Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira
Colors by: Adriano Lucas
Letters by: Dave Sharpe
Cover art by: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas (cover A)
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: January 29, 2025
Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1, by DC Comics on 1/29/25, delves into the memories of Superman's greatest foe when the quest to contact Elseworld requires the genius of Old Lex.
Is Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1 Good?
Recap
Lex Luthor is not himself. For all intents, the Lex Luthor of today is a kind, introspective, thoughtful man who hopes to live a peaceful life. However, the Lex Luthor of today is a very different version of the nefarious mastermind and criminal who made his life's mission the utter destruction of Superman. To find out how Lex Luthor lost his memory and what he may have been working on before his memory loss, check out the DC All-In Special #1 for background on Elseworld and the House of Brainiac mini-event for the reason behind Lex's memory loss.
Plot Synopsis
Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1 begins with Mr. Terrific contacting Superman for an in-person conversation regarding a sensitive manner. Since the death of Darkseid created Elseworld, Mr. Terrific and the Totality uncovered a hidden piece of reality. The science to connect with that hidden reality involves delving into the darker aspects of science that Mr. Terrific is afraid to visit, and the only man on Earth who knows how to reach those dark places without losing his sanity is the Old Lex Luthor.
Elsewhere, New Lex and Mercy Graves enjoy an ice cream and a lovely afternoon walk in Centennial Park. Lex explains only brief flashes of memory have returned. His daughter, Lena, even went so far as to get Lex a piano in the hope that playing the music he learned as a child would somehow return what Lex lost, but the attempt at music therapy failed.
As the issue progresses, we see brief flashes to Lex's musical development as a child. His moments of early brilliance were met with pain from Lex's jealous and abusive father, Lionel.
Now, a crowd gathers around Lex in the park when people recognize who he is. The crowd quickly becomes hostile, but the risk of lynching is diffused when Superman arrives on the scene. Big Blue asks if Lex has made any progress on restoring his memory. In return, Lex explains his failure and also wonders aloud to Superman if the world is better off without Old Lex. Superman realizes pressing Lex to return to his old self may be an unfair ask.
The issue ends when young Lex tries to earn his father's love by making a musical invention. The gift is not received well, but the tune Lex's invention plays reaches grateful ears. The memory of that tune now sets things right (or is it wrong?).
First Impressions
Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1 is a somewhat wholesome, thoughtful character piece about a damaged man given a second chance at life and the lose-lose choice he's given. If the goal was to add depth and dimension to Superman's greatest arch-nemesis, Williamson accomplished the mission.
How’s the Art?
Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira do a commendable job bringing Lex to life in an issue that leans on emotion, thinking, action, and reaction through facial acting. There's almost no action in this issue, so the visual impact comes through the strength of the artists to project dramatic moments, and it works.
What’s great about Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1?
If the title didn't tip you off, this issue is squarely focused on (re)building Lex's personality and backstory to present him as a man haunted by his past. Writer Joshua Williamson successfully paints a sympathetic picture of Lex within the context of the ongoing emergencies happening within the All-In and Absolute initiatives.
Does the updated picture convince you Lex was always just a misunderstood good guy? No, but it makes you appreciate that the traditional version of Lex Luthor is a complex guy.
What’s not great about Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1?
The lacking element in this issue is "the why." The journey from point A to point B plays out well enough, but there's a distinct lack of motivation and urgency which Lex would need to make his final decision.
Why is Mr. Terrific trying to contact a hidden slice of Reality? Why does Mr. Terrific believe the quest is important enough to urge Lex Luthor to get back to his old, villainous self? Why would Superman risk unleashing the world's greatest supervillain without a better explanation from Mr. Terrific beyond "I would have to think dangerous thoughts to solve this problem?"
Broadly, if this story is so closely tied to the events of the last year, why is nobody spending any time looking for Booster Gold? Is this related to the search for Booster? If not, why is nobody looking? If it is, why doesn't Mr. Terrific use that as the reasoning?
In other words, Williamson executes a perfectly good character piece, but the ties to current events are sloppy at best.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1 is a reasonably well-done character study that explains the past that made old Lex a villain and gives new Lex a no-win choice for his future. Joshua Williamson's script does a commendable job of adding depth and complexity to Lex's character, and the art team's presentation looks great. That said, the big choice Lex is given lacks a clear rationale.
6.8/10
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