Chapter Summaries

The sea gods decided to turn the Flood Demon into a desperate weapon while Su Ming maneuvered the Justice League and prepared to retrieve something from the Reservoir of Light. The chapter left Su Ming heading out with Harley and Ivy, seeking the Black Lantern Ring worn by Black Hand.

• Barbara left Black Canary and Green Arrow alone aboard the trapped submarine while the sea gods gathered on Blood Reef and lamented their losses.
• Black Manta persuaded Nu Tao, Captain Solitaire, and Sea-Calmer to consider merging the Tears of Extinction with the Flood Demon to create a Death Siren.
• Batwoman revealed that Luthor had taken the Totality and that she had escaped with Jar-ro, prompting Diana to pull the Justice League away for a private meeting.
• Su Ming told Bobo to prepare for a final battle near Atlantis and to give Batwoman command, then left with Harley and Ivy in the backup spacecraft.
• Su Ming took the spacecraft through Earth's isolation barrier and said he was going to retrieve something from the Reservoir of Light, likely the Black Lantern Ring worn by Black Hand.

Su Ming used Harley's hypnosis and Ivy's toxins to acquire Green, Indigo, Blue, Yellow, Red, and Violet Lantern Rings. With only the Orange Lantern Ring left to obtain, he left Harley and Ivy on the moon and headed out to steal it.

• Su Ming brought Harley and Ivy to the Watchtower and asked Harley to use hypnosis to amplify his will, compassion, and hope, attracting Green, Indigo, and Blue Lantern Rings.
• Su Ming asked Ivy for Fear Toxin, then injured himself repeatedly until his rage drew a Red Lantern Ring, while the Yellow Lantern Ring quieted the Green and Indigo rings.
• Su Ming took Ivy's Love Toxin and obtained a Violet Lantern Ring, then tested his ability to wield constructs and combine the powers of several Lantern Corps.
• Su Ming left Harley and Ivy on the moon and set out to steal the Orange Lantern Ring from the Dog-Headed Humanoid.

Su Ming’s collection of Emotional Spectrum rings went unnoticed as the Corps fought the Colossi, and he used a trail of spicy snacks to lure Larfleeze away from Okaara. Larfleeze followed the food deeper into his hoard, leaving the chapter with the Orange Lantern distracted and on the move.

• Hal ignored Oa’s report that the Central Power Battery had distributed more than three thousand rings and returned to fighting the Colossi.
• Saint Walker accepted the Blue Lantern Corps’ unexpected increase in members, while the other Corps remained too busy battling to investigate the ring activity.
• Larfleeze counted his treasures on Okaara and planned to visit the Source Wall battlefield after he finished.
• Larfleeze smelled a bag of Wilson Enterprises spicy gluten sticks and ate them despite their extreme heat.
• Larfleeze spotted more bags of spicy sticks and followed the trail through the mountains of garbage.

Su Ming knocked out Larfleeze and took his Orange Lantern Ring, completing his collection of the seven colored rings without becoming a White Lantern. He headed Outside the Wall to obtain a Black Lantern Ring, then persuaded Hal to let him pass through the battle against the Origin Colossi.

• Su Ming lured Larfleeze away with Spicy Strips, ambushed him in his burrow, and took his Orange Lantern Ring.
• Su Ming put on the Orange Lantern Ring and reflected on how he planned to combine the Lantern rings with Black Lantern Energy and Tenth Metal to gain the Light of Creation.
• Su Ming took Larfleeze's safe and flew back to the Moon, then used Cloak to approach Hal near the breach in the Source Wall.
• Su Ming told Hal that Earth faced an alien invasion and claimed Batwoman had sent him Outside the Wall to retrieve something.
• Hal let Su Ming pass, and Su Ming advised him to have the Colossi attack from below before flying between their legs and leaving.

Su Ming reached the Reservoir of Light and found Black Hand trapped there, desperate to escape. He negotiated for Black Hand’s ring and battery by offering to kill him, then drew his sword after wearing down Black Hand’s patience with an elaborate contract.

• Su Ming swam through the Reservoir of Light and spotted Black Hand immobilized in the chaos.
• Black Hand recalled his obsession with death, how Hal cremated his family, and how Nekron later made him an agent of the Black Lanterns.
• Su Ming offered to kill Black Hand in exchange for his Black Lantern Ring and learned that Black Hand eagerly accepted.
• Su Ming pretended to negotiate the details of Black Hand’s death while also intending to take his Black Light Battery.
• Black Hand begged Su Ming to stop talking and kill him, so Su Ming drew his sword.

