PLOT:
Superman already witnessed what he believed to be the destruction of his home, Earth-22. And as the Justice Society finds themselves at a temporary stand-still against the being known as Gog, Superman cannot help but feel a little unnerved at
the similarities and the sinking feeling of inevitability. He wonders to himself if he is in fact some kind of Harbinger of destruction, appearing on worlds just to watch them die. He can sense that the rest of the JSA views him nervously as some kind of potential
loose cannon waiting to go off.
Not helping matters much, Superman takes off faster than a speeding bullet
towards the Daily Planet as an ominous green cloud envelopes the top floors. The
situation bearing a striking resemblance to the fateful day in which the Joker
murdered his Earth's Lois Lane, Superman begins lashing out at the terrorists
responsible for the attack. Lost in flash backs of the day he lost his true love, Superman hits one of the terrorists with such force that it sends the man flying out the window towards the sidewalk below. After managing to save the man, slightly shell-shocked from the experience, Superman accidentally knocks New Earth's
Superman several blocks away with a single punch. Learning that the terrorists were actually working for Luthor in an attempt to kill Superman with Kryptonite gas, Earth-22's Superman
embarrassedly leaves the scene.
At the suggestion of Cyclone and Mr. Terrific, Superman decides to hunt down a man named Norman McCay who had mysteriously appeared before him quoting scripture shortly before the final war on Earth-22. He finds McCay working as a
reverend in Chicago and the two sit down
for a chat. McCay suggests that perhaps Superman isn't a harbinger of death but rather an angel being given another chance to make things right. Norman McCay blesses Superman and the Man of Steel takes off towards New York.
Returning to the Justice Society Headquarters, Superman retires to the Memorial Room. There, surrounded by statues of those lost on this Earth, Superman is confronted by Lois Lane. Unable to look her in the eye, or even refer to her as "Lois," Superman agrees to discuss the events that
cost his Lois's life. During the Joker's attack on the Daily Planet, Lois had survived using a gas mask from her desk but was beaten to death by the Joker. Her dying words to her husband, "Thank you for loving me... Don't change who you are... Don't Lose Clark."
Moved to tears by the story, Lois asks Superman when the last time he had actually been Clark instead of Superman. He replies that Clark Kent died the day she did and will never return.
NOTE:
The story itself only comprises of 23 pages in this issue. The rest of the book features notes from Alex Ross on the process of creating this story.
|
Home
