DC ROUND UP: The SUPERMAN: LEX LUTHOR SPECIAL is a heartfelt frenemies tale

THIS WEEK: The Superman: Lex Luthor Special explores the Superman-Lex relationship that’s been a foundation of this current run, plus a look at the anthology Lex and the City comic, and the newest issue of Green Lantern. 

Note: the review below contains spoilers. If you want a quick, spoiler-free buy/pass recommendation on the comics in question, check out the bottom of the article for our final verdict.

Superman: Lex Luthor Special

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira
Colorist: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Dave Sharpe

This week’s Superman: Lex Luthor Special is a great Superman/Lex story, and one you won’t want to miss. It begins with Lena Luthor asking Lex to try to play the piano like he used to with his mom when he was a child. This brief moment triggers a fleeting flashback, but Lex can’t bring himself to continue. He walks away, defeated, saying, “Maybe the Lex from before just isn’t there anymore.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Terrific tells Superman that he’s hit a brick wall and that to find out more information about the totality, to find out more about this new Elseworld, they need Lex’s help. He acknowledges that while he himself prefers optimism, Lex has the capacity to embrace the darker corners of his mind — allowing intrusive thoughts and impulses to surface. Terrific finds this dangerous, but he knows Lex’s genius often emerges from those same impulses. Lex’s assistance is crucial.

The story next shifts to Lex and Mercy sharing ice cream, where Mercy raises an intriguing point: Lex seems uninterested in solving the mystery of who he is. She observes that maybe, deep down, Lex doesn’t want to solve it at all. It’s a truth Lex quietly acknowledges.

I appreciate how writer Josh Williamson delves into what how new Lex functions. There’s a poignant flashback to his childhood: young Lex learning piano under his mother’s gentle instruction, only for his father, Lionel, to burst in drunk, yelling about using his “so-called talents” to make the family money. A small Lex plays on, a single tear streaming down his face, a quiet rebellion against the chaos of his home.

The reader is then ripped to the present as a woman in a crowd hurls a drink at Lex and screams that he belongs in jail. Lex, rather than reacting in anger, simply responds, “I’m sorry. I’m not that Lex Luthor.” It’s a moment of self-awareness and humility, showing a man trying to distance himself from the monstrous figure he once was.

Then here comes Superman descending from the sky, illuminated by the sun, a living god amongst mortals. Its important to point out that Superman saving Lex would have been something that would have filled Lex with rage. Instead, we get Lex looking up at the Man of Steel, pleading with him to forgive the mob that had formed, blaming himself—his former self—for their rage. It’s not the Lex Luthor we’re used to; there’s no defiance, no manipulation, just genuine remorse. The juxtaposition is striking, and the emotional whiplash is powerful.

The subsequent conversation between Superman and Lex adds layers to the story. Superman reassures him that there’s potential to save lives and to embrace the best version of himself. But Lex questions this optimism, asking a devastatingly simple yet profound question: “Do you believe the world is a better place with Lex Luthor in it?” This leaves even Superman stunned. Ultimately, Superman acknowledges that it’s Lex’s choice, urging him not to put too much pressure on himself. I have to hand it to Barrows and Ferreira they are able to really let these words sink in with the emotional reactions they give Lex and Superman because it is clear that they are both tormented by the possible what-ifs of their future interactions. What happens when the smartest man on the planet remembers everything again?

It doesn’t just stop there as Williamson, Barrows, and Ferreira then deliver an incredible four-page backstory, revealing an unseen connection between Clark and Lex. A young Lex, fleeing from home, running away from home after being called a freak for building play newly made transmitter. Lex sends a transmission to the stars—a signal of beautiful music that only one other person on earth could hear, a baby boy from a farm in Kansas. That baby, Clark Kent, hears the melody and is soothed, sleeping peacefully for the first time since arriving in his shuttle. Clark’s mother remarks on the miracle, while the young Lex, hunched over his transmitter, sits shrouded in shadow as musical notes fly around him. The page is beautiful as it is devastating one line driving home the emotional weight: “It’s a miracle.”

