His world exploded before his birth. Propelled by a futuristic craft powered by a science beyond mans comprehension he arrived on 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 #28

The Book of Necromance

By Ralph L. Angelo, Jr.

          What has gone before dept: Superman and his young protege Gold'n fought a desperate battle against a mysterious and extremely powerful new foe named "Lord Necromance". The villain threw incomprehensible resources at them both. Calling up undead warriors as well as powerful elemental beings. Superman and Gold'n defeated them all, but just as it seemed victory was within their grasp, Necromance disappeared, taking the whole of metropolis with him.

          Then as Superman and Gold'n both pondered what to do next, the enigmatic Phantom Stranger appeared and offered his aid in stopping Lord Necromance.

          "Superman, heed my words. Lord Necromance is like no foe you have encountered before. He is a mystic of great power, but he is driven by more then mere power hunger." The Phantom Stranger speaks, while hovering above the ocean, where Metropolis once stood.

          Facing him, Superman grimaces, behind the man of steel, Gold'n looks on nervously. Superman is furious; she has never seen him like this before. He is angry and seemingly frustrated by the recent turn of events. "Superman, please lets listen to this guy. He seems to know what he's talking about."

          Superman turns towards her, his face softening. "I am listening, Gold'n. I know the Phantom Stranger a long time. I also know when he speaks, I listen."

          "Good Superman." The stranger begins again, "We must move to a place where we can discuss our situation. Hovering in the air here is no such place. Let us begone." In one dramatic motion he swirls his cloak and it seemingly grows enormous, engulfing all three of them. Gold'n stiffens up slightly, but in an instant the cloak is past them and they are all suddenly, and miraculously in an ancient, musty smelling cave, lined with book cases, filled with books as far as the eye can see. Torches line the walls in sconces for a seemingly infinite distance in both directions. A table sits before them, made of a dark wood with chairs on both sides made of the same substance.

          "W-what is this place?" Gold'n whispers obviously awed.

          "This is the place a Stranger goes when he needs to study an enemy. It is the closest place to a Stranger's home." The Phantom Stranger answers.

          "Intriguing. I don't remember ever being here before." Superman states. After a second he spins and faces the Stranger. "No one has been here before have they? No one mortal at least, correct?"

          The Stranger merely nods, his face void of all emotion.

          "Is this Heaven?" Superman asks

          "Some would term it that, others would call it hell. Still others would say it was somewhere in-between."

          "Why did you take us here?" Gold'n asks, the fear in her voice making it waver slightly.

          "Because he cannot see us here. He has no egress to the Library."

          "That's what this place is called?" Superman asks. "Simply the Library? What are those books? What do they contain?"

          "What do all books contain, Superman?"

          "Knowledge." Gold'n answers.

          "Smart girl." The Stranger gives a rare slight smile towards Gold'n, and nods his head slightly, then turns back towards Superman Yes, Superman, Knowledge. These are the books of souls. This is the library of souls. Every soul writes its own book. You are here to read one of these. The book of Lord Necromance's soul."

          He walks directly across from where he is standing and removes a book without reading any bindings and hands it to Superman. The writing on the binding end and the cover is in an unknown language at first, then before the man of steel's eyes; the letters rearrange themselves until'The book of Lord Necromance' is easily readable.

          "Wow." Gold'n murmurs.

          "Yes." Superman agrees as he opens the large tome.

          Superman begins to read: "In the year 520 BC a child was born in Europe, in what is now and then known as Greece. He was a bright child who through the years displayed an aptitude for science, as well as ancient, banned dark arts he practiced in secret as a young adult, with a hidden coven of mystics. His horrifically bent and hobbled body betrayed his inner fighting spirit and determined will.

          Soon after a major event that forever shaped his hatred of his own countrymen, the man who would become Necromance began to study mysticism in earnest. He outstripped all those around him in mystic ability, becoming their undisputed leader. In the years that followed, he grew more powerful, calling up demons from below to do his bidding, then growing more powerful still, he began animating the dead."

