ISSUE #23 (May 2021)
Written by Tobias Christopher Featuring: |
The mad God Darkseid, in an effort to obtain the anti-life equation, has kidnapped Jon Kent to Apokalips where he intends to sacrifice the boy for his own agenda. Superman, with his family in tow, has come to save their son and brother. Can they make it to Jon in time, or does Darkseid have plans for the Family of Steel to keep them at bay?
The snow continued to pound the planet Apokalips, sending it into a deep freeze with the fire pits having been extinguished. Darkseid had caused this to happen thanks to visions he’d received from the Source Wall under the implication that he could receive the anti-life equation upon the death of Jon Kent.
Jon, wearing a flashier version of his normal Superboy costume, stared down into the frozen pit before looking back at Amazing Grace. “For the good of the people, I have to do this.” “A wise decision, my king,” Amazing Grace said. “You will be forever remembered as a loving, noble king. The king who gave his life to give a dying planet new purpose.” “Okay,” Jon told her. “I guess I’m ready to save every life here.” “Good,” Amazing Grace said as she held a kryptonite dagger behind her back. At a coliseum miles away, a large crowd filled the stands while Supergirl, Powerboy, and Connor were tied to stakes and bound by kryptonite chains. “Too weak, can’t break these chains,” Powerboy said. “It’s not even affecting me,” Connor told them. “Brainiac ripping out my Kryptonian DNA left me completely human. Maybe I can use that to my advantage. Just have to get my hands loose.” “Chris, I don’t want us to die like this,” Kara said. “I’m sorry about what I said. I care about you, but the House of Zod once stood for something good on our homeworld. You’re the one who can make it stand for something good again.” “What about my father? He’s still out there, tainting the Zod name,” Chris told her. “Your father doesn’t control your destiny, you do,” Kara reminded him. Superman flew into the coliseum as Darkseid’s drones and Parademons attacked. Darkseid’s minions tried to dogpile the man of steel, only to be tossed in every direction as Superman started spinning in place to send them flying. “Release the children,” Superman said as his eyes started glowing red as he charged up his heat vision. “NOW.” “All in due time,” Desaad said. “You must earn their freedom first, Superman. Three challengers and three captives. Defeat them and the children go free. But every time you lose, one of the children will die.” “You know I can defeat your minions easily,” Superman told him. “You’re stalling. Where’s Jon?” Steppenwolf struck Superman from behind, sending him crashing into the dirt. “Come, Kryptonian,” Steppenwolf told him. “See if you can match the power of—“ The god brought his ax down as Superman caught it between the palms of his hands. He kicked Steppenwolf away, sending him crashing through a wall. At this point, Superman was annoyed, and there two things you never wanted do to do to Superman: Annoy him or make him angry. As Steppenwolf started to pick himself up, Superman walked toward him with his heat vision turning on. “Do you want this to continue?” Superman asked. “Or do you want to see just how far you can push me?” Having put a blanket around Jimmy’s shoulders, Lois flew him toward the coliseum. “We’re going to fix this,” Lois promised. “Jon was strong enough to come back from what he went through and so are you.” Flying into the coliseum, Lois landed and put Jimmy down next to the poles where the others were attached. Lois noticed Superman trading punches with Steppenwolf as she looked up as the boys and Kara. “Don’t worry, I’ll have you free in a moment,” Lois said as Granny Goodness grabbed her by the helmet. “I think not, child,” Granny Goodness said. “Furies, it’s feeding time!” Granny Goodness tossed Lois to the feet of her Female Furies as Jimmy tried to figure out what to do as he looked up at Kara. “So, do I just… jump in?” Jon asked as he stared down into the frozen pit. “There are a few added steps,” Amazing Grace said. “In just a few minutes, this planet will be saved according to the prophecy.” “Do I have any loved ones to say goodbye to?” Jon asked. “Someone I cared about personally?” “Your subjects were the only ones you cared about,” Amazing Grace said. “You lived for them and are willing to die for them.” “Do I at least have a pet?” Jon asked. “I just feel like I should have more loved ones to see me off.” “For the love of—,” Amazing grace said as she dug around the for the stuff Jon kept in his pants pockets until she finally found a photo. “Here, this was your… future fiancee or… something, but he died.” She handed him a picture of Jon and Ricky sitting on the front steps of the porch, looking like the best of friends. “He died?” Jon whispered as he looked at the picture. “I remember him.” After twirling Steppenwolf around over his head for a few seconds, Superman sent him flying out of the coliseum as Mantis attacked him, his pincers only serving to annoy the Man of Steel as they struck him. “Uh oh,” Mantis said as Superman uppercut him, sending Darkseid’s minion flying up, up, and away just as Kalbak entered the arena holding his energy weapon. “You are mine, Superman!” Darkseid just stared over at Desaad. “I must see the death of Superman’s son. Keep Kal-El distracted at any cost.” The Female Furies had outnumbered Lois and were ready to finish the job as Kara rushed in and started knocking everyone