All-Star Comics #36

In a quiet 1947 tale from *All-Star Comics #36*, Calvin Stymes gathers his five fraternity brothers at a remote western ranch, where around a crackling campfire he spins the eerie legend of the Koehaha—known as the "Stream of Ruthlessness," a river that flows only once a century. As each man reflects on what he’d do with a criminal nature, the line between memory and transformation begins to blur, and one by one they vanish into the dry bed under the stars.

In "5 Drowned Men! [Introduction]" from All-Star Comics #36 (1947), the Justice Society of America gathers in urgent session as a wave of bizarre, explosive crimes shakes the city—only to find two members missing: the Atom and Johnny Thunder. With Johnny Thunder unable to fight and the Batman just returned from tending to the injured Al Pratt, Superman steps in as a stand-in, while an anonymous letter reveals the perpetrators are five respected professionals. As the JSA splits up to track them down, the mystery deepens with the first clue pointing to a man named Stymes.

In "5 Drowned Men! Chapter 1," Batman tracks down Ed Findley in the quiet town of Zenith, where he’s been guarding Mrs. Ardman’s prized black pearls. When the Grim Marauder strikes, Batman gives chase—only to be captured, then escape to confront Findley at his desk, only to receive a sudden radio call from Wonder Woman ordering him to bring the man back to JSA HQ.

In the snow-laden streets of Snow City, reporter Mat Matwell uncovers a chilling twist at a political rally when a photo of Governor-candidate Rex Gardin with an executed murderer surfaces. As blackmail threatens to derail the campaign, the Flash races to Snow Mountain, only to find himself trapped by the mysterious Mr. X—before turning the tables in a flash. With a psychic summons from Wonder Woman, the Flash must now bring both Mr. X and Mat Matwell back to JSA HQ, where the real danger may have only just begun.

In "5 Drowned Men! Chapter 3," Professor Doty’s discovery of the lost Temple of Tlaloc draws the Black Rider and his gang to the ancient site, setting off a deadly chase. Hawkman arrives too late to stop the ambush, is overpowered, and tied to a sacrifice table—only to escape and pursue the Rider through the jungle. After confronting Archie Erdner in a tense standoff, Hawkman receives a sudden mental call from Wonder Woman, urging him to bring Erdner back to headquarters.

In "5 Drowned Men! Chapter 5," Superman races to Centropolis to stop the enigmatic Wrecker from destroying one of Ben Stanley’s iconic skyscrapers—only to find the building already in ruins, which he swiftly rebuilds. As he confronts the culprit, the architect Stanley, who’s lighting dynamite, the Wrecker and his gang launch an attack, but Superman overpowers them. A sudden mental call from Wonder Woman summons him to report to JSA HQ with his prisoner.

In "5 Drowned Men! Interlude," Superman escorts Stanley to the JSA headquarters at Wonder Woman’s request, joining four others brought in by the team’s members. With the group locked in a room, Wonder Woman reveals they’re all in grave danger—thanks to a discovery Green Lantern made that upended the JSA’s original plans. As the heroes gather around the table, Green Lantern begins recounting his search for the sixth man from the ill-fated hunting party: Calvin Stymes.

In the quiet town of Milville, Green Lantern follows a shadowy figure stealing mail from Calvin Stymes’ mailbox, leading him to a secluded log cabin where he’s knocked unconscious. Waking bound before a fireplace, he listens as Stymes recounts the bitter past that fuels his hatred for five drowned men—each memory a wound etched in silence and grief. With the weight of the story settled, Green Lantern uses his ring to melt the shotgun and break free, just as Stymes vanishes into the woods, leaving only a trail for Hawkman to follow.

In "5 Drowned Men! Conclusion," the Justice Society of America races against time to stop Stymes, who’s hunting down five escaped men linked to a deadly past. With Wonder Woman leading the charge and the Power Ring guiding them to Koehaha, the team faces a final, explosive confrontation that reshapes the land itself.