Mister Miracle and Big Barda solicit Justice League assistance to free Oberon from Apokolips. J'onn refuses, but Flash decides to help out on his own.

A team of supervillains dubbed "Task Force X" (better known in comics as the Suicide Squad) composed of Deadshot, Plastique, Captain Boomerang, and the Clock King is recruited by Cadmus. They steal the Annihilator armour from the Watchtower.