Batman and Superman's Greatest Enemies Have Accidentally Become DC Universe's Biggest Threat

1 week ago 9

Patrik Walker is an Emmy Award–winning writer who covers all things Comics & Superheroes. His work can also be found at the Dallas Cowboys, The Sporting News, and CBS Sports, among other outlets. One of the most respected names in his field, he is also a diehard enthusiast of all things comics, anime, gaming and movies — thriving in spaces where discussions involving those or similar topics reign supreme.

Lex Luthor wants Superman dead. Anyone who knows the history between the two DC Comics characters will understand this to be very, very true. The hate- and rage-filled version of Luthor portrayed by Nicholas Hault in James Gunn's 2025 Superman was accurate in those two capacities, to say the least. It's all Luthor can do to not obsess about ways to kill the Boy in Blue, or the Man of Steel, or both, depending on which Son of El arc is being discussed.

The Joker does not want Batman dead. Some who don't truly understand the depths of the Clown Prince of Crime's depravity may not believe it, but it's true. Harley Quinn's off-and-on lover actually wants the Caped Crusader to stay alive for as long as possible so that he can be tormented in every possible as The Joker creates inventive new ways to try and unlock the darkest side of Batman's psyche and, ultimately, to drag him down from his moral high ground (see the greatness of Batman: The Killing Joke as one example) — so what happens when The Joker and Luthor join forces?

8 Years After Their Worlds Shattered, SnyderVerse Fans Still Aren't Giving Up Hope

Nearly a decade after the Justice League release, fans of the Snyderverse are relentless in their demand to see James Gunn tossed for Zack Snyder.

No, you misunderstand. It's not simply that they're about to join forces — they're about to literally join, physically, in what's set to be one of the most out-of-the-box comic arcs since the events of Absolute Batman, making for an intriguing start to the holiday season, thanks to DC Comics and starting with World's Finest #45.

Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Adrian Gutierrez
Cover: Dan Mora
Page count: 22
Available: November 19th, 2025

"Lex Luthor and The Joker have joined forces once again, but this uneasy alliance hinges on a crucial outcome: the final defeat of both Batman and Superman. Why else would the most brilliant criminal mind of our time and the Clown Prince of Crime team up? Well, the answer will surprise you…and them! Betrayal abounds, terror intensifies, and a major surprise is in store for the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel in part one of 'The Merger.'"

6 Years Before Superman, James Gunn Produced This Terrifying Thriller That's Coming to Streaming

Diehard fans of Superman knows there's a chance he can go dark, but nothing like the version in James Gunn's cult classic that's headed to Netflix.

A Fusion Dance That Rivals Dragonball Z?

This wouldn't be the first time DC Comics has run this experiment, and it conjures images and memories of the Lex Joker mash-up manifested as an illusion at the hand of Doctor Destiny with the goal of ending the Justice Titans who, of course, end up seeking the assistance of both Batman and Superman — leading to Lex Joker forming the Brotherhood of Injustice.

Where this latest amalgamation goes is anyone's guess, but the artwork hints at a dark place that could usher in Bruce and Kal potentially (likely?) merging as well to combat the threat, and there's simply no part of this that should be missed. It's a fusion dance that might even make every Saiyan in Dragonball jealous.