DC Just Replaced Superman as Lex Luthor’s Best Nemesis

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As a huge Superman fan, everyone always talks about Lex Luthor being his biggest enemy, and he definitely is a classic. Whether you’re a longtime comic book reader or just saw the recent movie, it’s clear Lex really despises Superman. It’s either because he’s afraid of something different, or just plain jealous, but Lex has made it his life’s work to defeat Superman and prove he’s the better man. But I often wonder, what happens when Superman doesn’t have Lex Luthor constantly trying to take him down? It makes you think about what kind of challenges he’d face then.

This Superman exists in a relatively new universe, having been active as a hero for only a few years. He hasn’t yet encountered Lex Luthor, so their famous rivalry hasn’t begun. However, Superman is starting to attract criticism. After becoming more public with his heroics following his victory over Ra’s al Ghul, another hero is challenging him. The question is whether this hero is a supportive ally or an opponent determined to stop Superman, no matter the cost.

Hawkman Arrives, and He’s the Perfect Opposite to Superman

In Absolute Superman #16, Hawkman meets Superman for the first time. Superman doesn’t pay much attention, quickly leaving to rescue people. Hawkman explains his own long history as a hero and warns Superman about the dangers of the job, pointing out that many heroes act too quickly and don’t survive. Hoping to help Superman succeed, Hawkman offers to mentor him and guide him to become the hero the Absolute Universe needs.

Hawkman and Superman have very different ideas about what it means to be a hero. Hawkman argues that Superman should team up with powerful individuals like Lazarus, rather than constantly fighting them. Superman strongly disagrees, but Hawkman insists he’s thinking too small. Before Superman can consider the larger strategy, Metropolis comes under attack by the Absolute Parasite, and he rushes to defend it, pulling Hawkman along. Hawkman is unhappy about being brought into the fight and responds by hitting Superman with his mace.

Superman was stunned that Hawkman didn’t seem concerned about the monster attacking Metropolis, but Hawkman was set on changing Superman’s mind. This frustrated Superman, who immediately attacked with his heat vision. Hawkman defended himself with his mace, even managing to bypass Superman’s protective cape. While Superman was incredibly powerful, Hawkman was a more seasoned and skilled fighter. Superman did land a strong hit, sending Hawkman crashing through multiple buildings, but their fight was interrupted when they realized Parasite had grown enormous and was endangering civilians.

Absolute Hawkman is a Dark Mirror to Absolute Superman

Following his role in Absolute Evil last year, we had a good idea of what to anticipate from Absolute Hawkman. Though he sees himself as a hero, his views are seriously distorted. He killed Oliver Queen for trying to stop a billionaire involved in sex trafficking, and in this issue, he pushes Superman to work with Lazarus Corporation – the very company harming the planet and attempting to control Superman himself. For Hawkman, being a hero isn’t about fixing problems; it’s about upholding the existing power structure and protecting things as they are.

As a fan, I’ve always found Absolute Superman fascinating because he’s not just about saving people – he genuinely wants to fix things, to change a world he sees as deeply flawed. But in that universe, the villains are in charge, and power is what matters, especially to someone like Hawkman. It really creates this amazing conflict about what it means to be a hero. Is it about upholding the status quo, or about doing what you believe is right, even if it means going against the grain? It’s a real ideological battle, and I’m hooked!

The interaction between Superman and Hawkman is surprisingly compelling – even more so than many of Superman’s stories with Lex Luthor. Though the upcoming take on Lex seems promising, this issue highlights a fundamental difference in how Superman and Hawkman view heroism. It’ll be exciting to see how they work together against their first villain. Perhaps this version of Superman can succeed where the original failed, not by changing Lex, but by influencing Hawkman’s perspective.

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2026-02-07 20:43