Superman and The Authority #4

Fort Superman.

...REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME, MRRM?

The Bottle City of Kandor.

BEFORE LEX LUTHOR, BEFORE THE PARASITE, THERE WAS ME, HRRNN?

YOU AND I ESTABLISHED THE TEMPLATE FOR A NEW KIND OF CONFLICT THAT HAS ENDURED FOR DECADES--HNN.

SUPER-BEINGS WAGING WAR FOR CONTROL OF THE FUTURE.

ME WITH MY PURPLE PLAGUE, MY INVISIBLE CAR, MY ATOMIC DISINTEGRATOR, MY MULTIPLE BODIES...

MY UNSTOPPABLE INVENTION...

YOU WITH YOUR FENNH MAGNIFICENT STRENGTH, YOUR SELF-ASSURANCE, YOUR HUMANISTIC CREED.

ALL THAT'S BEEN TAKEN AWAY--

I HAVE YOU IN MY POWER FOR THE LAST TIME, OLD ENEMY.

TWO TITANS ERNN HERE AT THE END, WHERE YOU ARE DEFENSELESS IN THIS MICROSCOPIC REMNANT OF YOUR LOST WORLD.

...SUPERMAN, HRRHMMM

... WHAT I INTEND TO DO HERE IS TO SLICE OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD.

THEN I WILL DIG OUT YOUR BRAIN AND TOSS IT IN THE TRASH, ERRNH?

WHEN THAT WORK IS DONE, I WILL PROCEED TO TRANSPLANT A COPY OF MY BRAIN INTO YOUR SKULL.

YOU WILL BECOME ME, HNN?

YOUR VISION OF THE HUMAN OF TOMORROW MADE OBSOLETE, HRRR.

IN ITS PLACE, WE, THE FUTURE.

AND YOU... THE SINGULAR SPECIAL MAN, THE INDIVIDUAL...

YOU BELONG TO HISTORY...

HISTORY CAN WAIT!

THAT STRENGTH!

BUT HERE--HERE IN KANDOR...

...YOU SHOULD BE POWERLESS...

KRYPTONIAN ENVIRONMENT IS OFFLINE.

YOU DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE.

AND FRANKLY--

--I HAVE ALL THE STRENGTH I NEED TO HANDLE YOU!

GUHH!

THERE'S STILL TIME TO SURRENDER, ULTRA-HUMANITE!

HURR.

THIS BODY FEELS NOTHING!

YOU CAN'T HURT WHAT DOESN'T LIVE!

BUT I CAN HURT YOU!

UNGH!

NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME. SWEETHEART--

PLANT-BASED ORGANISM!

K-RIFLE SETTING FIVE!

...TALKING TO YOURSELF?

OR...

...IS THERE SOMEONE...

...HI, HONEY. WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITHOUT ME?

K-LASER FIVE, RIGHT?

THE LAST THING I NEED IS TO SCREW UP AND TURN THIS GUY INTO A GIANT LION OR AN ANT FROM THE FUTURE.

YEAH, YOU, SWAMP MONSTER.

SAY HELLO TO WHITE KRYPTONITE.

DEADLY SPACE DEFOLIANT?

K-K-K-KRYPTONITE--

G-G-GREATEST LIE OF ALL!

HEY, LOIS.

HE WALKED RIGHT INTO OUR TRAP AND ALL IT TOOK WERE A FEW CAREFULLY PLACED PROMPTS.

YOU MAY WANT TO STAND BACK.

I'LL APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE...

SHH!

THIS WON'T HURT AT ALL.

KKRCHHHHH

HMM.

APPECIATE THE SAVE, SWEETHEART.

HOW GOES YOUR RESEARCH?

I KNOW MORE ABOUT THE HOUSE OF EL THAN ANYONE ELSE ON EARTH. INCLUDING YOU.

...THE FADING-POWERS LOOK REALLY SUITS YOU. SMALLVILLE.

