1997 Fleer/Skybox JLA Overpower Any Character "Wizard In Top Hat & Tails" Card

I'm sorry guys, but I've been a terrible blogger with regard to Justice League Detroit. I've been pulled in 15 different directions since the holiday season, and I'll probably be struggling with posts until the end of next month. I've been promising a new story synopsis to no avail, but I'd like to use Zatanna here as my Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card.

I've been covering Overpower pretty extensively at The Idol-Head of Diabolu recently, and it has bled over into my other blogs. While many Overpower players were dismissive of DC's under-developed character cards, this One Per Deck Special Card, which could be used by anyone, was too good to pass up. Basically, you could use this card to retrieve any other card you had either already used or lost by some other means. You also didn't have to reveal what the card was, so you retained the element of surprise. Pretty nifty, no?

Fly to Africa to rescue Henry Heywood

Even with his inhuman speed, it took John Jones some time to fly from Colorado to Africa-- too much time. Jones managed to dismantle the local base of the Lizard-Men near an airfield, but not before the reptiles had downed a plane carrying the now deceased Heywood, the Reverend Ricard Jiwe, and his very pregnant bride. Back in Detroit, Jones learned that physicist Ray Palmer and other innocents had been killed in the assault on the Heywood Defense Industries plant. How many more would die before the threat of the Lizard-Men was finally routed?

Unhappy with your ending? Then start over!

Leave well enough alone?

A few days after returning to Middleton, John Jones continued his quest to track down the various cells of Lizard-Men still plaguing the Earth. One morning at his police precinct, Jones was called into the office of his superior, Captain Harding. There, he was met by visiting guest Henry Heywood, who insisted the hero call him "Hank." Despite the warmth of Heywood's words, there was a severe undercurrent of anger and disgust when the Lizard-Men came up. Captain Harding was startled by the mention of such a bizarre notion, and Jones was surprised "Hank" hadn't just erupted into a geyser of blood. Heywood continued, "Jones, we need men like you to keep us safe from this type of filth. I swear to you, I won't rest until every alien freak is deported off our planet for good! What kind of state would we be in if we didn't remain vigilant, son?"

"What indeed," answered Jones, with no small disdain of his own.

• The Atom in "Decisions, Decisions!"
• Commander Steel in "Assault of the Lizard-Men"
• Martian Manhunter in "Last Stand of the Lizard-Men"

 

Shield Mrs. Jiwe

As Hank spread his arms and leaned back toward Mrs. Jiwe, he felt her hand firmly press against his side. A few seconds later, Heywood found himself launched like a rocket into the disguised Lizard-Men, bowling them over like pins. Hank turned to see the Jiwes sprinting for the nearest exit, the missus surprisingly spry for a woman so long with child. Gathering his senses, Hank clobbered the remaining Lizard-Men before they could recover, and took one of their machine guns. Racing after the Jiwes, Hank was met by one of his subordinates. Heywood was informed that the company had received a tip that Lizard-Men disguised as federal agents were about to raid their Detroit plant.

Heywood reached Ray Palmer's office at his Detroit lab, and warned him of the upcoming attack. Palmer confirmed that the building had already been surrounded, but was incredulous when Heywood ordered him to release a troop of Synthetic Men the company had been developing. Palmer hung up without confirming his intentions, and Heywood had to determine his own.

Suit up for battle?
Try to escape the country?

Rush the Lizard-Men

Hank lunged at the Lizard-Men, taking down several before gunfire ripped through his artificial flesh. Surprisingly, an animalistic growl came up from behind, and the remaining Lizard-Men began spraying their cold blood across the room. Covered in gore was Mrs. Jiwe, heavy with child, yet feral as a jungle cat. Her husband cried, "The totem? You promised!" His wife replied, "We needed it! Would you rather lose your child than defend ourselves?" The Jiwes' attention returned to Heywood, unexpectedly fit, given his wounds.

Just then, one of Hank's subordinates burst into the hall. Heywood was informed that the company had received a tip that Lizard-Men disguised as federal agents were about to raid their Detroit plant. Hank looked at the Jiwes, and said, "We both got our secrets. Point me in the direction of a phone, and I'll make sure to keep yours."

