But just as Waverider finished a trip into Captain Atom's possible future, his mission was interrupted as Monarch ventured back to the present to destroy him. The heroes united against the dictator, and Monarch was revealed as former hero Hawk. Corrupted by the death of his partner Dove, Hawk was driven to insanity and adopted the identity of Monarch, only to be defeated and sent reeling back through the time stream by the power of Captain Atom.