His world exploded before his birth. Propelled by a futuristic craft powered by a science beyond mans comprehension he arrived on a our world as a baby. Raised as a human by loving, caring parents who instilled in him the difference between right and wrong, he derives his powers from our yellow sun that give him enormous and unheard of abilities ! His massive strength and incomprehensible powers are matched only by the great and true heart that beats within his chest ! He is one of the most powerful champions for truth, justice , and the American way that has ever lived ! A man from the stars ever seeking to make the Earth his home, and to protect that home from evils no one else would have a glimmer of hope against ! He is the man of steel, the man of tomorrow...he is..

Superman #16

Going to War, Part I

By Ralph L. Angelo Jr.

Superman rockets across the sky of Metropolis, one thought burning through his mind. "I'm late, she's going to kill me!"

He pulls up above a certain building, then grasping the corners of his cape, he floats downwards, and enters the building from a rooftop doorway. With one step, Superman is gone, and Clark Kent finishes the step. "She's going to kill me." he repeats, as he walks through an office door down the hallway.

A nurse greets him, "Are you Mr Kent? Your wife is with the Doctor now." She points towards an examining room door.

"Thank you Nurse." Clark answers, as he enters the room.

There, Lois stands , tapping her foot, and staring at her watch as Clark walks in. The Doctor stands with his back to Clark.

"Hello Mr Kent," He begins, "We're glad you could make it."

"Uh, how is she, I mean are they, Doctor."

"We're both fine Clark." Lois answers with a frown.

"Yes they are Mr Kent." The Doctor continues. The baby seems to be doing very well, as is your wife. But your wife is entering her second trimester, and will need some closer monitoring from here on in."

"I'm sure we can get here more often now, Doctor."

"At least one of us can." Lois mumbles, loud enough for both Clark and the Doctor to hear.

"Good Mr and Mrs Kent. I'll want to see your wife every two weeks from now on, Mr Kent."

"That's fine , Doctor." Clark hurriedly agrees.

"Well I think that'll be it for today. See the receptionist at the desk, and she'll give you your next appointment. Have a nice day."

They both walk out the door together, in almost stony silence.

A block later, Lois finally speaks. "Why were you late? Saving the world as usual?"

"Lois, are you going to be this unreasonable through the rest of your pregnancy?" He asks with an edge to his voice.

"No , boy scout. It gets worse from here." She answers icily.

He turns to her, and sighs "Lois... We should be happy and cheerful right now. This is supposed to be the happiest moment of our lives. Look, I'm sorry I was late."

"So just answer me, what were you doing?"

"Umm, I was saving a..."

"What? "She presses on "What were you saving?"

"A-uh... A, a cat. I was saving a cat in a tree."

Lois double over and laughs, almost hysterically.

"You were saving a cat ? In a tree? Husband mine, you are the funniest man on earth. You really are the worlds biggest boy scout, aren't you?"

Clark smiles, "I try honey, I try."

She wraps her arm through his, as they continue to walk. "You keep right on trying Clark, and succeeding. No matter how angry I may get, just remind me of that cat in the tree story, and you'll always bring a smile to my face. Whose cat was it anyway? A little girls?"

He smiles slightly before answering. "You could say that."

"Hhhmmmm. You know your parents are coming out this weekend to visit."

"I know , hon. Ma is as excited about us having a baby as we are, I think. Maybe moreso."

"What about Jonathan? Isn't he thrilled to be a grandfather?"

"You know he is, Lois. But Ma is just gushing."

"I can't wait to see them both."

"Neither can I, honey."

Suddenly, Lois's cel phone rings

"Darn, this must be Perry." She says as she looks at the phones screen, seeing one of the Planets many phone numbers appearing. "Hello Perry, What's up? Yes, everything is fine with the baby. Thanks for asking. Clark? Yes, he's right here, Perry. Sure. I'll be in the office in about an hour. Here he is Perry."

She hands the phone over to Clark, and Perry's voice greets him. "How are you son? You need any advice or help with this? "

Clark smiles before answering, "No Perry, at least not yet, but you can be sure you'll be the first to know if I have any questions."

"Good Clark I- Wait a minute, Clark, something is going on..."

Even as Perry says the words, Clarks ears alert him to an explosion, many miles east of them, on the docks of Metropolis's shoreline.

Clark shuts the phone immediately, and hands it back to his wife. "I have to go."

"Another cat up a tree?" She asks feigning annoyance

"No, and believe me, I wish it was."

"What is it, Clark?"

"Explosion on the docks, and from what I hear, there's a super human involved."

"You better go." She speaks quietly

"I am." Then he leans over and kisses her gently, "I love you."

And with that, he's gone. Leaping into the air, and changing into his costume so fast no one could possibly ever see, streaking away , leaving Lois staring at his wake. "And I love you, my darling husband." She whispers, knowing that he heard her.

A mile and a half away, Superman smiles at her words, but immediately his demeanor becomes all business as his telescopic vision shows him his worst fear confirmed. As he streaks down towards the man holding off the entire SCU, easily. And making a major swath of destruction while he's at it. He's a black man , powerfully built, with long braids of hair running to almost the middle of his back. He wears a black leather vest, open at the chest in a "V" shape. His black leather pants and knee high leather boots complete his outfit.

Superman streaks in, tackling the big man, and smacking him off his feet.

