Chapter Summaries

After He-El’s forces killed hundreds of thousands of people resisting the New Krypton Empire, Kara confronted him over the deaths and broke down when he challenged her understanding of Krypton. He-El appointed her the empire’s diplomat to the United Nations and put her in charge of arranging the departure of civilians who refused to join.

• Robert helped humans leave the New Krypton Continent as educated people joined the New Krypton Empire, while officials and wealthy people fled and violent resisters were killed.
• Kara entered He-El’s spaceship and asked him why he had killed so many people.
• He-El accused Kara of being selfish and ignorant of what Krypton meant to Kryptonians, and Kara broke down crying.
• He-El told Kara to become the New Krypton Empire’s diplomat, pursue a sixth seat among the Five Permanent Members at the United Nations, and manage civilians leaving the continent.

He-El let Kara represent the New Krypton Empire as it prepared to join the United Nations as a sixth permanent member and relocate Australia’s former residents. When Superman came to confront He-El, Kara intercepted him and tried to stop the Justice League from restarting a war.

• He-El sent Kara to represent the New Krypton Empire in joining the United Nations, while governments around the world welcomed its membership and offered diplomatic ties.
• Kara returned with a favorable impression of humanity, and He-El had Zero explain why her view was naive.
• The Justice League began preparing to oppose He-El, with Superman heading to the New Krypton Continent to confront him.
• He-El told Kara to urge the Justice League to help relocate Australians rather than accuse him, as the empire continued its preparations to settle Australia.
• Kara intercepted Superman in midair and argued that another war would only put humans in danger.
• Superman insisted he would question He-El about harming humanity, leaving Kara feeling alone and understanding that He-El saw the empire as Krypton’s final home.

Kara brought Superman to meet He-El and argued that the New Krypton Empire was necessary for Krypton’s survival and that Superman’s anger could provoke another war. Superman entered the command room in silence, unable to answer her.

• Kara led Superman through He-El’s spacecraft, warning him not to trigger a second war between the New Krypton Empire and Earth.
• Superman insisted that He-El must not harm humans, while Kara argued that he had only Kryptonian blood and no true connection to Krypton.
• Kara explained that she had persuaded He-El to claim one continent instead of conquering Earth and had worked to preserve peace between the empire and Earth’s governments.
• Kara admitted that He-El had killed two hundred thousand people and that she had failed to prevent the deaths, but said she had helped protect survivors and secure a home for Kryptonians.
• Kara broke down in tears as she asked what more Superman wanted, and he followed her into the command room in silence.

Superman confronted He-El aboard his ship over the New Krypton Empire’s plans for Earth and the safety of its people. He-El refused to relocate the Kryptonians, while Superman vowed to keep watch over the empire.

• He-El questioned Superman about returning to his ship, and Superman said he had not come to start a war.
• Superman admitted he could not stop He-El from establishing the New Krypton Empire on Earth but warned him not to harm humans.
• He-El refused Superman’s suggestion to help find the Kryptonians another habitable planet and explained that civilians in the former Australia could leave with money and supplies.
• He-El said the empire would enforce its laws against those who resisted it, and Superman insisted that no one’s life should be taken lightly.
• Superman vowed that he and Earth’s heroes would keep watch over He-El, who challenged their right to interfere in the empire’s internal affairs before changing tack.

He-El offered Superman a place in the New Krypton Empire and argued that Superman sought spiritual fulfillment through protecting humanity. He left Superman responsible for keeping the Justice League from provoking New Krypton, warning that a conflict could destroy Earth.

• He-El invited Superman to join New Krypton, but Superman firmly refused, regarding the empire as an invader occupying Australia.
• He-El challenged Superman's belief that he expected nothing from humanity, and Superman silently acknowledged that helping people gave him satisfaction.
• He-El revealed that he knew Superman's identities and had recognized his resolve to protect Earth, even at the cost of his life.
• He-El said Kara would serve as New Krypton's diplomat and seek peaceful relations with Earth's governments.
• He-El explained that he wanted Superman to manage the empire's relationship with the Justice League, then warned him to keep superheroes from provoking New Krypton.

