Comic Title: New Gods #3
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: April 1989
On Sale Date: March 7, 1989 Shipping Date March 9, 1989
Source: Amazing Heroes, #160

Shipping Date March 9, 1989
Source: Advance Comics, #2

Copyright Date March 7, 1989
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1989

Cover Price: $1.50
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mike Carlin

Title: "Tests and the Truth"
Pages: 24

Feature(s):
New Gods (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Jim Starlin
Plotter/Penciller: Paris Cullins
Inker: Robert Lewis
Letterer: Robert M. Pinaha
Colorist: Thomas J. Ziuko

Reprinted In:
New Gods:Bloodlines TPB (2021)

Feature Character(s)

• New Gods (last appearance in New Gods #2; next appearance in New Gods #4)
• Orion (last appearance in New Gods #2; next appearance in New Gods #4)
• Metron (last appearance in New Gods #2; next appearance in New Gods #5)
• Highfather (last appearance in New Gods #2; next appearance in New Gods #5)
• Lonar (last appearance in Cosmic Odyssey #1; next appearance in New Gods #6)
• Lightray (last appearance in New Gods #2; next appearance in New Gods #4)

Supporting Character(s)

• Madame Nature (New Genesis security chief; next appearance in New Gods #6)
• Teledar (New Genesis science officer; next appearance in New Gods #6)
• Commander Gideon (New Genesis military chief; called the Commander in this story; first appearance; next appearance in New Gods #6)
• Eve Donner (last appearance in New Gods #1; next appearance in New Gods #4)
• Forager (II; last appearance in New Gods #2; next appearance in New Gods #4)

Villain(s)

• Darkseid (last appearance in New Gods #1; next appearance in New Gods #5)
• DeSaad (last appearance in New Gods #1; next appearance in New Gods #4)
• Mantis (last appearance in New Gods #2; next appearance in New Gods #4)
• Cyborg-87 (a minion of Darkseid; no further appearances)
• Iota (a minion of Darkseid; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• All-Widow (last appearance in New Gods #2; no further appearances)
• Prime One (last appearance in New Gods #2; no further appearances)
• Kradlock (All-Widow's bodyguard; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Orion leads a peace delegation from the insect empire to meet with Highfather and other members of the New Genesis ruling council. Orion and his new friends outline a plan in which the insect population will be granted lands and be unmolested by the humans. In exchange, they agree to control the size of their populate and fight alongside New Genesis against Apokolips.

There is strong opposition to the plan by the council. They decide to settle the dispute by pitting Lonar against the new Forager in battle. Lonar wins the duel, but the female Forager impresses everyone with her guile and tenacity.

Metron then arrives and reveals the truth behind the creation of the insects. Metron created them as a weapon in the war with Apokolips. However, the insects proved to be intelligent and soon plagued New Genesis instead. The ruling council chose to cover up the folly and blame Apokolips for the insect menace. Orion is appalled by the lies perpetrated by Highfather and storms away. With the truth revealed, Highfather ratifies the peace plan bringing an end to the conflict between the people of New Genesis and the insects.