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All-Star Squadron
Times Past, 1942
Overlord of the Underworld
Chapter 1
Libby Lawrence rushed across the convention center floor. She was late. She knew this was not her fault, but that did not make up for her own lack of judgement in trusting someone notoriously carefree like Johnny Chambers to get her there on time. She fumed as her new hosiery snagged on a table edge. She lifted her skirt to access the damage, and an appreciative whistle echoed from where Johnny stood with a red-faced Tubby Watts.
"Best legs since Garbo!" said Johnny.
"I'd be all aglow with delight at your lavish praise, but I'm mad at you for making me late to begin with!" said the blonde as she tossed back one long lock of hair.
Tubby said, "Aw, don't be sore at Johnny, Miss Lawrence! He was helping me load our camera equipment."
Libby smiled. "Don't worry about it, Tubby. He'd have done something to irritate me on his own sooner or later. He thinks its part of his charm."
Johnny said, "Hey! Listen, we're late for the speaker. The Press Convention is getting under way. We don't want to be the only reporters tossed out for whispering!"
Libby smoothed down her black silk blouse and white skirt. She knew better than to argue with Johnny. They had only known each other for around two months or less, but his mouth knew less restraint than his fleet feet!
It was February, 1942, and she already had planning underway for the first full meeting of the new All-Star Squadron. The Star Sapphire case had delayed her planning considerably, but it had at the same time enabled her to pass out invitations to all the various mystery men and women involved. This national convention of broadcasters and reporters was a necessary delay as well. As the All-American Girl, her anti-Axis writings were more vital than ever, and this forum with every top journalist around present was too great an opportunity to reach out to the remaining isolationists.
She blinked as a face she knew from somewhere appeared. Landon? Lansford? Terrill! She knew Terrill was a print man for the Star out in the midwest.
***
The current speaker was the author/reporter George Taylor, and his staff stars Lois Lane and Clark Kent watched from up front.
"Mr. Taylor is quite the speaker, huh, Lois?" whispered the bookish Kent.
"Shhh! I'd like to hear for myself, Kent!" said the annoyed woman.
The matter of hearing became far less pressing than merely remaining on their feet as the entire room was bathed in red light and the floor began to crack.
Chapter 2
Kent, secretly Superman, bent down as if rocked by the quake. He applied a great deal of superhuman pressure, and the opening gap sealed beneath his power.
Lois muttered, "Can't you even stand up anymore? It was bound to happen since you're without a spine!"
Libby pointed skyward as the rending red light beam could be traced to its source. Through the shattered glass of the skylight, she saw a huge blimp. The floating death trap had arrived silently and blasted away the roof and wall with equally silent ease. "Johnny, look at that thing!" she said.
He and Tubby filmed frantically. The reporters yelled back and forth, but immediately began taking notes as professionals would.
Chapter 3
Libby tried to slip away in the confusion; however, the sheer masses of people kept her pinned in. She noticed Johnny hand off the camera to Tubby and mutter a familiar mantra. He reappeared from the sides, dressed as the heroic Johnny Quick.
He was met by a golden costumed man who soared over the room like a shooting star. The Ray! thought Libby as she noticed him and remembered studying his file days before in preparation for the meeting; she had also seen him during the Star Sapphire case, although at that time he was being used as a pawn by the enemy.
"Stop! Do not approach!" echoed a voice through the room's audio systems which rang out across the center. "Ladies and gentlemen of the press, you have been selected as the audience for a demonstration of the nature of power. More specifically, a display of what those who have it can do to those who lack protection. We will bring this convention center down around your corpses in less than fifteen minutes. We are the Brotherhood of the Electron, and the world shall know and fear our name after this day's work. The same death-craft that ruins this structure can and will do the same unless the next victims pay us insurance."
Superman appeared from the back just as Libby managed to undress and make an urgent call to Tom Revere at the Philadelphia Liberty Bell. Her vibrating belt buckle filled her with adrenal power as she raced through and, in some cases, over the crowd. Superman said, "I'm sorry to differ with your plans, but just think of me as my brotherhood's keeper!" He moved the placed his own body between the crumbling structure and the red ray. As he did so, Libby gasped. The Man of Steel ceased to exist at that moment. As if turned to ashes, he was no longer in view!
Oh no! Surely they just teleported him away. I can't believe that thing could kill Superman! she thought.
