Firestorm yields to Killer Frost, agreeing to her demands in order to spare the lives of the citizens of New York. Flying cross-country to Hollywood to pick up a movie star to act as Killer Frost's escort, he is joined by the Justice League of America. Firestorm and Red Tornado team up with a strategy against the Ice Maiden.
Firestorm826's Panel-by-Panel Story Summary (Spoiler Alert)
Standing over the kneeling Firestorm, Killer Frost, the new Queen of New York, lets out an evil laugh. Frost remarks that she likes the name “Queen Frost” and that she has always been fascinated by nobility. She starts to remember a childhood fantasy, and asks Firestorm not to laugh if she tells him. Firestorm tells her majesty that he wouldn’t dream laughing at her. Continuing, Frost tells of how she used to dream that she was a forgotten princess whose parents were in hiding, waiting for the day that they could reclaim their throne and return to take her home. Whispering to Stein, Ronnie says the men in white coats should take her away. Frost demands to hear what was just said, and Firestorm backpedals by saying how cold it is today. Firestorm tells Frost that he’d be nuts for going against her, as she holds the lives of eight million people in her icy grasp. She wanted him to call her Queen, and he did. She wanted him to kneel before her, and he has. Firestorm now asks only that Frost refrain from hurting anyone. Frost reveals that she still doesn’t trust Firestorm, finding him trickily intelligent for a mere youth. She decides to give him a test, to which Firestorm replies by saying exams give him hives. New York will be Frost’s hostage if he fails, she says. She goes on to describe how men viewed her plain and unappealing human form of Crystal Frost as cold and unfeeling. She reveals she has never had a lover, a man to call her own. As queen, she needs a royal escort. Stein thinks Frost has gone crazy and demands action, to which Ronnie says he is open to suggestions. A nearby movie billboard advertises the movie “Smokey and the Thief Wreck Georgia” starring Curt Holland. Frost says she wants Holland to be her royal escort. Firestorm tells her she must be kidding, as Holland is one of the top actors in Hollywood. Unimpressed, Frost points a wave of frost to the billboard, causing it to collapse under the icy weight and fall. The billboard’s path will take it to the street, where it will crush a group of helpless citizens encased in ice. Leaping into the air, Firestorm dives after the billboard and uses his atomic restructuring powers to reform it as a harmless precipitation of hail. Stein questions the use of hail, and Ronnie says he couldn’t help it as ice was on his mind for some reason. Landing back on the rooftop by Killer Frost, Firestorm tells her that if she wants Curt Holland, she’ll get Curt Holland. She orders Firestorm to fly to Hollywood at top speed, and says she expects him back in four hours or she’ll be forced to react to her disappointment by doing something unpleasant. As Firestorm flies off into the distance, Frost stretches out her hand to a chirping bird that flies nearby. The bird lands on her hand and instantly freezes solid.
Flying across the sky, Firestorm is shocked as members of the Justice League of America suddenly drop out of the clouds in front of him. Superman tells Firestorm that the Justice League will handle things from this point. Hawkman says the League satellite has provided a complete picture of events. Red Tornado tells Firestorm that he cannot be blamed for being overwhelmed. Zatanna suggest Firestorm move aside, to which Firestorm strongly objects. Firestorm says that New York City is his town and tells the League members he wants to handle things his way. Wonder Woman reminds him that he is also a member of the League and that he should let them help. Firestorm recalls a battle that Superman had with Killer Frost that nearly cost the Caped Crusader his life. It is Firestorm’s friends and family who hang in the balance in this fight.
Firestorm uses atomic energy to create a huge steel shield to block the way of the League – which gravity causes to immediately plummet to Earth. Superman and Zatanna again urge Firestorm to move out of the way. Frustrated, Firestorm lashes out with nuclear fury at Superman and Zatanna. Stein yells in shock, and Ronnie yells back that he had no choice. Firestorm’s energy bolts encase Superman in a sphere of Kryptonite and Zatanna in a sphere of steel. They both fall towards the Earth, with the Kryptonite sapping Superman’s strength. Wonder Woman, on the wing of her Invisible Jet, uses her Lasso of Truth to snag the Krytopnite sphere. Pulling it onto the plane’s wing, she smashes it open, saying a hot-headed young hero will be sorry for his actions. Down below, Red Tornado and Hawkman quickly fly under the falling steel sphere containing Zatanna. She casts a spell to free herself by turning the sphere into rust and dust. The three fly upwards to rejoin Superman and Wonder Woman, intent on dealing with Firestorm. They find him floating, head in hands. Superman and Zatanna approach him, and he quickly apologizes. Zatanna says it is the League that must apologize to him, as they have overlooked an unspoken JLA rule – that the hero first on the scene bears primary responsibility. Superman says it is Firestorm’s city, and as such, Wonder Woman asks Firestorm to provide direction. Firestorm admits he had been wrong also, clearly needing help in dealing with Killer Frost.
