New Gods #14

In a New Mexican desert, Orion rages at Darkseid. Watching from afar, Darkseid dispatches Doctor Bedlam to Earth, to carry out his initiative. On New Genesis, Izaya watches over the young Godlings at play. Speaking with Esak's parents, Ethard and Myrain, Izaya hints that a great destiny awaits Esak. In the underground laboratory complex known only as "The Project", Forager allows scientist Donald Bradford to map Forager's brian. An overload shorts out Bradford's Cerebrometer, but Forager is unharmed. A "Project" sentry brings in a, seemingly, inert mechanical body, discovered near an airlock. Forager recognizes the "robot" as an Animate, one of many bodies Doctor Bedlam can transmit his consciousness into. As if on cue, the Animate's features become Doctor Bedlam's, who then lashes out at one of the other scientists. At a fashion show in Metropolis, Dave Lincoln and Claudia Shane are with the New God, Jezebelle Of The Fiery Eyes, when a Boom Tube opens up in their vicinity. Another such Boom Tube opens up inside the Strategic Air Command base, where Orion, in his guise as Anthony J. Masters, is trying to convince Brigadier General Maxwell Torch of the danger he's in. Doctor Bedlam, in another Animate body, leaps out of the Boom Tube, and attacks Torch. Orion steps behind a baffle to drop the Masters disguise, then enters the fray. Orion is taken aback, however, when Doctor Bedlam proves to now wield a portion of Darkseid's Omega Effect.

Back in Metropolis, a third Doctor Bedlam Animate steps through the Boom Tube, and attacks Jezebelle Of The Fiery Eyes. Their battle cracks open the very street they fight upon, and both go tumbling into the subway, where they are struck by a passing train. The Doctor Bedlam Animate at the Strategic Air Command base is staggered, when Torch brings up the heavy guns. Orion tries to exploit the sudden weakness by pressing his attack. Seeing his agent faltering, Darkseid pours more of his power into Doctor Bedlam, while also dispatching Gargon on a different mission. Orion unleashes the full measure of his Astro-Force against Doctor Bedlam, to no avail. Orion reaches out to the other New Gods, on Earth, for assistance, only to find each of them engaged in a losing battle with a Doctor Bedlam Animate. Orion cries out to Izaya for aid. The High-Father of the New Gods focuses the sum totality of his power through his Wonder Staff, and sends six bolts of lightning to Earth, which target and destroy each of Doctor Bedlam's Animates. While Izaya was thus occupied, however, Gargon struck on New Genesis, abducting Esak. The assault, on Earth, by Doctor Bedlam was merely a feint. The true prize was Esak. The victory... Darkseid's.