Posts Tagged Last Stand of New Krypton

Superman Issue #698

This issue kicks off right where Supergirl #51 left off with a full page panel of the Brainiac ship hovering over a smoldering New Krypton while thousands of probes swarm out of the ship headed to wreak more havoc. General Zod is asking for a death count of his people. The answer is upwards of eleven thousand souls. Even as big a bastard as Zod is he is still moved by the fact that this onslaught has cost him a tenth of his population is less than an hour battle. Ursa points points out that they are standing up well to the probes, that their super strength is a huge advantage during this battle. Zod is not convinced that they are “holding up” instead this is somehow all a part of Brainiac’s plan, he fears something far worse is going to be coming. He then questions if anything is known about Kal-El. Word is that spotters saw him breach the ship (see Last Stand of New Krypton Issue #1) but other than that they know nothing.

We then are shown the inside of Brainiac’s ship. Superman being restrained by a large octopus looking prode, while Brainiac and Lex Luthor (still in that damn orange jump suit) are standing and staring while dozens of bottle cities hang from the ceiling. Luthor says, “I’m sure you’re wondering what I’m doing here.” To which Superman replies with a great line, “When I see villainy and horror anywhere… I’ve long stopped being surprised to find you or your had at the heart of it, Luthor.” Brainiac tells Superman I’m here to make Kandor mine again and he’s going to make him watch and in making him watch he’ll feel. Feel like he made Brainiac feel during their last encounter.

Now enter Mon-El. Flying through space toward the ship being guided telepathically by Tellus. In Supergirl #51 Tellus contacted Mon-El connecting him to Superman’s mind so that he could figure out how to find Superman and breach Brainiac’s forcefield. Once inside Mon-El’s mind is bombarded by many other voices that don’t belong to Tellus or Superman. Voices saying “save us” and “we’re here.” Mon-El is then attacked by silver haired beast that looks something like a cross between a wolf and an ape. He dispatches this animal pretty quickly as the voices scream “save our world!” Then he’s confronted with many many other beasts all hovering in the eaves in the ship ready to pounce. Mon-El then gives an “Oh boy” quote that would make even Scott Bakula proud.

Getting back to Superman’s predicament again he is now hooked up to Brainiac’s ship with some crazy pink neon looking wires connected to various points on his face and temples. Brainiac is now monologuing about how he is going to feel through Superman, learn his thoughts and the secrets of New Krypton. Superman’s starts to power up his heat vision and simply says “No.” Then back to Mon-El who really has his hands full now. On one hand he has now learned that a telepathic bottle city race has hijacked the connection Tellus established to Superman’s mind. They are known as Lanothian and surprise surprise Brainiac bottled them up and destroyed their sun and their planet. Then burst in a whole horde of crazy looking Brainiac henchmen with various powers and weaponry. Mon-El learns from the Lanothians that these are races that pledged allegiance to protect Brainiac and serve him in exchange for being free of their bottle prisons.

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