1. Olympia, what is that...
Copy !req
2. You've come of age, Cassandra.
Copy !req
3. As the daughter of Vandal Savage,
Copy !req
4. these are the things you should know.
Copy !req
5. This is the story of man.
Copy !req
6. Of all mankind. Of one man.
Copy !req
7. The history of human evolution,
Copy !req
8. traced with the light of truth
through time immemorial,
Copy !req
9. leads back to a time of darkness.
Copy !req
10. And to him. Man has known
him by many names.
Copy !req
11. But the truths in these
pages will define him
Copy !req
12. as the savior called...
Copy !req
13. Vandal Savage.
Copy !req
14. We have a problem, sir.
Incoming from space.
Copy !req
15. A meteorite?
Copy !req
16. What? No.
Copy !req
17. An armada.
Copy !req
18. Hey. Stompin' Steve
Lombard coming at you.
Copy !req
19. The Steve Lombard Sports Show
Copy !req
20. brought to you by Good World Studios.
Copy !req
21. Get happy, sports fans.
Copy !req
22. Football season is once again upon us.
Copy !req
23. And I've got the names
of some up-and-comers
Copy !req
24. that are sure to be future
first round draft picks.
Copy !req
25. My picks for this year's national
high school all-star squadron.
Copy !req
26. Topping the list, from Henry
Heywood high school in Detroit,
Copy !req
27. Wide receiver, Victor Stone.
Copy !req
28. Trust me, this kid is
a touchdown machine!
Copy !req
29. - Gather up.
- Oh, someone's come bearing gifts.
Copy !req
30. I think I love gifts.
Copy !req
31. Yes, I do love gifts.
Copy !req
32. Super-suits!
Copy !req
33. One for you, Violet.
Copy !req
34. Sorry, super-suit. Sorry.
Copy !req
35. And one for you, Brion.
Copy !req
36. Thank you. As you have clothing
for action, now I do, too.
Copy !req
37. And of course, it is form-fitting.
Copy !req
38. As you super heroes seem to prefer.
Copy !req
39. Some of us.
Copy !req
40. Yours was specially designed
by Fire of the Justice League
Copy !req
41. so it won't burn up from your lava.
Copy !req
42. Now you won't be naked when training.
Copy !req
43. Thank you.
Copy !req
44. Naked was, uh, not my style.
Copy !req
45. What is wrong with naked?
Forager is naked now.
Copy !req
46. Can I pretend I don't know that?
Copy !req
47. Fine.
Copy !req
48. Now Forager is not naked.
Copy !req
49. Wait. Did you say "training"?
Copy !req
50. The fire from the sky
Copy !req
51. had touched the ground not far away.
Copy !req
52. It seemed to call to him,
Copy !req
53. and he was compelled
to follow that call.
Copy !req
54. But an old nemesis found him first.
Copy !req
55. The cave bear was twice his size.
Copy !req
56. With claws and teeth evolved
to shred flesh and bone.
Copy !req
57. And the bear set upon Vandal.
Copy !req
58. To eat him alive.
Copy !req
59. Connection established.
Cycling encryption protocols
Copy !req
60. and patching through our
private satellites.
Copy !req
61. You learn fast. Good.
Copy !req
62. Hello, old friend.
Copy !req
63. To what do I owe the
pleasure of your call?
Copy !req
64. It appears we have
uninvited guests on the way.
Copy !req
65. Hmm. Anyone we know?
Copy !req
66. Unclear.
Copy !req
67. An armada of warships is
currently beyond the Kuiper Belt
Copy !req
68. - on a course toward here.
- Cassandra.
Copy !req
69. Have you read the part
about the bear yet?
Copy !req
70. Uh, yes. Yes, Olympia.
Copy !req
71. Ooh! That was my favorite part to write.
Copy !req
72. Can you alert the Justice
League to this threat?
Copy !req
73. Well, half the league resigned
thanks to the restrictions
Copy !req
74. I persuaded member nations to impose.
Copy !req
75. And the other half don't have the
firepower to stop an armada.
Copy !req
76. What about the leaguers deployed
on their galactic goodwill tour?
Copy !req
77. I'm keeping most of them
busy on Appellaxia.