LIKE THE DOG DUG UP MY DAD.

I LOVE YOU TOO, LOIS.

SOLOMON GRUNDY CAN BE REGROWN, FREE OF THE HUMANITE'S CONTROL, BUT FOR NOW...

...HOW ABOUT WE GET THIS BRAIN UNDER THE MICROSCANNER?

THE ULTRA-HUMANITE.

...WE, I...

THE FIRST OF MY SUPERHUMAN FOES.

THE FIRST TO PRESENT ME WITH A CHALLENGE BEYOND THE GANGSTERS AND BULLIES I DEALT WITH BACK THEN.

...ORIGINAL, LAST, LATEST..

...I, WE...

BUT THIS--THIS IS AN UPGRADE.

EVEN TAKING THE HUMANITE'S FORMIDABLE SCIENTIFIC PROWESS INTO ACCOUNT, THE CLONING AND TRANSPLANT TECHNOLOGIES ARE CENTURIES BEYOND HIS CAPABILITIES--WHICH TELLS ME HE'S NOT WORKING ALONE.

THERE! THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR!

A MAKER'S MARK, A BRAND.

A PRODUCT CODE.

WOULD YOU MIND HANDING ME THAT TELEBAND, LOIS?

I'VE SEEN THAT LOOK BEFORE--

YOU FIGURED IT OUT, LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO...

WAIT A MINUTE--IS THAT...?

THE TELEBAND LINKS TO A CONSCIOUS A.I. NETWORK KNOWN ONLY TO KRYPTONIAN SCIENCE.

IF MY SUSPICIONS ARE CORRECT--

--AH, THERE YOU ARE!

BRAINIAC.

SUPERMAN.

NOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

CHEK-ACHIRRK

HERE IS THE PROBLEM AS I SEE IT.

THE ECOSYSTEM OF PLANET EARTH IS UNDER THREAT FROM A RAPACIOUS OMNI-PREDATOR.

TWIIRR

HOMO SAPIENS: FAST-BREEDING, ALL-CONSUMING.

THIS WORLO'S RICH AND ABUNDANT BIOSPHERE FACES CATASTROPHIC DEGRADATION

AS AN AUTONOMOUS EXTENSION OF BRAIN INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS AND THE COLLECTOR OF WORLDS, MY PRIMARY DIRECTIVE IS TO PRESERVE AND CATALOG.

...YOU CONTINUE TO THWART THIS OBJECTIVE.

IF MY AIM IS TO SAVE THIS PLANET BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE...

YOUR ELIMINATION REMAINS THE INEVITABLE ENDGAME.

CHIRREET!

IT'S TOO BAD YOUR IDEA OF "SAVING" EARTH IS TO PRESERVE IT FOREVER IN MICRO-STASIS, UNABLE TO CHANGE OR GROW OR DEVELOP, LIKE KANDOR.

WHAT DID YOU PROMISE THE ULTRA-HUMANITE?

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED HIS SCHEMES FAILED AGAIN...

I SUPPLIED THE TECHNOLOGY.

THEY SUPPLIED MOTIVE AND MUSCLE.

THEIR AMBITION IS TO HUMILIATE YOU. YOU MUST HAVE INJURED THEIR PRIDE VERY BADLY, SUPERMAN.

WHAT'S THAT?

RURRF.

PRIDE?

TELL "SUPERMAN" THIS... SNORTH...

I AM LEGION!

TELL HIM THE ULTRA-HUMANITE IS TOMORROW'S HUMAN TODAY!

REPRODUCING MYSELF INTO ENDLESS PRODUCTION-LINE BODIES, CONVEYOR-BELT BRAINS--URRNT--

MINE IS THE LIFE ETERNAL!

I CAN WASTE AS MANY BODIES AS IT TAKES--HRRONNF!

TELL SUPERMAN OUR WAR HAS ONLY BEGUN...

THIS WHOLE WORLD IS OUR BATTLEFIELD NOW!

