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 #20

Going to War: The Conclusion

Chapter 1

The Villain revealed!

By Ralph L. Angelo Jr.

"Fort Donovan in the middle of Nevada. Suddenly they appeared. All four of them, riding hard across the sky. The soldiers or Fort Donovan immediately rose to the occasion, to their credit, but these beings, these four Horsemen stood up to Superman, and prevailed, what chance do mere human warriors have?"

"Like a wave a death they struck, wiping out everything before them. Leaving the ground where that had struck bare, as if some great storm had wiped the fort and all its occupants from the Earth, as if they never were! Entire elapsed time, four minutes"

"And then the four rode on, disappearing in a flash of light."

"To reappear thousands of miles distant, over China, where they decimated entire regiments of the Chinese military, almost laughingly easily. One again they disappeared, and again reappeared this time over Russia, where they once again destroyed military forces. Wiping out another entire regiment, before disappearing, and reappearing over the 7^th fleet, which as a whole, lasted ten minutes before being sunk and decimated."

The Martian Manhunter pushes a button on the remote he holds, and the images fade from the holographic projector.

Sitting at the JLA conference table is Supergirl, Steel, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) as well as Superboy and Captain Marvel.

"These are the four that Supermans been battling, J'onn?" Asks Supergirl.

"Yes Supergirl, these are the four. According to his reports , in the last few months he's been in several battles with them, none of which he's conclusively won."

"Where is Superman now?" Steel inquires

J'onn breathes heavily, then finally speaks, after sitting down in his own seat, and leaning heavily on the table before him. "That is the problem. Superman has been severely injured."

"Great Hera!" Wonder Woman exclaims, "Where is he? How is he?"

Again J'onn touches the remote in his hands, and a female voice suddenly reverberates around the room.

"This came in an hour ago, on an emergency frequency."

"Help Me! Someone help me! Is anyone there? Please, Supermans been hurt! "

"Who is that?" Supergirl asks.

"That's Supermans young charge, Gold'n." Steel answers, knowingly.

"What happened?" Hal asks, grimly

"Superman and Gold'n fought another of the Horsemen, according to Gold'n, and he saved her from certain death at the villains , this War Axe's hands, by sacrificing himself. She then used a communicator he recently gave her , calling for help on all the frequencies it bore, finally hitting on one of our own."

"I guess that's why you called me in , huh?" Asks Superboy

"Yes Superboy, you Steel and Supergirl are a sort of family for Superman, and I thought your presence here would be somewhere you'd want to be."

"You're right, man." The kid answers emphatically.

"And I assume you wanted me because I'm one of the only guys around who can match Supermans strength?" Captain Marvel asks quietly

"Yes Captain, that's correct." The Martian Manhunter answers stoicly.

"So where's Superman now?" Supergirl nervously presses.

Cut to a hospital in upstate New York, where Superman is hooked up to numerous devices, while Gold'n wrings her hands nervously, as she stands next to his hospital bed.

"I'm so sorry." She whispers to his comatose form.

"It's not your fault." A voice comes from behind her. Gold'n turns, as two legendary figures enter the room.

"Green Lantern? Martian Manhunter?" She stammers out in awe. "I never thought I'd meet you, at least not this soon."

"We've heard great things about you, child." J'onn J'onnz offers, "Superman was very proud of you, and the progress you've made as his student."

"H-he's told you all about me?" wide eyed she asks.

"Of course he did, Gold'n. He is very impressed by your abilities." J'onn J'onnz offers.

Gold'n turns back towards Supermans silent form.

"What can we do for him? How can we save him?"

"Leave that to me." Green Lantern answers.

"Gold'n, you must come with us," J'onn J'onnz orders, "You are the only one who has battled these horsemen , besides Superman. We need your input. As of now, we have sent several others to intercept the Horsemen. They will need your advice, we will need your advice in stopping these other worldly enemies."