Superman left without accepting or rejecting He-El’s offer, knowing he could help prevent conflict between the New Krypton Empire and Earth’s superheroes. After thirty days of evacuations and defections, the New Krypton Empire was founded in the former Australia.

• Superman left, and He-El expected him to serve as a buffer between the New Krypton Empire and Earth's superheroes.
• More than twelve million people left the former Australia, while around eight million stayed and became civilians of the New Krypton Empire.
• He-El seized control of Australia's communications, executed leaders who resisted, and the remaining officials surrendered and departed.
• Kara and Zero arranged money and supplies for poor Australians who wanted to leave, while some chose to return the aid and join the New Krypton Empire.
• As the thirty-day period ended, the New Krypton Empire was founded.

On August 1, the New Krypton Empire held its founding ceremony in Canberra and joined the United Nations, while Earth’s leaders confronted their powerlessness before Kryptonian strength. The chapter left humanity looking toward an uncertain new era and hoping the empire’s technology would help Earth reach space.

• Zero raised the saucer-shaped spacecraft into interstellar space and prepared the crowded Canberra square for the founding ceremony.
• People and reporters from around the world gathered in Canberra as television stations broadcast the establishment of the New Krypton Empire.
• Earth’s leaders regretted humanity’s past attempts to contact aliens and feared that Kryptonians could not be stopped by human weapons.
• Governments accepted Kara’s proposal for the New Krypton Empire to join the United Nations, hoping its membership would keep relations stable.
• Earth’s major powers saw the empire’s founding as an opportunity to obtain alien technology and begin expanding into space.

Wonder Woman confronted Superman over He-El’s massacre and the founding of the New Krypton Empire, while the Justice League struggled with its members’ injuries and inability to intervene. Amanda Waller announced that the United Nations had recognized the empire and barred the League from entering its territory, leaving the heroes shocked by humanity’s decision.

• Wonder Woman accused Superman of standing by while He-El killed two hundred thousand people and founded the New Krypton Empire in Australia.
• The Flash, Aquaman, and Steel Bone remained unable to act because of their own circumstances, while Batman watched the founding ceremony and quietly noted He-El’s name.
• Superman said he had visited He-El and was powerless to stop the situation, prompting Wonder Woman to declare that she would lead the Amazon warriors against him.
• Amanda Waller informed the Justice League that all 193 United Nations member states had recognized the New Krypton Empire as a nation and a permanent Security Council member.
• Amanda Waller announced that the Justice League could not enter any nation’s territory without permission, and the heroes reacted in shock.

The Justice League learned that He-El’s New Krypton Empire had joined the United Nations as a permanent member and was building partnerships with Earth’s nations. With countries eager for Kryptonian technology and the UN warning the League not to interfere, the Empire gained a foothold on Earth while the League had no clear way to stop it.

• Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, and Steel Bone reacted with shock when they learned the New Krypton Empire had joined the United Nations as a permanent member.
• The Justice League considered its agreements with human nations and recognized that confronting the Empire would violate their understanding not to interfere in national affairs.
• Batman revealed that the Empire was sharing lifespan-extending genetic technology and pursuing cooperation with countries across Earth.
• The Justice League realized that nations could not afford to reject the Empire’s advanced technology and that the UN had warned them not to interfere.
• He-El’s growing influence united Earth’s nations around cooperation with the New Krypton Empire, leaving the League unable to stop its rise.

Batman explained that the New Krypton Empire had won Earth's cooperation by combining He-El's military threat with beneficial technology, including a treatment that could extend lifespans by fifty years. The Justice League realized that the Empire had bound Earth's nations to itself, and the chapter ended as Green Lantern arrived at the Watchtower with a few friends to help.

• Batman explained that the New Krypton Empire had offered useful technologies while negotiating cooperation with Earth's nations, making them willing to support its entry into the United Nations.
• Superman realized He-El's biotechnology and political strategy had tied Earth's nations to the Empire and made it difficult for the Justice League to oppose him.
• Amanda Waller said she did not know the leaders' decisions but suspected that access to the life-extending technology had encouraged cooperation.
• Wonder Woman smashed the table in anger, while Aquaman said the nations knew what they were doing and blamed the Justice League's failure to stop them.
• Green Lantern knocked on the Watchtower's glass and announced that he had brought a few friends to help.

