To date, the “Superman” comic book series by Joshua Williamson has brought about substantial alterations to the traditional status quo for Superman and his associates. Notably, Lois Lane was appointed as Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Planet, Jimmy Olsen started a relationship with Silver Banshee, and notably, the emergence of Supercorp and Lex Luthor’s redemption occurred. However, the latest issue concluded on a somber note with Mercy’s betrayal and the revelation of Lex’s newest menacing invention; X-El, a clone of Lex with Superman’s strength, as well as all of Lex’s previous disdain for him and Metropolis.
In issue #25, we learn about X-El’s background and the reasons behind Mercy’s release of the catastrophic clone in the City of Tomorrow. The story begins with a look back at events prior to the current storyline, where Lex was arranging his own arrest to collaborate with Superman. Mercy expressed concerns about using X-El as a backup, but Lex warned that the clone was too unstable and should never be released. Regrettably, she didn’t heed his advice.
What is X-El?
X-El is a replica possessing all of Superman’s powers along with Lex Luthor’s brilliant intellect. Regrettably, this encompasses his fixation on making Superman pay for supposedly stealing Metropolis’s affections and retaliating against the city for perceived betrayal. Mercy has recently enhanced the clone, incorporating memories of Lex before they were erased in the conflict with Brainiac, as well as data she gathered about Superman’s abilities during their collaboration. He matches, if not surpasses, the strength of Superman. In contrast to Superman and the new Superwoman Lois Lane, X-El was unaffected by the Kryptonite Mercy employed to weaken them.
However, the resistance to Kryptonite that X-El exhibits may stem from the fact that he isn’t simply a clone of Superman and Lex Luthor; instead, he was created using the same cloning process Lex employed to make Bizarro years ago. This unique aspect became evident as he confronted Superman, Superwoman, and the genuine Lex Luthor, with his mind and appearance deteriorating as he fought to express the opposite of what he intended. The emergence of a Bizarro-like Lex, possessing all of Bizarro’s strength, is the last thing Metropolis requires, and X-El demonstrated this by attempting to lay waste to the city.
How Do You Stop a Mad Lex/Superman Hybrid?
As a passionate cinephile, let me tell you about this intriguing character, Bizarro Lex, who was fixated on annihilating Superman and devastating Metropolis. With an unsettling confidence, he seemed poised to succeed, even when Superman, Superwoman, and himself were collaborating. However, the latter two were still impaired by Kryptonite, struggling to offer mutual support.
Enter X-El, who made a chilling promise: the elimination of Superwoman’s entire family, including her son Jon. This proposition enraged Superwoman, and in response, she unleashed a devastating heat vision blast so potent it appeared as a fiery pillar reaching from Earth into outer space.
Sadly, the immense explosion left her drained, causing her to fall beside Superman, who was still battling his Red Kryptonite affliction. At first glance, it seemed that X-El, now almost completely Bizarrofied, had emerged victorious. However, Lex reverted to his old ways and eliminated the clone, deciding he was too risky to let live. This, as Mercy disclosed, was her intended scheme: to drive Lex back towards his villainous nature and compel him to take sinister actions for a higher cause. As a result, Superman and Lex Luthor find themselves at odds once more.
It appears that X-El didn’t just debut as one of Superman’s deadliest adversaries, but also signaled the possible downfall of Lex Luthor’s alliance with Superman. X-El is essentially a blend of Lex and Superman, much like Superboy, except this clone embodies the symbolic manifestation of Superman’s power corrupted by Lex’s malevolent character. Essentially, X-El represents Lex’s darkest thoughts and emotions made real, and facing that could lead Lex to revert back to his old ways of making questionable decisions, as he has done so many times before. Only time will reveal if X-El was more than just a twisted version of Bizarro Lex, which is already quite problematic in itself.
Superman #25 is on sale now.
Read More
- Best Race Tier List In Elder Scrolls Oblivion
- Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Best Pilgrim Build
- Becky G Shares Game-Changing Tips for Tyla’s Coachella Debut!
- Meet Tayme Thapthimthong: The Rising Star of The White Lotus!
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Best Thief Build
- Yvette Nicole Brown Confirms She’s Returning For the Community Movie
- Silver Rate Forecast
- Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Best Sorcerer Build
- Rachel Zegler Claps Back at Critics While Ignoring Snow White Controversies!
2025-04-25 05:42