Nothing is known of the criminal known as the Lightning Master prior to his appearance in the early weeks of 1942.  Metropolis was beset by a series of remarkably intense storms which damaged buildings to the point that Superman felt compelled to intervene.  After rescuing Lois from a lightning struck tree, the two are surprised when the storm suddenly abates.

Later that day, the Daily Star receives a phone call for Clark Kent, which Lois intercepts.  It informs her that the storm was not an accident and to tell Clark to comes to a certain address for the full story,  Not to be outdone, Lois takes the tip herself but when she arrives, she is taken captive but a figures in a hooded green cloak.  He identifies himself as the Lightning Master and tells Lois that she must convinced the paper to print his demand for $300,000 or more storms will ensue.  Lois boldly yanks off the villain's hood and sees his face, prompting the Lightning Master to decide that she must be killed. 

Retreating to his lab to fire up his lightning device, Lois manages to call the newspaper and alert Clark to her plight.  Switching to Superman,  he managed to rescue her just before lightning destroys the house where he was held.   Lois returns to the Star to tell Clark of her adventure and the paper publishes the Lightning Master's demand.  The mayor refuses to be extorted in a radio address broadcast across the city.  The Lightning Master launches another attack but is confounded when the mayor's broadcast continues uninterrupted because Superman is absorbing each bolt of lightning. Frustrated, the Lightning master decides to kidnap the mayor.  Superman intercedes and pursues the getaway car but seeing him in pursuit, the Lightning Master sends the car and  the mayor over a cliff.  Superman snatches the car but the stress of the episode gives the mayor a heart attack and the Lightning Master escapes while the mayor is taken to the hospital.

A group of business leaders agree to pay the ransom and Lois is along for the delivery.  Realizing the pick-up is a police ambush, the Lightning Master kidnaps Lois and returns to his hideaway.  When he arrives he realizes the pay off is just fake paper and flies into a rage. He resolves to destroy Metropolis completely but as he activates his machine, Superman breaks through the wall and destroys it.  Using a hand-held version, the Lightning Master attempts to blast Superman but the Kryptonian grabs the villain and charge engulfs them both, electrocuting the Lightning Master,  Believing the criminal dead, Superman and Lois depart (Superman #14).