His world exploded before his birth. Propelled by a futuristic craft powered by a science beyond mans comprehension he arrived on a our world as a baby. Raised as a human by loving, caring parents who instilled in him the difference between right and wrong, he derives his powers from our yellow sun that give him enormous and unheard of abilities ! His massive strength and incomprehensible powers are matched only by the great and true heart that beats within his chest ! He is one of the most powerful champions for truth, justice , and the American way that has ever lived ! A man from the stars ever seeking to make the Earth his home, and to protect that home from evils no one else would have a glimmer of hope against ! He is the man of steel, the man of tomorrow...he is..

Superman #2

"The dark march of evil!"

By Ralph L. Angelo Jr

What has gone before: Superman answered several calls for help, one concerning a gas main break that destroyed most of the newly created "Hypersector" , and hours later he responded to a massive explosion that leveled the scientific think tank/research lab known as "millennia technologies". Upon arriving , Superman battled a strange energy creature that seemed to literally grow from the wreckage. Upon the creatures unexpected defeat from a blast of heat vision, Superman's friend, Inspector Maggie Sawyer was attacked by the Dark God Kalibak , who seemingly appeared from nowhere. Which brings us up to speed. Hang onto your hats kiddies, this is going to be a rough ride.

Superman stares disbelieving at Kalibak, as the denizen of Apokolips holds the unmoving form of Maggie Sawyer roughly by the hair. With an evil grin Kalibak finally speaks.

"So Kryptonian, we meet again. Good. I always enjoy testing myself against your overrated powers."

"You'll find out how much about me is true first hand monster, especially if that woman is harmed." Comes the angry answer from the man of steel.

Kalibak looks at Maggies prone form and laughs a cruel, hearty laugh, full of both evil and glee.

"This? You are concerned with this bag of flesh? Bah, you sicken me Kryptonian. Here, take the homely wench."

Disdainfully Kalibak throws Maggies prone body into the air, straight up, and then laughs mightily as Superman streaks after her.

(She 's not breathing! I can't hear her heart or air being expelled from her lungs, My God NO!)

Catching her at the periphery of her arc, Superman gently holds her head still as he lowers her to a nearby waiting ambulance that has been here assisting in the operations from the explosion.

"Help her !"

He shouts at an EMT, who is already running to the man of Steels side. Dan Turpin, Maggies partner and friend runs to his partners side as several of the medics push the agonized cop back.

"Maggie! Maggie! Talk ta me c'mon, don't bail out on me now Mags." Is Turpins screamed response to the EMT's quick work.

Superman suddenly spins angrily, searching for some sign of Kalibak and the Para-demons that accompanied him. Suddenly his super-sensitive hearing picks up the sound of screams, two blocks north, and without another word, Superman is gone! Arcing high up above the city Superman sees the hordes of Apokolips on the march, overturning cars, crushing anything that dares get in their way. Angrily he rockets downwards.

"This stops now Kalibak!"

Superman hurls himself into the Parademons, more demon himself then man, as he tears through the savage horde, tossing them about like chafe before a storm.

"You unholy monsters had better pray that Maggie Sawyer pulls through this, otherwise you 'll know what it means to face a true demon !"

Superman grabs two of the Para-demons and smashes them together, their chitinous bio-armor cracking like egg shell in his powerful grasp.

Turning like a man possessed , Superman unleashes his heat ray vision into a stunned Kalibak, driving him to his knees with the heat beams.

"How does that feel monster? Are you enjoying it as much as I am right now Kalibak? Or are you just not used to being on the receiving end of torment for a change?"

Kalibak rages ." No foolish Kryptonian, on Apokolips we learn from a very young age that pain and death are our friends, and are not to be feared, but rather cherished. All these and more are examples of Granny Goodness's teachings. If only you had attended her school as well Superman, then you could also derive the great pleasure from her teachings that I do."

Superman flies into Kalibak, smashing them both through walls and building structures for a city block before stopping. Then he hammers Kalibak with a powerful right-left combination, tossing the dark God a hundred feet into the air, before he lands with a resounding crash.

"Aarrggh !" Growls Kalibak as he struggles to his feet, but again Superman is there. Tackling the son of Darkseid with an anger to great to be perceived, and smashing him through the wreckage of the Millennia Labs building . Superman pulls Kalibak face to face with himself. "WHY ?" Bellows the Man of Steel. "Why did you have to attack that woman? She would've been ineffective against you and your Parademons. You could've left her alone , ignored her while you searched for me."

