Superman #33 is working on two fronts. First, it’s a tie-in to DC K.O.‘s “All Fight Month”, pitting Lex Luthor against Etrigan the Demon. Secondly, it’s a deep dive into Luthor’s state of mind, exploring what he’s willing to do to save the world…and showcasing how he’s changed, whether he wants to admit it or not. The result works far better than you’d expect, thanks to the creative combo that is Joshua Williamson and Hayden Sherman.
Williamson’s been adding plenty of depth to Luthor in his Superman run, opening it with the bald billionaire gifting Superman a whole company, and after suffering amnesia, giving him the chance to help the world with his inventions. Throughout Superman #33, Williamson has Luthor reflect on where his life has gone and what drives him, other than his hatred for the Man of Steel. “I do what I know is right,” Luthor thinks to himself in one caption. “That is something Superman could never understand.” The irony is that Clark Kent has the same mindset when he puts on his Superman suit, proving that these two bitter enemies have far more in common than they’d ever admit.
Keeping up with the parallels, Williamson pitting Luthor against Etrigan is a stroke of genius, as the two characters are complete opposites. While Etrigan often uses brute strength and his hellish abilities to overcome his foes, Luthor relies on his intellect and cutting-edge technology. It turns out that they also have a few things in common, as Etrigan has an axe to grind with Darkseid – something Luthor is all too familiar with. Williamson also deserves props for coming up with clever rhymes for Etrigan.
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Sherman has proven themself to be an incredible artist this year, whether it’s the stunning imagery they bring to Absolute Wonder Woman or the Doctor Strange/Constantine story in Batman/Deadpool #1. Here, Sherman delivers splash pages that are chock-full of violent moments. One minute, Luthor has Etrigan in a headlock, and the next, Etrigan is clawing through his armor. The way Sherman’s art forms words is incredible, with the sentence “Does Lex Luthor Have A Soul?” carved from the debris of a falling building, and “Lex Loses” sculpted from hellfire itself.
I also give Sherman credit for leaning into the DC K.O. concept of characters being able to choose forms for battle, as it lets them draw on different parts of the combatants’ histories. Case in point: the second round features Etrigan donning his armor from the woefully short-lived Demon Knights, while Lex has his armored Superman suit from DC’s Rebirth era. Both costumes, apart from looking really good in Sherman’s style, play a key role in the story.
The only wrinkle in Superman #33’s construction is that the subplot featuring Lois Lane and Superboy-Prime doesn’t really go all that far. It’s a shame, as the idea of Lois getting back her Superwoman powers and having information that could turn the tide of DC K.O. is a fun idea that I’d like to see more of. On the other hand, the interlude with Gorilla Grodd fighting off a Darkseid-possessed Booster Gold actually does play into the issue in a way you wouldn’t expect.
Superman #33 strikes a balance between carefully crafted character study and superpowered slugfest, as readers bear witness to the inner workings of Lex Luthor’s mind. There’s always been more to him than hating Superman, and this run understands that, even in the middle of a crossover event.
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