Bad Place to Visit but I Wouldn’t Want to Die There!
By libbylawrence
The mystery of a rampaging Marvel Family leads the Squadron of Justice to a dangerous world!
1
January 1988
On a snowy evening three young people happily exited a movie theater and stopped to adjust their coats and gloves.
“Brrr! There’s a real chill in the air!” said Billy Batson. He was a slender, black haired young man with bright, intelligent eyes. He looked around the city streets and smiled as he noticed some of the stores still had their Christmas decorations on display. He enjoyed the fact that some shop owners had been tardy in taking down their holiday finery. While some people might have viewed this delay as being due to laziness or mismanagement, Billy looked at it as merely indicative of a desire to prolong the joy and peace of the Christmas season! In spite of the fact that Billy was a celebrated television journalist with a career that dated back to before World War II, he always managed to look for the good in everyone and everything. It was this optimism and genuine concern for his fellow man that made him such a remarkable person. Of course, the fact that he was one of the many people whose youth had been artificially prolonged due to a notorious event known as the Suspendium Trap, explained his still youthful appearance. That life-altering event had shaped more than one destiny due to the fact that a large crowd had been trapped in suspended animation for twenty years due to the sinister machinations of Dr. Sivana the World’s Wickedest Scientist. Billy knew more than most people about the schemes of the brilliant but villainous criminal genius since Billy’s alter ego was Sivana’s most hated foe Captain Marvel!
Billy looked over at his sister Mary as the wholesomely pretty girl shivered and wrapped a pink scarf around her neck. She had long brown hair and a perky demeanor.
“I should have crocheted a longer scarf!” she joked.
In spite of the fact that Mary had been raised in a wealthy home by adoptive foster parents, she retained a refreshingly normal attitude and was a caring, sweet girl with the same kind of positive outlook as her sibling. Mary also shared a heroic career with him since she was in turn the World’s Mightiest Girl Mary Marvel! Both of the siblings had been granted the ability to magically become super powered Marvels whenever they spoke the magic word Shazam. Of course, that word was the name of the wise old wizard who had selected them as his champions and in turn his acronymic name stood for the Ancient Elders whose talents the kids received as Captain Marvel and Mary Marvel!
Freddy Freeman, a black haired youth with a crutch listened to the pair with good natured humor.
He knew their secrets well and was in fact a third Marvel- captain Marvel Jr. due to the fact that the heroic Captain Marvel had imparted some of his own power to the injured youth in order to preserve his life long ago when he had been dying due to an attack by a murderous fiend named Captain Nazi!
Freddy still had a bad leg from that initial encounter with the killer but he also carried with him more than his share of wonderful memories and experiences from his time as a super hero! Merely by speaking the name of his benefactor Captain Marvel, Freddy was transformed into the third member of the famous Marvel Family: Captain Marvel Jr.!
He said, “Mary, I don’t think anything you could crochet in the Bromfield craft room could warm you up as well as one of the hot chocolates served by Doc Quartz at the drug store!
Mary smiled broadly. “Is that a hint?”
Billy said, “I think it is since I already can see tiny marshmallows where his eyes should be!”
As the three kids made their way toward the beloved drug store, they heard gunshots and saw three men racing out of the normally tranquil store!
“Robbers! I guess their resolutions had nothing to do with going straight!” said Mary.
The trio spoke their respective magic words and as magic lightning instantly transformed them into their super powered alter egos (and magically concealed the precise nature of the transformation), a strange thing occurred.
While all the Marvels possessed their customary powers, their costumes had changed in some odd way. Mary Marvel’s red and gold mini dress and gold slippers now had a rather sinister black and gold coloration and the same ebony hue dominated the normally red and blue costumes of Captain Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr.!
The three gunmen saw the Marvels looming up before them and they did the only logical thing any petty criminal or super villain could do when faced with the world’s greatest champions of justice and virtue, they threw down their guns and surrendered in abject terror!
“We give up!” they yelped as the Marvels flew closer… and then flew away at such a great speed that the glass store windows below shattered in unison!
“Who cares, punk?” sneered Captain Marvel as he led his partners over the city.
2
Over the next few hours it became apparent that the normally heroic Marvels had turned bad! Instead of stopping crimes or natural disasters, they were using their incredible powers for petty and malicious acts.
For example, Mary Marvel casually used her super strength to carve the Statue of Liberty into her own likeness!
“Sorry, Lib, old gal, but my legs are much, much better!” she said with a throaty laugh that sounded nothing like here normal giggle.
Captain Marvel himself had gone in search of some of his old foes. Apparently, he had decided to use his powers to settle some old scores once and for all!
“That rat Sivana is in hiding but I bet if I rough up his kids on national television, the old creep will crawl out of his hole!” he said with a grin.

He swooped down like some avenging eagle and smashed his way into the luxurious apartment of Beautia Sivana. The lovely young woman gasped in surprise as the hero casually wrecked her home.
“Captain Marvel! What are you doing? Are you crazy?” she said as she leaped away from falling plaster.
He scooped her struggling form up in his arms and said, “Shut up, baby! You’ve had this coming for a long time! I’d advise you to just sit back and enjoy it. “
He kissed Beautia passionately and then jerked her head back as he gripped her long blonde hair.
“When I’m done with you, we’re going to find your idiot brother Magnificus and I’m going to perform plastic surgery on him with my fists!” he said.
Beautia frowned. She may have looked like a super model but she also had a keen mind and the courage of a champion. She had to stall for time until she could make sense of the Captain’s weird behavior.
“Don’t be in a hurry on my account, honey!”she said.
Meanwhile, two colorful figures had observed the rampaging Marvels with growing concern.
The first man was tall and gaunt with light brown hair, large sensitive eyes, and a rather nervous mouth. He was youthful looking and appeared to be in good physical condition. He wore a red jacket with gray slacks and a slightly crooked and wrinkled tie.
“Zoro, the images displayed by the Lamp of the gods were truly prophetic! It looks like Captain Marvel and his allies have become ruthless villains and yet I sense no magical spell is responsible for their odd actions!” he said.
His friend was a handsome dark haired man with a thin dark mustache and an athletic built. He was wearing a tuxedo and he carried an ornate cane.
“Warlock, I’ve learned to trust your lamp and its mystic shadows. The images it projects are more accurate than most things they show us on the nightly news!”said Zoro the Man of Mystery.
He smiled as he said, “It is a shame my pilot Warbird couldn’t join us. She always has had a bit of crush on Captain Marvel. When we straighten him out, I’ll have to ask him for an autograph!”
Warlock said, “Where exactly is Priscilla?”
Zoro shook his head. “She was either going to a gun show or a sewing circle. The girl does have a wide variety of interests.”
The suave Zoro (Carter Sloane) quipped both out of habit and out of a desire to encourage his rather morose friend. He knew Warlock (Edmund Payton) was perhaps the most powerful magic user on Earth S but in spite of the brilliant man’s many talents and amazing courage, he was a rather anxious and overly sensitive person. He had been the victim of a lover’s spell that had trapped him in isolation for decades before Zoro freed him. Now, while Warlock had in fact reconciled with and forgiven Andrea the lover who enchanted him, he was still somewhat uncomfortable in crowds.
Warlock smiled and nodded. He was aware of exactly what Zoro was doing and he appreciated it.
He shrugged and said, “Any girl who was raised by the likes of Captain Midnight and Spy Smasher …not to mention you and her heroic grandfather the original Warbird… would naturally have diverse hobbies!”
He said, “We have to stop the Marvels and restore them to their senses! My magic can lead me to them….not that their path of destruction has been what you would call subtle!”
Zoro agreed. Although he possessed no super powers beyond a mystically and accidentally created near immortality, the Man of Mystery was supremely adept at almost every known talent or field of endeavor.