"O-of course . But what about Superman? And who'd you send to fight the horsemen?"

Thousands of miles away...

Ba-KOOM!

Steel's hammer smashes the horsemen named Cold War from his mount, sending both to the sandy desert floor far below. The resounding crash sends shockwaves through the ground!

"Stay down, you monster! You dirt bags aren't getting any further."

"Indeed, warriors. Steel speaks for us all!" Shouts Wonder Woman, as she delivers a thunderous right to War Roars jaw, knocking him to the ground.

"The Amazon!" Shouts War Roar to his brethren.

"We see her." Answers War Axe.

"She must fall first, the master will be proud of whoever gets the kill." Yells War Child, with an evil grin.

"You hear that, Wonder Woman?" Asks Captain Marvel , "It sounds like they recognized you."

'Yes, Captain. But I couldn't care less We'll defeat these carrion, and be home in time for supper!"

"So you say, Princess, but you are wrong. Terribly , terribly wrong." Growls Cold War as he extricates himself from the ground. "You will die. You all will."

"Bring it on," Steel roars as he swings his hammer over his head.

"Kill them!" Howls War Child, as he races his flaming horse in, leading the attack. The other Horsemen follow.

Steel hurls his hammer at War Child, who unleashes his seemingly limitless spikes from his arm bands, that immediately slam into the hammer, deflecting it away.

Sha-KOW!

Supergirl rockets towards Cold War, as Captain Marvel heads towards War Roar and Superboy streaks toward War Child, leaving War Axe for Wonder Woman.

"Don't underestimate these enemies, my friends," She begins, "They defeated Superman individually."

"Yeah, well that just means we owe the creepazoids big time!" Superboy answers with a powerful right to War Childs jaw!

Thoom!

"Is that the best you can do, kid?" Asks war Child as he rubs his jaw, "Try this.!"

He fires his deadly barrage of spikes at Superboy, but the spikes bounce off of The Kid.

"Wha? How'd you do that?" asks the stunned War Child.

"It's called tactile telekinesis , creep." Superboy yells as he rams into War Child, smashing him into the ground , driving a furrow a hundred feet back.

Wonder Woman dodges War Axe's swing, ducking below it, and firing off a quick roundhouse kick from her right leg, connecting with his mid section.

Bam!

"Who is your master?" she bellows.

"You'll never know , Amazon. At least not before your death." Answers War Axe, as he smashes her with the flat of the blade across her head, stunning her.

Whack!

Steel flies into War Axe's side, smashing him away from Wonder Woman

Ta-Kow!

"Get away from her!" he shouts angrily , as he pounds War Axe repeatedly with fist and Hammer!

"Idiot!" War Axe howls as he slams his Axe into Steels Hammer with a resounding

BOOM!

Both big men are knocked off their feet by the impact.

Captain Marvel races overhead to intercept War Roar.

"Fall Captain! RooooAAARRRRRR!"

War Roar unleashes a sonic blast, knocking Captain Marvel from the sky instantly!

"Unnnggghh!" Grunts Captain Marvel as he slams into the dirt. "Holy Moly! This is incredible! I can't get close to him." he thinks.

Wonder Woman is back on her feet, grappling with War Axe, as Supergirl drops to the ground, encased in a block of ice!, which shatters on impact!

Crash!

Supergirl crawls from the wreckage of the ice block as Cold War peppers her with ice from his flaming horse, laughing constantly.

.

Elsewhere... a mysterious figure watches from a throne , around him are weapons of war from every age and time, as he watches the battle in rapt interest, before finally speaking. "So, this is the end game. Superman is defeated, these fools are mere instants from death. This was destiny! Soon this world will be embroiled in constant, eternal war! And I will be the victor, for all time! But am I not the God of war? Am I not Ares?"

End Chapter one

Chapter two

Last Rites.

Back at the hospital room in Upstate New York... Supermans comatose form is watched over by Green Lantern, as Gold'n and Martian Manhunter prepare to leave.

