Episode 74: Gods and Mortals
Takes place 22 November-9 December 2011.
Short version
The Justice League attacks the gang holding Amon Tomaz hostage, and frees him from Anti-Life exposure; with him back, Adom and Adrianna are married, and Paul tracks down some of Adom's old friends as a present.
Longer version
Mammon provides Paul with the location of a number of souls exposed to Anti-Life, and the Justice League assaults the place, defeating and capturing a New God known as The Key. The prisoners include Adrianna Tomaz's brother Amon, whose soul has been badly damaged by the exposure; to aid in his healing, Adrianna activates the Amulet of Isis that Teth Adom gave her, transforming her into an avatar of the goddess, and Adom shares his own borrowed power with Amon. Amon gains a superpowered form similar to Adom's, and recovers.
With Adom and Adrianna's wedding now being scheduled, Paul seeks to locate Adom's old friends as a wedding gift. The original Hawkman and Hawkwoman have been reincarnated many times with the loss of their memories, but following a lead, Paul is able to restore their memories by showing them a dagger that was used to kill their former selves. He also visits the magically sealed country of Jarhanpur, with help from Dr Mist (who was checking on all magically hidden spaces in case of further incursions from Apokolips); Lord Rama Khan is overjoyed to hear that Adom is alive again, and although he has duties that make him unable to leave Jarhanpur, he arranges for a magical avatar to attend the wedding.
Paul's visit to Jarhanpur has side effects, however; a woman named Ailani, who had been staying in Jarhanpur, takes the opportunity to flee through his exit portal, with her young son in tow. The son had been chosen by the land as its next ruler, but as a fundamentalist Muslim, she hates magic and refuses to let him participate, which puts the country at risk of collapse. Wonder Woman and Paul help to negotiate a truce between Ailani and Rama Khan, keeping the boy in Jarhanpur until he has learned enough to stabilise the land, but allowing him to make his own choices after that, and providing Muslim tutors.
The Renegade frees the original Roy Harper from cryogenic suspension, and encounters Jade, giving her the presidential pardon that she previously missed.
The title likely refers to the transformations of Adrianna and Amon Tomaz, as well as the dispute between Lord Rama Khan and Ailani.
- Alternate Universe: The end of this episode includes a glimpse of an alternative timeline where Alan Scott remained active as Green Lantern, leading to him meeting Jade as a teenager and taking her on as an apprentice.
- Band of Brothers: Rama Khan explains his friendship with Teth Adom to Adrianna at their wedding."Millennia ago, a great evil arose who would have burned the entire world to ash. His followers acted against many peoples, and those of us who overcame them formed an alliance to slay the monster and exterminate his devotees to ensure that he could never rise again. And in the fires of that conflict we formed a lasting friendship, which bound us together in a hundred battles against the greatest monstrosities this world has ever known."
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: More literally than usual. In preparation for an attack on a location containing Anti-Life, Alan and Paul channel blue and orange light (hope and avarice) into the assault team, strengthening them to resist the nullifying, soul-crushing effect of the Anti-Life.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: Amon is upset by the Bialyans' angry and defiant reaction to the Kahndaqi aid mission, which brings food and shelter and yet people spit in their faces. Adom gently points out that they did not come to be praised, only to help.Adom: The work of a warrior or hero or leader is far more thankless than you know. You will meet many such as him.
- Final Solution: Grayven attacks the Psions' home world and exterminates all of them except young children, whom he takes away to be reeducated by the Maltusians.
- Innocently Insensitive: Superman is actually pleased to find someone who doesn't recognise him — and then he learns why.Superman: Your parents not big on television?
Amon: I don't remember. The people who controlled the Intergang slave factory where I worked for as long as I remember did not play television for the labourers. - Magic Eater: Paul discovers this ability in consultation with his Atlantean contact Professor Sephtian.
- Reincarnation Romance: Carter and Shiera Hall keep reincarnating over and over. Normally they don't really remember their past lives, but they feel like they know each other when they meet.
- Rousing Speech: When Paul and Alan are empowering the League to resist the effects of Anti-Life, and Alan is struggling, Paul stirs him up by reminding him of the prisoners who are about to be freed and how the League doesn't let the bad guys win. Justified since Alan's ring is literally powered by hope.
- Super Mode:
- Adrianna Tomaz uses the Amulet of Isis for the first time, becoming taller, healthier, and *ahem* more womanly, as well as gaining relevant powers - flight, healing, weather control, etc.
- Teth Adom shares his power with Amon Tomaz in order to help Amon overcome Anti-Life damage, as well as because Amon is to be his brother-in-law.
- The Needs of the Many: Wonder Woman reluctantly decides that a young boy and his mother can be required to stay in Jarhanpur, after the boy is chosen by the land's magic as its next ruler. If he leaves, the whole country would become uninhabitable, and the mother only wanted to leave because she was convinced that all magic is demonic.
- The Power of Hate: In the Renegade timeline, the Sheeda Huntsman was able to destroy the Sivana family's Venus residence, killing most of them, and Doctor Sivana senior is now out for blood, although circumstances force him to be patient. Grayven was recruited with an offer even a New God couldn't refuse, although he was quite willing to fight the Sheeda anyway.
- The Power of Language: When Paul recognises a rampaging earth elemental in India, he knows that his mage slayer bullets won't be enough.Paul: I'm afraid this is the time for reasoned discussion between intelligent adults.