Copy !req
78. The Green Lantern Corp?
Copy !req
79. Half the corp is battling
the Reach thanks to us.
Copy !req
80. The other half is occupied
fighting our partner.
Copy !req
81. What about Klarion?
Copy !req
82. - Project...
- Rudapega.
Copy !req
83. Yes, I'd forgotten.
Copy !req
84. Well, we've done too
good a job, old friend.
Copy !req
85. Fine.
Copy !req
86. I'll protect our interests myself.
Copy !req
87. In the game of life and
death, fear makes one weak.
Copy !req
88. But when fueled by
purpose beyond survival,
Copy !req
89. man can become powerful.
Copy !req
90. Vandal's quest for the Sky Fire gave him
Copy !req
91. the power to defeat the bear.
Copy !req
92. And standing victorious
over the dead creature
Copy !req
93. that once haunted his dreams,
Copy !req
94. Vandal felt...
Copy !req
95. like a God!
Copy !req
96. Baptized by the blood of his adversary,
Copy !req
97. the spearhead of human
evolution had been forged.
Copy !req
98. You're quick, but mind the line.
Copy !req
99. This will teach you to be aware
of your surroundings in combat.
Copy !req
100. Hmm. Forager understands.
Copy !req
101. Forager will try again.
Copy !req
102. Dick Grayson is quick,
but mind the short arms.
Copy !req
103. This will teach Dick Grayson
that Forager fights dirty.
Copy !req
104. Nice.
Copy !req
105. But I missed. And I fell...
Copy !req
106. Aim takes time to learn and
falling is part of the game.
Copy !req
107. But you just demonstrated
Copy !req
108. more control of your
auras than ever before.
Copy !req
109. And I call that a win.
Copy !req
110. Good lava control.
Copy !req
111. Now you just have to hit me.
Copy !req
112. Perhaps I only hit you by accident.
Copy !req
113. But at least I'm not naked this time.
Copy !req
114. You should get one of these.
Copy !req
115. Got your covered, CK. As usual.
Copy !req
116. Guys, real improvement today.
Copy !req
117. You're ready for the next step.
Copy !req
118. I am Vandal Savage of Earth.
Copy !req
119. And my home world is off limits
to all incursion or invasion.
Copy !req
120. Leave now or suffer the War World.
Copy !req
121. Olympia.
Copy !req
122. Vandal, the armada is...
Copy !req
123. Accelerating.
Copy !req
124. So strange.
Copy !req
125. To risk attack by the War World
is to quote certain death.
Copy !req
126. Cassandra, have you read the
part about the bear yet?
Copy !req
127. Wait, what? Yes, Olympia. I have.
Copy !req
128. Death was nothing new to Vandal Savage.
Copy !req
129. So, he could sense when
something was different about it.
Copy !req
130. The corpses lining the path to
the Sky Fire warned him away.
Copy !req
131. But his quest urged him forward.
Copy !req
132. To the source of the Sky Fire.
Copy !req
133. A rock from out of the darkness.
Copy !req
134. Yet alive with light.
Copy !req
135. Heart racing, he reached out to
touch this gift from the stars.
Copy !req
136. And was halted by intense pain.
Copy !req
137. And as blood and spirit drained away,
Copy !req
138. the last thing Vandal saw
before surrendering,
Copy !req
139. was the shadowy but
unmistakable form of man.
Copy !req
140. Mmm. Interesting.
Copy !req
141. What is it?
Copy !req
142. Father, more armada ships
are heading toward Earth.
Copy !req
143. From the other side of the Solar System.
Copy !req
144. Someone's making a move on my planet.
Copy !req
145. Someone who knows War World
can't be in two places at once.
Copy !req
146. I must rectify this,
Copy !req
147. or many ignorant humans will die.
Copy !req
148. It's hard to believe I'm here.
Copy !req
149. Training with heroes.
Copy !req
150. As children, my sister, brother
and I would pretend to be
Copy !req
151. Wonder Woman, Batman and
Superman in our play room.
Copy !req
152. I used to say Superman could beat
anyone because of his powers.
Copy !req
153. Gregor argued Batman could beat
Superman by outsmarting him.
