What is Primal Force?
Primal Force was a fifteen issue series published by DC
comics in 1994 and 1995. The series ran from October 1994 to December
1995, and the series was one of four (Starman, Manhunter, and Fate
being the others) to be launched after the conclusion of the Zero
Hour mini-series. The Daily Planet Zero Hour Special Edition says
of Primal Force;
"Not much is known about this group other than previously
known heroes like Red Tornado and Jack O' Lantern, and some monster
they call Golem. There's also this maniac called Claw and a woman
named Meridian. They claim to have formed to battle the dark evil
emanating from supernatural forces."
Who are the Leymen?
The Leymen is actually the name of the super group whose adventures
appear in Primal Force. For the past two thousand years, a group
of ten men known as the Leymen have been led by a man named Maltis.
The Leymen's duty has been, an always will be, to band together
in times of global imbalance and protect Earth from the forces set
against it. After the event known as Zero Hour, the remaining members
of the previous group of Leymen decided to retire. Their time had
passed, and a new team of Leymen would be called. While performing
the ritual to summon the new group, Maltis requested that the Earth
bring him not just ordinary humans, but superheroes. The Earth itself
chose which heroes would become Leymen and brought Maltis five relatively
unknown heroes. There were supposed to be ten members, but this
was the first time that less than that number responded to the call
the join the Leymen. This was also the first time that a woman had
been chosen to join the group.
Comprised of Claw, Golem, Jack O' Lantern, Meridian, and Red Tornado,
the team would battle the supernatural and dark forces that sought
to spread evil across the Earth. Other heroes, those who did not
answer the original call to join, would also come forward to defend
their planet in its time of need. These latter heroes included Black
Condor, Nightmaster, and Willpower. And now, on to the Who's Who
entries!
Black Condor
 Personal
Data
Full Name: Ryan Kendall
Occupation: Adventurer
Known relatives: Creighton (grandfather)
First appearance: Black Condor #1
Eye color: Green
Hair color: Black
History
Black Condor gained his abilities when his grandfather Creighton's
secret organization altered his genetic structure. His grandfather's
organization was trying to create humans who could fly, and out
of many attempts, Ryan was their only success. Creighton himself
had undergone a similar genetic treatment, but it left him disfigured.
Ryan escaped from Creighton, and taking the name Black Condor, lived
for a time in the Pine Barrens (essentially a forest) of New Jersey.
There he met his friend Ned Smith, a park ranger.
Creighton's organization wanted to recapture Black Condor to find
why, out of so many attempts, Ryan was the only test subject to
receive powers. Creighton also hoped that a cure could be found
for his condition. Over the course of Black Condor's twelve issue
series, this story line slowly faded into the background. Black
Condor took on the role of "reluctant hero" in many of
his early adventures, especially those against the new Sky Pirate
and the Shark. He slowly comes to accept his status as a hero, however,
and after his series comes to an end, he joins the Justice League
America in issue #71 of that series. Along with the Ray, Wonder
Woman and Agent Liberty, Black Condor is part of the new recruits
that join the JLA after Superman's death. Black Condor was barely
used in JLA, but did appear in the excellent "Destiny's Hand"
story line that ran from JLA #72 - 75.
Black Condor's relationship to the original hero of the same name
is a bit complicated. At first, the original Black Condor appears
as a blue hologram that only certain people (Ned Smith and the Ray,
for instance) can see. This situation is not fully explained until
The Ray #20-21, where it is revealed that Black Condor 1 is working
for a different organization that wants to monitor Black Condor
2's progress. Black Condor 1 enlists the help of the Ray to try
to convince Black Condor II to become the "champion" that
Black Condor I wants him to be. Black Condor 2 eventually confronts
and defeats his replacement as champion, a meta-human named White
Eagle.
After a couple guest appearances in Hawkman, Black Condor joins
the Leymen in Primal Force #8. Condor was one of the heroes called
to join the Leymen that did not originally do so. To be honest,
Condor is not given much attention in the series or further character
development, but Primal Force's impending cancelation was the likely
cause of this. After the Leymen disbanded, Black Condor traveled
to Opal City, where he can be seen in the nighttime skies…….
Powers and Weapons
Black Condor's chief ability is his power to fly. He also has
heightened senses of hearing, sight, and smell, limited telepathic
powers, and also heals/recuperates from injuries faster than normal
humans. Black Condor also carries a throwing knife, and he wields
it with pinpoint accuracy.
Claw
Personal Data:
Real Name: John Chan
Occupation: Student - studying for a master's degree in Chinese
history
Known Relatives: unnamed father, Valcan (ancestor, presumably deceased),
Kregar (ancestor - Valcan's
father - deceased)
First appearance: Historical - Claw the Unconquered #1, Modern -
Primal Force #0
Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Black
History:
Centuries ago, on the alien planet Pytharia, a man seeking arcane
knowledge that might help better his world accidentally released
a demon. The demon tried to possess the man, but it was eventually
exorcised. However, the demon left its mark on the man, transforming
his right hand into a fur tufted, purple claw. The claw was a mark
passed on to all the man's male descendents. The greatest of these
descendents was Valcan, also known as Claw, who was trained to be
a warrior of unparalleled skill, daring, and a master of all forms
of combat.
John Chan is the son of a wealthy Chinese business man, with whom
he has a poor relationship. John left China to live in Hong Kong
and eventually the USA, where he was a graduate studying Chinese
history. Approached by a mysterious man, John is asked if he would
like to buy some armor and a sword that supposedly dates back to
the Ming dynasty. Unbeknownst to both men, the armor and sword are
actually from the planet Pytharia - how they came to Earth is unknown.
