DCeased: War of the Undead Gods is a limited 8 issue comic book series and conclusion of the DCeased story arc, following DCeased: Dead Planet.
Synopsis[]
With all of the Earth cured from the effects of the Anti-Living Virus, the Justice League then find themselves now not only looking to defend their worlds, but the galaxy as well, as the gods have become undead and about to unleash hell itself upon the universe.
Issue 1[]
The first issue begins with Kara Zor-El's backstory, where she escaped the destruction of her home planet of Krypton and the attack on Kandor by the Coluan cyborg, Brainiac. Kara is sent in a rocket, where years had passed since Krypton's destruction, but she escapes this through suspended animation. She is sent to New Genesis, the home of the benevolent faction of New Gods, but on that world, she finds that all have been infected with the Anti-Living Virus. She is then attacked and infected with the virus, leaving her fate unknown as of now. It then cuts to the 5 years prior to finding the cure that many friends and loved ones have died due to infection, leaving many heartbroken. Once the cure was found, the populace on Earth had been changed back to normal. Once that happened, it was now up to the Justice League, led by Jon Kent to cure his father, who had taken refuge in the center of Earth's sun.
Jon flew into the star, causing his zombified father to become alerted to his presence and attack him with great strength and speed. Once both were out of the sun, Dinah Lance had used her ring to create a bubble around Superman to entrap him, only for him to shatter the construct like glass. Despite their combined power, the league was barely able to hold Clark just enough before Cyborg administered the cure. 2 days following the events, Superman had returned to normal, while also getting himself a change of clothes, since his old uniform burned up in the sun in the last 5 years and a new advanced prosthesis to replace his long lost arm. The league returned to Earth-2 via boom tube and Clark was reunited with Lois and his mother, Martha. Clark's father, who was also cured, was also brought to Earth-2, reunited with his family once again. Once they were reunited, Barda and Miracle wished to return to New Genesis to see their son and both left, following this via boom tube.
While Jon's reunion was more uplifting, Damian's was less so, as he returned to see Alfred, making him aware of the cure. Alfred, who had killed Nightwing, Tim Drake and Bruce Wayne 5 years prior, was in tears, telling him that he "killed his sons". The next day, probes from Brainiac himself were fast approaching Earth-2, causing Jessica Cruz to alert the lanterns stationed there, but before they could come to her aid, both Clark and Jon were already engaging them in orbit. With none left for the lanterns to destroy, they then waited a few hours more before Brainiac's vessel arrived in orbit. The vessel seemed badly damaged and falling apart, which led to Clark going in to investigate, along with his son. Once inside, both Supermen found Brainiac, badly beaten and torn apart. Brainiac then warned both men of steel that they needed to stop the New Gods, as they had been infected and are on their way.
Issue 2[]
After leaving Earth-2, Big Barda and Mister Miracle are in a boom tube where they discuss their son having grown the last 5 years. They then stepped onto a New Genesis in ruins due to Darkseid's attack, causing Barda to worry about the well being of her son. She then noticed a dark portal in the city, causing her to approach it and attempt to enter it, only to be stopped by the Black Racer. They then learn that this was Darkseid's doing and that he was infected and that the dark portals, now known as "Doom Tubes", were only accessible by Anti-Living and dead. It was then revealed that Darkseid was now on Korugar, attacking the seven billion inhabitants. Despite their attempts to defend the planet, the military of Korugar couldn't withstand the might of the New Gods. Luckily for Korugar however, a distress signal was sent and it got the attention of the Sinestro Corps, now in charge of Warworld. Refusing to let his world fall, Sinestro and his lanterns set a course to the planet.
Back in orbit over Earth-2, Superman, Guy Gardener, Batman, Lois and Jon were in a meeting about Brainiac, but realizing their distrust in a genocidal madman, he gave the City of Kandor to Superman as a sign of good will. Damian inquired as to why he would be willing to part with it, which he replied that the knowledge in the universe would die with the universe. He also revealed that Darkseid was who tore him apart and that he barely escaped alive and that if they didn't stop the undead gods, the universe would fall as well. Both Guy and Brainiac then got into a heated argument, leading Lois to ask if he knew how to beat them, But Superman interrupted and said that this virus was the end of all life, but he was willing to ensure the spark of life remained in the universe. Brainiac then warned that every second wasted was a victory for the undead. It was then that Superman told him that they were going to reach every ally to aid them in their battle.
Now over Korugar, Sinestro and his comrades, as well as the weapons of Warworld, targeted the infected and unleashed their firepower with the intent to obliterate the undead. The blasts however, were blocked by a green construct via the Green Lantern Corps. Kyle Rayner and Soranik, Sinestro's daughter were in their way and initially confronted each other. It's then Kyle's ring detected an incoming threat, which came from behind, where he was knocked out by a now infected Supergirl, flying at superspeed with a mother box in her hand. She completely ignored the lanterns with her sights set on Warworld itself. Once close enough, she smashed the mother box into the hull, infecting Warworld. Now infected, Warworld unleashed it's arsenal on the lanterns, killing several on both sides, including Arkillo. Sinestro, Soranik and Kyle survived by creating shields and Sinestro told his daughter that Darkseid was coming.
