Justice League Of America #164

Justice League Of America #164

(December, 1978)

"Murder By Melody!"

Cover by Rich Buckler, Dick Giordano, Todd Kline

Artist: Dick Dillin

Inks: Frank McLaughlin

Colors: Jerry Serpe

Writer: Gerry Conway

Letters: Ben Oda

Still recovering from his injuries, Red Tornado recounts the events of the hours following the League's defeat against Anton Allegro. Reconvening to determine their next move, the team deduces that Allegro's powers are mystical in nature, rather than technological or scientific.  This also explains why Zatanna was able to briefly break into the supernatural barrier holding her mother prisoner at the exact moment that Anton's synthesizer was playing.

Deciding to fight Allegro one last time, Wonder Woman, Black Canary, Zatanna, Flash, and Green Lantern teleport to Star City. There, they find the second volume of "Mystic Abominations," a forbidden book written in the 14th century, and that Allegro used to learn dark magic. Now discovering the source of his madness, Zatanna knows how to stop him.

Finding the musical madman in an abandoned theater, and directing a deadly concert played by evil spirits, the League charges against Allegro. The maid of magic uses her powers to augment Black Canary's cry, causing all the creatures to explode in agony. Then, Flash delivers the final blow defeating Anton, while Green Lantern gains possession of his mystic synthesizer.

Back in the Justice League's satellite, Hawkgirl and Superman have found the location of the mystic barrier imprisoning Sindella; it is a spot in the mountains of Northern Turkey. Upon hearing this, Zatara tells the League this is the place where he first met his wife and Zatanna's mother. Furthermore, he realizes that if the barrier does not originate in a spiritual realm, but in a place on Earth, then Sindella is alive. Red Tornado and Green Arrow stay in the satellite since they are still convalescing, while the League and Zatara depart into the unknown.

Time later, on a mountaintop in Northern Turkey, Zatanna starts playing Anton Allegro's synthesizer to weaken the mystic barrier, while Zatara casts the spell to breach it. At the same time, Green Lantern uses his power ring to protect Zatanna's mind from the "Mystic Abominations" madness. Suddenly, the barrier shatters revealing the Secret City, and the team rushes to explore it, but they are soon detected by a sentry who sounds the alarm.

In a matter of seconds the skies are darkened by an endless swarm of flying beings calling themselves the Hidden Ones, and the Justice League finds itself surrounded with no other option but that of surrender. They are soon taken before the Highlord, possessor of the Optic Gem and captor of one other who possesses the Medulla Jewel. When Zatanna and Zatara confront the leader of the Hidden Ones, they are horrified to discover that his prisoner is none other than Sindella herself. Zatanna has finally found her mother!