Nova returns home. As he reflects on his origin, we are shown for the first time that his helmet is collapsable. His thoughts are interrupted as his brother, Robert, approaches the room. Rich quickly changes to his normal clothes and goes with his brother to the basement. It turns out that Robert is hard at work trying to convert an old boiler into a weather-caster. Rich sighs.

Meanwhile, along Long Island's north shore, the Condor ponders his plans to become "first high lord and emperor" of crime. He returns to his lair, The Condor's Roost, to find Powerhouse gone. In his anger, Condor finds Powerhouse and knocks him off a cliff. He saves Powerhouse and states that he was spared in order to help fight...The Dreaded One!

Powerhouse and The Condor return to the cave. Condor insists that Powerhouse wear the new uniform he has given him.

After putting on the costume, Powerhouse and Condor discuss their alliance. Condor reveals that he had found the young man afloat in the Atlantic Ocean in a small raft. The raft had come from a merchant ship whose passengers' energies had been mysteriously drained. Condor also reminds Powerhouse that he was the one who had murdered the passengers. Powerhouse states that he has no memory of killing anyone or being rescued by the Condor. The winged man insists that it is true and shows his ally a photo of Nova stating that the superhero may be a problem. They race off to the city with Powerhouse stating that his head is throbbing with pain.

Back at Harry S. Truman High School, Rich Rider and his friends are having lunch when The Condor flies by. In his hurry to investigate, Rich trips Mike Burley and causes Mike to spill his food on himself. Burley tells Rider that he'll get him for that. Rich is busy turning into Nova.

Nova catches up with The Condor and a battle begins. Condor easily evades Nova's attacks and sends Powerhouse to subdue him. Powerhouse grabs Nova and drains his energy. While Nova is weak, Powerhouse and Condor escape from the approaching police. Afterwards, Rich is at home when he smells something burning. He runs to the basement to find his brother, Robert, trapped by flames. Rich quickly grabs a fire extinguisher and puts out the fire.

Later that night, Nova is on patrol and comes across a museum robbery. The culprits are no other than The Condor and Powerhouse. They are attempting to steal the mummy of Tuchankahn The Wizard from the Egyptology Room when Nova arrives. The Condor states that the mummy is the same one that He (The Dreaded One) wants. Powerhouse and Nova battle again. During this conflict, Powerhouse accidentally throws Nova into the Wizard's tomb. The mummy's case and the treasured parchment are destroyed.

Angry, The Condor hits Powerhouse and uses super-strength to crush the museum's barred windows. He escapes while Nova and Powerhouse go at it again. As Powerhouse attempts to drain Nova, the super-hero remembers the fire in the basement. He grabs the fire extinguisher from the wall and hurtles it at Powerhouse. The energy-draining villain crushes the extinguisher thus releasing its gaseous contents. The gas smothers Powerhouse's energy and knocks him out. Nova is left wondering how he is going to contain Powerhouse now that he has defeated him!