Comic Title: Firestorm #98
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: June 1990
On Sale Date: April 10, 1990 Shipping Date April 10, 1990
Source: Previews, #14

Shipping Date April 10, 1990
Source: Amazing Heroes, #178

Copyright Date April 10, 1990
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1990

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $1.00
Page Count: 32
Editor: Dan Raspler

Title: "Balance of Powers"
Pages: 22

Feature(s):
Firestorm (Post-Crisis)

Writer: John Ostrander
Penciller: Thomas Mandrake
Inker: Carlos Garzon
Letterer: John E. Workman, Jr.
Colorist: Nansi Hoolahan

Feature Character(s)

• Firestorm (last appearance in Firestorm #97; next appearance in Firestorm #99)
• Mikhail Arkadin (behind-the-scenes in the Firestorm matrix; last appearance in Firestorm #97; next appearance in Firestorm #99)
• Svarozhich (behind-the-scenes in the Firestorm matrix; last appearance in Firestorm #97; next appearance in Firestorm #99)

Supporting Character(s)

• Simon LaGrieve (last appearance in Firestorm #94; next appearance in Firestorm #99)
• Martin Stein (last appearance in Firestorm #94; next appearance in Firestorm #99)
• Lorraine Reilly (last appearance in Firestorm #94; next appearance in Firestorm #99)
• Emily Rice (last appearance in Firestorm #96; no further appearances)

Villain(s)

• Shadowstorm (name revealed; last appearance in Firestorm #97; no further appearances)
• Parasite (last appearance in Starman #14; next appearance in Firestorm #99)
• Cliff Carmichael (begins using the Thinker helmet; last appearance in Fury of Firestorm #60; next appearance in Firestorm #99)
• Catalyst (last appearance in New Teen Titans #44; next appearance in Firestorm #99)
• Byron Abrams (an administrator for Sunderland; no further appearances)
• Shadowy agents who liberate Parasite (no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Oracle (last appearance in Suicide Squad #38; next appearance in Batman #451)
• Maser (last appearance in Firestorm the Nuclear Man #88; next appearance in Firestorm #99)

Other Character(s)

• Shango (last appearance in Firestorm #97; no further appearances)
• Obatala (as Dr. Efraim Ngai; last appearance in Firestorm #97; no further appearances)
• Dr. Pangloss and Dr. Caius (last appearance in Firestorm #94; no further appearances)
• Several government scientists (Hiram named; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Firestorm returns to Earth with Shango and Dr. Ngai. When he sees plant life forming in the barren land he created, he experiences hope. When he leaves the area, Shadowstorm, who has followed, destroys the plant.

In Pittsburgh, Simon LaGrieve is worried about the Sunderland takeover of IMHS. Though he remains in charge, several experiments have begun without his approval including testing the Thinker's helmet on Cliff Carmichael. Simon contacts Lorraine Reilly, Martin Stein, and Oracle to help monitor Sunderland and protect IMHS.