Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor (2023-) #2

by Mark Waid, Bryan Hitch (Penciller), David Baron (Colorist)

Superman continues his mission to find a cure for what’s killing Lex Luthor. When the present has no answers, maybe the future will! But will the Legion of Super-Heroes help Clark find a cure for a man like Luthor?

Genres: Comics, Superman, Dc Comics, Superheroes

50 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 19, 2025

About the author

Mark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.

Reviews

[F. P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was right in my updates and the comments below them--Superman agrees with me lol! Crap, I still wish for that something else, something better to have happened a long time ago, that other path and not the mistake that was made. I find that a tragic aspect of the whole situation….

Sensational comic though! Tritonis is so beautiful--the colors and shapes and dreaminess in those panels!!

There was something that irritated me near the beginning of this issue’s story, but I’m glad I kept reading because this really is sensational overall. I think both the story and the art are more developed than the first issue, and I just love all the sci-fi/fantasy scenarios in this one.

[S.E. Martens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving this DC Black Label miniseries so much. I don't know why there was such a lengthy delay between issues (No. 1 came out September 2023), but I am glad to see it finally continuing.

I really appreciate the way Mark Waid writes Clark and Lex, with their background as teenagers together in Smallville. This makes an excellent continuation from Superman: Birthright, but it also has a ton of fun Silver Age references in it, and is just generally a really fun read that highlights Superman's compassion and humanity.

[whoknowswhynot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Waid does it again

Despite an almost 18 month hiatus, this book picks up right after the first issue and again proves why Superman is the DC Comics world greatest superhero. The cliffhanger ending was kind of telegraphed early on but that’d be the only nitpick I have on this. I can only hope we don’t have to wait as long for issue three.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This issue truly blew me away, the ideas it explores through Superman’s guilt, everything that makes him what he is, and the desperation in looking at every angle possible to save the life of his lifelong adversary is handled all so well! The entire world is of the opinion that Lex doesn’t deserve Superman’s help, but Lois stands strong as a lone voice in the crowd defending Superman.

“Killing is easy. That’s not him. Superman exists to find solutions where ordinary people can’t. Take that away from him, he’s not Superman. Do you honestly think this world would be a better place without him in it?”

I am so glad I recently read all star Superman for the first time, because it feels like a lot of these themes were explored in that series as well, especially when it comes to the topic of Lex and what he could of done. What legacy does he leave behind, what all could he have done to impact the world if he didn’t focus so much of his time on fighting Superman? And what better way to find that out than a visit to the future. That is Superman and Lex’s next stop, the 31st century to visit the legion of super-heroes and the smartest man Superman knows: brainiac 5. Look at my beautiful legion! I can’t even argue about continuity because of how screwed up theirs are, lol. I do have to admit, I find it torturous and hilarious that he would bring Lex there only to be told that they barely know who he is. If this was Lex for a week ago that would have enraged him to a point of leveling a city. While brainiac 5 runs through the tests, Superman remembers back to his time in Smallville with Lex, and we finally find out the truth of his greatest regret. Clark decided that he was going to tell Lex who he is, that Lex isn’t so alone out there and Clark is the proof he needs. He marched over to Lex’s lab and as Lex let him in he was struck back to see everything Lex was working on. Turns out Lex has been building a wormhole generator to punch a hole through space and find a higher intelligent species and he is going to use the green rock he found to do it. Well of course that green rock is Kryptonite, and as Clark has never seen or been exposed to it before…he was quite taken back and immediately wounded when Lex brought it out. But Lex couldn’t tell the amount of pain Clark was in, all he saw was another small town boy cowering at his genius, and once again Lex felt betrayed and alone and kicked Clark out. Obviously this wasn’t what Clark intended at all, but it was too late. Lex locked him out and started up his machine, and it even appeared to work…before sputtering out and catching fire! Burning the lab up and causing Lex to go bald in the process, lol. Saturn girl actually interrupted and joined Superman in his mind because of how powerful the memory was, but by that time it was time to come back to brainiac 5 who had been unsuccessful in finding any treatment for Lex. They can’t even say what will happen to Lex according to the historical reports because they have been lost and damaged over the years. And with that Lex and Superman went back to the correct time for the next attempt. But according to Saturn girl all of that business about corrupted historical texts was a lie, they know exactly what happens to Lex. But Brainy refused to tell Clark because he knows what it will do to him. Oh wow, that is leaving me very interested for the next and final issue.

