Grant Emerson the illegitimate son of Al Pratt reminisces about his biological father Al Pratt the World War II Atom. Emerson recounts that unlike most he considers his powers that he inherited from his father a curse rather than a blessing. Emerson feels abandoned in that his biological father never knew about him and Emerson had to suffer at the hands of his foster family. When Emerson later developed his own powers, his powers were uncontrollable to the point he destroyed a portion of Atlanta, Georgia and even deformed his own face. The reason Emerson wears the mask is not, as many assume, a homage to Pratt but rather a concealment of his disfigurement.

Emerson is broken from his memories when Gog I re-emerges from his own imprisonment. After watching Gog I revive and disintegrate William Matthews, Emerson and the roster of the Justice Society of America and its associates who were teleported to Africa attempt to communicate with the sixty foot being. Mister Terrific analyzes the situation and tries the most direct manner but is ignored. Refusing to accept Gog as an actual god, the Earth-22 Superman and Markus Clay try a more emotional communication which succeeds in gathering Gog I's attention and response. However, Gog I turns his attention to the distant community of evacuees of the city of Goma who fled the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo. With the water poisoned by the eruption and the resultant carbon dioxide, methane and other toxins, the evacuees are all dying. Gog I chooses to save the villagers with his powers. But several of the Justice Society press Gog I further. The Earth-22 Superman inquires to which source Earth Gog I comes from and is rebuffed by Gog I stating "You speak of William Matthews. You speak of something wicked." He goes on to recount his own past as being "from Paradise. A paradise know as the Third World." Gog I recounts that the old gods destroyed the peace of Third World and refused to take a side in the battle. As he refused to take sides he was rejected by both and "cast out" and "fell for an eternity. Though the inverted pyramids of parallel worlds." He impacted on Earth near death and was entombed on earth during its volcanic era and was entombed in solid rock for eons being found by primitive humans who were able to fashion a power rod that was able to tap into Gog I's own powers. He was abandoned and forgotten over the years until William Matthews entered Gog I's temple. Taking the staff he accessed Gog I's own memories and was overwhelmed by the massive amount of information and visions of alternate realities including that of Earth-22 and its parallels including the one where Magog has killed Superman many different times. The awareness drove Matthews mad. Gog I recounts that despite Matthews taking Gog's own name as his own "William Matthews was NOT doing my bidding. War is not my way."

Emerson rejects Gog I's statements fearing that he is lying and is a villain. Sensing the conflict and anger in Emerson, Gog I decides to eliminate Emerson's pain. Gog I bluntly fixes Emerson's face and states "I made him good again. Who is next?"

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