          Superman pauses a moment and reflects on what he is reading, taking a deep breath he continues. "Continuing his studies, the mage began to dabble in human-demon sacrifices and mergings, creating a hybrid creature that was more powerful then either. No man, nor denizen of hell could stop these monstrous beings. At this time the now aged sorcerer discovered that by sacrificing a great many lives every century, he extended his life for another hundred years."

          Superman stops reading and turns towards Gold'n, who sits next to him, and the Phantom Stranger who is seated across from him sipping a cup of tea that has mysteriously appeared in his hand. "He maintains his immortality by a great human sacrifice."

          The Stranger nods stoically and takes another drink from his teacup. "Would you like a drink?" He asks them both.

          "Ummm, do you have any Diet Pepsi?" Gold'n asks.

          The Stranger nods, sweeping the sleeve of his coat over the table, where a cold bottle of soda appears in its wake in front of Gold'n.

          "Superman? Tea perhaps? Or coffee?"

          Superman begins to refuse then relaxes a moment. "Tea is fine."

          A similar movement by the Stranger and a cup of steaming tea is before Superman. "It is already as you like it. Lemon only."

          "Thank you." Superman sips and goes back to reading. "Throughout history from 456 BC forward, a great disaster has befallen a city somewhere on Earth every century, leading to the utter annihilation of that city." Superman pauses and looks up, "He means to sacrifice Metropolis. But why would he do that? There are much easier targets than Metropolis, or any major American city for that matter. He has to know that I protect that city, and that I'll be coming for him."

          "He has no idea who you are, Superman. Read on."

          "After the city has been sacrificed, every soul within its walls given up to the dark, he then returns to his secret halls and studies anew, for another hundred years. He has no living servants, no helpful hands at his disposal. He merely conjures up an undead slave to do his bidding when he needs something he deems a task beneath him."

          "Why haven't you stopped him in the past?" Superman asks the Phantom Stranger, with anger coloring his voice.

          "My task is ever to aid those to battle evil. Rarely am I allowed to interfere directly."

          "Then why are you interfering now?"

          "Because Superman, now this foe can be defeated by you, with my guidance. Were I to directly attack Necromance, the resulting cosmic devastation would tear the sorcerous plains apart, resulting in worlds collapsing into each other, ending in ethereal devastation. No, direct interference on my part is forbidden for this reason."

          "Forbidden by who?" Superman asks angrily now.

          "You know the answer." The Phantom Stranger replies, his eyes suddenly glowing white from beneath the shadow of the edge of his hat.

          "So how do we beat him?" Gold'n asks.

          "You will know what to do when the time comes, and I will aid you in the manner you will need."

          "Wonderful." Superman answers sarcastically.

          "Do not fear, Superman. Your powers have never failed you before. Every chance exists that you will succeed against the mad necromancer. You MUST succeed, or Metropolis will fall. We will stop this evil from ever happening again, Superman. I promise. No matter what the cost. Necromance must fall."

          "What are we waiting for here then?" Gold'n asks as she rises from her chair.

          "Sit child." The Stranger orders. "We are not done here yet. Read on, Superman."

          Superman nods his head, then continues. "The man who would be known as Lord Necromance was born in 520 BC as a child named'Ephialtes'. He was a twisted wretch who would later betray the Spartans at Thermopylae. Those who were his contemporaries cursed him, even to the point where his name was forever given the meaning of 'traitor'.

          "He disappeared into the mists of time, but in truth, using dark magic's first learned in Persia, he repaired his deformed body at the cost of others lives. He did not care. As long as his life was bettered, that was all that mattered to him. Many were sacrificed to dark gods and evil beings. In return he was granted a new, better body free of disease and deformity."

          "So that explains who this person was. He's an evil, twisted soul, who would do anything to anyone for personal gain. He freed himself of his monstrous body, but not the monster within."

          "Indeed Superman. That monster he fed and nurtured." The Stranger replies, while drinking more of his tea.

          "Why is that story so familiar?" Gold'n asks of both men, her golden hair waving as she turns from side to side.

