Superman: Doomsday

Just look at him.

So sleek, so powerful...

...so beautiful.

Like some great golden god made flesh.

Of course, any sensible god would demand absolute obedience...

...in return for his favor.

But, no, our Man of Steel protects us and keeps us...

...with no strings attached.

And the people, hmm...

...they practically worship him anyway.

Enjoy your reign while you may, Superman.

For as surely as night follows day...

...there comes a time when even gods must die.

I don't care how many weeks you spent on that story, Lane.

The Daily Planet is not about to attack a charity organization.

You know Lex Luthor couldn't care less about the homeless, chief.

It's a front to siphon money back to LexCorp...

...so he can fund the manufacture of high-tech arms...

...to sell on the black market.

Allegedly.

Look, how many exposés do I have to write before Metropolis wakes up...

...and sees through Luthor's philanthropy shtick?

As many as it takes.

But it helps to have a smoking gun.

You sure you're not on LexCorp's payroll, chief?

You've been mighty soft on the prince of darkness lately.

Excuse me for not wanting to be sued for libel, again.

Well, LexCorp's going down...

...whether it's me or Superman who does it.

If it's Superman, that makes it news, and I'll be happy to print it.

Kent, shouldn't you be on your way to the airport?

I always make my flight, chief. Just packing the last of my things.

Well, don't forget to write.

Sure thing, Perry.

Articles, Kent, articles. That's what foreign correspondents do.

Perry's really broken up about you leaving.

Ah, he'll miss me when I'm gone, Jimmy.

Well, I'm off to Afghanistan, Lois.

Happy trails, Smallville.

Guess I'll be seeing you.

Don't step on any landmines.

Two miles below Earth's surface.

Even Superman can't see us here.

Luthor's sure to be happy about that.

-Heat's fricking unbearable. -Yeah, forget Luthor and his happiness.

"I shall invent a new energy source...

...by harnessing radiation emitted from the Earth's core."

And rake in billions while we drown in our own sweat.

Don't be surprised if he asks us to dig straight to hell.

We're halfway there already.

"Insert a diode catheter into Satan's rectum...

...run a feed back to LexCorp, and crank up the juice."

"Keep Metropolis' power grids burning bright until the end of time."

Whoa! Dr. Murphy.

-What is it? -I'm no scientist.

You tell me.

Lex.

Oh.

Get this to Biochem, hand-carry only. Keep it off the interlink.

I know the drill, Lex. What is it, the cure for cancer?

Muscular dystrophy.

I can cure every known case with a simple inoculation.

Have Swan find a way to slow it to a crawl...

...turn it into a lifetime treatment program.

Right now, it's a mere $300-billion windfall.

And you need it to be a perennial, got it.

But Swan's working the AIDS thing.

Oh, right. What about Schaffenberger?

-Bird flu. -Mm.

Guess Jerry's kids will have to wait their turn.

Now, Mercy, what have you got for me?

Project Applecore. They've hit the mother lode.

Have you cured cancer yet, Kal-El?

I can design a machine that receives faint transmissions...

...from the distant future, sculpt a miniature sun...

...from dwarf-star matter...

...but I can't find a way to keep human cells from metastasizing.

I wish I could help humankind by doing more than just being its resident strongman.

One thing I've learned since arriving in Metropolis is that those in power...

...don't always have the people's interests at heart.

As much as I love dishing on evil bald-headed freaks...

...I thought we came here to get away from it all.

You wouldn't have a blow-dryer?

We'll need to get you a larger travel bag, Lois.

I wouldn't need so many warm baths if our weekend getaway was Palm Springs.

The Antarctic camouflages Kryptonian crystal-tech far better than cacti.

But next time you catch a chill, give a holler, I'll warm you.

You wouldn't use your heat vision on me, would you, Superman?

-No, just the x-ray. -You're bad.

Um, maybe we could find a robot-free zone?

That's it, Mr. Luthor.

-Definitely a spacecraft. -Of alien origin.

Vintage?

-We're deep. -Before Christ deep.

That's a conservative estimate.

Last time aliens fell to Earth, we got Superman.

This time, whatever's in that tin can will belong to me...

...lock, stock and barrel.

What happened?

We have a puncture.

How are we supposed to understand him?

It's a warning.

Aah! Clear out! Clear out!

Use the laser! The laser!

If an alien race possessed the technology to trap that thing...

...and use Earth as their personal toilet, they did so for one reason.

They couldn't kill it.

You know, I've been thinking....

-Hmm? -About Clark.

Kent? While you're snuggling with me?

I think I'm jealous.

Smallville's going on assignment in a dangerous part of the world.

They say I'm brave, but I'm bulletproof.

Ordinary men and women who put their lives on the line...

...they're the real heroes.

I just find it interesting that the more intimate you and I become...

...the more distant Clark becomes, literally.

Superman, I wanna know everything there is to know about you...

...like your real name.

Hmm. It's Kal-El.

Your other real name.

Biscuit.

Biscuit.

Mother....

Aaarggh!

That monster's trail of destruction will lead the authorities right to my doorstep.

Relax, Lex. Applecore may have been illegal, but it was completely under the radar.

See that it stays that way. Scorch Earth if you have to.

LexCorp was never there.

Look, I know who you are. Why can't you just tell me?

Lois, I care about you more than anyone else on Earth.

To reveal my secret identity would compromise your safety.

Please. My safety was compromised the moment I met you.

How many times have you had to rescue me?

Rhetorical.

I haven't told you my identity for the same reason we haven't gone public...

...with our relationship, why we come here to be alone.

Well, try reading a gossip column.

Practically all of Metropolis thinks we're dating anyway.

You're clinging to keep one last part of you separate from us...

...and the only reason I can fathom is that for an alien...

...you've developed a very human, very male fear of commitment.

We've been together for six months.

It'd be nice if I could start calling you something other than Superman.

He also goes by Kal-El. -Shut up.

Well, that was some first fight.

Be nice if it was our last.

Maybe you're right. Maybe it is time you got to know the real me.

Kal-El.

-This isn't a good time. You are needed in Metropolis.

It is a matter of terrific urgency.

I have isolated a match via interstellar records...

...from your father's archives.

The subject in question was biologically engineered...

...to be the ultimate soldier.

Precise, clinical, unstoppable.

But its creators came to realize...

...that it could not distinguish between friend and foe.

Thus, this doomsday machine lives to extinguish any and all life forms...

...because it must.

We need to clear this area.

Fire!

You're dropping me off here?

Doomsday's at Hob's End on the East Side.

Exactly.

Jimmy, meet me on the roof, and don't forget your camera.

Uh, Lois, shouldn't we wait for a pilot?

I'm an Air Force brat, remember?

I was flying these things when you were still in training pants.

Now, hang on.

Aah!

There.

Jimmy, camera on the action.

Oh, man, he can jump!

Aah!

Thanks, Superman.

Get out of here. Now.

Superman, don't--

It's why I'm here.

I've never seen Superman take such a pounding.

Not that he can't dish it.

For those just joining us, Metropolis is the scene...

...of widespread destruction this morning...

...as Superman attempts to overpower a creature responsible...

...for a string of grisly murders.

But as of right now, it's uncertain which way the tide will turn.

Lois, do you think Superman's o--?

Camera on the action, Jimmy.

Superman.

Is everyone...?

You did it, Superman. We're safe, all of us.

Good. That's....

That's all that matters.

Clark.

Superman died as he lived...

...defending Metropolis.

He may have come from another world...

...but he will always belong to ours.

James Olsen?

Your photos of the tragedy were....