Countdown #32 "Earth-3, Heroes 0" BY FREE STEVE CHUNG Last week in Countdown #32, we saw Green Lantern, Jason Todd, Donna Troy, and the Monitor arrive in the Metropolis of Earth 3. As they prepare for their encounter with the exact opposite of the Justice League of this world, we'll take a look at a time when another super-hero from Earth 1 traveled from his home world, and met the Crime Syndicate of Earth 3.
It all began when the Wizard passed through an experimental energy field for a trip to Earth-2, where he planned to commit a series of crimes. Pursuing the Secret Society of Super-Villains through the energy field is Captain Comet, the Mutant Man of the Future. It is up to him to solve the puzzle of "One Earth Too Many"
The sheer power of the transponder field has nearly caused the Captain to lose consciousness, but he can't afford to pass out now. The Wizard and the others are ahead of him in the interdimensional field. If he is to follow them, he must retain his senses. Captain Comet spots his quarry, but they are too far away for him to reach them in time. Among the five members of the Secret Society of Super-Villains are: Star Sapphire, who was knocked unconscious by the Wizard to ensure her cooperation. Her real identity is unknown. The Plantmaster is an outcast from the Sylvan Dimension, and seeks to rule over Earth. Professor Zoom has arrived from the 25th Century, and is also known as the Reverse-Flash. World domination is also his purpose. The Blockbuster is a tragic victim of an experiment gone wrong. His sole desire is to kill the Batman. The leader of the group is the Wizard, who has promised them that their dreams will come true, and who notices that his plans are about to be delayed.
He has never endured such conditions during previous travel between Earths. His power glove should be able to rend it asunder. Professor Zoom notes that the magic isn't working, and his own future science isn't going to be of much help. While the Floronic Man foresees their doom, the Wizard succeeds in creating a rift to Earth-2. They must hurry before it seals itself forever. The various villains hurl themselves to safety, little heeding the green globe in the distance. From the globe emerge three shadowy figures, before the globe reseals itself once more.
Professor Zoom compliments the Wizard on his performance, but the magician suggests that they delay such congratulations until they have found a hideout. If the Justice Society become aware of their presence, their advantage will be lost. Looking around, the Plantmaster believes that they are still in the Metropolis of Earth-1. The startled spectators fail to recognize the Wizard. When asked by the Reverse-Flash why the people of Earth-2 should fail to recognize him, the magician replies that it's his new wardrobe which puzzles them. Before more questions can be asked, a verdant beam strikes them down. They are under attack, but not by the Justice League of America. Looking up at the three costumed figures entering through the rift, the Wizard can only wonder who they are.
Since there are no super heroes on this Earth, Power Ring figures that the newcomers must be from another Earth. Their friends imprisoned them in space once. Super Woman has heard enough and wants a fight. Her magic lasso fails to capture Professor Zoom, who retaliates with a speedy attack of his own. As the Emerald Gangster seeks to unleash his power beam once more, the Plant Master hurls one of his hyper-growing plantoids, and repels the attack.
With no time for explanations, the Wizard orders the Blockbuster to smash their foes. Johnny Quick and Power Ring are caught off-guard by the brute's charge, but Super Woman strikes him down herself. With the odds against them, Johnny Quick tells Power Ring to get them out of there.
Super Woman wants a rematch, but she'll have to wait. With their opponents gone, the Plant Master retrieves the fallen Star Sapphire, and the Wizard intends on finding out just where they are. Elsewhere, Captain Comet uses telepathy to seek out his foes, and detects the rift in space-time. Where the Secret Society have gone, he is sure to follow.
Finding himself in Gotham City, the Captain asks a police officer for direction, and is almost shot. He is mistaken for a super-villain who has been terrorizing Metropolis, and the others in the crowd don't know what to make of the costumed figure in their midst. Thanks to his mental powers, Captain Comet is able to place the people into a trance until he is safely away.
The Captain searches for answers at the Gotham Public Library. He is on a world where Columbus was an American who discovered Europe, where England fought for its independence from the United States, and where an actor named Abraham Lincoln shot President John Wilkes Booth. The Crime Syndicate of America has terrorized this Earth, but they disappeared years ago. Captain Comet suddenly recalls what he read in the Justice League casebook. The Crime Syndicate attacked the Justice League on Earth-1, causing the second adventure between the JLAers and the Justice Society of America. Members of the Crime Syndicate included: Ultraman, who gained his powers with each exposure to Kryptonite, Superwoman, a renegade amazon from Paradise Island, Johnny Quick, the Fastest Felon Alive, Owlman, an evil genius, and Power Ring, the Emerald Gangster.
