Codename: Patriot

After months without Superman in his own books or even in his own costume, we finally get a crossover where he returns to both.  At the time, I and other readers were hoping this would be a much needed change in direction, but after Codename: Patriot things would go back to the way they had been for another six months.

Superman: World of New Krypton #4

Codename: Patriot part 1

After an assassin shot General Zod last issue, the mob of Kryptonians tries to kill the assassin and Kal El and the military guild have to take him into custody for his own protection.  Kal El interrogates the assassin and Alura delivers a speech to try to pacify the crowd.  The assassin escapes and heads toward Earth, which would really make the situation worse if the angry Kryptonians think Earth is behind the attack.  Kal El decides only he and Supergirl should follow the fugitive to Earth, and Kal El finally changes back into his Superman costume with the iconic phrase, "This is a job for Superman."

Action Comics #880

Codename: Patriot part 2

Superman and Supergirl catch up to the assassin in the skies above Earth, but General Lane deploys fighter jets at the sighting of the three Kryptonians.  The assassin shoots down the planes, forcing Superman to abandon pursuit and save the pilots.  The Kryptonian assassin disappears to General Lane's base, Project: 7734, where it's revealed they're working together.

Joined by Mon El, Superman and Supergirl go to the Science Police headquarters.  The Guardian welcomes Superman, but not his cousin.  Hearing that Superman is back on Earth, Lois Lane rushes to see her husband.  Mon El suggests that they all leave Superman and Lois alone to catch up.  Lois finally gets to tell Superman that Chris is back.  

Nightwing and Flamebird are still committed to their mission to capture Kryptonian criminals on Earth, but they find themselves becoming celebrities to humans who don't know the duo are really Krptonians.  The criminals they thought they were tracking are really General Lane's minions in disguise, Mirabai, Metallo, and Reactron.

Supergirl #44

Codename: Patriot part 3

The Kryptonian assassin, who they call Codename: Patriot, overhears General Lane plotting to destroy New Krypton after the President signs a treaty with Markovia.  Atlas stops him from killing General Lane, but he breaks out and flies away to Markovia.

At the Science Police Headquarters in Metropolis, Supergirl wants to talk to Lois Lane but Lois just scowls at her.  Lois suggests Supergirl shouldn't be sent on a mission alone, and Superman agrees and sends her with Mon El.  Supergirl and Mon El look for her old friend Flamebird, but they find Mirabai has taken her place.  Unknown to Mon El, Mirabai then takes Supergirl's appearance.

Perry White isn't giving Cat Grant front page space at the Daily Planet, but she gets a mysterious call to be ready to go on Morgan Edge's show that evening for reasons that will be known by the end of the day.

Superman #691

Codename: Patriot part 4

Mirabai, Reactron, and Metallo gang up on Mon El, seemingly killing him before destroying Metropolis' sewers.  It seems to have been a forgotten plot thread that Mon El was dying anyway.

Superman chases Codename: Patriot as he races to stop the Markovian war treaty.  General Lane finally reveals he's alive to the world and orders his troops to fire on the two Kryptonians, killing Codename: Patriot.  Superman flies back to New Krypton with the body, but before he leaves he hears Morgan Edge on TV championing General Lane as the hero and Superman as a villain that Earth can never trust again.