"Who said I was looking for you fool? How vain you are "Man of Steel" Kalibaks reasons for being here are his own!"

With a savage snarl Kalibak heaves Superman away, but the man of tomorrow rights himself in mid air, rocketing back at the demonic Kalibak, flying right in to his powerfully swung mace.

Superman is effortlessly smashed backwards by Kalibaks cruel strength, landing with a resounding thud. Only then does Superman look around, and see what transpires above and near him.

"Oh My God!"

The sky is full of Parademons, as more and more pour through the warp vortex leading from Millenias ruined sub-basement , where the scientist Myron Watstable had been working on his ill-fated energy adapter*. This device cost Myron Watstable his life, as well as everyone else in the Millennia building.

*See our first issue.-Ralph-El

"I've got to hold off this invasion, even if the military arrives, they'll never stand a chance against the forces of Darkseid."

Superman arcs skywards, silently cursing Kalibak for choosing now to lead an assault against Earth. Inwardly he worries about Maggie Sawyer, not knowing her fate, but even more then her , he is concerned about one woman in particular, a woman named ..

"Lois! , Where's your husband? I need one or the other of you down to the research district. There's a full scale invasion going on there as we speak. "

Lois Lane-Kent Turns from her computer station and watches Perry Whites beet red face, noticing for the first time in quite a while how agitated he seems .

"Perry, relax . Is Superman on the scene?"

"Yes Lois, but he's having a hard time. Their leader seems as strong as he is, besides being , from all accounts, a mad dog killer."

"Killer? What do you mean?"

"Lois, by all accounts the MPD lost one of its higher ups there already today."

"Who?"

"We think it was Maggie Sawyer, Lois."

"No, Maggie's a friend Perry, I-I can't believe she-"

"Nothings been confirmed Lois, so don't jump the gun on this. It might be a mistake ."

"Well either way I have to get down there and write the story. Has the Justice League been called?"

Perry wipes his heavily perspiring forehead with a handkerchief before answering.

"Lois, no communications can get in or out of the city. We think this is more of this "Kalibaks" doing."

"Kalibak? The son of Darkseid?" She blurts out unbelieving.

"Dark who? Lois you know about this monster?"

"N-no Perry, I-I confused what you said." She stammers out. "Besides," she thinks, "How would I explain to Perry how I know so much about a race or purported "Gods" who the general populace, Newspapermen included, knows nothing about?"

"Well whatever Lois, just get down there and bring a damn tape recorder with you. You might be writing the last story ever recorded by man." Once more Perry wipes his brow

"Perry, are you feeling okay ? " She places the back of her hand to his forehead. "My God Perry, you're burning up ! Get into your office and lie down. Ally!" Lois bellows, "Get Dr. Kramer on the phone and tell him to get down here. Perry's sick ."

"NO!" Perry shouts as he pulls himself off his office couch in angry frustration, "I will not be sidelined while the story of the century takes place on my doorstep."

Lois looks at her boss and friend, and inwardly shakes her head. "Okay Chief, if that's the way you want it. But when this is over you get down to Dr Kramer's office pronto."

Perry looks on woozily, but finally shakes his head in agreement. "I'll be in here if anyone needs me, and I want progress reports every five minutes. Is that understood? If all hell is breaking loose on our watch, I at least want the Planet to be the one who breaks the story."

The entire city room nods in agreement, as Perry re-enters his office, quietly shutting the door behind him.

Across town at Lexcorp towers , another kind of hell is breaking loose, as Lex Luthor discovers what 's happening in his city.

"You mean to tell me we're under a full scale attack, and no one had the common sense to inform me? " Luthors entire senior staff nods sheepishly, save for one woman, a newly hired red head who stands quietly and defiantly to the side. "You are all fired, effective immediately. Leave the premises now, your belongings will be mailed to you. Get off my property."

The staff looks at one another , stunned beyond words, as several large, well muscled security guards arrive to escort the staff off the premises. They all exit the office , save the redhead, who for some reason was ignored by the Security force. Finally Luthor sees her standing there, her arms crossed, a look of contempt on her face, contempt for Luthor.