At New Krypton’s founding ceremony in Canberra, the Empire displayed its advanced magnetic-particle technology before Kara delivered He-El’s prepared speech. She promised peaceful coexistence with Earth’s nations and announced medical aid, ending with a pledge to cure selected terminally ill patients each year that sent shockwaves around the world.

• Magnetic particles formed a vast sky display of spacecraft, weapons, and fireworks, stunning the ceremony’s audience and viewers worldwide.
• Magnetic-particle steel warriors descended over the crowd before landing as guards around the square.
• Kara arrived at the podium and began delivering He-El’s prepared founding speech, growing more confident as she spoke.
• Kara pledged that the New Krypton Empire would not invade Earth’s nations or interfere in their politics, easing world leaders’ concerns.
• Kara announced that New Krypton would share genetic technology to improve human health and extend lifespans by an expected fifty years.
• Kara promised that the Empire would select and treat one thousand patients with terminal illnesses or severe conditions each year, provoking an uproar across Earth.

Kara announced that the New Krypton Empire would provide its civilians with basic medical care capable of curing cancer, regenerating limbs, and awakening patients in vegetative states. The revelation left people who had fled former Australia regretting that they had abandoned their chance to become citizens, while Kara prepared to continue speaking.

• A young man with one arm and people suffering from illness or disability reacted with hope and disbelief to Kara's promise of complete cures.
• A young man asked whether ordinary New Krypton civilians could receive treatment even though only a thousand people would be selected each year.
• Kara said the eight million people who had remained on the continent were already New Krypton civilians and could request basic medical benefits from assistant robots.
• Earthlings learned that the New Krypton Empire's medical care was a basic benefit and that citizens could gain further advantages by contributing to the empire.
• People who had left former Australia regretted their decision, including a wealthy cancer patient who insisted Kara's claims were fake.
• Kara reflected on He-El's plans for Earth's people, then cleared her throat and resumed her speech.

Kara announced that New Krypton’s medical care and genetic research could eventually give deserving citizens superhuman abilities, making people across Earth eager to join the empire. Those who had fled former Australia regretted abandoning New Krypton Continent, but they knew they could not return.

• Kara said New Krypton offered comprehensive medical care and could grant superhuman abilities through genetic serums to citizens who earned sufficient merit.
• People across Earth reacted with excitement, and civilians and national leaders considered the possibility of becoming superhuman or joining the New Krypton Empire.
• Civilians outside former Australia demanded that the empire open immigration, while those who had fled former Australia broke down over the opportunity they had lost.
• Some former residents of Australia shouted that Kara was lying, but they regretted fleeing and pleaded to return to New Krypton Continent.

At the New Krypton Empire’s founding ceremony, Kara announced generous citizen benefits, plans to rebuild the continent, and controlled nuclear fusion reactors in all nine states. As she introduced He-El, a group led by a Guardian of the Universe arrived and accused the alien invader of crimes.

• Kara described the Empire’s biogenetic plans and extensive benefits, winning applause from the citizens who had stayed on the continent.
• Kara promised to support citizens’ ideas and announced that former Australian cities would be demolished and rebuilt as the continent was divided into nine states.
• Kara revealed that the Empire would build a controlled nuclear fusion reactor in each state, astonishing people around the world.
• Kara began introducing Emperor He-El, but more than a dozen green-lit figures led by a Guardian of the Universe appeared over the venue.
• The Guardian of the Universe called out the alien invader and demanded that they answer for their crimes.

The Green Lantern Corps and the Justice League confronted the New Krypton Empire during its founding ceremony, accusing He-El of invading Earth. Kara defended the empire and challenged Superman, while Wonder Woman argued that He-El had built it through fear.

• Ganthet and more than a dozen Green Lanterns arrived over Canberra and denounced the founding of the New Krypton Empire.
• Earth’s leaders hoped the empire would be established because they expected technological benefits and protection from alien threats.
• Hal Jordan called for He-El to come out, and Superman, Steel Bone, Batman, the Flash, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman arrived with the Justice League.
• Kara angrily asked Superman why he opposed the New Krypton Empire, and Superman said Krypton was in the past and Earth’s civilization should not be interfered with.
• Kara argued that Earth’s nations had welcomed her diplomacy, while Wonder Woman said He-El had killed two hundred thousand people in Australia and ruled through fear.

