Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #3 is an issue of the series Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 2025. It was published on April 23, 2025.
Synopsis for "Book Three"
Many years ago, the prosperous people of planet Colu had become obsessed with acquiring knowledge at any cost. In their arrogance, the Coluans created AI that forcefully took control of Colu and enslaved its people. These cybernetic overlords were not satisfied with the conquest of their homeworld and decided to spread their rule across the stars. To facilitate that task, they created an emissary that would steal the knowledge of foreign planets and destroy them to prevent them from threatening their power. That emissary would be known as Brainiac.
In the present, Lex is shocked and outraged that Brainiac turned him into a pawn for his own plan to destroy Superman. Apparently, Brainiac had infected Lex with a virus that would slowly drain Superman's powers and render him unable to stop his plans to conquer and assimilate the Earth. He did that as a form of professional courtesy towards Lex, for he always knew that Lex also wanted to destroy Superman, even though Lex argues that someone like Lois or Jimmy would have worked better. To ensure his plans work without issue, Brainiac has already captured Clark's fellow superheroes and destroyed the Phantom Zone projector. Without his powers, Clark is forced to grab Lex and escape from the Fortress using the flight ring gifted to him by the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Angry at being used by Brainiac, Lex agrees to team up with Superman. They make their way to Metropolis, which is already under attack by Brainiac's forces. They infiltrate one of Brainiac's attack ships and discover that Brainiac is processing humans, turning them into machines to help him continue his quest for universal knowledge. Outnumbered, Superman and Lex are forced to retreat to one of Lex's secret labs, located deep beneath Metropolis. Superman thought he had destroyed it, but Lex reveals that was just a decoy Lex had built to fool intruders. The real lab is still intact.
Once they make it into the lab, Lex figures out that Brainiac must be using the Sun as a power source for his war effort, so the best way to stop the invasion is to destroy Brainiac's ship, which is stationed right above the Sun. For that, they need a special machine, but Lex is too weak to build it, so he instructs Superman to build it in his stead. Once the machine is completed, Lex reveals that machine won't stop Brainiac. Instead, it will purge Superman's body of the virus affecting Lex, at the cost of Lex's life. Superman is upset that Lex would sacrifice his life so brazenly, but Lex replies that they have run out of options. For better or worse, Superman is the only one who can stop Brainiac and Lex doesn't care if he dies because the entire world wants him dead, anyway. With this option, everybody wins.
The two men place their hands inside the machine and once the process finishes, Lex discovers that not only is he cured, he also has Kryptonian powers. Superman explains that, when Lex wasn't looking, he modified the machine to save Lex's life. Even with the entire world in danger, Superman will still choose to save the life of his worst enemy. Lex is confused that Superman would turn his worst enemy into a god and Superman replies that he needs Lex alive to stop Brainiac.
They rejoin the battle and take separate paths. Superman attacks Brainiac's solar converters while Lex confronts the Coluan tyrant directly. Aware that he is physically outclassed, Brainiac resorts to red sunlight to dampen Lex's new powers, but Lex continues fighting, because he is angry at Brainiac for almost turning him and Superman into friends. Superman successfully destroys Brainiac's solar machine, while Lex grabs Brainiac and plunges into the Sun. With his force field broken, Brainiac is vulnerable.
Superman watches as Lex and Brainiac crash into a frozen wasteland. Lex tears out Brainiac's head and believes himself victorious, but Brainiac is still alive. Lex only destroyed one of his multiple bodies and Brainiac can just transfer his consciousness to a distant outpost. Even so, he leaves a final surprise to Superman and Lex: the explosion of his body, which covers hundreds of square miles.
Many days later, Clark writes an article for the Daily Planet, which states that after being released, the superheroes of Earth worked hard to reverse the damage Brainiac had caused. It was not a clean victory, however, as Superman had permanently lost his powers during the conflict and announced his retirement from public life, promising that the Justice League would remain vigilant in his place. He also confirmed Lex's death in the battle.
Privately, Clark remembers Lex's last moments. He chose to save Superman at the cost of his own life. It might not have been enough to redeem him in the eyes of the world, but it was enough to redeem Lex in the eyes of his old friend.
With his life as Superman over, Clark returns to his parents' farm and finds the old telescope he used back when he was a boy. He unpacks it, places it on a hill and gazes at the stars to remind himself of the enemy and the friend he made in his youth.
Appearing in "Book Three"
Featured Characters:
- Superman (Clark Kent)
- Lex Luthor
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Concepts:
Notes
- Final issue,
See Also
Links and References
