Comic Title: Infinity Inc. Annual #2
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 1988
On Sale Date: April 5, 1988 Shipping Date April 5, 1988
Source: Direct Currents, #2

Shipping Date April 5, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #137

Copyright Date April 5, 1988
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1988

Shipping Date April 5, 1988
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #752

Newsstand Date April 19, 1988
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #752

Cover Price: $2.00
Page Count: 48
Editor: Roy Thomas

Title: "The Degaton Paradox"
Pages: 40

Feature(s):
Infinity, Inc. (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Roy Thomas
Writer: Danette Thomas
Penciller: Lou Manna
Penciller: Todd McFarlane
Penciller: Michael Bair
Penciller: Mike Machlan
Inker: Tony DeZuniga
Inker: Jerry Ordway
Letterer: Jean Simek (Izzo)
Colorist: Lovern Kindzierski

Feature Character(s)

• Infinity, Inc. (last appearance in Infinity Inc. #50; next appearance in Infinity Inc. #51)
• Jade (last appearance in Infinity Inc. #50; next appearance in Infinity Inc. #51)
• Nuklon (last appearance in Infinity Inc. #50; next appearance in Infinity Inc. #51)
• Obsidian (last appearance in Infinity Inc. #50; next appearance in Infinity Inc. #51)
• Brain Wave, Jr. (last appearance in Captain Atom #17; next appearance in Infinity Inc. #51)
• Wildcat (last appearance in Infinity Inc. #50; next appearance in Infinity Inc. Annual #2)
• Doctor Midnight (last appearance in Infinity Inc. #50; next appearance in Infinity Inc. #51)

Supporting Character(s)

• Mr. Bones (last appearance in Infinity Inc. #50; next appearance in Infinity Inc. #51)

Villain(s)

• Mekanique (destroyed in this story; last appearance in Infinity Inc. Annual #2; no further appearances)
• Per Degaton (dies in this story; last appearance in Infinity Inc. Annual #2; no further appearances)
• Murdock, Manuel, and an unnamed accomplice (drug dealers; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Juan and Maria Montez (last appearance in Infinity Inc. #38; next appearance in Infinity Inc. Annual #2)
• Eddie and an unnamed friend (motorists; no further appearances)
• Dr. Roberts and Dr. Rodriguez (no further appearances)
• Professor Zee (dies in this story; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Mekanique (following Degaton's first encounter with the JSA in 1947; last appearance in Young All-Stars Annual #1; next appearance in Infinity Inc. Annual #2)
• Per Degaton (following his first encounter with the JSA in 1947; last appearance in Young All-Stars #28; next appearance in Infinity Inc. Annual #2)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Justice Society of America (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Hawkman (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Sandman (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Doctor Mid-Nite (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Doctor Fate (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Green Lantern (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Spectre (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Johnny Thunder (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Atom (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Flash (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Miss America (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Starman (in a computer simulated flashback)
• All-Star Squadron (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Johnny Quick (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Liberty Belle (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Shining Knight (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Firebrand (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Thunderbolt (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Winged Victory (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Hawkgirl (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Fury (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Northwind (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Silver Scarab (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Power Girl (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Star-Spangled Kid/Skyman (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Injustice Society of the World (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Brain Wave (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Wizard (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Vandal Savage (in a computer simulated flashback)
• Gambler (in a computer simulated flashback)

Comments:
This story takes place a few days before the wedding of Fury.

This story continues in part from the first story of Young All-Stars Annual #1.

This story recaps Degaton's history and his battles with the JSA. It reveals that the chrono crystal that tranported Mekanique back in time was used as the power source in Professor Zee's time machine. The text page also explains that the Pre-Crisis Degaton died in America Vs. the Justice Society #4, but in the Post-Crisis Universe those events never took place.

Synopsis:
Wildcat and Mr. Bones stop a drug deal in a Long Beach warehouse. During the fight, they crash into a secret room where the golden robot Mekanique is waiting. She injures Wildcat and eludes Mr. Bones before escaping. Mr. Bones then seeks medical attention for Yolanda and witnesses a car strike down an old man. Yolanda and the man, who is Per Degaton, are taken to the hospital.

While the members of Infinity Inc. search the files for information on Mekanique and Degaton, the latter dies in the hospital. Mekanique resurrects him using her future technology. Wildcat and Dr. Midnight follow them as they leave the hospital.

Mekanique and Degaton plan to find the time machine used by Professor Zee which is scheduled to reappear on his 100th birthday which is now the present. The members of Infinity Inc. converge to confront the villains. Yolanda is taken as a hostage to delay the battle, until the time machine reappears. When it does, Professor Zee steps out and dies.

Another Degaton then emerges from the machine and strikes down his older counterpart. Mekanique explains that when the machine departed from 1947 Degaton tried to enter and was split into two selves. One entered the time machine, the other continued to live, joined the Injustice Society, went to prison, and eventually grew old. When the younger Degaton emerged, the older one was destroyed because the laws of time travel prevent the same person from existing at the same time.

Mekanique then joins with the younger Degaton. However, when she declares love for him, he rejects her. Spurned twice by the man she loves, Mekanique destroys both herself and Degaton, ending the threat.