WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Justice League #37, by Scott Snyder, Jorge Jimenez, Alejandro Sanchez and Tom Napolitano, on sale now.
The Justice League has been waging a desperate battle against Apex Predator Lex Luthor and his Legion of Doom. The supervillains have worked for months to awaken Perpetua, the Mother of the Multiverse, and restore her to her full powers. Now, planets, and entire universes, have been destroyed in the wake of the celestial being, and with the cosmic scales tipped toward doom, the League must push them in the favor of justice if there is any hope of saving reality.
Unfortunately, the heroes aren't close to a win yet. While the Legion of Doom has assembled a dangerous army, some members of the League are still scattered. Most of the superheroes are battling on the frontlines, but Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, the Monitor and the World Forger are still trapped on the edge of the universe. Hawkgirl is the only hope the League has of defeating Perpetua, but she is too far away to use the powers contained inside her wings. But, finally, in Justice League #37, the League comes back together. However, it comes at the cost of one of their own.
Although the Anti-Monitor had first chosen to side with justice and the League, the supervillain betrayed his two brothers (the Monitor and the World Forger) to once again fight alongside their Mother. Hawkgirl and her son are now at the mercy of the Anti-Monitor, but John Stewart's surprise arrival is enough to free the Monitor and the World Forger from the supervillain's hold. Realizing he is now outnumbered, the Anti-Monitor asks for help from Perpetua, who is several universes away. But still, she hears him, and she sends help... in the form of a planet, hurled directly at the superheroes.
With their powers too weak, the Monitor and the World Forger are unable to open a portal that would allow them to escape and join the fight alongside the rest of the League. However, the World Forger sees an opportunity: He can help the others depart if he stays behind. With his powerful cosmic hammer, the Forger can strike at the oncoming planet with a blow that will open a gateway for a few seconds.
The others object, but the Forger explains that, in his short stint as a member of the League, the heroes have taught him the value of life, and the necessary cost of victory. With a firm grasp on his signature weapon, the World Forger heroically stands his ground and strikes at the planet coming for them. As predicted, the explosion opens a portal through which the others can escape -- but the Forger is, presumably, no more.
The World Forger may not be a long-standing Justice League member, but he did join the team before the start of the Justice/Doom War. His power helped make a world of difference, and now his sacrifice may be what, ultimately, leads the League to victory.
Justice League #37 is available now.