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Countdown #28 "Then, Forager!" BY "FREE" STEVE CHUNG Previously in Countdown #28, we saw the new Forager seek out Jimmy Olsen for aid in locating the assassin of the New Gods. But this is not the first time that a Forager found itself on Earth. "Forager" is a "food-seeker". For his people, he is the provider of food for millions. To the New Gods, he is nothing but a "Bug".
The bugs are many and their hunger is legion. They attack in superior numbers, with their acid-pods burning openings for them to pass through.
Once a breach has been made, the Forager and the others are able to enter the storehouse containing the food. The food packs are passed on, the bugs turn to flee back to the mound, and into the colony. The Monitors (no relation to those featured in Countdown) of Highfather release the spray to halt the bugs in their tracks.
For those who are stopped by the vapors, the ground is their final stop, and they are soon gone from the greenery. The Forager is always among those who manage to get away. His cleverness urges him to reach the waters, where the vapors cannot reach him. Soon, in another location, he is able to rest, with the fear as his constant companion. Back at the mound, once the colony has fed, it will be time for another raid.
In the Colony located beneath New Genesis, the other insects are feasting upon the energy loaves. Despite the communal feeding, Forager is not among them.
As the "Forager," he is privileged to eat alone, and this is never to be questioned. The food he dines on is from the Eternals, and is quite good. So good, that there is another who would take it from him. As the two fight over the tasty morsel, the battle is put to an end when the "Prime One" intervenes.
Second only to the "Queen Widow," the Prime One recognizes that the Forager is different from the others in the colony. He eagerly greets his sire, grateful for a respite from the noises of the colony. Now in private, he is able to remove his helmet, and ask what makes him different. "Prime One" strives to answer these questions for him.
His thoughts are more in line with the Eternals than with those in the colony. If both groups were able to communicate with the other, an understanding might be reached. For the Forager, the idea of being able to unlock the mystery of the many things he has seen is appealing. "The Prime One" is well aware that first, they would have to overcome the Eternals preconceived notions and their own fears. The network alarms send booming noise along the walls with the sounds of an invasion. In answer to such a threat, those who can fight rally to defend the colony, and "Forager" is among them. The "Queen-Widow" and the newborn must be protected above all else.
Over the bodies of the fallen, he leaps. The warriors of the colony must deal with an armored foe and not yield to its superior size. Among the Forager's personal weapons are his "acid-pods," which are used to their greatest advantage in the struggle.
Beneath New Genesis, the battle is over, and the enemy has been routed.
Much of the credit is claimed by Mantis, who credits power given to him by a nameless benefactor. This selfsame benefactor has given him information as to the whereabouts where the colony would have food and a place where they could live. Mantis unleashes the power-bolts which were used to destroy their enemy. It is this selfsame power which they are expected to follow, as other colonies have. As the others gather around Mantis, the "Forager" heads off to speak with the "Prime One."
When he arrives, Forager finds his mentor being bound, as part of the ritual. His time as "Prime One" has come to an end. Neither he nor the "All-Widow" can cast aside their custom and their duty. With little time left, the "Prime One's" plan to befriend the Eternals has been threatened by the return of Mantis. It is he who would draw the colony into a war with those on New Genesis, and their people would be as tools in that war. No matter which side wins, they would regard the colony as bugs. The "Prime One" knows of an Eternal who Forager must find, and inform him about Mantis. All that Forager can see is that his friend is about to die, and he must do all he can to save him.
The frantic Forager is restrained, as "Prime One" is taken to the ceremonial "killing pit". As his friend repeats his final request, the "All-Widow" awaits with her sacrificial "electro-stabber". "Prime One" informs Forager that the Eternal known as Orion will listen, because Forager is like him, not a bug.
In the world of the Bug, all is as it always will be. "Prime One" will be replaced by another. The fate of the colony will be behind him.
In opposing the custom, the "All-Widow" demands that all in the colony seek out Forager, and kill him. She doesn't want the plans of Mantis to be disturbed.
Now an outlaw, the Forager demonstrates that he is not an easy kill, and he continues to dodge the flaming acid spray in his quest to find Mantis.
A hollow cylinder emerging from the ground is Mantis's next miracle, and his last if Forager has got anything to say about it. Only he knows that Mantis would lead the colony into slavery. The traitor brings his power into play once more.
