Former FBI agent Trey Thompson is called to a murder scene by his former partner. Upon arriving in costume, Thompson realizes that the murder scene is his own house and finds his family brutally murdered.

Lantern and Flash begin assembling the new JSA. They start off with Mr. Terrific, Power Girl, Liberty Belle, Hourman, Stargirl and Dr. Mid-Nite. Liberty Belle and Hourman are recently married. Lantern and Flash are looking for Wildcat's assistance in picking members but he doesn't care who they pick.

In Philadelphia Damage is fighting a super-powered villain named Rebel. He defeats him but also starts trouble with the local police. He is rescued by Hourman and Belle who invite him to join the JSA.

Mr. America has deduced the murderer of his family is Catalyst, a hitman/metahuman who secretes chemicals through his skin. He receives a call from his younger brother asking for help and then the line goes dead. He travels to his brother's apartment to find him dead and Catalyst still there. He fights Catalyst, demanding to know who hired him.

At Harvard University, Maxine Hunkel (Ma (original Red Tornado) Hunkel's grandaughter) is very smart but seems to have few friends. She is also a non-stop talker. As a baby she was kidnapped by T.O. Morrow (creator of Red Tornado) and has recently developed wind-related powers. She is invited by Mr. Terrific and Power Girl to join the JSA.

In Opal City there is a new Starman. When a reporter attempts to interview him he talks nonsense (saying he loves sloppy joes and telling her to ignore the rutabaga). He returns to a sanitarium where he lives as a patient. Stargirl and Dr. Mid-Nite are there to invite him to join the JSA. He asks Dr. Mid-Nite if he can help him find his mind.

Mr. America is staking out the place where Catalyst was supposed to meet the person who hired him to kill Mr. America's family. He is distraught over losing his family. Someone approaches him from behind and calls him by name.

The JSA gathers at their new headquarters in Battery Park, New York. They are just sitting around their meeting table when Mr. America crashes through the roof, badly beaten. Green Lantern and Flash have taken Wildcat to Brooklyn to see a young man. They tell Wildcat that the man's name is Tom and he is Wildcat's son.