Doom of the Star Diamond!

Justice League of America #4

May 1961

In a Nutshell

Carthan of Dryanna has been exiled to Earth because the dictator Xandor worries that he’s a great hero. And “exiled” means Carthan can leave Earth at any time, but doing so would detonate three doomsday weapons that would destroy our planet. But Carthan is indestructible, so the weapons don’t matter. But he’s also a humanitarian, so they do. But Carthan believes the Justice League can destroy these weapons. But he can’t tell them about them. But he can kidnap Green Arrow, who isn’t a Leaguer yet, until he is. Or something. I think.

Roll Call

The League are dispatched to defeat three doomsday weapons, so most of the team gets a chance to do something this month.

  • Wonder Woman and the Martian Manhunter disable a weapon in Keystone City that causes animals to grow to gigantic sizes. This is only possible because Wonder Woman correctly deduces that the only explanation for a missing off switch is that it must have slipped into another dimension. Like they do.
  • Aquaman and the Flash stop a device threatening to sink Australia.
  • Green Lantern switches off a machine in Italy that is animating giant movie props. Sorry, giant yellow movie props.

  • Superman frees Green Arrow from Carthan’s trap, and in turn Green Arrow frees the other Leaguers. Superman could have easily done that too, except of course their diamond prison cell is flecked with Kryptonite dust.

  • Batman tries to help by tackling Carthan. The problem is, Carthan didn’t actually need to be tackled. His only goal was to get the League to destroy the doomsday weapons so that he could return to Dryanna. Not only was Batman’s action unnecessary, he also accidentally destroyed the machinery that would have released the League from Carthan’s diamond prison. So, maybe ask questions before tackling next time, Caped Crusader.

  • With nothing else to do, Snapper Carr goes for a jog.


The Scorecard

For the first time in the JLA run, we've got a new addition to the Scorecard. Green Arrow is starting at the bottom, but I have a feeling he'll be climbing the ranks pretty soon.


Team Member


Tenure

Cover Appearances

Story Appearances

Contribution Rating

Flash

7

7

100%

7

100%

7

100%

Green Lantern

7

7

100%

7

100%

6

86%

Martian Manhunter

7

7

100%

7

100%

5

71%

Snapper Carr

7

0

0%

7

100%

5

71%

Wonder Woman

7

7

100%

7

100%

5

71%

Aquaman

7

7

100%

7

100%

4

57%

Superman

7

1

14%

7

100%

3

43%

Batman

7

1

14%

7

100%

2

29%

Green Arrow

1

1

100%

1

100%

1

100%


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