EPISODE 7: ACTION COMICS VOL.1, ISSUE #545 - 546, '...WITH BUT A SINGLE STEP' AND 'SHOWDOWN'

The Last Sons of Krypton return to discuss what Action Comics 544 delivered last episode - the coming of the new Brainiac!

Ol' Brains certainly does like causing mischief, and he's no different here- forcing the Man of Steel to call in help from the Justice League of America and the Teen Titans no less!

There's more chit chat between the families of El and Zod, about Supes on the idiot box, and other comic related yarns!

Is no one safe from the Last Sons of Krypton?

SHOW NOTES:

• Action Comics Vol. 1, issue #545
• Action Comics Vol. 1, issue #546
• Tyler Hoechin Clark Kent
• Alley McBeal
• cdn.com/thumbor/VtlHg5lE1VB4830r3DssqCFPbmU=/81x0:967x591/920x613/filters:focal(81x0:967x591):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46711910/supermanlives2.0.0.jpg"> Early Nic Cage costume test
• death-of-superman-lives-what-happened.jpg"> Later Nic Cage costume test
• Documentary on Cage/Burton Superman movie
• Crisis on Infinite Earths
• "The Master Programmer"
• Rick Remender's Uncanny X-Force
• Smallville Hawkman
• Damnation Podcast Crossover

SYNOPSES:

Written by Connor-El

The Journey to Conquer the Universe begins with but a single step

With Superman defeated and at his Mercy, Brainiac takes him to his skullship to be analysed for any secrets his physiology may hide. Meanwhile the natives of Systus 2 wonder if they are free, to which Brainiac responds with a violent blast from his skullship, scattering the survivors.

Brainiac carries a paralysed Superman inside his ship, explaining that he and his ship are now one as he inserts himself to the master hub and starts analyzing Superman. He explains his vision before the big bang, that he saw a giant hand reaching toward him and Superman's face, making Superman his angel of Death, destined to destroy him. After Brainiacs Analysis he slides his fingers into the central computer and begins to kill Superman with his power. However as he does this, the natives of Systus 2 launch Plasma missiles at Brainiacs ship. While Brainiac devotes some energy to dealing with the attackers, Superman takes advantage and slips away, albeit still without his powers.

Brainiac notices and his ships interior defence systems start trying to stop Superman. As Brainiac is distracted however 2 missiles pierce the hull of his ship. Enrage Brainiac brutally retaliates and destroys the planet. He then shows this to the natives he had abducted previously, and tells them to prepare for battle.

Superman meanwhile, has to use his wits to survive, after some close calls he eventually triumphs over Brainiacs defences, steals his shuttle and escapes from the skull ship.

Brainiac sees this and gives chase, they race through an asteroid field where Superman eventually crashes into one. Much to Brainiacs horror however, Superman emerges his powers restored. Superman engages Brainiacs ship as the tentacles shoot out to stop him. During Superman's fight with them, Brainiac launches another homing Red Sun torpedo. Superman has no choice but to try escape it, and after flying through space with the torpedo continuously gaining he makes a desperate gamble and flies into the heart of a yellow sun, whereupon the torpedo disintegrates. He returns to find Brainiac gone, warped so far not even his telescopic vision can pick him up. No doubt to recoup and plan his next attack. Superman then returns to metropolis, to work and the life of Clark Kent, while he worries that he alone may not be able to stop Brainiac.

Meanwhile, in a distant star system Brainaic's Skull ship looms over a decimated planet. He has destroyed 2 planets and taken all his warriors. He has armed himself fully, and re-evaluated his strategy. This time, he says, Superman will be destroyed.

Showdown!

Superman sits on his central computer in the fortress of solitude trying to get data on the new Brainiac. He gets up a schematic of Brainiac and discovers he is made of living Metal, before the computer crashed.

Superman leaves the fortress in frustration, going to his apartment to get some R&R as Clark Kent, when he is called into work by his boss Morgan Edge. After spotting Brainiacs skullship with his telescopic vision however, he snaps at Edge and flies off to the Justice League watchtower to get help against Brainiac. He enters amidst Wally West (Kid Flash) asking Barry Allen Flash advice on whether to continue being a teen titan or stay in school. Superman informs them of Brainaic's arrival and his need for help, while the rest of the Justice League is summoned Wally offers the help of the Teen Titans, which Superman gratefully accepts.

Several minutes later, the whole JLA and Teen Titans are assembled, and start discussing a plan when Brainiacs ship is spotted over New York City. Brainiac starts deploying the armies he collected, all mind controlled and using his technology.

The JLA and Teen Titans go swiftly to New York and engage the armies in battle.

As the battle rages cyborg states they need to go after Brainiac himself, Star Fire attempts this and attacks Brainiac's ship but is knocked back and stunned by his forcefield, with Red Tornado catching her.

Superman meanwhile, agrees with Cyborg but is being chased by a few of Brainiac's soldiers, who are all outfitted with Red Sun lazers weaponised into lethal force. In addition, Brainiac has outfitted his soldiers with gear that leeches off Superman's powers, temporarily powering them before disintegrating them, which Superman only realises after trying to lose them by digging through a mountain and seeing them disintegrate.

Superman flies to his fortress to try and find an answer on how to defeat Brainiac but his computer is still fried. He realises that the last time it stopped working was due to high sunspot activity which plays havoc with electronic devices.

Meanwhile the battle in between the JLA, the Titans and Brainiac's armies rages on, but they are outnumbered and the Flash is wounded. Superman flies up into space, and Brainiac gives pursuit figuring Superman has come up with some plan. Superman is indeed trying to bait brainiac into following him to the sun, but Brainiac hits Superman with his powerful tractor beams. Superman realizes Brainiac is putting all of his power into the beams, so flies towards the planning to break through the hull, forcing Brainiac to stop the beams and put up his forcefield. Superman bounces off it and flies toward the sun, Brainiac following and not understanding Supermans plan.

As Brainiac's ship draws to the surface of the sun, Superman creates great winds to cool the surface and create the effects of Sunspots. Brainiac starts losing power and shutting down, but suddenly he uses his backup power to go into Hyperspace and escape, all too quick for Superman to stop him.

With Brainiac gone, the warriors return to their senses and Superman promises to find them a new planet to live on. Superman and Wonder Woman then look into the sky, hoping that when Brainiac returns, they will be ready.

The music for this episode contains excerpts from various songs and is copyrighted by Styzmask. The music used on Last Sons of Krypton - A Superman Podcast is licensed under an Attribution License;