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..

The Stand

A Cold Armageddon crossover event!

By Ralph L. Angelo Jr.

Deep in Space , somewhere between the Earth and the Moon, a new star is momentarily born! Among the witnesses to this cosmic event are both Supergirl and Steel!

"What the hell" Stammers Steel, as the blackness of Space momentarily becomes blinding brightness!

"That's got to be where Superman is Steel, we're going there, NOW!" Supergirl shouts, through the JLA communicator , to her compatriot. Together they speed across the gulf before them, as the bright blast of energy dies down , and the ship it emanated from re-appears from the slowly dissipating nimbus of stellar energy.

"I hear you S-Girl", Answers a stoic voiced Steel, "Though truth be told, I never realized you were such a take control kinda girl."

She looks at Steel as the ship before them appears closer and closer. "I-I'm sorry John, I just feel so strange since we defeated the Cyborg*, and this whole war, it-it's so desperate."

See issue #5 of Supergirl

"I know kid. Most situations we face are over with in a matter of minutes, or days at most, and the worlds none the worse for the wear. This time is different though. I don't think anything's ever going to be the same after this one Supergirl, even if we survive. And right now that's a mighty big "If"."

Deep in the bowels of the ship, a stunned "Hybrid" stares disbelieving at an energized Superman, as well as his friend (Who did the energizing) The one, true, Starman!

"Give it up now Hybrid. There's no way you'll defeat us both, and you know it." Roars Superman!

Angrily, Hybrid answers, with a blast of flame breath that engulfs both heroes where they stand.

Fwoossh!

Suddenly a blast of solar energy erupts from the heart of the flames, to slam Hybrid back through the ships decking, to smash him many floors below!

Za-KOW!

"That should buy us some time." Speaks Starman as he steps through the roaring flames, as they die out.

"Yes Starman, but the Solar blast will merely energize that monster, he shares a part of my Kryptonian Physiology."

"What is he Superman?"

"He's exactly what his name implies, a Hybrid, of both myself, and "Doomsday". The monster that killed me."

"Whoa. You mean this thing is as strong as both you and Doomsday, together?"

"Technically, yes. Though last time we met Firestorm and I were able to defeat him , using his own lack of experience, we wore him down."*

*See issue #5. Lots tends to happen in those fifth issues huh?-Ralph

"I doubt that'll work this time, huh? "

"Stranger things have happened Starman." As he speaks, Superman flies down the hole created by Hybrids passing, with Starman right behind him.

Below decks Hybrid stops his downwards flight, as , at that moment. The ships communications system again blares to life.

"Intruders aboard ship! Repeat Intruders aboard ship!"

In the command center, chaos consumes all present, as Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, leads an entire group of the GL Corp in attacking the combined might of the warriors present! Though there's one in particular Hal saves for himself!

"Mongul!" Did you think you were rid of me so easily?"*

*To see what Hal means, check out the Green Lantern CA crossover issues.

Mongul tumbles through the air, thrown from the power of the green fist Hal created with his ring, that continually pummels the evil being, almost faster then the eye can follow!

"You bore me Green Lantern!" Is Monguls only answer, as he rips up the steel flooring beneath himself, to toss it at Jordan, knocking him from the air, like a leaf before a storm!

"Ugggh!" Grunts Green Lantern, as he tumbles to the ground, simultaneously creating a huge vise, that pins Mongul in its teeth with crushing force!

"It's not over yet Mongul!"

Ba-KOOM!

Mongul shatters the vise trap, before leaping at Green Lantern, tackling him and rolling across the command centers floor!

"I wouldn't have it any other way Earther." His face mere inches from Hals, "By the way, how's Central City? Still a smoking crater?"

Many deck below, Superman and Starman are tossed backwards, like wheat before a scythe, as Hybrid attacks savagely, smashing them both while roaring uncontrollably!

"Get us out of here!" A voice screams in Starmans head.

"NO! I don't care what kind of control you have over me, I'll kill us both before I run from Supermans side!" Is Starmans answer in his own mind*

*To see what this is all about, check out Supergirl 6 & 7--Ralph

The voice in Will Paytons head goes silent, but a seething, evil anger remains, pulsing like a thing alive through Starmans thoughts, sweating, he shakes his head to clear the cobwebs, and he rejoins the battle, as Superman stands toe to toe with Hybrid, exchanging blows that shake the great starship from stem to stern!

"You have no chance "brother" , my power dwarfs your own. I WILL be your executioner, then the only heir to Krypton will be HYBRID!" The red scaled horror laughs as Superman delivers blow after high impact blow, seeking to force the evil creature back, but Hybrid stands his ground, redoubling his efforts, smashing Superman from his feet with a powerful left roundhouse, that knocks the man of steel through yet another bulkhead, to the corridor beyond!

"You die here and now Superman! " Hybrid flies through the air, hands clasped together above his head in a hammer-like grip, prepared to bring them down with unholy might upon Supermans head, but as Hybrid approaches, Superman kicks outwards, , smashing both feet into Hybrids stomach, and carrying him over head in one motion, to toss him bodily though the floor behind his head!

Boom!

The floor shatters, and Hybrid tumbles through it, while Superman and Starman again leap to the attack

"Um, you okay Superman?"

"Yes , but he's starting to get to me. We have to finish him off soon, or the tide'll turn in his direction permanently."

They dive through the deck below to arrive in the arena that Superman was first brought to when he arrived here in chains!*

*Issue 10

"Now Starman, together!"

