Action Comics #766 is an issue of the series Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 2000.
Synopsis for "D.O.A."
In a darkened apartment, Batman is finding any clues that he can relating to Lois' disappearance. Sitting dejectedly on the couch is Superman, glowing green with radiation. Batman tells Clark that until they get Lois back, they play by his rules. Clark agrees.
Driving across town, Batman describes his deductions so far to Superman. Parasite most likely had a base of operations within ten miles of Metropolis. Since he had to continually touch Lois, it needs to be in a place where he could have hidden her without attracting attention. Parasite also would have needed to kill others to stay alive. There have been reported abductions in Endicott. The two drive into the night.
The majority of the victims were transients, but one was not. Mikalia "Mike" Shepherd, a quiet mother of two who, if Batman's logic holds, was also a party girl by night. Visiting Mike's bar, Batman pays a visit to the patrons. They begin to pull weapons when Superman appears in the doorway, barely able to stand. He asks them for their help.
Batman doesn't understand. He scares them witless, and yet they want to fight. But Superman appears utterly helpless in a doorway and they all scramble to help him. Superman tells Batman that he should try using 'Please'.
Batman then visits the shooting range that Mike frequented, after taking the precaution of locking Superman in the car. He tried 'Please', and when that didn't work he had to subdue all of them. Having removed the car door, Superman suddenly appears hunched in the doorway. He tells Batman that the people need medical attention. Batman tells Clark that while on a case, they aren't people. Superman slams Batman up against a wall, but Batman responds in kind. He can't think of the victims as people, only information. Then he instructs Clark to look at the ground. Superman finds five grains of red clay.
The only match for red clay in the area is Harpur State Preserve, three miles from Metropolis. Driving there, the two start to climb the mountain. Coming across a cave, the two walk in to find the ground littered with corpses. Coming across a woman, Superman turns away, until Batman reassures him that it isn't Lois, it's Mike. The two prepare to leave, when Clark hears breathing. He moves to a giant boulder embedded in the wall. Not stopping to consider the alternatives, Clark throws all of his power into moving the rock. His bones crack and break but impossibly the boulder moves aside, finding Lois.
The couple embrace. But the moment is abruptly interrupt as Clark falls down to the ground. Lois hugs him close, but he doesn't show any signs of life.
Appearing in "D.O.A."
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Mikalia "Mike" Shepherd
Locations:
- Metropolis
- Endicott
- Harpur State Preserve
Items:
Vehicles:
Trivia
- "D.O.A." means "dead on arrival" in which is a term that indicates a patient or victim that was found to be already clinically dead upon the arrival of professional medical assistance.
See Also
Recommended Reading
Links and References
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