VERSUS

We open our story as Firestorm is enjoying a JLA tradition called Monitor Duty. A period where the JLA assigns a hero to “man the headquarters” to keep an eye and ear out for any trouble. It is interminably boring duty and Firestorm being the team rookie is not taking it all that seriously.

Just then the Martian Manhunter bursts through the hull of the JLA’s satellite headquarters demanding to know why the JLA headquarters has been abandoned and where the other JLAers are and who the heck is Firestorm anyway? Before Firestorm gets a chance to answer any of those questions he is prompted by Professor Stein to seal the hull in the satellite before all their oxygen escapes. Manhunter continues his questioning and then ignores Firestorm as too dim witted to chat with (he was talking with himself after all) and as Firestorm pursues him Manhunter uses an ancient Martian trick and goes all invisible.

While Firestorm is dumbstruck by the Manhunter’s disappearance, Prof. Stein points out to Ronnie that the Martian Manhunter seemed to try to avoid Firestorm’s flaming hair, correctly deducing that the Martian Manhunter has a weakness to fire. Sure enough as Firestorm heats the air in the satellite, J’onn’s powers begin to give way and he becomes visible again. But before Firestorm can get anywhere, J’onn just skips the formalities and throws a huge trophy case at Firestorm.

Firestorm counters this move by setting the trophy case J’onn picks up on fire which causes J’onn pause. Manhunter uses his martian vision to cut a water pipe to not only dowse the fire but to distract Firestorm long enough for him to rip up some of the floor and throw it right at the nuclear man with all his strength. This knocks Firestorm unconscious and Martian Manhunter grabs the meteor and leaves the headquarters.

One for the Old Guard.

Firestorm wakes up and sounds the biggest alarm the JLA has and all the non-charter members show up, including the recently resigned Green Arrow. Based on the story Firestorm tells the gathered Leaguers, Green Arrow and Elongated Man deduce all the other original Leaguers must be off gathering the other meteors, but for what reason? Even the Martian Manhunter did not know why he was acting as he did, he was just compelled to do so.

The JLA transporter hums up again and out steps Snapper Carr. Snapper is the JLA’s sidekick/mascot from the early days of the League. It turns out that Firestorm’s signal even signaled his old signal device. The other JLAers leave Snapper and Firestorm on the satellite and head off to stop their comrades from retrieving the other meteors.

When next we chat…

Aquaman vs. The Red Tornado, with a special guest star.