Su Ming killed Black Hand outside the Source Wall and claimed the Black Lantern Ring, then returned inside and used it to search for the hidden Eclipsed Star. Meanwhile, Deathstroke left command of the Justice League to Batwoman and had already set the ship’s course for Atlantis.

• Su Ming explained the contract terms to Black Hand outside the Source Wall while the Justice League returned to its bridge and found Deathstroke had left command to Batwoman.
• Batwoman accepted command and prepared to take the League to Atlantis, but Bobo revealed Deathstroke had already ordered the ship there.
• Su Ming minced Black Hand’s regenerating body, recovered the Black Lantern Ring and batteries, and put on the ring outside the Source Wall.
• Su Ming recited the Black Lantern oath, resisted the ring’s deathly influence, and decided to find Eclipsed Star before obtaining the White Lantern Ring.
• Su Ming returned inside the Source Wall and ordered the Black Lantern Ring to search Sector 2814 for energy like Eclipsed Star’s.

Su Ming summoned The Upside-Down Man and traded stored Fireball spells for a Time-Space Anchor to bring a phase-shifted star back into the main phase. Meanwhile, the Justice League prepared to breach the alien fleet’s barrier using Atlantis’s ancient spacecraft launch platforms, as Batwoman led them into battle without Deathstroke.

• Su Ming found Eclipsed Star hidden in the fourth phase and summoned The Upside-Down Man to negotiate.
• The Upside-Down Man accepted one hundred thousand stored Fireball spells in exchange for a Time-Space Anchor spell, then restored a massive purple star to the main phase.
• Batwoman and the Justice League faced the alien fleet behind its red barrier, while Batwoman considered the danger of attacking the three Sea Gods.
• Arthur revealed that ancient Atlantean launch platforms beneath the sea could send God Metal spacecraft through the barrier.
• Batwoman ordered the Justice League to act, while Superman stood ready and she kept her suspicions about Deathstroke to herself.

Diana descended into the submerged ruins of Poseidonis to activate Atlantis’s ancient rockets while the Justice League faced the alien fleet and the transformed Death Siren above. She found the underground fueling controls, leaving the launch preparations within reach.

• The Justice League saw the Tears of Extinction-transformed Death Siren arrive at Earth’s barrier, and Diana volunteered to activate the Atlantean rockets underwater.
• Mera agreed to protect Diana with a Hard Water barrier, while Arthur and the others stayed behind to hold off the alien fleet.
• Batwoman ordered Bobo to take the ship beneath Death Siren, hoping the aliens’ desire to capture it would delay their attack.
• Diana entered Atlantis’s dry underground tombs and searched among the ancient devices for the rocket controls.
• Diana followed four thick pipes to a gigantic fueling handle and found the rocket fueling section beneath the burial offerings.

Diana battled Cheetah, launched an ancient Atlantean rocket through the barrier, and cleared a path for the Justice League to reach the alien sea gods. As the team entered the breach, Su Ming returned and chose to watch how Batwoman handled the coming fight.

• Diana wounded Cheetah during her attempted ambush, but Luthor teleported Minerva away when her attack failed.
• Diana activated the rocket, then rode it out of the sea and aimed it at the red barrier with her Lasso of Truth.
• Raven, Nightshade, Black Alice, Superman, and the others fought off the alien forces while the Justice League waited for Diana's rocket.
• Diana's rocket pierced the barrier, and Bobo steered the ship through the opening so the team could board the alien sea gods.
• Su Ming appeared behind Bobo and said he wanted to see how Batwoman would handle the situation.

Black Manta betrayed the sea gods and tried to seize control of Death Siren, but the monster ignored him and continued falling toward the ocean. With Luthor abandoning him and Deathstroke arriving to protect Arthur, Black Manta faced a new threat as the Justice League raced to stop the monster.

• Luthor ordered Black Manta to retrieve the Tears of Extinction and return, but Black Manta disabled his teleporter and decided to claim Death Siren for himself.
• Sea-Calmer activated the Sea Monster, and the Justice League's attacks failed to stop it from descending toward the ocean.
• Black Manta killed Sea-Calmer, stole the Bone Ring, and attacked the other sea gods; Arthur saved the wounded Admiral Riptide from a fatal blow.
• Black Manta tried to command Death Siren, but Riptide revealed that only Sea-Calmer could control it, and Luthor refused to teleport Black Manta away.
• Arthur charged Black Manta, but Deathstroke shielded him from Black Manta's lasers and prepared to confront him.

