DC Comics' Plan for Absolute Lex Luthor Explored Even More

One of Superman's worst enemies is proving to be a problem for the rest of the Absolute Universe in DC Comics.

While the titular hero of Absolute Superman #16 (by Jason Aaron, Juan Ferreyra, and Becca Carey) is busy staring down both the newly emerged Parasite and the overtly violent Hawkman, Lex Luthor is enjoying a day at home and a conversation with an unexpected visitor. Unfortunately, when Luthor turns down an offer to help maintain the status quo at large, Brainiac is quick to drop his friendly facade and unleash a world of horrors upon everyone Lex loves.

Absolute Superman #16

• Written by JASON AARON
• Art by JUAN FERREYRA
• Colors by JUAN FERREYRA
• Letters by BECCA CAREY
• Main cover art by RAFA SANDOVAL & ULISES ARREOLA
• Variant covers by GERALD PAREL; INHYUK LEE; and MAHMUD ASRAR & ALEJANDRO SÁNCHEZ

The official solicit synopsis for Absolute Superman #16 from DC Comics reads, "A CRUCIAL FOLLOW-UP TO ABSOLUTE EVIL #1! Superman finds himself at the forefront of a bold new age of heroes in the Absolute Universe, but he quickly learns that he wasn't the world's first super-powered protector. Enter Hawkman, who has a few tips for the new kid, whether he wants to hear them or not!"

While most versions of Lex Luthor have continued the supervillainous trend set forth by the Golden Age version of the character, who was introduced in Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's opening story from 1940's Action Comics #23, "Superman: Europe at War (Part II)," the Absolute Universe's Lex is a completely different kind of character. Rather than being driven by raw ambition and a lust for power, the Lex Luthor of the Absolute Universe is content living a quiet, rural life at home with his family in relative bliss.

The Absolute Lex Luthor was first seen in 2025's Absolute Evil #1 by Al Ewing, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Stefano Nesi, during which the Absolute Universe's twisted Justice League was formed. Despite boasting members including Hector Hammond, Ra's al Ghul, Veronica Cale, Elenore Thawne, and the Joker, Brainiac decided the group was missing a key ingredient and set about searching for Lex.

What To Expect From The Future of Absolute Superman

Apart from whatever the Absolute Universe has in store for Lex, there are likely a handful of other iconic characters set to make their debuts in the pages of Absolute Superman sooner than later. In January, Absolute Superman writer Jason Aaron discussed the possibility of bringing both General Zod and Supergirl into the fold.

"There are a ton of people and things that we know survived the destruction of Krypton, right? So certainly, we are playing with expectations and that you assume he wasn't the only one who got off that planet," Aaron explained at the time. "Does that mean there's a Supergirl out there, that there's a Zod, that there are other people from the Phantom Zone? Who knows? Of course, I'm not going to tell you what we're going to see or not going to see. I will tell you, you see in issue 15, you know, Brainiac had all those bottled cities."

Aaron continued, "...of course, our assumption is that there's going to be a Kryptonian city in one of those bottles, right? There's not." He then added, "Superman is, I think, looking to find any sort of other tangible connection to Krypton, especially after he's lost Sol, which was the only one that he had. And he goes to a place where we assume he's going to find something, but finds nothing. I don't know what more to tell you other than that."

Absolute Superman #16 from DC Comics is on sale now.