"A-are you sure he'll be all right?" The diminutive Golden girl asks apprehensively

"I can't guarantee anything, Gold'n. He's hurt very badly, especially for him. But I will promise you we'll do all we can." GL answers as he places his hand on her worried shoulder.

"We'll? Who's we?" she questions.

Suddenly, as if on cue, a burst of light and smoke appears in the rooms center, revealing a stunningly beautiful woman at its center.

"Zatanna! Glad you could make it. Superman needs all our help right about now." Green Lantern greets her appropriately.

"Thanks You, Green Lantern. You know I'm always available for league business. And we all owe Superman so very much that could never be repaid."

Zatanna stares at Supermans wound, her eyes wide at the severity of it.

"Well, it is mystic in nature, but there's a lot of physical damage too, as I assume the Doctors have told you. I...I think I can cure the mystic. But the body damage is another story."

"I'll handle that. Just see if you can remove the mystic plague that's killing him right now." Hal concludes.

"Gold'n, we have to go." J'onn states simply. "We'll do no one any good staying here. Those horsemen are tearing up the team I sent to intercept them, as we speak. They need us."

"I-I understand Mr Manhunter." She walks over to Supermans still form, and stares at him, her eyes tearing over. "I'm so sorry I did this to you."

J'onn places his hands on her shoulders from behind. "You did not do this , child. Those that are responsible must be made to pay."

She turns to face him. "They will pay. I promise, they will."

Wordlessly, she opens a window and flies out it, as J'onn phases through the wall, stopping halfway to say goodbye to Hal and Zatanna.

Once outside, Gold'n turns to him, tears streaming down her glowing face. "It's not easy being a hero sometimes, is it?"

"No child. It's never easy."

She takes a deep breath, and one last look towards Superman, before rocketing off in a burst of golden light , following the Martian Manhunters trail.

"There they go." Hal states quietly.

"Yes, and here we go." Zatanna answers as she prepares herself.

"Secrof fo eht thgil, evird tuo eht kard. Siht dlrow sdeen sti seoreh dna sith eno yllaicepse , laeh sith dnuow fo citsym nigiro ,os taht eht tseithgim fo eht ythgim thgim evas su lla ecno erom!" *

*Translation: "Forces of the light drive out the dark. This world needs its heroes, and this one especially, heal this wound of mystic origin, so that the mightiest of the mighty might save us all once more!"

And then Supermans form begins to glow...

Over the battlefield... The Martian Manhunter and Gold'n streak through the sky, towards the inevitable confrontation.

"There they are, Gold'n."

"Yeah, I see 'em. I got dibs on War Axe."

"Gold'n, wait!" Shouts the Manhunter.

To late! The Golden Girl streaks away, becoming a blur! Fists forwards, anger furrowing her brow, Gold'n rockets like unto a missile towards her target.

Ba-KOOM!

She impacts War Axe with a concussive force that shakes the very ground! All eyes turns towards the sound of impact, friend and foe alike stop and stare in astonishment!

Wonder Woman recovers her composure first!

Ka-TOW!

She heaves a roundhouse punch at War Roar, decking him impressively!

"You idiots think you can beat us? No one can!" Screams War Child, as he fires his deadly spikes from his wrist bands and suit at them all.

Wonder Woman deflects countless spikes with her bracelets, as Superboy uses his tactile telekinesis to do the same.

"Get behind us! "Shouts the boy of steel.

"No! There's a better way!" Roars Steel as he heaves his hammer at War Child.

But suddenly the hammer is encased in ice, and drops to the ground.

"Haha! Lets see what you've got without your toy, Steel."

"You wanna get up close about this, Cold War? No problem!"

Steel rockets into the horsemen, slamming him backwards at almost supersonic speed.

Nearby, Supergirl is backhanded by the powerful War Roar.

"Ha! Give it up, cutie! You ain't got a chance!"

