The King Returns!

Knowhere, the Throne Hall.

Link had made all the arrangements.

While he was away, Cyborg and Cosmo would jointly manage the vast colony built inside the Ancient Celestial's skull.

Cyborg, the half-machine man bonded to an Apokolips Mother Box, would handle the colony's technological upgrades, commercial operations, and defenses. He would transform Chaos Direction from a black-market powerhouse into a true corporate empire with a high-tech fleet and an interstellar trade network.

Cosmo, the space dog with powerful Telepathy, would become the empire's intelligence chief. Its psychic network would watch every corner of Knowhere. No plot or rebellion would escape its notice.

Link stood before the Throne. Behind him were the Jokester, the flagship that symbolized his power, and the reorganized Marauder fleet, now utterly loyal to him. Knowhere had gone from a lawless, chaotic outpost to an orderly, efficient war machine—his first secure foothold in the universe.

He had laid all the groundwork. Now it was time to claim his prize.

"Say, are we really not taking a ship back?"

Harley Quinn clung to Link's back like a koala, grumbling in dissatisfaction. She wore a brand-new, futuristic skintight combat suit. Its red-and-black colors were as provocative as ever, and several oddly shaped Plasma Grenades bearing smiley faces hung from her waist.

"Coming home in the Jokester would be so cool! Let those Earth hicks see how awesome our ship is!"

"Too slow."

Link shook his head, an indulgent smile on his face.

He gently lifted Harley off his back and took her hand.

Then, under the awestruck gazes of Cyborg and Cosmo, he slowly raised his left hand, which bore the Infinity Gauntlet.

He would use no ship, nor would he use Cyborg's Boom Tube technology.

He would return to Earth by his own power, in the most commanding,