Seeing Lex choose to remember his past is gut-wrenching. Up until this moment, you can’t help but root for him to be better, to embrace the possibility of what he and Superman could achieve together. Watching Lex glance at Metropolis one last time before taking his seat at the piano—realizing this might be the final moment he sees the city as this new version of himself—leaves you with an overwhelming sense of melancholy.

The issue culminates with Superman hearing and recognizing the music from his childhood as it drifts through Metropolis. He finally makes the connection between the music and Lex. The next page reveals Lex, illuminated by moonlight, playing the piano with a sorrowful expression. Even though Superman hasn’t yet received details about a new transmitter from Mr. Terrific or pieced everything together, the visual speaks volumes: Lex remembers.

The connection between the two men at their respective heights is striking. Earlier, Superman was bathed in sunlight, embodying hope and light, while Lex is now shrouded in moonlight, a symbol of sorrow and reflection. It’s poetry in motion—a tragic yet beautiful depiction of a man torn between the weight of who he was and the struggle to become something more.

Final Verdict: BUY

The Round-Up

• DC’s Lex and the City: I have to admit, it’s a bit jarring to go from reading Superman: Lex Luthor Special to diving into a Valentine’s Day anthology special. However, I can’t help but find it endearing. It might feel like a lighthearted diversion, but it’s clear that a lot of love was poured into this book.The comic is an anthology of stories from over eight different writers, with contributions from multiple artists and colorists. The first story, Lex and the City, is written and drawn by Sina Grace, and it follows Trish Q, a reporter for the social section of the Daily Planet. The opening panels set the tone perfectly, with a striking shot of Lex Luthor posing confidently with his foot atop Superman’s cape, reminiscent of a Captain Morgan ad. From there, the story takes off.

  Lex takes an interest in Trish, going so far as to prepare written answers to her interview questions in advance and prying into her private life. He uncovers details about her publication, her salary, and her ambitions, ultimately inviting her to a literary salon. His goal? To connect her with legitimate brokers in publishing and give her access to a writer who sustains entire industries with their work.

  This is classic Lex Luthor: prying, scheming, and taking what he needs. While his actions seem to stem from simple boredom, he’s also attempting (in his own twisted way) to help Trish advance in her career. As Lex himself puts it, “Somewhere along the way, the notion that I am ‘weird’ or ‘out of touch’ has superseded my reputation for putting mankind’s greatness first.” Grace does a fantastic job portraying Lex’s complexity here. He remains a manipulative megalomaniac, but there’s an oddly charming side to him in this story.

  Of course, in a satisfying twist, it turns out Trish was manipulating Lex the entire time to get what she wanted. Her story makes the front page of the Daily Planet, leaving Lex none the wiser. It’s a fun and clever read, setting the stage for the rest of the anthology, which contains seven more stories.

  The other stories are delightful, with standouts including A Valentine’s Day Gift for Poison Ivy, Beautiful Lies, and Together Again. While this comic may have been released for the holiday, it’s a treat that’s worth checking out.

• Green Lantern #19: With this issue, writer Jeremy Adams sets up new story arc for the Green Lanterns as Hal Jordan and the GL Corps take on a new mandate to patrol the galaxy.

Beyond that, this issue highlights Hal’s relationship with  Star Sapphire and delivers, in the best way I can describe, a “building the team” moment. Hal assembles a crew for their next heist, bringing together Kyle Rayner, Odyssey the Time Bandit, and Superboy. It all leads up to the introduction of the StarBreaker Corps, the new antagonists in the Fractured Spectrum saga.

Overall, the All In Green Lantern run has been well received, and it’s exciting to be on the cusp of a new story arc with fresh antagonists tied to a larger, fractured spectrum. However, this is just the beginning—there’s still a lot to explore. As of now, the sky’s the limit, but only time will tell where this journey takes Lantern fans next.

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