Superman Versus Darkseid: Apokolips Now #1

Issue Details

Synopsis

Determined to save his friend John Henry from Darkseid's clutches, Superman now faces Darksied on an asteroid on Apokolips. He recounts how he lead a group of those with Kryptonian DNA (so as not to involve Earth) in an invasion on Apokolips. Here, he makes a bargain with Darksied. If he bests Darksied in single combat, then he gets to take Steel and leave Apokolips, and he will not tell anyone of Darkseid's defeat. If Darksied wins, he gets to keep Superman, Steel, the Entropy Aegis, and the power to remake and destroy the universe. Darkseid, aware that Superman probably isn't being up front with him about everything, accepts the wager, and takes the offensive immediately, attacking the Man of Steel with full-force. They begin trading blows, and both seem evenly matched. Darkseid tells Superman that he's never been bested before, and he doesn't plan on losing now. Superman balls his fists and smacks him back across the asteroid. Darkseid notes Superman's increased strength, and blasts him with his omega beams. Superman uses his heat vision and barely deflects the beams. However, they turn on the Man of Steel again, and he uses his super-speed to fly all around the asteroid, staying just out of reach of the beams. He leads the beams all the way to Darkseid, and flies out of the way just in time, and the beams collide with Darksied, burning him. Meanwhile, the other Kryptonians do battle with the hordes of Apokolips. The Eradicator unleashes his full might upon them, an quickly dispatches the monsters. Meanwhile, Natasha Irons is also able to make her way to the hell planet, and she prepares to enter the city, in the hopes o locating Steel. back on the asteroid, Darkseid continues to pummel the Man of Steel, and as he looms above superman to crush him with a boulder, Superman uses his freeze breath against Darkseid. Meanwhile, Natahsa is teleported to another place on Apokolips, using the power of the Entropy Aegis. She finds herself standing infant of a large statue, made in the likeness of the Aegis. Suddenly, Doomsday begins punching his way out of the statue, and emerges from inside the statue, and he sets his sights on Natasha. She uses her suit's energy blasts against the creature, but this does little to stop the rain juggernaut. Elsewhere, Darkseid and Superman face each other, both catching their breath, weary from the long fight. Darkest threatens to destroy Superman, but the Man of Steel commands Darkseid to give him Steel. Darkest refuses, and attacks him again. Darkest tells Superman that Steel was never meant to be the entropic force because he was too mortal. But Superman tells him that the entropic force was merely incubated inside of Steel, and that it was nurtured to provide a potent fuel, one which would amplify a more powerful entity. Amid the battle against the hordes, Supergirl finishes off the last of them, and uses her telescopic vision and sees Natasha, about to be killed by Doomsday. Kara flies off to her rescue, to the dismay of Eradicator, who asked Kara to hold her position. Meanwhile, Natasha prepares to be killed by the monster, figuring that if it killed Superman, she's no match for it. Suddenly, John Henry, emerges from the statue as well, using the great reserves of energy in the aegis armour. He picks up Doomsday in his hand, and throws him back onto the ground. Superman defeats Darkseid, and he asks simply for the return of his friend, and vows never to tell others the result of the combat. John Henry meanwhile, blasts Doomsday with the powers of the armor, and finally contains the creature before falling unconscious. Superman and the others arrive, and find John on the brink of death. Natasha saves with a transfusion of blood from her. They all return to Earth, where John receives proper medical care. Back on Apokolips, a resistance movement takes an 'S' as its symbol, somehow having gained word of Darkseid's defeat.01