Lex 2000

Just as Superman saves reality from Emperor Joker, the real world turns into a nightmare of its own as Lex Luthor is running for President of the United States.  Though not a unified story arc, all the books have a "Vote Lex 2000" button on the cover for the next few months.

Superman #162

Lois Lane thought she was waking up from a bad dream, but not only is Luthor running for president, even worse Lex also just announced former Senator Pete Ross as his running mate.  Everybody wonders why Pete would join Luthor's campaign, and Clark conveniently goes to visit his parents in Smallville so he can ask his friend in person.  While Clark is away, Lori Lemaris comes back to Metropolis looking for him.

A cute, unnamed Ed McGuiness-designed sea monster attacks a LexCorp oil rig in the ocean and Superman finds Aquaman on the scene.  Aquaman claims that LexCorp ships and rigs are sending out an underwater signal that's making the sea life more aggressive, but he's not going to do anything to stop them from attacking LexCorp.  Later, Aquaman interrupts Luthor while giving a campaign speech and kidnaps him to make him face Atlantean justice.  The conclusion to this story will have to wait till next month's issue of this series.

Adventures of Superman #584

Lex Luthor drops in on Collin Thornton while campaigning, but after Lex leaves Thornton changes into Lord Satanus.

Ron Troupe's male friends go to his bachelor party, including Clark Kent and his hostile father-in-law, Sam Lane.  Clark wonders why Sam hadn't attended Clark's own bachelor party, but Sam goes out of his way to show his disdain for Clark and his approval for his new son-in-law, Ron.  Luthor crashes the party and Sam expresses support for his campaign.  Unexpectedly, a giant cake is wheeled out and while Jimmy Olsen hopes Luthor's bodyguards Hope and Mercy will pop out.  Contrary to the cover, Lord Satanus is not inside it either; it turns out to be Lois Lane and Ron's fiance Lucy Lane inside.  It was, of course, Lois' idea to crash the party that way.  Ron and Lucy are then happily married.

During the party, a menacing new galactic overlord named Devouris the Conqueror plans to attack Earth.  However, when he finally appears before the Man of Steel, Devouris stands only about a foot tall.  Devouris admits he really just bought the franchise from a previous owner and hasn't actually conquered any worlds himself.  Superman then easily defeats him and throws him back into space where he came from.  Back on his ship, Devouris vows to make Superman pay, but he's never actually seen again.

Superman: The Man of Steel 106

Writer Mark Schultz dives deep into the history of this series and brings back the villains Kosnor, last seen in issue #48, and Nekton, seen in issue #93.  This would be the second and final appearance for both characters.

Superman has been missing for several days so Lois seeks the help of Steel to locate him.  After a visit from Lori Lemaris, Superman was last seen at Metropolis' new hydroelectric dams.  Steel hasn't replaced his armor since it was stolen by the Prankster, but he uses a new deep sea armor to go looking for the Man of Steel under the ocean.  Steel accidentally discovers that this suit protects him from Kosnor's telepathic control because it was made from an ore in a meteor that Superman had given him.  Steel frees Superman, Lori, and Nexton from Kosnor's control, but the dam is destroyed in the fight.  Manipulating the press, Lex Luthor expresses rare support for Superman, and Steel fears this tactic may help him win the presidency.

Action Comics #771

Superman think she's rescuing a suicidal jumper but it's actually just Nightwing visiting Metropolis on the trail of an arms dealer from Bludhaven.  Realizing that Intergang is involved, Superman helps Nightwing steak out his target so they can capture everybody involved.

Lois Lane resumes her investigation into who poisoned Superman, and she gets a lead from Bibbo to check out a particular ship in the docks, the Kandihar Queen.

This issue's cover was by the then-current Nightwing series artist Scott McDaniel, who would eventually become a regular artist on Superman in a few years later.

The Lex 2000 story line was conceived in a simpler time of American politics before George Dubya Bush or Donald Trump were elected.  Back then it seemed inconceivable that a super villain could hold the highest office in the nation, but now in post-Trump America candidate Luthor doesn't really seem all that terrible.