You talk a good death scene, Metallo - but so far, its still just talk! 
- — Superman
Superman (Volume 2) #1 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 2) with a cover date of January, 1987. It was published on September 16, 1986.
Synopsis for "Heart of Stone"
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.
Appearing in "Heart of Stone"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Emmett Vale (Final appearance) (Appears only as a corpse)
- Lex Luthor
- Metallo (John Corben) (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Pearl (Lex Luthor's secretary) (First appearance)
Locations:
- Metropolis
- New Troy
- Centennial Avenue
- Commerce Bank of Metropolis
- Lexcorp Tower
- Metropolis Park
Items:
Vehicles:
- Kryptonian Birthing Matrix (Flashback only)
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in Superman: The Man of Steel Vol. 2 and in Superman: The Man of Steel Vol. 1 (2020 Edition).
- This issue takes place between Action Comics #584 and Adventures of Superman #424.
- All characters made their last chronological appearances in the Man of Steel limited series.
- This story leads directly into Superman (Volume 2) #2.
- First appearance of the Post-Crisis version of Metallo. The original Silver Age Metallo made his first appearance in Action Comics #252. Metallo's creator, Dr. Emmett Vale made a cameo appearance in Man of Steel #1.
- This issue establishes that Superman is twenty-eight years old as of this publishing date.
- This issue establishes that it has been three months since Superman first learned of his Kryptonian heritage.
- First Post-Crisis appearance of Green Kryptonite. It is important to note that the scientist who created Metallo is responsible for coining the phrase, "Kryptonite".
- First appearance of Pearl, Lex Luthor's secretary. She appears next in Action Comics #595.
Trivia
- Prior to this issue, the only classic villains that Superman has canonically encountered were Lex Luthor and Bizarro. In the revised history, the only super-powered adversaries that Superman has faced were foes he encountered while assisting the Justice League of America. The remainder of his rogues gallery make their first Post-Crisis appearances throughout the course of this series.
- Although Superman: Secret Origin retconned Metallo and Parasite to have came about during Superman's early years.
- This comic book features advertisements for the following products:
- —M&M chocolate candy
- —DC Comics - Superman relaunch: Superman #1, Adventures of Superman #424, and Action Comics #585.
- —Lazer Tag home game system
- —Westfield Company - comic book subscription service
- —DC Comics - Legends crossover comic books: Justice League of America #258, Firestorm #55 and Secret Origins #9
- —DC Comics - The Demon limited series comic book