New Gods Vol 1 12

"Prelude to a Holocaust!": Orion, Lightray, Metron, Lonar, Forager, and their new ally Jezebelle attack Apokolips on orders from the Source, only to learn that Darkseid is not there, that he has built an outpost on Earth's moon, and that he seeks six Earth people who are

"Prelude to a Holocaust!"
Cover
New Gods Vol 1 #12
July, 1977
Executive Editor	Paul Levitz
Cover Artists	Al Milgrom
Prelude to a Holocaust!
Writers	Gerry Conway
Pencilers	Don Newton
Inkers	Dan Adkins
Colorists	Liz Berube
Letterers	Ben Oda
Editors	Paul Levitz
Previous Issue	New Gods # 11
Next Issue	New Gods # 13

I've faced my father here once before-- When an enigmatic message from the Source sent me first to Earth and then to Apokolips-- To kill him! I could not, for though I despise him, he is still my father-- And I am still his son! Yet today, he has gone too far! Today-- There must be a reckoning!

— Orion

New Gods #12 is an issue of the series New Gods (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 1977. It was published on April 21, 1977.

Synopsis for "Prelude to a Holocaust!"

Orion, Lightray, Metron, Lonar, Forager, and their new ally Jezebelle attack Apokolips on orders from the Source, only to learn that Darkseid is not there, that he has built an outpost on Earth's moon, and that he seeks six Earth people who are believed to have portions of the Anti-Life Equation. The six New Gods split up and seek out the sextet of humans, including Dave Lincoln. Elsewhere, Darkseid prepares for war.

Appearing in "Prelude to a Holocaust!"

Featured Characters:

• New Gods
  • Forager
  • Jezebelle (First appearance)
  • Lightray
  • Lonar
  • Metron
  • Orion

Supporting Characters:

• Dave Lincoln
• Thunderer

Antagonists:

• Darkseid
  • Parademons
• United States Air Force
  • Brigadier General Maxwell Torch (First appearance)

Other Characters:

• Captain Rubin (First appearance)
• Debbie Drake (First appearance)
• Donald Bradford (First appearance)
• Lorraine Hampton (First appearance)
• Jones (First appearance)
• Nomak (First appearance)
• Richard Roe (First appearance)

Locations:

• Alaska
• Apokolips
  • Armagetto
• California
  • San Francisco
• Colorado
  • Rocky Mountains
• Earth's Moon
• Louisiana
  • New Orleans
• Metropolis
  • The Project

Items:

• Anti-Life Equation
• Boom Tube

Vehicles:

• Mobius Chair
  

Notes

• First issue of the series after a five-year hiatus. Title changes to Return of the New Gods beginning with this issue. This is the first issue of the series that does not involve New Gods creator Jack Kirby.
• This issue went on sale April 21, 1977 according to in-house ads that appeared in comics with a July 1977 cover date.
• This issue references Orion's previous encounter with Darkseid in 1st Issue Special #13. However, in this issue, Orion indicates that the only reason he did not slay Darkseid at the time was out of deference to their familial ties. The real reason was because Darkseid had keyed his heartbeat somehow to the stability of the Earth's Sun, making it so that his death would annihilate the solar system.

Trivia

• Jack Kirby's original, unpublished script for #12 was later reworked into DC Graphic Novel #4.

See Also

• Cover gallery for the New Gods series
• Images from New Gods Vol 1 12

Recommended Reading

• Jack Kirby's Fourth World Recommended Reading:
  • Forever People (Volume 1)
  • Forever People (Volume 2)
  • Mister Miracle (Volume 1)
  • Mister Miracle (Volume 2)
  • Mister Miracle (Volume 3)
  • Mister Miracle (Volume 4)
  • Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle (Volume 1)
  • New Gods (Volume 1)
  • New Gods (Volume 2)
  • New Gods (Volume 3)
  • New Gods (Volume 4)
  • Orion (Volume 1)
  • Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (Volume 1): issues #133-#148
  • Jack Kirby's Fourth World (Volume 1)
  • Death of the New Gods (Volume 1)
  • DC Graphic Novel #4
  • Genesis (Volume 1)