He thought, “Stopping the three most powerful super humans on earth will not be easy but we have to try! The world owes them too much for them to suffer for any reason!”
The duo began their search for the suddenly sinister former heroes with a grim resolve.
Elsewhere a weird bald man watched from a monitor screen and said, “All goes according to plan! These humans will serve our purpose all too well!”
3
As Beautia Sivana caressed Captain Marvel’s face, her keen mind made two rapid deductions. Clearly her father was not behind this strange turn of events since Sivana loved his children in spite of his almost pathological hatred of the world in general. He would never do anything that would put them at risk since he knew that Beautia and Magnificus were his only remaining ties to their late mother who had been the love of his life.
She also knew that the only way to subdue a maddening Marvel was to trick him into saying the magic word Shazam. Beautia had known about Captain Marvel’s connection to Billy Batson for decades and the brainy and beautiful woman was more than confident that she could manage to trick him into speaking the word …if only she had enough time to do so!
“You know that brother of yours always got on my last nerve. I’m looking forward to teaching him a lesson. His genetically enhanced muscles don’t mean a thing against the power I have!” he said with a sneer.
Beautia said, “You mean the magical power you received from the Elders and that old wizard?”
Captain Marvel pulled her on to his lap and said, “Yeah, I mean the ones that come from… that old wizard. The one you are trying to get me to name!”
He shoved her into the floor and laughed.
“Do you think you’re dealing with Black Adam or Ibac? I’m not an idiot. I’m not going to say the word unless I feel like it!”
At that moment he stiffened and pressed one hand to his head.
“Something is wrong! I’m under some kind of crazy compulsion!” he whispered.
He flew away and the keenly perceptive Beautia dived for her phone.
“I’ve got to call the Squadron of Justice hotline! Thank goodness, they established their headquarters/museum in such a public location! This is a time when a girl really needs a hero!”
As she breathlessly explained the situation to the Hall of Justice’s robotic caretaker Timmy Tinkle, the gentle robot patted his metallic dog Fido and sent an electronic signal of distress through out a complex communications system.
“We will locate help immediately! Thank you for your call” he said,
As the signal went out, a scholarly looking woman with long brown hair and large glasses looked up from a stack of papers in her small office at Columbia University. Professor Andrea Thomas pushed her glasses up on the bridge of her nose and then finally lifted them up to rest in her hair.
“If that faint vibration in my necklace means what it normally does, it is time for me to step away from grading term papers and do some work as my alter ego Isis!” she thought.
She closed the door and as she stepped back to stand with her back to the surface, she said, “I am Mighty Isis!”
Instantly she was magically transformed into a stunningly beautiful if strangely serene goddess in a costume consisting of ornate jewelry including an amulet, high heeled brown boots, and a brief white tunic with a pleated skirt.
“Spirits do not hesitate, take me where the need is great!” she said.
In a flash Isis was gone and a scene of battle awaited her!
4
Captain Marvel Jr. had occupied his time by acting as a one boy blitzkrieg! He had leveled much of Berlin and it was only through some strange remnant of self control that he had not injured or killed anyone.
“Those rats may not be Nazis but their parents or grandparents probably were! I’m going to make every one of them pay for what their super thug Captain Nazi did to Freddy’s poor Grandpa!” he thought as he smashed through an old brownstone like a human rocket!
He gasped abruptly and changed direction as something compelled him to return to the USA with all the speed of Mercury himself!
Captain Marvel Jr. reached a nearly deserted construction site in New York where a confident figure awaited him and made no effort to hide.
“Hey, I know you! You’re Zoro! I once thought you were cool with your mysterious manner and swashbuckling demeanor but now I think you’re more of a Zero!” he said with a sneer.
Zoro smiled and said, “I’ve never heard that one before! I can see your wit is as sharp as any schoolyard bully’s!”
Junior scowled and said, “I don’t know what made me come here but it’s worth the travel time to wipe that smug grin off your face. Maybe, I’ll rip your mustache off with my bare hands!”
He dropped down in front of Zoro and approached the Man of Mystery at a deliberate pace.
Zoro shifted his weight slightly and calmly drew his sword cane.
“Easy, old boy, this deluded youngster could very easily make good on his threat…unless the spell Warlock put on my blade proves to be as effective as the compulsion spell he cast that drew the young Marvel here!” he thought.
Captain Marvel Jr. laughed as he watched the dashing man raise the sword.
“ You really are something. I mean I’ve read about how you can do almost anything and know everything but do you really believe you can stop me with a sword? Unless you’ve got a nuclear bomb in that dinner jacket of yours, you are really out of luck, Dude!”
Zoro merely brought the gleaming sword down across Jr.’s chest and smiled as it not only withstood the impact but produced a remarkable result!
Jr.’s eyes widened with sudden comprehension and he fell asleep at Zoro’s feet.
Zoro slid the sword back into the cane and smiled winningly.
“It may not be as dramatic as an atomic weapon but a blade temporarily empowered with the soporific magic of the Caduceus of Hermes himself as summoned by Warlock’s Lamp of the gods did the job rather well!” he said.
He dusted off his jacket and casually scooped down to lift the sleeping Marvel over one shoulder.
“I daresay Warlock will prove as effective against his own maddened Marvel!” he thought as he whistled a jaunty tune.
5
Warlock’s spell had summoned Captain Marvel as well and now the wizard waited as the World’s Mightiest Mortal closed in on him in a section of the large city park.
“No one else is around. I think my spell of avoidance will keep innocent people from walking into a battle zone!” he mused.
Captain Marvel landed abruptly and faced Warlock.
“I remember you. You disappeared after the war ended! You don’t look any older than you did back then. You better have a good reason for bringing me here or I’ll see to it that you don’t get any older!” he said.
Warlock said, “You are under some kind of sinister mind control It is not magic.. not exactly. I think it is some alien science or perhaps some ancient science our world has long since forgotten!”
Captain Marvel reacted to the gaunt man’s comments by lowering his head and charging at him like aan enraged bull.
Warlock whispered certain arcane words and a huge golden hand materialized to block the hero’s charge and grip him in a crushing hold.
“I’ll break free of that Golden Hand of yours in seconds! Don’t think you can contain my kind of power!” he vowed.
Warlock watched as Captain Marvel strained against the mystic construct and true to his word, the former Champion of Justice parted the giant fingers and began to slip free.
“I didn’t really expect to be able to imprison you for long. I merely wanted to gain time to analyze what weird force possessed you. Now I shall counter it and thus avoid any additional combat!” he declared.
Captain Marvel tossed back his head and laughed. His normally handsome features were distorted with a look of contempt.
“You’re going to stop me? I’d sure like to see that!” he said.
Warlock smiled with a confidence that had begun to return to him over the months since he had been freed from his long enchanted imprisonment and had found renewed love with Andrea the Irish enchantress who had originally cast the spell upon him.
“I’ve just shielded you from the alien energy that enveloped your senses. Whatever force clouded your mind will not touch you again!” he said.
Captain Marvel blinked rapidly and then smiled broadly.
“Holy Moly! I’m myself again! Thank you, Warlock! I don’t know what came over me but I’ve got a lot of reparation to do to make up for the things I did. I owe you a real debt of thanks, pal!”
Warlock said, “Freeing our world’s premiere hero was something I was happy to do. Now, we need to do more than protect you from that corrupting energy. We need to determine its source and find its originator. I can already tell you that is unknown to me and I once quested through multiple planes of existence and saw parallel Earths of a nearly infinite number!”
Captain Marvel said, “We need to find Mary and Jr. too. Would you like to come with me?”
Warlock nodded as he felt the hero’s open acceptance of him and more gratifying still, his easy acknowledgment of him as a peer.
