As a new hero, Steel faces a variety of street-level criminals and emerging threats. He quickly establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with.

Steel confronts a range of powerful supervillains, including those who specialize in technology, those with superhuman abilities, and those who threaten the safety of Metropolis and the world. These encounters test his skills and his moral fortitude.

Due to his strong ties with Superman, John will often find himself in the middle of Superman's enemies. Likewise the Eradicator, another Superman imitator, is frequently a foe to John, due to their shared nature as inheritors of the S-Shield.