Action Comics Issue 7

Christmas Special

Written by James Brady

Writers Note- to make your reading experience for this issue better, you can listen to "The First Snow Flake" by The Boy Least Likely To.


December 23rd, Just outside Smallville

Clark Kent feels the crisp winds rushing through his hair as he meditates atop the moving train. He holds his body firm and calm with the cheap Santa hat hovering over his brow. He can't help but loosen up and smirk as he smells Smallville from mile off. Like a rush of electric nostalgia that Clark has missed for years.

He walks over to the panelling over the train restroom and tears it away where he earlier melted the panelling back together. He drops silently into the tiny restroom, picks up his bag and coat and leaves. He walks back to his seat where he finds a sleeping Lois Lane. He sits down to continue to read the new Song of Ice and Fire when Lois awakens murmuring "Clark..." As she does she looks to see him sitting across the table from him.

"Lois! Thank god you're finally awake! It's January 2015! You slept right through Christmas!"

She rubs her eyes and looks at Clark with a smirk.

"Better start flying around the world so fast you turn back Time then."

"Are you ever going to let that go?"

"Maybe when it stops being funny."

"I was saying hypothetically if that's how physics worked I could do it."

"You said it way too seriously, Clark. It's so cute when you try and get science-y."


Metropolis, LexCorp

Lex Luthor sits at his massive log desk working late into the night. He thumbs a button on his desk paging reception.

"Yes, Mr. Luthor?"

"Angela, you can go home early tonight. Enjoy your Christmas."

"Oh... thank you, sir."

He returns to his work for a few minutes before looking over at the security camera's as his receptionist leaves the building. He turns around on his chair and walks over to the window and looks down at the city. He sees everything. The Huge Christmas Tree planted in the square by Superman, the snow covered roofs and windows from the prosperous middle of town all the way to the dark murky Suicide Slums with the small houses and the massive abandoned Steel mill.

He sighs deeply looking back I to his building.

"Alright." He says reluctantly. "Do it."

BOOM!


Smallville

Clark and Lois step off of the train into the wispy cold of Kansas. They carry their luggage along the small platform among a few other home comers until they see Ma and Pa Kent looking around for them. Clark breaks out into a smile upon seeing them all in their winter coats and scarves and gloves.

"Ah. There they are, c'mon." Clark says to Lois.

Clark has to stop himself from super speeding his way over to them. They meet on the platform. He hugs Ma first and Pa second, holding them tightly.

"Oh it's so good to see you Clark. I've missed you so much." Ma sighs as she has a look at his friendly calm face. He beems down on her.

"I missed you too Mom." Clark says as tears begin to bubble in the corner of his eyes.

"And Lois, how are you my dear?"

Lois leans in to hug Ma.

"I've been good Martha. So good to see you guys again."

Jonathan intervenes in the conversation.

"Not to be rude here, but I'm parked in an illegal parking space and we'd best get back to the car before I get a ticket."

"Alright, then. Want a hand with your bag Lois?" Clark asks.

"I've got it babe."


Kent Farm

Clark and Lois walk up the creaky floor boards. Clark stops at the top of the stairs in front of a blue door with a Johnny Cash poster on the door.

"The first stop on the tour is Mister Clark Kent, a dashing young reporter from Kansas, Clark despite being such a handsome charming devil was unbelievably once a awkward nerd teen as we can see from exhibit A."

Clark opens the door revealing his neat and tidy bedroom. Posters for Nirvana, The Beatles, Bob Dillion, Jimi Hendrix, Akira, Dragonball Z, Star Wars, Jurassic Park and X-Men are tacked to the walls. There are piles of old Marvel Comics around the room and 3 full CD racks are nailed to the wall. Next to Clark's bed are an old Apple Laptop and a stack of Pokémon trading cards.

"This is the cutest thing I've ever seen." She whispers. "Oh my God. You were a total dork." She giggles as she sees Clark's prom photo.

"Look at your adorable Jew-fro and the glasses! Haha."

"Yup. I was a total hottie."

"Who's the girl? She's pretty."

"Oh that's Lana. Yeah, we went to prom together and dated for a while."

"Do you still know her?"

"Yeah we stay in touch. She travelled the world as an engineer for a while. She's working in Smallville at the moment looking after her mom."

"We should go see her."

"Yeah, we're going carolling with her tomorrow night."

"Carolling?"

"Yeah, you know what that is right?"

"I know, I've just never done it before."

