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"Green Lantern: "S.O.S. Green Lantern!"": This story is reprinted from Showcase #22.

Quote1 Lightning strikes twice in this town -- and the second time I strike -- it's for keeps! Quote2

DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #22 is an issue of the series DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 1982.

Synopsis for Green Lantern: "S.O.S. Green Lantern!"

This story is reprinted from Showcase #22.

An alien peace officer named Abin Sur of the Green Lantern Corps crash lands in the middle of the California desert. As he lays dying, he commands his power ring to seek out a worthy successor - one who proves to be fearless and strong-willed. Miles away, test pilot Hal Jordan is examining a flight simulator when a corona of green light envelops him, pulling him along with the simulator to the spot of Abin Sur's crashed vessel. Abin Sur tells Hal that the power of the ring selected him to take on the role of the Green Lantern. He gives him the ring, his costume, and a power battery. He instructs him that the ring will obey his every command but is powerless against anything colored yellow. He also tells him that the ring's energy must be charged from the power battery once every twenty-four hours. Hal agrees to accept the responsibility of wielding the ring in the cause of justice, and, with that, Abin Sur passes away. Hal Jordan is now Green Lantern.

Appearing in Green Lantern: "S.O.S. Green Lantern!"

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Synopsis for Green Lantern: "Secret of the Flaming Spear!"

This story is reprinted from Showcase #22.

Test pilot Hal Jordan goes to the office of Carol Ferris, daughter of Ferris Aircraft's president and CEO Carl Ferris. He asks Carol out on a dinner date, and Carol agrees. Suddenly, an S.O.S. pipes through the office intercom. A Ferris aviator piloting the experimental Flaming Spear is in trouble. Hal sneaks away and changes into the Green Lantern. He flies to the runway and helps bring the Flaming Spear safely to ground. His ring picks up a strange radiation emanating from the nose of the plane. Tracing the energy signature back to its source, Green Lantern finds that a group of saboteurs are responsible for disrupting the Flaming Spear's flight path. When Green Lantern appears before them, the thugs begin shooting at him, but he uses his ring to make their bullets explode. One of them picks up a yellow lamp and heaves it at Hal Jordan. As the power of his ring is vulnerable against anything colored yellow, the lamp succeeds in striking Jordan's head, knocking him down. The saboteurs take this opportunity to make their escape. Green Lantern revives and gives chase, but quickly discovers that their getaway car is colored yellow as well. He uses his ring to spike the vehicle's tires causing it to skid to a halt. The three criminals attempt to flee, but Hal binds them with tendrils of green energy. With the threat abated, Green Lantern changes into his civilian attire and returns to Ferris Aircraft.

Green Lantern love problems

Love stinks

Carl Ferris calls Carol and Hal into his office for an important announcement. He tells them that he and his wife are going on an extended vacation for the next two years. During this time, Carol will retain full control of the company. After Carl leaves the room, Hal asks Carol if they are still on for their dinner date, but Carol tells him that, as his new boss, their relationship will be "strictly business" for the next two years. Back in his locker room, Hal laments the fact that his power ring can grant him his every desire except the one thing he wants most in the world - Carol.

Appearing in Green Lantern: "Secret of the Flaming Spear!"

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  • Saboteurs (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Frank Nichols (Single appearance)

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  • The Flaming Spear

Synopsis for Inferior Five: "The Coming of the Costumed Incompetents"

This story is reprinted from Showcase #62.

When a mad scientist threatens Megalopolis, the police call the retired super-hero team, the Freedom Brigade. The heroes are far past their prime, so they outfit their children to become a new team of heroes in their place. The son of the Patriot and Lady Liberty becomes the 97-pound weakling Merryman. The daughter of Princess Power is airhead Dumb Bunny. The son of Mr. Might and the Mermaid is the clumsy Awkwardman. Captain Swift's son the Blimp can fly, but only at incredibly slow speed. Rounding out the group is the Bowman's son White Feather who is a coward. The new team takes the name the Inferior Five. They soon encounter a robot created by Dr. Gregory Gruesome, designed to steal a ruby for a death-ray. By accident, the team succeeds in beating the robot. Gruesome doesn't give up, attacking the five with his crime car. While they do battle, Gruesome's assistant Hermes steals the ruby.

Gruesome escapes from the heroes and is able to complete his death-ray. When the Inferior Five regroups and locates the scientist, he uses the death-ray against them. The beam reflects off a mirror, Dumb Bunny was using to touch-up her make-up. The deflected beam strikes Gruesome, who then surrenders.