To test their powers, the Crime Syndicate attacked the Justice Leaguers on Earth-1, but were beaten when Hawkman, Starman, Doctor Mid-Nite, Black Canary, and Doctor Fate aided the JLA. Once the Syndicators were defeated, the Green Lantern of Earth-1 placed them in an energy bubble, and imprisoned them between dimensions. There they remained. Adam Blake can barely think about what would happen if the Crime Syndicate were to team up with the Secret Society. In an abandoned waterfront warehouse in Metropolis, Star Sapphire has come to her senses, and is determined to blast the Wizard to atoms.
The magician reminds them all that they have more important things to worry about. He has studied the constellations and has found a mystic path to Earth-2. In order to follow that path, they must acquire three tokens of power to pass through the dimensional barrier. As it happens, the three tokens they need belong to the very villains they fought this morning. On the outskirts of Metropolis, on an isolated mountain peak stands the Eyrie of Evil, headquarters of the Crime Syndicate of America.
The three Syndicators listen to the Wizard's message being received via glowing ring. The Secret Society plans to conquer their world and challenge the Syndicate for supremacy. They are to meet separately at three different locations. Super Woman takes the Imperial Building, while Johnny Quick prepares to head for Pythias Peak, and Power Ring will face his foe on the King Washington Luxury Liner at Metropolis Pier. The Wizard's plan is working perfectly, with the Crime Syndicate splitting up their forces, and Plant Master setting his sights on Johnny Quick. The Fastest Felon Alive fails to notice the root plantoids before its too late, and he is brought down.
As the Floronic Man collects his token, he hopes that the others are as successful. On the S.S. King Washington, Power Ring is searching for the Wizard, and finds a breeze come from both North and South. When he tries to use his green beam on the speedster, Professor Zoom teaches him a lesson by striking him from behind.
While the Reverse-Flash retrieves his token from the unconscious criminal, Super Woman flies to the Imperial Building in downtown Metropolis. The Amazon does not hesitate and is confident that she will prevail. Behind a sculpture, Star Sapphire silently urges the Blockbuster to lift, and throw it at their unsuspecting foe.
K-THOOM! As she retrieves the final token from Super Woman, Star Sapphire is determined to return to Earth-1, and have her revenge on the Wizard. With Johnny Quick's helmet, Power Ring's green band, and Super Woman's lasso, the magician is ready to pierce the barrier between worlds.
Mist fills the entire room, causing the Secret Society to vanish from this reality. Minutes later, Captain Comet arrives on the scene, and discovers that his quarry have managed to elude him once more. If they are not here, then where are they? Unfortunately for the Captain, the three Syndicators have also come in search of answers, and Adam Blake must face a group which took both the Justice League and Justice Society to defeat. What can the Mutant Man of the Future do on his own?
"One Earth Two Many" first appeared in Secret Society Of Super-Villains #13 (March, 1978)
Scripted by Gerry Conway. Pencilled by Mike Vosburg. Inked by Bob Smith. Lettered by Adam Kubert. Colored by Cornelia Adams. Edited by Jack C. Harris.
Countdown #32 "Earth-3, Heroes 0" BY FREE STEVE CHUNG Last week in Countdown #32, we saw Green Lantern, Jason Todd, Donna Troy, and the Monitor arrive in the Metropolis of Earth 3. As they prepare for their encounter with the exact opposite of the Justice League of this world, we'll take a look at a time when another super-hero from Earth 1 traveled from his home world, and met the Crime Syndicate of Earth 3.
Great article.... but it wasn't the Crime Syndicate that they met. It was the Crime Society.
-------------------- The floggings will continue until morale improves. ~ anonymous
Why can't people with closed minds come with closed mouths?
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. Posts: 627 | From: Chicagoland | Registered: May 2002
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Thanks for reading and it's a pleasure to hear from a fellow letterhack (I especially remember your locs in Green Lantern).
Yup, Green Lantern, Jason Todd, Donna Troy, and the Monitor met the Crime Society of Earth 3, while Captain Comet met the Crime Syndicate of Earth 3 in Secret Society Of Super-Villains #13.
Posts: 3532 | From: San Bruno | Registered: Aug 2002
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