Story: "Metropolitan Rapture" (22 Pages)

Credits:

Mark Schultz (plot, script)
Doug Mahnke (pencils)
Jose Marzan Jr. (inks)
Wildstorm FX (colors)
Ken Lopez (letters)
Tom Palmer Jr. and Eddie Berganza (edits)

Feature Character:

Superman (last in Orion #13; next in Action Comics #780)

Guest Stars:

Maxima (last in Superman #159)
Starfire (both next in JLA: Our Worlds at War #1) Grayven
Adam Strange (last three last in Superman: Our Worlds at War Secret Files #1/1)
Massacre
Mongal (next in World's Finest: Our Worlds at War #1)

Supporting Characters:

Lois Lane (last in Adventures of Superman #593); next in JLA: Our Worlds at War #1)
Maggie Sawyer
Jimmy Olsen (last in Batman: Our Worlds at War #1; next in Harley Quinn: Our Worlds at War #1)
Bibbo Bibbowski
Natasha Irons
Pat Dugan (next in JSA: Our Worlds at War #1)
Perry White (last three behind the scenes)

Guest Appearance:

Darkseid (last in Orion #15; next in Action Comics #780)

Synopsis:

Clark Kent wakes up to find himself alongside the rest of the population of Metropolis in somewhere that definitely isn't his apartment. When strange alien beings arrive to say that they are all safe, he uses the distraction to sneak away and into the belly of what he soon discovers is a large spaceship. As he does so, Lois and Maggie Sawyer begin to lead the people of Metropolis by acting as their liaison with the aliens.

Clark/Superman is discovered by some of the alien crew of the ship, who attack him, the fight eventually erupting out of an airlock and endangering the hull of the ship, putting the lives of millions of people at risk. Attempting to seal the breach in the hull, Superman encounters Maxima, who is present along with a collection of other aliens of Superman's acquaintance, both friend and foe. They all try to persuade him that they are acting for Earth's benefit, and that their commander has made contact with Earth's leader and is now preparing to occupy Metropolis. Their arguments get them nowhere, so Adam Strange transports Superman to a place where their enemy, Imperiex, has struck before - an entire Galaxy missing, formerly Maxima's home. Superman is convinced to return to Earth where he'll be most needed, and leave the people of his city to the care of those on the 'space ark'. When he arrives back on earth, he discovers that the leader of the alliance is none other than Darkseid...

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