Comic Title: Firestorm Annual #5
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 1987
On Sale Date: July 21, 1987 Newsstand Date July 21, 1987
Source: DC Releases, #41

Newsstand Date July 21, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #121

Shipping Date June 30, 1987
Source: DC Releases, #41

Shipping Date June 30, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #121

Shipping Date June 30, 1987
Source: Focus, #1, Page BC

Copyright Date June 30, 1987
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1987
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Shipping Date June 30, 1987
Source: Comic Shop News, #1

Cover Price: $1.25
Page Count: 48
Editor: Dennis J. O'Neil

Title: "Ground Zero"
Pages: 38

Feature(s):
Firestorm (Post-Crisis)

Writer: John Ostrander
Penciller: Joe J. Brozowski
Inker: Alfredo P. Alcala
Letterer: Duncan Andrews
Colorist: Shelly Eiber

Feature Character(s)

• Firestorm (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #65)
• Martin Stein (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #65)

Guest Star(s)

• Amanda Waller (on the radio; last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Suicide Squad #4)
• Suicide Squad (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Suicide Squad #4)
• Rick Flag (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Suicide Squad #4)
• Captain Boomerang (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Suicide Squad #4)
• Deadshot (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Suicide Squad #4)
• Killer Frost (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #82)
• Multiplex (dies in this story; last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; no further appearances)
• Slipknot (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Millennium #4)
• Justice League (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Justice League Annual #1)
• Batman (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Detective Comics #617)
• Black Canary (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Green Arrow:The Longbow Hunters #1)
• Blue Beetle (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Justice League Annual #1)
• Guy Gardner (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Justice League Annual #1)
• Mister Miracle (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Justice League Annual #1)
• Martian Manhunter (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Justice League Annual #1)

Supporting Character(s)

• Mikhail Arkadin (as Pozhar; joins with Firestorm in this story; last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #65)
• Doreen Day (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #70)
• Firehawk (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #66)
• Felicity Raymond (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #65)
• Ed Raymond (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #65)
• Chief Ferguson (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #67)

Villain(s)

• Parasite (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #82)
• Zastrow (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #65)

Other Character(s)

• Ronald Reagan (on the telephone; last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #65)
• Craig Kappel, Jonny Brislow, Charlie Meyerson, and John Buckley (reporters; no further appearances)
• Dexter Tolliver (last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #64; next appearance in Suicide Squad #8)
• Arnold Weymouth (an army general; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #65)

Comments:
This story is continued from Fury of Firestorm #64 and continues in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #65.

Mikhail Arkadin fuses with Ronnie and Professor Stein at the conclusion of this story.

Synopsis:
A battle between Firestorm and the Suicide Squad in Times Square escalates when the Justice League arrives. The League battles the villains, and Rick Flag is forced to fight his own team in order to protect his cover. The Parasite is released, and he begins attacking heroes on both sides. He kills Multiplex first and steals his power, then downs Black Canary, Guy Gardner, and the Martian Manhunter.

Firestorm recovers and becomes the Parasite's target. Ronnie takes to the air and drains the Parasite of his power. He then exploits the Martian Manhunter's weakness of fire to further weaken his foe. Eventually Firestorm prevails and encases the Parasite in amber. Batman wishes to pursue him, but the Blue Beetle refuses to obey.

Firestorm heads for the Nevada desert where he plans to make a final stand away from bystanders. The Soviets send Pozhar, their own nuclear powered hero against the Nuclear Man. Neither wants to fight, but they each feel compelled to do so. Firestorm eventually wins the fight by destroying Pozhar's containment suit.

The Soviet liaison Zastrow recommends destroying both heroes. The President agrees and a nuclear missile is launched. Firestorm is weakened and is forced to transform back into Ronnie and the Professor. Pozhar sees the missile coming and encourages Ronnie to reform Firestorm. The Professor is too weak to make the fusion occur. Pozhar offers his own energy to aid the fusion process. Ronnie, Stein, and Pozhar all fuse together as the warhead explodes.

From the blast, a new Firestorm emerges. He absorbs the heat, fire, and radiation, then approaches the observers who have maintained their distance from the blast.