Secret Society of Super-Villains #2, August 1976

Story

"No Man Shall I Call Master!"

Credits

Editor/Writer:Gerry Conway
Co-Writer: David A. Kraft
Artist:Pablo Marcos
Embellisher: Bob Smith
Cover Art:

Feature Characters

Captain Cold
Gorilla Grodd
Manhunter
Mirror Master I
Sinestro
Star Sapphire II
Hi-Jack
: - Former member of the Royal Flush Gang who first appeared in Justice League of America #43, the Jack has updated his costume and name for membership in the Secret Society. Last Seen in The Joker #5. Appears with the above characters as the Secret Society of Super-Villains.
Captain Comet (Adam Blake): - 1st Modern Appearance. An advanced mutant and arguably Earth-1's first Super-hero. Last seen in Strange Adventures #46.
Darkseid: - Ruler of Apokolips. No real appearance, supposedly revealed as the mysterious benefactor behind the Secret Secret Society. Last seen in New Gods #12.
Mantis the Power Parasite: - One of Darkseid's Elite, a group of super-powered agents of Apokolips. Last seen in Forever People #6.
Green Lantern: - last seen in Justice League of America #132.

Other Characters

Unindentified crowds outside First National Bank
Unidentified residents of Adam Blake's hometown
John and Martha Blake and Emery Zackro - No appearance. Adam Blake's parents and benefactor. Revealed as deceased in this story.

Comments

This issue re-introduces Captain Comet, a space faring hero on the 1950's. Since Comet never had any encounters with other DC character during his run in Strange Adventures, this issue establishes him within Earth-1 continuity. His origin and early career are re-counted on pages 7 and 8.
The cover is somewhat misleading, showing Green Lantern in battle with Comet, Grodd and the Star Sapphire. Star Sapphire's role is taken by Hi-Jack in the actual story.

This story is continued next issue.

Synopsis

After 20 years of wandering in space, Captain Comet decides his return to Earth is long overdue. Returning to Earth at San Francisco, he resumes his guise as Adam Blake just in time to see Green Lantern attempted to stop the robbery of the First National Bank by Grodd and Hi-Jack. Comet immediately jumps to the wrong conclusion that Green Lantern is aggressor in this story and that the criminals are the innocents. He quickly intervenes and subdues the Lantern, helping Grodd and Hi-Jack make an effective escape back to the Secret Citadel. Once there, Hi-Jack recounts their rescue to their fellow members and Grodd reveals the Captain's origin, snatched via mental telepathy. Grodd reveals that he is using his own telepathy tp dampen Comet's mental powers, preventing him reading the minds of the Society members present. At Manhunter's suggestion, Captain Comet is unwittedly inducted into the Secret Society of Super-Villains.

Later, Comet returns to his hometown as Adam Blake in an attempt to re-acquaint himself with his past. There, he is surprised by Manhunter, who reveals himself to be a clone of the previous Manhunter, but not one who has been subverted to evil by a group known as the Council. Mahunter reveals that the Society if in fact a group of super-powered criminals and he is using the misperception that he is evil to try to break the Secret Society from within. Comet reveals that his own mental powers are superior to Grodd's and he had broken the mental barrier erected by the gorilla criminal long before. He realizes that the Society is evil. Before he can elaborate, he and Manhunter are startled by an energy blast from Mantis, an agent of Darkseid. The two engage Mantis is a protracted battle, which ultimately leads to a draw. Mantis, however, has drained his power reserves and though he momentarily has the upper hand, he stages a dramatic and strategic retreat.

Returning to San Francisco, Manhunter and Captain Comet recruit several members of the Secret Society to make a strike on a secret laboratory hidden beneath Fisherman's Wharf. Manhunter reveals that this is but one of many labs and that their proprietor is none other than Darkseid, Lord of Apokolips and that it is he that has financed the organization of the Secret Society of Super-Villains. At that moment, Mantis bursts in with several lackeys and attacks the Society. After a brief battle, Mantis and his agents subdue the most powerful members and demands their surrender, or their lives.

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