The Justice League rejected the United Nations’ decision to recognize the New Krypton Empire and assembled at its founding ceremony to stop He-El. As the disguised heroes revealed themselves, He-El appeared before them, leaving the confrontation about to begin.

• Kara questioned why the Justice League had interrupted the founding ceremony despite the New Krypton Empire’s offers of medical and technological cooperation.
• Amanda Waller’s superior berated her after the Justice League entered the ceremony, while Earth’s leaders condemned the League for violating agreements and disregarding the United Nations.
• The Justice League judged He-El’s power and the Empire’s advantages too dangerous to allow him to establish a nation on Earth.
• Billy Batson transformed into Shazam, and other heroes, including Doctor Fate, Catwoman, Dick Grayson, Green Arrow, Atom, Stargirl Courtney Whitman, Zatanna, Constantine, Madame Xanadu, and Martian Manhunter, revealed themselves among the crowd.
• He-El appeared in front of the sun as the assembled superheroes searched for him.

He-El confronted Ganthet and the Green Lantern Corps above Earth, defeating them in seconds with overwhelming power. Superman then asked He-El to let the humans leave before their battle began.

• Ganthet demanded that He-El leave Earth and offered the Green Lantern Corps’ help in finding a planet for a new Krypton.
• As Ganthet flew up to face him, He-El struck him into the ground hundreds of meters below.
• Hal Jordan ordered the Green Lantern Corps to attack, and He-El trapped Hal and the other Green Lanterns in a yellow psychic curtain that their rings could not pierce.
• The Green Lanterns crashed toward the ground, leaving the assembled superheroes stunned by how quickly He-El had defeated them.
• Superman asked He-El to let the humans leave so their battle would not involve them.

He-El refused to move civilians out of the coming battle, insisting that the superheroes could not harm any New Krypton Empire civilian. When the Martian Manhunter attacked him telepathically, He-El defeated him with a glance, leaving Batman to wonder how He-El knew his weakness.

• Superman asked He-El to let the humans leave, but He-El refused.
• Zatanna prepared to evacuate the crowd with Constantine covering her, while the gathered humans panicked at He-El's cold response.
• Superman challenged He-El's disregard for civilians, and He-El claimed the superheroes could not harm any New Krypton Empire civilian.
• The Martian Manhunter emerged and unleashed his psychic force at He-El.
• He-El defeated the Martian Manhunter in their first exchange, and Batman wondered how He-El knew about the Martian Manhunter's pyrophobia.

Batman and the Justice League launched a coordinated attack on He-El, but he used his knowledge of their abilities and Superman as a shield to turn their assault against them. Superman was left near death in He-El’s grasp.

• Batman suspected He-El had secretly studied Earth’s heroes and warned the others that he might know their weaknesses.
• Wonder Woman led the attack while Batman ordered Kryptonite weapons launched, and the other heroes prepared their own strikes.
• He-El teleported behind Wonder Woman and struck her into a forest, leaving her gravely injured.
• He-El seized Superman by the throat and used Kryptonite to weaken him, though Batman realized He-El himself was unaffected by it.
• He-El blocked the heroes’ attacks with Superman, leaving Superman gravely wounded and the Justice League horrified.

He-El overpowered the heroes’ attacks and proved that Kryptonite could not hurt him, while Batman and Superman fell from the sky. He-El stopped The Flash inside the Speed Force and offered him a position as the New Krypton Empire’s liaison to Earth’s powered factions in exchange for saving them.

• Zatanna found that the space around the battlefield had been stabilized, and Madame Xanadu identified the particles emitted by He-El’s assistant machines as the cause.
• Batman detonated a Kryptonite Missile before Superman could hit it, then used the arriving Kryptonite Mech to confront He-El.
• He-El flicked Batman’s Kryptonite Mech into the Batwing carrying Superman, sending Batman and Superman crashing toward the ground.
• He-El caught The Flash inside the Speed Force’s Zoom realm and rendered him unable to move.
• The Flash agreed to give up whatever He-El demanded to save Batman and Superman, and He-El offered him the position of director of the New Krypton Empire’s affairs with Earth’s powered factions.