"Welcome everyone to another edition of Just the Facts. I am your host G Gordon Godfrey. And now we have to talk about it. Superman has been resurrected for just three weeks and now he is already joining the Justice League. So much to cover here. First of all, has anyone bothered to ask where Superman has been for the past year. Am I the only one that recalls going to his funeral last year? And now we're going to act like him coming back to life raises no red flags. Second of all, the Justice League. Now I've been quiet about them for a while because honestly, they haven't done much. But does anyone else see the problem with these enhanced individuals joining together unchecked? We should not allow this, cannot allow this, and I need you people to wake up. We'll be right back after this."
"It's coming. Don't miss the most mystifying show on Earth. The world's greatest escape artist is coming to Metropolis. Don't miss Mr. Miracle live."
Superman stands at a podium in down town Washington D.C. Also on stage are the other members of the league: Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and Aquaman.
"For years I have worked to gain your trust. My whole life I have wanted to use my abilities to help others. If Doomsday proved anything, it's that you can never be sure what threats the world is going to throw at you. I nearly paid the ultimate sacrifice at the hands of that creature. And because of that I learned of the creation of the Justice League. And I am honored that they want me in among their ranks. Together the six of us can truly do some good for this world." Superman says.
"Seven." A voice says.
Superman can hear footsteps coming up the stairs to the stage. Two long black ears appear. The Batman appears on stage. Superman smiles to see he is here. The crowd pauses for a moment a little unsure of how to react. Superman goes over to shake Batman's hand. Once Batman reciprocates, the crowd cheers.
"Does this mean you're on the team?" Superman asks.
"You can consider me a part timer." Batman says.
The crowd continues to cheer on as the Justice League stands on the stage.
Back in Metropolis, Lex works away in his lab. He is studying a small chunk of Kryptonite. Mercy walks in.
"What are you working on this time?" She asks.
"At the present this is the last piece of Kryptonite known on Earth. Lex says.
"I thought after Doomsday you had given up trying to kill Superman." Mercy says.
"Oh Mercy, killing Superman isn't the goal I am after." Lex says as he drops the rock in some sort of solution.
Mercy cocks her head.
"The what are you doing?" She asks.
Lex puts the solution with the Kryptonite on his lab table. He then pulls a machine over. The machine shoots a laser beam into the jar.
The solution begins to bubble. The Kryptonite within dances around. As the beam intensifies, the Kryptonite changes color. It goes from green to red.
"Got it." Lex says.
"Got what?" Mercy asks.
"Green Kryptonite affects Superman physically. But his battle with Doomsday proved that he can overcome death." Lex says.
Mercy looks on, still not quite understanding.
"If I can't break a Kryptonian, maybe I can bend one. I have been studying the chemical compounds of Kryptonite for years. With some alterations, this red kryptonite should affect Superman mentally." Lex says.
"And what, make him dumber?" Mercy asks.
"Make him more passive, more persuasive. Ideally make him work for me." Lex says.
"You really think you can mind control him with that?" Mercy asks.
"Yes, I do." Lex says.
It's late at the Daily Planet. The team is working to get tomorrows paper ready.
"Jimmy, do you have page nine ready?" Perry asks.
"Right here chief." Jimmy says.
"What's this? The Mr. Miracle ad is supposed to be half the page, not the full page." Perry says.
"You said make it a full page." Jimmy says.
"No, I said half a page and Troupe's article on the south side." Perry says.
"I put that article on page twelve." Jimmy says.
"I said page nine! Where's Lane's article with the Justice League helping with rescue efforts on that Tsunami?" Perry asks.
"Right here chief." Lois says as she enters his office.
Perry looks it over.
"Wavelength is one word." Perry says.
"And where's Kent's piece on the Cartwright's moving to Chicago?" Perry then asks.
"Got it chief." Clark says.
"Jimmy, cut the Miracle ad to half a page, put Troupe's article on page nine, and put Kent's piece on page twelve. I'll work on Lane's piece for the cover." Perry says.
"On it chief." Jimmy says.
Lois and Clark exit Perry's office. Lois looks over at Clark. Then she looks past him, out the window.
"I think someone's calling you." Lois says.
Clark goes over and looks out the window. He sees a spotlight with his Superman shield shining in the sky. It's coming from LexCorp. This wasn't the first time Lex had pulled this stunt, though it had been a while. Clark takes off.
Superman arrives at LexCorp. He hovers outside the window of Lex's office. Lex flips a switch to open the window.
"Superman welcome." Lex says.
"What's the meaning of this Luthor?" Superman asks.
"It occurs to me that I never formally welcomed you back." Lex says.
"Yeah, I'm sure you're really happy about that." Superman says, sarcastically.
"As it happens, I did a lot of soul searching myself over the past year. And I am glad you're back." Lex says.
Lex puts the red kryptonite in his pocket and approaches Superman.
"I feel as if our whole relationship started on the wrong foot and hasn't straightened out all these years." Lex says.
"You mean the wrong foot of you sending military grade weapons to aid a foreign countries invasion?" Superman asks.
"I believe I was cleared of any wrong doing." Lex says, he sidles up next to Superman. He should be close enough now for the red kryptonite to take effect.
"And yet your ways haven't changed. I wouldn't be surprised if you were involved in the creation of Doomsday." Superman says.
Lex grits his teeth.
"Superman please, that is all in the past. I have always been one to look towards to future. Aren't you the one that hopes for a better tomorrow?" Lex asks.
"And what do you see in the future." Superman asks.
"You and me working together." Lex says.
"How so?" Superman asks.
"Fly around my building." Lex commands.
"Why?" Superman asks.
Lex is taken aback. Superman didn't obey.
"Aim your heat vision there." Lex says, pointing to the corner of his office.
"Lex, what are you doing?" Superman asks.
Lex can't believe it. The red kryptonite, it's not working.
"Something's wrong." Lex says.
"Lex look, I don't know what game you're playing, but I don't have time for it." Superman says.
Superman flies off into the night sky. Lex takes the red kryptonite out of his pocket. He angrily chucks it at the wall. It puts a hole in the wall. Lex presses a button for his intercom.
"Get me maintenance. Tell them there's a hole in my office to fix." Lex says.
Lex couldn't believe it. He had wasted his last piece of kryptonite on a failed experiment. Lex pulls a small case out of the top drawer in his desk. It was a lead lined case. Inside was a ring he had forged. It was encrusted with a piece of green kryptonite. This was all Lex had now.
Lex's fortunes might soon change however. At the edge of the solar system, something was headed for earth. I was a giant meteor. But not just any meteor. It was a meteor of kryptonite.