Dubai--G7 climate change summit.

...BLACK'S ON HIS @$#!

SOMETHING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT.

THE FOG.

MIDNIGHTER, THE FOG IS ALIVE!

I'M SCANNING XENOTECH... FEMTO-SCALE ACTIVITY--

WE BRING A MESSAGE TO THE G7 SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE!

STOP PRETENDING TO CARE!

PUT THE WORLD OUT OF ITS MISERY OR HAND IT OVER!

GIVE IT TO SOMEONE WHO'LL MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE!

NOW WHAT?

THERE'S SOMETHING DEEPLY FAKE ABOUT ALL THIS, BUT WE'RE HERE TO DO WHAT WE DO BEST...

MOVE FAST AND BREAK THINGS, AS THEY SAY....

INCOMING.

IS THIS FOR REAL?

...FUNNY. AIN'T IT?

FUNNY HOW FREE SPEECH ONLY EVER GOES ONE WAY?

WHERE'S MY RIGHT TO MY BELIEF IN THE POWER OF ALMIGHTY ZEUS AND THE PROPHESIED RETURN OF THE BABY HITLER?!

WHAT DO YOU BUNCH OF FREAKS AND ANARCHISTS GOT TO BELIEVE IN?

'CAUSE IT BETTER BE BETTER'N MINE!

Iron Cross--indestructible white supremacist.

OH YEAH!

COME ON!

THIS IDIOT'S A FREE REE GIFT!

TAKE YOUR SHOT!

NOTHING CAN KILL ME!

I ALWAYS COME BACK!

AND I GOT YOUR BUDDY RIGHT--

HURRH?

YOU ACTUALLY DECIDED TO CALL YOURSELF "IRON CROSS"?

WHAT HAPPENED?

THEY WERE HANDING OUT THE NAMES AND "NAZI WANKER" BEAT YOU TO IT?

SOME SERIOUS BARREL SCRAPING WENT INTO THIS OPERATION, MATE--YOU'RE A WALL OF MEAT WITH A THUMB FOR A BRAIN...

DON'T PICK ON WEEDY TELEKINETIC SAVANTS.

GIVE HIM WHAT FOR!

YOU'RE ONLY WASTING PRECIOUS CALORIES.

TEAM!

Give him what for! 

...DINT... DINT FEEL NUTHIN...

...DON'T YOU GET IT...

IRON CROSS...

I'M MAKING A BIG COMEBACK!

...MEET STEEL TOE CAPS.

OUCH

HE SHOOTS.

HE SCORES.

I CAN STILL BITE!

..DID HE JUST...UNH

NOTHING PERSONAL.

COLONY TO SUPPORT.

Sivisdottir@siv--femto-engineered alien activist--a.k.a. Siv.

DAMMIT!

SEXY BOY!

MY FIGHT ENHANCEMENTS HAVE GENERATIONS ON YOURS.

YOU ARE THE BONE SPEAR, M'SIEUR MINUIT!

FLEUR THE GUIDED MISSILE!

Fleur De Lis--tech-enchanced French super-spy.

SIV IS A REFUGEE FROM THE PLANET COMPETALIA.

SHE FIGHTS TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE IGNORED AND FORGOTTEN OF HER COMMUNITY.

ARRIVING ON EARTH AND INADVERTENTLY ERADICATING THE TOWN OF LAMONT, CALIFORNIA, HER KIND FACED IMMEDIATE PERSECUTION.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

SYSTEMS CRASH!

SYSTEMS CRASH!

I BEAT YOU, I DRAW ΑΤΤΕΠΤΙΟΠ ΤΟ HAVEN.

LACKING TECH, YOU'RE NOTHING.

YOU THINK SO?

ABANDON SUIT!

ARC!

SUIT TWO ENGAGE!

HAVEN--YOU'RE RIGHT, WE FORGOT.

BUT YOU'RE WRONG ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE...

...NATASHA IRONS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST HER ARMOR.

