The bright light is given off by the energy creature known as Shockwave. The true purpose behind his appearance here is unknown, and Clark has never seen him before. While heat vision proved to be effective against Shockwave, the untimely loss of his powers put him at the disadvantage.

Watching in the wings was the magnetically-powered Dr. Polaris, a frequent opponent of the Flash and Green Lantern. His appearance in Metropolis is fairly recent, and Clark hasn’t had time to figure out why Polaris has chosen to come here. Regardless though, both Polaris and Shockwave are allied together, possibly with the former controlling the latter.

Clark looked up to see the sun shining off of something… something metal… And he smiled. For the end hasn’t come yet…

	The Man of Steel..... "Change on the Horizon"
Superman #2 - February, Year One	by Dino Pollard

The armored hero known as Steel swooped down from the skies, driving the massive sledgehammer he carried into Shockwave. He flicked a switch on the handle, and the monster cried out in pain.

Steel released him, and helped Superman to his feet. “You all right?”

“I’ll be fine…” Clark replied, looking up. Shockwave was still reeling from the attack. “What did you do to him?”

“Electro-magnet,” Steel replied. “It was basically a stab in the dark, but it seems to have worked. Good thing my sensors picked up the energy signature.”

“Wait…” Clark said. “Where’s Dr. Polaris?”

“What?” Steel asked. “I didn’t see him when I attacked Sparky over there.”

“I’m going to need your help in a big way,” Clark stated. “My powers have-“

Metal debris and shrapnel on the ground began to slowly float a bit.

“He’s here…” Clark muttered.

Steel looked around, and he found his arm lifting up, aiming his wrist-mounted launcher at Superman.

“Oh crud…” Steel muttered, trying to force his arm down. “Get outta the way!!”

Clark leapt back as Steel’s launcher began firing at the icon.

“Let him go!!” Superman ordered.

“Making demands, are we?”

Polaris floated up from behind a clearing, his hands held up as he took control of Steel’s armor.

“Really, I would’ve expected more from you, Superman.”

Clark stood helplessly as Polaris forced Steel’s arms to wrap around his throat.

John Henry Irons gasped for breath beneath the armor, trying to pull his hands away, with no luck.

“I’m only going to tell you once more!!” Superman cried out. “Let him go!!”

Without warning, heat vision poured forth from Superman’s eyes, slamming right into Polaris. His control faltered, causing him to release his hold on Steel.

Steel took in long, deep breaths and Superman flew to his side.

“You okay?” Clark asked.

“Funny…” Steel replied. “I came here to help you…”

“Strange how these things have a way of working themselves out,” Clark stated with a grin.

Polaris slowly stood up, rage present in his eyes. He extended his hand in Shockwave’s direction, concentrating hard. Slowly, the energy being began to rise, diving straight for Steel.

“WE’RE NOT FINISHED YET!!”

Steel turned briefly to see Shockwave barreling down towards him.

“GET BACK!!” Superman shouted, diving in the energy creature’s path. The two titans struck, and seemed to stay in a fixed position for several moments, both screaming out in agony.

Steel watched as the energy around Shockwave began to diminish, a more humanoid person beginning to appear. Superman, however, was engulfed. He cried out in agony as the energy seemed to dissipate.

Finally, it stopped. The man who was once Shockwave fell to the ground. There was no energy present around him anymore. Superman stood on the ground, smoke rising from his scorched body. His eyes began to glow brightly, an effect Steel hadn’t seen in the past.

Superman hovered a few feet above the ground, propelling himself towards Polaris. He began to accelerate faster, prepared to deliver a powerful blow to the mad doctor. Before he reached Dr. Polaris though, he found his descent altering, and he couldn’t change it.

Clark Kent crashed into the ground at Polaris’ feet. Polaris looked down at him, a grin beneath his armored face.

“This isn’t over, Superman,” Polaris stated before hovering into the air. He magnetically held Steel down as he left, preventing any attempt at following.

Once Steel found he was able to move, he ran to Superman’s side.

“What happened?” he asked.

“My powers…” Superman replied. “It’s happened again.”

“Damn…” Steel muttered. “Just what we need at this time.”

Polaris hovered up to a large skyrise, looking through the windows at the man seated at a desk, holding a phone.

Lex Luthor turned to face him, then directed his attention back to his phone conversation.

“I’ll have to call you back. Yes. I have a business partner who just arrived. Okay. Yes, I will. Thank you.”

He hung up the phone and opened the window for Polaris. Then, he sat back down at his desk.

“Please, come in, doctor,” Luthor stated, taking his seat. “Have a seat.”

“Shockwave has been disabled,” Polaris stated, sitting in a chair in front of Luthor’s desk.

“What do you mean he’s been disabled?” Luthor asked. “It took months of research to generate that kind of power!! And now he’s already out of commission?!”

“Somehow, Superman defeated him,” Polaris replied. “The energy just seemed to… vanish. But, that’s impossible.”

“Of course it’s impossible!!” Luthor exclaimed. “Energy can’t be destroyed!! So where did it go?!”

“If I knew that, I would be able to reassemble Shockwave,” Polaris stated. “Unfortunately, that’s not the case.”

“What of Superman, then?” Luthor asked. “How did you escape?”

“It seems that his encounter with Shockwave somehow removed his powers, if only temporarily,” Polaris replied.

“It’s too dangerous for you to return yet,” Luthor stated. “Take some time off, doctor. I’ll call you if your services are further required.”

Dr. Polaris went back out the window, magnetically propelling himself through the air.

Luthor picked up the phone and quickly dialed.

“The time has come,” he stated. “I have a job for you.”

“Clark!” Lois exclaimed, practically leaping out of bed. “I was watching it on the news!! Are you okay?! What happened?”

“Slow down, Lois,” Clark stated, sitting on the edge of the bed. “It was Dr. Polaris, and some new guy who calls himself Shockwave.”

“Dr. Polaris? Since when has he decided to move in?”

“Since today, I guess,” Clark replied. “But, he’s not our major problem. My powers, Lois. They’re beginning to vanish again.”

“What?” Lois asked. “But how? I thought that was only temporary.”

“So did I,” Clark stated. “Emil and John ran some tests on me after the fight. Right now, they’re trying to make some sense of it. Shockwave doesn’t seem to be a threat anymore, though. But Polaris…”

“Can’t you call in the JLA or something?” Lois asked. “With your powers like this, you can’t stand up to Dr. Polaris. And don’t even try to tell me Steel can help you!!”

“Actually, I was about to call Flash, see if he has any information on Polaris that may be useful.”

“Clark, I mean it,” Lois stated. “You can’t ju-ju-ju-CHOO!!!”

Lois grabbed a tissue and wiped off her hands before tossing it into the wastebasket beside her bed.

“I have to go now, hon,” Clark said. “I just came here to drop off your medication, but I need to get back to STAR Labs.”

“Clark, I’m warning you…” Lois stated, a ferocity in her eyes. “Don’t try to do this on your own.”

“Okay,” Clark stated, kissing her forehead. “I promise I won’t go into this unless I’m prepared.”

The man dove swiftly through the circling drones, taking them down one by one with a rocket launcher.

*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*

The assassin turned to see a tall, bald man in a fine suit walking towards him.

“Very impressive,” he stated. “You’ll serve much better than your predecessor.”

The assassin took out a handgun and ejected the clip. He reached into his belt and pulled out another one. The first bullet was green.

“Don’t fail me, Bloodsport,” Luthor stated.