The issue opens in a mysterious building in Philadelphia, where the Black Condor's grandfather 
Creighton Kendall reviews surveillance videos of Condor and Ned Smith. Now that he knows where Condor has fled to, he can make arrangements to retrieve him. 
 
However, Crighton does not realize that Black Condor is perched on the top of his building, listening in on their conversation with his enhanced senses. Now that Condor knows the hunt is on, he works on a plan to stay one step ahead of them.
 
Condor is interrupted, however, by Miles Lydecker. Lydecker was once known as the Sky Pirate, and used his hyper-sonic flight technology to rob airplanes in mid-flight. Lydecker has come out of retirement and revived the Sky Pirate identity to confront his arch-enemy, Lawrence Carbo. 
 
Sky Pirate's use of hyper-sonic technology triggers Condor's enhanced senses, causing him pain. Condor tracks down the source of the sonics, and intercepts the Sky Pirate. The two duel in the air above Philadelphia, and Sky Pirate shoots the Condor out of the air, sending him plunging towards the Delaware River.