Germany, 1943:
Hans Von Hammer was a legend among the people of Germany. During the first world war, he was known to his foes as the Enemy Ace, and to his own people as "The Hammer of Hell." He had shot down more English planes than any other pilot in the country. His feud with the young American ace known as Airboy was a conflict of mythic proportions. He had dozens of medals for valor, some given to him personally by the Kaiser. Now, fifteen years later, he was an icon.
A retired icon. After WWI had been lost, his career as a fighter pilot ended. He taught for a while but eventually retired to a quiet life with his wife. He was often approached by admirers who wanted to hear about his adventures or learn his tricks of the trade. But he was getting older now and had children. He no longer wanted to be a part of the violence and danger that had defined his early years. Also, he wasn't particularly fond of the new ruling party, the Nazis. They lacked the sense of honor that Von Hammer felt had once made the Luftwaffe a noble organization, like modern knights. He didn't want anything to do with the Nazis. He simply wanted to enjoy his time with his family. He was no longer the Enemy Ace, or "The Hammer of Hell." He was just a middle aged man named Hans Von Hammer.
That was why he was so surprised to be summoned by the Fuhrer himself. Adolf Hitler had sent an "invitation" - which was really an order - for Von Hammer to report to Military Command. Reluctantly, Von Hammer obeyed and headed out the next morning for a meeting with Gen. Victor Vogel, head of Covert Special Missions and Technologies for the German government.
A car picked Von Hammer up and drove him to the base. He was quickly escorted inside and treated with much reverence and hero-worship from the young soldiers he encountered. He was shown into Gen. Vogel's office where the General was eagerly awaiting him. The General shook Von Hammer's hand enthusiastically.
"Herr Von Hammer, so nice to make your acquaintance," the General said. "Your reputation precedes you. I've heard about the 'Hammer of Hell' for years. I've always had a great admiration for you."
Von Hammer was not sure if he really wanted the admiration of a Nazi. "Thank you," he said, halfheartedly.
"Please come with me for a walk, Herr Von Hammer," the General said. "I have something I want to show you."
Von Hammer nodded his agreement and they began walking through the corridors of the base.
"You may be aware," the General began, "that a new component has entered this war. Something that didn't exist during the last war: Super-beings! The Americans have the Justice Society, and the British have the Crusader Knights. From the sea we have the being known as the Sub-Mariner. There is a Canadian known as Weapon X, and I believe that the French now have their own superhuman. The Fuhrer is very worried about these beings. True we have our own supermen, but so far they have been disappointing in their performance. They have not yet destroyed any of the enemy supermen. The war is going well for us just now but the Fuhrer believes that these beings could help the Allied forces to turn the tide. They must be dealt with. Eliminated for the good of the Third Reich."
Von Hammer listened to every word, as he also looked around the base, noticing the frantic activity going on around him. "That would be the logical step if the Reich is to survive," Von Hammer said.
"Exactly," General Vogel said. "And for a time, we were stumped for a means to do this. But recently, the means fell into our laps."
Von Hammer was curious now. "And that is?"
The two men reached a pair of large doors. The General signaled for the doors to be opened. Beyond them was a large hanger. And in the center of the hanger was some sort of ship.
It was nothing like any ship that Hans Von Hammer had ever seen before. And the "Hammer of Hell" had flown every type of aircraft in his day. But this was something completely new and unfamiliar. It was round, like a saucer.
"What is it?" Von Hammer asked.
"That," the General said, smiling, "is our salvation."
Von Hammer walked around it, studying it with awe and fascination. "I've never seen it's like before."
"No one has," the General pointed out. "We don't think it's from this world."
Von Hammer stared in shock. "An alien ship? Is such a thing possible?"
"The proof is before you, Herr Von Hammer," General Vogel said. "It fell out of the sky six months ago. We've been studying it ever since. We've had some of our most brilliant men on it, such as Heinrich Zemo. It took them months to understand how the controls work. The power supply is some type of gelatinous substance. We've tried to analyze it but it defies categorization. The metal hull is equally mysterious, and we can't even break a piece off for examination. It seems to be indestructible. And the weapons . . . "
"Why did it crash?" Von Hammer wanted to know.
