Story: "Born of Thunder, Born of Flame" (22 Pages)

Credits: John Byrne (plot, script, pencils, inks, letters); Lee Loughridge (colors); Paul Kupperberg (edits)

Feature Characters: Highfather (last in New Gods Vol. 3 #15; also in flashback in between pages 12 and 13 of New Gods Vol. 1 #1 and in flashback in between pages 16 and 17 of New Gods Vol. 1 #1); Takion (last in New Gods Vol. 3 #15; next in #3)

Guest Star: Thor (Asgardian god of thunder; last in Sandman Vol. 2 #...)

Supporting Character: Vayla (first appearance; Izaya's second wife; dies in flashback)

Villains: Darkseid (last in New Gods Vol. 3 #15; next in issue #3), Tigra; Kalkus (first appearance; a servant of Darkseid's; next in issue #6)

Guest Appearances: Ares (Greek god of war), Artemis (Greek goddess of the hunt), Aphrodite (Greek goddess of beauty), Pan (Greek god of discord), Hera (queen of the Olympian gods), Zeus (Greek god of thunder, ruler of the Olympian gods), Hermes (Greek god of speed), Apollo (Greek god of light; all in flashback); Vayla's unnamed father (first appearance; in flashback)

Comment: This issue retells the origin of the Fourth World, incorporating much of New Gods Vol. 1 #1 and #7 redrawn by John Byrne with some added details.