Before the War :: Superman #159

Writer: Jeph Loeb

Pencils: Ed McGuinness and Paul Pelletier

Inks: Cam Smith

Colors: Tanya and Richard Horie

Letters: Richard Starkings

Superman #159

Cover by Ed McGuinness, Cam Smith, Ian Hannin

"Detour"

Published June, 2000

Superman asks Green Lantern to accompany him into outer space.  Recent exposure to Kryptonite had left him weakened, and the Man of Steel wants to test his own powers and endurance now that he has recovered. What better way to do so than taking a stroll with a friend around the Solar System?  Kyle Rayner conveys through his narration why Superman is such an inspirational figure, and a role model to all super-heroes.

Artwork by Paul Pelletier, Cam Smith, Tanya Horie

Soon, the pair arrives in the orbit of then-planet Pluto to find that it has vanished. They also come across a horde from Almerac -led by the always ambiguous Maxima- trying to make its way to an unknown destination. A fight quickly ensues after supervillain Massacre shows up and is revealed to be under Maxima's service.

Superman and Green Lantern against Massacre.

Things are about to take a turn for the worse when Grayven, son of Darkseid booms in, but Maxima finally admits that she is not leading an attack. She and her people are fleeing from Imperiex, and Grayven is there to assist. This takes Superman by surprise, not only because of the unusual alliance between would-be conquerors, but also because he thought that Imperiex was no longer a concern.

The people from Almerac depart via Boom Tube, along with Maxima, Massacre, and Grayven.  Superman and Green Lantern return to Earth with an ominous warning: Imperiex is coming... 

This is how the issue was originally solicited:

SUPERMAN #159

Written by Jeph Loeb; art by Ed McGuinness and Paul Pelletier.

Green Lantern guest-stars in a spacefaring issue! To make sure he's okay after last month's "Critical Condition," Superman enlists Green Lantern to help put him through his paces. But during the checkup, conducted in the void of space (in sequences illustrated by former GREEN LANTERN artist Paul Pelletier), the two find themselves fighting for their lives against Maxima and Massacre. And that's far from the worst threat our heroes are going to face.

In Shops: June 7, 2000