"That's funny, dirtbag. That's pretty much what the Cyborg said as well."* She answers, as her eyes begin to flame and spark, as a powerful psychokinetic blast erupts from her brow, enveloping War Roar as he lets out a horrible scream of agony

"AAAAAAAAHhhhhhhhhhhh..."

*Supergirl is referring to Supergirl #5, a Cold Armageddon cross over issue.

War Roar drops to his knees , as Supergirl dives in for the kill.

"Finally, one of you creeps is going down!"

Across the battlefield, the war rages, as Gold'n and the Martian Manhunter attack War Axe, nearby, Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman engage War Child, and the deranged villain laughs at them, as they press against their foe mightily!

Superboy dives towards Supergirl as she grabs War Roar by the hair and rips him upwards!

"No!" Yells the Boy of Steel! To late! As War Roar fires a sonic blast point blank into Supergirls face, slamming her into Superboy, and smashing them both form the sky.

"Great Hera!" Exclaims Wonder Woman, as War Child kicks her away powerfully!

Boom!

Captain Marvel streaks in and delivers a flying right that lifts the evil War Child and dumps him a city block away!

Ta-KOW!

"Holy Moly Wonder Woman, are you alright?"

Captain Marvel helps the Amazon princess to her feet.

"No Captain, I am not alright. These Horsemen have fought us to a standstill on every account, we must defeat them, the fate of the world depends on it!"

As she speaks suddenly Steel flies by out of control, and haphazardly, his powerful form landing with a loud

CLANG!

Both heroes turns towards the direction Steel came from, to see Cold War slapping his hands together, as if to rub dust from them.

"That's three down, who's next?" The Villain taunts.

Then, a rift in reality forms, a cut in the fabric of the very air in the midst of their see saw battles, and a figure begins to step through.

"Do not play with these earthly heroes," The voice coming from the rift bellows, "Destroy them!"

A leg steps through, then the rest of the body, as Wonder Woman gasps!

"You! Ares! "

She leaps at the God of War, as Captain Marvel follows her into the air

"Yes witch, and this time, you lose!"

As he speaks, two mystic hammers appear in his hands, and he strikes both heroes simultaneously!

Thra-FOOM!

"Unngghh!" Grunts the Big Red Cheese, as he immediately jumps to his feet, only to be tackled from behind by Cold War.

Captain Marvel elbows the Cold warrior in the head breaking free, but is immediately attacked again by Ares, who slams him in the stomach with a powerful left hammer blow!

Thoom!

The hammer blow doubles Captain Marvel over, as Cold War kicks him in the face, snapping him back, and Ares finishes the job, swinging both hammers together, into Captain Marvel, sending him to the ground, unconscious!

Pa-KOW!

Wonder Woman, meanwhile struggles to her feet once more

"Ares! You blight upon the Gods, I'll send you back to Hades, where you belong!" she shouts as she readies to battle the God of War once again.

But suddenly she's grabbed from behind, and snapped through the air, by War Roar. "You die , witch!" He roars as he unleashes yet another sonic blast, directly into her airborne form!

"RRRRRRRoooooooooaaaaaOOOOAARRR!!!!!"

He howls, as she's thrown from the sky, to land at Ares feet, where he stands gloating before delivering the coup de gras. He grabs her by her hair, pulling her stunned form upwards until he's face to face with her.

"You are mine, woman. "

He punches her in the face, knocking her unconscious.

Boom!

The villains turn towards War Axe, as Gold'n and the Martian Manhunter continue to fight side by side, smashing the fourth horsemen towards defeat. The Golden Girl continues to use her great speed as a weapon in distracting her enemy. While J'onn pounds the massive, helmed villain again and again.

"Get clear, J'onn!" Gold'n shouts, as she unleashes her force blast,

Zaaa-KOW!

War Axe doubles over, as J'onn adds his flash vision to the attack, dropping their foe to the ground.