"Who are you? Get out of here, now." He begins to stab at the button on his desk, that will once more summon security, when he stops and stares at her once more. Slowly he drops his hand from the desk and approaches her.

She smiles wickedly, luscious lips pull back in a seductive smile and form one word.

"Better."

Luthor stands dumbfounded as he stares at the alluring beauty before him.

"What do you want , who are you woman? Answer me damn you."

"Why Luthor," She begins," I am the woman who can answer all your dreams, including your secret one. The one that gives you many sleepless nights."

"How do you know my dreams? What are you speaking of anyway?"

"Your most favored desire ." She taunts, as she walks around his still form, running her fingernail around him. "The death of the man we both despise."

Luthor smiles, finally able to do even that. "Superman." Is all he says, as the mysterious woman smiles again, only now the smile is accompanied by laughter, both of their laughter.

Across Metropolis, the battle continues, as Superman rips a steel utility pole from the ground and swings it like a huge bat, scattering dozens of Parademons.

"This is getting me nowhere ." He thinks to himself, "They are everywhere at once. I've got to shut down that warp conduit. This is unlike their "Boom Tubes" somehow, it seems to be permanently "on", and allowing them access by the bushel full. I've got to shut it down, but how?"

Unseen by the man of steel salvation is coming, in the form of a strange ball of energy, that grows larger and larger by the moment, until it finally returns to its full size, the size it bore moments ago , when Supermans heat vision dispersed it. Once more the energy creature lives. An d now it speaks !

"ERG!" shouts the towering monstrosity, the sound of its voice shattering windows for blocks around, "ERG" It bellows once more, as everyone present, from Superman to the Parademons stop in their tracks to stare at the newest antagonist in the strange melee tearing Metropolis apart.

"Well at least it has a name now." Thinks Superman as he speeds through several rows of Parademons, on a collision course with Kalibak.

"Enough Kalibak, time you went back where you belong." Superman punctuates this with a powerful right handed blow that tosses Kalibak through the air like a rag doll, to land with a dull "THUD" on the pavement.

"Bah" Roars the Son of Darkseid, "You hit like an Armaghetto school child. THIS is how a man strikes"

He smashes Supermans flying form with a double handed blow from his power club, sending the man of Tomorrow careening through yet another building.

Slowly, obviously painfully, Superman pulls himself from the wreckage. The sky is dark with Parademons , and Kalibak stands nearby laughing as chaos dispels order on every corner for blocks around, and growing. Then the all but forgotten "Erg" plays his small minded hand. The gigantic creature reaches down and grips Kalibak in a powerful , painful grasp that causes the evil Apokoliptian God to howl in agony.

"ERG !" Roars the energy giant again, as it turns towards the aperture inside the destroyed sub-basement. "ERG !" It shrieks again, holding Kalibak to its sparking, coruscating face.

"What's it doing?" Thinks Superman as he wades through Parademons towards the creature. Suddenly the Man Of Steel has his answer, as "Erg" slams Kalibak bodily into the vortex created by the energy adapter !

"AAAAAA!" Screams Kalibak, as his body suddenly becomes a finger in a dyke, holding the raging energies back from entering Earth, along with the ever increasing horde of Para-Demons.

"Great Rao!" Thinks Superman, "He'll be torn apart by that much energy. I don't even know if I could survive that much pressure."

Flying like a missile , Superman streaks through the energy creature , experiencing a momentary burst of agony, but then he's through ! Reaching the adapter itself, Superman prepares to smash it when suddenly he's grabbed from behind by ......

"ERG !" The gargantuan voice roars in Supermans face as he spins the man of Steel around and tosses him aside with a raging torrent of power.

"I-I don't believe it, he protected that device. But why? And this thing , whatever it is can hurt me. Not many can do that. Time to wrap this up." He thinks.

Taking to the air once more, Superman confronts Erg one last time.

"Okay big fella, time for you to calm down. I don't want to hurt you, I don't even know what you are. But I do know my Heat Vision put you down last time, so I wouldn't bet against it happening again if I were you."

Erg stares at Superman, not angrily, but moreso resignedly as he steps back, allowing Superman egress to the Energy Adapter of Myron Watstable. Superman stares at the arcing, snapping monster. "Something's not right here. Erg is intelligent, not mindless. Its mind may be merely muddled by it's current situation. Time for a test."