Although the goods are black market, John agrees to buy them. Opening
the box containing the armor and sword, John finds a purple claw
hand in the box. The demon claw hand, having sentience of its own,
leaps out of the box, cuts off John's right hand with the sword,
and mounts itself on John's right arm. In John's own words, the
claw "turned me into some kind of monster." The demonic
spirit of the claw hand makes John more susceptible to rage, anger,
bloodlust, and his own dark side. Returning to Hong Kong, John -
now calling himself Claw - becomes an adventurer and hero/vigilante.
Powers and Weapons
Claw is an Olympic level athlete, master swordsman, and a savage
hand to hand combatant. His greatest asset, and greatest liability
at the same time, is the demon claw that is his right hand. John
must wage a constant inner battle to keep the demonic spirit of
the claw from possessing him completely and turning him to evil.
The claw itself can actually speak, and it has been known to occasionally
protect Claw from dangers that would harm him - and itself. Claw's
sword may or may not be the magical sword Moonthorn used by his
ancestor Valcan.
Golem
Personal
Data
Full Name: goes by "Paul"
Occupation: none
Known relatives: none
First appearance: Ragman miniseries (1991)
Eye color: Yellowish brown with no pupils
Hair color: None, later appears but is made of rock.
History
In Jewish folklore, a Golem is a figure artificially constructed
in the form of a human being and endowed with life. Golem is a gentle
natured being made of earth, mud, and clay, and he desires nothing
more than to become human. Golem is also a very….slow…talker….which…..drives….his…….
teammate…..Claw….nuts. Golem was created in the swamps
of Louisiana, and he helped the hero Ragman fight villains there.
Golem was taken in by a kind hearted woman named Jean Lizotte, and
when someone killed Jean, the police blamed Golem. Golem did not
kill Jean, but chased into Manchac Swamp by a police helicopter,
Golem is shot by heavy artillery fire. Startled more than injured,
Golem falls into the waters of the swamp and is mystically transported
to the Leymen's headquarters. Golem accepts the offer of team membership.
Golem adopts a more human like appearance in issue #8, and he now
looks like a stone statue of a man. Gloem adopts the name "Paul"
and does his best to pass for a normal human, even to the point
of painting himself with flesh colored paints. Jack and Paul's conversation
in issue #9 about what it means to be human is well done. Giolem
seemingly perishes in issue #12, but being a creature of the Earth,
he returns in issue #14 apparently unharmed. Golem simply creates
a new body for himself out of the mud and dirt surrounding the Leymen's
headquarters.
Powers
Golem is super strong and has a lot of endurance. Being made
of rocks and clay, he is also very difficult to injure. Water can
dissolve Gole, but he is able to reform his entire body, or parts
of it, after drying out.
Jack O' Lantern
Personal Data
Full Name: Liam McHugh
Occupation: Former factory worker
Known relatives: unnamed mother, unnamed sister, Daniel Cormac (cousin,
deceased), Padraic Cormac
(uncle).
First appearance: Super Friends #8 (historical), Primal Force #0
(modern).
Eye color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
History
Liam McHugh is the third hero to call himself Jack O' Lantern.
The first was Daniel Cormac, Liam's cousin. Daniel was given a magic
lantern by the fairy queen Maev, and thus he became the Irish superhero
Jack O' Lantern. Daniel joined the Global Guardians, and served
alongside them until they were disbanded because of the formation
of Justice League International. Daniel and his girlfriend Wenonah
Littlebird, also known as the super heroine Owlwoman, then traveled
to Bialya where they unwittingly became the mind controlled pawns
of the villainous Queen Bee.
Daniel was apparently killed in Justice League Europe #4, and
the Queen Bee had him replaced by an imposter. The imposter, Jack
O' Lantern #2, was killed in J.L.A. #55 (2nd series)
when a bomb destroyed the Queen Bee's secret laboratories in Bialya.
The Global Guardians were shocked to learn of the imposter, and
Owlwoman tried to find out what had happened to Daniel, the original
Jack. In Justice League Quarterly #6, Owlwoman finds Daniel alive
in the underground torture chambers/catacombs of Bialya. Owlwoman
rescues the near death Daniel, and he soon reclaimed his rightful
role as Jack O' Lantern.
Later, Daniel actually did die, and at his wake Daniel's cousin
Liam McHugh finds the "pumpkin of power" that used to
belong to Daniel. Wenonah (Owlwoman) is also at the wake and she
tells Liam that he may keep the power pumpkin if he promises to
keep the legacy of Jack O' Lantern alive. Liam agreed and he became
the third Jack O' Lantern. For six months, Liam tried to help those
in need in his war torn home of Northern Ireland. He was inexperienced,
but not lacking in enthusiasm. Liam answered the call to join the
leymen, and he has become better at the heroing business as time
progresses. Liam meets the mysterious Woman of the Water in issue
#7, and she tells him of his destiny to become head of the brotherhood
of the Leymen once Maltis' time is done. The first prophecy of Liam's
destiny comes true when Liam begins to manifest the powers of the
magic lantern without actually using the lantern itself.