Johnny Quick and the Ray zoomed closer as the red beam spread across the room.
Chapter 4
Liberty Belle could only lead frightened people to safety while the red beams continued to shatter the once sturdy convention center around her.
Johnny Quick hurtled forward and propelled himself toward the blimp with his adrenaline surging. Got to reach that thing! It's already wrecked the building! If the Brotherhood wanted big-time press coverage from this stunt, it's got it in spades! he mused as he drew closer to the blimp, only to fall through it and plunge downward again! He spun around and around and cushioned his fall. "How'd you like that! It's not solid!" he grumbled.
"It's solid enough to bring down the roof! Get us out of here!" cried Libby as she ushered a fleeing group of camera men to safety.
Johnny scooped her up over his shoulder and used his momentum and wind to blow the rest free of the structure before it fall inward.
The Ray had being flying even higher as the light of the sun gave him renewed power. He was Lanfor "Happy" Terrill, and he had never seen something as massive and destructive as this weird blimp. "It's not where it appears to be! My eyes show me that easily enough. Must be some light-based stunt, and that's why I can see through it," he said.
He had noticed Quick fall through the illusion that was near the real and unseen by others blimp. He flew closer and fired a blast of energy. The blimp's hull withstood the blast and seemed to absorb the energy as the red beam lanced out anew with a brighter glow than before! He wondered if he dared try the stunt in his mind. He shrugged heroically and positioned himself in the path of the death ray. Better hope I can ride through it unhurt! he thought. He never got his chance, for suddenly and silently the blimp vanished. "That was no illusion. That is teleportation," he decided.
He returned to the parking lot and greeted Belle and Johnny. "I'm the Ray. What do you make of this Brotherhood of the Electron? Can you folks help me trace them?" he asked.
Quick said, "We'll sure try! But with power hungry killers like this Brotherhood behind that thing, I'd say they'll make a return appearance all too soon for my liking!"
Liberty Belle knew he was right. She only hoped her rapidly formed plans could stop them when they next appeared. As for Superman, she had no idea what had happened to him.
Chapter 5
That night, Liberty Belle, Johnny Quick, and the Ray gathered at the site of the ruined convention center, along with some hastily-summoned guests drawn from Belle's newly compiled files about other active mystery men and women.
The lovely Belle had acted with her usual resolve and dispatch. Having two super fleet errand boys at her beck and call didn't hurt her efforts, either. Quick and Ray had summoned and delivered some of the far flung heroes their blonde leader requested.
The metallic grin of Robotman revealed nothing about the man's true feelings. Bob Crane's human brain was inside the inhuman sheath and his brilliance was essential to Belle's plan. He worked with a heavy machine that he had directed the super fast Johnny to assemble at his instructions.
"Belle, this machine should detect the energy pattern of that ray. Nothing of that magnitude could do so much damage without leaving behind some type of residual energy. We can detect it and hopefully trace it back to its source. That is to say, we can learn what powers that blimp and try to locate it in its hiding place," said Crane. "Ah! Thar she blows!" he said pointing to a red line that flickered on the screen. "A massive dynamo powered that ship of the air. It can't possibly escape our trackers with that much energy within it."
She nodded. "Mr. Lincoln, do you think you and Air Wave here can actually track the signal?"
The white-clad Human Bomb nodded. He was shy for such a powerhouse. "I believe now that Robotman has brought the energy source into a range we can detect on our machine, Air Wave and I can locate it. I mean, the ship obviously broadcasts messages. You heard it take over the sound system at the convention. I'm more of a chemist than anything else, but with this kind of help, I'm glad to do my part," he said.
The green and yellow clad Air Wave grinned sheepishly. "Contrary to my name, I can only pick up and send electro-magnetic signals. I hope to soup up my equipment one of these days. Still, I can sure lock onto that kind of broadcast frequency once these experts do the leg work!"
Hours passed as they worked. Quick paced nervously, full of reckless energy. "I could have searched for it across the country by this time!"
Belle hushed him and turned to the Ray. "You said you saw the ship off to the side of where our eyes detected it? That means it generated some type of illusion that your light sensitive eyes could pierce."
The Ray nodded. "Exactly. What a story this is! I'm Happy Terrill, a reporter on the Star, and this could be my big break!" Belle smiled and fought back her amusement at the eager newshound's ambition.
