Three months ago, Superman learned that he was an alien from the planet known as Krypton. His foster father, Jonathan Kent, had hidden Superman's birth-matrix/rocket ship in a secret area of the farm, but it has since been stolen. Superman has been searching for the ship ever since.

His trail leads him to a laboratory complex where he finds the body of a dead scientist. Inside the complex are comprehensive computer schematics of Superman. Although Superman doesn't yet realize it, this lab is where the cyborg Metallo was created. Metallo's body had been ruined in a car accident, and the scientist transplanted his brain into a powerful robot body powered by an element he calls kryptonite. Superman picks up the entire lab and flings it into a safe orbit in outer space.

Later, he joins with Lois Lane in his secret identity as Clark Kent. The two go jogging together until Lois hears a disturbance coming from a nearby bank. Investigating the incident, they find that a large white-haired man calling himself Metallo is wreaking havoc. Clark dashes off to change into Superman and faces Metallo. Metallo overpowers Superman and nearly kills him thanks to the kryptonite heart in his chest.

Miles away, Lex Luthor is monitoring the event and notices that Metallo may actually succeed in killing Superman – a feat reserved only for Lex Luthor. Luthor sends out a hovercraft, which abducts Metallo just as he is ready to finish off Superman.