- Script:
- Geoff Johns; Richard Donner
- Pencils:
- Adam Kubert
- Inks:
- Adam Kubert
- Colors:
- Dave Stewart
- Letters:
- Rob Leigh
- Genre:
- Superhero
- Characters:
- Superman; Jor-El [simulation]; General Zod; Ursa; Non; Chris Kent [Lor-Zod]; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Jax-Ur (cameo); Quex-Ul (flashback, cameo); Tor-An (flashback, cameo); Nadira Va-Dim (flashback, cameo); Az-Rel (flashback, cameo); Mon-El (cameo); Perry White (cameo); Lombard (cameo); Ron Troupe (cameo); Fortress of Solitude; Phantom Zone; signal watch
- Synopsis:
- General Zod, Ursa, and Non enter the Fortress, and start the Jor-El simulation. They ask it to tell about General Zod. The simulation gives a brief history of the Phantom Zone, the criminals in it, and then describes why Zod and his cohorts were sent there. They then explore the Fortress, and take the phantom zone projector. Lois and Clark take Chris to the Daily Planet to introduce their new foster son, and meet Jimmy. But heat beams coming from outside interrupt, and Clark rushes off to change. In mid change, he's attacked by Non, and confronted by Zod. Superman recognizes them, calling them criminals. Meanwhile, Ursa finds Lois and Chris, and tells Lois to give the boy to her, calling him Lor-Zod and her son. Superman and Zod continue the fight, with Zod saying that they will take over the Earth. Superman says "You and what army?", and Zod replies "This one", as dozens more ships crash down into Metropolis. They open, and Jax-Ur and other Kryptonians emerge. Zod retrieves the phantom zone projector, and projects Superman into the zone.
- Reprints:
Story continued from the previous issue and continues in #851. The first two pages parallel the first two pages of Action Comics #844, but with Zod in place of Superman. The Kryptonese text on the ships on pages 16 and 17 is translated as: "OPEN".
- Script:
- Dan Didio
- Letters:
- typeset
Dan introduces the new weekly series called Countdown. Ads for Action Comics Annual #10, Blue Beetle #12, Green Lantern #17, and Firestorm #33. Appears on page 34 in this issue.
House ad for: Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #50. Appears on page 26 in this issue.
Total of 6 one-page and 2 two-page ads for: Castlevania Portrait of Ruin (video game, Konami), Children of Mana/Magical Starsign (video game, Nintendo, 2 pages), Magic the Gathering (card game, Wizards of the Coast), Death Jr. (video game, Konami), Final Fantasy V Advance (video game, Square Enix, 2 pages), Killzone Liberation (video game, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe), Destroy All Humans 2 (video game, THQ), and abovetheinfluence (Partnership for a Drug-Free America). Appear in various places in this issue.