"To his side!" Roars Ares, "The earthly interlopers must fall!"

Suddenly the Martian Manhunter and Gold'n are enveloped by the combined powers of all three remaining horsemen!

SSShhhhh-KOOM!

Ice, sonic roars, a deadly barrage of mystic spikes, and the remaining two heroes drop to the ground, both insensate.

Aries walks over and places his boot upon Wonder Womans head.

"And so it ends. Now, no one can stop us! Hahahahahahahaah~!"

In deep space, above the Suns corona, Green Lantern floats , with him is a green hued life support cylinder, and inside the transparent cylinder lies Superman.

"I pray this works, Superman. I can't think of anything else that might save you. Zatanna purged your body of the mystic disease, but there's damage that's been done. This will either save you my friend, or kill you. God speed."

Then, Green Lantern sends the cylinder into the Sun itself, where it disappears. And the Lantern begins to wait. Wait, and pray...

End Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Return of the hero!

Green Lantern watches worriedly, as the Sun continues its eternal tumult , as waves of solar matter reach for the stars, then recede, over and over. After many moments, Hal Jordan finally sighs inwardly, and with a final, sad farewell for his longtime friend and fellow warrior, Green Lantern turns towards earth, and begins to gird himself for the final battle.

He turns one last time towards the glowing golden orb behind him, and as he does his eyes go wide!

Tearing out of the Sun, before Hals astonished eyes is a figure bathed in cosmic flame! Glowing golden orange, and rocketing past Green Lantern, Superman has returned!

"Come on Hal, we have a world to save!"

Minutes later, both heroes are standing in space above the Earth, hovering above a certain spot, miles above the planets surface.

"How are you feeling, Kal?" Green lantern asks .

"Don't worry about me, Hal. I'm fine, if a little singed around the edges."

Both men stare down at the earth spinning seemingly slowly below them.

"What do you see , Superman?"

"Chaos. Our friends are all beaten, and tied together with some sort of mystic chains , and their being paraded behind war horses of some kind. They're tied to a platform that these flaming horses are dragging across the ground, before the horsemen. The horsemen and their master."

"Their master? Who is it?" Hal exclaims

"Ares." Is Supermans only answer.

"C'mon. Let's do this." Superman begins to drop down when Hal stops him.

"Wait Superman, my ring is sensing something else." He has his ring display a wide pattern and cover the Earths image, where suddenly lines criss cross its surface.

"The Ley Lines." Superman exclaims.

"Yes, Ley lines. And I think I know what's going on here, at least what the ring can discern. Ares is using our friends as a sort of battery, drawing their powers, their lives from them with those mystic chains to power something else."

"To power what , Lantern? What did I miss here?"

Green Lantern turns towards Superman solemnly, and fear shows in his eyes.

"Superman, he's trying to revert the world to the form it was thousands of years ago. Those ley lines, are the key. How he's doing it, I don't know."

"I do. I discovered some devices his horsemen were planting around the globe while I was battling one or the other of them*. They were drawing my attention while their brethren planted more of those mystic...things. This whole Four Horsemen attack was a ruse to merely occupy me, while he followed his true goal, turning the Earth back to a point in time it was at thousands of years ago, when the Greek Gods and their ilk ruled mens hearts and minds."

*See last issue

"And now he's using our friends as batteries to power that transformation. We have to stop him, Superman."

"Yes Green Lantern, we do."

Both men begin to descend to the planets surface quickly.

"Superman, I'll take care of the mystic chains, freeing our friends, you get Ares."

"That will be a pleasure, Green Lantern. But I also owe War Axe as well."

Then they increase their speed. No more words need be said as both men rocket towards destiny.

Below, Ares, God of War gloats. Nothing can stop him now. Superman is dead, his friends are captured and are now empowering his device of transformation. Life is good , thinks the God of War.

