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 #29

The battle of Metropolis

By Ralph L. Angelo Jr.

Last issue, Superman and Gold'n were whisked away to a hidden library by the enigmatic Phantom Stranger. There they learned the history of their enemy, 'Lord Necromance'. The Phantom Stranger then disappeared and sought higher guidance. He received that and much more. Which brings us up to now...

In a blast of white light, Superman and Gold'n suddenly appear as if from nowhere! The sky is red here, and seemingly burning. Lava runs beneath their hovering feet. Then Superman begins scanning the horizon as Gold'n begins to babble in fear.

"W-where are we? What happened? One minute we were in that library after that scary dude left, the next we're here. Wherever here is..." She trails off.

"Come on Gold'n I see something."

Superman Rockets away, Gold'n shrugs and races after him, arriving right behind him.

; "Metropolis." Superman breathes a sigh of relief.

; "Wow." Gold'n answers, relieved as well.

Before them spreads the city of Metropolis, floating feet above the rolling sea of lava that fills this place, wherever it is.

"Superman, how'd we get here?"

"The Phantom Stranger sent us Gold'n. He must have found this place somehow. Follow me I have to see someone."

Superman Streaks away, Gold'n hesitates a second then races after him, deep into Metropolis. She pulls up short behind him as he stops at a window in an apartment building then streaks in. She follows.

"Huh?" she breathes a sigh of surprise, an exclamation as her eyes widen at what she sees.

Superman stands in the apartment kissing a woman. She is pretty, with long black hair. Superman turns toward Gold'n and smiles, holding the woman tightly.

"Gold'n, I'd like to introduce you to someone. Gold'n, meet my wife, Lois."

"B-but that would make you..."

"Yes, come in. My real name is Clark. Clark Kent."

She lands in the room, shock written all over her face.

"Relax hun." Lois says, smiling and ushering Gold'n to a chair.

"W-why are you showing me all this?"

"Because I believe this may be the toughest fight of my life, and there's a chance none of us will survive it."

Lois turns her head and stares at Superman a moment, then turns away a mixture of anxiety, anger, and fear written all over her face.

"You'll win, you always do."

"Not always Gold'n. But I do try. That's all a man can do. He can give something his all and pray for the best possible outcome."

Gold'n smiles thoughtfully "Where'd you learn that?"

"My father has always said that."

"I thought you were from another planet?"

"I am, but I grew up here, and I consider myself an Earthman first and foremost. It's where I learned everything I know about life from the best parents a person could have. I may be Superman, but that's a costume. Who I really am is Clark Kent, and while I may be indestructible, I'm as human as the next person in all the ways that count."

She leans back in her chair, decompressing. "Wow."

"You said that already, dear." Lois smiles.

In the back bedroom the baby begins to cry.

"I'll be right back." Lois states as she stands and heads toward the infant.

"You have a baby too?"

"Yes. He's a month old now."

"Wow."

Superman smiles "You say that a lot."

"Well, what do expect? You just dropped a skyscraper on me!"

"Hahaha, not really. I know how that feels."

"Uhh, look Superman, shouldn't we be out there looking for Lord Necropants?"

He smiles at her joke, then answers.

"I'm listening for him now. I'm sure he knows we are here, so we have to get out of here fast. Head to the Daily Planet building and I'll meet you on the rooftop."

"O-okay try to hurry."

"I'll only be a moment."

She nods and streaks away, faster then the eye can see, out the window and to the planet's rooftop.

Hovering there she nervously looks around her in all directions, spinning around constantly.

"C'mon, c'mon where are you?"

"Right here, child."

Her heart freezes in her chest as she turns around to see Necromance standing before her, floating in the air, arms crossed upon his chest.

She gulps hard, then points her finger at him and shouts defiantly. "Put this city back where it belongs you monster! Or else I'm going to kick your butt up and down the length of the island!"

"My, you are the feisty one, aren't you?" Necromance laughs at her.

"Lets rumble an' you'll see how feisty I am!"

"You intrigue me child. Perhaps I'll keep you as a plaything when this is all over."

"You-you -you CREEP!" She roars as she attacks him, rocketing in and unloading a powerful right cross to his face, sending him through a chimney, crumbling it to debris instantly.

Ba-KOOM!