SUIT TWO ENGAGING!

WHAT A BLEEDIN' PANTOMIME!

HANG ON--SNFF--

I KNOW THAT HIDEOUS COLOGNE...

IT'S TOM FORD ******* FABULOUS, PHILISTINE!

SEE, THAT'S YOUR BIG PROBLEM, 'CHESTER...

Coldcast--former Elite member--master of the first force.

TOO BUSY THINKING ABOUT YOUR OWN SELF TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT YOUR BACK!

I'M HERE TO FREEZE THE ELECTRON FLOW IN THAT BRAIN OF YOURS!

THEN I BRING YOU TO JUSTICE AND REBUILD MY REP!

NN-NATHAN--M-M-MATE!

--WE D-D-DIDN'T--DIDN'T PART ON THE B-B-BEST OF TERMS BUT, NATE--M-M-MATE--

YOU'RE ON A TEAM WITH A MENTAL WHITE SUPREMACIST!

HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO STOP YOU TO MAKE THE SAME POINT?

THE CLOWN SHOW IN DUBAI WAS A DISTRACTION FOR YOUR ACTIONS IN KANDOR AND LOS ANGELES, I GET IT.

WE HAVE IT COVERED.

West Hollywood.

...WHERE'S LIA?

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH LIA NELSON?

IF YOU WOULD STOP LASHING OUT FOR FIVE SECONDS!

MAYBE LET ME EXPLAIN!

MY NAME IS APOLLO. I'M ON A MISSION FROM SUPERMAN.

I'M STRONGER THAN YOU, SO GET OVER IT--

HELP ME FIND HER!

STRONGER, HUH?

POWER UP!

TIMES FIVE!

I CAN GO ALL THE WAY TO TEN IF I HAVE TO!

I'M ON YOUR SIDE!

WHEN I GOT HERE, SHE WAS GONE!

SHE'S BEEN TAKEN!

LIA'S IN DANGER RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE WASTING PRECIOUS TIME!

LIA BABY

...IT'S THIS WAY--

I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND BELIEVE ME, I'M LIKE, ΟΗΗΗ ΒΟΥ...

...DO I KNOW FROM PERSONAL ISSUES!

..WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

...WHO ARE YOU...?

WITH ME IT'S SAVAGE BIPOLAR.

MOST OF THE TIME I'M BRUCE, I'M THIS SUPER-NICE ACADEMIC DREAMING OF TENURE...

THEN THERE'S A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD AND--WUPPS--DR. JEKYLL CHECKS OUT...!

ECLIPSO CREEPS IN, WITH HIS LITTLE BLACK HEART, HIS SPOOKY GEMSTONE.

WE GET DRUNK, GET HIGH, TRAWL THE DARK WEB, AND MAKE WAR ON THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD.

I PRETTY MUCH HATE THE LIGHT.

WHEN I SEE LIGHT, MY INSTINCT IS TO PAINT IT BLACK.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO SUPPORT YOUR DECISION.

I WISH--I TRULY WISH I HAD YOUR COURAGE--

WHO ARE YOU AGAIN?

SUPER FAMOUS, SUPER EVIL.

YOU REALLY NEVER HEARD OF ME?

YOU DESERVE TO DIE.

LIA!

DON'T DO IT!

I WASN'T SERIOUS!

COME ONE, COME ALL--

BLACK AND WHITE, LIGHT AND DARK.

I GET IT.

I'VE BEEN THERE, BUT THE REAL ACTION'S IN ALL THE SHADES BETWEEN.

LEAVE HIM TO ΜΕ, ENCHANTRESS.

I READ HIS FILE.

ECLIPSO'S VULNERABLE TO STRONG SUNLIGHT!

YYEEEIII!

APOLLO'S SOLAR POWERS NEGATE ECLIPSO'S DARKNESS.

DOESN'T THIS REPETITIVE SHADOWBOXING GET TIRESOME, BRAINIAC?