"Ha! I wondered when you'd show up, Blue-boy. Glad I didn't have to destroy the whole damn island to get your attention."

As he speaks, he backhands Superman, surprisingly smashing Superman from him, seemingly easily.

Pow!

Superman pulls up in the air. "Who are you? What are you doing here to my city?"

The enemy smiles, and then speaks. "My name's War Roar, Superman, You're about to find out why."

"RrrrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!" He roars at Superman, as a battering ram of solid sound smashes Superman from the air, and through a building. Then out the other side, trashing several offices as he hurtles through them out of control.

Ba-ROOOMMM!

"Incredible! This War Roar is a serious challenge, one I should meet without holding back."Ponders the Man of Steel

Superman streaks back, flying directly at his foe, who breathes in to unleash another sonic barrage, but he's to late , as Superman connects with a solid left!

Thoom!

War Roar is hurled backwards a city block, taking out several parked cars along the way!

"Not bad.", Shouts the villain, as he extricates himself from the wreckage wrapped around him. "But can you match this?"

He inhales again, and unleashes another blast of sonic energy, only this time at a building behind Superman. Instantly the facade of the brick and steel building shreds, dropping tons of material on top of the astonished man of steel, burying him almost instantly!

Ta-KOOOM!

"Noooooo!" Screams a female voice from above.

"Who th-?" War Roar blurts out , turning towards the sound of the voice, as a streaking Golden form rams into him, both fists first!

Ba-KOW!

War Roar is knocked from his feet, but almost immediately is back on them. "I don't know who you are, chippie." He wipes blood from his lip.. "But you just made yourself an enemy."

"Big deal. Scare me a little more, freak jeans. And FYI, the names Gold'n! Remember it, 'cause it's goin' to be the name of the "Chippie" that kicks your butt!" Gold'n replies.

"Oh I'll do more'n scare you, girly. I'll kill you."

He inhales powerfully, and releases! " RrrrrrrrrrrRRRRRAAAAAAAAOOOORRRRRRR!!!"

Gold'n zips around, and away from the blast, which tears up the building behind her. Suddenly, the wreckage in the street shifts powerfully, and explodes upwards as Superman breaks free. Instantly closing the distance between himself and his foe.

"I don't know what your problem is, War Roar, but I've had enough."

Superman holds nothing back, as his right cross smashes War Roar through another car, and then through a building behind him. Decimating it as he exits its backside, instantly, both Superman and Gold'n are there.

"Now Gold'n, he's yours!"

Instantly she fires her golden energy outwards, knocking War Roar even further back, as Superman flies around behind the tumbling villain, to pound him with a left uppercut, knocking him skywards.

Ba-Thoom!

War Roar drops like a rock, shattering the pavement beneath his thunderous landing. Gold'n races in, but War Roar quickly catches her in his powerful sonic blast while he lays amidst the shattered tar and concrete.

"RrrrrrrrrrrroooooaaaaaaaaRRRRRRRRR!!!!"

"Unnggghhh!" Gold'n shouts in pain, as she's slammed back through yet another building.

"Enough!" Howls an enraged man of steel, as he unleashes his heat ray vision at full power into War Roar in a blinding display of power!

ZZZAAA-KOW!

"AAAHGgghhhh!" Shrieks War Roar in agony

"If you've harmed that girl, there won't be enough of you left to pack into a tupperware container." Bellows Superman, as he pounds War Roar repeatedly, with blows that shake the very street like an earthquake!

Boom! Pa-Toom!

"Got a soft spot for the kid , huh Supes?" The villain chides sarcastically

Nearby, Gold'n pulls herself free of the ruined storefront, as Inspector Dan Turpin , wearing an Armored SCU suit appears, along with several other members of the SCU, and helps her to her feet.

"You okay , kid?"

"Uh, yes. I think so, Inspector. Where'd this guy come from?"

"No idea, kid. He just appeared and started ripping things apart."

"I can't believe he's standing up to Superman, and I know Superman's not holding back." She almost mumbles. Then she turns back towards Turpin. "I have to get back in there. Thanks for helping me."

"Whatareyounuts kid? You can barely stand!" he shouts quickly

"Yeah, but I can still fly." She streaks down the ruined street, towards the combatants, seeking to join the fight once more!

Superman stands toe to toe with War Roar, as fire hydrants lie shattered nearby, bathing both combatants in geysers of water. They exchange powerful blow after blow.

"You're everything he told me you'd be, Man of steel. But I'm better."

"Who told you? What are you talking about, you maniac?"

"You'll find out, when the time comes. But it's not now." He begins to inhale once more, but Superman rockets in at super speed, hammering War Roar with a powerful blow!

Tra-KOW!

"No more, War Roar. No more games, no more sonic blasts. I want answers, and I want them now!" Superman bellows in rage, then, "I finally got to him with that one." Superman thinks, almost incredulously

War Roar shakily gets to his feet, finally showing weakness

"You want answers Superman? Find them yourself."

He snaps his fingers, and suddenly a flaming horse appears from mid air, that he quickly and painfully hops onto, and then gallops away into the sky quickly, before Superman and Gold'n can give chase, he disappears in a burst of light. But his last words echo on the wind back to Supermans sensitive ears "I'll tell you one thing, Man of Steel, history got our names wrong, all four of us..."

"Uh oh," Stammers Gold'n as she lands next to an angry Superman, " I don't like the sound of that."

"You're not alone Gold'n, you're not alone."