If you love Smallville, chances are you loved "Absolute Justice"--after all, Geoff Johns' Justice Society of America brought to life along with our usual band of merry men (and women)? What's not to love? Absolutely nothing...

Unless you are Chloe, leaving Clark message number one too many--until her cell scrambles, the street goes dark and she comes face to face with a strange man wearing a star-spangled shirt and carrying one monster glowstick. Sylvester Pemberton barely introduces himself and identifies Chloe as Watchtower before the temperature plummets 40° and Chloe discovers the merits of dumpster diving. As she struggles to escape, lights flash, snow flies and a gigantic icicle penetrates the metal surrounding her. The world silences once more and Chloe emerges, but Sylvester lies on the ground frostbitten and pierced through. Before he dies, he warns her: "They came after us, they'll come after all of you. Check..."

Are you hooked yet?

At the hospital, Clark encounters a young woman obviously distraught over Sylvester's death, but she bolts the second she notices his press pass. Meanwhile, Chloe learns her mysterious stalker's cause of death: ice. She sends Clark after the recipient of Sylvester's last phone call--one Wesley Dodds. Chloe then identifes our blond cheerleader as Courtney Whitmore and calls on Oliver, requesting he retrieve Sylvester's staff from police lock-up.

Elsewhere a man wakens from a dream of Sylvester battling a faux-hawked young man bearing ice. Our dreamer dons a gas mask and trenchcoat as the same icy young man appears behind him. Clark arrives too late and discovers Wesley Dodds, alias Sandman, a victim of the same fate as Sylvester Pemberton. The only difference? Dodds left a bloody calling card: JSA.

Following this clue, Clark and Chloe raid the Daily Planet archives for details on the mystery men and discover a team of supposed criminals including Sylvester Pemberton, Wesley Dodds, Terry Sloane, Kent Nelson, Al Pratt, Ted Grant, Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, Abigail Hunkel and Carter Hall. Clark notes with admiration the loyalty that bound these individuals, while Chloe orders him after Carter Hall--another significant name on Pemberton's call list.

Across town, Clark enters a museum whose displays stand hidden under plastic and sheets. He encounters Carter Hall, who remains cold and aloof despite learning of the deaths of Pemberton and Dodds. He refuses cooperation and orders Clark away, but not before our mild-mannered reporter notices Kent Nelson huddled on a bench murmuring incoherently and clutching a bowling bag--which holds a helmet that turns and stares right at Clark.

Oliver encounters Courtney Whitmore on the street--carrying Pemberton's golden rod. When he confronts her, she turns on him, Nelson Kent appears from nowhere and the pair disappear in a flash of light. Chloe joins Oliver and together the duo examine Pemberton's car for clues, discovering a book containing the names and secret identities of their entire band--the Blur, Watchtower, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary, Aquaman...You get the idea.

Meanwhile the opposing team gathers and reclaims their own secret identities--Nelson donning the helmet of Nabu as Doctor Fate once again and Carter taking up the mace of Hawkman.

Playing detective, Chloe discovers one Joar Mahkent, alias Icicle. (Anyone else wondering when the name Kent became so popular--Clark, Nelson, now our villain? Seriously?) Entering the psych ward where Mahkent lies a vegetable, Clark and Chloe meet Doctor Fate. The Doctor declares, "You are of value Clark Kent. But you, you walk the same path as I do Chloe Sullivan." Then he and Clark disappear within another flash of light.

Chloe calls Oliver, who found Courtney--all dolled up as Stargirl and playing bait. Ollie confronts her again, but a blast of ice flattens him from behind. Cue one incredibly COOL battle! (Pun intended.) Definitely the realization of a page from a comic book--or should I say graphic novel? And just when Courtney appears doomed, Green Arrow shatters Icicle's frozen projectiles with his own titanium missiles. His reward for saving the day? Hawkman swoops down, yanks him into the sky and deposits him in Watchtower--straight through one of the massive stained-glass windows. Ouch!

Clark wakens on the floor of the museum alone. Uncovering the displays, he discovers iconic mementos of the former members of the JSA. (If you are curious, the portrait features Star-Spangled Kid, Wildcat, Atom, Sandman, Spectre, Flash, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Doctor Fate, Green Lantern, Hourman, Doctor Mid-Nite, Red Tornado and Mister Terrific.) The real-life versions of Hawkman, Doctor Fate and Stargirl arrive--but Oliver interrupts and confronts Hawkman, just as John Jones enters with a plea all his own: "I hope it's not too late to say we come in peace."

So are you loving the Justice Society of America? Wondering what "Check..." means? The answers cometh--but with additional questions attached of course--in part two... so stay tuned.