Action Comics #870 is an issue of the series Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 2008. It was published on October 8, 2008.
Synopsis for "Brainiac, Part 5: Finale"
Brainiac recaps his actions from the past few days as Supergirl is brought in to the chamber of bottles to join her restrained cousin.
In Smallville, a storm is brewing. Jonathan Kent and Martha Kent nervously try to secure the farm certain that something terrible is on the way.
Brainiac goads Superman about his love for all things Earthly. Krypton was a superior planet, Earth in comparison is a savage world with nothing to offer he explains. Metropolis, now a bottle city stares up at the warped image of Superman through the protoplasmic glass. In particular Superman glimpses down at the minuscule Daily Planet building and the microscopic human staring up at him.
Lois whispers and Superman focuses his weakened senses to hear his loving wife. She tells him that if this really is the end of the world he has to know that she loves him. Superman focuses harder to release his reserve solar energy and while Brainiac continues his diatribe, Superman breaks free.
Brainiac is unimpressed and easily parries Superman's blow. He catches and crushes Superman's hand until it bleeds.
"Earth has robbed you of your potential, you are far from Kryptonian... you are a simple brute"
Mocking the teachings of his parents angers Superman into retaliating. Grabbing Brainiac by his interface ports he digs his fingers in rendering them useless before pulling Brainiac's head onto his bleeding fist. Unleashing his heat-vision he scorches the eyes of the villain and quickly severs the cities of Metropolis and the amalgamated Kandor and Argo.
Kara is being restrained by Brainiac's sentry robots but, resolve renewed, the Man of Steel destroys the robots and rescues his cousin. Kara drowsily awakens and realizes she is captive on Brainiac's cruiser. Before Superman can reveal his discovery about Kara's parents, in the background they hear Brainiac rise and make his way towards them.
Kara is scared, chilled to the bone, but Superman offers his full support, something he realizes he had neglected to do in the past. Kara realizes this is her chance to be a true hero, worthy of her family crest, giving chase to stop the missile from sending the sun nova. Gritting her teeth Kara smashes through the ship's hull and directly after the missile. Superman waits to confront Brainiac. Free from his machines, Superman regains some composure to show Brainiac who really is in control... No one is in control of life.
The weakened villain is taken aback as Superman zips out of his path to kick him in the spinal column and flash freeze him to the side of his own cruiser in 'his own bottle.' Superman's arctic breath weakened the hull enough for Superman to leap through and the two fall to Earth with tremendous force.
On Earth, Brainiac lands in marsh land, a stark opposite to the sterile safety of his cruiser. Insanity creeps in almost instantly as Brainiac sees his body invaded by bacteria, germs, bugs and all manner of environmental 'hazards' we live with every day. With futility, the Coluan desperately tries to claw the germs from his body and distracted by fear he is again caught by surprise and Superman flies down and stomps Brainiac's face in the silt.
Superman is about to strike again but the bottles begin to screech and crackle with energy. Quickly he leaps back into the air to help the souls within, leaving Brainiac in the marsh. Brainiac consciously activates a small homing missile from his damaged cruiser and smiles that he knows where Superman's true home is.
Superman lands in a crater that was once Metropolis and places the bottle back exactly in place before the bioshell cracks and the city expands to its original size.
Supergirl rushes to stop the missile.
At the Daily Planet, Lois looks up at her husband as he races away. Even as Steve uses their rescue to flirt with Cat, Lois looks on with a heavy heart.
In Smallville, Martha races out of the farmhouse to tell Jonathan about what has just happened to Metropolis, but the couple see something in the sky heading directly for them that stops them in their tracks. Jonathan grabs his wife and pulls her out of the missile's path.
Supergirl grips the missile heading for the sun and, summing up her immense strength, hurls the missile out of the solar system.
Superman lands near to the Fortress of Solitude and is flung backwards as Kandor and Argo expand in position next to Clark's former place of solitude.
Brainiac remains in stasis.
Jonathan comforts his wife and they share a tender moment in the fiery rubble that was once the Kent farm. Kara is still in space too far to help and Superman is distracted by the formation of the Earth's newest city. Jonathan feels his arm freeze and his heart skip beats... he drops to his knees and a terrified Martha calls out for her son.
By the time Superman hears the pleas of his mother, the last of Jonathan's life ebbs away.
Superman arrives and the Kent family mourns their loss.
Appearing in "Brainiac, Part 5: Finale"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Lois Lane
- Jonathan Kent (Dies)
- Martha Kent
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Kandor
- Kansas
- Metropolis
- North Pole
- Fortress of Solitude (rebuilt)
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in:
- This issue includes DC Nation editorial #134.
- The story continues in Superman: New Krypton Special #1.
See Also
Recommended Reading
Links and References
  New Krypton Crossover Core Issues
Lead-Up
Superman #677 • Superman #678 • Superman #679 • Superman #680 • Action Comics #866 • Action Comics #867 • Action Comics #868 • Action Comics #869 • Action Comics #870 • Supergirl #34 • Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special #1 |