"We've got it!" announced Human Bomb. "Now Air Wave and the Ray can track it down!"
Johnny turned to the others. "Then let's go! Finally some action!"
"Mind if I join you?" asked a dashing figure in yellow and red. He brandished a sword, and as he jumped out of the shadows he introduced himself as the Sword!
"Sure! I don't believe I know you!" said an apologetic Belle.
"I happened to be in the neighborhood and wanted to help," he explained.
Must be a reporter too, mused Belle as they set off.
Chapter 6
"Hold it, there! I'm going with you!" declared a determined woman with black hair.
"For cryin' out loud! Who else is hiding back there? The Andrews Sisters?" said Johnny Quick.
"I'm Lois Lane -- reporter for the Daily Star. I'm coming along... or I'll print the headline: 'Happy Terrill is the Ray'!" she bluffed.
The Ray sputtered, "Look, Miss Lane, you can't endanger my life... my career... my effectiveness as a crime fighter like that!"
Libby frowned. "I know you're usually trying to dig up dirt on Superman. I take it this time you want to save him or avenge him?" Lois nodded, almost vulnerably.
"We'll take her. She is experienced enough to know how to keep her head down. We can't lose any more time," ordered Belle.
They hurried off in a aircraft borrowed from the press corp itself after some calls from the well-connected Liberty Belle.
"I had to agree to pose for a calendar shot as Libby Lawrence for the boys overseas, but it's worth it," she whispered to Johnny.
"You know, I just happen to know a good camera jockey," said Quick.
"Me too! Tubby!" she quipped.
Up front, Lois Lane sat near the Ray. "I guess I'd better come out and say I'm sorry. I was bluffing. I would never reveal your secret... not with a war on and every good man needed to do his part. I was just worried... still am about Superman," she explained.
The Ray grinned. "No need to worry about that guy! I can tell you one thing for sure. He didn't die or anything. That ray just sent him somewhere. Trust me, I know all about light based science!"
The Human Bomb sat uneasily next to the Sword, who gazed admiringly at Liberty Belle. "Quite a looker! Is she seeing anybody?" he asked.
The Bomb said, "I just met the lady tonight."
Robotman sat lost in thought. He hoped he could one day return to human form and he had just recently revealed his secret to his lover Joan. Romance was a sore subject with him for the duration.
Chapter 7
The odd assembly of heroes made its way across the nation until their came to a sheltered grove deep within the southern Appalachian mountains.
"We must be right on top of the blimp! I'd say that fancy light trick is just hiding it," announced Robotman.
Belle glanced over at Lois Lane. She hoped that her impulse to allow the love-sick woman to join them was not going to lead to disaster.
Lois was not as eager for the next scoop as she was worried about the Man of Steel who vanished in that fiery red nimbus. Surely he's just fine. What could really harm Superman? she told herself.
The wooden area parted to reveal an open clearing with nothing out of the ordinary in sight.
The Sword was a bit nervous. He was a reporter named Chic Carter, and this was his first encounter with other mystery men and women. Sure, he had been lucky so far, but could the kind of menace that could hurt Superman be far out of his league? He was merely an agile man with a sword.
Air Wave had his own doubts. True, he was the man of the hour, since he had helped to pinpoint the hidden blimp by its broadcast equipment, but what good was he now? He was a two-fisted attorney, but as Larry Jordan or the costumed Air Wave, he did more fighting with hoods than world beaters with death rays!
Johnny Quick was more eager to get into action. He had all the regard for life and concern for others that his allies had; however, he also brought to the situation a real rush brought on by action, movement, and the use of his powers.
The Ray frowned. "They have the blimp directly below us. I can sense light distortion, if not the actual craft itself this time." Before he could react, the plane shuddered and Quick fought to bring it down in one piece, even as the Ray leapt out to try to steady the plane with his own raw muscle. The coming dawn aided his efforts greatly as the sun rose higher. Got to slow the descent! he mused.
Robotman tried to help from within, but he could do little at first. Then he jetted forth with his newly designed rocket lifters. He was carried off unsteadily but they worked. He tried to help as best he could.
Chapter 8
The heroes managed to bring the crippled plane down in one piece, even as Robotman's jets sputtered and died. "Knew I still had some bugs to work out!" he muttered as he carried Lois Lane to safety.