Powers and Weapons
The magic lantern, or "pumpkin of power" as Liam likes
to call it, allows Liam to fly and project energy blasts. The lantern
runs out of power every noon, but it then begins the automatic process
of recharging, becoming most powerful at midnight. The lantern can
be used anytime at partial power. The Lantern is also able to cast
spells, shrink items, and create a fog, but only Daniel was able
to use the lantern to do these things. Liam apparently doesn't know
of the lantern's other functions, since it didn't exactly come with
an instruction booklet! However, Liam has internalized the lantern's
powers and no longer needs it to use his powers.
Meridian
 Personal
Data
Full Name: Meridian Mychaels
Occupation: Martial arts instructor
Known relatives: Marsha LeAnne (sister), Christine (adopted daughter).
First appearance: Primal Force #0
Eye color: Blue-green
Hair color: Brown
History
Two years before the current group of Leymen formed, Meridian
Mychaels was attacked by a mugger while walking home at night in
New York City. Meridian fought with her attacker, having just been
to a self defense class, but she was not strong enough to fend off
her attacker. While being attacked, Meridian kept wishing she could
be somewhere else - anywhere else - and suddenly she was! Fighting
for her life had caused her dormant meta-gene to kick in, and Meridian
now found that she possessed the ability to teleport. Not satisfied
with just having superpowers, Meridian became an avid student of
various forms of self defense and martial arts. Meridian soon became
such a skilled martial artist that she was hired by Grant's Gym
(located in Manhattan) as a self defense instructor and personal
trainer.
After hearing the call to join the Leymen, Meridian was initially
rejected by the sexist Maltis, who could not accept that a woman
had been chosen to become one of Earth's protectors. Meridian proved
Maltis wrong by assisting the fledgling team tremendously, and Meridian
soon became the unofficial team leader. Meridian formally joins
the team in issue #4 at the request of her teammates. After the
apparent death of Maltis at the end of the series, Meridian adopts
Maltis' daughter Christine.
Powers
Meridian is an excellent hand to hand combatant and an Olympic
level athlete. She is skilled in numerous forms of martial arts.
Additionally, Meridian possesses the power to teleport herself and
others to various places on Earth. She cannot teleport anywhere,
but rather she moves along the "ley lines" of Earth. Like
her name implies, ley lines are similar to the system of latitude
(parallels) and longitude (meridians). Meridian can normally only
teleport one or two other people along with her but has been able
to teleport more than that number in certain cases.
Nightmaster
Personal Data
Full Name: Jim Rook
Occupation: former musician, now bookstore owner
Known relatives: Nacht (ancestor), Janet Jones (fiancee, probably
his wife by now)
First appearance: Showcase #82
Eye color: Blue
Hair Color: originally black, now gray
History
Back in the late 1960's, Jim Rook was the lead singer for a
rock band called the Electrics. As it turns out, Jim is a descendent
of the Myrran hero Nacht. King Zolto, ruler of the dimension of
Myrra, needed to find a descendant of Nacht in order to save Myrra
from the evil Warlocks. Only one of Nacht's descendants could wield
the Sword Of Night, the only weapon which could stop the Warlocks'
ongoing attacks. King Zolto transports Jim to Myrra, inadvertently
bringing Jim's fiancee Janet Jones along as well. Jim was reluctant
to help Zolto defeat the Warlocks, and wanted to return home, but
when Janet is kidnapped by the Warlocks, Jim sets out to free her.
Outfitted with the Sword of Night and a replica of Nacht's costume,
Jim calls himself Nightmaster. Nightmaster defeated the Warlocks,
rescued Janet, and eventually returned home to Earth. Jim brought
the sword and costume with him to Earth, and it is unknown if he
ever returned to Myrra.
Fast forward to the late 1990's, and Jim, having long since retired
as Nightmaster, now owns a small bookstore called Oblivion Inc.
Oblivion Inc. specializes in mystical and occult books, and one
of Jim's frequent customers is Will Twotrees, alias Willpower. When
all the members of the Leymen except Black Condor are captured by
the August, Jim is persuaded by Black Condor to come out of retirement.
Donning his guise of Nightmaster once again, Jim helps Black Condor
defeat the August and free the other Leymen. Jim then re-retired
his Nightmaster identity, content with tending his bookstore.
Powers and Weapons
Nightmaster is a skilled swordsman, and although no longer in
prime physical condition, an above average athlete. His principal
weapon is the Sword Of Night, which fills Nightmaster with additional
strength, deflects magical energy, and can warn of danger by emitting
a humming sound. The sword's touch causes a person to speak the
truth, and only a heroic descendent of Nightmaster can wield it.
Red Tornado
Personal Data
Full Name: Uses the alias "John Smith,"
also known as Tornado Champion and Tornado Tyrant.
Occupation: Android, elemental
Known relatives: A robot "family" he built for himself
First appearance: (as Tornado Tyrant) Mystery in Space #61, (as
Red Tornado) Justice League of
America #64, series 1
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: None
History
The Red Tornado began his existence on the planet Rann as a
sentient living tornado called the Tornado Tyrant. He tried to conquer
Rann, but after seeing Adam Strange and the J.L.A. in action, the
Tornado Tyrant decided to become a hero. He renamed himself the
Tornado Champion, but his evil half split off to become a separate
entity, a new Tornado Tyrant. The scientist T.O. Morrow created
an android called the Red Tornado to use for evil purposes, and
to defeat Morrow, the Tornado Champion entered the android body.
Doing so cost the Tornado Champion his memory, and he also found
that he was stuck in the android body. Calling himself the Red Tornado,
he eventually became a member of both the JLA and the JSA. When
his android body was destroyed during the Crisis on Infinite Earths,
Red Tornado reformed himself as a powerful living tornado - the
Tornado Champion again. The Red Tornado was now an elemental being,
a force of nature.
