“Yesterday’s” Comic> Justice League Of America #205

I’d make a VA joke but I’m really hoping that will be outdated someday.

Justice League Of America Vol. 23 #205

DC Comics (August, 1982)

I haven’t read the other two parts of this arc, but it’s easy to follow. The Royal Flush Gang is putting the Justice League into a coma, except it’s not the Gang but Hector Hammond, draining the heroes’ mental energies. However, one of those minds is Firestorm–who is actually two minds. And for a reason I hope was established elsewhere in the storyline, Professor Stein isn’t being affected and soon must forge himself a mental body to battle Hammond one on one.

What they got right: Hey look, Black Canary and Green Arrow are still a couple. The current Flush Gang were rather clever in how they took down Batman (someone took down Batman…impossible!) and the Elongated Man, but I didn’t see Jack switching sides after making a deal with Black Canary. But the highlight is definitely Martin Stein taking down Hammond. Had this been a pure battle of minds, Hammond might have the advantage. However, they created mental bodies and fought mental hand-to-hand and Stein hasn’t been paralyzed for who knows how long and can manipulate a body better. It’s nice seeing Stein, passive by the nature of his union with Ronnie as Firestorm, getting the chance to shine in this story.

What they got wrong: I first learned of Firestorm thanks to Super Friends so it’s strange that the Justice League doesn’t know that Firestorm is the merger of two people. Also, someone controlled the entrepreneur that created the new Flush Gang, we get it. Yet Canary and Ralph keep bringing it up, even in their heads.

Recommendation: I’d love to get my hands on the first two chapters of this story just to see all the events that led to this issue. On its own it’s still a good story and gives you what you need to follow along. I recommend it, since it’s nice to see a Justice League that actually like each other.