Superman flies towards the adapter, then stops and stares at the Giant, who almost sadly looks away from the device. As if it means something to him. "Who are you?" Superman asks the energy creature. It looks at him, and tilts its massive glowing head quizzically to one side before it points its massive sparking hand to the adapter, and then to itself.

"Is that yours?"

The creature stares blankly.

"Is that what brought you here?"

Again, no answer.

"There's something about this thing" Thinks Superman to himself, "That is intelligent. It knows that device is either what created it, or what can get it home."

But startlingly the time for questions is taken from Supermans and Ergs hands, as the adapter is blasted to bits by a dark and powerful hand. Superman spins, anger and surprise covering his face as he blurts out "YOU ! I should've know you were involved in this if your son was here. Still cleaning up his messes aren't you Darkseid?"

The master of Apokolips merely stands stone still, mocking the statue he so much resembles. And then finally he speaks. "Have a care Kryptonian. To attack Darkseid in his own home is to try to cage the fearsome beast with no more then twine."

"Your home? What are you talking about madman, you're in MY home, Metropolis. Your words could well have described myself."

Darkseid suddenly begins to laugh, loud and long as Superman, along with Erg stare at him dumbfounded. "You really don't know , do you? For once I am surprised Superman. Look around you, look at the sky. You are not on your pathetic mudball world, you are on Apokolips. How else would you account for the sheer number of Para-demons that cover the sky like a plague of locusts? That device I destroyed shunted your whole city here. Welcome to your new home Superman, welcome to Apokolips. " As Darkseid speaks, his Lieutenants file in behind him, Granny Goodness, the evil school marm, Kanto, the master assassin, Vermin Vunderbar, the Military leader of Apokolips forces. Mantis, the powerful leader of the bug-like Para-demons, and finally the vile and corrupt Desad, Darkseids right hand man. Dan Turpin makes his way to Supermans side , past Erg. He stands , familiar bowler on his head , gun drawn and ready. Then he whispers to Superman.

"I guess we ain't in Kansas any more."

END ISSUE TWO

Next: The final battle between Superman, Erg and the SCU Vs. The hordes of Apokolips. Plus, who is the mystery woman with Lex? And what's wrong with Perry?

Kryptonian Komments C/O CptMarvell@Yahoo.com

Hi Ralph! This was fine work. I liked the little tweaks of nostalgia you threw in like the "it's a bird, it's a plane..." thing. Nice. The handling of Lois and Clark was fun as well -- nice to see you mention his super metabolism. Jimmy has annoyed me ever since he first went to GBS. God, during that whole secret identity storyline I wished they'd just write him out of the book...Hope you won't ignore the newer members of the cast, like Ashbury (who's one of my faves -- I've even grown to like Scorn). Nice to see Luthor pop up as well. Some requests : 1. A Lois solo story 2. A guest-appearance by Supergirl 3. Find some way to bring back the Phantom Zone villains -- somehow! 4. For villains : Superman Revenge Squad, Metallo, Vandal Savage (I used to love him bugging Supes in the 80s Action written by Marv Wolfman). Keep up the good work, Ralph. I liked the 'novel' format but I admit to kinda missing the full script. I think it would work very well with Supes. Barry

You'll be seeing aloy of the villians you mention Barry, and nexst month we'll be back to full scripts. I find it easier to write that way, so I'll be taking that route for the forseeable future. I hope you liked this months issue. Thanks for the kind commentary .

Excellent issue Ralph. Very enjoyable. Personally I enjoy the novel format to script but either way the quality shines in all of your work. A minor complaint, I think the title would be better suited to starting from its original numbering. Where Superman stopped and became Adventures would be a good point. Like I say though, only a minor point and a good issue nether the less. Steve Blair Hi Steve, thanks for the nice words I really do appreciate them. The numbering is really up to Miry I would think, as either way really doesn't bother me, but I kinda like the #1 thing because it's a fresh start, but that's only my personal opinion. Like I said Either way is cool.

Hey Ralph! GREAT Superman issue! While I was surprised you didn't lead in with a big time villain as the primary threat, that turned out to be a much better choice. It helped us to know what to expect from the Man of Steel! Anyway, I can't wait to see your take on some of the other classic Supertypes. Keep the great work coming! TJB

Thanks TJ! Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see here , and I'll try to accomodate.

That's it for this issue gang, please write and let me know what you think.

Take care, Ralph