Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: The Comic Book Fight Club

INFINITE WARS: THE LAST SON (PART 1)!
Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! No...!
It's the latest cartoon pitch for the last son of Krypton!

In 1992 Batman fans were introduced to a fresh new vision of the dark knight that embodied the spirit of the original. Batman: The Animated Series was released in accompaniment to the fever pitched Tim Burton feature sequel, but boasted the distinct retro-inspired deco design pf Burton's first feature, but took it in a traditional direction that would permeate within the culture and design of the character in comics for years to come.

While perfection almost certainly eluded the popular series, it's mark was so indelible that any production daring enough to follow in it's foosteps was sure to face an insurmountable task! Such was the scenario faced by 2004's The Batman - a series which looked to reinvent the Batfranchise with a vibrant, modern design that brought the look of the comics into a meeting with the animé inspired animation now gripping a modern industry.

The Batman had it's struggles to engender the goodwill of longtime fans, but for the uninitiated, it was but another avenue into the mythos of Batman and the DC Universe - something becoming increasingly well represented with the introduction of the Justice League!

The following is but a vague supplment to the Infinite Wars that proposes another radical reinvention of a character treated competently by visionary creators like Bruce Timm and Paul Dini. This, the first half of an outline for a new series called Superman: Last Son, proposes a take on the Man of Steel that builds another impression of the DC Universe and the city of Metropolis.
Like The Batman it distances itself from the established work in Superman and Justice League animations, defying the traditionalism of the deco-inspired beginnings of the 'Timmverse' to present a character and plot driven modern take on the character(s).

Not described in these vague episode summaries is the time given to developing the relationships and characters in Metropolis, offsetting and complimenting the action that is at the core of the piece.

== Episode One: Metropolis Part 1 ==
Clark Kent arrives in Metropolis to begin his career as a reporter with the Daily Planet! For the first time he meets Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, and the bullpen of his workmates. He accompanies Lois on a story where he meets Lex Luthor, local titan of business and an acquaintance from Smallville, who is announcing a radical sciences division of LexCORP called - STAR Laboratories.

By night - Clark takes to the skies as Superman in an effort to uncover a scoop, but in doing so, begins to uncover suspicious activity at LexCORP when he is attacked by a powerful robotic character.

== Episode Two: Metropolis Part 2 ==
Clark continues to investigate LexCORP and the mysterious robot who attacked him, but finds himself distracted when an armored madman named Dr. Vale launches his own robotic attack on the city. With the Daily Planet in peril, Superman leaps into action to save the day, and establish himself as an icon of justice in the city when he succeeds in publicly defeating the menace.

== Episode Three: Metropolis Part 3 ==
Superman traces the machinations of Dr. Vale to experimentation on humans, which included the unwilling survivor of a car wreck - John Corben. Dr. Vale had been using Corben to steal rare materials and technology from LexCORPs in exchange for feul vital to keeping his powercells working.

When Superman apprehends Metallo he is publicly thanked by Lex Luthor, who vows to dedicate STARlabs resources to finding alternative feul options to maintain John Corben.

== Episode Four: Born on a Monday ==
When Solomon Grundy runs riot in Metropolis, the Green Lantern arrives to join Superman in the battle! Grundy escapes, but Superman gets an opportunity to meet the Golden Age heroes of the Justice Society of America when Alan Scott suggests a fundraiser race between Superman and The Flash, Jay Garrick.

By mingling with the JSA, Clark Kent is finally able to secure the respect of his peers when he interviews the Green Lantern for a piece about WWII superheroes for the Planet, written in response to the emerging popularity of Superman.

== Episode Five: Trinity ==
Amazonian diplomat, Wonder Woman, is on a tour of American cities as part of an initiative to encourage peace and equality across the world. Bruce Wayne takes the opportunity to travel to Metropolis to investigate Solomon Grundy's change of locale as Batman, using his playboy persona to follow Wonder Woman ahead of her arrival in Gotham.

Superman and Batman butt heads, believing each other to have the superior method of subduing Grundy. In the end, it is the intervention of Wonder Woman that soothes the savage beast, but before he can divulge the secrets of his arrival under WW's lasso of truth, Lex Luthor reveals his new STAR labs special forces, which take the creature into custody.

== Episode Six: Character Assassination Part 1 ==
After the battle with Solomon Grundy, Superman's suspicions of Lex Luthor lead him to attempt a covert entry of LexCORP, in an attempt to investigate the operations of STAR Labs. He finds the underground facilities impenetrable even to his X-Ray vision, but discovers Kryptonian technology, before he is forced to expose himself to rescue laboratory workers from the destructive results of an experiment.

Responsible for the carnage is a Martian whose accidental presence was the result of STAR Labs experiment conducted under the supervision of Dr. Erdel.
The Martian attacks Superman, mistaking him for an invader that had attacked Mars in the moments before his teleportation.

The two battle their way out of LexCORP to the industrial outerskirts of the city, where they engage in a titanic struggle. Seemingly evenly matched, the Martian gains the upper hand, but flees when he sends Superman hurtling into a steel works factory, resulting in a massive explosion.

During a press conference to formally announce his special forces; Lex takes aim at Superman, accusing him of being too mysterious a power for the people of Metropolis to trust. He blames Superman for the destruction at LexCORP and the factory, failing to reveal the Martian to the public.