The Sword, the Human Bomb, Air Wave, and Liberty Belle were cushioned from their own rough landing by Johnny Quick's whirlwind.
The Ray flew on his own and announced. "Look! I see the hidden base now! The illusion is falling!" Indeed, it was falling to reveal a huge complex that extended apparently deep within the mountains and below the surface. The huge blimp was resting atop the base.
"How can they conceal that place? How'd they even build an headquarters that size?" wondered Johnny.
The Sword said, "I'd say we're going to see for ourselves real soon!"
A figure in green robes appeared before them with a squad of troops -- all of whom wore lightning bolt emblems, denoting the Brotherhood of the Electron.
Libby kicked one in the teeth and spun aside to trip a second. "Those robes are so chic! Do you have one in satin?" she teased.
Johnny landed punches in every direction. "Don't need to be a Ted Grant when you can land forty blows in a second!" he bragged.
The Ray blasted the very ground out from under them, as did the explosive punches of the Human Bomb. The troops fell back as the Sword lashed out to shred a robe and leave a guard helpless and disarmed. The might of Robotman's motors worked well as he charged through the squad and drew their weapon fire against his metallic body. He protected his head with one raised arm. Air Wave displayed a solid fighting technique as he punched and dodged with equal skill.
The leader raised his arms as he spoke. "Mystery men and lady! You now forfeit your freedom, and soon your lives for invading the sanctum of the Brotherhood!" he said. Electric bolts shot from his sleeves to down Belle, Human Bomb, Air Wave, and the Sword.
Johnny Quick dodged and hesitated over the prone Belle. He darted forward to carry her body to freedom, when he too was blasted and fell over her to lay in the dirt.
Robotman was not falling! He and the Ray merely fought or absorbed the current to charge the green robed figure. "You'll pay big time for hurting them!" declared the glowing Ray.
"Will he? I think not. I rather believe it is you who will pay... as long as we keep you alive!" said a bald man wearing a robe. He pressed a button and the Ray's glowing nimbus solidified around him like a prison! Robotman surged forward to help but fell hard as a red energy enveloped him. "Using your own power to entomb you was a brilliant idea of mine," said Dr. Light over the fallen Ray.
"Yes! And blasting this metal behemoth to the ground with my dynamo was all my own effort!" said a new arrival known as Dr. Doog.
"You forget it was my power that beat most of them!" said the green robed Lightning Master. They had their troops carry the heroes within the base as it flickered again out of sight.
Lois Lane was already deep within the base. She had slipped inside before the battle had started. Much depended upon the girl reporter!
Chapter 9
Superman had found himself transported miles beneath the earth itself when the red beam hid his mighty form back at the convention center. Then, the power of the raging dynamo had driven him to his knees just long enough for his old foe Lightning Master to knock him cold with one of his powerful bolts. He had awakened to find himself trapped in a huge chamber. He could not see his old foe, but he noticed hundreds of green furry creatures. "Subterraneans -- the same species as the kind we found who were working for the Ultra-Humanite!" he said.
The complex had obviously been built with the slave labor of the creatues who seemed blindly obedient to their human masters in the Brotherhood. He tried to leave the room, but his best blows did nothing to open the glass-like cone in which he was held in the very middle of the chamber.
"That my friend, is the exact frequency of sunlight designed to make you helpless. My prism of power ensures you have no more strength than I do!" said the bald Dr. Light.
"I gave him the specifics from our past battles!" announced the suddenly appearing Lightning Master.
"You would be behind this! I suspected as much when I saw your blimp. I guess you still need to surround yourself with other cowardly schemers!" said Superman.
"Sir, you wound me. I am a man of science. I am no mere blackguard!" said the orange robed Dr. Doog.
"I'll do more than wound you when I get free of this little tanning bed!" said Superman.
"Ah, but good sir, you won't!" crowed Dr. Doog.
"In fact, you and your friends who arrived shortly ago will be here as long -- or as short -- as your lives last!" announced Lightning Master.
Superman had been out cold for so long that he gasped to see Liberty Belle, Johnny Quick, and the others carried in.
"They aren't dead. We reduced the power. Can't use your level of energy very often. Using it on mortals would be overkill, don't you agree?" asked Doome.
Superman's mind raced as he tried to think of a way out. Then the Human Bomb stirred and silently dropped a glove. He slammed his hand to earth and an explosion rocked the room. "Damage their equipment so I can help you!" cried Superman.