"We believe it was pilot error. Perhaps some sort of gravitational anomaly threw it off course and the pilot panicked, causing it to crash here."
"Where is the pilot?"
"Dissected," the General replied. "We found him - it - crawling out of the hatch when we arrived at the crash site. He had been shaken up by the crash. He was probably coming outside to see what the damage was. The hull, amazingly, was hardly scratched. Once we got him out of the way, we learned all there was to learn about the ship. The technology is incredible. And the weapons! It emits some sort of heat beam or light ray that can blow the side off of a mountain. We know, we've tested it."
"You've taken it for a test run already?" Von Hammer asked.
"Yes, and it's as quick as it is deadly. The speed makes it very difficult for anyone to handle, because no one has ever flown at such speeds before. The problem is that most of our pilots are young. They lack the finesse and the experience to utilize a machine like this to it's maximum potential. We don't want to waste this opportunity by handing the ultimate weapon over to a pilot who is unworthy. We need someone special. We need the ace of aces, the finest pilot in the world. We need the 'Hammer of Hell!'"
Von Hammer had already guessed where this conversation was going, but was still stunned when he actually heard the words.
"The Fuhrer requested you personally," General Vogel said. "Your country needs you. You can destroy the superman who threaten the victory of the Third Reich. You and this magnificent ship."
Von Hammer looked at the saucer ship. What should he say? He didn't want to be a warrior anymore and he didn't like the Nazis. But at his heart, Hans Von Hammer was a patriot. He loved Germany and didn't want to see it fall to the allied forces and their supermen. And the challenge of flying a ship like this was quite exciting. And on top of all that was the fact that the Fuhrer would not take kindly to any refusal.
"Well, what do you say, Herr Von Hammer?"
"You can teach me how to fly it?"
"We can. It's controls are remarkably simple to operate once you understand the principal. Lesser pilots than you have flown it. So, will you do it?"
Hans Von Hammer was silent for a few moments, and then . . .
"Yes. I'll do it. The ‘Enemy Ace' will fly again."
Over the next few days, Hans Von Hammer was taught how to use the alien ship. The ship itself was christened the "Hammer of Hell" in tribute to its pilot. Von Hammer took the "Hammer of Hell" on a few tests flights, and he quickly mastered it's use. The German high command was overjoyed at the speed in which Von Hammer had learned to control the deadly vessel. The Fuhrer was extremely happy with the daily reports we was getting on the progress of the project. Everything was working perfectly for the Nazis and it seemed as though they would soon be rid of the superbeings who had plagued them.
The day of the launch of the Nazi warcraft "Hammer of Hell" arrived. Hans Von Hammer was in a private room in the base. He had put on his old flying outfit from the first world war. He felt that it brought him luck. He sat silently, mentally preparing himself for this mission which would change the world.
The door swung open and a gestapo officer came in.
"It's customary to knock before entering," Von Hammer said.
"Be quiet," the Nazi responded. "Speak only when you're spoken to. I have serious matters to discuss with you."
"Such as?"
"Such as your refusal to join the Nazi party. The Third Reich has given you control over the ultimate weapon. But we have reason to doubt your loyalty."
"Then why did you choose me for this mission?"
"The Fuhrer was . . . impulsive. He was impressed by your legend. But we of the gestapo have spoken to him and convinced him that you are a security risk. Look at you. You won't even wear a Nazi uniform. Your allegiance is to the old guard. The former administration which heaped so much honor upon you still holds your heart and your loyalty. We've made some inquiries and found that you have been vocally critical of the Fuhrer and the party. Someone like you is not to be trusted."
"Fine!" Von Hammer said angrily. "Get someone else to fly the mission. I don't care. You came to me, I didn't come to you. I didn't ask for this."
"Not so fast, Von Hammer," the Nazi yelled. "The Fuhrer may have been careless in overlooking your lack of loyalty but he was right about your talent. Everyone knows that you are the finest pilot in the world. No one else but you could fly this craft so well."
