Guy Gardner

You can take down a mountain but you can’t break out of this simple cube? You’re weak!

O.M.A.C.

I… I can’t!

Guy Gardner

The hell you can’t! Let it rip! Let the demon inside of you loose!

O.M.A.C.

I… I… I… am… OMAC!

Previously: Since their inception the Justice League International have been dogged by a group of superhuman anarchists called the Burners. They demolished the Hall of Justice and decimated the JLI’s press-launch. Rocket Red has killed and three of their team-mates were hospitalised (Vixen, Fire, and Ice). Using the Justice League’s resources, Batman tracked the terrorists back to a warehouse in Washington DC. However, the raid went sour when the Intersek over-rode control of Green Lantern Guy Gardner and Booster Gold’s weaponry and blasted the JLI unconscious.

The JLI are held prisoner in one of Lightweaver’s constructions – an energy box around them all and individual bonds holding their wrists. Intersek remains close by to block their super-weaponry. Breakdown has brought them to the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington DC where he intends to execute them before a crowd of protesters. The bystanders are in two minds about Breakdown’s rhetoric, but the fanatical villain is unwavering. Guy Gardner is caged alongside OMAC and keeps pushing the blue giant to break free, but he remains more terrified of losing control than being murdered.

It is only after Breakdown has extracted the August General for torture that Guy deliberately sets out to enrage OMAC. His plan works and the enraged giant overwhelms Lightweaver’s prison. Guy is still making the running as he orders Batwing to take down Intersek. Godvia them makes sure she says out of the way. Guy grapples with Lightweaver and breaks his shield just as the tanks of the newly arrived US army open fire at them. The undefended villain takes the full force of a tank round and falls to the floor. Booster Gold had been battling Breakdown, but it is the August General who steps in and delivers a final powerful blow that completely discorporates the villain. His remains are washed into a storm drain.

The JLI freed themselves because Guy wound up OMAC, but the giants rage only subsides when he is seconds way from clobbering Booster Gold. Booster then pulls Godvia close and plants a “victory kiss” on her. The JLI may rejoice in finally defeating their enemies, but for the Burners the cost was high. Lightweaver’s twin brother Malik was in the crowd and managed to pull the mortally wounded villain away while everybody else is distracted. He finally dies in an alleyway and Malik promises that he will be remembered.

• Deaths: Breakdown, Lightweaver.
• Batman, Fire, Ice, and Vixen do not appear in this issue. Batman was captured with the JLI in issue #10, but disappeared by the start of this issue.

International Exchange

In their penultimate conversation Russ Burlingame and Dan Jurgens discuss the developments in this issue. The scribe took time to cheer Aaron Lopresti’s art on this series:

With only an issue left in the run, Aaron Lopresti’s art is still improving. This is just a great-looking issue. You plan on hijacking him for another project one day soon?

I really admire what Aaron did on this series and would not hesitate to work with him again.

Though, rather than a group book, I’d love to give him a single character, full power showcase type of thing to sink his teeth into.

And it has to be noted that, not only did he deliver the goods in a big way, he was there every single month except one. That’s a track record of professionalism anyone can embrace.

Jurgens also said that Booster and Godvia’s romance had been something he had hoped to develop if the series had run longer. He additionally hinted that Breakdown’s going down the drain was a possible set-up should the villain ever return.

Sales

My Thoughts

Surveying the Internets

The Mighty Monarch (Comic Vine):

Literally everyone gets moments to shine, even though Guy Gardner takes most of the narration. Booster Gold really comes out on top as the leader, and manages to be the one instigating the romance on Godiva. O.M.A.C. deals with both sides of his problems in one story, August-General-In-Iron fully lets loose and…. actually I’m not sure if I like it ONLY because there don’t seem to be repercussions for his actions.

Nicole D’Andria (Player Affinity):

The artwork and story in this issue were more amped up then they have been in a while. The misplaced brutality, while out of character, did serve to add a grim mood to this series making the battle have a greater feel than it would have if the mood of the series continued to be as light as before.

The Verdicts

Nothing to annotate.