Episode 73: Retribution
Takes place 14-21 November 2011.
Short version
Paul leads an expedition into Hell and captures Satanus, replacing him with a mind-altered Mammon, but is infused with demon magic and almost switches sides until Jade frees him.
Longer version
Lantern Stewart sprays the areas where Nam-Ek rampaged with a bacteriophage to kill the disease he unleashed, with Paul using the Medusa Mask to boost his concentration and help him form larger constructs. The Green Lantern Corps collects the Mask for further use.
Paul then encounters representatives of The Congregation while in Gotham, and learns that they're a new hero team, empowered by the Silver City and open to any monotheist. Batman is concerned by his lack of knowledge about them, but willing to take a hands-off approach until he knows more.
Paul then plans and leads an expedition into Hell, alongside Ambrose, Jade, and Euanthe, to check on Satanus and hinder his run of interference with the world. However, once in Hell, Paul's magic-absorbing tattoos cause him to draw in a large part of Mammon's soul, altering his attitude and priorities to be more demonic.
Satanus captures Paul, reveals that he has altered Limbo to run on magic stolen from the Silver City instead of relying on tortured souls, and invites Paul to work for him. Demon-influenced Paul is inclined to accept, but his allies interrupt their conversation, drive Satanus away, and cleanse the demonic magic from Paul's soul. Before they leave, he brands Mammon and alters his values to make him take over Satanus' reform project, since it's making Hell slightly less awful. Satanus is captured off-screen, as a part of a scheme Paul and the League set up to catch him in the act and finally arrest him.
The title refers to Paul's attempt to retaliate against Satanus for his many attacks on Earth.
- Action Girl: Renegade Komand'r and Koriand'r led most of the Renegade's campaign to purge the Vega Systems, and Komand'r personally took the head of one of the pirate leaders after he kept killing the men who attacked him.
- Brainwashing for the Greater Good: When Mammon refuses to take on Satanus' cthonic renewal project, Paul rewrites his desires to make him want to.
- Deprogram: Jade fixes Paul up from his demon experience — by shooting him with the Ace of Winchesters, which burns away the demonic magic he's absorbed.
- Emotion Control: Normally, branding is temporary, but in this case, Paul makes permanent changes to Mammon's outlook, making him more ambitious instead of just being The Collector.
- Hope Spot: A fallen angel in Hell is given a chance to climb upward — then loses its grip on the wall and falls to its death.
- Hot as Hell: Demon-Paul finds Sabbac III attractive, though the idea horrifies him once he's back to himself. This is also a continuity nod; Paul thought that he was attractive when Sabbac III attacked the Hawks' house as well, but didn't let it distract him.
- No-Sell:
- Paul captures a man in Gotham who controls a swarm of rats. Unlike Batman, his environmental shield makes him completely immune to them.
- Ran Va Daath isn't actually a demon; she's a more primordial abomination. As such, she's immune to the Ace of Winchesters.
- Out-Gambitted: Satanus set up a plot to turn Paul to his side. It fails, and he is simultaneously captured in a plot the heroes set up at the same time to catch him in the middle of wrongdoing, in order to have sufficient proof to arrest him.
- This Is Your Brain on Evil: Specifically, when Paul's soul absorbs a substantial quantity of demon magic, his outlook becomes more violent, callous, antisocial, and shortsighted.
