An Elseworlds Tale
In this issue Gar El a Kryptonian ancestor of Kal Els lands on Earth in 1776 just as the rebels are about to declare their independence. In order to show good faith to the king of the new world he has found. Gar El agrees to defeat the rebellion before it gets off the ground.
Cut to modern day, and the world has not changed. Because Gar El wanted to maintain order he became the ruler of the world stifiling the human race. Yet some begin to stand up against Gar El, and when Clark meets one of the rebels named Lois Lane, he agrees to join them.