Back in Metropolis, Superman devoted himself to finding a way to get his powers back. With the help of members of the Legion of Super-Heroes who were stranded in the 20th century (a thousand years away from home), Superman used a Lexcorp orbiting platform to try to channel the sun's energy directly into him, in the hopes of jump-starting his powers. This plan, however, was unsuccessful.

Superman then went to Cadmus labs to ask for their assistance. But even their complex genetics knowledge could not pinpoint the source of his power loss.

Superman travelled to his Fortress of Solitude, hoping to use the Kryptonian technology there to find a way to reignite his abilities. Along the way, he helped a team of scientists doing energy research deal with a strange electrical being they had encountered. This energy creature had been responsible for a number of deaths on the team. Superman agreed to help fight the creature, which briefly inhabited the Man of Steel before the scientists were able to beam it into space. With that settled, Superman continued on to his Fortress.

There he used a regeneration matrix similar to the one which had brought him back to life after his battle with Doomsday. Unfortunately this new matrix was unable to return his power levels to normal.

The solution to his power loss came when Big Barda and Mr. Miracle of the New Gods asked for his assistance. One of their number, Metron, wanted Superman to fly him into the core of the sun! Metron theorized that this would help solve his own problem, as well as potentially reigniting Superman's lost powers. Skeptical, but willing to try anything, Superman agreed. And sure enough, it worked! The direct exposure to the sun kicked Superman's powers back up to full strength! The Man of Steel was back!

Just as he was getting used to having his powers back, however, strange things began to happen. Superman found himself phasing out of reality, and dealing with a wide range of odd electrical effects. His old powers--super speed, flight, X-ray vision--were being replaced by the ability to short-circuit any machinery he came into contact with, and an ability to move from one place to another with the speed of a lightning bolt. After a battle with the Atomic Skull, Superman transformed into a being made entirely of electrical energy, with no way to contain it. He was in danger of losing himself completely. Were it not for the intervention of Lex Luthor, Superman might have disappeared forever.

Luthor, monitoring Superman's changing status, sent his wife to STAR Labs with a new polymer fabric which Emil Hamilton was able to combine with Kryptonian microcircuitry to create a new containment suit for Superman's electrical form. More, the Kryptonian technology helped Superman increase his control over his new abilities, allowing him to use them safely and effectively, as well as shut them off completely (which also made him as vulnerable as a normal human being).

Superman had the chance to test his new abilities right away, first by dealing with an attack by a newly-upgraded Metallo, and then by paying a visit to the Bottle City of Kandor.