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"Meet the Cosmic Vampire!": In the absence of Adam Strange, the planet Rann is menaced by Starbreaker, an alien being who hurls worlds into their suns and then feeds on the released energy, including the fear of the

Quote1 It's intolerable that I was beaten! Compared to Starbreaker, the Justice Leaguers are infants-- physically and mentally! To have been outwitted by such insignificant beings galls me! Almost as bad, I expended a great deal of salable energy! The situation is this-- The Justice League has returned to Earth-- Superman will rejoin them! Shortly thereafter, I will follow-- with the raging power of a super-nova, contained in one body! Yes, I will restore my lost energy-- at Earth's expense! Beware, Justice League! Beware, Earth! Your hours are numbered! Quote2
Starbreaker

Justice League of America #96 is an issue of the series Justice League of America (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 1972.

Synopsis for "Meet the Cosmic Vampire!"

In the absence of Adam Strange, the planet Rann is menaced by Starbreaker, an alien being who hurls worlds into their suns and then feeds on the released energy, including the fear of the dying inhabitants. Flash and Green Lantern, Superman and Hawkman team up to defeat his robot-insect creations and two energy-duplicates of the villain himself by trickery, thus saving Rann. Learning of this, Starbreaker plans to take revenge by destroying Earth instead.

Appearing in "Meet the Cosmic Vampire!"

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  • Starbreaker's personal starship


Synopsis for Hourman: "The Origin of... 'Tick-Tock' Tyler the Hourman"

This story is reprinted from Adventure Comics #48.

Young chemist Rex Tyler discovers a powerful chemical that can give a human increased strength, improved senses, and the ability to move faster than the speed of light, but only for an hour. He names the compound Miraclo, and uses it to help people as the Hourman! An ad is placed in the Metropolitan Daily offering help to the oppressed, with a mailing address provided.

Rex Tyler receives loads of mail from hundreds who have answered his ad. A particular letter catches his eye, written by Mary Kennedy, whose husband has fallen into a life of crime since losing his job. She begs for assistance in bringing him back to an honest living. He visits Mrs. Kennedy while incognito, and she tells him that her husband, John, was talking in his sleep about stealing Mrs. Van Shelton's pearls, during the Beaux Arts Ball that night. Later in his lab, Tyler prepares the Miraclo compound, as well as a tear gas concentrate in his ring. One minute before the start of the Ball, he drinks the chemical and dons the guise of the Hourman!

Just as Mrs. Kennedy suspected, her husband is at the ball with two other thugs. Their eyes are on the elegant Marcia Van Shelton, and the pearls she wears. They are about to put their plan into action, when suddenly a paper blows into Kennedy's hand. It is a warning, written by the Hourman, telling him to go home to his wife and kid before it is too late. Kennedy is spooked, but the other men convince him it is just some kind of gag. The attendees are about to begin the grand march when the room suddenly goes dark! The Hourman, with the power of Miraclo, is able to see in the dark and notices that Mrs. Van Shelton's pearls have been taken! The thieves have a car parked right outside, and make their getaway, but thanks to his boosted speed, Hourman is able to run them down!

When they arrive at their apartment hideout, he leaps onto the roof of the building, realizing that he only has 20 more minutes before his abilities fade. Hourman bursts through the gang's apartment window, and releases the tear gas in his ring onto the surprised thieves, distracting them as he turns toward John F. Kennedy. He grabs the frightened man and takes him to the roof to try and scare him straight by throwing him off the side! Before Kennedy hits the ground, Hourman quickly leaps to the ground and catches him in mid-air! Immediately, John F. Kennedy starts to beg and plead, promising to quit his life of crime and return to his family at home. The police show up, and Hourman makes himself scarce, just in time to return to his regular self.

The next morning, Mrs. Kennedy is happily welcoming her husband as he returns home, while at the same time, Mrs. Van Shelton finds her pearls enclosed in an envelope in her mailbox. Back at the lab, Rex Tyler is being lectured by his boss about how he could really go places if he wasn't so timid.

Appearing in Hourman: "The Origin of... 'Tick-Tock' Tyler the Hourman"

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  • Mr. Bannerman, Rex's boss (not yet named)

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  • John F. Kennedy (reforms)
  • Randall
  • Patsy

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  • Mary Kennedy (Single appearance)
    • two small children
  • Marcia Van Shelton (Single appearance)

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Synopsis for Wildcat: "The Monkey's Circle!"

This story is reprinted from Sensation Comics #84.

Appearing in Wildcat: "The Monkey's Circle!"

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  • organ grinder
    • his monkeys

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Notes

  • In Post-Crisis continuity, Superman was not a member of the JLA at this time. However, he did participate in the post-Crisis version of this story as a guest star.[1][2]
  • Green Lantern is concerned about his teamwork with Flash, after an extended period teaming up almost exclusively with Green Arrow and Black Canary (starting in Green Lantern (Volume 2) #76) and having his ring's power significantly diminished (in Green Lantern (Volume 2) #77).



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