Copy !req
154. That's stupid.
Copy !req
155. Why would they ever fight?
Copy !req
156. Hmm, if they were being
controlled by bad guys.
Copy !req
157. Nah, that could never happen.
Copy !req
158. It was just fun to think about.
Copy !req
159. Man versus Superman.
Copy !req
160. Who would win?
Copy !req
161. In Forager's hive, there
is a similar question.
Copy !req
162. Bugs versus New Gods. Who would win?
Copy !req
163. Man and Superman. Bugs and New Gods.
Copy !req
164. Balance is key for both
species to co-exist.
Copy !req
165. But when balance is lost,
Copy !req
166. when one species grows
stronger than another,
Copy !req
167. it rarely works out well
for the weaker group.
Copy !req
168. 50,000 years ago,
Copy !req
169. humans shared the world
with another species.
Copy !req
170. The Neanderthal.
Copy !req
171. Humans must've had a genetic
advantage over them.
Copy !req
172. They thrived and outgrew
Neanderthals in number.
Copy !req
173. While the details are unclear,
Copy !req
174. Homo Neanderthalensis
was driven to extinction,
Copy !req
175. while Homo Sapiens survived.
Copy !req
176. Then, whether through random mutation,
Copy !req
177. evolution, or something else entirely,
Copy !req
178. a new species of human emerged.
Copy !req
179. The first Meta-human.
Copy !req
180. Now humans share the world with Metas.
Copy !req
181. And we find ourselves grappling
with the big question.
Copy !req
182. Can we all achieve balance?
Copy !req
183. Greetings, Darkseid.
Copy !req
184. Greetings, Savage. What news?
Copy !req
185. Our plan progresses.
Copy !req
186. But an outside player threatens Earth.
Copy !req
187. To protect our investment,
I require resources.
Copy !req
188. Our arrangement grants
you this privilege.
Copy !req
189. The might of Apokolips
is yours to unleash.
Copy !req
190. Send your request.
Copy !req
191. Our partnership is strengthened
Copy !req
192. by your benevolence
and wisdom, Darkseid.
Copy !req
193. Indeed, Savage. Indeed.
Copy !req
194. Sending the requisite details.
Copy !req
195. In his 50,000 years,
Copy !req
196. Vandal's ambitions have touched
all of human civilization.
Copy !req
197. But in a single day,
Copy !req
198. the quest of another would
change his purpose forever.
Copy !req
199. His name was Darkseid.
Copy !req
200. In our history's 13th century, he
came from the planet Apokolips,
Copy !req
201. to claim the Earth for his empire.
Copy !req
202. But Vandal, known in this
era as Genghis Khan,
Copy !req
203. ruler of the largest
empire in human history,
Copy !req
204. had his own plans for his world.
Copy !req
205. Backed by two of his gifted sons,
Copy !req
206. the great Khan waged war against
Darkseid's superior forces.
Copy !req
207. And were easily defeated.
Copy !req
208. But not before impressing Darkseid
with their unique genetic gifts.
Copy !req
209. Sire. Sturdy stock for
the anti-life equation.
Copy !req
210. Eyes opened by his opponent's power,
Copy !req
211. and the fact of his existence,
Copy !req
212. Vandal seized the moment
and made a proposition.
Copy !req
213. Together, Savage and Darkseid
would conquer the galaxy.
Copy !req
214. Intrigued by this brazen human,
Copy !req
215. and the gifted armies he might raise,
Copy !req
216. Darkseid agreed.
Copy !req
217. Both men knowing that
when the galaxy fell,
Copy !req
218. Earth and Apokolips would
wage a final battle.
Copy !req
219. Winner take all.
Copy !req
220. Then he said,
Copy !req
221. "Your experience in
Markovia's genetics program
Copy !req
222. "casts a questionable light
on your resume, ma'am."
Copy !req
223. I'm only 34. Is that when
you become a "ma'am"?
Copy !req
224. Oh, I am not touching that one.
Copy !req
225. Kids today.
Copy !req
226. How are they doing, Jeff?
Copy !req
227. Getting more comfortable with
their abilities every day.
Copy !req
228. Helga, I'm sorry I haven't been able
Copy !req
229. to get you more time with them.