MAKE YOUR NEXT MOVE AND LET'S GET THIS OVER WITH.

ATOMO-FORM ONLINE!

ONLINE AND AWARE.

THE NETWORKED HUMAN OF TOMORROW--MASS-PRODUCED, DISPOSABLE...

...I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WENT STRAIGHT TO THE TEAM WORD!

THEY HIRED ME FOR A DAY TO DO THIS ONE JOB--VACATION GUARANTEED, FAVORABLE MEDIA, IN AND OUT...

I NEVER MET THE ARYAN ****** BEFORE NOW!

TTNNN.

YOU THINK HE WAS THRILLED RUNNING INTO ME?

DON'T CONFUSE THE ISSUE--AND STOP FIGHTING THIS, 'CHESTER!

I'M DONE HERE, I'LL MAKE MY FEELINGS KNOWN!

REB-B-BUILDING YOUR R-R-RREP?

THIS--THIS GETS OUT--Y-Y-YOU'RE C-C-CANCELED, NATE--

B-B-BUT--BUT--

--S-S-STOP--

--L-L-LET GO--

--I CAN STILL HELP YOU!

YOU ASSURED ME THESE WERE EQUIVALENT POWER MATCHUPS FOR SUPERMAN'S TEAM.

HRRR--THEY'RE HIRED SCUM!

CANNON FODDER WITH NOWHERE BETTER TO GO. HRRONF.

YOU ASKED FOR A CONTROL GROUP TO MEASURE HIS CAPABILITIES. DIDN'T YOU?

...IF I WASN'T MARRIED.

IF I WASN'T GAY.

I'D MARRY YOU JUST FOR THE FIGHTS.

YOU'RE GAY?

ET MOI AUSS!!

USED TO BE YOU WOULD NEVER RUN INTO OTHER OUT QUEERS IN THE FIELD.

IS THIS COMBAT OR A PRIDE MARCH?

I SENSE YOUR HEART'S SOMEWHERE ELSE.

HOW MUCH ARE THEY PAYING YOU?

AHH--A FORTUNE IN BITCOIN NFTS...

ULTRA-HUMANITE SAYS HIS ART WILL BE PRICELESS ONCE HE RULES THE WORLD.

YOU NEED SERIOUS FINANCIAL ADVICE.

OR WE COULD FIGHT TO A STANDSTILL.

I'M LIS...

UTT!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY.

BONE SPEARS ARE MADE TO DO ONE THING--

--AND IT'S NOT TO HAND OUT FINANCIAL ADVICE.

YOUR POLITICIANS CAN'T SAVE YOU!

ONLY THE ULTRA-HUMANITE GUARANTEES A FUTURE FOR HUMANKIND!

...SWEETHEART. YOU CAN'T EVEN GUARANTEE YOUR NEXT 30 SECONDS!

OWW!

IT'S BRIGHT HERE!

DESERT SUN!

WHERE YOUR RAYS SHINE!

LEGS BEGONE!

...THAT WAS OUR "BAPTISM OF FIRE"?

BLEEDIN' FARCICAL...!

OI! JUST TELL 'EM YOU FOILED A NAZI INSURGENCY SINGLE-HANDEDLY, NATE, THAT'S HOW I'D TALK MY WAY OUT OF IT!

I...I--

...I WILL RISE AGAIN...

YOU SHUT THE # UP!

GOTTA GO WITH MY FRIENDS...

LOOK, I PROMISE I'LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE SITUATION IN HAVEN...

I'M SO SORRY I DISORGANIZED YOU WITH THE PARTICLE BURST.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'm CUT OUT FOR FIGHTING...

MY EXISTENCE HAS NOW FULFILLED ITS PURPOSE, SUPERMAN!

EACH OF MY BRAINS IS A BOMB TOO!

THE COUNTDOWN TO OBLIVION HAS BEGUN!

TEN... NINE...

