Ra's al Ghul and his Society of Shadows arrive in Metropolis to steal a mythical staff currently on exhibit. The staff can be used to steal Superman's powers and transfer them to Ra's. It is up to Batman to locate and rescue Superman from the immortal foe.

Lex Luthor halts the invasion by temporarily weakening Superman. The Man of Steel has time to recover from Darkseid's control, but he is imprisoned by the military and he is sentenced to death. Lois helps Superman escape so that he may pursue Darkseid.