“My spell of compulsion brought you here and sent young Junior to where my ally Zoro awaited him. We need only bring Mary Marvel to us and our work will be truly underway!”
Captain Marvel frowned as a signal device in his belt beeped.
“I’m needed at the Hall of Justice! I’d wager this has to do with our current mission. It might be a good idea to bring in some of my friends. I know we’ve got a lot to explain to folks like Ibis and Spy Smasher about the way we’ve been acting!”
He thought about Beautia and blushed as he realized that he had taken a few liberties with the sometimes amorous woman and clearing up the whole situation might prove to be embarrassing to say the least!”
“It’s too bad Cupid isn’t one of the Elders who empower us! I could sure use a way to smooth things over with Beautia!” he mused.
6

Meanwhile, the serenely lovely Mighty Isis had located Mary Marvel and watched for a second as the powerful girl reshaped Mt. Rushmore until each of the carved images depicted her with different hairstyles.
“I really prefer your current straight hair to your original Judy Garland look!” said Isis as she placed both hands on her hips and challenged the maddened Marvel!
Mary scowled and said, “Like I’m supposed to take fashion tips for you? That totally makes sense! Those boots look like you mugged a cavalry officer!”
Isis said, “Mary, you aren’t the sweet young girl I fought beside against Oggar. I know there is a good reason for your bratty behavior; however, I won’t hesitate to spank you if you persist in your angry outbursts!”
Isis mused, “Did I just say that? Next, I’ll tell her not to chew gum in class! My days as a high school chem. teacher made a real impression on how I talk to kids- even super human ones!”
Mary laughed and flew directly at Isis but the hovering goddess merely said, “Symbol of my ancient might, stop her now and deflect her flight!”
Mary careened wildly away from Isis as the spell sent her tumbling head over heels through the sky.
Isis followed her and grabbed her by the cape. She pulled Mary around and received a hard slap across her face.
“Take that, Cleopatra!” cried Mary as she kicked Isis backward and pulled free from her grasp.
Isis rubbed her jaw and stared coldly at her opponent.
“While some part of me would like to humble her for that indignity, I will show mercy and merely restore her to her senses!” she thought.
“Mary Marvel, stop!” she said.
Mary hesitated as something in the older woman’s steely demeanor broke through her own defenses and stopped her cold.
“ Lightning of wise Shazam strike her now!” cried Isis who did not truly need to always rhyme her spells.
The magical bolt struck Mary and transformed her into a surprised Mary Batson!
“Goodness! I don’t know what came over me!” she said as Isis swooped down to stop her fall.
Isis smiled and said, “Do not worry, my friend. We shall find out the truth!”
Elsewhere, a sinister bald man watched in dismay.
“Clearly, the alteration in morality also lessened the Marvels in terms of their powers and their intellects. I fear that we will simply have to make use of them in their unaltered states. As pawns, do we really need them after their main purpose is served?” he asked himself.
7
Later, Warlock, Zoro, Isis, and the now restored Marvels stood before the all of Justice
Mary Marvel, now in her customary red and gold mini dress and slippers, smiled winningly.
“Isis, thank you for your help. I was afraid that I would go crazy again when I said the magic word but your magic shielded me from whatever caused me to act like a witch when I said it last time!”
Isis said, “Once I conferred with Warlock and Zoro, I realized that shielding you from the alien energy that maddened you all should be enough to keep you sane!”
Warlock said, “I’m glad we ran into you when I summoned Mary. It was a relief to find that she had changed back to a sane girl!”
Captain Marvel Jr. yawned and then apologized. “Excuse me! That spell really left me drowsy!”
Zoro shrugged and said, “I am just happy that you awakened with your old personality intact!”
Captain Marvel said, “Zoro, you and Warlock are always welcome here. You two are officially granted membership in our Squadron of Justice! We can get you signal devices later on!”
Warlock said, “I am honored to join such an assemblage of valor!”
Zoro clapped him on the back and said, “You are too modest! What group would not want their world’s most powerful wizard on their team?”
Warlock said, “Prince Ibis might disagree with your assessment of our respective powers but I appreciate the sentiment.”
Warlock did not speak it out loud but he took some comfort by remembering how he had earned the Lamp of the gods all those years ago. In doing so he had been deemed more worthy of that particular mystical relic than any living wizard across the multi-verse
As the group entered the palatial museum/HQ, they were surprised by two things. A sign announced that the public part of the complex was closed today and they were not greeted by the always reliable Timmy and Fido.
“Strange! Our robotic pals aren’t here! For that matter neither is Sunny Sparkle and today is one of his days to volunteer as tour guide!” said Captain Marvel.
Mary said, “I’d hate to imagine even some other worldly villain could be immune to his almost magical charm!”
“Don’t worry. I merely told the so-called world’s nicest boy not to come today. I was able to get his contact information from the database. As for the robots, I told them to take the afternoon off.’
The heroes turned to see an athletic looking man in a red costume and cowl. He was sitting at the conference table with his fingers interlocked in a steeple gesture.
“Mr. Scarlet! Did you summon us?” asked Isis.
The hero smiled and said, “Yes. I realized that I needed your help. Or perhaps I should more precisely say say that I need your powers.”
Zoro said, “You’re not the current Mr. Scarlet nor are you his predecessor. I met them both and I can tell that as skillful as your mimicry is, you are not either of the authentic heroes!”
Mr. Scarlet stood up and said, “Zoro, isn’t it? I read every case file while I waited on you to arrive. I believe you may in fact be a mutant. Your uncanny array of talents and skills makes it very likely.”
Zoro said, “You possess considerable talents of your own. You used them to get past the impressive security devices the building is clearly equipped with.”
Mary Marvel said, “What have you done with the real Mr. Scarlet? If you’ve harmed him or Pinky…!”
The intruder stood up casually and said, “I assure you that I merely availed myself of his attire. He and his young partner are currently in France where they are tracking down an alleged criminal genius with the rather dubious nom du crime of Dr. Death! “
Captain Marvel said, “I believe him. How did you get here? What exactly do you want?”
The man in red said, “I was investigating a strange paralysis that had overtaken some of the natives of my home city. Frankly, I used it for my own advantage at first but I did sincerely seek its source. I have my own young associate who had been stricken with it. I traced the energy that had robbed him of mobility to a hidden base full of alien beings that were known to me only by reputation. I engaged them in battle but was overwhelmed by sheer numbers. In trying to escape, I found a portal that led from my home to this planet. The portal had been opened by some enemies for purposes of their own. I found myself trapped here and I realized that in spite of my own unique abilities I could only hope to return to my own world with help from super beings like you. I learned about this world through your public information sources and my own skills. I selected Mr. Scarlet as the best target for one of my abilities and as I said, I deduced his identity and entered his home in his absence. I used one of his extra costumes and signal device to gain access here and posing as him, I had the normal staffers leave. Then, I monitored the world and read all of your files. Having learned all I needed, I summoned you all!”
Warlock said, “You say you came here from another world. We’ve recently dealt with energies that tainted the Marvels and originated from another dimension. I can sense that you have a faint aura about you that indicates your point of origin is the same as the source of the corrupting energies that altered them!”
The man in red calmly removed his cowl to reveal piercingly intelligent eyes that seemed to take in every detail.
“Correct. I know how you three become Marvels. It was easy to access some highly secured data and to glean a few surface thoughts from those around me. I’m surprised that a talking tiger apparently knows all of your secrets! When you spoke your magical word, you were not struck by your customary magical lightning bolts. They were deflected and instead you were hit with what are known as Qwa-Bolts. These energy bolts came from beings known as Weaponeers of Qward. Qward is a dimension in which evil is dominant. Thus, you were turned into immoral versions of your heroic selves! I know because I come from Earth 3 which now exists in the dimension of Qward.”
