Kilowog crashes to Earth, seeking John Stewart's help to rescue other members of the Green Lantern Corps from the psychic, would-be conqueror Despero. He also explains that John's former mentor and lover, Katma Tui, is one of the captives. John goes to confront Despero and is defeated, only for the rebels to rescue him.

After the death of the Flash, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman launch an assault on the White House and Superman kills President Lex Luthor. Two years later, the Justice Lords now rule over the planet with an iron fist. Lord Batman discovers the dimension which the Justice League inhabits. Considering their counterparts naive, but wishing to spread order to the newly discovered world, the Lords cross over and trap the League. The Lords then take their places in a quest to make this Earth like their own.