The most recent incarnation of the Key is introduced in "JLA" #6 (June 1997), by Howard Porter and Grant Morrison, in a teaser at the beginning of the issue. The Moon begins to fall out of orbit in "JLA" #7 (July 1997), and the Key is seen to not be responsible. As the Leaguers return to the Justice League Watchtower on the Moon, the Key immobilizes them. The Key's new look is explained in "JLA" #8 (August 1997): The Key spent years in a drug-induced coma to unlock even more potential in his brain. The "psycho-chemicals" altered his appearance so that now the Key is a pale, cadaverous, white-haired humanoid with greatly heightened mental abilities. The Key uses a programmable "psycho-virus" to knock the Justice League's members unconscious and trap them in a dream that they all share (a fantastic type of dream telepathy). The Key states he is counting on the heroes' known aptitude for dispelling such illusions, and that as they wake, he intends to siphon off the resulting energy to open a door to creation and become the center of the universe. Most of "JLA" #8 and "JLA" #9 (September 1997) consists of stories occurring in these fantasy realms—including Kal-El as the Green Lantern of Sector 2813 on a still-existent Krypton, a now-retired Bruce Wayne going back into action when Tim Drake and Wayne's son face the Joker (who is dying of cancer), Aquaman in a time where Earth has been virtually flooded, and a powerless Wonder Woman facing Nazi archaeologists and demons. The Key almost succeeds in killing the heroes. The League is saved when the new Green Arrow, Connor Hawke, teleports to the JLA headquarters to attend a pre-arranged meeting to discuss becoming a member of the League. Hawke attacks the Key before he can complete his goal. The Key is incarcerated in Arkham Asylum, where the Martian Manhunter puts him in a "mental maze" (a form of coma).