Story: "Thousand Yard Stare" (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 'Krypto' flashback in Superboy Vol. 3 #91; appears in Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #172 between pages of this issue; next in Superman #173)

Guest Stars:

Maxima (last in JLA: Our Worlds at War #1, next in Superman: The Man of Steel #117)
Hippolyta (between pages of Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #172)
Supergirl (last in Supergirl #60; next in Supergirl #61)
Wonder Woman (between pages of Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #172)

Supporting Characters:

Lex Luthor (last in JSA: Our Worlds at War #1; next in Superman #173)
Frank Rock (last in Adventures of Superman #594; next in Superman #173)
Sam Lane (last in Adventures of Superman #594; dies)
Will Magnus (last in JLA: Our Worlds at War #1; next in Superman #173)
Emil Hamilton (last in Superman #171; next in Superman #173)
Lois Lane (last in Superman: The Man of Steel #116; appears in Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #172 between pages of this issue; next in Superman #173)
Amanda Waller (last in Adventures of Superman #594; next in Superman #173)
Hope and Mercy (last in Adventures of Superman #594)
Black Lightning (next in Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #175)

Villains:

Imperiex Probes (most significant one last in Supergirl #60)
Darkseid (last in Superman: The Man of Steel #116; next in Impulse #77)

Guest Appearances:

Cyborg (last in Titans #25, next in Flash: Our Worlds at War #1)
Starfire (last in JLA: Our Worlds at War #1; next in Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #173)
Tempest II (last in JLA: Our Worlds at War #1; next in Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #173)
Nightwing (last in Nightwing: Our Worlds at War #1; next in World's Finest: Our Worlds at War #1)
Troia (last in JLA: Our Worlds at War #1; next in Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #173)
Arsenal IV (last in JLA: Our Worlds at War #1; next in World's Finest: Our Worlds at War #1)
Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner; between pages of Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #172)

Synopsis:

As he fights Imperiex probes in Africa, Superman's thoughts wander, not truly attending to the issue at hand. Meanwhile, in Washington, Luthor discusses the plan of action against the Imperiex probes that are burrowing into the Earth. The discovery is also made that the Earth truly is the centre of the universe, and its destruction would mean, quite literally, the end. In space, the Paradocs vessel comes under attack from the remaining probes, and Hippolyta discovers that her daughter Wonder Woman has gone out to fight them.

An Imperiex probe makes its arrival in Washington, where it is faced by Supergirl, Black Lightning and tanks manned by Frank Rock and Sam Lane. Lois Lane desperately tries to contact Superman, to call in his help, but all he can see and hear at that moment is Wonder Woman, plummeting to Earth. The probe in Washington gets too close to Luthor's position and Sam Lane orders Black Lightning to overload the engine in his nuclear tank, causing it to explode and take out the probe - Sam Lane goes with it.

Superman discovers that the falling Wonder Woman was Hippolyta, who has sacrificed her life to save the paradocs. Trying to comfort Diana, her daughter, he suddenly realises what has happened to Lois. Arriving in Washington too late, she will not let him comfort her over the loss of her father. His best friend has lost her mother, and he may have just lost his marriage - Superman tells Luthor that he will do whatever it takes to end the war...

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