Like many workplaces, here you're the rookie until they hire someone new. Someone new younger than you.

We mentioned events that may have occurred here, approximately three hundred years ago in the first year of this blog; and I know I read everything out of order, but I still feel like Kyle has teamed-up in Superman's book a couple dozen times, so how is he still the rookie? From 2000, Superman #159, "Detour" Written by Jeph Loeb, pencils by Ed McGuinness (on earth) and Paul Pelletier (in space), inks by Cam Smith.

This was apparently immediately after that weird, weird stint where the Parasite had replaced Lois; as the reunited Clark and Lois enjoy each other's company, in a bathtub that appears to be the size of my living room. Almost immediately after that, Superman is going to take a quick lap of the solar system with Kyle--seriously about the "almost immediately," Supes still has chocolate or something on his face! And Lois visits Lex Luthor, with a thinly veiled threat: she knows at least some of what the Parasite knew, when he was...disguised as Lois and doing god knows what with Lex. I say "god knows what" because I don't want to!

Meanwhile, out in space, Pluto has disappeared! Superman can see, it's been moved out of orbit, apparently by Warworld. Before they can try to track it down, they are surprised by a crowd scene of generic space-god-types; like your Eternals, Inhumans, what have you. This time, it's "the chosen people of Almerac," the subjects of Maxima! Kyle remembers her being the JLA, an embarrassed Superman remembers her as a stalker. Which makes her slapping him out of the way a surprise! Kyle is left to face big strong type Massacre.

Uncharacteristically, Maxima seems less concerned with the fight, then making their connecting flight: she is leading her people's retreat to safety, via Boom Tube to join Darkseid's son. No, not the one you're thinking of. Or the other one. Or him either...it's Grayven. I'm positive I knew of him, and also positive I had completely forgotten about him until turning this page; but looking it up he really didn't have a ton of appearances. Maxima leaves Superman with a warning; that when Imperiex comes for earth, he may be surprised who he allies with then. Still, Superman is pleased to feel at the top of his game, for the first time in a while; while Kyle notes he never had a mentor, but he always had a friend to show him how it's done.

Ugh, I looked up Maxima as well: her new alliance does not play out well for her; and she deserved better. No spoilers, but she gets jobbed out in an upcoming event along with several other heroes, most of whom were back alive almost immediately after said event, but not her. Boo.