Justice League of America #150

Issue Details

Synopsis

THE KEY - OR NOT THE KEY The Star-Lords regroup to free Snapper Carr, alias the Star-Tsar, from the Justice League, and the entire membership of the super-team is assembled to pursue the twin goals of tracking down the villains and researching Snapper's recent past, to learn how he became their enemy.  The Phantom Stranger demurs to participate, but the Privateer agrees to help.  The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Aquaman, and the Atom visit the Carr home and the others unexpectedly encounter another old enemy, the Key, who reveals that he is an ally of the Star-Tsar.  While the Key shows how he survived his last battle with the team and was cured of his supposedly fatal illness, Snapper's sister Janet explains how his past association with the JLA had prevented Snapper from succeeding in his own life, so identified was he as the super-team's "mascot."  Just then, the Star-Tsar attacks, but retreats to spare his sister. The group tracks him down, only to be ambushed by a second Star-Tsar.  The reunited heroes awaken to find themselves captives of the Key.  Snapper explains that the Key had created the Star-Tsar identity and bestowed its powers on Snapper, who wanted revenge on his former friends for ruining his life.  The JLA and Snapper escape the Key's traps and capture him, only to have him reveal that he is not the true Star-Tsar, either.  Red Tornado's computer mind recalls that the Privateer had been absent from the group whenever the real villain had appeared, and thus unmasks him as the true enemy.  As he takes the Privateer to jail, Superman also proposes a solution to Snapper's problems.