Description

Justice: Volume Two                      Sealed Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket
Writers: Jim Krueger & Alex Ross
Artists: Doug Braithwaite & Alex Ross
Letterer: Todd Klein
Cover by: Alex Ross

An extraordinary hardcover volume written by comics legends Alex Ross (KINGDOM COME) & Jim Krueger (Earth X) with art by Doug Braithwaite & Alex Ross! In this volume, a conspiracy of villains has found a way to use Superman’s powers against him. He’s beyond control and there’s only one solution – which may kill him!

Also features:
Introduction by Doug Braithwaite
Beautiful 2-page art (see the 9th scan {Superman vs Batman} & 11th scan {Batcave})
From Bruce Wayne’s Private Files in the Batcomputer – Character Bios.
Original Pencils – Artwork Gallery (see the 10th scan {Superman vs Batman})
Creator Bios – Jim Krueger, Alex Ross, & Doug Braithwaite

Story/Spoilers
In part #1, Elongated Man suspects something is wrong; the world’s supervillains are serving humanitarian causes and no one from the Justice League is responding to their allegations (or answering his calls). Martian Manhunter frees himself from Gorilla Grodd’s psychic assault and realizes that the League faces a unified conspiracy. Brainiac and Lex Luthor acknowledge a mutual professional enmity, but agree to work together nonetheless. Brainiac hands Luthor several small spheres.

The Atom is in the hospital with Jean Loring at his side. Black Canary, seeing a fear-induced hallucination of Green Arrow lying dead, screams (with her Canary Cry); the two drive off Clayface and the Scarecrow. During her struggle with Wonder Woman, the Cheetah slashes Diana’s face, arms, and body with her claws; although Wonder Woman nearly subdues her foe, the villainess manages to escape. Green Lantern is lost in a space void, with his ring providing him life-support. Hawkman and Hawkgirl survive Toyman’s attack.

Superman is rescued by Captain Marvel and the two travel to the Batcave for help, but Batman and Alfred, under the control of microscopic mechanical worms, attack them. Elsewhere, Luthor realizes that Brainiac plans to betray him, just as he will betray Brainiac — and throws the small orbs he has been given into the ocean. The orbs enlarge and become the model cities.

Superman realizes that he too is infected with the mind worms, and instructs Captain Marvel to throw him into the sun to burn them out of his body.

Next in part #2, Captain Marvel throws Superman into the Sun. Giganta tries to finish off Ray Palmer in the hospital, but Jean Loring has brought his shrink technology, and he escapes. Hal Jordan’s ring converts him to pure energy and transports him inside the ring itself; he is placed in a simulacrum of Coast City. Martian Manhunter heads to Superman’s Fortress of Solitude to rendezvous with the other League members, and Hawkman and Hawkwoman investigate Toyman.

Gorilla Grodd remarks to Brainiac and Luthor that he has no mental sense of Superman, and that the Man of Steel may be dead. Luthor is dubious; Brainiac seems nonplussed by Captain Marvel’s inclusion in their calculations. Grodd recommends sending “the dream” to Black Adam. Elsewhere, Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow) administers eye treatment to one of many patients waiting to enter one of the new cities. Meanwhile, Vicki Vale comments on television about the villains’ benvolence, and the absence of the Justice League.

In disguise, the Joker lines up to enter one of the cities. Superman bursts out of the Sun, freed of the mind worms’ control, while Wonder Woman heads to the Batcave. She finds it has been taken over by Poison Ivy. Batman, incapacitated by the mind worms, is freed of the control when Wonder Woman binds him in her Lasso of Truth. Meawhile, Hawkman and Hawkwoman find Toyman’s warehouse, are assaulted by his forces, and discover that he is making multiple Brainiac androids. In the Batcave, Grodd takes mental control of Alfred, who threatens Batman and Wonder Woman. At Ferris Air, John Stewart inquires about Hal’s whereabouts; no one has any leads. Superman and Captain Marvel arrive at the satellite just as it explodes. They initiate a vain search for the Red Tornado.

Elsewhere, Zatanna joins Will Magnus, who is repairing the Red Tornado; the Metal Men look on anxiously. Red Tornado comes back online and reveals that Aquaman is in Argentina.

Across the ocean, the Flash cannot stop running.