He removed the red costume to reveal a gray and black one. He put a strange helmet on his head and said,
“I am Owlman and I want your help in returning to my proper Earth!” he said.
8
Isis said, “If you come from this dimension of evil then surely you are not to be trusted. If fact, I would say that your whole demeanor bespeaks a ruthless arrogance of the kind that so often brands the truly evil!”
Owlman smiled and said, “You wear that skimpy little number and call me arrogant? Legs, I’d say you have a health ego all your own!”
Captain Marvel said, “Hold it! I think we can trust him at least as far as believing that he wants to get back home and that these Qwardians are behind what happened to us. I can’t underestimate any beings who could block the real magic lightning bolts though!”
Mary said, “We learned about the Qwardians during the Crisis. I certainly didn’t expect that we’d ever be victimized by them. Why did they try to turn us evil?”
Owlman said, “They are plotters. They scheme and they scheme and weave their own plans within plans. I suspect they either wanted to enlist you as pawns to be used as soldiers in their ongoing war against the universes beyond Qward or they want to take over this world!”
He thought, “Or they want to use you against my own team the Crime Syndicate. If so, this is merely the opening salvo of what will prove to be a war the Qwardians will regret starting!”
Captain Marvel Jr. said, “I know the alternate Earths were sealed off after the Crisis. We can’t get to them and people on them can’t come here.”
Mary said, “It can be done through time travel.”
Captain Marvel said, “Say, that’s right but I think these Qwardians and the Earth you call Earth 3 are more accurately located in another dimension that is adjacent to all the other Earths. Travelers can’t go directly from our Earth to Earth 1 or 2 for example but could possibly reach Qward itself and from there conceivably reach the other worlds under some very specific circumstances!”
Owlman said, “I honestly did not suspect the Qwardians had the power necessary to breech the barriers even if it is true that Qward exists in all universes as evil exists in all universes!”
Warlock said, “I first called the evil power that warped the Marvels an alien science or an ancient science. Perhaps, it truly consisted of both! Only a force of extraordinary power could do what I now believe has been done! Merely to thwart Shazam’s bolts would require great power and cunning!”
Captain Marvel said, “And yet Dr. Sivana is only one of several beings who have done just that!”
Jr. said, “Sivana would be right at home in Qward. I mean he’s practically the King of the Evil Genius Society!”
Mary smiled and said, “And his daughter Georgia is the Homecoming Queen of Evil High!”
Isis said, “Warlock, could you and I create such a portal to Qward?”
Warlock said, “Possibly in time but I suspect we need merely locate the one that first brought Owlman and the Qwa-bolts here to begin with! I know we may do so!”
As Warlock held hands with Isis he whispered arcane worlds and together the heroes and Owlman suddenly materialized before a hovering portal in an isolated glade.
“This is not where I entered this world. Clearly the portal is mobile!” said Owlman.
Captain Marvel said, “We’ll go to Qward, properly shielded by Warlock’s spell!”
Jr. added, “The last thing we need to an invasion from another dimension. I mean, we haven’t had one of those in years!”
Isis said, “Evil forces I deplore, heed my command and open yon door!”
The portal shimmered and slid open to reveal a nearly identical scene of wood and glade.
The group entered and Warlock said, “Something is wrong. I fear that opened all too easily. I believe this whole affair was an attempt by the Qwardians to lure the Marvels to their world!”
Nearby the sinister bald man watched them from a monitor screen and smiled coldly.
“He is wise but his power will not prevent us by obtaining our goal. If we can’t simply enslave the Marvels of earth S, we will merely destroy them here after they have served their true purpose!”
At yet another hidden locale, several colorful costumed figures assembled. This Crime Syndicate was the group of villains that dominated much of Earth 3 and Owlman was one of its founders.
As the villains congregated, a powerful woman in a brief black and gold costume scowled in impatience.
“By Hecate, I am tired of this inactivity. We do not need Owlman to think for us. He has been absent from our last few campaigns anyway!” she said.
“Superwoman, Owlman has a right to his own life apart from this team unless I say differently!” declared Ultra Man, a hulking brute with graying hair.
The renegade Amazon whirled to face him and her hand dropped down to the mystical Lasso of Proteus that hung on her shapely hip.
“I’ve warned you before not to speak to me in such a manner! I am the child of Mars himself!” she said.
A cocky man with a beard caressed a sultry black hair woman in a very brief pink costume and fishnet stockings as he watched the scene.
“Dana, I think Superwoman might be able to take Ultry if she got mad enough!” said Deadeye.
The Silk Canary giggled and whispered, “I think you’re hoping they get rid of each other and Owlman so you and your pal Quick can take over our gang!”
The Ace Archer kissed his lover and said, “You know me too well, Pretty Bird!”
Power Ring (Ken Raynor) sat quietly. He was new to the “business” since he had only recently acquired the mystical ring that empowered him and gave him his name by accident. He knew the original owner had died in an explosion and his power ring had been the only remains to be seen.
Ken had stumbled across it and a voice from within the ring spoke to him and guided him in its use.
He was capable for a rookie but he knew better than to challenge the often acrimonious founders.
A brooding figure watched from the shadows. He said nothing. He was not entirely certain if he wished to remain with the group any longer. He had concerned of his own and issues all his own that he wished to keep private from the others. He was the mystical villain known as Dr. Chaos.
Suddenly, Power Ring yelped as the ring whispered to him.
“Owlman’s back! I mean my ring detects him. He was gone….I mean…he really was gone before but now he is here again!” he stammered.
Ultra Man smiled. In spite of his incredible ego, he had a friendship with Owlman that he could not or would not claim with the others. He was glad his ally had returned.
“You say that like he had been in some kind of twilight zone or one of those phantom dimensions like the one the Lawless League trapped us in once!” he said.
Dr. Chaos spoke in the unearthly voice that characterized his demeanor when he wore the magical helmet that imbued him with the ancient power of an elder being.
“In truth, he was upon another Earth! We need to investigate this matter since it would be wise for us to be prepared should the veil that separates us from the Justice League and the Justice Society become intangible! Also, he now treads the soil of our world with beings from one of the alternate Earths!”
Superwoman actually smiled eagerly. “At last, a chance for the clamor of battle!”
Power Ring nodded slowly. He hoped he was up to such a fight. He had heard enough about the heroes of the Justice League to make him afraid.
If the voice within the ring enjoyed his fears, it did not voice the elation!
Soon, the Crime Syndicate materialized in the woods where the Marvels, Isis, Warlock, Zoro, and Owlman had arrived.
The two groups barely had time to spot one another before battle erupted!
9
Ultra Man flew directly into Captain Marvel. He was obviously the strongest of the group and Ultra Man was eager to unleash his super strength on any target!
He slugged Captain Marvel and then nodded in approval as the hero returned the blow.
“You can take a punch! That’s a good thing since you’re about to receiving a lot of them!” he said with a grin.
Captain Marvel said, “You look like an evil Superman in need of some Grecian formula! I hate to hit one of my elders but sinister seniors are an exception to the rule!”
Ultra Man grunted as Captain Marvel connected with a series of rapid punches that doubled him over and then sent him crashing into the ground.
“The gray hair means nothing to a guy who may just be immortal! if you know that wimp Superman then you are probably the kind of do gooder I like to kill!” he said as he erupted out of the ground and flew at his enemy,
As the two grappled above the scene of battle, the others closed in on each other.
Owlman realized that now that he was back home, he had no need for the heroes. He had gleaned enough data on them from the computers in the Hall of Justice that he felt confident that he knew exactly what he needed to do.
He reached in his belt and removed a small pellet which he started to hurl at Warlock but Zoro suddenly appeared beside him and grabbed his arm before he could toss the gas pellet.