"Christmas is very different in Smallville, I'll have you know."

"I see."


Half an hour later

They all sit around the kitchen table eating dinner, Ma's famous chilli roast.

"Wow this is really great! And this is all home made?" Lois exclaims.

"Indeed. Every last drop of it." She replies.

"Lois isn't really used to homemade food." Clark jokes. "It's a bit of a shock to the system for

her."

"Haha. It's true. I used to live off of frozen food and packaged salads before me and Clark moved in

together. I can't cook to save my life."

"Yeah. She tried to for my last birthday and it was, I would say disaster, what would you describe it

as?"

"Stop it. Clark does the cooking from now on."

"Well he learnt from the best." Jonathan says.

Clark suddenly hears a buzzing from Lois's phone as she gets up from the table to answer it.

"Pardon me a sec; its work."

She steps away and Clark continues to eat but keeps one ear on the phone call. Using his enhanced hearing Clark hears Jimmy's voice from Lois' phone.

"Lois, something crazy has just happened. You need to get back to Metropolis now!"

"Jimmy just calm down okay. What's the story? Give me the details and I'll hand in an article at my

usual rate."

"Lex Corp tower has just exploded! The death toll is unknown and the explosion is just for that

Building, no other buildings where affected by the explosion. Lex Luthor was thought to be inside the building when it happened."

"Oh Where are you now?"

"I'm behind the police line, gotta go."

Jimmy ends the call and Lois turns back to see Clark in his full Superman outfit attaching his cape.

"I'll be back soon, Lois. I'm really sorry about this."

Before she can say anything he's gone.


Metropolis

Superman appears in a flash to see the rubble of Lex Corp covering the ground with firemen and women searching through the rubble while people watch from the sideline being cordoned off by Policemen. Superman lands over the Police line and starts talking to the officer in charge.

"Sir. So I'm informed that the building just exploded and we have no idea what caused it?"

"You know as much as we do Supes. Have a look around I guess but we can't really help you as far as you're concerned."

"Thanks, officer. Merry Christmas."

The Officer tips his cap to Superman before turning back to the bustling crowd.

Superman searches through the flames with his X-ray vision to see a dark figure lumbering from the flames. He steps forward and signals for the fire men to step back. A man wearing a large green trench coat jacket, gloves and trousers and boots with a green skull like helmet showing only his mouth steps forward from the flames as the people all watch taking pictures and videos on their phones. Superman stands defiant ready for a battle.

"Citizens of Metropolis; for too long have mega corporations like Lex Corp or Queen Industries controlled your life forcing you into products and mortgages you don't need, costing you every last dime through their consumerist markets growing ever wealthier and never giving anything back! Well tonight that changes my brothers and sisters, as tonight Christmas has come early, tonight we take it back! Who will stand with me against the corporate machine?!"

No one in the audience says anything and the man stands there awkwardly.

"Hrm... I see they have already gotten to you with their Lex Pads and the other mobile devices trying to rule you, making you addicted to their buzz tones like a trained dog responding to whistles and calls."

A man in the audience looks down at the list of messages on his phone all with deals for products and services he should buy. He then smashes his phone on the floor and steps over the police barrier.

"I agree!" He shouts. "We've been tossed around like a ragdoll these past few years people, with Superman and his kind levelling and destroying the city causing hundreds of us to lose our homes and businesses and now these corporations are still sucking us dry! I'm seeing no support from the government or any body and I'm expected to continue along like normal!"

A woman steps forward and agrees with the first man before another person and another person steps forward till the entire crowd is are shouting in anger as the police find it more and more difficult to hold the line back.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of Metropolis; I am William Brannon but you can call me Action Ace as today, I am taking action for you!"

The crowd roar in appreciation. Superman watches as they begin chanting, "ACTION! ACTION!" over, and over again.

"Come now my people as we have more action to take."

Superman suddenly decides to fly just above the crowd so he's higher than Brannon.

"People, please. Can't you see he's just manipulating you? He's fear mongering, playing on your more animalistic nature. Please don't allow him to influence you like this. Think for yourself."

Brannon looks up at Superman before slowly rising up into the air himself and floating just a few inches higher than Superman.

"And you don't think you're trying to influence people, with your bright colours and The S which we all know represents that War Mongering Kryptonian who threatened our way of life not too long ago." Brannon slowly descends back to the ground.