Tornado's android body was rebuilt, but its activities and whereabouts
were unknown until two boys discovered it in a cave near the Grand
Canyon. Red Tornado was badly damaged and curled up in a fetal position.
The two boys thought Red Tornado was dead, but in moving him, they
somehow reactivated him. Tornado then joined the Leymen, but the
damage he had suffered previously caused him to make rattling noises
and occasionally collapse. Tornado could not speak until issue #9,
and even then, he was only repeating phrases he had said in adventures
prior to joining the Leymen. The Tornado Tyrant portion of Red Tornado
returns in issue #13, and the two become one again. Red Tornado
defeated the Tyrant, pulling it into his android body, and has managed
to suppress its evilness. After the Leymen disbanded, Red Tornado
went home to his "family", Kathy Sutton and Traya.
Powers
Red Tornado can create and control wind, ranging from a gentle
zephyr to a powerful tornado. He can also fly and has limited control
over the weather.
Willpower
 Personal
Data
Full Name: William Twotrees
Occupation: Unknown
Known relatives: unnamed mother, unnamed grandfather, Johnny Thunder
(father), Simon Thunder
(paternal grandfather, deceased), Mildred Thunder (paternal grandmother,
deceased).
First appearance: Primal Force #2
Eye color: Brown, in electric form they are white
Hair color: Black, none in electric form
History
Will's mother is a Jicarilla Apache, and the father Will never
knew was white. Part of two cultures, Will tries to live his life
embracing both heritages. As a child growing up in New Mexico, Will's
grandfather, a shaman, told him tales of spirits that rode the clouds
looking for bad children and taking them away. Will was told that
a thunderstorm had taken his father away from him, but as grew up,
Will no longer believed the stories, accepting that his father had
abandoned him. One day a severe thunderstorm swept past Will and
his mother's home, and Will felt the storm calling him. Reaching
out to the stormy sky, Will was struck by lightning and carried
away into the clouds. While in the clouds, Will became a living
thunderbolt, unable to return to Earth. Will is pulled out of the
clouds by Red Tornado in issue #6 and discovers that he is able
to switch between his normal human form and his thunderbolt form.
Will learns that he was one of the five Leymen who didn't answer
the call to join the team, but he joins now in order to see if he
can learn who his father is and his whereabouts. During the final
battle with the August in issue #12, Will learns that his father
is Johnny Thunder, member of the golden age JSA. Johnny apparently
traveled a lot after the JSA disbanded, met Will's mother in New
Mexico, and fell in love with her. After Will was born, Johnny left
because "there was a lot of prejudice back then. I couldn't
stay. Could have cost me my career to admit that I had a son of
a different race. I know that's not much of an excuse though…."
After the Leymen disbanded, Will joined a touring group of musicians
as a "human light show." Will feels that touring the country
will be the best way to locate his father, if Johnny thunder is
indeed his father.
Powers
Will can turn himself into a living thunderbolt, a being of
brilliant blue energy. While in this state, Will can project blue
energy and lightning beams, and make thunderous "KRAK-A-BOOM"
noises. Will can "power up" into his superhuman form as
long as he is not too fatigued, and he can change back to normal
at will.
Primal Force Issue Synopses
Issue #0 - "The Call"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Penciller: Ken Hooper, Inker: Barbara
Kaalberg, Letterer: Willie Schubert, Colorist: Phil Allen, Editor:
Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: This is a fairly standard first issue, with
the individual characters being introduced separately, then coming
together to form the team. Jack O' Lantern saves the victims of
a bus bombing in Northern Ireland, and the method he uses to do
so shows his inexperience as a hero. In New York City, Dr. Mist/Maltis'
daughter Christine foretells the arrival of the villain Cataclysm.
Christine also makes cryptic reference to most of the other villains
who will appear in the series. In South America, vulcanologist Harold
Ross becomes the villain Cataclysm by plunging into the Incan well
of life. Claw is tracking down the villainous Silver Dragon, who
has kidnapped a few girls in Hong Kong, and Red Tornado is reactivated
by two boys who find his battered android body. Golem is on the
run from the police in Louisiana, and Meridian is teaching a self
defense class. Feeling the threat of Cataclysm draw near, Maltis
summons the remaining members of the previous group of Leymen, but
against Maltis' wishes, they choose to retire instead of facing
the threat represented by Cataclysm. Maltis summons the new group
via the mystical water pool, but while doing so he is attacked by
Cataclysm. Cataclysm leaves Maltis to drown, but as the new group
of Leymen arrives, he is pulled out of the water by Jack O' Lantern
and revived by Meridian (she knows CPR). Claw, Red Tornado, Golem,
Jack, and Meridian are all left somewhat disoriented and confused
by their instant arrival at Maltis' mansion by way of the water
pool. Claw is especially confused, and still thinking he is in battle
with the Silver Dragon, the enraged swordsman attacks his soon to
be teammates……
Issue #1 - "Water Signs"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Penciller: Ken Hooper, Inker: Barbara
Kaalberg, Letterer: Willie Schubert, Colorist: Phil Allen, Editor:
Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: The issue begins with narration by Maltis while
Claw continues his attack on the others. Maltis comments on each
of the members as they try to stop Claw, and watching Meridian manage
to subdue Claw, Maltis is shocked to discover that a woman has been
chosen to join the team. After the group ceases fighting and gains
their bearings, Maltis realizes that Cataclysm has kidnapped Christine!
