“THE CARNIVAL OF SOULS!” A powerful sorcerer by the name of Count Crystal makes a contract with the demon Azgore for supernatural power, in exchange for the defeat and sacrifice of the Justice League!
The Carnival of Souls!
Count Crystal summons the demon, Azgore. In exchange for power, Count Crystal promises Azgore the souls of the Justice League of America. Azgore gives Count Crystal until the end of the night to provide the souls, lest he forfeit his own. Count Crystal appears aboard the satellite headquarters of the Justice League of America. Count Crystal strikes Superman dead. Dinah Drake Lance, Oliver Queen, Carter and Shiera Hall are returning home, from a double date. Shiera wants to be granted membership in the Justice League of America, as the Hawkgirl. The team's by-laws, however, forbid members form duplicating abilities. As long as the Hawkman is a member, the Hawkgirl can never join the Justice League of America. A distress signal is sent out, from the satellite headquarters of the Justice League of America.
When Superman doesn't respond, Lance, Queen, and the Halls, beam up to the satellite, as the Black Canary, the Green Arrow, the Hawkman and the Hawkgirl. The Justice League of America, and the Hawkgirl, discover Superman's corpse. The Phantom Stranger appears. It is the Phantom Stranger who has summoned the team, including the Batman, and Wonder Woman. The Phantom Stranger holds a seance to contact Superman's departed spirit. The ghost of Superman accuses Count Crystal of his murder. In Azgore's realm, the ghost of Superman is heartened that the Justice League of America was able to reach him. With the hope of rescue, Superman goes to confront Azgore. The Phantom Stranger brings the Justice League of America, and the Hawkgirl, to Rutland, Vermont.
The Phantom Stranger leads the Justice League of America, and the Hawkgirl, to Count Crystal's Carnival of Souls. Count Crystal reveals himself. The Green Arrow fires on Count Crystal, only to find his shaft reflected back at him, striking him in the leg. Count Crystal drops an Oblivion Block on the Justice League of America, and the Hawkgirl. Azgore informs Count Crystal that the Phantom Stranger has aided the Justice League of America, and the Hawkgirl, in eluding the Oblivion Block. The Justice League of America, and the Hawkgirl, find their surroundings changing. The Phantom Stranger informs the Justice League of America, and the Hawkgirl, that the Carnival of Souls exists solely within Count Crystal's mind, where the team, and the Hawkgirl, are trapped. The ghost of Superman grows weaker the nearer it's drawn to Azgore.
The Justice League of America, and the Hawkgirl, find themselves trapped on a roller coaster. The Green Arrow succumbs to the sedative of his tranquilizer arrow. The roller coaster passes through various perils, that prove insubstantial each time the Justice League of America attempt to oppose them. A monstrous figure appears on the roller coaster. With the Batman, and Wonder Woman, steadying him, the Phantom Stranger uses his mystic abilities to empower the Justice League of America, and the Hawkgirl, so that they can combat the creature. The Phantom Stranger is thrown from the roller coaster car. The Hawkgirl races to catch the Phantom Stranger, but the ground rushes up to him, before she can catch him. The Phantom Stranger is killed on impact. Count Crystal abducts the Hawkgirl.
An army of living wax men attack the Justice League of America. The ghost of Superman battles Azgore. Moments before Superman's spirit is devoured by Azgore, he is rescued by the ghost of the Phantom Stranger. The ghosts of the Phantom Stranger, and Superman, hide from Azgore. Count Crystal desires the Hawkgirl. The Justice League of America desperately combat the living wax men. The Hawkgirl agrees to submit to Count Crystal. The Hawkgirl fells Count Crystal, then calls the Justice League of America to her side. The Justice League of America fight their way to safety, and the Hawkgirl, through the living wax men. Count Crystal strikes the Hawkman dead. Azgore appears. The night has passed, and no souls have been received.. Azgore claims Count Crystal's soul.
In the moment that Count Crystal's life energy in extinguished, the Phantom Stranger is able to use that energy to restore himself, the Hawkman, and Superman to life. Astonishingly, that energy has seemingly brought the Red Tornado back to life, too.
Super-Struggle Against Shaggy Man!
"100 Issues Ago In...Justice League of America" reprints material from Justice League of America #45 (June, 1966). A plot summary of that story can be found at the link.
Notes:
- Page 14 Julius Schwartz cameo?
- This issue contains the Hostess Superhero Ad, The Joker as "The Cornered Clown".
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