"During the Krytponian Invasion I lost my wife who at the time was pregnant with our son. I was wrought with guilt for years and I fell to depression ladies and gentlemen and the government and the corporations continued to sap me of what little money I still had as I tried to get by. You can judge me like this un human thing here is doing but please, don't judge what my dear wife, Alicia had died for."

The Crowd all go quite and some people aww or cry for Brannon as he stands there incredibly humbly.

"But now isn't a time for mourning. I've mourned enough, now is a time for Action! Follow me to the grotty unseen ladies and gentlemen. Follow me to The Suicide Slums where we shall see the true extend of corporate greed."

Brannon then rises into the sky and starts to fly to the Suicide Slums with the people following him through the streets. Superman watches from up high and follows them along.

He soon gets a call from Lois.

"Hey honey. I'm probably going to be late tonight. This is turning into a bit of a fiasco."

"Why? Whats happening? Did you find out why Lex Tower blew up?"

"Yeah. Some jack ass calling himself Action Ace is telling people he did it because he's making an underdog stand against corporations and wants people to follow him. He's doing a pretty good job so far and I have to say, has made me look like a fool so he must be taking tips from you I assume."

"Oh yeah. Action Ace, I had an appointment with him last Tuesday on The Art of Making Clark Kent Look Silly. Or was that you all by your little self who did that?"

"Honestly this is the weirdest thing I've ever had to deal with. I'm completely out of my element. I wanna try and arrest him but he like flew, he might be Kryptonian and if he is I can't risk fighting him and if I do I'm sure he'll find some way to spin it in his favour. He's pretty compelling also, I must say."

"Don't get sucked into it. I'm watching it on the Internet at the moment, people are live streaming it on their phones and SnapPic's."

"Something's up Lois and I'm going to get to the bottom of this."

"Alright have fun. Love you."

"Love you too."

He hangs up before continuing to tail the crowd towards the slums. They soon arrive with more and more people gathering the crowd as they grow larger and larger. Brannon stands before the crowds in front of the small rundown buildings of The Suicide Slums.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I used to live here after I lost the mortgage on my house and I lived with those who also have been cast out from the golden, City of Tomorrow." He walks over to a woman who stands with her 4 children all of them ranging between 1 and 7.

"This is Pamela Baldino. She used to be a receptionist at Lex Corp before she was fired due to 'Insufficient Work Ethic.' Now Miss. Baldino was trying to support her 4 children while working this job so she may not have been able to keep up her work ethic but the company was completely unfair to have had her fired."

He walks over to another person, an old man dressed in rags.

"This is Harry Hallman. Due to the Kryptonian Invasion he lost his children and fell into drug use to fight his depression. He lives here now and has received no help from any governmental services."

He walks to another woman; she is extremely skinny and has deep white hair.

"Antonia Stone has been mentally deranged and has been all her life. She used to live in Metropolis's Mental Asylum but due to her Sister, Margret, losing her job after The Kryptonian Invasion destroyed her Kiosk she was no longer able to pay for her sister Antonia's hospital bills and she had to be let go, out onto the Streets which she has been wandering like a lost ghost for years now."

He steps toward the crowd before taking off into the air above them. He holds a small device in his hands.

"This is an explosive device that will destroy 3 more Corporate Buildings in Metropolis. Do not worry, like Lex Corp the buildings were evacuated and no one got hurt. After tonight maybe they shall realise that they cannot treat people like animals, like the way Miss Baldino was treated, like the way, Mr Hallman was treated, like the way Miss Stone was treated. Like I said before, judge me if you like, I am the one who is flawed here, but please don't judge these poor souls of which you could very well be in their situation yourself had fate handed you those cards. I am not a man who enjoys violence as violence is what has plagued my entire existence but tonight I'm afraid this holiday season isn't one of giving, not for the corporate who run this town. It is one of taking."

Brannon holds the device in his hand and is about to flip the trigger when he feels a great strength grab a hold of his arm. Superman floats just before him holding his wrist.

"Don't make me stop you Brannon. I don't want to do this."

"Superman. Can't you see? My message has gotten out there. You may stop me like some common criminal but the good honest people of Metropolis will spread my message of resistance against their onslaught."

"Are you done yet? I want to get back to see my girlfriend."

Brannon looks at him with contempt before lashing out. He punches Superman into the ground causing a small crater to be made. Brannon then lands before him and punches Superman in the head.

"FACE ME KRYPTONIAN! YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! I DESERVE THIS! I DESERVE MY POWERS! DO YOU?!" He begins to wail on Superman bloodying his face with his punches.