Heywood reached Ray Palmer's office at his Detroit lab, and warned him of the upcoming attack. Palmer confirmed that the building had already been surrounded, but was incredulous when Heywood ordered him to release a troop of Synthetic Men the company had been developing. Palmer hung up without confirming his intentions, and Heywood had to determine his own.

Suit up for battle?
Try to escape the country?

Escape The Country

Henry Heywood made his way to the airfield, and boarded a private plane. However, the Lizard-Men had the field under watch, and blew the craft out of the sky. Despite his incredible abilities, Heywood did not survive, leaving the destruction of the Lizard-Men in the hands of other heroes.

Hank Heywood Jr. finished school and, with the guidance of his surrogate father Dale Gunn, eventually took over Heywood Defense Industries. Under his guidance, the company continues to produce some of the finest military and law enforcement technology in the world.

Unhappy with your ending? Then start over!

Suit Up

Henry Heywood made his way back to his hotel room, where he had stashed the lightweight bulletproof armor he wore as Steel, the Indestructible Man. Heywood then fought to reach the military camp of General Maksai, where he also found the Jiwes. The Reverend explained that en route, his wife had determined that the Lizard-Men had formed a camp near the local airfield. In order to reach the camp, Steel would have to negotiate a dense jungle, though Maksai would send him out with guides.

Later, Steel's guides were killed by Lizard-Men, forcing Steel to navigate on his own.



At what point in the jungle should Commander Steel exit?

North
West
East

East

Hopelessly lost in the jungle, it would be years before Commander Steel's body was discovered by one of General Maksai's patrols. Converting Steel's bulletproof garb for his own use and combining it with the Tantu Totem, General Maksai became an unstoppable force in Africa, claiming one country after another under his rule.

Unhappy with your ending? Then start over!

North

Hopelessly lost in the jungle, it would be years before Commander Steel's body was discovered by one of General Maksai's patrols. Converting Steel's bulletproof garb for his own use and combining it with the Tantu Totem, General Maksai became an unstoppable force in Africa, claiming one country after another under his rule.

Unhappy with your ending? Then start over!

West

 

Exiting the jungle, Commander Steel launched a terrific offensive against the Lizard-Men, and eventually overcame all resistance. Hank Heywood left Africa an honored friend to Reverend Richard Jiwe, and returned to the States to root out the last of the Lizard-Men from his great nation. It happened that Ray Palmer and a Colorado police officer named John Jones had successfully defended the Detroit Heywood Defense Industries plant, and Hank was pleased to walk its slowly recovering halls. A janitor asked Heywood if everything would be alright now. "Don't you worry, Ramone-- so long as I have anything to say about it, you'll always have a broom to push around here!

• The Atom in "Decisions, Decisions!"
• Commander Steel in "Assault of the Lizard-Men"
• Martian Manhunter in "Last Stand of the Lizard-Men"

 

Who's Who in the DC Universe #6: Royal Flush Gang Profile Page (1/91)

As usual, I've been a very bad Detroit supporter. I promised a story synopsis, have so far failed to deliver, and offer a late substitution besides. Re-Presenting: The Royal Flush Gang! Robert Greenberger's text got real blurry, even after multiple scanning attempts, until I just gave up. The art by Steve Erwin and Al Vey holds up better.

Ty Templeton JLA-Z #3 Royal Flush Gang Pin-Up (1/04)

Sorry I've been a bad boy this Christmas, having missed a week's worthy of Detroit posts. I'll make up for that later in the week, beginning a run of synopsis pitting former members of the Detroit League against departed Royal Flush Gang representatives-- the super-villains they faced in JLA Classified #22, #23, #24 and #25!

1993 Skybox DC Cosmic Teams Justice League International Team Triptych Cards

Art by Ron Randall and Randy Elliott, featuring a rare instance of Ralph Dibney wearing a mask!

Impel 1992 Series I DC Cosmic Cards #77 in a series of 180

Here's a trading card of the Suicide Squad-era Vixen, as drawn by Luke McDonnell and Mike Clark. The market for these things exploded for Impel with Marvel Universe Series I in 1990, so it was only natural the company would follow-up with a DC set. That first Marvel offering was a mixed bag in terms of art quality, and they shared a universally boring white border with bare bones fonts. Cosmic Cards was an improvement, with some nice looking logos and lettering. Unfortunately, they were marred by the horrible, thick gray borders you see above, as well as mostly generic artwork. This allowed the vastly superior second Marvel series to leave both in the dust with its snazzy design work, bold fonts, and fan-pleasing images from the hottest artists of the day. Also, I seem to recall this "1992" series coming out late in '91, and I suspect a lengthier approval process at DC allowed MU II the advantage in the not-ugly-as-heck department, only more noticeable by its earlier arrival.