But we aren’t done trying things yet! Next stop is paradise island as Clark had to get a bit physical with Diana to convince her that this was the right thing to do. No man can step foot on paradise island so she took Lex into her care, using magic and the lasso to make him levitate the entire time while they used the purple healing Ray on him. It had no effect, but with the lasso around Lex, Diana and him were able to have a productive talk. I love Diana’s view of Clark here, she expresses that the real heroes to him are every normal human who walks with bravery everyday without his powers doing normal things that could just as easily get them killed. But since that didn’t work, but the time Superman came to pickup Lex it was time for the next attempt…magic. Not just any magic, it’s time to visit an old aquatic friend of Superman’s: Lori! Lex dawned a suit to handle the pressure underwater and when they met up with Lori and her husband to be they communicated psychically. Lori spoke of an area and a fruit that cured the old mad king of his sickness, but the fruit lies in an area they call the garden of death. Superman ultimately received it from a giant sea monster, with Lex providing an assist by distracting it, and Lex was able to try the fruit. Only to spit it back out once his brain was overloaded with empathy. The old mad king has a sickness of the mind, and as they are telepathic beings that is what the magic helps to heal. Sorry Lex, this is another dead end.

This is the part of the story where we start to jump into a montage, and I have to admit I am in awe of just how much Superman is trying to save Luthor. They went to the guardians on OA, the spectre, mxy, the dominators, the new gods, the Thanagarians, Rann, and j am sure there are a few more references here I don’t get. And nothing is working. As they head back to the fortress of solitude, Lex has reached the final stages and he is not looking good. Superman has tried all these years to reach Lex, to help Lex reach his full potential, except for what he is trying now…which is revealing to Lex that he is Clark Kent. Clark admits that he feels like he failed him oh so long ago, that this entire time he was the proof Lex was desperate for and he could of saved him all the way back when they were kids. Of course in Lex’s mind he sees this apology as a joke, another way to make Lex’s life about Superman instead. But suddenly as they are arguing Clark accidentally breaks a piece of the crystal control panel and notices that it cuts into his hands. Suddenly everything is clicking, this has been a trap the entire time, what has Lex done to him all of his powers are gone?! But Lex wishes he could take credit for this, he had no idea what is happening. And then an explosion breaks down the fortress as a voice confirms that Lex is telling the truth, and that this is also a trap. Just not Lex’s trap…but brainiacs! You’ve got to be kidding me!!

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only add individual comics to Goodreads if they’re 40 pages or longer in length.

While this is the middle chapter in a three-part story, it’s the strongest single issue of Superman I’ve read in quite a long time! Mark Waid writes the lead character as being unapologetically Superman, never wavering in the face of cynicism from Lex Luthor or other characters from the DCU. This book features stellar artwork from Bryan Hitch and Kevin Nowlan, an even stronger outing than the previous chapter. When Nowlan inks another artist, his own style can overpower the penciller’s sensibilities. Here he and Hitch have the perfect blend of each, benefitting from the wider, almost-European album format DC affords artists through its Black Label format.

As a single unit in time, this was a great read on Superman Day.

[Thedefarted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here it is, after a nearly 2 year wait! Lol. Was it worth it? Prolly not cause that's a dumb amount of time but it really did impress! The story has developed nicely as expected(waid!!) but the art is what's really blowing me away! There are evseral 2 page spreads that look so purty especially in this large black label format.

[Obi Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retiro lo dicho. Me encanta el formato! En este número se luce. Menudo viaje hacen Kal y Lex! Los diálogos siguen siendo exquisitos, mostrando las miserias de Lex y la bondad de Clark. Incluso a través de otros personajes, como Wonder Woman y… Lori Lemaris!
Y el final, soberbio. Primero un buen plot twist y luego… ¿OTRO PLOT TWIST?
Sí.
WOW.

[James B · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome, just awesome. this comic points at the reasons for why superman is the greatest superhero of all time, the GSOAT. I was a bit bothered by all the attentions supes gives to saving lex, but then we're reminded of their younger friendship

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't endure the two-year wait that lots of people did, but I still feel like this didn't live up quite to the hype set forth by the first issue.

[Andy Waldron · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is shaping up to be a generational supes story

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good.

So glad this is getting finished. It shows the best of what Superman is. The story is very good. The writing is spectacular. A must read!

[Richard A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this but I have a question on whether this is another "Elsewhere" type story or is Luthor dying for real?

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superman reveals his secret to Lex and why he believes so much in his old enemy. The true enemy has also been revealed, making the final fight a big one.

This is storytelling at it's finest.

[Mikey Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superman takes Luthor everywhere, the Amazonians can’t help him, the Legion can’t help him in the 31st century, but he tries one final move. He reveals himself as Clark Kent.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little repetitive, but the payoff at the end was worth it. Very curious what will happen next.

[Ryan Gässer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story and art seemed better than in #1. It seems the extra 2 years between issues helped.

[luciddreamer99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good entry in this series. Excellent art. A story not directly tied to an established continuity that can be enjoyed on its own. Recommended for Superman fans, and Smallville watchers, like I recommended in my review of issue #1.