JLA: Age of Wonder

In 1876, the United States celebrates the centennial. In Philadelphia's Centennial Exposition, Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane conducts an interview with a youthful businessman Lex Luthor. Luthor pridefully tells her about his partnership in Thomas Edison's company and how the company's technology will influence the world. But in mid-sentence of Lex's boastful monologue, Lois and many of the visitors are attracted to a spectacle outside: namely a flying man who is carrying the Torch of the Statue of Liberty (as was order by the President of its delivery from France) for the exposition. The flying strongman introduce himself to the amazed onlookers as Clark Kent and he has incredible powers and abilities that he wanted to use for good use during this specific time and place when America and the world is at the dawn of an "age of wonder." So he proposed to the inventors and scientists of looking for the greatest inventor of our time whom he can help "speed things up." This prompted various and very eager inventors to rush up to Clark. Lois helpfully tells the much beleaguered Clark that Lex Luthor could vouch him to work for Thomas Edison. Before a hesitant Lex could completely answer, Clark too quickly accepts and flies to Edison's compound at Menlo Park.

A week later, Edison is not willing to hire Clark as he points out that Luthor is nothing more than a mere junior bookkeeper and therefore cannot vouch for him. Furthermore, while Edison consider Clark being a "real-life Paul Bunyan" he doesn't see any point to have another "workhorse" when he already has enough. However, Clark convince Edison otherwise by shaping a palm of sand with his heat-vision into a light bulb.

Clark molded ten-thousand filaments which impressed Edison's employee Nikola Tesla. Tesla shares his complaints to Clark about Edison and his own hubris, stating that the man only takes credits of everyone's contributions, including Clark's. Tesla is also confused why Clark didn't take advantage of his powers for his own benefits and never even claim any credits. Clark honestly reply that he doesn't seek personal fame and fortune, but rather how much he is learning. Overhearing this, Lex believes that Clark is using his honest outlook for an angle until he realize that he really does wants to help people. Annoyed with Clark's "anarchistic talk", Lex argues with Clark that in his view the business of making inventions is all about making money, not giving it away for free.

Meanwhile, Tesla tries to convince Edison of his proposal of his alternate current (A.C.) plans (which Clark has helped in developing), but Edison doesn't accept because he firmly believes direct current is the source of the future and he tells Tesla to either "live with it or leave it." Shortly afterward, Lex approaches Tesla and announces that George Westinghouse, Edison's business rival, is willingly to license Tesla's A.C. patents. Lex is willing to negotiate the best deal on Tesla's behalf in exchange for a small commission. Seeing a chance to leave Edison's "tyranny", Tesla agrees with Lex and Westinghouse's offer, but on the condition that Clark also work with them.

Since working for Westinghouse, Clark (who has been called the "Super Man" by the public) has been helping in constructing Westinghouse's hydroelectric power station at Niagara Falls that is overseen by Luthor. Lois Lane also arrives there and wanting to interview the two, especially Clark. Lois cannot help to note Lex's change in attitude towards Edison's company since the Exposition, in which Lex happily admits that he was wrong and realized that the future lies on those who control the means of production and marketing of inventions, namely himself. A large mob of reporters have also arrive at Niagara Falls whom were summoned by Lex. The reporters are too interested in seeing the Super Man and trying to push their way and Lex and Lois to the falls' ledge to see Clark. They accidentally pushes Lois off the ledge. Fortunately, Clark catches her. The rescue cause Lois to suggest to Clark of wearing a cape...

At the Kent's residence, Clark adopts his costume as Jonathan Kent reads the newspaper heralding his son as the "Super Man". Though his parents are impressed of their son, Clark wants to know why he have these powers. The Kents, believing that it is time for their son to know, lead Clark to their barn to show his "birthright": a small spaceship.

Much later at Tesla's Pearl Street Workshop, Clark shows the spaceship to Lex, Tesla and his coworkers, Ted Knight and Barry Allen. He explains to them about his alien origins from planet Krypton, furthermore showing a holographic projection of his birth world and its destruction. Lex is astonished and he propose to replicate the Kryptonian technology from Clark's spaceship for profit. Knight is overwhelmed by this and states that the existence of Krypton and extraterrestrial life would undermine and shatter humanity's entire belief system. The revelation spurs Lex to accept Knight's theory of not upsetting the "status quo". But Clark and Barry Allen see that it doesn't mean it could stop them from using what they learn to benefit humanity.

