Justice League Action
The Power of Solomon
Credits: The Power of Solomon
Written by ScriptMaster77
Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger; Captain Marvel/Shazam created by Bill Parker and C.C Beck.
Justice League Action and all associated characters are owned by and all rights go to DC Comics and Warner Bros.
Gotham City, Day.
People run in terror as Solomon Grundy rampages in the middle of the street.
Solomon Grundy: Solomon Grundy…
Grundy growls at a group of cowering civilians.
Grundy: Born on a Monday!
He is knocked back by a swing of a mace.
KLANG.
He stumbles onto the ground.
Hawkman, mace over shoulder, looks down at Grundy.
Hawkman: Solomon Grundy…
He places his mace in his other hand, smirking.
Hawkman: Hospitalised 'til Tuesday.
Grundy is angered.
He grabs a nearby street lamp and slams it into Hawkman.
WHACK.
Hawkman is then knocked into a nearby building.
CRASH.
As he recovers, Batman, Shazam and Zatanna Zatara appear through a magic portal.
Hawkman: Heads up. He's a lot crankier than usual.
Zatanna has a concerned look on her face.
Zatanna: Every time Grundy's reborn his personality shifts. He could be an articulated brute one week, a raging monster the next.
Shazam helps Hawkman up. Meanwhile Batman looks at the battle ahead.
Batman: In that case we'll need to be quick if we want to minimise damage.
Shazam laughs at this.
Shazam: Pfft! Come on Bats, I've taken on guys twice his size! This'll be a piece of cake!
He flies at Grundy.
Shazam: Hey ugly! I've got something for-
Grundy backhands him into the distance.
WHAM.
Shazam: Ugh!
As Shazam recovers mid-air, Batman gives him a look for displeasure.
Batman: I need you to focus Shazam! He's too powerful for us to take on individually. Everybody take up, beta formation!
Zatanna raises a wand.
Zatanna: On it! Skrowerif dnilb ydnurG!
Fireworks explode in a surprised Grundy's face.
Grundy: Yaargh!
As he shields his eyes with his arm, he turns around and squints at Zatanna, standing behind him.
Grundy charges towards her pulling his fist back.
A dome of energy separates Zatanna from Grundy's strike.
Zatanna: Sdleihs pu!
As the shield dissipates Hawkman swoops in and lands an uppercut on Grundy with his mace.
KLANG.
Grundy falls back down, leaving a small crater in the road, as Batman moves towards him.
He pulls out an electrified Batarang.
Preparing to throw the device, Grundy stumbles in confusion.
A streak of lightning then moves Grundy out of the way, making Batman miss his shot.
Batman: What the-?
The lightning then moves towards the sky.
Batman, Hawkman and Zatanna look up in concern.
Batman shouts into his earpiece.
Batman: Shazam! What the hell are you doing?!
Shazam holds Grundy by his arms, focusing on the sky above.
Shazam: Relax, Bats! I've got this!
Grundy snarls at him.
Grundy: Raagh!
He head-butts the hero.
Shazam winces in pain.
Shazam: Ow!
Grundy head-butts him again.
He becomes more irritated.
Shazam: Quit it!
Grundy head-butts him again, breaking free of Shazam's hold.
He then grabs Shazam's cape as he begins to fall.
Shazam: Uh-oh…
The two crash onto the top of a building.
THOOM.
Shazam stirs as the smoke clears.
Shazam: Ugh…
Grundy picks up Shazam and smacks him into the ground again.
SLAM.
As Shazam lies on the ground, Grundy lays a hand on his throat.
The two struggle.
Shazam strains under Grundy's grip.
He looks up to the sky.
Shazam: SHAZAM!
A bolt of lightning crashes into the rooftop.
KRAKA-THOOM.
A de-transformed Shazam, now Billy Batson, stands over an unconscious Grundy.
He smiles to himself.
Shazam/Billy Batson: Huh…That was easy.
RUMBLE.
The rooftop caves in and causes Billy and Grundy to fall.
Billy: Woah!
As Billy falls off the side of the building, Batman swoops in on a grapnel line.
He grabs the boy and swings away from the falling debris.
