After a secret meeting with Lionel, Lana is shot at the Daily Planet by a mysterious gunman. Jimmy is knocked out while studying photographs of the scene and dreams about a 1940, black-and-white version, of Smallville. Jimmy finds himself playing the role of a reporter with Chloe his secretary, and a bumbling Clark also works there, as his sidekick. Jimmy's investigation leads him to Lana, who turns out to be a very evil femme fatale who plans to orchestrate the murder of her tycoon husband Lex by using Jimmy as the patsy. Jimmy's research further takes him to a notorious nightclub owned by Lionel Luther, and Lois is a sultry singer working at club who is having a fling with Lex to help him orchestrate the murder of Lana. Meanwhile, back in 2007, Clark discovers why Lana married Lex after Chloe learns it from Lana. Also, Lois further meddles in the shooting case by stealing a silver-lined cigarette case which holds a clue.

A man named Sylvester Pemberton tracks down Chloe and tells her he knows about her team of superheroes and needs their help. However, before he can explain who he is, he is attacked and killed by Icicle. Clark and Chloe's investigation leads Clark to the former headquarters of the Justice Society of America, an underground team of superheros, where he meets up with Nelson (AKA: Dr. Fate), Carter Hall (AKA: Hawkman) and Courtney (AKA: Star Girl). Courtney pleads with Hawkman and Dr. Fate to help her catch the killer that is targeting their group but they are reluctant to resume their duties as superheroes. Clark, John Jones, Green Arrow and Chloe team up to help the JSA stop Icicle before he murders another member of the group. Meanwhile, Lois receives a package from a mysterious agency called Checkmate, run by the shadowy Amanda Waller.