All around the world , people watch in stunned horror as their homes and belongings begin to revert to a semblance of what they might have been thousands of years ago. Their Gucci suits and team T shirts alike are transformed to ragged, rough hewn sack-like clothing. Cars become horse drawn carts. Brick and steel houses become rows of thatched huts, and paved superhighways suddenly are dirt trodden mud paths, and the world entire shudders and fears!

Ares smiles triumphantly! The carnage about him is satisfying indeed!

BA-Ra-KOOOM!

Suddenly, inexplicably and very painfully, The God of War is smashed from the where he stood amidst his flags and weapons of war! He's rammed into by a powerful form, faster then a speeding bullet! His body is tossed about as if he was run into by something more powerful then a locomotive! And then he's suddenly rocketed upwards, as if his enemy could leap the tallest building in a single bound! Then he's hurled to the ground, and as he falls, he looks up in the sky above him and see's something like a vengeful bird! But faster, like unto a speeding plane! And then he knows! He knows who and what it is! It is Superman!

And his evil and eternal heart knows fear!

Nearby, the four Horsemen look towards their master, stunned at the sudden turn of events.

"How could he have survived? I killed him, I know I did!" Screams War Axe angrily

"I guess you better check the body next time." Answers Cold War

"Uh guys?" War Child implores

"What is it twerp?" Growls War Roar

"Uh, up there." War Child answers fearfully.

All their heads turn upwards in time to see a huge glowing green cruise ship with the words 'Bigger then the Titanic' written on its bow suddenly land upon them, burying itself and them beneath the desert sands!

THA-KA-FOOOM!

Suddenly, the weakened heroes look upwards as a pair of gigantic green bolt cutters appear from thin air and cut their mystic chains, freeing them all from the stone and wood block they had been attached to.

They all drop to the ground, immediately fighting to regain their feet.

"C'mon people. Those goons aren't gonna remain buried for long."Steel admonishes.

"Hal!" Shouts the Martian Manhunter as Green Lantern soars overhead.

"Get ready people, this is the final battle. It's now or never, and these goons have to be put down for the count. Either we win it all here, or this planet is doomed to an eternity of war." The Green Lanterns ring amplified voice carries over to them all.

Above, Superman grasps Ares by the collar, and backhands him savagely

Ba-KOOM!

"Did you think I was just going to lie down and die while my planet, my world was overrun by you and you puppets, Ares?"

"Unnggggh!" Grunts the God of War. "I almost had you beaten, alien. I had your mind racing in every direction, but the proper one. I even left you clues, naming my lieutenants 'War' . But still you missed them all, so perfect was my deception!"

"Not perfect enough, you sadistic maniac!" Superman shouts as he slams Ares away from him with a powerful left.

Below, the ground trembles and quakes ,as the four horsemen of Ares explode upwards from the buried sand, like demons from mythological tome. Only this time there are heroes to meet them, and deal with them on their own terms!

"Steel, you and Supergirl take on Cold War" J'onn J'onnz Mental voice urges, "Superboy, you and Gold'n will handle War Child. Captain Marvel, you and I will take on War Axe, leaving War Roar to Green Lantern and Wonder Woman. Teamwork is our only hope."

"NO!" Shouts Diana, princess of the Amazons! "Ares is mine!"

She immediately leaps skywards, rocketing towards Superman and Ares.

"Let her go , J'onn." Hal Jordan admonishes, "The lady has an awful big mad on right about now!"

The battle is joined! Supergirl and Steel attack Cold War.

"You ready for round two, punk?" Grunts Steel as he flings his hammer into Cold War.

Ba-KOOM!

It connects before the villain can move! And instantly Supergirl attacks , flying in and slamming through Cold Wars defenses with a psionically augmented punch!

Tra-FOOM!

"Aaarrggh!" Yells the Cold Warrior, as Steel and Supergirl continue to rain blow upon blow on him, before he can even unleash one cold blast!