Justice League #1 (May 1987)

Maxwell Lord IV scanned television reports from outside the Justice League's mountain base: "... Many people question the effectiveness of a new J.L.A. in these times of, at best, grudging tolerance of super-- ...Two of the newer members arrive-- I'm sorry, one new member and a veteran of this oldest of super-teams-- ...A Martian. What effect his presence will have on public opinion is yet to be--"

An arrogant Green Lantern Guy Gardner brooded alone at the new Justice League meeting table, intent on demanding leadership of the fledgling team. He was soon joined by Black Canary, Mr. Miracle, Oberon, Captain Marvel, and, together, Blue Beetle with the Manhunter from Mars. Oberon felt the media circus surrounding the group's reformation couldn't hurt.

Martian Manhunter: "In light of recent events-- I would tend to doubt it."
Blue Beetle: "I think the Martian Manhunter's just being paranoid, group!"
Martian Manhunter: "Then I suggest you think again! ...They are wolves-- waiting to consume us. To them, we're novelties... Sideshow freaks-- viewed with amusement one moment, reviled the next."
Blue Beetle: "Look, J'Onzz-- we don't really know each other... but aren't you being a tad grim?"
Martian Manhunter: "You are correct, Beetle. You don't know me. Nor do you know what I have lived through... what the old League endured... what we lost.

J'Onn cued a monitor bank of images:

Steel.

Gypsy.

Vixen.

Vibe.

He gazed at them solemnly for a moment, then crestfallen, pressed a button to purge the vision of his former teammates. Dinah consoled, "J'Onn, I--" but before she could finish, the most obnoxious Green Lantern returned to demanding leadership of the outfit.

A screaming match with Black Canary developed, followed by rough handling of Oberon, prompting Manhunter to step between the pair.

"Stop

This

Now!"

Unlike with Superman, Guy Gardner felt no hesitation about tugging on the Martian Manhunter's cape, lifting him off the ground by the neck. "I strongly suggest you let me down."
"Just butt out, Jolly Green-- or I'll boot you back to the valley! Ho-ho-ho."

Gardner briefly relented, until Oberon renewed hostilities, prompting Mr. Miracle to complain, "J'Onn, this is utterly infantile..."
"You are correct, Mr. Miracle. This is infantile. And it's time our ring-wielding baby got the spanking he deserves!."

Batman and Dr. Fate walked in on a full scale brawl, as Captain Marvel took a power ring blast to the belly that launched him into a guarded Alien Atlas. The Dark Knight strode through the collection of heroes to pacify Guy Gardner with his overwhelming presence, and a meeting commenced.

Meanwhile, the heroic Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi) was at the United Nations, where her new Justice League signal-device was paging her relentlessly. She was so distracted, she almost missed the terrorists who would hold her and the General Assembly hostage.

The Batman was alerted, so he sent Captain Marvel and Dr. Fate ahead while he joined the rest of the team in flying to the scene inside Beetle's Bug craft. On arrival, Manhunter noted, "Batman-- I don't see Dr. Fate..." ...who vanished to take care of another matter.

The Martian Marvel joined his team in stealthily entering the U.N., where he embedded the heads of several assailants quite forcefully into a corridor ceiling. The Sleuth From Outer Space then invisibly contacted Dr. Light, whispering in her ear, "Show no alarm. Make no sudden moves. I'm J'Onn J'Onzz of the Justice League--"
"Y-you're invisible?!"
"Obviously. Now, please-- listen carefully." At his signal, Dr. Light blinded everyone in her vicinity, as Green Lantern swiftly handled all but two of he remaining terrorists. Dr. Light had elbowed half the remainder.
"I admire you... efficiency."
"Years of practice."
"They paid off."

Batman stared down the final boss, who thereafter committed apparent suicide. Martian Manhunter was annoyed to face the press after.

Meanwhile, the tycoon Maxwell Lord IV watched all these events from afar, having bankrolled the terrorists as part of a plot to help put the new Justice League on the international map...