“I’m sure you mean well but I think we’ll just err on the side of caution by subduing you and your nefarious allies here and now!” he said. The pellet dropped to the ground and remained unbroken as Owlman twisted around and attempted to throw the man in the tuxedo over his shoulder.
Zoro shifted his own weight and held his ground.
“You’ll have to do better than that, old fella!” he said as he dodged Owlman’s grasping attack.
Mary Marvel frowned as she watched her brother.
“That brute is no Superman! I still remember how dreamy the real Superman was!” she thought with a sigh.
“You look like a simpering child and no worthy foe for Superwoman!” said a black haired woman in a brief dark colored costume and golden high heeled boots.
Mary said, “Superwoman? Somehow I doubt you deserve that name!”
She jumped up to avoid the bigger woman’s sudden charge.
Mary kicked out with both legs and sent Superwoman sailing through the air. She flew in pursuit only to gasp in surprise as the furious female spun around to connect with a punch that dropped Mary flat.
She grunted as the bigger woman landed on her back and seized her throat from behind.
“I will snap your pretty neck before you can make another insipid comment!” bellowed Superwoman.
Mary broke free and rammed her head into the renegade Amazon’s chin.
“Don’t get cocky, sweetheart!” she said.
Meanwhile, Captain Marvel Jr. was abruptly contained within a huge green bell jar. He smiled as he recognized the nature of the trap.
“You must be this crazy Earth’s version of Green Lantern!” he said as he saw a young man in black and green hovering above him.
He broke through the energy construct and aimed himself at the other man by raising both arms upward and leading with his lower arms. He bounced off a green force field and frowned in surprise.
“Huh! I figured the yellow bands on my sleeves would go right through your bubble. I guess you don’t have the same yellow weakness as the GL I met last time!” he mused.
He spun around and returned with a tree limb and shook his head as it shattered against the bubble!
“You are a mystery, pal! You don’t have the wood weakness of the first GL I ever met either!” he said.
Power Ring generated a blinding pulse and drove the boy backward but Jr. merely shut his eyes and charged forward with enough force to break through the field!
He smacked Power Ring across the face and said, “Guess I’ll just rely on a good old right cross!”
The shadowy Dr. Chaos materialized near Isis and spoke in his inhuman tone of voice.
“You appear to be a maid of Ancient Egypt or are you in fact the goddess herself?” he said.
Isis smiled coldly and said, “You radiate a palpable evil and it will give me pleasure to defeat you! You fairly reek of dark magic!”
She said, “Obey my plan. Contain this man!”
The earth erupted around the cloaked menace and shaped itself into a solid sphere of hardened dirt.
Before she could move closer to follow up on her spell, Isis vanished!
Dr. Chaos shattered the earthen sphere and scowled beneath his metallic helmet.
“The wench fled! I expect much more from her!” he thought.
Warlock stepped forward to confront him.
“I don’t know what happened to Isis but I’ll gladly finish what she started where you are concerned! He said.
Dr. Chaos gestured and an arcane glyph materialized over warlock and swelled in size until it threatened to crush him!
“You will not occupy me long!” declared Dr. Chaos.
Deadeye and the Silk Canary remained in the shadows. The Ace Archer was cocky to a fault but was shrewd enough to realize when he should bide his time.
“Sexy Bird, if we wait here, ole Ultra and his buds may finish these creeps off. If they fail, well, we can pick up the pieces and start our own team with Quick and Rubberneck and Microbe!” he said with a broad grin.
Silk Canary fluffed her black wig and said, “I do like the way you think but these super cops make me think of my old man and what happened to him. I don’t want any pig to live!”
Deadeye caressed her and said, “I know Legs, I know!”
He knew Dana’s crooked dad had been shot by a patrol cop and the ex-exotic dancer had a near mania where policemen were concerned. She wanted to kill every single cop she encountered even the super heroes who performed the duties of lawmen!
He held her close and tried to soothe her angry spirit.
Suddenly, Mary Marvel fell as Superwoman mentally commanded the Lasso of Proteus to snake itself around the World’s Mightiest Girl and shape itself into a hood that covered her head and left her blind and deaf!
Mary thought, “Don’t need to see to do this!”
She spun around at super human speed until she had formed a whirlwind that drew Superwoman off the ground and into range of Mary’s spinning fists.
The impact stunned the Amazon and as she lost concentration, the Lasso of Proteus lost its form and fell limply around Mary’s shoulders. Mary shook free and dusted herself off.
“What a horrible woman! She makes Georgia Sivana seem like that pop princess Timpani!” she thought.
Warlock allowed the magical glyph to loom over him while he calmly raised the golden staff he normally carried.
The glyph cracked and then crumbled into tiny pieces which were swept away by a sudden breeze.
He walked toward Dr. Chaos who chuckled and raised his gloved hands.
“You are powerful! In fact you might be more of a challenge than the cowardly goddess!” he said.
Warlock shattered the mystical shield conjured by the shadowy wizard.
He stepped closer and said, “You possess no true magic! You are no scholar of the mystical lore. You merely wear an artifact that contains the spirit of such a mage! So, I merely have to separate you from the helmet like so!”
He raised his staff and a golden bolt of energy blazed forth to knock the helm from off of the cloaked villain’s head.
Dr. Chaos shuddered as he stared at the world for the first time in years without the dominant force of the mystical spirit within the helmet.
“What have I done?” he cried.
Warlock said, “You are free from the curse. I banish the helmet to limbo and I grant you the release of amnesia! You will no longer recall your life as Dr. Chaos! I return you to your former life and I challenge you to be worthy of this second chance!”
Chaos flickered from view as the cursed helmet vanished!
“It is done!” declared Warlock.
“I’m glad I was about to show mercy to him. For all of his evil deeds he was in truth as much of a victim as a villain!” he thought.
Nearby, Zoro had deftly matched every move Owlman had made. They were almost equally matched.
Owlman smiled coldly as he reached out with his mental powers and slowed his foe’s reaction time ever so slightly.
He connected with a stinging punch that drove Zoro backward but failed to stun him.
Zoro dropped down and as Owlman drew closer, he sprang back up and chopped his foe in the throat.
Owlman collapsed at his feet as Zoro caught his breath.
“My own studies in the Far East allowed me to resist your mental voodoo! I suspect you were simply not used to facing anyone who could withstand it!” he said.
Captain Marvel Jr. was equally successful as the inexperienced Ken Raynor cried out in shock as his ring stopped working and the boy in blue knocked him cold.
“I figured a little will power would enable me to take control of your ring. I knew it worked on will power even though it lacked the weaknesses of the other rings I’d seen!” he said.
He shook his head and said, “Whew! I’m glad that worked. There’s something dangerous about the magic in that ring. It felt like it was trying to take over my mind when I focused my will on shutting off its power! It makes me wonder if that poor guy knows what he’s doing to himself each time he uses that ring! It’s almost vampiric in nature!”
As Captain Marvel and Ultra Man continued to battle it out, each realized that the other was not tiring.
Cap. thought, “Holy Moley! This guy is almost as tough as Superman! He sure fights dirty though! Maybe I can use that to my own advantage!”
He approached his enemy and spread wide his own arms.
“We are pretty equally matched. Why don’t we stop and talk this out. Something from your world attacked us. We didn’t come here to start a fight!”
Ultra Man wiped beads of sweat off his face and nodded.
“Sure! I’m a reasonable guy!” he said.
Suddenly, he attacked Captain Marvel who caught his leg as he blocked a low kick by Ultra Man and spun him around and around before releasing him with a thunderous crash!
“I figured a guy like you might try to pull a sneaky move like that kick!” he said.