Christine is an oracle (meaning she can see into the future), and
having other mystical powers as well, "she is the key to Cataclysm's
power." Cataclysm is "an ancient creature who carries
the power of Earth's natural destructive forces" and wants
to "force the planet to consume all its inhabitants."
Maltis explains to the group what the Leymen are, and he tells them
that they have answered their planet's call to become members of
a new Leymen team, and defend their planet in its times of need.
Being sexist, Maltis then asks Meridian to leave ("there has
never been a woman among our order"), and he then inducts Claw,
Golem, Jack, and Red Tornado into the brotherhood of the Leymen.
Maltis tells them of the origins of the Leymen, and gives them each
a ley pendulum, which can augment their powers in times of need.
Meanwhile, Meridian manages to stumble across Cataclysm in Central
Park, and she teleports herself back to Maltis' mansion to tell
the others. The team confronts Cataclysm but cannot stop him from
reaching one of the Earth's "power points" and spreading
his evil across the world. The evil energies released by Cataclysm
will cause strange things to happen throughout the rest of the series…..
Issue #2 - "Dust"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Penciller: Ken Hooper, Inker: Barbara
Kaalberg, Letterer: Willie Schubert, Colorist: Phil Allen, Editor:
Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: The Leymen seemingly defeated, Cataclysm feasts
on the energy entering his body from the power point. The Leymen
launch one more desperation attack, which allows Meridian enough
time to rescue Christine from Cataclysm and teleport her out of
harms way. Meridian takes Christine to the midtown Manhattan apartment
of Meridian's sister Marsha, and returns to the battle to find the
rest of the team in trouble. Not only is Cataclysm soundly thrashing
the team, but innocent bystanders are being injured as well. As
Golem diverts Cataclysm's attention, Meridian gets close enough
to Cataclysm to teleport both of them to the river/bay. --- Two
interludes break up the action. The first introduces William Twotrees,
who will eventually join the team as Willpower, and the second foreshadows
the events of issue #3.--- The team hurries out to the bay to confront
Cataclysm, who is now losing power and needs another power point
to recharge. Without Christine, Cataclysm has no means to locate
another one. The Leymen slowly begin to turn the tide against Cataclysm,
but when Maltis suffers a heart attack, the team loses (though not
permanently) its experienced leader. The ley pendulums reach out
to their wearers, however, and endow the five heroes with additional
strength and power. The mystical power boost is enough to defeat
Cataclysm, who is swallowed up by the Earth. Afterwards, Meridian
- who does not yet have her own ley pendulum - inadvertently touches
Claw's pendulum while trying to determine how the group's powers
were boosted. The pendulum overloads Meridians powers, and the entire
team is transported somewhere in order to stop another evil spawned
by Cataclysm's powers…..
Issue #3 - "Histories"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Pencillers: Ken Hooper and Christopher
Schenck, Inker: Barbara Kaalberg, Letterer: Willie Schubert, Colorist:
Phil Allen, Editor: Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: The team ends up on Dolos Island, located in
the South Pacific Ocean, but they haven't figured that out…yet.
Trying to determine where they are, Claw and Golem take a look at
a Greek style building they find on the top of a hill. They find
footprints and a photograph of two tourists, but no actual people.
Claw guesses that the tourists are gone by now. Nightfall soon arrives,
and Meridian, lacking the power reserves needed to get them off
the island, suggests that they each tell one another about themselves.
Claw, Golem, and Jack tell of their origins, but the mute Red Tornado
can only draw strange hieroglyphics in the sand - which nobody understands.
Meridian's origin is left untold until issue #10. At dawn the following
day, the team discovers a wrecked ship along the coast, but its
crew members are nowhere to be found. Jack finds a diary which leads
them to believe that the crew is on the island and in trouble, and
the team sets off to find them. The Leymen find the ship's two person
crew in a cave, held prisoner by a Minotaur! Claw, Jack, and Golem
defeat the minotaur while Tornado and Meridian rescue the crew.
Once the crew is rescued Meridian begins to transport the team and
the crew off the island one by one. But where will Meridian's suddenly
unpredictable powers take them this time?…….
Issue #4 - "Hunters"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Penciller: Nick Choles, Inker: Barbara
Kaalberg, Letterer: Willie Schubert, Colorist: Phil Allen, Editor:
Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: In a tale featuring Claw, the Leymen find themselves
in Hong Kong. Continuing where he left off in issue #0, Claw learns
the whereabouts of the Silver Dragon, and Claw sets off to free
the girls kidnapped by him. Before setting out to find Claw, Meridian
officially joins the Leymen team. Red Tornado gives her his ley
pendulum, and Jack performs the initiation ceremony (at least the
parts of it he remembers accurately anyway). The Leymen then set
off to find Claw, who by now has infiltrated the Silver Dragon's
headquarters. Claw fights his way past many of the Silver Dragon's
men, discovers the secret behind the man paying Silver Dragon to
kidnap the girls, but is ultimately captured. The remaining Leymen
arrive, and Claw uses the ensuing commotion to escape. Reunited,
the team defeats the Silver Dragon and his employer, and Meridian
teleports the team to Australia. What evils await the Leymen there?…..
