The current Superman run by Josh Williamson has put Lex Luthor through the wringer: not only has he had to contend with foes from his past, but the battle against Brainiac left him with a blank slate where his memory once was and a desire to do good. But Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1 puts this to the test: when Mr. Terrific attempts to study the new world that was created by Darkseid’s death, he asks Superman if it’s possible to utilize Luthor’s mind. Can the Man of Steel bring himself to probe the mind of his former foe?
It’s this kind of dilemma that has driven Williamson’s writing on Superman, and Lex Luthor Special #1 presents a rather juicy one. Though Luthor was an out-and-out bastard, he did provide Superman with a genuine resource in Supercorp – and ever since the ‘House of Brainiac’ storyline, he’s been a genuinely good person. But even if someone tries to change, the past will catch up with them. This becomes pretty clear when Luthor, attempting to take Mercy Graves out on a date, gets a faceful of coffee from an angry Metropolis citizen.
Credit: DC Comics
Yet a scalding faceful of java doesn’t compare to Superman and Luthor’s very uncomfortable conversation. Williamson lets certain sentences linger so they can hit home – one, in particular, sat with me. Luthor asks Superman if he thinks he deserves to be saved, and the Man of Steel’s pause speaks volumes. Superman has said in the past that he believes people can change, but after his multiple encounters with Luthor, it’s reasonable that he might have doubts.
Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1 also benefits from the artwork of Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira. The duo brings life to moments big, like Superman and the Justice League cleaning up a rogue threat, and small, like Lex and Mercy’s walk in the park. I also love the emotion Barrows brings to character expressions; when Lex gets hit with coffee, you’d expect a tirade or a carefully crafted verbal putdown. But he looks absolutely agonized.
The special also features flashbacks to the past, showcasing a hidden side to Lex – and a surprising connection to Clark Kent that I never saw coming. It also has its own unique visual style thanks to Adriano Lucas and Dave Sharpe; Lucas brings a sepia-toned hue to the pages, while Sharpe’s word balloons feature thicker letters that make the words of Lex’s father, Lionel, sting.
Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1 offers a new look at the Man of Steel’s archnemesis and a glimpse into his past. Readers will no doubt want to pick up future issues of Superman to see how it all plays out, but I hope Lex’s turn to the side of the angels isn’t too short-lived.
Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1 is available wherever comics are sold.
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