JLA Watchtower (Archive)

Johnny Sorrow stood just outside the gates of Blackgate Penitentiary, waiting for the appointed hour to begin the first stage of his plan.   He pulled out an antique pocket-watch from his pant pocket and checked the time. 11:58 p.m.

"Two minutes to showtime," Sorrow said to himself with a light chuckle.

It was ironic that it would begin in this city, the same city in which he attempted to acquire the "Le Fin Absolue du Monde".   Which he would have, if not for certain thief with an unhealthy fascination with cats. Sorrow pushed away his annoyance.  That would be settled later.

Sorrow took a final glance at his watch. "Here we go."

Sorrow then walked directly into the searchlight of one of the guard towers.  He ignored the surprised exclamations of the security guards as he phased through the security gates and into the courtyard.

"Freeze freak-show!" Yelled a security guard pointing gun at him. "We've got you surrounded! Put yours hands on your head,now! Don't make us kill you!"

Sorrow looked around and noticed that he was indeed surrounded.  He would have smiled if he had lips.

"Impressive response time, gentlemen." Johnny Sorrow said as he applauded the confused guardsmen. "However I'm on a schedule and would rather not be delayed. You need to ask yourselves if the rabble within those walls are worth your lives."

Sorrow took another step.

"I'm warning you!" The guard shouted. "Put your hands on your head or we will fire!"

Johnny merely beckoned one hand towards himself. "Be my guest."

"Put him down!"

Johnny Sorrow just chuckled as he willed his body to become intangible as the bullets went through him, and into the guards.

"What the hell! Cease fi.." The guard began to say before a bullet went through his chest.

Sorrow could only chuckle as he walked past the corpses. "Now that was downright comical."

He phased through the front door of the penitentiary, where more alert guards waited.   Sorrow phased before the first shot was fired as a squad of security guards fired upon him.   He could hear their cries of frustration over the gunfire.

"It's no use, they're going right through him!"

"What the hell do you expect me to do!?"

Sorrow was now directly in front of the petrified guards, who now realized their guns were useless.

"The answer is simple, die. "Sorrow stated as he removed his mask.   He didn't bother to stay and watch, but he could hear the screams as he continued his trek through the prison.  One after another guards came at him, and died.  The power of his accursed face could kill nearly any living being with just a glance.   Needless to say, the corridors were littered with bodies.  All with blood coming from their eyes as some guards were still in the process of trying to claw them out.

He had only been paying partial attention as he entered the Prison Wing.  Various prisoners hooted and cheered, obviously expecting a prison break.

"Stop! Stop immediately!" Came a imperious voice, a older man in a suit. He in turn was was accompanied by by several more guards.

"Ah, you must be the warden of this fine institution." Johnny Sorrow said with a small bow.  "I have but one favor to ask and we can end this nasty business.  I would like the security codes to release these fine gentlemen no doubt unjustly imprisoned by the legal system."

"Yeah, give him the codes old man!" Cried a particularly exuberant prisoner.

"And why on God's green earth would I do that?" The warden asked indignantly.

Sorrow just laughed and looked at the first row of prisoners. "This is why..." With that Sorrow pulled off his mask and the prisoners cried in absolute horror.

"Sweet, merciful Christ!"

"Shoot him, shoot him dammit!"

Before the guards could follow the warden's orders, Sorrow turned his face on them.   The Warden had ducked to the floor in panic, but the guards were not so fortunate.   Sorrow calmly stepped over the bodies of the guardsmen with his mask back in place.  He looked down at the warden who he beckoned to stand up.

"Please, for God's sake, please don't kill me," the man pleaded, sobbing.

"The codes if you will," Sorrow said no longer in the mood for stalling.   The warden reluctantly handed Sorrow a key-card, which he promptly put through the main lock.   As cell doors opened, frightened prisoners looked at the bodies of their dead fellows.   Sorrow then spoke to them in a cold voice. "Leave this place. If you don't, I'll kill you.  If you allow the police to bring you back, I will Kill you.   If you allow any so called superhero to bring you back, I will kill you.  Now, run."

They ran as if the devil himself was chasing after them.   Sorrow chuckled to himself as he checked his watch. "Right on time.   My associates should be carrying out their own errand right now.   Sorry Warden, but it's your turn."

"No please, I helped you.  Please, I have a wife and children. I beg you!"

The words caused involuntary memories to go through Johnny's head.  Memories of a beautiful woman who had accepted his proposal of marriage.  A woman who stuck by him as his career was destroyed. A woman he became a criminal in order to provide for.  Things were hard, but he was happy. Until a boy playing at being a hero caused his body to be torn apart transporting him to a realm of Lovecraftian horror.   He made a bargain with a powerful entity so that he could return home, to her.   As he entered the house to hold her in his arms again, she saw his new face.  That image of horror was burnt into what passed for his mind now.

He looked at the warden, a snarl passing nonexistent lips.   He made his body intangible and stuck his arm through the man's chest.

"Everyone loses something." Then Sorrow solidified his body.  Sorrow ignored the screams as death no longer had any effect on him psychologically. Now he would wait.  His men would need time to steal the "package" he requested.  This would be a suitable distraction.  He knew the masked community could not ignore what was happening.  He'd be waiting for them.