Su Ming spared Black Manta at Batwoman’s request, while she explained why keeping the Legion of Doom divided mattered. He then revealed that his Invisible Spectrum ring could conceal and phase-shift all ten Lantern rings as the heroes prepared to face the Sea Monster.

• Su Ming prepared to kill Black Manta and take his equipment, but Batwoman told him to keep the mercenary alive so the Legion of Doom would still have the option to surrender.
• Batwoman took custody of Black Manta, and Su Ming destroyed his communications and teleportation devices before handing him over to the Teen Titans.
• Su Ming gave Black Manta’s helmet to Arthur, kept his daggers coated with Tears of Extinction, and had Little Lucky Ape collect the remaining equipment.
• Batwoman questioned Su Ming’s plan for the Sea Monster, and he suggested that a force opposed to Death Siren’s concepts might exist beyond the supposed Life Equation.
• Su Ming activated the Invisible Spectrum ring and showed Batwoman that it could phase-shift his other nine Lantern rings out of sight.

Batwoman questioned Deathstroke’s motives after seeing his ten Lantern rings, but Su Ming used a psychological argument to ease her suspicions. As the Sea Monster threatened to reach the ocean, Su Ming combined the rings with Creation Metal and discovered a force capable of creating worlds.

• Batwoman saw Deathstroke’s ten rings and challenged his intentions, insisting that Earth did not need a godlike ruler.
• Su Ming used a subway-train joke and psychological theories to argue that possessing great power did not mean he had changed or become dangerous.
• Batwoman accepted some of Su Ming’s reasoning but remained determined to monitor him and considered having him join the Justice League.
• With the Sea Monster nearing the ocean, Su Ming charged the rings with his skeleton and fired a ten-colored beam at it.
• Su Ming realized the combined power was the original concept of Creation, a force capable of creating worlds.

After the Sea Monster vanished, the heroes began planning Earth’s recovery while Su Ming and Diana discussed their next tasks. Meanwhile, Luthor revealed that The Batman Who Laughs had been revived and was secretly holding an Nth Metal pin that could open any lock.

• Su Ming used the ten rings to destroy the Sea Monster and heal Barry, then concealed the rings with Invisible Spectrum’s power.
• Diana thanked Su Ming for saving Earth, and he listed the work still ahead before leaving to retrieve Harley and the others and attend to other responsibilities.
• Diana and Donna headed back to Paradise Island while Batwoman and Superman organized relief efforts and planned repairs to the Final Machine.
• Su Ming gave Black Manta’s harpoon gun to Bobo and his diving suit to Natasha Irons, while keeping the Tears of Extinction.
• Luthor studied the Totality and recalled restoring The Batman Who Laughs, who had escaped his cell with an Nth Metal pin but chose to stay and watch Luthor fail.

The Batman Who Laughs struck a deal with Luthor, revealing information about the Totality and Perpetua before disappearing. Joker retaliated against Luthor for breaking their agreement by filling the Legion of Doom’s meeting with laughing gas, then threatened Luthor with a deadly trap.

• The Batman Who Laughs persuaded Luthor to release him in exchange for information about the Totality, the Source Wall, and Perpetua.
• Luthor failed to make contact with the Totality, while Grodd reported that new villains had arrived at the secret base.
• Grodd, Sinestro, and Cheetah gathered the newcomers, including Riddler, who opened a gift box and triggered laughing gas throughout the conference room.
• Joker revealed that he had filled the gift boxes with a special laughing gas and said he had done so because Luthor broke their agreement by releasing The Batman Who Laughs.
• Joker warned Luthor that a deadly trap awaited him, while Luthor returned to his laboratory and locked the door.

Joker revealed that he had sabotaged Luthor’s armor and remodeled their base into a trap-filled circus, then captured Luthor and stole Destruction's Door Handle. He explained that he had planned to betray Luthor at the height of his success, but Luthor had ruined the spectacle, leaving Joker to prepare his final punishment.

• Joker revealed that he had dismantled Luthor’s spare armor after scanning his hand and mocked Luthor’s predictable plans.
• Luthor repaired an armored arm, fought his way past Scarecrow and the other villains, and tried to trap Joker by sealing the hall and cutting off the control room’s oxygen.
• Joker turned the corridor into a circus death trap, where saw blades, grenades, and laughing gas overwhelmed Luthor.
• Joker stole Destruction's Door Handle, struck Luthor unconscious with it, and dragged him to the conference room.
• Luthor awoke chained above the villains’ table as Joker explained that he had planned to let Luthor approach godhood before destroying the Legion of Doom and their base.
• Joker told Luthor that he had rebuilt Metropolis's museum as a monument to Luthor’s failure and had intended Batwoman and the Boy Scout to witness the villains’ deaths.