As the energy bolts follow his every move, the Forager makes one last desperate attempt at survival. Although he misses Mantis in his leap, he is able to enter the "Boom Tube," and is swept through the endless cylinder. At one end, Mantis vows that a mighty army will follow his trail.
On the other end of the "Boom Tube," the Forager is in a place he's never seen before. Obviously, this is where Mantis and the colony will begin their attack. But does the one known as Orion dwell here?
Those in the colony watch as their leader charges himself within the power-pod, and with these energies, he will lead them against the doomed dominion of Earth.
Once the power-pod has been opened, Mantis rises, and announces his readiness for their great destiny to come.
Once on Earth, the Bugs will become rulers, and no longer be runners. In the war between Apokolips and New Genesis, they shall be the victors. With Darkseid as their ally, a win for him will also mean rewards for them, as well.
Back on Earth, a lonely and hungry figure is but a pawn in the coming war of the New Gods. Those on Earth seem to be as protective of their food stuff as those Eternals on New Genesis. They pursue Forager with a vengeance.
The average man on the street doesn't know what to make of the giant insect in their midst. Neither does the "Bug" know what to make of modern traffic. Nonetheless, he is able to leap over the screaming cars in his path. The people of Earth are many and even he cannot hope to evade them all.
The police are unable to keep up with a perp who moves like a grasshopper, and who can run up the side of a skyscraper. Thanks to his foot adheso-grips, Forager is able to keep on truckin'. Now with enough food to last him for a while, he pauses to eat his fill, and determine the best way of finding Orion. Even as a plan comes to mind, others have managed to reach their quarry. The Earthmen in their flying machine ready the net.
Fast as he is, he can't outrun a helicopter. Once their specimen has been netted, the District Attorney will have a quite a specimen to see.
In another part of the city, a roaring sound is heard, and the Boom Tube has reached Earth. The conquest of a world is now underway.
At police headquarters, Orion sees how the authorities have caught a "Bug," and Forager has likewise found his man.
Mantis has got the strength of numbers on his side. The police are ready to meet the threat, but the startled crowd prevents them from firing back. The takeover of a town is nearly assured.
As cosmic energy reaches out to cause damage, the authorities wait for backup. Elsewhere, Orion and Lightray learn the true nature of the "Bug." The son of Darkseid is startled to learn that Mantis has gathered an army from the colonies. Both of the New Gods are eager to join the fray, as is Forager.
There is the small matter of all of them being under arrest. With the city in danger, there's no time to delay, and they vanish in a blinding flash of light.
Mother Box has teleported them to a rooftop, where Mantis and his legions will arrive. Before he can link up with his other forces, his threat must be dealt with. The traitor is caught unprepared, and his legions rally to attack.
While Orion grapples with the manic energies of Mantis, the Forager forges on against the opposition.
Only he knows how the bugs have been used. While they regard him as a liar, Forager is prepared to fight to the death.
As Earthman and insects battle in buildings and on the streets, two scientists at a sonic research and development facility are convinced by Lightray to use their research project for an instant transmission.
The son of Darkseid moves swiftly to smash the bug in his midst, but Mantis proves to have quite an electrical bite.
When one of the legion tries to strike from behind, he is used as a weapon on his fellow bugs. Despite his fierceness in battle, Orion is outnumbered, and Mantis awaits certain victory. Instead, he hears the sound of defeat, and the other bugs are likewise stricken.
To the eyes of Orion, the bugs flee as if struck by an unseen force. The Forager deems it likely that Lightray was somehow responsible for this occurrence. Sure enough, his fast form appears overhead, and the light force is used to route the remaining bug army. A Boom Tube is created for the defeated legions to enter, and flee an unconquered world.
Once the last of them has gone through, the Boom Tube disappears from sight. With his work completed, Lightray joins the others. Orion admits to his friend that brain has proven equal to brawn in battle. With the battle won, Darkseid's threat has been averted. Earth remains a troubled world, but it may continue to seek its own future. The New Gods are present, Their battle against evil reflecting the one being fought in the hearts of the mortals below.
If someone is killing off the New Gods one by one, what of the lowly anthill race beneath them?
"The Bug!" and "Earth... The Doomed Dominion!" originally appeared in The New Gods #9 - #10 (Jul - Sep, 1972.)
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Oh man. These pages totally make me want to buy the Fourth World Omnibuses (Omnibi?) and ignore everything else going on in the current DCU.
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