Firestorm must battle Killer Frost and Superman!
Superman is summoned to S.T.A.R. Labs' New York branch, to thaw out the body of Killer Frost, for a scientific autopsy. Before he can bring his heat vision to bear, Professor Martin Stein bursts into the room, wild-eyed, and begs for them not to proceed. Stein is carried off the premises by security. Superman bathes Killer Frost in his heat vision. The ice sheath coating her explodes into thousands of shards of ice. Superman uses his indestructible cape to protect the scientists from the icy shrapnel. He can offer no protection, though, for the bursts of frozen air that freezes them all solid. Killer Frost is very much alive. Before Superman can react to the threat, Killer Frost freezes the Man of Steel's brain, leaving him in a submissive state. With Superman enslaved, Killer Frost makes good her escape from S.T.A.R. labs. Witnessing her departure from the street, Stein subconsciously activates the trigger that will transform him into Firestorm. Miles away, at Bradley High School, in Upper Manhattan, Ronnie Raymond feels the transformation coming over him, right in the middle of a big basketball game. Raymond flees the court, just making it out of the building before the transformation overtakes him. As Stein triggered the transformation, Firestorm manifests at his location. Stein quickly explains the situation to Raymond. Firestorm locates Killer Frost, and Superman, on top of one of the World Trade Center towers. Superman is in the midst of building an enormous device to focus and enhance Killer Frosts power, allowing her to enslave the populace of Manhattan. Firestorm uses his atomic restructuring power to destroy the device. Closing on Killer Frost, his next volley is blocked by Superman.
Firestorm uses his atomic restructuring power to impede and imprison the Man of Steel, to no avail. Forced to flee, Firestorm takes to the sky, with Superman hot on his trail. Killer Frost returns to S.T.A.R. Labs to garner the necessary equipment to rebuild her power enhancer. On Stein's advice, Firestorm dives down into the Earth, drawing Superman to it's molten core. To buy the necessary time for Stein's plan to work, Firestorm fights a desperate, defensive battle against Superman. Despite his best efforts, Firestorm is defeated quickly. Superman prepares to deliver the death blow, when his mind finally clears. The intense heat of the Earth's molten core has thawed out Superman's brain. Killer Frost enslaves the minds of S.T.A.R. Labs' scientists, and tasks them with rebuilding her power enhancer. Superman arrives and closes on Killer Frost. Unable to enslave the Man of Steel anew, Killer Frost bombards Superman with giant ice daggers. Superman shatters under the onslaught. The Man of Steel was merely an animated ice statue. A decoy designed to distract Killer Frost, while the real Superman, and Firestorm, dismantle her device. Firestorm uses his atomic restructuring power to convert the laboratory into a giant refrigerator. With Superman blasting Killer Frost with his super-cold breath, Killer Frost's body temperature is quickly lowered to absolute zero, freezing her once more. Firestorm undoes the damage to World Trade Center tower. Superman inquires about Firestorm's year long absence. Firestorm declares that, never having wanted the life of a super-hero, he had decided to retire. Seeing great potential in the young hero, Superman offers Firestorm a place in the Justice League of America.
Notes
- Cliff Carmichael and Doreen Day cameos.
- This issue contains the Hostess Superhero Ad, the Flash in "The Stony-Eyed Medusa".
- "Daily Planet" Volume 79 Issue 40 week of October 8, 1979 edited by Bob Rozakis, production by Anthony Tollin and lettered by Typeset. Featuring Superboy in an all new series The New Adventures of Superboy #1, and Superboy ending his relationship with the Legion of Super-Heroes in Legion of Super-Heroes #259, plus "Ask the Answer Man!" and "Direct Currents".
- "Hembeck" by Fred Hembeck.
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