Issue #5 - "Folktales"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Penciller: Ken Hooper, Inkers: Barbara
Kaalberg and Wade von Grawbadger, Letterer: Willie Schubert, Colorist:
Phil Allen, Editor: Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: In Alice Springs, Australia, four teenagers
discover a source of mystical power located in a sacred Aborigine
area called Uluru (a.k.a. Ayers Rock). Against the urgings of the
local Aborigine chief, the teenagers touch a humming rock that is
full of mystic energy….evil energy that was released by Cataclysm.
Meanwhile, the Leymen arrive in Australia, much to the dismay of
Claw, who cannot believe that Meridian's "dippy powers"
backfired again. However, Meridian realizes that her powers are
somehow following the path left by Cataclysm's evil energy, and
the Leymen's task is to stop that evil. The team meets a local man
named Abe, and they agree to bring to justice those persons responsible
for the death of Abe's son Alec. Little does the team know that
Alec's killers are really four monsters from Australian myth that
are terrorizing the countryside surrounding Alice Springs. As the
team settles in for the night at a local hotel, a good deal of character
development and interaction occurs. Morning arrives, and Meridian
and Alec's mother go to Alec's girlfriend's house to ask her questions
about Alec's murder. Upon their arrival, they find the girlfriend's
house in shambles, and one of the four monsters leaps out of the
rubble and attacks Meridian……..
Issue #6 - "Truths"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Pencillers: Ken Hooper and Gabrielle
Morrissette, Inker: Barbara Kaalberg, Letterer: Willie Schubert,
Colorist: Phil Allen, Editor: Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: Meridian readies herself to fight the lizard-like
monster, but it runs past her instead. Grabbing a rat, the monster
kills it, and returns to human form. It turns out that the four
teenagers who touched the rock in issue #5 became the monsters,
and they must kill (something) in order to temporarily resume human
form. Meanwhile, in a local tavern of all places, Claw learns that
the creatures are called the Garkain (a giant bat), Myndie the snake
woman, the devil dog Irrinja, and the lizard Whowie. Jack, Golem,
and Tornado stumble across one of the teenager's cars and find blood
stained clothing. Something's amiss….and when the boy who becomes
Whowie the lizard runs off, leaving a note that says "Tonight.
Hall's Rocks. Try to stop us," the Leymen agree to stop the
monsters' murderous reign. The Leymen engage the monsters in battle,
and they discover how to permanently return the monsters to their
normal human forms. Getting the monsters to retouch the mystical
rock that initially transformed them is all it takes. The Leymen
are eventually victorious, but Jack O' Lantern is apparently killed
by the Garkain. However, Jack disappeared when his unconscious body
hit the water, so nobody knows for certain if he is truly dead.
At the end of the story, the Leymen gain a member when Red Tornado
manages to pull Willpower out of the lightning storm he had been
trapped in, but what became of Jack?………
Issue #7 - "Lessons"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Pencillers: Nicholas Choles and Greg
LaRocque, Inker: Barbara Kaalberg, Letterer: Clem Robbins, Colorist:
Tom Zuiko, Editor: Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: Jack wakes up in the mystical dimension inhabited
by the mysterious Water Woman. Initially, Jack thinks he has gone
to Heaven, and the Water Woman is God, but he is incorrect. The
Water Woman tells Jack that she has brought him to this place to
help him learn how to become a better hero. Jack is initially skeptical,
and says that he's no hero, just a factory worker. The Water Woman
disagrees, and she tells Jack that he not only has a legacy to uphold,
but one day he is destined to become the leader of the Brotherhood
of the Leymen (the position currently held by Maltis). The Water
Woman then gives Jack a few lessons on what it means to be a hero,
using other DCU heroes as examples. Flashbacks to "recent"
(actually circa 1994-1995) DCU events occur. From watching Superman,
Jack learns how being a hero means setting an example, persevering,
and inspiring others to overcome "the evils we all must eventually
face." The story of Wonder Woman teaches that one should always
continue to hone their abilities rather than merely relying on them
and that recovering from occasional defeats and continuing the good
fight is essential. From Hawkman, Jack learns that not all heroes
see things the same way, and from Green Lantern, Jack learns about
the three lives - hero, team member, and ordinary man - that can
be lived by one man. Finally, Jack learns that a "true hero
is driven by something pure, something good and right that is felt
within" by observing the Azrael version of Batman do the opposite.
The Water Woman gives Jack the pendulum of the Prime Ley and sends
him home. But time works differently in the Water dimension, and
Jack finds that an entire month has passed since he last was with
the other Leymen……
Issue #8 - "Metamorphosis"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Penciller: Nicholas Choles, Inker: Barbara
Kaalberg, Letterer: Willie Schubert, Colorist: Phil Allen, Editor:
Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: This is a neat little self contained story.
Jack finds that many things have changed during the time he was
away from the Leymen, but all the poor guy wants to do is get some
sleep. Alas, it's not meant to be. Tornado is making all sorts of
loud noises in the mansion's bell tower, Claw loses control of his
demonic claw hand - it tries to attack both Jack and Claw -, and
Meridian and Claw are apparently an item. The team has also added
two new members, Black Condor and Willpower, while Jack was gone,
and Golem has adopted a more humanlike appearance and wants to be
called "Paul." In Jack's own words, the "whole place
is a bloody madhouse." Meanwhile, the August plot line coming
up in two issues is foreshadowed, and the "would you like to
take a test about the world around you" cult characters are
introduced for the first time. In the morning, Jack and Will head
over to Oblivion Inc. Books, and Jim Rook - alias Nightmaster -
makes his series debut. While Will is buying books about the occult
from the bookstore, Meridian takes Christine to a carnival and buys
her a straw effigy doll (a "corn baby"). Later that night
while Will reads Christine a scary bedtime story, from the occult
book he bought earlier, the straw doll comes to life! The doll attacks
Will and Christine, and incapacitates anyone who tries to stop it
by showing them their darkest fears. It's interesting to see the
darkest fears of all the Leymen, and members of the supporting cast,
who try to stop the doll. The doll's rampage is eventually stopped
by Jack and Red Tornado, and Meridian and Claw, returning back to
the mansion from a date, find the place in a state of confusion.
