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May 1999 |
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May 1999 |
Continued from 61... Superboy explains to the Kents how he got here through Hypertime, but is stuck. Clark-Superboy offers he stay. With a new disguise, they can be like brothers - except they're ambushed by Black Zero and his Stormguards. Clark-Superboy catches a hyper-bullet and is teleported away! So is Connor-Superboy. (Back home at Cadmus, the officers meet to discuss a replacement for Superboy.) Superboy awakens in Black Zero's headquarters and is shown a pit full of Superboy variants! Black Zero tells his story: On this world, Superman died too. A clone-Superboy was made, but unlike Connor, grew to adulthood. Black Zero and Superboy "are different versions of the same person!" The adult "Superman" was never accepted by the public. When he was ganged by supervillains, many civilians and superheroes died. Congress and the people demanded Cadmus shut down. "Superman" changed his name and tactics. Becoming Black Zero, he remade Cadmas as his fortress with cloned Guardians as an army. With the remaining superheroes, he conquered the world - - and plans to conquer every world where genetix (clones) are endangered. His energy source is Hyperium: a crackling fireball, a "powerful primal force." Metron of the New Gods oversees invasion plans. Superboy scoffs. Black Zero could never take over his world: Superman would stop him. Black Zero counters with a chamber hatching dozens of Doomsdays! Continued... |
In this issue, in the background, two Stormguards escort Knockout to a cell. They whisper to "stick to Prof's plan" because "Ace is right." Who ARE these guys?  |
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June 1999 |
Continued from 62... The multiple Doomsdays get resealed in their chambers by Black Zero: they break out often. Black Zero insists he's not a villain. He only wants to protect the genetix (clones) on every world. Perhaps Director Westfield, one of MANY, can convince Superboy... Except Knockout crashes the party. Hard behind come some of Black Zero's Stormguards, who areactually the Challengers of the Unknown in disguise: Ace, Prof, Red, and June Robbins!  |
Get a close look at the terrific new logo!  |
During a big battle, Knockout learns THIS Superboy is not HER Superboy. Westfield scorched that Superboy as he grabbed the hyper-jacket to teleport and warn other worlds. (That alt-Superboy died in issue 60, launching this adventure.) Knockout pitches Westfield atop the seething Hyperium. Westfield disintegrates - as do ALL the Westfields. Metron explains "the ultimate death". The slightest misstep in Hyperspace can erase every duplicate forever! Black Zero grabs Knockout to test - but the heroes surrender. They're locked in the Doomsday Chamber. The Challengers - Ace Morgan, Red Ryan, Prof Haley, June Robbins - tell their story. They walked into an ever-expanding Tesla field (COTU V3 7 - 9) and wound up in Black Zero's world. Learning of Hypertime, Black Zero set out to conquer other worlds. Metron built a Hyperium Reactor. Unfazed by being lost in time / space / whatever, the Challs escaped and have waged guerrilla war against Black Zero, who complains "the Challengers have been a thorn in my side for too long!" They smuggled themselves from world to world as Black Zero's army moved on - well aware they may never find their home world.  |
Superboy notes his world's Challengers disappeared in the Mojave Desert in the same way: they're the originals! (Less Rocky left behind.)  Superboy uses TK to wrench open the door - as the Doomsdays break free. Knockout shoos the heroes out and seals the door. Without her own Superboy, she'll battle to the death. It's up to Superboy and the Challengers to stop Black Zero... Continued... |
Continue the adventure... |