Both men fly at impossible speed into Hybrid, with a resultant crash that shatters glass on three decks in either direction!

Ka-KOOM!

Hybrid skids across the hard arena floor, to slam into the far end, to almost immediately regain his feet!

But the heroes are upon him again, as suddenly another doorway nearby shatters, as Steel and Supergirl pound several dozen Branx and Gordaniun troops through it!

"Superman! " Shouts the girl of steel, as she levels her flame vision at the enemy soldiers, blasting them where they stand.

Nearby Steel smashes the enemy troopers from him with subsequent swings of his powerful hammer, scattering them .

"Supes!" He roars, as he hurls his hammer at a surprised Hybrid, who is smashed from his feet yet again.

"Who-what is this thing?"

"This "Thing" is "Hybrid", Steel, and our only chance of defeating him lies in working together." Answers Superman, as Starman flashes into Hybrid, to deliver his own power packed uppercut, as Supergirl uses her flame vision to engulf Hybrid!

"Wow", Thinks Will Payton in the midst of battle, "She's beautiful"

"Indeed she is boy." The malevolent voice in Starmans head answers, "And I believe I can make use of one so...powerful and luscious both."

Starmans blood boils as he ignores the threat, and rejoins the battle royal!

Meanwhile, nearby, Steel fires his solid steel rivets into Hybrid who merely laughs them off.

"Pathetic human, did you truly think something as primitive as that could stop me?"

"No", Bellows Superman from behind Hybrid, "But perhaps THIS can!"

Kra-Koom!

He punctuates his words with a blow that once again rocks the starship, sending those closest toppling from their feet, but even as Hybrid falls, he rakes the arena with his flame breath, forcing everyone back a step!

"I thought you said he was inexperienced?" Starman asks of Superman, as the heroes regroup

" I suppose he's learning."

Nearby, Steel combs the arena with his gaze, seeking something the embattled heroes can use against their foe, when suddenly he sees a strange cannon-like object at the far end.

"Supes, what is that? Or more importantly, how'd they hold you here?"

"That's a red sun ray and they-- YES I see what your thinking Steel, GO!"

In a blast of rockets, Steel is across the arena, and manning the gun, while Supergirl and Starman hammer at Hybrid, while Superman again flies in with a devastating punch aimed for the crimson scaled horrors face, but suddenly Hybrid cackles menacingly, as he tosses Supergirl through the air at super-speed, to smash her helpless form into Supermans speeding one! Before Superman can slow his flight , or alter it, Supergirl and he collide, violently!

Ba-DOOOM!

Suddenly Hybrid grabs Starman by the face, and smashes him through the solid steel deck plates at his feet, and when he pulls Starman back up to do it again, he's greeted with a surprise, his own face!

"Agggh!" Howls Hybrid in surprise, as Starmans face mirrors Hybrids own.

"Gotcha!" Yells Starman, as he fires erg after erg of power point blank into Hybrids face, painfully, , Hybrid tosses him away, across the arena, where he smashes into the cannon-like device Steel was sitting in! The resultant explosion again rocks the vessel

T-KOW!

Instantly the weapon shatters, as both heroes slowly crawl to their feet.

"Wha-what was that thing Steel?"

Steel grabs his own head painfully as he drags himself to his feet.

"That was the weapon that was going to slow this thing down enough for us to finish it. Wait a minute, who are you? I don't even know what you call yourself."

"I'm Starman!" Will Payton exclaims, while glowing brightly!

"Then you're the man for the job, c'mon!"

Both heroes rocket through the air across the enormous arena, to where Hybrid has Superman by the throat , while he pounds him unmercifully!

"I will kill you Kryptonian, because of you, I exist! I hate you for that!"

Above, Steel and Starman position themselves on opposite sides of the battle, as Steel nods to Starman, he hurls his hammer, at the far end of the room, where it builds up speed and momentum, to suddenly turn about in flight, and zero in on Hybrids midsection, where it connects with devastating results!

Braaam!

Simultaneously Starman envelops Hybrid in solar energy, only this time it's a decidedly different solar energy, as it's hue is darker, deeper in nature. In fact, its...red!

Above, in the command center, Mongul backhands Hal Jordan across the room, as his hands stab at a control, nearby. The entire ships rocks as dozens of Green Lanterns engage hundreds of Gordanian/Branx/Khund warriors through out the great vessels expanse.

"Now Green Lantern, you will see the majesty of my plan. If my primary weapon cannot be used to destroy your pathetic world , then my secondary will have to suffice, as I use this ships vast power to drive your systems star to nova! Even then your world will know the meaning of Cold Armageddon!"

Without another word, and before Green Lantern can even move to stop him, Mongul smashes his powerful fists through the command console, effectively shattering it beyond repair, and dashing any hope of stopping the juggernaut of death that now hurtles toward the sun!

Below in the arena, Superman looks around, as the ship shudders, and a dull roar fills the room.

"The engines are starting, what's he doing?"

Superman stares out through the ships hull with his x-ray vision, then sweeps it upwards towards the command deck.

"Oh no! Monguls turned the ship towards the Sun itself, that can only mean one thing, and it can't be good."

Supergirl drags herself to his side.

"What is it? What's happening?"

"Mongul has put us on a collision course with the Sun. He means to kill everyone on this ship to finish his mission. And I'm afraid there's nothing we can do to stop him!"

To be concluded in the Cold Armageddon: Final Fury!

Kryptonian Komments

C/O CptMarvell@aol.com