They land on a nearby rooftop, where Hawkman and Zatanna are waiting for them.
Hawkman looks down to see Grundy being surrounded by SWAT officers.
Hawkman: I just spoke with Gordon; they're good to take Grundy back to STAR Labs.
Billy looks up at the scowling Batman sheepishly.
Billy: Uh… Thanks for catching me back there.
Batman: Zatanna. Take us back to the Watchtower. Now.
Zatanna raises her hands.
Zatanna: Nruter su ot eht rewothctaW!
Smoke envelopes the heroes.
The smoke clears, revealing they are now in the Watchtower training room.
Batman turns around and angrily looks down at Billy. He looks back in shock.
Batman: That was reckless and incredibly stupid!
Billy: I was only-
Batman raises an eyebrow.
Batman: Trying to help? You were showboating. Being a member of the Justice League means relying on your teammates to deal with situations you can't handle alone, even if you're earth's mightiest mortal.
Billy snaps back at an unfazed Batman. Hawkman and Zatanna are shocked however.
Billy: But I had it under control!
Batman: And what if you didn't? Between you and Grundy nearly levelling a city block, it's a miracle that innocents didn't get hurt.
Batman turns to the console and types into it.
Batman: We're going to work on your team-work skills. And we'll keep working on it until you learn to rely on others and not just your powers.
The training room projects a holographic model of Solomon Grundy.
Billy rolls his eyes.
Billy: Fine.
He holds his arms out to the side.
Billy: Shazam!
Nothing happens. Billy looks around in confusion.
Billy: Uh…
He holds his arms out again.
Billy: Shazam!
Again, nothing happens.
Batman, Hawkman and Zatanna look equally confused.
Billy rubs the back of his head nervously.
Billy: I swear this never happens.
The four are suddenly blinded by the appearance of a glowing Egyptian Ankh.
Doctor Fate emerges from the portal.
Doctor Fate: Billy Batson, you have put the universe into unbalance. You must come with me at once.
Zatanna looks surprised.
Zatanna: Doctor Fate? What does Nabu want with Billy? I thought he didn't like to mix with humans.
Fate has a blank stare on his helm.
Fate: You are mistaken Zatanna. I am not acting on Nabu's wishes. The Wizard wants the boy to come to the Rock of Eternity.
Billy is concerned.
Billy: The Wizard… Oh boy, this is bad.
Fate turns around heading back into the Ankh.
Fate: I suggest you and Zatanna come as well Batman.
Batman and Zatanna turn to Hawkman.
Hawkman: I'll be on monitor duty until you come back.
Fate, Batman, Zatanna and Billy then head through the portal.
The Rock of Eternity.
The heroes approach the Wizard, who sits on his throne.
He looks dismayed.
The Wizard: Billy Batson. I see Doctor Fate has found you well.
Billy: Wizard, I've-
Wizard: Lost your powers. Yes, I know.
Batman steps before him.
Batman: Care to explain how?
Wizard: Batman. How familiar are you with Solomon Grundy?
The Wizard leans forward, making their faces level.
Batman: Immortal zombie endowed with super-human strength. What else?
The Wizard leans back, a solemn look on his face.
Wizard: Cyrus Gold was cursed by an ancient evil, a conduit for the spirits of the dead. That is why he never comes back completely the same. When one spirit is defeated, another takes control.
The Wizard looks at a surprised Billy.
Wizard: As you know, I chose one mortal to be my champion who would be able to call on the powers of Olympus and the Rock of Eternity. Once he says my name in his new form, the powers are relinquished and, lest they be interrupted, return to me.
Zatanna raises an eyebrow.
Zatanna: You're saying that Grundy somehow absorbed these powers?
Wizard: Indeed. The spirits that control Grundy have latched onto my power.
The Wizard has a concerned look on his face.
Wizard: I fear a mind as wild as his would use these powers without restraint, endangering us all.
Billy looks down in shame.
Billy: This is my fault. I never should have-
Batman looks down at his belt, a small red light blinking.
BEEP. BEEP.
Batman: Hawkman's activated the emergency alert.
He presses his fingers to his cowl.
Batman: Hawkman, report.