Appearing in Inferior Five: "The Coming of the Costumed Incompetents"

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  • Louis the Lip
  • An unnamed costumer
  • Toho (Sumo Wrestler; Trainer for Merry Man) (First appearance) (Flashback only)
  • Crimson Chrysanthemum (In a photograph only)

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  • Shinboni Ruby
  • Super-Laser Death Beam
  • Ruby Ring from a Gumball Machine
  • Dr. Gruesome's Robot Helper

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  • Dr. Gruesome's Crime Car

Synopsis for Animal Man: "I Was the Man With Animal Powers"

This story is reprinted from Strange Adventures #180.

Buddy Baker, a meek mild-mannered mouse of a man, gains superhuman abilities when his body is exposed to the radiation from a crashed alien spacecraft. He is in the countryside on a hunting trip with his friend Roger Denning, when he finds himself attacked by all manner of strange beasts. A circus train has derailed, and the animals have escaped. Beset by tigers and gorillas and elephants, Buddy finds himself able to harness the powers of each creature and use them against each other. He agrees to help the local professionals track down and recapture the animals. Amidst the chaos, the alien life form who came to Earth attacks a nearby town. Buddy takes it as his responsibility to stop the monster at all costs, and finds that it has powers rivaling his own. In the middle of the fight, his animal enhancements begin to fade, and he is forced to flee. Regrouping, he tries a new approach. Buddy gets a mouse, and brings it to the extraterrestrial, enforcing timid and meek characteristics onto it. Now that it's afraid of him, he backs it off of a cliff and it plunges to its death. Buddy is proclaimed a hero in all of the local papers for his daring triumph. Back at home, he is trying to work up the courage to ask his girlfriend Ellen to marry him. Mustering up as much bravery as he can, he proposes... she accepts, and he promptly faints into her arms.

Appearing in Animal Man: "I Was the Man With Animal Powers"

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  • Alien Monster

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Synopsis for Black Lightning: "Black Lightning"

This story is reprinted from Black Lightning #1.

There's a new hero on the streets of Suicide Slum - the Black Lightning. Black Lightning is actually high school teacher and former Olympic athlete, Jefferson Pierce. Working at Garfield High School, Pierce learns that the neighborhood is in the grip of a criminal organization known as The 100.

Black Lightning confronts one of the 100's more disreputable pushers, Joey Toledo. After beating up Toledo's men, he grabs the drug dealer by the collar and pressures Toledo to tell him everything there is to know about the 100. He tells him to meet him at Garfield High's gymnasium at midnight.

Later, Black Lightning changes back into his civilian clothes and consults with his friend, Peter Gambi. He wants to clean up the streets, but he now regrets using the high school as his own personal battlefield. Black Lightning reflects upon the events that brought him to this point.

Flashback:
Jefferson Pierce had only recently arrived at his alma mater Garfield High, after having worked as a teacher in New Carthage. He meets with Principal Chapin who reminds him of the glory days when Jefferson was the school's best athlete.

Later that day, Jefferson meets high school basketball star Earl Clifford. Clifford is arrogant, but affable, and jokingly remarks that he aims to become the "new" Jefferson Pierce. At that moment, Joey Toledo and several armed men bust into the gymnasium. They begin beating up on Jefferson, but Earl Clifford jumps in and lends him a hand. Working together, they run the thugs out of the school.

News of this incident reaches the office of the Whale - leader of the 100. The Whale is reluctant to take direct action against Pierce, for fear of turning him into a martyr, but he instructs Joey Toledo to teach young Earl Clifford a lesson.

The 100 goons go to beat Earl up, but the boy runs away into the street and is struck by a vehicle. They decide to make an example of him and suspend his body from the basketball net in the school gymnasium.

Jefferson Pierce is beside himself with guilt. He goes to Peter Gambi's tailor shop and tells him what happened. Gambi tells Jefferson that the neighborhood needs a symbol - a man willing to take back the streets. He produces a costume, mask and wig. Jefferson Pierce becomes Black Lightning.

Appearing in Black Lightning: "Black Lightning"

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Synopsis for Legion of Super-Heroes: "And Then There Were None"

This story is reprinted from Adventure Comics #348.

When the Legion elects Invisible Kid as their new leader, they go to participate in a parade. However, the event is marred when Sun Boy is stricken with amnesia and flees the others.

When their club house and a Tevis Building are stolen by the costumed criminal Dr. Regulus, the Legion go after him and in the insuring clash they are over powered by the various traps and weapons Regulus has setup to try and destroy them. However, this plan backfires when the restored Sun-Boy arrives and saves his friends.

With Regulus defeated and escaped, the Legion restores everything to normal, and Regulus -- safe in his secret hideout, vows to get his revenge against the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Appearing in Legion of Super-Heroes: "And Then There Were None"

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  • Derek Morgna (Flashback only)
  • Zarl Hedricks (Dies in flashback)

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