Another week later in 1893, Tesla and his coworkers works for Lex's newly established Luthor Company. Ted Knight make headway in creating a gravity rod and is field testing it during a thunderstorm, becoming known as the "Starman" in the process. Knight returns to the others and test his rod's energy on Clark. This unexpectedly ricochet the beam of energy on Barry's experiment, causing the chemical to explode in front of him. His friends hurry to Barry's side but finds him totally unharmed. Barry then gets up and starts cleaning the mess with superhuman speed, thus becoming the "Human Flash".

Sometime later, Lois reports to Perry White from a phone booth that Clark and his friends are displaying a public charity event by giving away Tesla's latest invention, "cold lamps," cold wireless lamps for free. But when the stocks of cold lamps are exhausted the people who didn't receive the lamps are jealously upset and causes a riot over the lamps, attacking the people who got them. Super Man tries to calm the public without using any of his powers and promise to make more cold lamps but to no avail. The riot is brutally crush by the police. 34 people are injured and over 50 are arrested in the Cold-Lamp Riots.

Luthor is outraged over the riot and lashed out Clark and his friends for causing bad publicity for his company because of their naivety. This led to an argument between Lex and Clark over the former's concerns over money rather than the people who were hurt. Lex states that "wealth defines society." This frustrated Clark who breaks Lex's desk and swearing that there is another better way for society. Lex sardonically reply to let him know. Clark later meet with Lois and express his regret for his responsibility in causing the riot. Lois tells Clark that his mistake is for putting too much faith in people that he assumed are good and pure as he is. She suddenly gives a kiss to Clark and telling that there is always another day.

By 1896, Clark is contacted by Captain Hal Jordan to a secret military airbase, called Lot 51 where a mortally wounded Green Lantern alien wants to speak to him. The alien explains to Super Man that he is dying and he wants to choose him as his successor. But Clark is hesitant because he has too many responsibilities as it is. Instead, he suggest Captain Jordan as the next Green Lantern for being a man of decency and courage. The alien accepts and explains to Jordan that the ring will help instruct him in using it before passing away. Burden with his new responsibility as Green Lantern of Earth, Hal give his predecessor an honorary burial outside of the base.

A year later, America has become a flourishing nation with cities peaked with skyscrapers, houses and streets lit up with electrical lights, and zeppelins and planes dominate the skies. At the Olympus Building owned by the Thomas Wayne Company, Clark is hosting the inauguration of the League of Science, an organization that will ensure that science cannot be misuse and help share their knowledge with the world and inspire people to benefit all humanity, bringing them to an "age of wonder." Among the guests, Hal Jordan is cynically unimpressed with Clark's "age of wonder" speech, privately sharing with Luthor that Clark is a dreamer who doesn't understand about human nature. During the party, Clark meet with the Waynes and their son Bruce. With his super-hearing, he overhears Lex proposal to Lois to be her husband. But Lois rejects him for Clark because of his kindness that Lex severely lacks. Enlightened, Clark walks to Lois and gives her a dance while in mid-air.

Within a year, Clark and Lois are married, the League of Science protect society from natural disasters and finding new scientific discoveries (such as building an observatory on the Earth's moon). Meanwhile, Luthor has taken a airship expedition to the Viennese Bohemian mountains for a shipment of mysterious cargo to be brought back to the United States...

In Lex's airship, he and his crew are overcome with an unknown illness and sent out a distress signal. The League, consisting Super Man, Starman and Green Lantern, arrive at the airship and finding some of Lex's crew dead or barely alive. They also discover that the crew are exposed from radiation poisoning from Lex's cargo, which reveals to be radium ores. The three evacuate everyone off the ship and have the ores destroyed much to Lex's extreme dismay.

Due to his radiation exposure, Lex has lost his hair and spent recuperating in a hospital. Lex meets with Nikola Tesla and consult on a project that Tesla is building which involves with nuclear energy. Tesla assure him that he will make a prototype within a year before leaving just as Lex is then visited by Clark and Lois. The industrialist is none too please in seeing them and is confirm by Clark that he had overheard what Tesla and Lex had been discussing: they are building a weapon of mass destruction, a Death Ray. Clark explains that he will not allow it to be built. Lex fiercely defends his project, ranting that he only wants to achieve something without the help of supermen. Lois and Clark pressure Lex to abandon his project and be acceptable of what he achieved as much as Kent. But Lex isn't convinced.

