Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #2 – Mark Waid, Writer; Bryan Hitch, Penciller; Kevin Nowlan, Inker; David Baron, Colorist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: All the Black Label books have had schedule issues as these high-leve projects essentially come out when their creators are ready. But none has dealt with delays on the level of this one, which put out a highly acclaimed first issue well over a year ago and then…nothing, as artist Bryan Hitch left to join the upstart Ghost Machine Studios at Image, led by former DC legend Geoff Johns. But thankfully, he did eventually find enough time in his schedule to come back for the second issue, with an assist from veteran inker Kevin Nowlan. When we last left off, Lex Luthor was dying from an illness caused by his many, many experiments that exposed him to toxins over the decades. And Superman decided to save his former best friend – despite being seen as a traitor by the public at large and even by his friends.
This is a double-sized issue, and Superman is undeterred by the haters, taking Lex across space and time to find a possible cure. The first stop is the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st century, where Lex spars with Brainiac 5, followed by a visit to Themyscira, where Clark tries to convince Diana to use the Purple Ray on Lex – and Lex gets an unwelcome therapy session from the Lasso of Truth. And finally, a visit to Atlantis for a reunion with a now-older Lori Lemaris and her husband Ronal (following up on Waid’s recent work in World’s Finest). And across the board, all say the same thing – whatever is wrong with Lex, it can’t be fixed by any science, past, present, or future.
I’m usually not a fan of the idea that Clark and Lex grew up together in Smallville, but the story here creates a compelling, almost Shakespearean tragedy out of their first meeting and how it led to them becoming enemies. And even now, there’s a unique dynamic between them that makes them both irreconcilable and somehow inseparable, with Clark being willing to go to the literal ends of the universe to save Lex. It makes a lot more sense than this same dynamic existing for Batman and the Joker. And the issue ends with a great twist that sets up a shocking showdown for the final issue. Waid really is a master of this corner of the DCU, and it’s no surprise that his most ambitious work is one of his best. Now let’s hope we get the final issue in short order!
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
