- Time is of the essence. I sense that Olsen boy has accessed a power beyond his understanding. But familiar to me... The helm of Nabu calls to its own.
Earth 2: World's End #6 is an issue of the series Earth 2: World's End (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 2015. It was published on November 12, 2014.
Synopsis for "Returns"
In London, Dr. Fate, Hawkgirl, and the Flash fight the Fury of Famine, with Fate's reflection spell seeming to siphon the life of Famine herself. As she shrivels to skin and bones, Fate declares her defeated. Unfortunately, the curse didn't work correctly, and Fate is now infected and spreading famine. As the famine starts to act on Flash and Hawkgirl, Fate flies away, noting that Jimmy Olsen has come into contact with the Mother Box - which is similar to the Helm of Nabu. He leaves the two wonders in London, pleading for help.
Deep below Atlantis, in the Tomb of the Old Ones, Queen Marella prostrates herself before the seal, praying for the release of the Old One, Azathoth, to avenge Atlantis. The leviathan awakens, and speaks to her in an ancient tongue. She says that she accepts, and the creature laughs. The avatar of The Blue now free, Marella laments the fate of the world.
Beneath the Fire Pit in Geneva, Lois cradles the body that seems to be Clark Kent's. She inspects it, but realizes it is only one of Desaad's clones. Kara reminds her that they have to keep moving and find Huntress. Lois is upset by this imitation of her husband. Val ponders why there would be a huge fire pit and then below, miles of machinery that seem to connect to each other. Batman says that it makes sense, and that they just hadn't gone far enough down to uncover the mystery. He finds a button on the wall and presses it. Val mentions that Superman's body could still be there, given how convincing a clone Brutaal was, as it would require a large amount of Clark's DNA. As he finishes his sentence, the lights turn on, revealing a hallway of clones in tubes in varying states of completion/success.
Meanwhile, further below in Desaad's lab, Helena awakens, realizing she's restrained. Desaad taunts her, to which she responds by spitting at him. Desaad says she won't be a Wayne for much longer, gesturing to the other tortured bodies in his lab.
Up in the skies over China, Green Lantern uses his powers to fly and carry Solomon Grundy, his begrudged ally, in a bubble. Following the guidance of his ring, Alan flies them past the Great Wall of China, and eventually towards a chateau which he recognizes as Sam Zhao's, his deceased lover. Grundy teases him, saying he looks like he's seen a ghost, and Alan thinks to himself how odd it is that the ring would lead them there.
In Chicago, in the World Army Stronghold, we see Barbara Gordon-Grayson, Dick Grayson, and two others trying to place robbers under arrest. They say that there are no police here; Barbara says that she was a Chicago police lieutenant and she's not putting up with this behavior anymore. Dick tries to calm everyone; the thieves don't relent, and just as Barbara is about to engage, a large man named Ted Grant appears, beating up one mugger and scaring them away. He introduces himself to the Grayson and says he'll join their group.
Back in the World Army HQ in Amazonia, Khan lets the group know that they'll be ready to attack Apokolips in a day. Suddenly, Soto starts to be afflicted by the famine, Mr. Terrific identifying it as the curse of Famine. Barda tells Miracle that they need to leave now, but everyone in HQ seems to be weakening. Khan orders Jimmy to activate the defenses, but he is struggling with the Mother Box. Barda insists that they need to leave; Fury, agreeing, grabs Holt and Sloan, and starts to leave. The automated defenses fire at a flying figure shrouded in blue. Mister Miracle finally agrees, and tries to use a Mother Box to Boom Tube them to Apokolips, but it disappears and reappears in Jimmy Olsen's hands, who is now struggling both with the famine affliction and the power of the Mother Box. As Jimmy pleads for help, Dr. Fate bursts through the wall, and tells Jimmy that what he is about to do will hurt.
Down in the Labyrinths of Desaad, beneath the Fire Pits, Batman identifies the lab as a cloning facility, as Val had previously suspected. They wonder where all the workers have fled to. Lois finds another lifeless clone of Clark, and Kara reminds her that it isn't the real one. Lois quips that many lost loved ones have reappeared recently, as evidenced by their group. Val speculates that they only way Desaad could have made so many near-perfect clones would be if Clark had somehow survived the blast. Thomas gruffly mentions that he isn't going to waste time looking for the dead, and instead wants to find his still-living granddaughter. Kara says that he isn't the only one who cares about her, and he interrupts her, asking if she's coming with him after Helena or not. Kara agrees to go with him, saying that while she loves Clark, she's been through so much with Helena, she means more to her. As Thomas lights the way ahead, a clone bursts our of its holding tank, attacking him. Kara restrains the clone and Val tears out the tubes that it is connected to, which seem to deactivate it. Thomas drinks more Miraclo, and Val tries to stop him, but the he pulls out a chunk of Kryptonite, telling Val to back off. Kara reprimands him, but he casts her aside, saying he has to push onwards. In a surprise moment, Val uses his heat vision to destroy the rest of Batman's Miraclo, saying that he needs to go after Helena with a clear head, not drugged up.
Back in China, Grundy asks why they're at the chateau. Green Lantern recalls how this was their destination the day he and Sam were taking the train together, when it exploded, and changed his life (and ended Sam's). As he scans around the room, Alan finds a note on a table near a small box addressed to him. It is a proposal note from Sam, asking Alan to marry him. Alan picks up the ring, lamenting his lost lover, when suddenly a voice says that it's name used to be Sam. It is revealed to be Sam, who is now the avatar of the White.
Appearing in "Returns"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Aquawoman
- Hunger Dogs
- Jimmy Olsen
- Mister Miracle
- Mister Terrific
- Solomon Grundy
- Terry Sloan
- World Army
Antagonists:
- DeSaad
- Clones of Superman I (Kal-El)
- The Four Furies of Apokolips
- Famine (Apparent Death)
- Brutaal (Mentioned only)
Other Characters:
- Avatar of the Blue (First appearance)
- Avatar of the White
- Barbara Grayson
- Dick Grayson
- The Green (Mentioned only)
- Johnny Grayson (Mentioned only)
- Superman I (Kal-El) (Mentioned only)
- Ted Grant (First appearance)
Locations:
- Apokolips (Mentioned only)
- Earth 2
- Earth
- Amazonia
- Doctor Crane's Laboratory
- World Army Headquarters
- Atlantis
- Tomb of the Old Ones
- China
- Sam's Chateau
- DeSaad's Laboratory
- England
- Switzerland
- Geneva
- The Labyrinth of DeSaad
- Geneva
- United States of America
- Chicago
- The World Army Chicago Stronghold
- Chicago
- Amazonia
- Earth
Items:
- Helmet of Fate
- Kryptonite
- Miraclo
- Mother Box
- Sam's Engagement Ring
Vehicles:
See Also