By 1900, the League of Science including Lex meets at the Olympus Building concerning about the manufacture of weapons which this discussion reveals that their charter prohibits weapons based on their scientific sources. The discussion shift to the use of their powers in military ventures as the charter also prohibit the League members from using their powers in resolving political disputes. Hal Jordan, who despite resigning his commission in the Army, had recently participated in "the war in Mexico" at the behest of Secretary of State Roosevelt and defend his actions, arguing that what he done prevents both sides from suffering heavy casualties, and that he is a patriot obligated to serve his country in contrast to his colleagues' "unrealistic" thinking. Though his fellow Leaguers still insist that their charter prohibits weapons of war, Hal argue that it was then and it is a different world now as their inventions has remake wars all over as it gave nations a new reason to fight wars over. Hal continues his tirade that America with its advanced technology and prosperity has become an envy of the rest of the world and that they must be prepare when they decide to "get a piece of it." Clark exhaustively decides to adjourn the meeting and plans his tomorrow with the Wayne family for a tour of their headquarters. After everyone left, Lex and Hal discuss over the latter's concerns and agreeing that they must protect America's interests.

The next day, the Waynes are walking to the Olympus Building. As they see Clark, a wagon containing a bomb explodes near the Waynes which heavily damage the Olympus Building's foundations. The League rescue the civilians and Super Man tries to dig survivors out from the debris. He then finds to his horror that only Bruce survive. After the ambulances and rescue workers help escort the victims and recovering the dead, the League learn from Lois that the bombing was committed by a terrorist group called the Spartans, who are dissatisfied low-class workers posing against corporations. Supplied with Lois' information, the League head over to the lower east side of New York City and finds the Spartans' headquarters.

They find the place deserted, knowing that the Spartans may have heard of their arrival. They are then attack by the vigilante known as the Green Arrow, who easily defeats both Starman and the Human Flash. The group are quickly confronted by an angry mob who pelt them with garbage. Confuse, Super Man ask them why they are doing this in which Green Arrow speaks for the people. He explains that they are workers who are unfairly paid less in grueling working conditions, fired for getting a raise or joining a union, and intimidated by strikebeaters and the police, all due for miserably building for the utopia established by the League. The Spartans are the result and they took violence as a way to "fight back." Arrow finish his criticism to the League that for everything that they have done, they did not even stand for justice. But Arrow agreed with League that the Spartans cannot be condone for the murders and he makes his promise that he will capture them before disappearing.

Later in the late afternoon, Green Lantern meets with Luthor on his new zeppelin outside of the city's coast. Lex announce that Super Man pose a threat to America and decide "it's time."

That night at Central Park, Clark talk with Lois about everything that has happened. Just as the couple discuss about their marriage, they are met by Hal who reports that there is trouble on the moon. Once above the moon, Hal and Clark had been talking on the way concerning Clark's overbearing attitude towards Lex and Tesla's construction of their Death Ray. Clark remains absolute that his view on the matter remains the same. But as Clark's back is turn, Hal points his power ring at him and remorsefully apologize before shooting Clark into deep space.

On Earth, Hal create a cover story of Clark's absence to the League and Lois that Clark died when he was crushed to death by the gravitational pull of a comet and that his body cannot be recover. Lois emotionally breaks down while comfort by Ted Knight and Barry Allen. Hal is guilt-ridden and demands Lex that they need to talk.

The nation mourn Super Man's death, and the story ends with a distraught Lois lying in her living room as Lex outside knocks on her door to court her.

It is 1911 and America, due to the influence of the super-powered League of Science, has become the most technologically advanced civilization on Earth. As a result, World War One broke out years earlier than in the prime timeline.

In the New Jersey docks, Green Arrow chases two banker robbers to a warehouse facility. A struggle ensues and one of the crooks accidentally shoots the building's storage tanks, spilling a chemical fluid which ignites. Moments later, the building explodes, killing Green Arrow and almost everyone inside. Inexplicably, one of the facility's scientists, a woman, emerges from the rubble unharmed. She flies away while being unknowingly observed by a drunken bum nearby.

The League of Science, including its newest members Plastic Man and Ray Palmer, investigate the scene of the explosion. Palmer discover that there are traces of modified fossil fuel which explains the explosion's size and power. They are joined on the scene by the Batman (widely thought to be an urban myth). He suggests that they focus on finding the flying woman, according to the bum whose claims were initially dismissed, may hold the key to the mystery.

