firestorm could stop the towering beast. Firestorm
was no match for it.
Across town, the Flash (now Wally West) took down
Deadshot and headed back to Titans' Tower where
he talked to Changeling about the pressure he was
feeling to live up to Barry Allen's legacy.
Billy Batson summoned Shazam and became Captain
Marvel when Macro Man attacked. Another of Apokolips'
towering giants, Macro Man grabbed him. Using the
Shazam power again, Captain Marvel reverted back
to child form. The lightning bold destroyed Macro
Man. Batson vowed never to become Captain Marvel
again after he realized he'd killed the creature.
Amanda Waller began Task Force X with Colonel Rick
Flag.
Cosmic Boy, a member of the future's Legion of Superheroes,
was visiting 20th century Earth when he heard Brimstone.
He, too, was no match for the behemoth. The Justice
League of America (Vibe, Elongated Man, Vixen, Martian
Manhunter, Firestorm, Gypsy, and Steel) arrived
to help him.
Book
2: Breach of Faith
Billy watched in horror as a media monger spread
his ideas about heroes being the downfall of civilization.
Darkseid watched with a smile - his pseudo being
rigged with explosives had removed one hero from
the equation. The Phantom Stranger attempted to
reason with him.
The JLA continued their battle against Brimstone.
Task Force X recruited Deadshot - they told him
if he lived, all charges would be dropped. Batman
and Robin (Jason) helped Gordon's men take down
some kidnappers in a shopping mall. The shoppers
turned on the vigilantes; Gordon got Batman to safety
and promised that his men would do the same for
Robin. In Chicago, Blue Beetle accidentally busted
up an undercover police operation. The drug dealer
said the vigilante was on his side and the police
opened fire. Beetle got to his ship safely. Green
Lantern (Guy) also experienced some of Darkseid's
poisoning: he saved an airliner from crashing, but
was attacked by motorists when he had to put it
down on a freeway.
Superman met with the President, who placed a cease
and desist order on all costumed heroes.
Robin was found beaten to a pulp by the police.
Book
3: Send for the Suicide Squad
Changeling and Flash were held hostage in Titans
Tower by Sarge Steel while protesters picketed outside.
Bronze Tiger and Deadshot joined the rest of the
Suicide Squad, Captain Boomerang, Blockbuster, and
the Enchantress. They went after Brimstone and defeated
him. Using an experimental laser weapon, Deadshot
destroyed the beast. Blockbuster was killed.
Bruce visited Jason in the hospital, he was beaten
up pretty bad.
Darkseid prepared to unleash his warhounds - mechanical
dogs.
Book
4: Cry Havoc
Black Canary stopped Count Vertigo's attack on some
police officers, but the cops turned on each other
when one tried to arrest the hero. In their struggle,
one was accidentally shot.
Batman ignored the President's mandate and took
down the Joker, who'd killed several to impress
a girl (then took her hostage). Blue Beetle also
continued on. He thwarted a heist by Chronos, but
the would-be thief got away when the cops tried
to apprehend the hero. Kent Nelson got fed up with
all the reports about the heroes and became Dr.
Fate.
Colonel Flag freed the members of Task Force X.
Captain Boomerang was the only one to quit, and
he quickly went on a rampage. Flash (who he referred
to as Kid Flash) and Changeling attempted to stop
him, but they were met by Warhounds.
Book
5: Let Slip the Dogs of War
When one of his friends was injured by rioters,
Billy Batson once again called upon Shazam. Dr.
Fate recruited him, Black Canary, Green Lantern,
Blue Beetle, Batman, Changeling, the Flash, and
Superman. When G. Gordon Godfrey (the media monger
who was actually one of Darkseid's agents) grabbed
Captain Boomerang, Task Force X was called in to
either kill their former member or save him. Godfrey's
mob headed to Washington intent on overthrowing
the government.
Young Jason Todd got fed up with the images he was
seeing on TV. Despite casts on his arm and leg,
he suited up as Robin and went in to help.
Darkseid and the Phantom Stranger looked on, realizing
the end of the ordeal was soon.
Book
6: Finale
Martian Manhunter joined Dr. Fate's team and told
the rest that the Justice League had disbanded.
As they battled the Warhounds, Parademons from Apokolips
flew into the fray. One snatched the helmet of Nabu
from Dr. Fate. The Suicide Squad rescued Boomerang;
Godfrey enchanted Bronze Tiger. The Amazonian Princess
Diana joined the fight as Wonder Woman. Guy Gardner
got a good taste of her abilities as she took down
some Warhounds.
Martian Manhunter, posing as the President, took
down attackers planning to overtake the White House.
Even with the tide turning in their favor, the heroes
were surrounded by civilians under Godfrey's spell.
He ordered them to kill. Led by Robin, a group of
children stood between the rioters and their heroes.
Godfrey attacked one of the kids and the tides turned
a final time - the rioters realized what was happening
and turned on Godfrey. Godfrey put on the helmet
of Dr. Fate and was knocked down by it's power.
As the rioters regained their senses and left, a
new Justice League was formed.
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