Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #870
Published December 2008
Cover Price 2.99 USD; 2.99 CAD
Pages 36
Editing Matt Idelson; Nachie Castro (associate)
Notes Two covers were done for this issue; one featuring Superman and Lois Lane by Gary Frank, and an alternate one featuring Supergirl by Andy Kubert (10 issues for 1 issue mixture). This issue went on sale 2008-10-08 (on time).

Cover Details - "Brainiac Finale"

Characters Superman; Lois Lane
Genre Superhero
Pencils Gary Frank (signed)
Inks Gary Frank (signed)
Notes Two covers were done for this issue; one featuring Superman and Lois Lane by Gary Frank, and an alternate one featuring Supergirl by Andy Kubert (10 issues for 1 issue mixture). This issue went on sale 2008-10-08 (on time).

Cover Details - "Brainiac Finale [Variant Cover]"

Characters Supergirl [Kara Zor-El]
Genre Superhero
Pencils Andy Kubert
Inks Andy Kubert
Notes For every 10 copies of the standard edition, retailers were allowed to order one copy of the variant edition.

22 page Superman story "Brainiac Finale"

Characters Superman; Brainiac; Supergirl [Kara Zor-El]; Lois Lane; Jonathan Kent (dies); Martha Kent; Perry White (cameo); Jimmy Olsen (cameo); Steve Lombard (cameo); Catherine Grant (cameo); Ron Troupe (cameo); Brainiac Probes; Kandor; Headship
Synopsis Brainiac has captured Metropolis, Supergirl, and Superman. He taunts Superman, telling him how worthless Earth and its cultures are. Superman finally is able to break his bonds, and get away from Brainiac, freeing Supergirl and taking the bottles containing Metropolis and Kandor. He has Supergirl go after the missile that Brainiac fired at Earth's sun. Brainiac tracks him down, but Superman pushes him out of the Headship, and he lands in a swampy area on Earth. He is touched by microorganisms that seem to weaken him as Superman attacks again. Brainiac warns that the bottles' containment fields won't hold outside of the ship, so Superman takes off with Metropolis and Kandor. Brainiac then fires a rocket towards the Kent farm. Superman places the Metropolis bottle back in its spot, and it expands back to normal. He then takes the Kandor bottle to the fortress. Brainiac's rocket arrives at the Kent farm; Jonathan sees it coming and runs to push Martha out of the way as it explodes into their farmhouse. Supergirl stops the missile, Brainiac goes unconscious, and the Kents are relieved. But, as Superman watches Kandor expand, Jonathan collapses with an apparent heart attack. Martha's cries finally reach Superman, but he arrives too late as his foster father has died.
Genre Superhero
Script Geoff Johns
Pencils Gary Frank
Inks Jon Sibal; Javier BergantiƱo [as BIT]
Colors Brad Anderson
Letters Rob Leigh
Notes Story continued from the previous issue, and continues in Superman: New Krypton Special (DC, 2008 series) #1. The Interlac text coming from a bottle on page 1 is translated as "PLEASE HELP!" and "KILL BRAINIAC".

1 page DC Nation promo (ad from the publisher) "#134 [October 8, 2008] Haunted Road Trip!"

Script Eddie Berganza
Pencils Gene Ha
Inks Gene Ha
Letters typeset
Notes Eddie talks about the DCU Halloween Special. Ads for Superman: New Krypton Special #1, Green Arrow/Black Canary #12, Trinity #15, and Wonder Woman #25. Appears on page 34 in this issue.

7 page promo (ad from the publisher) "House Advertisements"

Notes House ads for: Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion, Justice Society of America: Kingdom Come Specials (One World Under Gog), Action Comics/Superman/Supergirl (Metropolis has Never Been This Super!), Terror Titans, Watchmen/Watchmen: The Absolute Edition, Women of the DC Universe busts, and Secret Files Series 3 action figures. Appear in various places in this issue.

5 page advertisement "Ads"

Notes Total of 5 one-page ads for: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (TV, Cartoon Network), Hubba Bubba Glop (gum, Wrigleys), de Blob (video game, THQ), Lego Batman: The Videogame (video game, TT Games), and Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (video game, Sega). Appear in various places in this issue.