Meanwhile, Lex Luthor, recently appointed U.S. Secretary of Defense, is enraged by the warehouse's destruction. He owned the warehouse and wants his informant to replace the fuels and cover-up any leads to him. Lex then strides into a room with the flying woman who escaped the explosion, revealed to be Diana of Themyscira. Diana is dismayed in not rescuing the people from the warehouse, but Luthor assures her that the important thing is having her alive and that the "project" is still on course. Also, he promises Diana that her mother and her Amazon sisters will be free from German tyranny as their island was conquered for its resources and technology that are use for Germany's war.

At the Batcave, Bruce Wayne has been up all night researching the warehouse and the person who is responsible for Green Arrow's death. He shows a lead to Alfred, explaining that the warehouse was property of Luthor's holding company, which was supposed to be divested by Luthor since he was appointed as Secretary of Defense. Bruce, having long studied Luthor's strategies and practices for years, concludes that Luthor is up to something.

In New York City, the League attends a charity event hosted by Bruce Wayne concerning on the war in Europe and hearing Princess Diana's plight of the Amazons' enslavement by Germany, and thanking America's role in supporting Themyscira. Lois Lane interviews the President and Luthor about America's neutrality in the conflict. The President stresses that America will not declare war until all other options are exhausted. Luthor on the other hand vocally supports American intervention for not only stopping German aggression but an opportunity to bring higher employment in America's industrial sector. Lois also interviews now General Hal Jordan who plans on serving as a military advisor for the British. Diana and Bruce dance together which Bruce learns from the Amazon princess that she continues to work for Luthor due to the fact that his spending on new innovations that would help beat the Germans. Later, Diana demonstrates her powers with Ted Knight's cosmic rod and Bruce becomes interested in the Amazon's invulnerability.

Hal Jordan soon oversee the British's failed offensive against the Germans in the Eastern Front as the Germans possess highly advance weaponry such as giant tanks. This discovery surprises Hal as America was supposed to be the only advanced nation to possess these kinds of weapons and conclude that someone is supplying these weapons to Germany. After seeing British forces being slaughtered in a hopeless fight, Hal joins in the fray. The Germans in response send out their aerial force of anti-gravity armored soldiers against the Green Lantern. Surprisingly, Jordan discover that they know his ring's weakness as the armored soldiers are coated in yellow paint. Despite this, Hal uses his ring to manipulate the soil and wrecked German tanks to defeat the soldiers.

Jordan is eventually recalled back to the United States and is reprimand by Luthor for breaking America's neutrality and he would be likely facing a court-martial. But Hal doesn't care about his consequences as he is more concern about the Germans possessing advanced technology and how they know his weakness which only himself... and Luthor know. Hal then immediately realizes that Luthor is the Germans' supplier. Luthor nonchalantly reply to Hal that it is all going according to his plan, explaining that he is not in anyway jeopardizing America: he wants to make the nations of Europe utterly weak from the war while he and Nikola Tesla will finish in their construction of the Death Ray that will be use to force Germany's surrender and ensuring America's global supremacy, and as well making Luthor a hero before the eyes of the American people and making him the next President of the United States.

Soon afterwards, Luthor and Hal are urgently inform that something has happened in London. Germany have bombed the city with a nuclear rocket, killing 200,000 people including the Royal Family and the destruction of the nation's government, all in response to the Green Lantern's interference. Hal is shocked but Lex is not surprised as he also provided nuclear weapons to Germany, which he consider it going "better" than he anticipated. Hal finally has enough with Lex and attacks him. But just as he is about to kill Lex, Diana stops him. But blind with rage, Hal suspects Diana to be in collusion with Lex's plans and strangle her with his power ring. With his back turn and too focus on Diana, Luthor then fatally wounds Hal from behind with a fire axe. As he is dying, Hal commands the ring to find Super Man which it flies out of his hand and escaping from Lex's and his men's reach.

Somewhere in deep space, Clark has been living for years on a livable asteroid satellite and finds Hal's power ring landing in his palm.

Back on Earth, America have formally declare war on Germany for possessing nuclear weapons and that the League of Science have been sent to Britain to provide humanitarian relief efforts for the London survivors...

