Justice League Of America (part 2), No. 79

Written by - Dennis O'Neil

Pencils - Dick Dillin

Ink - Joe Giella

Cover Art - Neal Adams

Following on from the previous post here's part two of the JLA's encounter with the 'Doomsters' entitled 'Come Slowly Death, Come Slyly!', which is from issue 79, March 1970. At the start of this issue Green Arrow arrives on the scene just in time to rescue Batman, Black Canary, Atom and Vigilante who are moments away from having their heads melted off in a vat of acid. Superman and Green Lantern are visiting a planet called Monson, where they find the only survivor who is barely alive. He explains that the planet has been ravaged by it's previous inhabitants, led by 'Chokh', and that most of the people died due to the high levels of pollution created; but only a lucky few were treated to a form of radiation which allowed them to thrive in such conditions. Their plan now was to find yet another planet and destroy it with pollution so as to make it habitable for them - Earth.

Hawkman, who is aboard the JLA Satellite, gets in to the Thanagarian shuttle and chases after the alien's escape ship. However, the aliens shoot down Hawkman's ship and leave him to die in space. The aliens then threaten to drop pollution bombs all over the globe, Superman and Green Lantern return from Monson just in time to save Hawkman. Superman and Green Lantern then board the aliens craft and begin to attack them, whilst this is taking place the alien leader 'Chokh' escapes and manages to board the JLA's satellite. He takes Black Canary hostage but is defeated when Atom Man shrinks down and is able to get close enough to remove Chokh's mask; thus causing him to suffocate on fresh air.

The end of the story sees Green Arrow trying to 'work his magic' on the Black Canary who refuses his advances due to her still mourning the loss of her dead husband. They sit and watch a smoke stack pump pollution into the atmosphere and wonder whether they really managed to accomplish anything at all.

Justice League Of America (part 1), No. 78

Written by - Dennis O'Neil

Pencils - Dick Dillin

Ink - Joe Giella

Cover Art - Gil Kane

Issue 78 of 'Justice League of America' (or JLA) was first published in February 1970 and is the first part of a two part story entitled 'The Coming of the Doomsters!". This issue is significant in that it features first appearances by 'Vigilante' (Gregory Sanders) the expert marksman, and 'The Justice League Satellite I'; a geosynchronous space station satellite headquarters, located 22,300 miles above the equator.

The people of the Earth are becoming sick from smoke inhalation from a rapid increase in pollution and the JLA are being accused of deserting the planet they are sworn to protect. Green Arrow is on patrol in Star City when he spots a security guard trying to stop some crooks; he fires a flaming arrow which accidentally sets the nearby river on fire due to it being full of chemicals. Superman and Green Lantern arrive on the scene to provide some assistance. The crooks are actually the security guards employers and the security guard is the one and only retired super-hero 'Vigilante'. He later reveals that he took the job as security guard as he suspected that the company's sole purpose was to produce pollution and his snooping around turned him into a target from his employers. Atom, Black Canary, Batman and Vigilante find their way into the factory but are knocked out with gas and suspended over a vat of highly toxic chemicals. The leader of this operation looks on as our hero's are lowered towards their certain doom...

To be continued.