Ending Battle
The regular writers return for a 2-month, 8-part crossover which would be the last big story arc for more than a year. The title "Ending Battle" was a play on Superman's never-ending battle for truth and justice.
Superman #186
Clark Kent is covering Vice President Pete Ross and Second Lady Lana Lang at the Capitol when they're attacked by the Master Jailer and Neutron. Clark conveniently disappears and Superman appears to rescue his friends. Oddly, the villains say they're not after the Vice President, their hit is on Pete and Lana. Superman stops the Master Jailer and Neutron seemingly destroys himself in a suicidal blast. In the aftermath, President Luthor calls to check on his VP and tells Pete to tell Clark that he's "faster than a speeding bullet," hinting that Lex Luthor knows Superman's secret identity. In a secret hideout, we see the escape artist Master Jailer got away and is shadowy figure assisting him says that Neutron is being fitted for a new containment suit.
This is apparently Neutron's second post-Crisis appearance. He was reintroduced during the Death of Clark Kent, which was a similar story in which Clark Kent and his friends were targeted by villains. Both Neutron and the Master Jailer belonged to a specific period of pre-Crisis continuity in the late 70's, and after this arc they won't be seen again for the rest of the post-Crisis era.
Adventures of Superman #608
While Amanda Waller argues with the talking heads on cable news, Superman rushes around the country to catch the villains attacking his friends and family. The Atomic Skull attacks the Kents at their farm to get to Superboy, who's now living with them as Conner Kent. Lesser villains attack Clark's acquaintances like his high school football coach, his journalism professor, and even his optometrist (he may have super vision but does still wear glasses, after all). Superboy's villain King Shark hilariously disguises himself as Black Canary to try to murder Jimmy Olsen at the Planet Krypton theme restaurant (a fish wearing fishnets). But the main target is revealed when Superman sees on the news that there's a fire at the Daily Planet, and he realizes Lois' life is in danger. Lois Lane has scarcely been seen since she returned from her world travels with her mother, and she doesn't actually appear in this issue either.
Superman: The Man of Steel #130
Superman arrives at the Daily Planet to find the Green Lantern villain Evil Star, who seems to be compelled by some unseen force to attack Clark's co-workers. Superman has Lois call Clark's friends to tell them all to meet at the Steelworks. Clark's friends show up outside the Steelworks, but they're hesitant to let Superman hold them there even for their own protection. Though Lois desperately wants to be outside helping her husband, she convinces their friends to stay there with her if it will help the situation. Superman suspects who it is who figured out his secret identity, and as he flies away a telepathic voice in his head encourages him to seek out Lex Luthor.
Action Comics #795
Superman tracks Lex Luthor's heartbeat to find the President at a secret lair. Superman deduces that Luthor figured out Clark's secret identity from a government employee, but something isn't quite right about this scenario. Suddenly, the Elite appear out of nowhere and attack the Man of Steel. After defeating them, Superman finds their old organic space ship which has now been taken over by Cyborg Superman. After removing Cyborg Superman from controlling the ship, Superman is aware that his true foe is none other than the former leader of the Elite himself: Manchester Black.
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