In England, the League are overwhelmed by the deaths and destruction in the aftermath of the nuclear attack. Barry expressed his uncertainty of how the League has now become soldiers. Lois is the most affected, seeing that the inventions that were made for the last decades only bring death and destruction in the end. The League then notice a green streak of light that fell a distance away. They and Lois approach where it crash and find it is Clark wielding Hal's power ring.

Meanwhile, in America, Bat-Man has been interrogating a runner who has been delivering engine parts and rocket fuel for the destroyed Luthor Company warehouse, and demanding the identity of his boss. The runner could only answer that the "Amazon princess" knows as she worked at the warehouse all the time while in contact with Luthor.

Back in England, Clark is fully dressed in his costume and prepares with the other Leaguers to stop the Germans from launching their nuclear rockets before having a passionate kiss and farewell from his wife.

Luthor is awakened from his bed and alarmingly learns that Super Man has return and quickly realize that he intends to find the rockets. He then prepares to meet with Tesla before finding a guilt-ridden Diana refusing to go with him because of her indirect involvement for London's destruction. Lex leaves for Wardenclyffe on his zeppelin before contacting Germany's War Marshal Bismarck to launch the rockets in three hours as part of his plan for both America and Germany to share the outcome of the war.

Just as Lex left, Diana is confronted by the Bat-Man who asks to confide in him. Diana reveals everything to him about Lex's plans and that she was responsible for using her people's science to help create the Death Ray and the rockets that were provided to Germany. Bat-Man talks her into leading him to the Death Ray and strongly recommend her that it is time to redeem herself instead of feeling sorry.

Having arrive at Wardenclyffe, Luthor is pleased to find the Death Ray is in full operation and advise Tesla to leave as he do not "want [him] to be here for what's coming next." But Tesla insists on staying to see his work in action which Lex reluctantly accepts, but warns him not to tell anyone what he will see next.

In Germany, the League finds the rocket base and attack. Two of the rockets are launch, forcing Super Man to fly after them. The rest of the Leaguers successfully disable the other rockets. Afterwards, Plastic Man captures the base's leader and Ted Knight tells him to inform the Kaiser that the war is over.

Back at Wardenclyffe, Lex has the Death Ray charged up and ready to destroy the incoming rockets. However, Diana and Bat-Man have arrive and confront Luthor, informing him that President has issue a warrant for his arrest. Lex, however, tells them that if he is to be stop he will not be able to input the code sequence for the Death Ray to destroy the rockets from annihilating New York.

Hundreds of miles off of New York state, Super Man finds one of the rockets heads off course towards New York City. Lex gives the order to shoot the rocket, but is then informed that it is slowing down. Over the city, Super Man stops the missile with his power ring and redirect it to explode into space.

Lex manage to have the other rocket destroyed before discovering Super Man. Luthor then have the Death Ray fire at Clark. Although struck by the beam, Super Man literally beats back the beam and forcing Luthor to demand more power into the weapon. But Lex then discover that the generators are going to explode. Diana and Bat-Man have Tesla and the other people to evacuate the building. Seeing that there is nothing to stop the Death Ray's explosion, Diana willingly puts herself in harm's way to destroy the overcharged Death Ray despite Bat-Man asking her not to. Super Man quickly arrives on the scene and getting everyone to safety as the Death Ray breaks apart. Bat-Man and Super Man search through the rubble for Diana and are saddened to find her lifeless body.

Weeks later, Luthor is imprisoned and awaits his death sentence. He is visited by Super Man who wants answers for his crimes. Lex reply that he wants to be remember in history and leave a significant mark on the world. Though in the end he is vilified for being a traitor and a mass murderer, which Lex considers it was all worth it. Hearing enough of Luthor, Super Man leaves in disgust as Lex shouts out after him and asking what he will do with Hal's power ring as it is still considered to be the most powerful weapon on Earth.

In 1913, the League of Science gather at a world meeting. Clark gives a speech to the world's leaders in which he urge for the prevention of future wars and devastation, and recall what Green Arrow had question him before in their first encounter concerning "who will stand for justice?" Super Man wish that Green Arrow would be here to hear his answer as he had decided to create a Justice League of Nations, a neutral place where countries could settle their dispute diplomatically rather than on the battlefield. And to ensure the League's trust, Clark place Hal's power ring inside a special battery to be use by the JLN to stop any nation from committing an act of aggression against another.

After the inauguration of the Justice League of Nations, Super Man flies away with Lois Lane to catch up on their life as Bat-Man watches on while newspapers read of Lex Luthor's execution.