Plot Summary

J'onn J'onzz is on Mars, meditating on the fate of the Red Planet and holding a conversation with his brother, Ma'alefa'ak. Though Malefic is dead, during their youth, J'onn and Ma'alefa'ak shared in the Martian rite of G'amal'khul, the exchange of self between loved ones. Centuries later, this aspect of self left behind in J'onn's psyche still persists. They discuss J'onn's relationship with the JLA and the people of Earth, arguing over his assimilation (or lack thereof) into their culture. As the conversation progresses, it is revealed that Malefic has hidden the similar aspects of J'onn's wife and daughter, and has been manipulating J'onn in the real world to trick him into attacking the JLA. J'onn fights to defeat Malefic and save the memory of his family.

In flashbacks we see J'onn encountering Superman before he had come out as an alien and a superhero, and dealing with a xenophobic witch hunt by Lex Luthor, meeting and joining the Justice League, battling Starro with the League, offering relationship advice to Green Arrow, teaming up with the Flash to defeat Weather Wizard, and in Malefic created illusions we see him in conflict with Aquaman and eventually the entire JLA. After defeating Malefic, J'onn retreats into his mind. Zatanna is called in and she allows Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman to enter his mind. Batman convinces him with a Zen parable to return to reality.