August 1976
No Man Shall I Call Master!Captain Comet (otherwise known as Adam Blake) returns to Earth for the first time in twenty years after travelling across the galaxy twice. While he's observing the differences in fashion since the last time he was home, he hears a scream in the distance and jumps into action. Comet comes across a battle between Green Lantern, Gorilla Grodd, and Hi-Jack. After seeing the Lantern use his power ring to overcome the villains, Captain Comet comes to the conclusion he must be the aggressor. He subdues Green Lantern with ease and rescues Jack and Grodd, surprising them both with his raw power and ability to read minds. At Sinister Citadel, Grodd and Hi-Jack are filling the other members of the Society in on what happened. Grodd shares that while Captain Comet was helping them back to the Citadel, he read the hero's mind to learn more about his past and abilities. He explains that the night Adam Blake was born a comet streaked across the sky of his small hometown. As he grew to adulthood, he discovered he possessed a variety of unusual powers including telepethy, super-strength, and clairvoyance. Adam had no idea why he had these abilities until a giant spinning top appeared in Arizona and began to siphon off the oxygen in the atmosphere. Blake attacked the top and discovered it was alien technology controlled by something out in space. Using his ship, the cometeer, Adam found and defeated the alien responsible - Harun, the leader of an alien race called the Astur who had been hoping to colonize Earth. Following his success, Blake continued to adventure as Captain Comet before eventually deciding to leave Earth alltogether and seek his destiny in the stars. Back at the Citadel, Manhunter exclaims that if what Grodd says is true then Comet is unaware of the Justice League. Sinestro agrees and points out that as long as Grodd continues to protect them from the hero's telepathy he'll believe whatever they tell him. The Secret Society votes to make Captain Comet a member and use him in their fight against the League. The next day, Adam Blake parks his car in front of a long-shuttered house in the small midwestern town he was raised in. He enters his childhood home, gazing sadly for a moment at the disarray. He leaves and walks to the town's cemetary, finding the gravestones for his parents and his friend Professor Emery Zackro. Adam nearly begins to cry but the snap of a twig from behind him alerts him to Manhunter's presence. Manhunter admits that he followed Adam from the Citadel and explains that the reason the hero hadn't heard his thoughts was because of Grodd's telepathic shield. He shares his own past with Blake - that he's the only surviving (and only non-evil) clone clone of Paul Kirk. Adam confirms he already knew the Society was evil and that Grodd's telepathic shield isn't effective against him. Their conversation is interrupted by an attack from Mantis, who accuses them of betraying "He-Who-Rules-Us-All". Manhunter and Captain Comet tussle with Mantis until the Apokoliptian runs out of power and makes his escape to recharge. Blake offers to chase after the villain but Kirk tells him stay and help him convince the other members of the Society to take a stand. The next morning, Manhunter brings Captain Comet, Star Sapphire, Gorilla Grodd, and Captain Cold to a secret lab hidden under a deserted lot in Fisherman's Wharf. He reveals the lab is one of many put in place by the secret financier behind the Secret Society - Darkseid. Mantis and his slaves burst into the room and pick a fight with the Society members. Mantis tells them they have a choice - surrender or die.
Hal Jordan
appearance