Roy Lincoln had his finest hour as he dodged the racing troops to reach the bed of controls that held the Man of Steel. He shoved a guard back with his covered shoulder and raised one powerful fist... only to drop down with a boom as the sheer weight of subterraneans overwhelmed him. Many died due to their own rashness in leaping at the explosive man's uncovered hand. He would have grieved for them, but it was war of sorts.
"Who?" asked Superman, for he had not seen the three leaders summon the army of green beasts.
"Ah! Let me explain. In addition to the name Brotherhood of the Electron, you might call us the Faultless Four as well... I cling to that name out of nostalgia, you see!" said a smiling bald man sitting upon a throne.
"Who are you?" said Superman to the grinning hunchbacked figure.
"I am Seiur Satan, as your Flash could attest if he was here, but now you may use my new title... Overlord of the Underworld!"
Chapter 10
Dr. Doog gazed at the captive heroes and frowned. His wizened face look more serious than ever. "I worry that these who have opposed us are not the mystery men I have found to be most fatal men before -- the Hourman and the Starman!"
Lightning Master shrugged his shoulders beneath the green robe. "Bah! If we can overpower Superman, why should you fear two lesser lights? Besides, word on the street has it that Hourman is no more!"
Dr. Doog said, "He is dangerous! Believe me! Starman might be as powerful as Superman in his own way!"
"You say that merely because he defeated you. I assure you that I can dim Starman's light!" said the Dr. Light with cold assurance.
The newly crowned Overlord laughed. "The Flash bested me twice before, yet I live with no fear of him. I have to thank him for my new power in fact. When he destroyed my digger I was forced to flee ever deeper within the earth until I found and mastered the green creatures who built our blimp and this base."
Superman remembered that case well. He had heard the details of Flash's part, and he had even battled Lightning Master along with Lois and Johnny Thunder during the same case. He hoped Lois was safe. She had that reckless streak and in dangerous situations she could do almost any rash stunt.
Johnny Quick woke up and played it cool. Got to use my brain this time. Let them think I'm still out cold, then move faster than they can react!
Liberty Belle saw his slight reaction as she stirred. Good plan! she thought as she guessed what he was planning.
The Ray still struggled within the odd solid light prison of Dr. Light's devising. He was slowly absorbing the energy into his own body, but it was a bitterly slow process of inches and degrees.
The Sword brooded. "What good am I? This sword is nothing to stop a killer like Lightning Master! What was I thinking? If I ever get out of here alive, I'll hang up this costume for good and stick to being a second-rate reporter."
The Human Bomb was battered and sore, and his mind raced. The sheer size of the lab, the blimp, the green army, the deathship -- all these marvels of science made his heart pound. He'd love to analyze the place piece by piece. As would his late father who made the formula that empowered him.
Lois Lane watched from the shadows. She knew what she needed to do. She had to free Superman. In her point of view that would be enough! She stood still and hoped the green creatures did not have animal-like senses to smell her fear.
Air Wave lay still and adjusted his helmet slightly. He frowned as he picked up a hum. The blimp! It obviously operates on some level of radio waves in terms of its communications systems. I pick up the signal even now. Could I use that to save the day? Could I actually do what Superman could not? mused Larry Jordan.
Chapter 11
Robotman was active. The beauty of having an artificial body meant that so much could occur within his systems that was unseen without. He picked up the same hum that Larry Jordan's Air Wave helmet had. He even guessed what the young attorney was trying to do. He could not help him, but he was at least ready for action.
Lois raced forward and smashed a stone against the controls that seemed to hold Superman! The light dimmed around his prison and he moved! He moved as fast as Quick could! He crossed the room in seconds and ripped free a hunk of electrical wiring which he plunged into the light field holding the Ray.
"Here, pal! Soak up some juice. It's good for you!" he quipped.
The Ray found renewed power which he could drink in easily. He burst free of the trap and blasted the ground out from under Dr. Light. As the bald genius fell back, his freezing breath slammed him into Dr. Doog!
Quick bolted forward to land a dozen punches on Lightning Master's hooded face. "I'm up on current events too!" he quipped. Even as Lightning Master's clinched fists activated the blazing electrical force he controlled via his special costume, Johnny reacted to shove him into the Overlord. The portly maniac shrieked as he fell stunned or worse at the feet of his horrified partner's glowing form. Dr. Doog slipped aboard the deathship as his friends fell to the attack.