Superman looks up to see a Kryptonite infused ring around his finger and laced into his costume.

"Ahhh... I get it now.." Superman thinks to himself.

Brannon hits Superman again before he gets back to his feet.

"Yes. Video me with your Lex Pads! I have sunken to violence because of what this city has dragged me to!" He holds the device high in the air as the people watch in horror.

"ACTIO-!" Suddenly Brannon falls to the ground as a sonic blast is heard. The crowd look around to see where Brannon was hit from. They then see Lex Luthor hobbling along on a pair of crutches in bandages. He is holding a small Sonic Pistol in his left hand. He hobbles over to Brannon and takes the device from his hand as he writhers on the floor and then with his other hand Lex destroys it stepping on it with his crutches. He looks up to see the people all staring at him.

"Brannon is under a citizen's arrest for destruction of public property and attempted murder of Lex Luthor. He said that he knew the buildings where empty but he knew that I was in them. He tried to kill me. He lied to you but I survived due to his attempts. However he did make some good points and has brought to light my Corporate Greed and sole focus on making money. I am ashamed to say that he, this lunatic with powers beyond his own control is right. I am a greedy man and I have done terrible things but no more. I did fire Miss Baldino and I have done nothing to better the situation of those living in the Suicide Slums and as of tonight I have decided to better their lives by offering Miss Baldino her old job back and I'd like to offer everyone currently living in the Suicide Slums their old jobs back. I know this can never make amends for what each of you has lost but I want to try my best to make it up to the good people of Metropolis. Much like Scrooge from A Christmas Carol, I have been visited by ghosts in this night and together they have forced me to realise my greed and corruption is leading me and the people of this city to nothing but unhappiness. Please accept me Metropolis as I am trying to better myself."

Lex begins to cry as he suddenly becomes weak and falls off his crutches. Pamela Baldino, Harry Hallman and Antonia Stone all slowly walk over to him and help him get to his feet. Everyone is watching and taking pictures and live streaming.

Superman watches from far away having snuck off during the confusion.

"Lex, you son of a bitch."

Metropolis Hospital, December 24th

Lex Luthor is watching the news from his bed as it recounts the events of the previous night. He sips a glass of wine as he sits there with his leg in a cast.

"Why did you do it Lex?"

He turns to see Superman standing solemnly at the other side of the room looking at him with contempt.

"Ah. I was wondering when you'd get here."

"What was the point of it all?"

"You'll be disappointed for how simple it was I must say. The Lex Pad 2.0 was launched last week and my presentation was upstaged by my competitors over at PearTM with their new release causing my stock and word of mouth to go down. In order to put the hype back on I staged this little stint to get the name Lex back into the press and with it, The Lex Pad 2.0, just in time for Christmas."

Superman stares at Lex.

"William Brannon, fake name, fake story, fake superpowers. You blew up your own building all to increase the hype of your new product? And with all the anti-capitalist ideals and your eventual triumph? This is low Lex even for you."

"I had to make myself the underdog. I had to make myself look bad in order to bounce back in the way these fools can respect."

"I hope you choke on all the money you make Lex."

"Eh. Go home, Superman and leave business to be business. I'm sure you'll find some way later on to foil me but for now allow me to enjoy this little victory."

That night,Smallville, Kansas

Lois, Martha and Jonathon Kent all stand in the square of town and sing Christmas Carols with the people of Kansas all around them. Lois is looking around trying to spot Clark in the crowd. She is getting colder and turns back to sing the Carol from the small sheet Ma and Pa are sharing between each other.

She suddenly feels a hand on her shoulder as a familiar voice begins to join in with the song. She turns to see Clark standing beside her looking down on her with a big smile on his face. She looks up at him and smiles before he leans in and kisses her on the cheek.

"Ooooh. You're cold!" He whispers.

"Why're you so warm huh? Just had a quick sprint around the sun?"

He laughs before hugging her tight. He looks up into the sky and with his X-ray vision sees the first snow flake falling on Smallville.

"Look there it is." He says pointing upwards.

"What?"

"The first snowflake in Smallville; I always love watching it fall cos I'm the only person who can. It's all on its own out there caught in the wind trying hold itself together." He looks down towards Lois as she looks up at him smiling. There are no words that can describe the way each of them feel right now as they just decide to leave words aside and kiss as the snow starts to fall.


The End

Merry Christmas Everyone!