DC Comics Presents #17 (1980)

Superman has been called to S.T.A.R. Lab's New York office to help them thaw out Killer Frost by using his heat vision, in hopes of autopsying her. Before they are about to begin, they are interrupted by Professor Martin Stein, who bursts in and warns them not to thaw out Killer Frost as she is still a danger. He is quickly removed by security, and it is explained to Superman that Stein had become downtrodden over the past few years and resurfaced after being absent for sometime, nobody (not even Stein) being aware of the fact hat he spent this time bonded to young high school student Ronald Raymond and adventured as the hero known as Firestorm. Superman uses his heat vision to thaw out the ice, and she emerges alive. She uses her ice powers to freeze the scientists and makes Superman her slave. Intending to build a device that will freeze the entire world and turn all men into her slaves, she orders Superman to do her bidding and collect the devices she needs to complete her goals. Witnessing Frost's resurrection from the streets below, Stein becomes agitated. This emotional distress reaches young Ronnie Raymond who is in the middle of a high school basketball game. He runs off the court and attempts to stop the transformation into Firestorm, feeling that he is not cut out for the super-hero business, however he decides to stop resisting the transformation and answer the call. Changing into Firestorm he learns about Killer Frost's resurrection and enslavement of Superman from his reunion with Professor Stein. Firestorm tracks Killer Frost and the enslaved Superman to the World Trade Center where the Man of Steel is being forced to construct the device Killer Frost needs. When Firestorm attacks, she sets Superman loose on him and Firestorm finds himself greatly outmatched. However, he comes up with a solution: Even at the risk of destroying himself, Firestorm burrows underground, leading Superman on a chase to the center of the Earth. There he fights off the Man of Steel until the tremendous heat manages to melt all the ice around Superman, freeing him from Killer Frost's control. The two team up to stop Killer Frost, finding her at S.T.A.R. Labs where she has enslaved scientists to finish the construction of her gigantic freezing device. Distracting Killer Frost with an artificial construct of Superman, the two heroes destroy her freezing device and then while Superman keeps her occupied with his heat vision, Firestorm uses his power to freeze her at absolute zero, immobilizing her once again. Later, as Firestorm and Superman repair all the damage Killer Frost had done to New York City, the Man of Steel asks Firestorm why he disappeared from super-heroics. Firestorm explains that he felt as though he didn't have what it took to be a hero. Superman believes that he does, and tells him sometimes the friendship of other super-humans could help him in finding his worth and offers him membership in the Justice League of America.