Copy !req
230. - It's just...
- Jeff, please.
Copy !req
231. It's all right.
Copy !req
232. I understand your
friend's point of view.
Copy !req
233. You people have more experience training
Copy !req
234. Meta-kinders than I do.
Copy !req
235. You were kind to even try to keep
me and Brion in Halo's lives.
Copy !req
236. Hey. Who says we're done trying?
Copy !req
237. The Art of War says,
Copy !req
238. "Oh, divine art, of
subtlety and secrecy.
Copy !req
239. "Through you we learn to be invisible."
Copy !req
240. Tonight, you'll choose a
word that will help you
Copy !req
241. become invisible to our enemies.
Copy !req
242. Tonight, you choose your cryptonym.
Copy !req
243. Your nom de guerre.
Copy !req
244. Yeah, those are Dick's fancy
words for "code name".
Copy !req
245. Ah, yes. Our superhero names.
Copy !req
246. It sounds a little silly,
Copy !req
247. but you need one for our
field comms to keep
Copy !req
248. your identity secret from the bad guys.
Copy !req
249. I'm Halo. It was the first name
you gave me, and I like it.
Copy !req
250. I'm Violet at home. I'm Halo
during a mission. Halo.
Copy !req
251. Halo is a beautiful name
Copy !req
252. and describes your powers well.
Copy !req
253. I will take a name that
describes my powers, too.
Copy !req
254. From now on, call me...
Copy !req
255. Hot Lava.
Copy !req
256. What? In my new form-fitting super-suit,
Copy !req
257. I bring the hotness, do I not?
Copy !req
258. Hot Lava!
Copy !req
259. I'm not calling you Hot Lava.
Copy !req
260. Agreed.
Copy !req
261. All right. All right.
Copy !req
262. Seriously, then.
Copy !req
263. Dr. Jace had a name for the
powers in my bloodline.
Copy !req
264. She called it, uh, Geo-Force.
Copy !req
265. Huh. Geo-Force. That's a bit
less of a stripper name.
Copy !req
266. Says the girl named Tigress.
Copy !req
267. Ow!
Copy !req
268. Says the guy who took his name
from an 80's mullet rock band.
Copy !req
269. Not true.
Copy !req
270. Okay. Forager, what's your codename?
Copy !req
271. Um. Forager is... Forager.
Copy !req
272. If it ain't broke...
Copy !req
273. Great. Names chosen.
Time for team maneuvers.
Copy !req
274. Miss Halo.
Copy !req
275. Thank you, Mr. Geo-Force.
Copy !req
276. Maneuver seven, people! Go!
Copy !req
277. Vandal once wrote,
Copy !req
278. "It is better to capture an
army than to destroy it."
Copy !req
279. He had learned that more can be
gained controlling men in peace
Copy !req
280. than in the chaos of war.
Copy !req
281. For war is death. Death is waste.
Copy !req
282. And life should not be wasted
Copy !req
283. while it may yet be controlled
Copy !req
284. to serve a greater purpose.
Copy !req
285. So, your arrows and spears
don't work out here.
Copy !req
286. Eh, Savage?
Copy !req
287. Kalibak. Darkseid honors us
by sending his favorite son.
Copy !req
288. Watch as I prove I am the only son
Copy !req
289. who should concern you.
Copy !req
290. Kalibak has daddy issues.
Copy !req
291. Disgusting.
Copy !req
292. Vandal would never waste a
life that might yet be...
Copy !req
293. controlled to serve
a greater purpose.
Copy !req
294. Both armadas suffer annihilation,
Copy !req
295. and still do not respond to our hails.
Copy !req
296. Why?
Copy !req
297. I know how to win this.
Copy !req
298. Cassandra...
Copy !req
299. The War World is yours to command.
Copy !req
300. Yes, Father.
Copy !req
301. The control diadem will make
you one with War World.
Copy !req
302. But your consciousness will
be no more than a drop
Copy !req
303. in an ocean of circuits and steel.
Copy !req
304. Do not try to move the ocean.
Copy !req
305. Focus on what must be done.
Copy !req
306. And the ocean will move for you.
Copy !req
307. I understand.
Copy !req
308. Vandal, then known as the
demigod hero, Marduk,
Copy !req
309. led his children into battle
against the star creature.
