Smallville: Season 11 #8 is the eighth issue of the print edition of the DC Comics comic book series. The issue collects the fourth three chapters of the Detective story arc, originally released digitally.
Summary[]
The first time in print for these digital-first adventures! The “Detective” epic reaches its heart-pounding conclusion! BATMAN and GREEN ARROW versus a Prankster-controlled MISTER FREEZE! SUPERMAN versus PRANKSTER for the fate of METROPOLIS!
Recap[]
Otis hands a partly burnt popcorn to Lex, noting that it is early, though it's never too early for entertainment as Lex says. Giving Lex alone time, he soon has a brief argument with Tess. Lex notes that Tess couldn't figure the typing out, and when Tess asks why he's in a good mood, he points out what's on the news: Superman has been shot, and Batman is on the run. Tess points out her death by his hands, a memory he does not have anymore, but Lex isn't angry over she did, as Luthors are "survivors" and she did what he would've done if the roles were reversed. Lex will now be strapped to his bed, preventing her from doing what she did again. He also notes that Tess might have a connection to Superman, as she hopes he's okay as she watches the monitor where his signal is (from the radiation Lex gave him).
Inside Leviathan; Clark wakes up with Lois by his side, where Lois reveals the world still thinks Batman killed Superman, and she can't help but be tempted by the huge story she's been given: Batman isn't a myth, and is Bruce Wayne. Barbara Gordon, introducing herself to the two, gives Clark some orange juice before he heads out to speak with Bruce, who is hard at work at the armory. Bruce asks why Clark hasn't destroyed Lex' satellite, but Clark points out Lex would build more, and that he prefers hope and inspiration over fear and brute force (in a way, criticizing Bruce's Batman). Bruce tells Clark that he's been having a hard time finding Prankster and Freeze, because Freeze needs to be in extreme colds to survive; Clark points out the Hobbs River as an idea, but the list is too big. Then Clark has an idea: use Lex' tracking from himself to read other types of radiation, like Kryptonite. Bruce tries that, and then successfully, finds the villains' location. Given Clark's weaknesses, and Bruce still being human who can't survive colds 40 below; Bruce reveals what he has built: armored suits for Superman and Batman to fight in. In order to still keep a low profile, the two heroes head out into the sewers with another one of Batman's vehicles: the Batboat.
In interrogation; Ollie tells the interrogator, yet again, that he was not helping a criminal escape but helping another hero who needed medical attention after being hurt by two other villains. The interrogator doesn't believe it, but then two agents enter and inform the interrogator that Chloe is acting as Ollie's representative and she has arrive with proof that Batman is not a murderer, Green Arrow is innocent, and the two men responsible are Prankster and Freeze.
At the dock near the Leviathan: agents of Intergang kill a dock worker, then proceed (heavily armed) to enter the ship, where Lois and Babs are the only ones there. At their hideout; as Intergang enters Leviathan, and Freeze prepares himself,(he makes a comment that all the money he's made working with Intergang will help fund the next round of treatments for his wife, Nora.) Then Prankster says that Freeze's job isn't done yet, and double-crosses him by shutting down his suit using his own upgrades. As Prankster says, he wants to show the world what it really means "to get pranked."
At Nellis Air Force Base outside Metropolis: two military personnel are commenting over one's new Captain Carrot toys when the alarm goes off because the armed UAVs (unmanned air vehicles) are going online, unaware that they are being controlled by those same Captain Carrot toys.
At Freeze's hideout: Superman and Batman find no one there, at least until Prankster appears using a robot Toyman was developing, complete with Kryptonite on the chest. He reveals that Freeze is under his control, and is attacking the citizens, but in actuality, his suit's fuel cells are overloading, and will explode. And with Freeze above the city's water purification plant, anyone within one mile will die. Batman heads out in the Batboat to take care of Freeze, while Superman goes to handle Prankster.
Leviathan: the ship's cameras pick up Intergang from all over, and Barbara suits up with Lois by her side (Barbara says she's ready for an ass-kicking, and when Lois tries to fix her statement, Barbara reassures her that she knows what she said). Green Arrow appears and stops Freeze from attacking the cops, but Freeze yells at Arrow to get clear as he is about to explode, affecting the plant below. Babs and Lois take care of Intergang while counting how many they've taken out (Lois took out 10, Nightwing took out 9) when the leader and two other men appear pointing their guns at them.
Prankster and Superman hold their own, until Superman's armor is destroyed thanks to Prankster's robot suit. Even with the Kryptonite now affecting and blinding him, Superman notices an area of the robot suit with its wires exposed. Superman then takes the wires and uses his heat vision to short circuit the suit. With Prankster out, and both the robot suit and Kryptonite buried behind rubble, Superman wins the fight.
Superman asks Prankster if working with Intergang was worth it, but Prankster says it was awful and didn't like working with them, and it wasn't until Superman and Batman's appearance that drove him to outsmart them before they got tired of him. When Prankster says that the blood of Intergang will be on Superman's hands too, Superman says "what did you do?" with Prankster replying "I won." Just then, the armed UAVs fire on Leviathan, with Intergang, Nightwing and Lois still inside, and it begins to sink, but Superman saves the day.
In Metropolis, the next morning, Lois Lane talks to Superman about the news headline of today. Superman and Batman have been hailed as heroes by the Daily Planet, labeled World's Finest in the paper. In Gotham, Superman speaks with Bruce Wayne about his (Bruce's) parents. Bruce puts the flowers down and reveals that he and Superman are at the spot where his parents died. Bruce and Superman agree to work together if necessary.
Later, Oliver and Chloe talk about the possibility of Mia Dearden become his (Oliver's) sidekick. Just then, it starts to snow. The reason is Superman used Mr. Freeze's freeze gun to create snow. At last, Chloe reveals that she is pregnant.
At LexCorp, Lex Luthor wants Tess who is still inside him to tell him everything.
Title[]
- Detective refers to Batman, as he is often referred to as the World's Greatest Detective and the Dark Knight Detective.
Continuity[]
- The Batman finally appears after being mentioned by Chloe Sullivan in Fortune.
Variant Covers[]
References[]
Previous Story: Smallville: Season 11 #7 |
Next Story: Smallville: Season 11 #9 |
Episodes: Season 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10
Minor Characters: Season 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 Screencaps: Season 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 |