          "It is the story of three hundred brave men who defended their city from over two and a half million men. There were more then three hundred of them to be sure, but those three hundred were the defenders that held the pass at Thermopylae from the Persians. King Leonides died there, defending his home. But the damage Leonides and his men did to the opposing army was incomprehensible. They stopped the Persian advance, killing thousands and delayed them long enough for a united Greece to amass an army large enough to decimate the forces of Persia a year later. It is one of the greatest battles, and examples of heroism in the history of mankind. It proves that great training and superior weaponry will win the day against sheer numbers."

          "You sound like you actually remember it." Gold'n innocently asks of the Phantom Stranger.

          "Perhaps I do, Gold'n. Perhaps there are reasons I will always remain a Stranger."

          "So now I know our enemy, but what good does this do us? We don't know where Metropolis is."

          "Superman, open the book, to its last page."

          Superman looks at the Phantom Stranger with a slight tilt to his head, then opens the last page of the book. Before his eyes, words scroll in glowing golden ink from a nonexistent pen. Superman continues to read aloud "And so the necromancer took Metropolis to a hidden dimension after his near defeat at the hands of Superman. Lord Necromance could brook no further delays, for his time was short. If he did not make his unholy sacrifice within the next twenty-four hours, he would revert to his horrific form, and then perish. To spend all eternity in hell for his terrible crimes against so many millions." The writing stops there, for now.

          "Incredible, but this still does nothing for us. We don't know where he is, and where he's taken Metropolis, except it's a hidden dimension."

          "Superman, there are times you must learn to trust in a Stranger." The Phantom Stranger stands, and swirls his cloak about him, disappearing into its depths, as the cloak itself disappears as well. Only the echo of his voice remains behind. "I will return shortly with the information we seek. Then there shall be a reckoning my friends."

          "Wow that's a scary dude." Gold'n observes after a moment of silence.

          "No Gold'n, He's one of the good guys. I pray you never have to face the likes of a Darkseid or a Doomsday. Those monsters are frightening on levels you can't yet imagine. Without his aid in the past we would not be standing here having this discussion. When mystic matters are at hand, he is our best hope for victory."

          "Ummm, do you think he's an angel?" She asks quietly.

          "I don't know. I do know he's proven himself time and again when our backs were to the wall. I'm praying he does so again, for Metropolis's sake."

          "There's someone you care about there isn't there? A girlfriend or wife maybe?"

          "We all have friends we want to see tomorrow, Gold'n. I'm worried about them all right now."

          "No, I can tell. There's someone special there. That's okay, we'll save her, I promise, really."

          Superman faces her in his seat and smiles at her. "I know we will Gold'n. We'll save them all."

         A storm swept precipice, somewhere. The wind howls and moans. Sheets of water spray the lone man climbing to its rocky peak. He pays it all no heed. His cloak blows in the wind about him as he stands atop that precipice, staring heavenward.

          "Please, I need to know where he is. Where the city of Metropolis is, and I will not leave until I am told." He implores the heavens.

          Then, a booming voice answers him, vibrating the mountain itself with its power. "You ask much, Stranger. These are things you should be made to seek out yourself."

          "There is no time. Millions will die if this is not done. The champion stands ready. He but needs to know where his charges are so that he may save them."

          "You presume he will succeed. My sight says otherwise. In my sight he dies this day, and all within the city perish with him, for he is susceptible to magic."

          "Nonetheless he must try. He is their only hope. He is mankind's greatest champion, their greatest hero. If he falls, none will be able to defeat this villain."

          "I see only death for him."

          "But you can change that."

          "I can do no such thing. I do not change fate."

          "This is not fate, this is a butchery of innocents, that must be stopped. Too long have I watched as this creature, this Lord Necromance slaughtered those around him. Give the champion the means to withstand Necromance's onslaught."

          "I will not directly interfere, nor will you. But these will help your champion."

          At the Phantom Strangers feet, a set of ancient Greek armor appears. A golden breastplate, a helmet, a shield, and a gleaming sword.

          The stranger looks heavenwards and nods grimly, saying no more. Then he and the items disappear into the mists...

Next: The battle of Metropolis

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