ULTRA-HUMANITE, ANI BRAINIAC--

YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME BUT I COULD GENUINELY CARE LESS ABOUT YOUR MASTER PLANS.

TRUTH IS, I DON'T EXPECT OUR PATHS TO CROSS AGAIN UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING TO FOLLOW ME TO SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES IN THE GALAXY...

SOMEONE ELSE CAN THWART YOUR ETERNAL SCHEMES.

WHO KNOWS, BRAINIAC, PERHAPS YOU'LL FIND A WAY TO WORK WITH THIS NEW GENERATION, BUT AS FOR YOU AND I...

...OUR GAME END HERE

QWIRRIP!

HE QUIT THE BOARD.

WHO CARES?

HE'S OUTCLASSED, OUT-EVOLVED, A DYING MAN OF TOMORROW RUNNING SCARED FROM A WORLD THAT REJECTED HIM LIKE A TRANSPLANT HEART!

HE LEAVES CALLOW SUCCESSORS AND IMITATORS TO DO WHAT HE NEVER COULD.

I fAIL TO COMPREHEND HIS STRATEGY.QWIRRIP!

I CHASED THE WOUNDED ALPHA BULL FROM MY TERRITORY IS ALL YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND!

SUPERMAN HAS CEDED THE FUTURE TO THE ULTRA-HUMANITE, AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE SINCE THE BEGINNING.

TIME TO STEP INTO THE ▲ SPOTLIGHT... 

TELL ME.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO KILL HIS SON?

WHICH OF MY MANY BODIES WOULD BEST SUIT THE MASTER OF THE WORLD?

Fort Superman.

...THAT FELT A WHOLE LOT LIKE TRYING TO CONVINCE A CHESS GRANDMASTER YOU'VE BEEN PLAYING BY THE RULES OF BACKGAMMON ALL ALONG.

IS IT CRUEL TO HOPE FOR A FEW "DOES NOT COMPUTE" MOMENTS?

THE CHESS SIMILE I LIKE...

IT'S NOT A METAPHOR--?

IT'S A SIMILE, RIGHT?

SIMILE, YES--ONE "E", TWO "I"S. YOU KNOW THIS.

LOIS...OUR SON HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM.

HE'LL NEED YOU BY HIS SIDE.

IF WHAT SUPERGIRL AND I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT KRYPTONITE IS TRUE, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LEAVE EARTH...

THAT'S BEFORE THIS OTHER BUSINESS AND LIGHTRAY...

I MAY BE GONE FOR A WHILE, LOIS.

YOU THINK I DON'T TRUST YOU TO PUT EVERYONE ELSE BEFORE YOURSELF AND DO THE RIGHT THING?

GO, SUPERMAN.

CLARK--KAL-EL--WE'LL HOLD THE FORT AND KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING...

...WHAT YOU EXPERIENCED WAS A CRUDE ATTEMPT TO DRAW US OUT AND TEST OUR STRENGTH.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, I DIDN'T ASSEMBLE A GROUP LIKE THIS ONE TO INDULGE IN POINTLESS METAHUMAN WRESTLING BOUTS.

I GATHERED US TOGETHER FOR A PURPOSE BEYOND ALL OF THAT.

MOST OF YOU, MYSELF INCLUDED, HAVE REASONS TO LIE LOW, EVEN DISAPPEAR FOR A WHILE.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

LIGHTRAY, YOU'RE CENTRAL TO THIS, AND FRANKLY YOU'LL BE SAFER FAR FROM EARTH...

I WAS BORN ON MARS IN A PARALLEL UNIVERSE--I'VE BEEN PROMISING A SOCIAL MEDIA DETOX, LIKE, FOREVER.

WHATEVER HAPPENS. MAC'S PART OF THE DEAL.

MAC?

WHAT LIA SAID.

ME AND SHE, WE'RE MAC AND CHEESE, STARS AND STRIPES, COPS AND PROTESTERS. LAWS AND OUTLAWS.

