All-Star Comics #56

Issue Details

Synopsis

THE DAY THE WORLD ENED! The 31st century is a world without strife, but they're at the mercy of a race of creatures dubbed the Chameleons who can turn into anyone they see and plunder and victimize society without interference. The mayor of the city of Modernia suggests the problem is that because their society had nothing like crime until the Chameleons come along, they pull people from the past who are experts in facing this problem. Namely, the Justice Society of America. While daring, their options are limited because their method of time travel involves losing memories of the future. However, one man, Professor Ellery, thinks he's found a workaround for this: to take a book written in the Justice Society's own time period, and clip the words into a meaningful sequence to tip the heroes off. Since it's from their own time period, it shouldn't be altered by traveling back to the past. It works, but leaves him with the message "Professor, it is urgent...to commit a... daring crime..." Ellery commits a charity robbery that swiftly brings the Justice Society into attendance, and Ellery hands them another note with all the information about his situation. Just then a policeman comes by and arrests Ellery, although the Justice Society becomes suspicious as they've never heard of the criminal the cop mentions. This gets them to realize the policeman must've actually been a Chameleon trying to throw them off the scent. The heroes pursue and grab onto the "timebus" returning to the 31st century. There Ellery, his memories restored, takes the Justice Society to a secret headquarters to work out a plan to uncover the Chameleons, but is actually a Chameleon himself. The Justice Society find themselves surrounded by giant robots, but manage to destroy them and realize they're in the Chameleon Headquarters. They find pictures of important Modernia officials and realize the Chameleons must be planning to impersonate them to cripple the city and split up to capture the imposters. Wonder Woman and Flash come in as a Chameleon impersonating the mayor takes the city seal under the pretext of hiding it from the Chameleons. Some well-meaning guards attack the heroes and are easily dealt with, but the fake Mayor escapes in the confusion. Atom and Green Lantern track down a Chameleon impersonating an army general who had scientists create a bomb so powerful it'll blow up the entire planet if used. Again, the heroes are attacked by the city guards for supposedly holding up an important official. Atom and GL easily take care of their attackers, but their fight goes on long enough for the "general" to escape with his prize. Hawkman, Dr. Mid-Nite and Black Canary go hunting for a spaceship tycoon who tries to fly off in a new super-fast model his companies just developed. Again, the heroes are attacked by guards and fend them off, but their target escapes with the ship. With their powerful weapons the Chameleons try to blackmail the human race into surrendering, but Black Canary comes to Modernia's officials and tells them not to give in. Flash found the Chameleons' underground hideout and the JSA are getting ready to attack. After fending off another giant robot the JSA rounds up the Chameleons and puts them on their stolen rocketship. After it runs out of fuel, they'll be 1100 years away from Earth. The Justice Society return to 1950, feeling like they've been on an adventure but unable to remember any particulars, except for a strange note that the 31st century is eternally grateful. THE GIRL FROM AQUATERRA