Tempus escapes from a home for the criminally insane and with a new technology from the future he plants subliminal messages into the minds of the people saying that "John Doe is a darn nice guy". In truth, John Doe is Tempus, and now with this fake identity, he is running for presidency of the United States. There are only a few people who doesn't believe him: non-users of telephone, and Lois and Clark, but he will do everything to solve this problem, including banish Superman into a time window.
On May 17, 1966, Jonathan and Martha Kent witness the crash-landing of a small spaceship in Shuster's Field outside of Smallville, Kansas. When they investigate, they discover the baby Kal-El and decide to raise him as their own, naming him "Clark Jerome Kent".
Clark moves to Metropolis and interviews for a job at the Daily Planet under editor Perry White. Clark becomes acquainted with photographer Jimmy Olsen and gossip columnist Cat Grant. Soon after being hired, Clark is partnered with star reporter Lois Lane. Clark falls in love with Lois at first sight, but she considers him to be little more than a rookie slowing her down. When Superman saves her from a space shuttle disaster, Lois instantly becomes infatuated with Clark's alter-ego.