World War II was declared two years ago already. The Phantom Stranger is forced to watch it helplessly, as The Presence has forbidden him to act.
After witnessing the world's suffering for two millennia, the magical being can no longer remain idle.
Throughout the series, Stranger observes the Holocaust, recalling why he became what he is. In the year 33, the young Judas betrays an envoy of The Presence for money. Judas is then punished by the court of the Wizard Shazam for his actions and condemned to become a wandering omniscient being.
Disobeying The Presence's orders, he contacts Madame Xanadu, who has become a fortune teller, and asks her to contact magical beings to fight against the Holocaust.
Xanadu then assembles a team consisting of Etrigan, the Frankensteins, the Amazon Artemis, and GI Robot, with the goal of retrieving the Spear of Destiny before Hitler, on Stranger's wise advice.
He must face Aztar, charged by The Presence to prevent him from acting.
The Presence grants the Stranger permission to advise the Homo Magi, but only in cases of danger to the magical world.