Maltis has suffered another heat attack, and Jack thinks that Maltis
is dead……
Issue #9 - "Shell Game"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Penciller: Nicholas Choles, Inkers: Barbara
Kaalberg and Jordi Ensign, Letterer: Willie Schubert, Colorist:
Phil Allen, Editor: Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: The spotlight is on Red Tornado in this issue,
and all of the issue's events are seen from his unique point of
view. Tornado watches as a comatose Maltis is given a poor prognosis
by a doctor, who believes that Maltis may have less than a week
to live if his vital signs do not improve. Tornado then defeats
a villain known as Prince Inferno, accidentally burns Christine
when he returns to the mansion (his metallic body is still radiating
Inferno's heat energy), and he discovers that Willpower is being
attacked in the courtyard. Members of the August, a dastardly group
bent on the Leymen's destruction, are slowly capturing Leymen one
by one. Tornado and Will fight the bad guys, but when Tornado suddenly
conks out, Will is captured. Meanwhile, Jack and Golem are taking
a stroll through Central Park, and Jack is trying to teach Golem
what it means to be human. Tornado and Black Condor soon arrive,
and tell them of a man that is turning people and objects to stone.
The man is Matthew Nieman, a news reporter who was seemingly killed
by Cataclysm by in issue #2. Nieman calls himself "Fossil,"
and though he causes some more destruction, he is eventually stopped
by the quartet of heroes. One of Golem's arms is broken off during
the fight, but that's OK since he says that he can always make another
one (even though it won't match). Tornado returns to the mansion
and finds that the August has kidnapped Maltis. He also realizes
that Donovan, a member of the previous Leymen team who was guarding
Maltis, has betrayed them. The entire team gathers, finds the symbol
of the August burned into the ground outside, and stepping onto
it, Red Tornado speaks for the first time in the entire series……
Issue #10 - "The Inside"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Penciller: Nicholas Choles, Inker: Barbara
Kaalberg, Letterer: Willie Schubert, Colorist: Phil Allen, Editor:
Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: The issue begins with the two sub-leaders of
the August, Alder and Camille, posing as relatives of their "nephew"
Lucian, the Mind Grabber Kid. Mind Grabber Kid, who has only appeared
once in an old issue of Justice League of America (1st series),
has been institutionalized for the past many years in a psychiatric
hospital. Alder and Camille get him released, and they plan on using
Mind Grabber Kid as a pawn in their battle against the Leymen. Back
at the mansion of the Leymen, Red Tornado is speaking again, but
he's not making much sense. After many frustrating minutes spent
trying to communicate with Tornado, the other Leymen give up. Claw
and Black Condor decide to search the city for the missing Maltis
and Willpower, while Jack accompanies Meridian to a women's rights
"Take Back the Night" march. This little subplot is very
well done, and it also features the first telling of Meridian's
origins. In the meantime, Claw, Tornado, and Black Condor find Mind
Grabber Kid terrorizing visitors at the Guggenheim Museum. The trio
tries to stop Mind Grabber Kid, but he handily defeats them. Tornado
realizes that something is wrong, and upon their return to the Leymen
mansion, the trio finds that the August has kidnapped Golem. The
battle with Mind Grabber Kid was just a diversion! Claw finds Donovan,
the former Leyman, unconscious but unhurt from the attack. Donovan
was present when Maltis was kidnapped as well, and Claw rightfully
believes that Donovan has betrayed them…….
Issue #11 - "Siege"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Penciller: Nicholas Choles, Inker: Barbara
Kaalberg, Letterer: Willie Schubert, Colorist: Phil Allen, Editor:
Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: Part two of the August story line. It is told
by Black Condor to an unseen ally in the form of a flashback. Claw
and Black Condor interrogate Donovan and learn where the August
are keeping their teammates. Meridian, taking Black Condor with
her, teleports to the August's headquarters to do "a quick
reconnaissance" so they can decide what to do next. Meridian
inadvertently teleports inside of the August's headquarters, and
Mind Grabber Kid captures her but Black Condor gets away. One by
one, operatives of the August capture the members of the Leymen.
Jack and Tornado are soon captured, and as August operatives swarm
into the mansion, they manage to capture Claw as well. The only
one left, Black Condor realizes that "the fury of the August's
assault and the constant metamorphosis of their plan were ruses
used to divide and conquer" the team. Knowing that the August
will soon be coming for him, Black Condor searches for an ally to
help him rescue his teammates. Black Condor goes to Oblivion Inc.
Books, and the reader learns that the person Condor has been telling
this story to is Jim Rook. Jim agrees to help Condor, and removing
the Sword of Night from its glass display case, Jim is transformed
into Nightmaster! Black Condor and Nightmaster travel to the headquarters
of the August, and sensing the evil emanating from the building,
Nightmaster remarks that "it may be too late - for everything!"……..
Issue #12 - "Virtues"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Pencillers: Nicholas Choles, David Ammerman,
and Paul Guinan. Inkers: Ron Boyd, Barbara Kaalberg, and Paul Guinan.
