Story: "The End of the Beginning" (22 Pages)

Credits:

Joe Kelly (plot, script)
Kano (pencils)
Jaime Mendoza (inks)
Rob Schwager (colors)
Comicraft (letters)
Tom Palmer Jr. and Eddie Berganza (edits)

Feature Character:

Superman (last in Superman: The Man of Steel #115; next in Superman #172)

Guest Stars:

Aquaman
Flash III
Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), Plastic Man (latter two last in Orion #13; all four next in JLA: Our Worlds at War #1)
Martian Manhunter (last in Orion #13; next in Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #171; all five with Superman as the JLA)
Darkseid (last in Superman: The Man of Steel #115; next in Superman: The Man of Steel #116)

Supporting Characters:

Lex Luthor (last in Adventures of Superman #593; next in JLA: Our Worlds at War #1)
Hope and Mercy (last in Batman: Our Worlds at War #1; next in Adventures of Superman #594)
Lena Luthor (last in Superman #171; next in Superman: The Man of Steel #116)
Pete Ross (next in Superman #174)

Villains:

General Zod II
Ignition (both next in JLA: Our Worlds at War #1)
Faora (next in Superman: The Man of Steel #116)
Kancer (next in Superman: The Man of Steel #117)

Synopsis:

Superman, backed up by some of his JLA colleagues, confronts Darkseid, whose forces have taken over Metropolis. Darkseid claims to have come in peace, to aid the Earth in its stand against Imperiex. Lex Luthor arrrives on the scene, revealing that as President he is well aware of Darkseid's arrival. He asks the League to help him make preparations, while he sends Superman to deal with 'the General' in Pokolistan, a small nation which has been hostile to the United States recently.

In Pokolistan, Superman faces off against the General. High above the Earth, as the two are locked in combat, the General reveals that his name is Zod, a name which means much to the Man of Steel. Hostilities between them are brought to an abrupt end, however, when a missile streaks past them and impacts on the Earth. For the time being they must call a truce while they defend their planet. In Washington, Luthor is interrupted from a discussion with his daughter by the news that something catastrophic has happened in Kansas...

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