Doctor Fate and Aquaman rescue Solomon Grundy, intent on using him to help battle an ancient evil. The pairing of these heroes is an homage to the Marvel Comics superhero team The Defenders and the plot is based upon H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos.[1] Hawkgirl's atheism is shaken by Grundy's sacrifice to recover his soul, and to a lesser extentby the reliance of Wonder Woman and Aquaman on their deities when in need.

While the Justice League are quarreling about the value of mutual trust and teamwork, Grodd organizes a Secret Society composed of Parasite, Giganta, Sinestro, The Shade, Clayface, and Killer Frost. The Society captures most of the League, but J'onn frees the others and the Society is defeated in front of a crowded stadium.