Snapper Carr, the mascot of the Justice League of America, is attacked by three men, for his association with super-heroes. John Dough, regarded as the most ordinary man in America, comes to Carr's aid. The Green Arrow trains the Black Canary in mastering her newfound sonic scream. Carr activates his emergency signal, drawing the Batman, and the Atom, to his aid. It quickly becomes apparent that Carr has led the Batman, and the Atom, into a trap. Carr, and Dough, subdue the Batman, and the Atom. The Batman revives, bound, within a steel safe.

Television monitors, and an oxygen mask, have been provided. The former for the Batman to watch what Dough has in store for the rest of the Justice League of America. The latter to keep the Batman alive, once the safe is flooded with poison gas. The Atom calls an emergency meeting of the Justice League of America, to reports Carr's betrayal. Dough, disguised as the Batman, arrives, and passes out tickets to Dough's upcoming Rally. "The Batman" is taken aback by the presence of the Black Canary. As her membership has not yet been formally announced, Dough had no way of knowing she would be present, and thus, has not brought a ticket for her.

The Black Canary is forced to attend the rally, as a mere member of the audience, while the Justice League of America take the center stage, as Dough's guests of honor. Carr takes the stage, on Dough's behalf, to argue against the notion of super-heroes. Dough bathes the crowd in a mild radiation designed to agitate them. Three men attack the Black Canary, for being too beautiful. The Flash intervenes, but loses control of his super-human speed. In the midst of a full-blown riot, the Justice League of America find themselves incapable of bringing their powers to bear. With police sirens blaring in the distance, the Justice League of America flee the scene.

The Batman escapes his confinement, by crafting a makeshift explosive, using his oxygen tank, and wiring from the television monitor. "The Batman" addresses a special senate subcommittee, to argue against the need for super-heroes. The Batman unmasks 'the Batman", revealing Dough. To cover his escape, Dough hurls an incendiary device at the subcommittee. While Superman and the Green Lantern deal with the fire, the Green Arrow apprehends Carr. The Flash reveals to Carr how Dough incapacitated the Justice League of America, with rigged tickets that shorted out their nervous systems. Carr confesses that he had grown weary of his association with the team overshadowing himself as a person.

Carr, also, to some degree, actually agrees with Dough's message. Super-heroes have marginalized the common man. The Green Arrow sets Carr straight. The Justice League of America return to the Secret Sanctuary, to find Dough awaiting them. Dough fells Superman with a kryptonite laser, taken from the team's trophy room. As the Man of Steel falls, he takes the Green Lantern with him, and stuns the Flash. The Black Canary and the Batman subdue Dough. The Batman reveals Dough's true identity, that of the Joker. With the location of the Secret Sanctuary compromised, the Justice League of America must establish a new headquarters.