Hawkman stands at the Watchtower's monitor, watching the newsfeed of Solomon Grundy rampaging.
Hawkman: I don't know how Batman but the people at STAR Labs just told me that Grundy just broke out of his cell.
Batman (Transmission): Do you have a fix on his location?
He looks at a 3-D image of the Earth, multiple spots being highlighted.
Hawkman: That's where the problem is, he's been spotted in three continents in the space of six minutes.
He looks out to the horizon and sees Solomon Grundy flying towards the Watchtower. He has a confused expression on his face.
Hawkman: What the-
Back at the Rock of Eternity, Batman is alarmed by the transmission cutting off.
Hawkman: He's at the Watchtower! He's- KZZT.
Batman: Hawkman! Hawkman come in!
Batman turns to Doctor Fate and Zatanna.
Batman: Fate, we need you to take us back to the Watchtower.
Billy approaches them.
Billy: I'm coming too.
Batman bars him from coming any closer.
Batman: No. You're grounded.
Billy is surprised.
Billy: But I-
Batman kneels down, scowling.
Batman: You're a liability at the moment. You'll only be getting in the way if you come along.
Billy: But that's not fair!
Batman gives Billy the 'Bat-Glare'.
A saddened Billy sighs in defeat.
Billy: Okay… I'll stay here.
Batman and Zatanna now walk towards the portal opened up by Doctor Fate.
Zatanna turns to Batman, disheartened.
Zatanna: The kid made a mistake; you shouldn't be so hard on him.
Batman: It's important he learns discipline. It's better this way.
Zatanna: Maybe I should be concerned about how you treat the Robins then.
Batman looks back at Zatanna in annoyance.
Batman: We're wasting time. Hawkman needs us.
The three heroes step through the portal, leaving Billy behind.
The Watchtower.
Hawkman swings his mace at Grundy. The zombie dodges the strike easily.
Hawkman then throws his mace but misses.
The mace then ricochets off the wall and begins to return.
Grundy is struck again. He stumbles back.
Hawkman smirks as he catches the mace.
Hawkman: Aw, did that hurt? The Nth metal in my mace disrupts mystical energies. So you can bet there's more where that came from.
Hawkman swings down at Grundy, who catches a surprised Hawkman's wrist.
Grundy smirks as he pulls Hawkman closer.
Grundy: The Nth metal will only harm me if you make contact with me.
He then drives the mace into a computer panel, electrocuting Hawkman.
KZZZZZ.
Hawkman: Gaghh!
Grundy: But it makes an effective conductor.
As Hawkman falls over, Grundy picks up the panel.
He holds it over his head, preparing to crush Hawkman.
Batman, Zatanna and Doctor Fate emerge from the portal, now appearing in the Watchtower.
Zatanna casts a spell, turning the panel into a flock of doves.
Zatanna: Lenap otni sevoD!
POOF.
Batman throws a smoke bomb at the ground.
Batman: Focus on overwhelming him, throw everything you have at him!
Grundy spins around, blowing the smoke away.
FWOOSH.
Doctor Fate blasts Grundy with energy.
Doctor Fate: I can feel his power. He's much stronger than the Solomon Grundy we've fought before!
Grundy is unfazed.
He blasts Doctor Fate with a lightning bolt, knocking him back.
Grundy then backhands Doctor Fate into a wall.
Zatanna gestures towards the zombie as he continues to beat Doctor Fate.
Zatanna: Sniahc dloh mih!
Chains wrap themselves around Grundy's legs and wrists.
They go taught as Grundy rushes towards Zatanna.
Grundy then breaks the chains, the force sending Zatanna back.
He moves towards her, only to be stopped by a Batarang.
Grundy turns around to see Batman standing there, wielding a pair of electric gauntlets.
Batman: Care to dance gruesome?
The Rock of Eternity.
A sulking Billy sits by the Wizard's cauldron.
The Wizard kneels down beside him, holding a book.
Billy: I really messed up big time huh?
Wizard: That's an understatement. As making mistakes go, this tops the list.
Billy looks even more disheartened.
Billy: Oh.
Wizard: But-
Billy looks at the Wizard in confusion.
