Each Friday, we'll be letting a different DC.com writer share what they'll be reading over the weekend and why you might want to check it out. Here's this week's suggestion for a perfect Weekend Escape!
 

In the beginning, there was Superman and Lex Luthor. Their hero/villain rivalry served as the standard for not only how good vs. evil would be presented in the DC Universe, but for how that balance would often be shaped throughout all modern action fiction. Embodying opposing dynamics such as brain vs. brawn, rich vs. poor and selfish vs. selfless, theirs is a struggle between two opposing forces that have defined each other for almost a century.

But all things eventually come to an end. When Lex Luthor is stricken with a mysterious malady that no one seems to understand or be able to cure, he turns to his first enemy as his last hope. Written and illustrated by DC maestros Mark Waid, Bryan Hitch and Kevin Nowlan, let’s dive into Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor!
 

THE PREMISE:

After demanding an audience with Superman by endangering a populated island, Luthor reveals to the Man of Steel that an explosive experimentation with Kryptonite poisoned his entire bloodstream, weakening his organs and giving him only days left to live before his insides accelerate in aging. Superman uses his super-senses to ensure Luthor’s honesty, and—keeping his eye out for any tricks—agrees to do everything in his power to save his life.

The two rivals travel across the DC Universe in search of a cure to his illness. From the far-end future of the 30^th Century, to the secret science of the Amazons and Atlanteans, Superman and Lex Luthor consider every and all solutions to stopping Lex’s death sentence, while being in such close proximity to each other pushes both men to their breaking points. As Luthor’s hatred finally boils over, Superman recalls their time together in Smallville. It's those memories of a lost friendship that powers Superman’s drive to save his now hated enemy.
 

LET’S TALK TALENT:

When it comes to Superman, few writers are as experienced a hand as Mark Waid. The author of classic stories like Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright (which was the subject of our last Weekend Escape), Waid knows exactly what makes these characters tick and how to keep those qualities timeless without sacrificing any modern sensibilities.

Giving visual life to this story are master storytellers Bryan Hitch and Kevin Nowlan. Their realistic, grounded renderings instill the fantastic story elements with stunning believability. This is in no way compromised by the extravagant technology on display, such as Lex’s towering mechanical monster or the Bottled City of Kandor’s science room. It’s an idealized Superman story with all of the grandeur and imagination of the classic Silver Age, presented with an unshaking realism that gives the emotional underpinnings of the story their resonance.
 

A FEW REASONS TO READ:

• Luthor’s sneering persona is a source of constant humor. At Superman’s mercy, he can only deliver withering asides with a mix of self-deprecation and arrogance. These give the serious story a sense of levity, and you’ll find yourself chuckling far more often than you might expect.
• The narrative device of Clark chronicling his efforts for the Daily Planet keeps the reader guessing as to how things will end up. It presents a unique predicament for the Man of Steel since he’s not in danger himself, but the way that he’s seen is. If Superman can’t do the impossible and save Lex, is this story that he’s finally met his match? On that note, why does Clark Kent look so tired?

• I mentioned Superman: Birthright earlier, and if you have read that 2003 limited series, Waid references it in this follow-up. Young Clark and Lex’s relationship seen first in Birthright, their shared wonder of the universe and the tragedy that unfolded which led to Lex’s disappearance is revisited. It all helps to put this story of Luthor’s dying days in sharper relief while adding poignance to an already poignant antagonism.
• Above all else, this story serves as a mystery, with the two most capable characters in the DC Universe working their hardest to figure it out. Combining Superman’s resources and Luthor’s genius, it’s exciting and inspiring to see them arrive at each imaginative option, and suspenseful and heartbreaking when certain ideas fail them. It’s a terrific display of both their willpower and the creators’ skills as storytellers.
   

WHY IT’S WORTH YOUR TIME:

Published under DC’s Black Label, Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor works as a terrific three-issue story that tells so much about its two leading characters beyond the constraints of continuity. As a result, huge swings are taken and we see the Metropolis Marvel and the Mad Mogul in situations we’ve never seen them in before. Recalling their past, struggling in their present for a scary and unknown future, this is about as definitive of a Superman and Luthor story as it gets. The “and” is intentional, as the mystery goes beyond a simple versus plot. We see the best and worst of the two of them, how they are when they work together, and what they see in each other when they’re at their lowest. Pioneered by some of the best creators in comics, Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor is a must-read for any and every Superman fan and will be for years to come.
 

Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor by Mark Waid, Bryan Hitch, Kevin Nowlan and David Baron is available in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers as a hardcover graphic novel. It can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

Donovan Morgan Grant writes about comics, graphic novels and superhero history for DC.com. Follow him on Bluesky at @donomark and X at @donoDMG1.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Donovan Morgan Grant and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.