Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Oclair Albert & Marcelo Maiolo
We start off at Happy Harbour Where Batman is showing Frost the new base of Operations hidden in the underground. He tells her that the base he brought her to is a relic from a bygone era and his decided to put its potential to good use. She asks why and reminds her that she reminded him that people deserve a second chance and he agrees with the statement. He tells her that they both need second chances (this is probably your 19th) and anyone can be a hero. Caitlin realises that the base is too big for the two of them and asks who next.
We move to Seattle where Frost and Black Canary are fighting. Caitlin tells her that she doesn’t understand why she’s there and Canary tells her that she knows enough and hits her with a cry. Dinah asks what’s she doing in Seattle if she isn’t hurting people or to fight her. Frost corrects her by pointing out that she was fighting back since she swung first and they didn’t come to fight. She notices Batman and weirdly gets territorial for a few minutes since she demands to know why he brought a killer to her city (first I find it odd that she’s giving my city lip to batman despite operating in Gotham from the beginning of the New 52 with him not demanding what she’s doing in Gotham. Second I know she was with the Arrow crew but the fact that she doesn’t have a return address in Seattle (her and Ollie live in a tree house) and if Batgirl & BOP has shown, she still lives in Gotham. And Last why do they keep on why to put characters who move around in grey morality get placed on a high horse when they do the same things since she rolled with the League of Assassins, Poison Ivy and Waller). Bats tells her that he trusts Frost and the reason why there in Seattle is to recruit her for a new team of mortals, not “gods” (this will be talked about in my thoughts). He tells Canary that she works hard and doesn’t care who disagrees and he needs someone to be their conscience.
We move to Mammoth City, Jersey, were Lobo gets involved in a bar brawl and a local space bar. During the Scuffle, Lobo gets thrown through a window and notices Canary. She tells him that it’s time to do his job and he tells her that he’d rather go back to his crater. She reminds him that he promised Batman and he tells her to get Bats to say it himself. She calls out his so called honour and trash talks him thinking there wasn’t a point to asking him. He tells her that her word doesn’t mean a damn to the main man and tells her to lead the way while telling her they aren’t that different.
Over at Ivy University, Ryan where the dean tells him to not return until he finds Ray Palmer. He uses the bio-belt to travel to the lab via Wi-Fi and wonders who Batman and Lobo are. Batman tells him that this is Ray Palmers lab and he has his belt and demands to know who he is. Ryan tells them his name and how he was Ray and the Atom assistant. He reveals that Ray disappeared a while back and his been looking for him. Disappointed Batman decides to leave. Lobo tells him to wait as he goes to Ryan’s chalkboard and asks if the equations are his. He reveals that his trying to put updates on the bio-belt and Lobo tells him that it isn’t bad for a human. Lobo tells Batman to take the kid with them and Batman refuses to put another child in danger (your training Duke and persisting Harper to join the team in Detective, your stance is shaky at best). Lobo points out that he isn’t as Ryan is an Adult (easily over 21 if him and Ray go to a bar in America) and should be allowed to make his own mistakes (more on this later).
Vanity City, Oregon, The Ray is on patrol and realises that he has one message on his cell. His lover, Eric, sends a message that he feels they are moving too fast and wants space. He gets a surprise when Ryan bursts out his phone and they introduce themselves. Ryan tells him that he didn’t mean to surprise them and tells him that Batman sent him to make him an offer. Ray is sceptical as he is only new to the scene but Ryan points out that’s exactly why he wants them both (Lobo had to knock him off his angst horse first Ryan). Ray asks if he can really work in a team and Ray tells him that he’ll be fine.
Over in Manhattan, Roxy Rocket is causing Mayhem on the streets until Vixen stops her. The paparazzi asks her if she’s doing the Vixen thing as she and an officer talk about an artefact Roxy was trying to use. Before there talk continues, she switches to wait and excuses herself to deal with a rat. She flies over to a roof with Batman and is surprised to see him during the day (she must not watch Superhero news; he’s been out in the day plenty of times). Batman came to asks her again to join up again and she tells him that he already knows the answer as she can barely keep up with her commitments as it is. She tells him that people don’t want this from her and want her model self as they see her heritage as a hobby. Bruce confesses that he always respected her and he needs someone with her level of commitment and they are nothing without her. Mari smiles as she wanted to hear that. He tells her that it’s time to meet the others and hands over a transmission token for their teleporters. He tells her to hold on as he takes her to the mountain base at Happy Habour.
They find the team is disorganised as Lobo is pissing everyone of while trying to get a rise out of Caitlin’s time to feed since he claims that she’s eyeing up The Ray. Batman tries to get him to sit down with a glare but decides to Stand to try and piss batman off. He tells everyone that Frost is one of them now and tough her circumstances don’t wash away her crimes despite her tragedy, she wants to rebuild herself after helping the League stop Eclipso. He tells them that they are all there to rebuild themselves and open themselves to the people they protect. Canary calls out that open isn’t his things and he points out that something bigger than him is coming. He talks about how the world needs heroes they can know, not gods (this at the end), to show that they can heroes themselves. He tells them that heroism is a community and it starts with the Justice League of America. We end with a glimpse of what to expect from this volume as Lobo and the Ray are going to square off, Frost seems to be on paradise island, Batman has Liberties shield and Ryan is in the micro-verse wondering If a hooded figure with a bio-belt is Ray Palmer.
