Writer: James Robinson, David Goyer

Penciller: Peter Snejbjerg, Chris Weston, John McCrea

Inker: Keith Champagne

Letterer: Bill Oakley

Colorist: Gregory Wright

Synopsis: In the year 2153, Space Cabby picks up two people, one with a cat, who wish to go to the Karloff sector. Since he knows that there's nothing in the Karloff sector, he asks them their names and why they're going there. The one with the cat introduces himself as Ric Starr, and the other calls himself Ace Arn. They then ask him if he knows how a certain debris belt in that sector came to be. Space Cabby tells them that he does, and tells them the story: the two Starmen of the late twentieth century, Jack Knight and Mikaal Tomas, on a journey through space, found themselves travelling through time to their time-period, where they received a distress call from the citadel of Jarko, the Jovian Space-Pirate. They entered the citadel to discover that at some point in their past, they had cost Jarko a hand, and that the distress call came from his captive, the Tamaranean Titan known as Starfire. Jack challenged Jarko to a duel by cosmic rod, as Jarko had his own rod, and while the two were fighting, the Knights of the Galaxy burst into the citadel, allowing Jack to finish off Jarko, Mikaal to rescue Starfire, and all of them to escape, after which the citadel is destroyed, creating the debris belt. Ric Starr and his cat then reveal themselves to be Space Ranger and his shape-changing companion Cryll. They tell Space Cabby that he has the story wrong. He proceeds to tell a similar story, except that the Starfire who is Jarko's captive is an other-dimensional rebel, the duel between Jack and Jarko is a game of "Twisted", it is the Star Rovers who burst in, and they all talk like pirates from Earth's seventeenth century. Ace Arn then reveals himself to be Ultra the Multi-Alien, and tells them both that they have their story wrong. He, as well, tells the same story, except that the Starfire involved is the Soviet hero from before the collase of the Soviet Union, the duel between Jarko and Jack is a staring contest in which each must make the other crack a smile, and it is Tommy Tomorrow and the Planeteers who burst in. After Ultra is finished telling his version of the story, he and Space Ranger reveal that they were hired by the Space Museum to retrieve the cosmic rod that Jarko had wielded, which had once belonged to the Starman Prince Gavyn. They successfully retrieve it and discuss their versions of the story of how Jarko acquired the rod.

Notes: This story takes place in April, 2153, which makes it the chronologically earliest story featuring the Space Cabby.

The introductory page, in which Space Cabby discusses his adventurous life, is based on his entry in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe # 21, and does not depict any scenes that actually appear in other Space Cabby stories.

The version told by the Space Cabby is the one closest to the truth.

The game "Twisted" in Space Ranger's version is based on the game "Twister" by Milton Bradley. In that game, the players must place parts of their body in specific spots on the game board, as determined by a spinner, without lifting up the other parts of their bodies from their positions.

Ultra's version of the story is based on the works of Jack Kirby.

All characters and images are copyright DC Comics.

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