He stands almost instantly, and slaps her with the back of his hand, she flies away at supersonic speed from the impact, smashing through a building across the street from the Planet and back out the other side, to land in the street thirty stories down, unmoving.

"Pathetic. Foolish whelp, here in this place, I am supreme. My power is without limits." Necromance preens himself. He looks down at her limp form as he dusts himself off. Floating down he lands next to her.

"Now where is your master, girl?" He picks up Gold'n by the hair, holding her in the air like a broken doll.

; As if in answer a red and blue blur suddenly is there, impacting the sorcerer like a meteor! Smashing him through the street, into the subway system below!

Above, people stare from windows and street corners anxiously awaiting Superman's return. Praying he is the victor!

The street rumbles and cracks, as if powerful blows were being thrown by Gods! Each blow is like an earthquake! Shaking people off their feet and knocking them down like matchsticks in the wind.

Ba-THOOM!

The street heaves and convulses as Superman is hurled upwards limply, smashing through the pavement as if it was rice paper. He lands in a lump with arms and legs splayed about. Then he struggles to his feet; blood runs down his chin. Wiping it, he sets his jaw angrily as Necromance rises up out of the hole he just created, arms crossed and floating above the street.

"You cannot beat me Superman. You are susceptible to my magics, and here I am more powerful then ever. This is my domain. Lie down and die I will make your passing fast."

"No monster. Not now, not ever. This is my city. These are my people. I protect them from evil like yours. You will not win."

Heat vision leaps form Superman's eyes, engulfing Necromance, the street begins to melt and people run screaming form the onslaught as Superman cuts loose with everything he has!

Necromance screams painfully as he steps back! He blocks his face with his hands as he glows as bright as the sun now! Then Superman is upon him! Streaking in, he pounds the sorcerer with his full unfettered strength in one powerful double fisted blow!

Wa-KOOOOOM!

Necromance hurtles the length of the city, to disappear into the horizon!

Superman immediately runs to Gold'n's side. He gently picks her up. Cradling her limp form.

"Gold'n. Wake up. Come on don't do this to me. Wake up." He implores quietly.

"Unnnn" She moans as she shakes herself awake. "Ohhhh what hit me?"

"Necromance did. Are you okay? I've scanned you with my x-ray vision, and nothing's broken I think your energy shield took all the impact."

"Y-yeah i-it did. But it was like shorted out or something then. Like I had no more power for it. I remember falling then nothing."

"You must have used up all your reserves of power deflecting his attack. How do you feel now?"

She smiles then grimaces a second and her energy glow bursts back into being around her!

"I'm back! Let's finish this guy off."

"Not so easily done whelp."

Superman and Gold'n both turn towards the sound of the voice, Superman startled that he never heard Necromance appear behind him.

Tendrils suddenly ensnare them both! Pinning them to the ground as they feel their strength being leeched out of them.

"Fools! Here I am at my most powerful! Nothing you do can stop me! Nothing! I will humiliate you both, then kill you before these sheep!" He waves his arm at the sidewalks, which are packed with stunned onlookers.

"Then I will slaughter everyone in this city." He adds matter of factly.

Necromance walks over to Gold'n who struggles against her energy draining bonds mightily, but to seemingly no avail.

"I will start with you, girl. I will beat you to death in front of your master and make him suffer with each blow. Then I will turn and kill him."

He raises his hand and delivers a slap to her face. Then another, and another, and another. Each one supernaturally powerful. Each one like the crack of some obscene whip. Gold'n cannot even fall to her knees, as the tendrils hold her up. He continues hitting her back and forth, until not only is her face bloodied and swollen but his hand as well. Her eyes roll up in her head and he continues to hit her. She stands limply in the tendrils and still he hits her.

Superman struggles with all his might. Sweat runs in rivers down his face, but he cannot budge his mystical prison. He never surrenders though. He watches the torture of Gold'n and struggles all the more redoubling his effort until every muscle in his body is sore with excruciating pain.

"Leave her alone you monster!" He roars as he struggles against his bonds.

"Only after she is dead. Then I will tend to you." Necromance states simply as he raises his hand yet again. It begins to descend, but another hand grasps his wrist before it can fall again.

"Leave her, fiend." A powerful voice intones.