Liberty Belle vaulted over green creatures who seemed intensely attracted to the lithe blonde. "Great, these hairies want to make me their prom queen!" she muttered as the pawed her.
Robotman slammed into them with rare abandon. "Sorry, guys, but we monsters don't want you making us look even worse!" he joked, but he felt the differences between him and other humans all too keenly.
Lois cheered on Superman even as he gave her a wink. He had a goal in mind too. He wanted to destroy the equipment around them before it could unleash another force bolt. He used his power at its highest level against the machinery. No human frailty necessitated the holding back, and the care that he normally practiced.
Even as the death-ship rose above them, Air Wave adjusted his helmet and tore it from his head. It smoked as did the sparking belt he wore.
The Sword kicked down a monster and said, "What gives, chum? You got a warranty on those?"
Larry Jordan -- face exposed to all -- muttered, "I hope I just burnt them out for a good cause!" Sure enough, the sound system on the craft exploded within and sent Doog screaming with his long robes afire!
Liberty Belle kicked a human trooper in the face and fell into the next squad. She ducked, kicked, and punched with all her Olympian skill and spirit. Quick helped her with his own whirlwind that swept them into each other and away from the All-American Girl.
The Human Bomb reluctantly exploded his fists into the walls and watched the work of four genius level inventors end in flame. "Such a waste of talent and design!" he sighed.
The Ray had followed the death craft upward. He now tried to blast it down again, but he had no luck.
Chapter 12
Superman finished his work and literally tore down the base; however, he too failed to catch the death-ship as it rose higher. "Doog must be in control of it yet!" he said. He scanned the ship with his X-ray vision and confirmed the fact that Doog had smothered the burning robe and now grimly worked the controls.
"He invented the dynamo that powered it, so he would be the one to master it!" muttered the Ray. He turned to Superman, "I have a plan! Can you help me?"
Superman blew another group of guards into the wall as Belle waved her thanks, then nodded. He conferred with the Ray above as Robotman pulled a silent Human Bomb out of the complex.
"Come on, Roy. This place is a loss. I do know how you feel. The kid in me wants to tinker with these gizmos all day, not watch them go up in smoke. Think of what Doog, Dr. Light, and the others could have done for the Allied cause if they had not been so selfish."
The Human Bomb knew that he was a walking personification of the perils inherent in science used wrongly or in desperation. He nodded as a man who could fully identify with his own plight led him away.
Lois and Chic Carter watched the heroes drag out the stunned Overlord and his beaten ally Lightning Master. "Dr. Light got away! While the Ray was fighting the blimp, he used that weird distortion trick to fade away!" said Lois.
"He'll be back. They always come back," added Liberty Belle.
Johnny nodded. "Yeah, like a bad rash."
"I love you for your mastery of the English language," said Libby.
"Let me show you my thesaurus someday!" he laughed.
Superman, acting on Ray's plan, flew directly toward the blimp. He poised almost defiantly before the huge craft. A red ray fired from the hull, and the Ray shot into its path! He traveled directly up the light based beam into the ship, where he belted Doog across the deck.
"Wanted to try that back at the press center!" he smiled. He brought the craft down and pulled Doog out even as it exploded.
"Figures creeps like the Brotherhood would not want their baby falling into enemy hands," said Robotman.
"Such a waste!" added Roy Lincoln.
As Lois embraced Superman and Air Wave's equipment was examined by Robotman and the Human Bomb, far away Dr. Light returned to the Ivy league college in which he worked and plotted his future. "I'll be back when I'm more ready, and this time I'll work alone!" he vowed.
Chapter 13
Chic Carter folded up his costume and packed it away. "So the Sword's career ends, not with a bang, but with the click of a typewriter," he smiled. He decided continue just being a reporter and leave the heroics (or the costumed variety anyway) to Liberty Belle and the rest.
***
Elsewhere, a burned Seiur Satan recovered and plotted as well. "Bah! The newest Faultless Four were little better in the long run than my first such group. Perhaps I will work alone from now on. Villain groups don't seem to work."
He threw out the files he had gathered on other super criminals. The names meant little at that time, but in years to come at least one of his rejected possible allies would take the name the Wizard after returning from the East.
"Those fools would be little better than the last group, I wager," he said calmly.