Nearby, Gold'n and Superboy attack War Child, something the long haired gangly minion of Ares does not favor!

"G-get away from me you psycho chick!" he yells as he unleashes his spikes from his arm bands and outfit in a torrent of fury!

"What's the matter, geek boy. You don't wanna get up close and cuddly? To many bad memories about the last time we partied?" The Golden girl taunts, as she unleashes a blast of energy!

SHOOOM!

War Child is knocked from his feet, but almost instantly is back on them , leaping like a caged animal at Gold'n, but then Superboy is there, flying through the air, and tackling War Child, dropping them both to the sand.

"You ain't touchin' her, you punk rock reject!"

"Says who, crew cut boy?" War Child responds by kicking Superboy away!

Thoom!"

"Says me, Superboy! Dig the 'S' ?"

As he speaks, Superboy jams his hands into the sand, and using his tactile telekinesis creates an instant sandstorm, burying War Child immediately in the deadly pelting torrent!

Martian Manhunter leaps to the attack! As Captain Marvel punches War Axe with a downwards blow, as War Axe unleashes another left, knocking Captain Marvel backwards. Instantly the Manhunter is there!, his arm stretches outwards and pummels War Axe long distance.

Pow!

"Unngh! Well hit Martian! Superman himself couldn't have done any better. But this will still not save you. The future is already written, and Ares' name is upon it. And those who serve him will bask in the glory of a new era. The era of Ares!"

"I don't think so." Answers J'onn calmly and menacingly, as he fires his flash vision into his enemy, who raises his Axe to block it! But then Captain Marvel is there! Streaking in with the speed of mercury to smash War Axe away powerfully!

Ta-BOOM!

"You creeps aren't going to win that easily, War Axe! Not if I have anything to say about it!" Captain Marvel admonishes.

Green Lantern streaks across the sky, as War Roar, aboard his flaming steed follows him.

"Prepare to meet your God, Green Lantern. You're going down!"

Hal turns in mid air, coming to a quick stop, then darting under War Roars hurtling horse.

"I don't think so , War Roar!" Hal smiles as he speaks, creating a giant bat that slams War Roar and his steed away, to the ground.

THOOM!

The two drop like rocks, to impact the sand powerfully!

Slowly, War Roar crawls to his feet, as he hears a loud galloping sound.

"What th-." He turns, as a gigantic green ring created polo player, 20 stories high bears down on him, and then swinging his mallet as if he was striking a ball, he slams War Roar a hundred yards!

BAM!

War Roar crawls shakily to his feet once more and turns towards Green Lantern, instantly unleashing his sonic roar!

"rrrrrrrrrrrRRRRAAAAAOOOOOAAARRRR!"

Green Lantern merely darts out of the way, and then creates a bazooka like device in thin air that fires a green energy beam outwards, burying War Roar beneath the shifting desert sands!

Ba-KOOM!

Wonder Woman attacks the God of War, raining blow after high impact blow upon him!

"You will fall, evil God! I'll make sure you never return to plague mankind again!" She angrily rants, as nearby Superman glances around the battlefield.

"Things seem to be seesawing back and forth every moment, but I think momentum is finally going our way." Thinks the man of steel.

Suddenly Ares slaps Wonder Woman away, as a grim black blade instantly appears in his hand as he swings it mightily, aiming for her neck!

"Die witch!" He exults with an insane gleam in his eyes!

Faster then the eye can follow, Wonder Woman blocks the deadly blade on her right wrist band, then kicks Ares back with her left leg!

Tra-KOW!

"Not by your hand, you evil fool!" She shouts defiantly.

Superman is there, then. Grasping Ares by the arm, crushing his wrist, seeking to make him drop the sword, but Ares is strong! As strong as a God, he punches Superman with his powerful left, knocking the stunned man of steel back a step!

"Not bad , Ares. But nowhere near good enough. This ends here and now. We'll stop you and your minions once and for all, Ares. I promise you that."

