Story: "The 'Bobo The Kitten' Gambit" (22 Pages)

Credits:

Kurt Busiek (plot, script)
Tom Grummett (pencils)
Prentis Rollins and Al Vey and Wade Von Grawbadger (inks)
Comicraft (letters)
Rob Ro (colors, color separations)
Peter Tomasi (edits)

Feature Characters:

Skyrocket
Bork
Manhunter IV
Witchfire
Striker Z
Sapphire
Firestorm II (all seven next in flashback in issue #16)

Supporting Characters:

Mickey Schaum
Rupe (next in issue #17)
Charlie Lau (in between issue #6 and #18)
Lt. Jennifer Stuart (next in flashback in issue #16)

Villains:

Doctor Polaris (also in flashback between flashback in issue #13 and issue #9)
Fastball
Starshrike
Black Mass
Crowbar
Nightfall
Shatterfist II (latter six as the Cadre I)

Guest Appearances:

Superman (last in ??, next in ??)
Flash III (last in Flash Vol. 2 #194; next in JLA #78)
Green Lantern (John Stewart)
Faith
Manitou Raven (all three in between JLA #77 and #78)
Christine St. Clair
Asano Nitobe
Garrison Slate (next in flashback in issue #16)

Other Characters:

A Controller (also in flashback preceding issue #9)
Wells & Schaum Employees (including Murray)

Synopsis:

The Power Company is knocked out, the JLA is closed out from the battle area, and Doctor Polaris is prepared to wipe out civilization on Earth. The trapped Controller reaches out and touches Skyrocket with his mind, but is unable to do anything to help the situation. Manhunter finally joins the fight, and Witchfire, still in hospital, sets up a telepathic link between the Company and the Wells and Schaum bureau. Finally, they realize how to make use of Schaum's information – not by using it against Polaris, but against Black Mass of the Cadre. Learning that the villain used to have a kitten named Bobo as a child, Manhunter tricks the brain-damaged, child-like Black Mass into believing Polaris wants to hurt Bobo. Enraged, Black Mass uses his gravitational powers to drain Polaris on power. Polaris passes out and Manhunter knocks out Black Mass. The Earth is saved.
The Power Company gets recognition both from the JLA and from S.T.A.R. Labs, whose CEO Garrison Slate agrees on consulting them.