Cosmic Odyssey is an American science fiction comic mini-series, first published in 1988 by DC Comics. A four-issue limited series written by Jim Starlin, penciled by Mike Mignola and lettered by John Workman, it tells a story spanning the DC Universe involving a wide variety of major characters including Superman, Batman, and the New Gods.
The series comprised four 48-page prestige format comic books.
Plot summary
Book One: Discovery
In Book One: Discovery, Darkseid finds a comatose Metron and takes him captive. After going over Metron's data, Darkseid makes a startling discovery. There is something out there more powerful than him and he needs help to conquer it. Darkseid goes to Highfather. An ambassador, Lonar, arrives on Earth and asks the President of the United States to help him contact Superman, Batman, Martian Manhunter, Starfire, Etrigan, Green Lantern and "lastly, an old man with the unusual name of Mr. Blood". Lonar takes them to New Genesis via Boom Tube, to meet Highfather. After they arrive, Orion and Lightray explain that New Genesis and Apokolips have formed an alliance. Highfather then informs the group about the origin of the Anti-Life Equation, New Genesis and Apokolips. Darkseid then tells the group that Metron was trying to discover new information about the Anti-Life Equation when his mind was shattered and he became comatose. The Martian Manhunter probes Metron's mind to find out what he discovered and learns that the Anti-Life Equation is alive. As Metron tried to escape the Anti-Life Equation's dimension, it attacked him and four "aspects" of the ALE were thrust into the DCU Earth's universe. Metron's Mobius Chair tracked the flight paths of the four aspects and Darkseid tells the heroes that they are currently located on Earth, Rann, Thanagar and Xanshi. If the aspects can destroy any two of those planets, then the Milky Way will collapse on itself. Darkseid then gives the heroes weapons he designed to capture the aspects and divides the group into teams. Orion and Superman will go to Thanagar, Lightray and Starfire to Rann, Batman and Forager to Earth and The Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern to Xanshi. The separate teams all arrive at their respective planets. Immediately upon arrival on Earth Batman makes a phone call to "a friend" requesting this unknown person keep an eye on Darkseid. Back on New Genesis, Mr. Blood asks what his part is in all this. Darkseid and Highfather then reveal an imprisoned Etrigan.