The God of War flips the blade from one hand to the other, and a medieval shield appears in his grasp on the free arm.

"You will die . Superman. That is the only promise that will be fulfilled!"

Ares attacks, swinging the blade in a howling, whistling arc towards Superman, who suddenly moves so fast as to seemingly disappear! He rockets around to Ares side, and smashes his jaw with a bludgeoning left.

Ba-KOOM!

Then Superman speeds to Ares other side, and unleashes a crushing right!

Ta-KOW!

Ares stumbles, swinging his sword through the air towards Superman, who quickly ducks below it, and punches his right fist upwards, smashing Ares jaw, and throwing him a hundred yards!

Ba-BOOM!

The God of War lands like a sack of wheat, as the weapons clatter from his grasp.

"N-no." He mutters through bruised lips. "The plan was perfect. I can not fail. Not now when the world entire was within my grasp to remake."

He seeks to get to his feet. But two sets of red boots greet him. One is on a pair of curvaceous legs, the other belong to...

"Superman." The God of war spits disdainfully.

"It's over Ares. Stand down. You've lost."

"No Superman. Not now, nor ever! I am the God of war! I will plunge this orb yet into the throes of glorious battle for all eternity! Perhaps not today, but soon, very , very soon!"

And then he disappears in a puff of hellish smoke, his minions disappearing with him, all four in various mods of distress.

All around the weary heroes stare at each other, as Gold'n is the first to speak.

"Is that it? Did we win?"

"Yes Gold'n." Superman smiles, "We won, at least for now."

"He will pay for this." Wonder Woman glows angrily , "Ares will pay! And by Hera, I will be the collector of that debt!"

Everyone else merely sighs, fatigued and thankful it's all over. Gold'n flying quickly towards Superman, hugging him tightly.

Epilogue...

A dozen hours later, Superman sits on the roof of the Daily Planet, as a green glowing male figure descends from above.

"How is everyone, Hal?"

"They all have various wounds of varying severity, but no one is seriously injured beyond repair. Basically, they're all exhausted."

"Can't say I blame them. I'm beat myself." Superman sighs tiredly

He turns to his life long friend.

"I want to thank you, Hal. If not for you I would have died. If you hadn't immersed me in the Sun, and supercharged my dying body, right now I'd be dead a second time. And this time, there'd be no coming back from the abyss."

"Don't over dramatize this Kal. I did what anyone else would have."

"No Hal, I don't think anyone else would have had the presence of mind to take the chance and do what you did. If you hadn't come back from the seemingly dead yourself, I've no doubt I would never have seen my child be born, and that child would have been born into a world of eternal war. You're coming back guaranteed me a chance of beating Ares. Thank you."

The two heroes shake hands.

And then Superman begins to lift off the rooftop, as the sun begins to peak its head over the early spring sky.

"Where are you going, Superman?" Green Lantern asks as he flies up besides him.

"Home, old friend, to see my wife, and to kiss her good morning."

And with that, both living legends streak away in opposite directions, to greet the new day, a day better off for them both being in it. A day now filled with hope instead of fear.

Kryptonian Komments C/O CptMarvell@aol.com

Whew. Am I glad that's over with! The past five issues were a labor of love, especially this one, which took me three weeks to get to where I wanted it to be, and the story turned out exactly as my feeble mind envisioned. Sometimes, plans do come together! I hope you all really enjoyed this story arc. If you did, I have one thing to say. Wait until issues 23-26. This one's gonna pale in comparison to what I have planned. Blockbuster doesn't even describe it. If you thought I put ol' Clark through hell and back this time around, well all I can say is stick around and fasten your seat belts, cause the flights about to get rocky. So far it's been smooth flying comparitively.

So let me know how you liked this issue and the preceding four. I really enjoyed writing it, and lately, I think I'm doing my best writing on Superman as opposed to anywhere else. What do you all think?

As always, your buddy, Ralph.