At that moment as the Squadron of Justice stood over the fallen Crime Syndicate, a bolt of blazing energy struck them all….including the skulking duo of Silk Canary and Deadeye!
They all collapsed and in moments energy teleported them away from Earth 3 to a strange planet in which the atmosphere was dominated by yellow clouds of swirling dust.
The bald observer smiled calmly as he stepped away from his monitor to approach the teleportation platform on which the assembled heroes and villains rested.
“The Squadron of Justice subdued the Syndicate and weakened themselves enough for my machine to finish them off. We are that much closer to our goal! Soon, Qward will have colonies on not one but two parallel Earths!”
10
Meanwhile, Isis had found herself magically drawn away from the battle before she could do more than begin to engage the evil Dr. Chaos in combat.
She gazed around her at what seemed to be a vista of endless sand dunes.
“Egypt? What strange force has brought me here? Our foes did not achieve my banishment. I am certain it was something entirely separate from their respective powers! “
She concentrated for a moment and then she nodded in recognition of her precise location.
“As bizarre as it sounds, this place conceals a pyramid not unlike my own on Earth S! The magic within it spoke to me on some subconscious level and spirited me here! Am I to uncover the burial place of another Isis? Perhaps, one as devoted to evil as I am sworn to champion the cause of all that is good?”
She whispered a spell and the shifting sands parted in her wake to reveal a majestic pyramid.
“No. This place is not quite like my own. It originates from something unique to this Earth and yet it also seems to emit a benign and majestic magic that seems entirely out of place on this troubled and benighted world!” she said.
She walked calmly up to the looming pyramid and started to place one palm on the side but some instinct born of the wisdom of the ages stopped her. She flew away and left the uncovered tomb in its desolate splendor.
“I sense as if I have done what I was meant to do merely by freeing it from the sands of time. Now, I will return to aid my friends in the battle that brought us here to begin with!” she said.
The pyramid and its occupant would soon play a role in the drama!

11
Isis reached the deserted field and noticed the charred ground. She also sensed the potent energies that had so marred it.
“Spirits on high take me to my allies nigh!” she said.
She frowned as she found herself on a weird world of yellow clouds and acidic sands of dark gold.
“By Osirus! What is this place?” she whispered.
She found a stark citadel and realized that it was the sole structure on the strange planet.
“My magic has drawn me to them. What kind of warlike fortress is that place? Unlike the tomb I sense nothing kind or good within its formidable walls!” she said.
Captain Marvel opened his eyes and realized that he was trapped within a complex machine. He could see and hear but his arms and legs were immobilized.
Directly across from him he saw Ultra Man. The muscular villain was bound in a machine that was exactly like the one that held Captain Marvel.
Ultra Man groaned and opened his eyes even as he lurched forward only to be contained by the weird device.
“Are you hurt? I think I know what these machines are designed to do. At least when you’ve had as many encounters with a certain evil genius and his wild inventions as I have, you get to know how mechanical things work!” he said.
Ultra Man said, “Shut up! I can’t think with you yapping!”
A gaunt bald man stepped into view below the two machines. He smiled and caressed one of the machines.
“I am Kimon. I come from Qward. Our world is crowded as evil always seems to flourish and multiply in this cosmos. I once sought to open a portal to Earth 1 and use that planet as a colony to solve our population problem. In attempting to doso, I learned that a special kind of energy called Qwa bolts could open such a portal but it required a much greater power source to keep it open or widen it to the point where such an exodus would be practical! I found such a living battery of power in the being known as Superman! I channeled Qwa bolts through his body and it fueled my machine and in turn opened a portal to Earth 1and paralyzed its population….with one exception. One of the Kryptonian’s allies was immune to the energy and he thwarted me.”
Captain Marvel said, “You want to turn Earth S into a colony! You plan on using me and my fellow prisoner as living batteries like you did with Superman!”
Kimon nodded and said, “You are wise! I learned of Earth S through an ally. He told me about you and I attempted to use you and your family as I did with Superman but a strange thing occurred. The Qwa-Bolts didn’t paralyze your planet. They turned you into evil versions of your normal selves!”
Captain Marvel thought, “Of course! Superman doesn’t get his powers from magical lightning as we do. These Qwa bolts must hurt him but they somehow interacted with our normal magical bolts when we said our magic words. The Qwa bolts made us evil like the folks in this dimension!”
Ultra Man said, “You bald worm! You think you can turn me into a human dynamo? You want to use my super body as a battery to help you enslave that creep’s world? You got a lot of nerve!”
Kimon laughed and said, “On the contrary, we plan to use both your bodies as batteries to help us enslave both your planets! Why should we of Qward settle for one puny colony when we may have two Earths to rule?”
Captain Marvel said, “What have you done with our friends?”
Kimon said, “The young Marvels may be back-up batteries should our procedure end your life. The others are imprisoned as they are of little consequence to us!”
He activated the machines and energy surged through both men. The captives struggled but their efforts seemed futile as Kimon’s monitors revealed two gaping holes appearing near each planet.
“Soon, we may invade both of your worlds and find all the space we need! We will owe you a debt of thanks since it would not have been possible without your help!” he said.
Ultra Man snarled, “Gloat while you can, punk! I’ll get free! I’ll get free and kill you all!”
Captain Marvel said nothing but his keen mind was already trying to find a solution while his body fought the painful energy that cascaded through it.
Isis had listened in horror. She had to rescue her friends and she knew that it would not be easy to do so.
“I will triumph no matter how great the odds!” she vowed.
12
Even as Isis was planning her next move, she was discovered by one of the weird bald warriors who silently lined the chamber where Captain Marvel and Ultra Man were suspended within the dimension warping machine.
“Stop her! She is another Beyonder!” cried the gaunt warrior. He wore a dark garment but he carried some type of communications device as was made apparent by the siren-like sound that emanated from it as he clutched it.
Isis whirled to see a squadron of men and women in golden armor and ornate winged helmets rushing toward her.
“Woman, halt by command of the Weaponeers!” cried the nearest warrior.
Isis placed her hands on her hips and stood calmly before them. She smiled grimly and said, “Armor hold them fast, increase in mass!”
Suddenly, the entire squad collapsed as their golden armor swelled up and trapped them on the ground.
Isis calmly stepped over the helpless figures as they writhed on the ground and approached the remarkable device that held the two super beings above her.
“Machine crumble to dust as is just!” she said.
She frowned as nothing seemed to happen.
“How can this scientific terror resist my magic?” she whispered.
Kimon shouted, “Because it is not empowered merely by Qwardian science. My ally has his own resources that have combined with our own to create it!”
Isis jumped aside as a blazing bolt exploded near her high-heeled boots.
She saw a newcomer who resembled the other fallen warriors but was larger and more imposing in some manner.
“I am the Master Thunderer! You will surrender to me, female!” he said as he raised a gleaming spear that resembled a jagged lightning bolt.
Isis said, “You do not know me if you think mere arrogant bluster can stop me!”
Elsewhere, Superwoman was struggling to regain her feet. She scowled as she gazed around the prison cell in which she and the other fallen Syndicators had been placed.
She shook her head in disgust and kicked the silent Power Ring until he groaned and began to stir.
“What happened” he said as he sat up and looked up at the towering Amazon.
“You must try to be more of a warrior. Your predecessor had the instincts of a jackal but he did possess a certain reckless spirit!” she said.
Power Ring nodded as he stood up and used his ring to revive all of the other captives.
“We can use these heroes to help us escape!” he said as Silk Canary, Deadeye, and Owlman arose alongside of Zoro, Warlock, Mary Marvel, and Captain Marvel Junior!
“I think we took the brunt of that blast!” said Mary as she helped Jr. stand up.
He nodded and said, “We have to find Cap. and shut this place down for good!”
