Crisis On Earth-Three

It is that time again when the Justice League of America title is home to another earth-shattering Crisis tale.

This time the tale introduces another Earth and another group of analogues to our mainstay characters.

Before we get into the meet of the story, let us make sure we understand a few things.

Analogues are those characters that are duplicates of another character in another Earth or Dimension.  They share enough traits that they may seem identical or similar to another character.

Superman of Earth-1 and Earth-2 are both depowered by Kryptonite while Ultraman of Earth-3 is powered up when he is exposed to Kryptonite.

Wonder Woman of Earth-1 and Earth-2 are both wielders of amazing amazonian strength, so is Superwoman, but her name has changed.  In addition Superwoman carries a lasso with powers completely different than Wonder Woman’s.

Batman of Earth-1 and Earth-2 are both very similar, as is Owlman.  The main difference is the symbol that each chose in order to don their costumed persona, instead of a bat flying through a window, it was an owl.

Flash of Earth-1 and Earth-2 have similar powers but dissimilar costumes.  Johnny Quick of Earth-3 has a costume similar to Earth-1 Flash, but chose a name similar to Earth-2′s Johnny Quick who is in the All-Star Squadron.

Green Lantern of Earth-1 and Earth-2 have dissimilar costumes but similar powers.  Power Ring’s costume is evocative of Green Lantern of Earth-One but it appears his power ring is more magical in nature, lending itself to the Earth-2 comparison.

Conveniently, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, and Atom are nowhere to be seen in this story leaving the comedy relief to JLA mascot Snapper Carr.

The Crime Syndicate:  Johnny Quick, Superwoman, Ultraman, Power Ring, and Owlman

On Earth-3 the villains of the Crime Syndicate are doing dastardly deeds (done dirt cheap!) and are nearly getting caught.  Each of them comes to the conclusion that they have gone soft and need more challenging opponents than the normal police force can provide.   Ultraman then shares with his comrades that when he was stealing a Kryptonite meteor he was able to use his vision powers to see into another world, where he saw the Justice League performing amazing feats and that they would be worthy foes of The Crime Syndicate.  The other members demand a demonstration and Power Ring uses his ring to view the going’s on with the JLA.  All the Crime Syndicate members agree with Ultraman’s assertion, however Owlman wants a contingency plan in place.

Back on Earth-One the five Justice Leaguers and Snapper are in the Happy Harbor headquarters when a news report comes over to inform the Justice Leaguers of the new villains that are wreaking havoc across the country.  The Leaguers leave immediately and take off for their opposite numbers, however the Crime Syndicate has some surprises and have switched locations in the meantime so when Flash shows up in Central City, instead of confronting Johnny Quick, he has to tackle Ultraman. After an intense struggle Flash finally defeats Ultraman but then Ultraman says a magic word….

“Volthoom” – Ultraman

and with that we leave that scene to see Batman confront the afore mentioned Johnny Quick.  Batman outwits the sinister speedster and when Batman is about to collar the criminal, Johnny Quick says the magic word.

Switch to Superman attempting to prevent Power Ring from stealing money from a bank and after Power Ring proves he is not affected by the weaknesses of GL of Earth-1 or Earth-2 (the color yellow and wood) Superman decides to tackle the problem physically by sucking all the oxygen away from him.  With his whispering breath, Power Ring says “Volthoom”

Wonder Woman catches Superwoman stealing gold covered statues from a millionaire’s mansion (I always wonder if nowadays if it would be Hugh Hefner).  The Amazing Amazon meets the Grim Glamazon and Wonder Woman gets catapulted into the atmosphere by Superwoman’s powerful legs.  WW is able to recover quickly and manages to get back to Superwoman and slings her around to give her completely disoriented.  Superwoman then sends her magic polymorphing lasso after WW.  The lasso transforms into a giant serpent which WW uses her lasso to entangle and then capture Superwoman, who says … you got it!!!

Finally Green Lantern catches up with Owlman.  While Owlman gives GL a good run for his money, mostly due to GL underestimating the powerless foe, GL manages to win but when Owlman says the magic word he and Green Lantern are transported to Earth-Three, where the other Crime Syndicate members have already reappeared with the Justice League members looking very worse for wear.

It turns out that “Volthoom” is the name of the Buddhist monk that gave Power Ring his power ring and by saying that name the Crime Syndicate members would be transported back to Earth-Three along with whomever was touching them at the time.

The Crime Syndicate then kicks the JLA’s collective butts.

While the JLA was able to defeat the Crime Syndicate on Earth-One, they are not able to do so on Earth-Three.

So the score is tied, 1 to 1.  What to do?  What to do?

Is there, perhaps, another Earth to go fight on where both teams would have no advantage?

Why yes there is.  Earth-Two.  The Crime Syndicate hold the JLA prisoner on Earth-Three and go to rid Earth-Two of the JLA’s allies the Justice Society of America so that no one interferes in their little game.  On Earth-Two the JSA has discovered that they are being monitored by evil eyes from elsewhere.  Dr. Fate makes contact with the JLA and the JLAers tell the JSA what is about to happen and warn them not to touch their foes when they defeat them.

Next Up:  The Most Dangerous Game Of All…