back. After freeing Kara, Jimmy been overcome with fear before he could free Conner or Chris. “It’s okay, Jimmy,” Conner promised him. “You got Kara free, that’s all we need.” “Darkseid’s gone,” Chris said weakly. “Do you think he went after Jon?” “We’ll find out once we’re free,” Conner promised. “Looks like the fight’s almost over. We’ll be free soon. Are you okay, Chris?” “I feel like I’m dying,” Chris told him. “Conner, I have to tell you something if this is the end.” “This isn’t the end,” Conner promised. “We’re going to get you free in a few minutes.” “I don’t think I have that long,” Chris said as he was having trouble keeping his head raised. “Conner, I think I might be gay.” “Cool,” Conner said. “What do you mean?” “Well, for starters, less competition for me,” Conner smirked. “And two, that is completely going to piss Zod off and I find that absolutely hilarious. Personally, I don’t care as long as whoever you date makes you happy. Just hang on, okay? You’re going to be okay; I promise. Just keep fighting for a few more minutes.” Not too far away, Kara flew up into the air while dragging Granny Goodness behind her. She spun around as fast as she could before letting go, letting the villain fly into the distance as Lois head-butted the final two Furies into each other. “Never keep me away from my sons,” Lois said as they watched Superman punching Kalibak toward the coliseum wall. “We don’t have time for this,” Lois said as she pushed her husband aside before grabbing Kalibak by the collar and used her bionic suit to knee the son of Darkseid as hard as she could in the groin before tossing him away. “Kara, get the boys. Clark, let’s go get our son.” “I love you so much,” Superman said. “Come on before it’s too late.” Mr. Miracle and Big Barda found the frozen fire pit where John was to be sacrificed. “We finally found him,” Mr. Miracle said. “Let’s rescue him before—“ An omega beam hit them from behind, knocking the two New Gods unconscious. “Have them sent back to New Genesis,” Darkseid told an underling. “I’ll overlook them intruding into my affairs for now. I must tend to other business for now.” Jon continued staring down into the frozen pit. “How much longer?” Jon asked as he turned around just as Darkseid grabbed him around the throat. “Now is the perfect time,” Darkseid said as he prepared to stab Jon with the dagger. TO BE CONTINUED… The Adventures of Robin & Sideways Having been trapped in The Bleed, the future Robin from 50 years into the future and new hero Sideways have been bouncing around time to find their way home. Now they find themselves trapped in a magical storybook along with the King of Fables, fighting their own possessed costumes! “Of all the things I never thought I’d have to do, fighting my own costume while wearing a loincloth was pretty low on the list!” Matt McGinnis said as he dodged the blows on his futuristic Robin costume. “At least this one doesn’t have my powers!” Derek James said as he punched his own costume, but found he couldn’t hurt it. “Oh, right, no flesh to hit.” “We need to subdue our costumes so we can get back into them!” Matt shouted as he backflipped off of a tree and landed on the shoulders of Sideway’s costume, which had been made from an old Nightwing costume and various parts of other Robin uniforms. “You first! I’ll hold it and you get your gear on!” The Sideways costume tried to throw Matt off but found the young hero too hard to get rid of. “They won’t last much longer,” the King of Fables said as he saw a new player run past. “No!” He phased through the Sideways costume, causing it to fall lifeless to the ground alongside Matt. “Get dressed!” Tommy shouted. “I’ll help you get the other costume!” “No you won’t!” the King of Fables shouted as he grabbed Tommy around the throat. “You may just be an astral projection but I can still harm you! Did you really think you could get the upper hand against me?” Sideways opened a portal as Matt kicked the King in the back, causing him to drop Tommy. “He’s invincible, that’s why he’s in this place,” Sideways said. “Tommy?” “Derek?” the other boy said as they hugged. “I never thought anyone would come for me!” “The Bleed must have access to every dimension,” Matt realized. “We should go.” “But your costume—“ “Lose my costume or lose my head,” Matt told him. “I think I’m better off with the latter, now get us out of here!” The King and the Robin costume rushed toward them as Sideways opened the portal. “Come on, Tommy!” All three jumped through with the portal closing before the King could grab them. “NO! I’ll free myself yet, then the world will be mine! So swears the King of Fables!” Sideways, Matt and Tommy fell onto an asteroid floating through the Bleed. “Home sweet hell,” Matt said as he stood up. “How much longer are we going to have to do this?” “Until we get you back to the future and me & Tommy back to the present,” Sideways said. “His body’s waiting for him.” “You mean… I’m still alive?” Tommy asked. “Hooked up to machines, yeah,” Sideways said. “But alive.” “How’s Huck?” “Last I heard he was back in Smallville with his dad,” Sideways told him. “All the boys went home except for you.” “Home,” Tommy said sadly. “If I go back, I don’t have a home to go back to. I’m an orphan.” “Then we’ll find you a place to call home,” Sideways promised. “But we have to find a way home ourselves first.” “Then rest up,” Matt told him. “Because we’re not giving up until we’re back where we belong.” TO BE CONCLUDED… |