Warlock said, “Come with me. My staff will lead us to our friends!”
He gestured and the golden gold formed an arrow that shattered the cell door and led them down darkened hallways and broken steps.
“This place is in need a good cleaning!” said Mary.
Zoro smiled and said, “It is clearly not a well-organized military base but rather some seldom used outpost!”
Owlman said, “You’re capable. Very capable. I won’t underestimate you again!”
Zoro said, “That’s part of my charm, old fella!”
Owlman glanced over at Deadeye and said, “You held back and did not take part in the battle in the park. I noticed you skulking in the shadows. Don’t ever try something like that again or I’ll break your neck and give your toys to your ward. He may be a recovering addict but he is more of a man than you are!”
Deadeye stepped closer to the dark cloaked villain and said, “Don’t bring up Ron. I know you like hanging out with kids though!”
Owlman smiled coldly and stepped closer to the archer.
Deadeye stepped back and grinned sheepishly.
“I joke! I joke to relieve the stress! We’re a team! You can rely on us!” he said.
Silk Canary sighed with relief. She didn’t really want to challenge Owlman even to protect her lover. There was something about Owlman that both frightened and attracted her.
As the group entered a large chamber, they saw Isis battling a group of soldiers.
“Look! Captain Marvel is in that machine!” said Zoro.
Mary and Jr. bowled over a row of the golden armored warriors and kept flying until they were hovering near the imprisoned hero.”
“Don’t get too close, kids! The machine can sap your powers too! I don’t dare slip free by saying the magic word. The energy would fry Billy!” explained Captain Marvel as he gritted his teeth and fought against the machine’s hold.
Mary said, “We’ll force them to free you both!”
Ultra Man leered at the girl and said, “Don’t do me any favors just yet, Girly!”
In spite of his bravado, Ultra Man was in pain and his anger only grew as the weird machine tapped into his super powers.
Silk Canary jumped forward and delivered a spinning kick that flattened an approaching warrior.
She flipped through the air and landed with both heels on a second one as he fell into his closest ally.
Deadeye smiled approvingly as he sent a net arrow into the air to entrap other warriors.
Warlock smiled as he saw Isis block a hurled bolt of energy and he said, “She stopped that bolt with ease but I don’t think the army is our main problem!”

Owlman casually stunned a Qwardian and said, “No. You’re right. We have to shut down that machine!”
Isis said, “Praise Osirus, you are free! Together we must prevent them from creating portals through which they plan on colonized both our worlds!”
Zoro deftly flipped a warrior over his shoulder and stunned him with a judo jab.
Mary Marvel ripped up the floor and wrapped it around a squad of warriors as if it was a mere carpet.
A Qwa bolt shattered against Captain Marvel Jr.’s chest and he blinked in surprise.
“The shield Warlock created is still intact! The bolt didn’t turn me into a creep!” he said.
He scooped Kimon up with one hand and said, “Shut off the machine! Don’t make us tear this place apart!”
Owlman gazed upward at the weird machine which held his friend and he shook his head.
“Something seems wrong. That’s doing much more than open dimensional doorways!”
Superwoman grunted as she smashed two Qwardians together and kicked a third through a wall.
“It looks like some twisted version of the science from Sanctuary isle!” she said,
Kimon was helpless to escape from Jr. but he merely stared in shock at the energy that pulsated above him.
“This is wrong! Something is wrong! As the Earthling said, the machine is not merely opening doorways as planned. It is doing something much more! What is the meaning of this? Have you betrayed me, my ally?”
He gazed over at the shadows and a booming laugh rang out from the darkness. A muscular figure emerged from the dark and smiled in an evil manner. His broken teeth and hairy brows were not only the inhuman aspects of the powerful savage. He wore an animal skin and a horned helmet and his very presence seemed to speak of ancient evil.
“King Kull! It’s the Beastman!” cried Mary Marvel as she recognized the primitive tyrant.
Kimon said, :”He is the one who told me about you and your Earth! He built this machine!”
Kull bellowed, “Ho! Ha Ho! Foolish worm! You didn’t truly think I would use the science and magic of my forgotten race to help you in your plan of conquest? I merely enabled you to capture the Marvels for me so that I could use them and Ultra Man to empower my machine for its real purpose!”
As the monitor screens depicted looming portals that threatened to engulf both Earth S and Earth 3, Captain Marvel realized the truth!
“He’s not trying to travel to each world! He wants to smash them together!”
King Kull grinned crookedly and said, “Exactly! I’ll destroy both Earths and in doing so gain more revenge on your crawling wormy race for the way they killed my people at the dawn of time!”
13
Deadeye said, “Who is this Flintstone wannabe?”
Mary Marvel said, “ He is the last of an ancient race that ruled Earth before mankind came along and eliminated his brutal people!”
King Kull said, “Eliminated? How mildly your frail human lips put it. Your kind murdered my people and I have waited eons to pay you back! If I get to smash two Earths at once then all the better for me!”
Kimon dropped to the ground as Jr. released him.
“Shut down the machine! You must know how to do it!”said the young hero.
Kimon said, “No! He has altered it beyond our imagining! You must stop him! The proud Qwardian race must survive!”
King Kull snarled, “You may be worse than the earthlings! You preach hate but you cry like a mewling infant when you face your own mortality!”
Warlock and Isis stepped forward with a reluctant Power Ring.
“Aim our combined might at the machines!” said Warlock.
Magical energies and whispered spells enveloped the huge machine… and did nothing!
“Ho Ha Ho!” roared King Kull.
“You might be more powerful than me but you aren’t as cunning! I have built the World Smasher will one unique feature! No one may shut it down but me and I will die before doing so!” he said.
Owlman scowled as he concentrated.
“Blast it! My mental powers can’t control him. He is too alien… too inhuman!” he realized.
Warlock said, “I can’t destroy it nor can I force Kull to do so! The lamp of the gods can not control one full of such raw hate!”
Isis said, “He resists my magic as well. His hatred and will power make him almost unstoppable as far as any kind of mental persuasion is concerned!”
Mary and Jr. flew at the Beastman. Both of them knew from past battles that while he was mighty in terms of raw muscle, he also could be knocked out with a punch from someone with their kind of strength.
He swung at them with a large hammer he had retrieved from the shadows but the duo dodged easily with the speed of Mercury and connected with twin blows that dropped him to the his knees!
“You may defeat me but I shall still win! The machine can’t be stopped by anyone but me!” he said.
Meanwhile, Captain Marvel had never stopped struggling against the machine. He strained with muscles that surpassed those of any other being in the Earth S cosmos!
“I can’t stop now! If I say the magic word, I’ll change to Billy and I might die but I can’t guarantee that that would shut down the machine! I think our sapped powers started it up and it may not even need us to finish its deadly process! I won’t give up! Too many good folks are depending on me! People like Jr. and Mary and Mr. Tawny and Cissy and all our other friends! People we saved from one crime or disaster or even from wars or super villains are out there counting on us to keep them safe! I won’t let their faith be in vain! “he vowed as he fought against the energy with all his considerable might and wit!
“It’s too bad! It’s just too bad!” he said loudly as he looked at Ultra Man.
“What’s too bad? That we’re going to die?” snarled the villain.
“No. It’s too bad that Superman is not here! If he was here, he could help me. He’s a real hero and he could break free and help me but you’re not really to blame. I mean, you can’t help it if you’re not as strong as he is!” said Captain Marvel!
“After all, how could a copycat like you measure up to the real Man of Steel!” he said.
Ultra Man’s eyes narrowed and he screamed with either fury or pain but he began to fight back!
“I’ll show you! I’ll show you all that I’m better than Superman!” he shouted.
Captain Marvel smiled as his plan worked!