In abject surprise Necromance turns towards the sound of the voice and his eyes go wide in recognition and fear!

"YOU!" He exclaims in horror.

"Yes I." The Phantom Stranger replies. Holding Lord Necromance's hand still and unmoving. "Your time here is done evil one." He hurls Necromance away, easily and waves his hand at both Superman and Gold'n as their bonds disappear, and Gold'n drops to the ground, unmoving. Superman runs to her instantly.

"Leave her Superman I will tend to her. You must finish off Lord Necromance."

Superman cradles Gold'n's head and turns to stare at the Stranger "How? He turns away my every attack."

"He will no longer."

The Phantom Stranger snaps his fingers and a gleaming suit of ancient armor appears on Superman. Replete with golden helmet, shield and sword.

"It is missing but one thing." The stranger walks over to Super man and touches the breastplate, instantly Superman's "S" insignia appears on the armor. "Now you are complete. Destroy that monster, Superman. He is a dark stain on history."

"With pleasure." Snarls the man of steel as he launches himself at Necromance who has just righted himself.

Superman impacts the sorcerer powerfully, crashing through several cars and trucks on the street, each exploding at his passing through them, shaking the street powerfully!

Without another word he smashes Necromance across the face, with the back of his hand, then follows that up with a balled fist.

Necromance stumbles, bleeding instantly! He fires a mystical blast at Superman, who cleaves it in two with the gleaming sword he holds!

"Th-that armor! That was his armor!" Necromance stammers!

"Yes, the armor of the man you betrayed at the battle or Thermopylae. This was the King of the Spartan's armor, and it is your bane!" The Phantom Stranger roars at Lord Necromance as Superman attacks, punching, slicing chopping with fist and sword, blocking Necromance's mystical attacks with shield and sword alike, then pressing his attack all the more!

"No! I must make my sacrifice! The hour is nigh!" Necromance pleads, showering Superman with mystical energy that falls off the armor, like a simple rain.

"I never kill Necromance, I never thought I could be driven that far again too. But you, you are a devil of another breed. You can't be allowed to live. You would kill again and again and again. You have to be stopped, no matter the cost. Your evil MUST end here and now!"

Superman draws back the sword over his head, ready to deliver the killing blow!

Suddenly the burning sky parts over Superman's head and a voice as if from hell itself roars down stunning all with its power!

"You have failed Lord Necromance. The hour of your sacrifice is past!" a flaming hand points down from the fiery sky, huge in size at Necromance's cowering form.

"P-please! I -I only need a little more time! I can defeat this dog. Please the city's inhabitants will be yours! I just need a little m-more time!" he begs, practically crying in fear.

"Your time is over, Lord Necromance. Eternal damnation awaits!"

The hand reaches down, and grasps Necromance in its grip. His screams start immediately as he is engulfed in flames, and then he and the huge hand disappear.

"Oh my God." Superman exclaims uncharacteristically.

"No Superman, not God. Something far, far worse."

"We have to get the city back to where it belongs, but how? And Gold'n she's still in bad shape. She's barely breathing."

"Leave all of these matters to me, Man of Steel. You have once more saved the day and your city. As always, those who live here are in debt to you."

The Phantom Stranger merely nods and begins to disappear in a plume of smoke, When Superman looks away he realizes the sky is blue overhead and he can hear the gentle lapping of water against Metropolis's shores.

"Ohhhh."

He turns toward the sound of the moan and sees Gold'n struggling to her feet. Her face is clear of any bruises, and she looks fine.

"Wh-what happened to me? I remember that creep hitting me..."

"We were saved Gold'n, it seems by a Stranger." Superman replies wistfully. "Gold'n I have to go now, you know where and why. I'll meet with you tonight if you'd like, to talk about this. Use this Justice League communicator to go to the Watchtower." He hands her a small communication watch-like device, and smiles at her.

Both heroes take to the air and fly away. Gold'n towards Futura city in the distance, and Superman towards home.

Epilogue

In a hell dimension a soul burns over and over, forever tormented. It wears a bent and hobbled body, and is grotesque. It is repeatedly beaten to broken pieces only to reform and be beaten again. The demons doing the beating smile in pleasure. This thing that was Lord Necromance howls in agony, over and over and over again, and will for all eternity...

Next: Downtime

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