Copy !req
310. Its origin unknown.
Copy !req
311. Its intent. To enslave all of Babylonia.
Copy !req
312. Marduk's Babylonia.
Copy !req
313. Amidst the carnage,
Copy !req
314. Marduk's son Nabu fell to the scourge.
Copy !req
315. But Marduk did not stop to mourn him.
Copy !req
316. Instead, he led his
daughter Ishtar forward.
Copy !req
317. Daughter. Cassandra.
Copy !req
318. I...
Copy !req
319. I am the War World.
Copy !req
320. As only a strong mind could be.
Copy !req
321. Check long-range sensors.
Copy !req
322. Yes. There is another ship.
Copy !req
323. In the darkness, holding out
of range of our weapons.
Copy !req
324. That is where I must go.
Copy !req
325. Oh, God.
Copy !req
326. Remind me never to take
you on a covert mission.
Copy !req
327. Oh!
Copy !req
328. - Ow!
- You are bad at this.
Copy !req
329. Here. Let me help.
Copy !req
330. Marduk, the demigod, and
Ishtar, his daughter,
Copy !req
331. raged against the star creatures.
Copy !req
332. In a battle for all mankind that
shook the walls of Babylon.
Copy !req
333. The alliance between father and daughter
Copy !req
334. defeated the star creatures.
Copy !req
335. And in defending Babylonia,
Copy !req
336. in leading its people through
the city's darkest hour,
Copy !req
337. Marduk and Ishtar together would
become known by all as...
Copy !req
338. the Light.
Copy !req
339. All right, everyone. Excellent work.
Copy !req
340. You guys made real progress today.
Copy !req
341. Mastering your own abilities
Copy !req
342. and working in concert with each other.
Copy !req
343. Plus the fact that you've
chosen to stay together,
Copy !req
344. train together, fight the good
fight at each other's sides,
Copy !req
345. and... Well, I... I, uh...
Copy !req
346. Careful. You almost
sounded like big blue.
Copy !req
347. Now I think it's time to celebrate
with some more s'mores!
Copy !req
348. S'mores? I love s'mores!
Copy !req
349. Holograms?
Copy !req
350. Uh, that's new.
Copy !req
351. All right, everyone, uh...
Copy !req
352. We're starting over.
Copy !req
353. Father,
Copy !req
354. you will always be Earth's
first, last and greatest hero.
Copy !req
355. To fight at your side,
to fight for humanity,
Copy !req
356. this has been the honor of my life.
Copy !req
357. Cassandra.
Copy !req
358. Have you read the
part about the bear yet?
Copy !req
359. Olympia, for the third time, yes.
Copy !req
360. That was my favorite story. Until today.
Copy !req
361. I'll record this new chapter immediately
Copy !req
362. while it's still fresh in my mind.
Copy !req
363. Olympia.
Copy !req
364. We've been over this before.
Copy !req
365. We... We have?
Copy !req
366. My story must not be recorded.
Copy !req
367. I have long-term plans.
Some millennia long.
Copy !req
368. They must never risk being revealed.
Copy !req
369. Tell me.
Copy !req
370. Why do you like the story
of the bear so much?
Copy !req
371. It's the only story from before
your encounter with the meteorite.
Copy !req
372. Before you became the savior,
Copy !req
373. Vandal Savage.
Copy !req
374. It defines who...
Copy !req
375. It was a mercy, Father.
Copy !req
376. Olympia's mind has been
deteriorating for some time.
Copy !req
377. But she died happily in your arms.
Copy !req
378. I'll bring you her journal immediately.
Copy !req
379. A... And I will make the
appropriate arrangements.
Copy !req
380. Please...
Copy !req
381. Any daughter of Vandal Savage
Copy !req
382. deserves a funeral worthy of the Gods.
Copy !req
383. Do right by your sister.
Copy !req
384. Of course, Father.
Copy !req
385. For war is death,
Copy !req
386. and death is waste.
Copy !req
387. A life should not be wasted
while it may yet be controlled
Copy !req
388. to serve a greater purpose.
Copy !req