DC Finally Gives Lex Luthor an Origin & Reversed 8 Decades of Lore

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The DC Comics Absolute Universe is already a gritty world, and it’s become even more so with the recent exploration of Lex Luthor’s backstory. For the past year and a half, readers have followed Kal-El’s journey to becoming Superman. It’s been a little odd, though, that Lex Luthor hasn’t appeared in Absolute Superman, despite being Superman’s famous enemy. You’d think he’d be a more central figure in this dark corner of the DC Universe.

During the first year of Absolute Superman, we didn’t know if Lex Luthor even existed in this world. That changed with last October’s special, Absolute Evil. While powerful figures like Veronica Cale and Jack Grimm (the Absolute Joker) were creating their own version of the Justice League, they were being watched by this world’s Brainiac. He thought they needed one more crucial member to truly succeed. The Absolute Evil special concluded with Brainiac contacting Lex Luthor, who was unaware of the dangers to come.

Brainiac Tortures and Kills Lex Luthor’s Family to ‘Inspire’ Him

The reveal of Lex Luthor in Absolute Evil was brief, only showing that this version of Lex lived a peaceful life on a farm with his wife and children, seemingly happy with simple pleasures. Fans didn’t have much to go on, but the mystery was quickly followed up on in Absolute Superman #15, which revealed that Brainiac had left Ra’s and Talia al Ghul’s Lazarus Corporation to team up with Lex Luthor instead.

Brainiac’s fascination with Lex Luthor stems from information shared by Mirror Master. This version of Mirror Master is one of the few who knows about the existence of the main DC Universe, and he told Brainiac that Lex Luthor might be capable of defeating Superman. However, after meeting Lex in Absolute Superman #16, Brainiac was let down, finding him less driven and resentful than the Lex Luthor he knew. Brainiac still thought Lex just needed the right push to unlock his potential.

In Absolute Superman #17, by Jason Aaron, Juan Ferreyra, and Becca Carey, the story reaches a devastating climax. Brainiac has held Lex Luthor captive, forcing him to witness the destruction of everyone Lex cares about. Once Brainiac is finished, he frees Lex and challenges him to make something meaningful out of the tragedy, urging him to become someone remarkable. Brainiac then departs, promising they will meet again. However, Lex is left utterly broken, collapsing to his knees and staring at the horrific scene Brainiac created.

Brainiac Has No Idea What He’s Just Unleashed

When Absolute Lex was introduced, I wasn’t sure what they’d do with the character. I initially expected a seemingly ordinary family man with a hidden dark side. Instead, the writers chose to portray Lex as a genuinely kind and peaceful person, then systematically destroy his life in a shocking way. It was a surprising twist, and it definitely suits the harsh world of the Absolute Universe. But as we’ve seen, when these characters lose everything, they’re stripped down to their most fundamental selves.

Lex’s deep-seated hatred of aliens is a major driving force for him, and it’s understandable given that he witnessed Brainiac kill his entire family. This traumatic event will undoubtedly push him to seek revenge. Even without the resources of LexCorp, the Lex from the main universe proved he could amass great power and influence using only his intelligence. I’m certain this Lex won’t simply move on; he’ll be consumed by a desire for retribution and won’t rest until those responsible suffer.

It’s going to be fascinating to watch Lex Luthor’s next move. The events of Absolute Evil have shown us that this world favors those who embrace darkness, a result of Darkseid’s power through the Omega Particle. Now that he’s lost everything, he might turn to evil to gain the strength he needs and become more like his original self. While it’s awful to see him suffer, I’m eager to see what happens next and what kind of villain Absolute Lex Luthor will become.

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2026-03-06 21:42