Darkseid then appeared and both father and daughter engaged the undead god. Both Sinestro and Soranik were in a power struggle against Darkseid's omega beams before Supergirl knocked them both down. Soranik recovered, but Supergirl was attacking Sinestro long enough for Darkseid to grab him and easily kill him. With her father dead, Soranik then was convinced by Kyle to retreat before they ended up the same way. With Sinestro no dead, his ring then flew to Darkseid, where it augmented him further with the power of fear at his disposal.
Issue 3[]
2 months prior, The inhabitants of Rann and Thanagar had continued their long drawn out war with each other. Though the Thanagarians could have been victorious, it was due to the Rannian's protector Adam Strange who kept them at bay. Meeting with his wife and daughter, Adam would then be sent back to Earth via zeta beams and was teleported to Gotham. He found the city in ruins, but also found the coordinates to the next zeta beam location, which he ordered the jetpack to go to before ascending into the sky. Once in the air, Adam ran into Wonder Woman, who he tried to shout to, only for him to realize she was not the same woman from before. Adam attempted to defend himself, only to be scratched by a now infected Wonder Woman. Back on Rann, the Thanagarians were attacked by a now returned and infected Adam Strange, who began infecting others, including his wife and daughter.
Days later in the Rylex System, an alien approaches patrons in a nearby bar, seeking any noble warriors. A voice asked if it paid well, only for the alien to insult him and his look. It was then that the voice was revealed to be Lobo, who began intimidating the alien, but before anything could happen, a Thanagarian warship was hovering over the planet. It was then a horde of infected Thanagarians began attacking the populace, including those in the bar, killing the bartender and angering Lobo enough to engage them. A Thanagarian then scratched him across his chest, but rather than infecting him, Lobo remained untouched and the Czarnian twisted the Thanagarian's head off before taking up his wings. Without hesitation, Lobo flew up to the ship and obliterated it, causing it to blow up. Out of the flames, emerged Lobo, now on fire, but also lighting a cigar. With the alien witnessing this, Lobo then began "talking turkey" with him.
Back on Earth, all of Themyscira were attending the funeral of Wonder Woman herself, before Ares crashed it. He was quickly surrounded by Amazons and heroes, only for him to tell them he was there in peace. Ares teleported them to the Hall of the Gods, where he bequeathed Oliver with the Golden Bow of Apollo. Demanding to know what he wanted, Ares revealed that a war was coming and that though it would be glorious, it would be inevitably futile, as he revealed this indeed happened prior and nobody survived. Just then, Dinah's ring received a message from Oa, revealing the fall of Korugar and calling for all lanterns to return to Oa at once. It was revealed that even though they had a cure, that they weren't fighting an equation and that Darkseid was the enemy, despite being a god and a pawn in a greater scheme. He revealed that this was in fact far older than the equation and even the gods, as well as the fact the universe will die, revealing that Erebos was here.
Issue 4[]
Issue 4 begins with Alfred Pennyworth having a nightmare of him killing Batman, Robin and Nightwing. He awakens following this, greeted by his doctor and girlfriend Leslie Thompkins. She assures him it wasn't his fault, while also telling him he needs to find a way to forgive himself. They then hear a knock at the door, leading Leslie to open it, revealing it to be Damian Wayne, who acknowledges his happiness towards both Alfred and Leslie. He came to tell them that he was going to meet with the Guardians of Oa, leading Alfred to ask him to stay, due to him having lost his adopted children following having to kill them. He then requested for him to find a way for him to stand by him, but before anything could be said, Jonathan Kent arrived and told Damian it was time to move. Jon picks up Damian and flies upward, telling him he is also happy for Alfred and Leslie.
On the planet Almerac, many Almeracians are retreating from their world, as the undead armada is fast approaching. Maxima, the queen, stayed behind and would face the undead new gods with her lover Primaa. The two warriors fought valiantly, however Primaa fell to Darkseid's omega beams, with Maxima following thereafter, this time as one of the infected. While on Oa, the heroes have gathered and are told that billions of lives were lost and at least 12 planets have perished and that the anti-life equation needed to be halted now. It is then that the Guardians authorize lethal force on planets that are already infected. Though Brainiac sees it as the only logical solution, Superman refuses to let innocents die when there is a cure. Ganthet then asks if he was against them, only for League to say that he wasn't alone. Kilowogg comes to the aid of the Guardians, only for Kyle Rayner to calm them down and Ganthet detaining Superman on Oa. Superman smashed through the construct and punched Ganthet, knocking him out, causing a fight to break out. Damian then realized that Ares was causing this, resulting in him demanding him stop. It's then that the 5th dimensional imp Mxyzptlk arrives, causing everyone to stop.