Next in part #3, Zatanna and J’onn J’onzz continue their search for Aquaman, ultimately finding him unconscious in a warehouse. Brainiac watches, using holograms to communicate with Lex Luthor and Grodd in another facility. The villains, using the information gained about the friends and companions of the Justice Leaguers, intend to capture them all.

In the subway station in Fawcett City, Freddy Freeman and Mary Batson look for Captain Marvel, while Solomon Grundy spies on Dick Grayson and Wally West. Batman instructs Diana to keep the lasso around him, in order to fend off the mind control. The two head to the Fortress of Solitude in Wonder Woman’s invisible plane.

Hawkman and Hawkgirl fight a large Brainiac robot army. In order to help Barry to stop running, Superman and Captain Marvel combine forces: Captain Marvel utters the word “Shazam!” and the resulting lightning bolt drives Barry off-balance and Superman catches him just after he catches Billy and throws the boy into the air so he can safely transform back into the Captain to rejoin his comrades. In the interim Aqualad, Jimmy, Lois, Wally West, and Dick Grayson are all captured, while Hal Jordan, trapped inside his ring, relives how he broke off his engagement with Carol Ferris. The ring informs Hal that he will live forever in his present stasis, alone and trapped.

In Shazam’s cave, Black Adam grabs Mary and covers her mouth so she cannot utter the magic word, and threatens to kill her if Freddy utters his magic phrase (“Captain Marvel!”).

The superheroes rally at the Fortress of Solitude. They share information and learn how the supervillains learned of their secret identities and those of their loved ones. Zatanna and J’onn J’onzz call upon Niles Caulder and the Doom Patrol to help nurse Aquaman back to health. Brainiac has cut out the part of Aquaman’s brain that controls his telepatic abilities, perhaps in a bid to enhance Grodd’s own. Caulder informs the concerned heroes that their comrade’s special anatomy is healing itself. Caulder has Aquaman placed in a special tank designed to enhance his natural healing factor.

At the close of the issue a mind-controlled Aqualad tears Aquaman’s son from Mera’s arms and turns him over to Black Manta.

Finally in part #4, Outside the Fortress of Solitude, Batman and Superman discuss the dichotomy between Metropolis and Gotham City, and the effectiveness of the villains’ coordinated attacks. Superman leaves the Dark Knight and flies above the Earth to a stationary orbit; observing the villains’ floating cities, he recognizes Brainiac’s hand in their construction.

The Flash confronts Captain Cold in Africa and apprehends him after a brief skirmish. He brings Cold to the Fortress, where Batman intimidates Cold into talking about what he knows.

Ray Palmer is told about Brainiac’s plan: mind-control worms have been miniaturized by Brainiac so that they can infiltrate the human body.

Batman alerts the other Leaguers to what Captain Cold told him:

“The villains who have been attacking us have had the same recurring nightmare, a vision of the end. They have not questioned its origins, believing only that their shared experience somehow makes the dream true […] They dream that we all fail to save anyone, including ourselves. If anything this world’s trust in the Justice League was its undoing. And so, our enemies have formed an alliance to either stop the coming end of life, or prepare a remnant of humanity to survive it.”

The Joker, disguised as a preacher, enters one of the cities unnoticed.

In Metropolis, Luthor oversees Supergirl’s kidnapping at the hands of the Parasite. The Scarecrow and Clayface kidnap Batgirl. In the world generated by his ring, the young Hal Jordan is confronted by the Phantom Stranger and brought to the Fortress. Wonder Woman reveals to Captain Marvel that the wounds she incurred in her battle with Cheetah continue to damage her from within and will eventually destroy her.

Mera arrives and informs Aquaman that Aqualad spirited away their son and handed him over to Black Manta; Aquaman vows to kill Brainiac. Red Tornado alerts the League that their loved ones (including Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane) have all been kidnapped.

Hardcover reprints/collects: Justice (2005) #5-8.  DC Comics

Sealed Hardcover is bagged and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Printing
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date: February 2007
Format: FC, 160 pages, HC, 7″ x 10.5″
ISBN-10: 1401212069
ISBN-13: 9781401212063

Collectible Entertainment note: Hardcover w/ Dust Jacket is Brand New & Factory Sealed.  Very Fine + condition.  Beautiful!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Alex Ross and/or DC Universe collector / enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Recommended.

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