𝐃𝐂 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐠𝐚𝐧

𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍: 𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄

DC Studios Chapter 2.3
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
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Plot:
> Many years ago on the eve of Krypton's destruction, scientist Jor-El exiled General Zod for the crimes he committed that endangered the planet on Phantom Zone where he and his minions will live for the remainder of their living days. Soon after that, the planet destroys as Jor-El sends his only son, Kal-El to Earth as a sole survivor. In the present day, Superman gives a speech to people before the new mayor cuts off the ribbon for the official opening of the Superman monument. As a hero who his people look up to, Clark has been dealing with a lot of public appearance work lately. It's good for his job at Daily Planet for rising its fame but not for Superman since it cuts a lot of time to fighting crime. One day, Clark hears the nuclear missiles heading to the US from Iraq and flies out to stop the terrorist from launching them. However, he doesn't arrive on time so he chases after each missile and directs them into space. It all explodes at once away from Earth's orbit, unbeknownst, its radiation affects the Phantom Zone to awaken and break out General Zod from his prison. Zod immediately detects a live sign of another Kryptonian on Earth and soon lights up his ship to enter Earth's orbit. Lois Lane has finished her news article about Superman's latest action before Clark arrives at her office to discuss their marriage plan. It'll be held in the next two days in Smallville and Clark invites some people to attend. Meanwhile, Zod, who arrives on Earth, lands near the Fortress of Solitude with a Kryptonian battlesuit to adjust its body to Earth's atmosphere.

> Heading inside, Zod learns The Fortress as the Jor-El's heritage is left behind. Zod has also found the Growth Codex, an ancient artifact containing all Kryptonian's DNA which Jor-El stole to atomize the particles onto his naturally-born son, Kal-El. Suddenly, a hologram of Jor-El emerges nearby. Zod who's disappointed with his selfish actions starts yelling at him, stating that Codex could be the only hope to rebuild the new Krypton but took it for his own. Zod destroys the hologram before finding a few DNA left on Codex. He soon extracted it from a tube to create his Kryptonian as his servant named Bizarro. Although it gains the most aspects of Kal-El's body as The Codex's host, Bizarro is not created perfectly due to its lack of samples, resulting in him being born in the opposite way of Kal-El. In Smallville, Clark visits his mother's house and introduces her to Lois as his fiance. A few days went by, and Clark started his marriage in the backyard. At the same time, Zod arrives at Metropolis and releases Bizarro to start chaos. The marriage is soon interrupted once Clark is alerted by the attack. Superman fights Bizarro throughout the city and he's proven able to match Superman despite his errors. Superman is taken away to Zod's ship after his defeat. Once introduces himself, Zod explains to Clark his plan, visions, and the truth about his father's sins. Clark is disbelieving him but he shows all the evidence that breaks his mind to surrender himself. This allows Zod to release all of The Codex DNA from Clark's body but ultimately loses his powers as well.

> Zod absorbs the power and uses it for his old goals, rebuilding a new Krypton. Earth was at invasion but people have lost hope ever since Superman's disappearance. Unbeknownst, Superman was taken away by Lois after his body was found lying down falling from Zod's ship. Lois follows Clark's suggestions to head to Fortress for Jor-El's guidance. But owing to being guarded by Zod's minions, the three must find a way to eventually seek help from Clark's nemesis himself, Lex Luthor. As Superman, Clark helps Lex to be temporarily freed from prison and brings Lexcorps to get his Kryptonian suit. They travel into Fortress and Lex battles the minion to lure them while Clark is turning on the hologram. During their conversation, Jor-El confirms the truth that Kryptonian is greedy and harvests the planet's core to serve the depleted energy reserves without thinking about its risks. Sickened, Jor-El decides to end it up by stealing the Codex to extinct his kind but Zod argues against him that Jor-El must distort facts to the council to stop him. Jor-El also explains that being naturally born allows Clark to have an implied power within even when The Codex is taken away and he only requires sunlight to activate it. Clark eventually orders Lex to take him flying upwards to reconstruct himself before stopping Zod again. Once he destroyed Zod's Terraforming Generators, Clark heads onto Zod's ship to start their rematch. The two battle despite the similar abilities Zod earned, Clark is better at mastering it, giving the advantage to beat Zod with ease. Zod and his minions were returned to Phantom Zone while Lex is in custody once the battle ends. Now Clark returns to his marriage at Smallville and takes a break from being Superman during his quality time.