Joker abandoned his plan to kill Luthor after Luthor released The Batman Who Laughs, while Luthor rallied the remaining Legion of Doom around The Totality and ordered Dr. IVO to bring Brainiac back. After other Justice League teams became stranded on distant worlds, Su Ming returned to Earth with Harley and Ivy and agreed to rent a room in their building.

• Joker left Luthor alive, and the recovering villains withdrew from the selection after he departed.
• Luthor insisted the Legion of Doom could still win with The Totality and contacted Dr. IVO to acquire Brainiac I.
• Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern John were trapped at Thanagar's Independence Carnival, while Cyborg, Starfire, Deathstroke, and Jessica Cruz became stranded in an unknown Spectre Universe and encountered Darkseid.
• Su Ming brought Harley and Ivy back to Brooklyn after Arthur and Nu Tao detoxified Earth's oceans and the alien fleet withdrew.
• Harley offered Su Ming a room in her building in exchange for rent, and Ivy objected that their suite had only one bed.

Su Ming went to Olympus to collect the balance for his work protecting Diana, but Hera revealed that she had offered Eris and another goddess as part of a plan to secure his support. He left without settling the debt, considering Hera’s advice to slow down and make room for human connections.

• Su Ming arrived at Olympus during Poseidon’s funeral, noticed Athena watching him while sick, and continued to Hera’s palace to collect his payment.
• Hera claimed Olympus had already paid by giving him her aunt and daughter, but Su Ming reminded her that enchanting the weapon had only been a deposit.
• Su Ming realized Hera had arranged the engagement to build ties with a powerful ally in case Olympus lost its divine power.
• Hera admitted she had chosen Su Ming for his potential and said his abilities would let him find other sources of power even if he lost the rings.
• Su Ming asked whether Olympus could pay in money or valuables instead, but Hera suggested he slow down, enjoy the scenery, and wait for others.

Su Ming took Athena, Artemis, and Hestia away from Olympus after Hera entrusted them to him, while Atlantis began its recovery under Arthur and Mera. The chapter ended as Deathstroke arrived in a flying vehicle, interrupting Arthur and Mera’s bickering.

• Su Ming agreed to take Athena, Artemis, and Hestia with him, and Hera warned him to keep them safe as Olympus mourned Poseidon.
• Su Ming left Olympus with the three former goddesses and frightened Artemis with a joke about making them Vampires in his Romanian castle.
• Su Ming decided to find Hestia encyclopedias after she asked him a string of basic questions during the flight.
• The seawater receded and the fish-people threat eased, but Arthur and Mera worked to repair the ruined Atlantis while arguing about Arthur’s behavior around other women.
• Arthur spotted a flying vehicle approaching and expected the Justice League, but a black-and-yellow figure stepped out instead.

Su Ming arranged for Arthur to house the powerless goddesses in an Atlantis temple and made them study, intending to drive them into escaping and living independently. He planned to contact Barry and spend the evening in Poseidonis before returning to his other business.

• Su Ming reunited with Arthur in Poseidonis, and Arthur agreed to let the goddesses stay in the Amusement Park temple.
• Su Ming told the former goddesses to earn respect as humans by studying rather than becoming Superheroes, and ordered them to remain in the temple.
• Su Ming asked Arthur whether he had a photocopier and arranged for Barry to bring a hundred sets of college entrance exam practice papers and a Greek-to-Chinese dictionary.
• Su Ming explained to himself that the exams would make the goddesses flee, allowing them to live freely without harming relations between Olympus and Deathstroke.

Su Ming pretended to accept Hera’s advice while planning to keep his independence, then left Atlantis with Barry and prepared a rooftop base in Brooklyn. He warned Barry that The Batman Who Laughs might return before the multiverse’s destruction and began arranging to monitor his movements.

• Su Ming feigned agreement with Hera while deciding not to trust the gods or become bound to the DC Universe.
• Su Ming, Barry, and Arthur found golden fish in Mera’s aquarium, and Arthur smashed it so they could cook them.
• After dinner, Su Ming gave Arthur intimate advice before Barry took him to Brooklyn, leaving Arthur to pursue Mera.
• Su Ming set bat-shaped alarms around Harley’s rooftop and explained that he expected Luthor to free The Batman Who Laughs and send him after the Justice League.
• Barry agreed to contact Bryce and Cindy on Earth -11, while Su Ming warned that The Batman Who Laughs might strike before the multiverse was destroyed.