Von Hammer was getting confused. "What exactly do you want? Am I piloting the ship or am I not?"
"You are. You will bring glory to the Third Reich. And I am here to make sure that you do. To remind you of your family!"
"My family!" Von Hammer repeated, nervous and furious. "What do you mean?"
"They will be our . . . guests, for the duration of your mission. If you should decide to . . . alter the plan in any way, your wife and children will suffer! If you obey orders, they will be fine and released upon your return."
Von Hammer wanted to throttle the life out of this evil scum, but he knew that he would only end up in front of a firing squad. "There is no need . . . "
"There is a need, Von Hammer! Your family is our insurance for your loyalty on this and on future missions."
"Future missions?" Von Hammer repeated, dismayed.
"You will serve the Third Reich for as long as we need you," the gestapo officer ordered, "and your family will be held during each mission. Is this in any way unclear, Von Hammer?"
Von Hammer bit his lip and controlled his rage. "It's perfectly clear."
"Excellent. Then I wish you well on your mission. For the glory of the Third Reich. Heil Hitler!"
The Nazi left, leaving the "Hammer of Hell" burning with all the fury of Hell!
Von Hammer took his place in the cockpit of the "Hammer of Hell." The countdown finished and the ship lifted off. The Enemy Ace headed towards the United States.
Inside the ship, Von Hammer thought over his situation. He had become a slave of the Nazi party. He was right when he said that they had no honor but he had no idea how ruthless they could be to one of their own, until now! He would not let these fiends control the rest of his life. The Enemy Ace, the "Hammer of Hell" would not become anyone's pawn. Nor would he allow his family to constantly be endangered. He couldn't allow his wife, and especially not his children to be taken into custody again and again, every time the Nazis decided they wanted him to obey. And if some Nazi decided that Von Hammer was not doing as he was told, his wife and two sons would die for nothing.
Hans Von Hammer had been a warrior. He never allowed anyone to bully him or manipulate him or control him in any way. He would not begin allowing that to happen now. Not to him or his family.
There was only one way to stop this. He couldn't go with the Nazis, but if he defected or refused, his family would be killed. He saw only one way out.
The alien ship arrived at it's objective. The Nazis had allowed a fake message to leak out that one of their supermen would be at a rendezvous with a spy. As expected, the U.S. government sent some of their own superbeings to the site.
The alien ship hovered over the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, several miles off the coast of New England. On the monitor screen, Von Hammer could see who the Americans had sent. One was a muscular man with pointed ears and wings on his heels. The other was a beautiful woman in red-white-blue garb, wearing sandals with wings on the heels.
Wonder Woman and the Sub-Mariner, two of the most powerful members of the Justice Society.
Von Hammer pressed a button and fired a token shot at the JSA members. He missed on purpose. His two opponents attacked his ship. They could barely dent the impervious hull of the ship and Von Hammer could quite possibly have killed them both. But he was no longer here for that purpose. He was now here to win freedom for himself and his family, the only way he could.
Von Hammer folded his arms and did nothing as the ship was assaulted. He allowed himself to be battered. Then he reached for the self-destruct button. He hit the button and the ten-second countdown began.
Now that the ship had been hit enough times, the explosion would appear to be a result of the damage that Wonder Woman and the Sub-Mariner inflicted on it. They would return to the U.S. and report that. When the Nazis inevitably got wind of that report, they could only assume that the JSA was too powerful even for the ship and destroyed it. Von Hammer would be remembered as a hero who died for the glory of the Third Reich. And naturally, the widow and children of a national hero would be released and treated well for the rest of their lives. He would never see them again, but just knowing that they would be safe was enough for him.
And so the Enemy Ace, Hans Von Hammer, the "Hammer of Hell," resigned himself to his fate. He watched the countdown. 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . .
"Goodbye, my love. Goodbye kids. Think well of me. In the end, I was thinking only of you."
. . . 1!
Explosion! The ship and Hans Von Hammer were both gone. Both Hammers of Hell now existed only in legend.
Next issue: The JSA faces their most dangerous foe -- one of their own!