The group heads to the Justice League’s orbiting satellite headquarters, where Firestorm provides a complete explanation of how Frost took control of New York. Firestorm explains that he doesn’t want to attack Frost out of fear for what could happen to the frozen citizenry. He recalls successfully thawing people frozen by Frost at Mohole One, but that was only a few dozen compared with this situation’s eight million. Red Tornado reminds Firestorm that he is not the only person present who has people they care about in the city. Hawkman suggests that if the proper equipment was built, it might be possible to save the people. To do so, Red Tornado observes, would require knowledge of physics, which no one currently present possesses. Firestorm tells the group to brace themselves, and transforms himself back into Ronnie Raymond and Professor Martin Stein. Answering the need for physics expertise, Ronnie introduces Stein to the League members. Stein is shocked when he looks out a giant window at planet Earth below him and realizes that he is in space!
Shortly later in Hollywood, a beam of light pierces the sky. A Justice League transporter tube comes into view, and Ronnie and Red Tornado step out of it. Red Tornado takes hold of Ronnie, and they fly away over the famed Hollywood sign in search of Curt Holland.
Nearby, a car chase scene is being filmed on a movie set. As the main car skids to a dramatic halt, the director yells “Cut!” and praises his star, none other than Curt Holland. Saluting the director, Holland starts to inquire about an upcoming scene when Red Tornado and Ronnie descend into view. Red Tornado tells Holland that millions of lives hang in the balance and ask for his assistance. Ronnie proceeds to explain the dire crisis to Holland, and says they want Holland to distract Frost while a plan to deal with her is worked on. Holland says he’s not interested in risking his own hide to save the New Yorkers. Angered, Ronnie tells Holland he’s a phony. Red Tornado leads him away, suggesting that he save his anger for Killer Frost.
Back on the JLA satellite, Ronnie and Red Tornado return to find Stein is finishing building a new device, a portable Thermafrost freezer unit to use on Killer Frost. Stein demonstrates it by pushing a button on a remote control, which instantly freezes the air around it. Ronnie concurs that it will work, but being the size of a television will require some way to hide it from Frost’s view.
Back at the frozen New York City Hall, Killer Frost has the Mayor and two of his staffers trembling before her. She is angry that Firestorm has not returned on time with her intended royal escort, Curt Holland. She demands that the Mayor acknowledge her as Queen to quell her anger. Above and behind Frost, the Mayor is relieved to see Firestorm descending with Curt Holland. Firestorm introduces Holland to Frost, and Holland remarks at her beauty. Taking her hand, Holland kisses it, causing the love-struck Frost to swoon. She cradles Holland in her arms and kisses him. It takes just seconds for her to react with shock that her kiss has not frozen Holland, and she quickly deduces that this person is not Holland, is not even a man at all! She casts an icy blast at him, and the form of Holland quickly becomes Red Tornado! An android of plastic and steel, he was impervious to Frost’s icy kiss. Firestorm tells Frost that the real Curt Holland gave her the “cold shoulder.”
Enraged, Frost turns and screams that she will destroy Firestorm! She launches a barrage of flying icicles at Firestorm, and as he has in prior encounters with her restructures them into harmless snowflakes. Firestorm tells her that their opposing powers of heat and frost cancel each other out, making them too evenly matched. Frost reveals her advantage, that being that Firestorm cares about the people while she does not. She casts a hail of frost upon a nearby antenna tower, which buckles and falls to again threaten the people in the street. Firestorm moves to restructure the tower, and then he and Frost trade back and forth blows. Red Tornado takes advantage of Frost’s pre-occupation with Firestorm and activates the Thermafrost unit that he has concealed inside his android body. Heat is sucked to the unit, leaving Killer Frost withering and weakened. Firestorm uses a nuclear burst to draw the remaining heat out of her body, causing her to be captured inside an icy vacuum. The wave of frost also immobilizes Red Tornado. Firestorm opens a panel on Red Tornado’s back to expose his power connections. With a tremendous burst of nuclear energy, Firestorm melts the ice from Red Tornado to free him. The energy blast causes the Thermafrost unit to operate in reverse, causing a massive heat bubble to descend upon the city. The Thermafrost unit slowly works to thaw the citizens, preventing them from collapsing in shock. The frost melts away, with the ensuing cascades of water pouring into the East River. Exhausted, Firestorm collapses backwards into the arms of the relieved Mayor. In the helpful grasp of the Mayor, Firestorm smiles as he and Red Tornado raise two thumbs up in victory.
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