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