Story: "Dying Breath" (23 Pages)

Credits:

Mark Waid (plot, script)
Mike S. Miller (pencils)
Paul Neary (inks)
Ken Lopez (letters)
David Baron (colors and separations)
Steve Wacker and Dan Raspler (edits)

Feature Characters:

Superman
Batman
Martian Manhunter
Wonder Woman
Flash III
Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner)
Plastic Man
Atom II

Villains:

White Martians (Protex, Z'ush and Primaid named)

Guest Appearances:

Firestorm
Hawkgirl II
Dr Fate IV
Sand, Nightwing II
Huntress II
Blue Beetle II
Atom Smasher II
Wildcat II
Star-Spangled Kid II
Arsenal IV
Argent
Mister Terrific II
Captain Marvel Sentinel
Superboy
Zatanna
Faust
Madame Xanadu

Synopsis:

Although fire has returned to the earth and the white martians are once more vulnerable, they are making short work of Earth's heroes nonetheless. In the Phantom Zone, J'onn explains his plan to the rest of the League, then removes all memory of it from them until it is activated by specific events. Escaping from the Zone with the help of an outside agent, they then bring the martians to the moon, and then bring the moon into the atmosphere in order to take the martians by surprise with a devastating flame attack. Their plans have been co-ordinated with the help of the Atom, hidden within J'onn's brain for much of the time.

J'onn then forces the martians to either burn to death or enter the Phantom Zone; they choose the second option just in time for J'onn himself to survive the exposure to flame. The return of the martians had been due to his wish when exposed to Id - not to be alone. As Batman points out to him, 'You are in the Justice League. You are never alone.'