Letterer: Willie Schubert, Colorist: Lee Loughridge, Editor: Jim
Spivey
Plot Summary: The conclusion of the August story line. This
issue is narrated by Willpower, and he and his fellow captive teammates,
along with one man Will doesn't recognize, are imprisoned within
The August's sacrificial chamber. The August plan to kill the Leymen
one by one using a mystical acid pool, and by sacrificing the Leyman's
"noble soul," they will be able to remake the world anew.
The leader of the August, Modrus, desires to create a new reality
where the August rules supreme. Modrus allows his followers to have
a try at creating a new reality, and the first to try is Alder.
Golem is thrown into the acid pool and seemingly killed. Alder's
reality is ultimately rejected by Modrus, and the mental strain
of having his reality rejected leaves Alder a babbling incompetent.
Meanwhile, Nightmaster and Black Condor have entered the headquarters
of the August and have begun to fight their way towards their captive
friends. The August member Camille is the next to try her hand at
creating a new reality, and the Leyman sacrificed to allow this
to happen is a previously unseen character called Noir. Noir turns
out to be one of the heroes who did not answer the original call
to join the Leymen, but it matters little now since he is killed!
Camille's version of reality is eventually rejected, leaving her
mentally disabled as well. But before the August can try again in
their quest to create a new reality, Nightmaster and Black Condor
arrive to free their teammates. An all out battle royal ensues between
the Leymen and the August. During the battle, we learn that Maltis
has somehow gotten inside Tornado's android body and that Jack has
internalized the powers of his "pumpkin of power." Maltis
is thrown into the acid pool by the evil Modrus, and a third alternate
reality springs into being. In this final reality, Zatanna guest
stars, Will learns who his father really is, and ultimately Will
summons the power to reject this alternate reality. The August defeated,
the world returns to normal. However, the Leymen have lost Maltis
and Golem in the process of triumphing over evil. And as the last
page shows, their battle against evil is not yet complete as Cataclysm
returns……
Issue #13 - "Severance"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Penciller: Nicholas Choles, Inker: Barbara
Kaalberg, Letterer: Willie Schubert, Colorist: Phil Allen, Editor:
Jim Spivey
Plot Summary: This issue is supposedly an Underworld Unleashed
tie in, but not by much. We begin in Jack's room, where he is praying
to both God and the Water Woman. Jack has a feeling that "something
awful is going to happen," and Meridian also sense big trouble
ahead. Martian Manhunter makes a one page cameo appearance, and
during his talk with Red Tornado, we learn that the still-on-the-loose
Tornado Tyrant part of Red Tornado has been the cause of Tornado's
troubles. Meanwhile, the demon within the claw is waging an internal
battle with Claw for control of Claw's soul. Claw has had enough,
and to escape the demon's influence, he uses his sword to cut his
demon-claw hand off! Will hears Claw's cries of pain, and finds
the self mutilated Claw bleeding profusely. Will and Meridian quickly
take Claw to a hospital so his wound can be healed before he bleeds
to death. Cataclysm is revealed to have spread his powers to "followers"
whom he controls. Cataclysm releases his weapon toting followers
on an unsuspecting New York, and chaos is soon everywhere. As if
Cataclysm alone isn't enough, the Tornado Tyrant has returned and
is battling Red Tornado at the waterfront, and Meridian and Claw
stumble across the super villain Lord Satanus. While Meridian and
an injured Claw battle Lord Satanus in the hospital, Will and Red
Tornado battle the Tornado Tyrant, and Jack and Black Condor confront
Cataclysm. While all this fighting is going on, Christine is quietly
going about creating a new body for Golem in the sand outside the
mansion. But even if Golem is somehow brought back to life, will
he have any comrades to return to? The three villains are on the
verge of overpowering the Leymen…..
Issue #14 - "The Course of All Things"
Writer: Steven Seagle, Pencillers: Nicholas Choles and Jim Hall,
Inkers: Don Hillsman and Barbara Kaalberg, Letterer: Willie Schubert,
Colorists: Phil Allen and Tom Zuiko, Editors: Jim Spivey and Peter
Tomasi.
Plot Summary: Series finale. Times Square is in chaos as
the Leymen continue the fight against Cataclysm, Lord Satanus, and
the Tornado Tyrant. The Leymen are given a temporary reprieve while
Satanus and Cataclysm fight each other, but when the two villains
form an alliance, things get even worse for the Leymen. Golem makes
his semi-unexplained return to the team, and a near death Claw agrees
to allow the demon-claw back onto his arm. Just as it did for the
previous men who have called themselves Claw, the demon-claw protects
its host from mortal injury, and by re-attaching itself to Claw's
arm it saves his life. In the meantime, Red Tornado has defeated
the Tornado Tyrant. By reuniting with the Tyrant, Red Tornado becomes
whole again, and thus ends his frequent collapsing and malfunctioning.
The reader never does see how the battle against Satanus and Cataclysm
ends. We're just told that the Leymen, even though they looked doomed,
eventually won. The final six pages are narrated by Jack, an undetermined
amount of time later. The team eventually broke up, and everybody
went their separate ways. The whereabouts and activities of the
individual members are revealed, and some of the series' loose ends
are tied up as well. Jack comments that it seemed disappointing
- "like we [the Leymen] had let the world down somehow"
- that the team had disbanded. But as soon as the ley pendulums
tell them that the team is needed again to restore order to the
world, the Leymen will be ready…….
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