It happened in the present but he wasn't in control, Xanadu saw the aftermath.
best visual cue would be that "future" sign in the window blinked out when the chick walked in, right? props for clearing that up. I'll reread the issue tomorrow.
but do you think there's any significance to:
- Pandora's box having 3 eyesockets,
- Despero showing up and taking a dive (cause unless Despero's been SEVERELY depowered, Martian Manhunter shouldn't be soloing him any more than any Marvel hero should be soloing Thanos)
- Supes growing a third eye all of the sudden,
- Them referencing this super old school issue:
really, it's almost like they're setting up to retell JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice. Shazam, Despero, multiple Justice teams and the Seven Deadly Sins.
If anybody else is reading this but have never read this story, please do. Hell of a read.
maybe I just did a Quantum level of reaching, though.