Wizard: What's important is that you learn from your mistakes.
The Wizard puts his hand on Billy's shoulder.
Wizard: You're a child Billy, a child with super-powers, but still a child. Sometimes I forget that. It's no surprise that you can be care-free and frivolous with your powers now and then. But you still have heart. That's more important than any of the powers I have given you.
Billy looks down.
Billy: I don't know Wizard… Maybe Batman was right. I was being reckless and something bad happened.
The Wizard opens the book.
Wizard: Historama… Show me the Justice League.
It reveals Batman fighting Grundy. He struggles to dodge a punch.
Grundy, on the other-hand, is unfazed by one of Batman's electrified strikes.
The Wizard looks up at Billy, showing him the book.
Wizard: Does it look like Batman's in a position to be concerned with all the details right now?
Billy is shocked to see Grundy winning against the Justice League.
Billy: B-but what am I supposed to do?
The Wizard smiles at him.
Wizard: I have a plan.
Batman vaults over Grundy's shoulder, landing a hit on his back.
Grundy merely shrugs this off.
Grundy: Heh. You don't get it do you Batman.
Batman punches Grundy again to no avail.
Grundy: I'm tougher.
Grundy knocks Batman back.
Grundy: I'm stronger.
Batman: Ugh!
Batman recovers, throwing a Batarang at Grundy.
He swiftly dodges it.
Grundy: I'm faster.
Grundy then appears behind Batman.
Grundy: You?
He reaches out, grabbing Batman by the throat.
Grundy now lifts Batman up at arm's length.
Grundy: You're just a man.
Billy: Hey!
Grundy turns around to see Billy standing before him.
Billy: Pick on someone your own size!
Batman is shocked.
Batman: Billy, no!
Grundy throws Batman to the ground.
Batman: Oof!
Grundy throws his head back in laughter.
Grundy: Ha! That wouldn't possibly be you!
Billy folds his arm.
Billy: It might as well be. You're not that tough. You never could beat the Justice League without my powers could you?
Grundy is irritated by this.
Grundy: Watch it kid… Just because you're insignificant to me doesn't mean I'm above hurting you.
Billy aims a slingshot at his head.
Billy: Uh-huh.
A rock hits Grundy in the eye.
THWACK.
Grundy: Ah! You little brat!
Billy runs away, Grundy begins to chase him.
Billy: Oh no! Somebody help! The big ugly monster is chasing me!
As Grundy nears closer to him, Billy rolls underneath the conference table.
Grundy gets underneath the table but Billy is just out of reach.
Billy smirks at the enraged zombie.
Billy: What's the matter Grundy? Can't handle a little boy?
Grundy: Ignorant child! I'll show you!
Billy backs away in shock as Grundy flips the table.
Grundy: SHAZAM!
Lightning engulfs the two of them.
KRAKA-THOOM.
As the smoke clears, Grundy rubs his eyes in discomfort.
Grundy: Wha-? What happened?
He turns around to see Shazam hovering above him.
Shazam knocks Grundy down to the ground in a single punch.
WHAM!
Shazam: I got my powers back.
A recovered Batman and Hawkman tend to Doctor Fate and Zatanna. The heroes are slightly stunned by the sight before them.
Grundy falls unconscious.
Grundy: Uhh…
Batman helps Zatanna up as Doctor Fate and Hawkman approach Shazam. He smiles at them.
Doctor Fate: It appears order has been restored.
Hawkman: Good job kid.
Shazam: Thanks guys.
Shazam approaches Batman, timidly.
Shazam: You were right Batman, if I can't use my powers responsibly then I shouldn't use them at all.
Batman interrupts Shazam.
Batman: It was stupid to have gone after Grundy like that, you could have been hurt.
Shazam looks dejected.
Shazam: Oh. I-
Batman puts his hand on his shoulder.
Batman: But you ended up doing the right thing. And you learned that might doesn't make right. I'm proud.
Shazam lightens up.
Shazam: Really!? Does this mean I'm no longer grounded?
Batman turns away from a stunned Shazam.
Batman: No.
END.
A/N: Please feel free to review and check out my other works.