WHERE SHE GOES, I'M THERE. PRONOUNS: HE, HIM. THEY.

I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS, BUT THE EXTRA MUSCLE YOU BRING MAKES FOR A CONSIDERABLE ASSET, Ο.Μ.Α.C.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN US IF YOU'RE UP FOR A SCRAP.

WHAT NEXT?

A PLACE ON THE TEAM FOR HER HAIRDRESSER AND STYLIST?

WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY. BUTTSTAIN?

NOTHING

IT'LL BE THAT INDECIPHERABLE ACCENT OF MINE, LUV

MR. BLACK LIKES TO KEEP US ON OUR TOES.

AS LONG AS WE DON'T STEP ON HIS.

"FAR FROM EARTH." SUPERMAN...?

I TOLD YOU I HAD PLANS TO CHANGE THE WORLD, MIDNIGHTER.

I DIDN'T SAY WHICH WORLD.

PLANET EARTH HAS PROBLEMS WE MAY FIND OURSELVES ADDRESSING SOON ENOUGH, BUT THERE ARE OTHER WORLDS WHERE WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE RIGHT NOW...

I WANT YOU ALL TO THINK BIG.

PACK YOUR OVERNIGHT BAGS.

CONSIDER OUR NEXT MISSION THE FIRST PRACTICE RUN FOR OUR GROUP.

LOSING POWER, RUNNING ON EMPTY...NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO TAKE ON THE BIGGEST OPPONENT I COULD FIND.

A CONTENDER FOR THE MOST DANGEROUS WORLD IN THE GALAXY.

BUILT TO INFLICT GLOBAL ANNIHILATION, EQUIPPED FOR PLANETARY CONQUEST.

WHERE A BRUTALIZED, EXPLOITED SLAVE POPULATION SUFFERS UNDER THE IRON HEEL OF AN AUTHORITARIAN TYRANT CLASS.

PLANET EARTH'S LONG-LOST TWIN BY THE SOUND OF IT...

I'M TALKING ABOUT WARWORLD, MR. BLACK.

WE'RE GOING TO WARWORLD AND WE WON'T BE COMING HOME UNTIL IT'S FREE.

LADIES, GENTLEMEN, OTHERS...

LET'S BRING THE THUNDER.

Later...

...ONE MINOR FAUX PAS, I ADMIT, BUT TECHNICALLY IRON CROSS REFUSES TO DIE, SO ASIDE FROM THE IRONIC TRANSPLANT MIX-UP, ALL'S HUNKY-DORY...

AS FOR THE REST OF IT, I'M JUST SAYING JFK WAS A DRUG-ADDLED LECHER...

YOU MISS A LOT WHEN YOU ONLY LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN PEOPLE.

SOMETIMES YOU WORK WITH WHAT YOU'VE GOT, MR. BLACK, DON'T YOU AGREE?

I CHOSE TO TRUST YOU, DIDN'T I?

YEAH, WELL, LET'S HOPE YOU DON'T COME TO REGRET THAT DECISION, SUPERMAN...

AS I EXPLAINED, OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS TO PROTECT LIA NELSON, LIGHTRAY.

ACTIVATE YOUR EARPLUGS WHILE I OPEN THE SONIC LOCKS TO THE TESSERACT, MR. BLACK.

I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.

THERE.

WHEN THE SO-CALLED FINAL BARRIER WAS BREACHED DURING THE METAL WARS...

...I CAME INTO POSSESSION OF A FRAGMENT OF SOMETHING CALLED "THE WALL."

WHAT THE $%%$?

AN ARTIFACT OF THE NEW GODS.

IN TIMES OF COSMIC UPHEAVAL, THE SO-CALLED UNI-FRIEND, A MYSTERIOUS HAND OF FIRE, IS SAID TO SPELL OUT COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTLY FROM THE SOURCE OF CREATION.

FOR THE LAST ELEVEN DAYS, IT'S BEEN WRITING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER...