Battle of Los Angeles

The **Battle of Los Angeles**, also called the **Fall of the Justice Society of America**, was a major battle between the Golden Age Justice Society of America and a newly reformed Injustice Society of America in a Hollywood mansion. It took place on December 24th, 2010,

The battle of Los Angeles was meant to serve as the destruction of the Justice Society so no legitimate threat would remain to Jordan Mahkent's plan to execute Project New America. The battle reunited the Justice Society, who had separated years prior, though their inability to work as a team hindered their fighting tactics. The battle was a monumental moment, as it saw the destruction of the Golden Age of Heroes, plummeting America into a superhero vacant society.

The few members of the JSA who survived, Pat Dugan and Rex Tyler, went into hiding as they pursued separate avenues of getting justice for their fallen comrades. Sylvester Pemberton also survived, though he faked his death. The fall of the JSA later served as motivation for a new generation of heroes to assume their fallen superhero mantles, finishing a battle the golden age were unable to complete.

The ISA, however, were able to pursue their overall plan to complete Project New America with little interference from the remaining JSA members.

## Background

The Injustice Society of America began to make waves in the media and became too pertinent of a problem for the Justice Society to ignore any longer. Despite their individual members fighting one another throughout the years, the battles always resulted in stalemates or escapes by either party. The ISA were focused on a larger plan that required no distractions or interference from outside parties. The JSA, however, were no longer fighting together as a team but were forced back together over their shared enemies. The ISA called for a meeting of the two sides in a Hollywood mansion.

## Battle

On December 24th, the JSA prepared for their battle against the ISA. They had met at their headquarters before they left as a team. Starman refused to let his trusted sidekick Stripesy participate in the battle, partially because he had a son to worry about, and partially because Stripesy wasn't an official member of the team. Pat wasn't the only JSA member sidelined, though, as Johnny Thunder was instructed to stay at the headquarters with Thunderbolt. As the men conversed about feeling useless and their mutual disliking for being sidelined, they also planned to share some cider. Their moment was interrupted by Wildcat, who informed them that the ISA had the brainwashed creature known as Solomon Grundy on their side. They needed everyone now and that meant Johnny. Pat began to follow the duo but Wildcat refused as Starman ordered that he remain at the garage. Johnny told Stripesy they would share that drink when he returned.

Stripesy remained on the communication line as he anxiously awaited news on the battle. He drove through the empty LA streets as he tried to reach Starman. Starman told him to stay away but a loud shout quickly followed. Pat took this as a distress call from Starman and sped down the streets. He barreled through the gates of a mansion and arrived outside the raging battle. He saw green flames, streams of red, and the sound of glass breaking. He quickly ran out of his car just as Wildcat's body landed on the ground below. He was horrified to see his friend dead but couldn't assist.

Stripesy ran inside as he dodged electrically charged shots from The Wizard's wand as he assisted Tigress in a fight against Hourman. The Wizard levitated Hourman with his wand and threw him to the ground violently. Pat dodged the incident but saw Dr. Mid-Nite on the ground wounded. Dr. Mid-Nite shouted to Stripesy to run as he shouldn't be there. He was then engulfed by a black had produced by The Shift. The Wizard turned his sights on Pat, who was unarmed and vulnerable.

Suddenly, The Wizard was blasted away by Starman who wielded the Cosmic Staff. Starman welcomed Stripesy to the battle but was ambushed by Tigress and Sportsmaster. Starman quickly incapacitated the duo with the cosmic staff. He landed beside Stripesy and reprimanded him for not waiting in the car. Stripesy began to defend his choice when suddenly, a blast of debris is telekinetically launched their way. Starman is struck from the sky but quickly resurfaced. He shot a beam of energy from the staff at the culprit, Brainwave, who produced a force field in defense. A battle of mind and will commenced until Brainwave broke and was struck with the beam. Triumphant, Starman turned to Stripesy seconds before a shard of ice impaled him, shot by Icicle.

Starman fell from the sky and slammed to the ground. Stripesy dropped to help him as Starman feebly whispered that the Justice Society is gone. Stripesy helped Starman to his feet as they had to run. Together, they barely escaped the mansion as blasts and falling debris continued behind them. They boarded the Red Rocket Racer and Pat threw the car into gear. He began to drive off as the ISA gathered on the steps of the mansion. Icicle gave an order to Solomon Grundy who proceeded to chase the car. As he gained on them, Pat pressed a button and the car took flight. Grundy leapt into the air but only managed to smack the bumper of the car, which wasn't enough to stop their escape.

Grundy's attack, however, weakened the integrity of the car and spiraled downward once they breached the woods. They crashed through the trees and onto the ground. Shaken from the accident, Pat pulled Starman from the car and to a large boulder where they collapsed. Starman struggled to breathe as the staff warbled in his hand. Pat wanted to get him to a hospital but Starman was resolute this was the end for him. He told an emotional Pat that the Justice Society must live on. Someone with honor and integrity must carry the torch. He quickly specified that it wasn't Pat. It had to be someone with grace and courage. He smiled up at Pat and called him a good friend before he lost consciousness and the staff darkened.

## Aftermath

In the aftermath of the battle, the surviving JSA members disbanded to deal with their grief and move on with their individuals lives. Pat Dugan became focused on building a massive robot to help Rex defeat the ISA. Rex, however, began tracking the ISA's movements across America. He was married at the time with a young son, and the family moved frequently in Rex's pursuit. Pat found Rex and told him about the robot he'd built and how he wanted to help fight the ISA. Rex refused Pat's help and told him to go home. Pat, heartbroken and feeling unneeded, gave up his search for justice and fully retired his Stripesy alter-ego. Rex didn't give up on his plan. He created complex mathematical and scientific formulae to determine the ISA's overall plans.

Jordan, however, relished in his victory and prepared for the next phase in his plan - move the entirety of the ISA to Blue Valley, Nebraska. He founded The American Dream as a front for his overall mission. However, The Shade no longer supported Jordan's plans as their interests failed to align. He left the ISA, an act that Jordan viewed as a deep betrayal. Trouble arose when Henry King Sr.'s wife, Merri King, learned of her brother Sylvester Pemberton's death. She quickly learned that Henry had contributed to his murder and was heartbroken. Jordan couldn't risk losing Henry as his abilities were crucial to the completion of Project New America. He ordered Henry to murder Merri so he would be free to move to Blue Valley without anything holding him back. Henry obliged and staged his wife's murder as a drowning. The other ISA members gradually moved to Blue Valley over the course of the next few years and integrated themselves into the town's society. They also seemingly hung up their villainous acts as a way to stay under the radar from those who sought to stop them.

Rex tracked the ISA to Blue Valley and moved his wife and son to the idyllic town. He kept the identity of his son a close secret and never revealed his son to anyone in his time with the JSA, as a way to keep him safe. Rex discovered the secret underground tunnels that ran beneath the city, the ISA's headquarters, and Dragon King's lair. This discovery ultimately led the ISA to learn of Rex's arrival and his civilian identity. Rex was forced to send all of his research to Pat in the hopes he would decrypt the research and stop Project New America. However, he said nothing of the project or his findings in the box he sent to Pat. Rex fled the city with his wife, but left behind his son as the ISA were unaware of his existence. Jordan sent a brainwashed Solomon Grundy to kill the couple. He staged the murder to appear as a car accident. Officially, the couple swerved off the road and ran into a tree.

Pat received the documents but couldn't decrypt the journal. He traveled to Blue Valley in an attempt to find the ISA, but failed to figure out why Rex would lead him there. He also met Barbara Whitmore there and they began to date. Pat eventually packed away his superhero life to focus on his new life with Barbara Whitmore and their blended family.

## Confirmed Participants

* Injustice Society of America
	+ Icicle
	+ Brainwave
	+ Sportsmaster
	+ Tigress
	+ The Gambler
	+ The Shade
	+ The Wizard
	+ The Fiddler
	+ Solomon Grundy
* Justice Society of America
	+ Starman
	+ Wildcat †
	+ Dr. Mid-Nite
	+ Johnny Thunder † & The Thunderbolt
	+ Green Lantern †
	+ The Flash
	+ Hourman
	+ Stripesy
	+ Sandman †

## References

1. ↑ "*Stargirl*"
2. ↑ After Pat and Starman crash in "*Stargirl*", the Hollywood sign is visible in the mountains. This means the mansion was located in Hollywood.