“I figured I could goad him into fighting even harder! Together we can break free!” he thought.
For what seemed like hours the two titans struggled but in minutes, they managed to break free!
Captain Marvel reached out to catch Ultra Man but the villain shoved him back and said, “I did it! I’m better than you or Superman!”
They landed before their respective allies and Captain Marvel heard the fallen King Kull say “You may defeat me but I shall still win! The machine can’t be stopped by anyone but me!”
As Mary and Jr. rushed forward to congratulate their partner, Captain Marvel said, “I have an idea but I’ll need all of your help. The dimensional portals that are swallowing our two worlds are connected in some extra-dimensional manner. Kull’s machine is designed to make them materialized on top of one another! We have can’t allow that!”
Ultra Man said, “What do expect us to do? Push the two Earths out of the portals?”
Captain Marvel said, “Exactly! I’m glad you’re on board with the plan!”
Ultra Man shrugged and then glanced over at Owlman.
“This punk may be even more of an idealist than Superman!”
Owlman said, “And yet he is right! You can do it, chum! You can stop Earth 3 from entering that portal!”
Ultra Man nodded and said, “Why not? You only die once!”
He flew off with Power Ring and Superwoman following. The three Marvels flew off in the other direction along with Warlock! Before Isis could join them Zoro took hold of her hand and whispered in her ear.
Soon the monitors showed two similar scenes! Ultra Man and Superwoman struggled with a green energy construct created by Power Ring for the express purpose of channeling their super muscle power into reversing the extra-dimensional tug of the portals near Earth 3! The Marvel Family used their own muscles to do the same thing for Earth S via a magically constructed creation of Warlock’s lamp of the gods. Amazingly, both teams gradually managed to slow the movement of the worlds!
“Some effect of the machine must do something to keep gravity and atmosphere intact on each planet. I guess King Kull literally wanted to smash them together. He is too brutal to try a more subtle tactic!” mused Warlock as he shielded himself from outer space and watched the Marvels work with his magical creation!
“The mystical hold I placed on Earth S looks like ordinary chains to the mortal eye. I suppose that is fitting since the Marvels are literally fighting with all their power to free our planet!” he mused.
Power Ring had made no such distinction. He had merely created tethers by which Earth 3 could be towed away from the portal. While his ring had made this possible in much the same way as warlock’s magic had done, Ken Raynor didn’t question how and what the voice in the ring whispered to his soul.
Back on the yellow world where the machines rested, Zoro turned to Isis and said, “I held you back when the others flew off for a good reason. I have a plan!”
Isis listened as Zoro talked. “Something Kull said gave me an idea. Based on what little we’ve seen of how Earth 3 works, I think it may be possible to save both planets.”
As the suave Man of Mystery finished outlining his idea, Isis smiled broadly and said, “You may be right! I will try to locate him now!”
She spoke a series of arcane words and then vanished from view!
“Hey if that leggy Cleopatra look a like is splitting then I want out too!” said Deadeye.
Owlman said, “Shut up, Queen. I picked up on enough of her thoughts to realize she might be out best hope! Do not interfere with your self-serving cowardice!”
As Silk Canary caressed her lover, he silently vowed once more to kill Owlman if they survived this crisis!
Meanwhile, Isis found herself walking almost daintily through what appeared to be a massive hourglass!
As sands rushed over her lithe form, she emerged in the distant past of Earth 3 where she found evidence of primitive life forms and a strange obelisk!
“This reminds me of the pyramid I unearthed in the present but now at the dawn of human existence on Earth 3, I’ve found the home of the one being that might shut off Kull’s infernal device!” she said.
A tall, handsome being emerged from the mystical structure and smiled warmly at Isis! He was powerful yet clearly benign and his sensitive eyes radiated intelligence.
“You are Earth 3’s version of King Kull but you are good where he is evil!” she declared.
He said, “I do not know of this Kull but I do try to protect and serve the young race that has sprung up on this dark world! I am King Conn.”
Isis said, “If you truly seek to protect this planet as I sense you do, you will come with me now through the ages to where an evil counterpart of yours seeks to destroy all creation!”
King Conn said, “My race was known as the Immortals but in truth all of them died and I alone remain to act as a mentor to mankind! I will do anything to protect this world!”
Moments later, as the other heroes managed to force their Earths back out of the warping portals, King Conn and Isis materialized before the infernal machine!
Silk Canary gasped, “Hey, he’s a good looking version of that caveman!”
Owlman nodded at Zoro in approval..
“You were right to think that our Earth might indeed have once had a good version of the Beastman. You are a worthy foe!” he said.
Zoro said nothing. He thought, “It’s too bad this Owlman can’t defy the nature of this warped universe and become a hero. I think he has what it takes to succeed!”
King Kull staggered to his feet as he gazed in abject horror at his worst nightmare made real: a human loving member of his lost race!
“You may be of my race but you sicken me with your clearly good intentions!” he cried.
King Conn said, “I recognize the design of this device. It does come from a science not unlike that that belonged to my fallen people. I may stop it and return all to normal but it will take a sacrifice!”
Isis said, “Tell us what you need!”
King Conn smiled briefly and walked directly into the midst of the crackling energy field that filled the space between the two sides of the machines. Gripping each side with both palms, he pulled open certain hidden panels and was engulfed in raw energy!
“Osirus shield him!” cried Isis.
King Kull cursed as his machine groaned to a final stop and then he smiled broadly as King Conn’s dying form fell to the ground.
“Good! That dolt gave his life. That is some comfort!” he sn****red!
Indeed, as Isis bent over the fallen Immortal King Conn looked up at her and said, “You enabled me to save Earth. This was indeed a good death!”
Isis realized he was beyond the help of even Warlock’s magic and she held his hand and looked down at him with a tender expression.
King Conn said, “Do not grieve for me. I go to join my lost race. While being plucked from the dawn of time prevented me from influencing the history of Earth for good I may yet play one final role in attempting to guard it. I use my final power to revive the restore a champion who will embody my cause after I am no more!”
He closed his eyes and died as Isis wept softly.
“He has restored both worlds to their rightful places! He also destroyed the machine. It may not be used again!”
Captain Marvel said, “Then, all we have to do now is take the Crime Syndicate to jail!”
Power Ring obeyed the ring’s silent whispers and generated a brilliant burst of energy that transported each group back to their native planet!
“How’d you do that?” demanded Deadeye as he and his fellow felons found themselves back in the park on Earth 3.
Power Ring said, “The ring told me to tap into the remnants of the machine’s energies. It got us home and sent the others back to their Earth. Best of all, there’s not enough energy to let them cross over to here again! Don’t you see? Things can get back to normal again!”
As Owlman and Deadeye glared at one another, it was Ultra Man who broke the silence.
“Are you crazy? Forget about Captain Marvel and his pals. It’s the Qwardians I want! They tried to kill us. They dared use me like some battery. I don’t care if you are with me or not, I declare war on those bald creeps! I’m going to destroy Qward or die trying!”
Back on Earth S, the Squadron of Justice stood on their native soil and accepted the fact that they could not return to Earth 3 to bring the villains to justice.
Captain Marvel said, “You know I like to think that just like Isis found a good version of King Kull, there may be other heroic types there to stop the villains as well!”
Isis nodded and she suddenly recalled the pyramid that she had unearthed and Conn’s final words about reviving a champion for that darkened Earth!
She smiled gently and said, “May it be so!”
Epilogue
Back in the deserts of Earth 3, a majestic figure in white and gold opened his eyes and sat up within the pyramid. He looked around and his gaze fell upon an engraving that decorated one interior wall.
“The Mighty Adam shall live once more in a distant era when his powers are needed!”
He read the carving and smiled.
“So be it! “ he said as his words unknowingly echoed those of Isis!