Issue #14: "Shop... Or Die"

Story: Giffen & DeMatteis
Art: Leialoha & Gordon
Cover Price: $ .75
Cover Date: June 88
Length: 23 pages

Members: Green Lantern (Guy Gardner), Black Canary, Mister Miracle, Oberon, Maxwell Lord, J'onn J'onzz (Martian Manhunter), Blue Beetle, Batman, Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Catherine Cobert (not pictured), Rocket Red #4 (Dmitri)
 

Opponents:  Manga Khan, L-Ron

Featuring: Green Flame, Ice Maiden, Big Barda, G'nort

Absent: Catherine Colbert, Black Canary, Batman

First Appearances: Manga Khan, L-Ron

Story:

        As the story begins, the final steps of plundering a planet of  its raw materials are under way. A huge ship called the "Cluster" is the destination of these materials, and we soon find their leader to be a being called Lord Manga Khan, a "man" who has a bad habit of speaking, even yelling, his thoughts aloud. It is soon learned from Khan's loyal servant, the robotic L-Ron, that their systems will soon need replenishing yet again and that the next planet they will visit to meet their needs shall be Earth (big surprise).
         Back at the New York Embassy, Green Flame and Ice Maiden, formerly of the Global Guardians, are seeking memebership with the League, while, at his home, Mister Miracle, who is passing the time by stargazing, notices that whole clusters of stars that should be visible, are not. Meanwhile, Beetle and Booster are preparing to transport to Miracle's house to watch a football game.
        Back on the Cluster, L-Ron is explaining to his master that, while Earth has abundant amounts of the supplies they need, there is one potential problem: "an over-abundance of hyper-normals," meaning meta-humans-- meaning, of course, superheroes. Despite this potential threat, Khan begins the process anyway.
        Meanwhile, G'nort comes crashing down on the planet Khan has just left (he had ben flying around in a pod he ducked into ever since "aiding" against the Manhunters in issue #12). He learns of what Khan did to the planet and that his next stop is Earth. Deciding this is his chance to prove himself to the Green Lantern Corps, he leaves for Earth.
        Back on Earth, Khan's forces are constructing a huge, destructive machine in the Australian Outback. Seemingly moments later, Khan breaks into television broadcasts, announcing their arrival, as well as their objective: issuing a deadline, they wish to barter with Earth for raw materials, or else, they will plunder it. The issue goes to the UN, who, unsurprisingly cannot decide on anything before the deadline, so, then, it is up to the League to protect the planet (again), and since they are a bit short-handed, with the absence of Batman and Black Canary, Green Flame and Ice Maiden are asked to assist the League.
        Just as the deadline is approaching, G'nort arrives, charging into battle...