Superman Just Unlocked His Most Powerful Self, All Thanks to Lex Luthor

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As a huge Superman fan, I’ve always been fascinated by his rivalry with Lex Luthor. It’s wild to think that the biggest power-up Superman ever got actually came about because of Lex’s intense hatred! Even if you’re new to the story – maybe you just saw the latest movie – you quickly learn that Lex absolutely can’t stand Superman. He’s poured all his energy and intelligence into trying to destroy him or, at the very least, make his life miserable. It’s honestly a bit much, and he could probably be doing something more productive, but Lex just can’t accept that Superman is succeeding where he believes he should be.

That’s precisely why Lex Luthor secretly entered the tournament seen in DC K.O. Despite the heroes’ best efforts to keep villains out, Lex and a few others managed to sneak into the first round, even taking spots meant for heroes. Now, Lex finally has a real shot at defeating his greatest enemy. However, as usual, Lex’s plan is going wrong, and he’s unintentionally making Superman stronger than ever before.

Lex Luthor Helps Superman Discover Darkseid’s Ultimate Power

The second issue of DC K.O. is finally here, from the creative team of Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Javi Fernández, and Xermánico. While fans were hoping for direct head-to-head fights, this round of the tournament is more of a chaotic scramble. The Heart of Apokolips sends the 32 contestants to a battlefield scattered with 16 powerful weapons, including the God Killer Sword and Thor’s Hammer. There’s also a mysterious item up for grabs, which can be claimed by those who act like Darkseid.

Superman isn’t focused on winning the competition himself; he’s more worried about stopping Lex Luthor from getting what he wants. Lex, however, is ready for a fight, armed with kryptonite. He uses it to weaken Superman and shockingly, even sever one of his hands. While Superman recovers, Lex taunts him, claiming he’ll never win because he’s unwilling to do whatever it takes. Lex then strikes Superman with another piece of kryptonite before leaving to seize the prize he’s been after: a powerful Black Lantern Power Ring.

Witnessing Lex create an army of undead gods, Superman finally realizes the meaning of the Heart of Apokolips’ message: to follow Darkseid’s path. Just as Darkseid sacrificed parts of himself for immense power, Superman makes a similar choice. He impales himself with a kryptonite shard. The risky move works, and Superman gains a powerful new ability – Darkseid’s Omega Sanction. Now incredibly powerful, he prepares to use it against Lex, but the final item is discovered, thankfully ending the round before Superman can act.

Lex Luthor is Accidentally Helping Superman in DC K.O.

This issue relies heavily on dramatic irony. If Lex had simply taken a powerful item for himself, like the Medusa Mask or a Mother Box, while Superman dealt with something else, things could have gone much differently. Instead, he challenged Superman to consider his own limits – how far he’d go to protect the universe. Ironically, Lex’s actions ultimately pushed Superman to discover the strength he’ll need to compete in this incredibly challenging tournament.

Lex had a point when he challenged Superman in this issue. The current competition requires fighters to be ruthless and self-centered, which goes against Superman’s heroic nature. Superman tried to stick to his principles, but that only led to him being injured with kryptonite. While Lex despises Superman, he’s quick to point out Superman’s weaknesses. Surprisingly, hearing this from his enemy actually motivated Clark and helped Superman locate the most valuable item in the competition.

It’s unclear if the Omega Sanction will be important later in the DC K.O. series—it might make Superman too powerful. However, it was interesting to see Clark unlock such immense cosmic power simply because Lex challenged him. Sometimes, the best motivation comes from unexpected sources, even your enemies. Perhaps this development with Lex will continue to inspire Superman throughout the rest of DC K.O..

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2025-12-01 05:10