WARNING: Contains Spoilers for Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #3!

The death of Superman villain, showcasing his true potential as a character. And while this death may not strictly be considered canon, since it takes place in a Black Label title, it will forever stand as unforgettable and one of the most moving Lex Luthor moments in comic history.

Lex Luthor's final words, “Tell no one,” ensure that only Superman knows he died a hero, not a villain...

The Black Label mini-series Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor by Mark Waid, Bryan Hitch, Kevin Nowlan, and David Baron concludes with issue #3. The story follows a dying Lex Luthor who turns to Superman for help in finding a cure. Despite the deep-rooted animosity between them, Superman rises to the occasion and does everything in his power to aid his greatest enemy.

However, the situation grows more complicated with the arrival of Brainiac, whose usual nefarious plans put the entire planet in danger. As a recently depowered Superman (courtesy of Brainiac) and Lex Luthor face this new threat, their focus is split between saving Luthor and saving the world.

Superman Gives Lex Luthor His Powers (Seriously)

Cover B Chris Samnee Variant for Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #3 (2025)

With the Brainiac threat reaching a fever pitch, Lex tells Superman that he has a plan to stop him. Due to his deteriorating health, Lex can do little more than give out instructions, guiding Superman on how to build the world-saving device. Superman believes he’s constructing something that will take out Brainiac’s ship. However, once the device is completed, Luthor reveals that it isn’t meant to destroy the ship at all. Instead, it enables genetic transference, specifically tailored to himself and Clark.

Lex explains that the machine will reverse Superman’s depowered state, restoring his abilities. But the cost of this process is Luthor’s own life. Superman immediately rejects the idea, calling it unacceptable and equating it to murder. This infuriates Luthor, who argues that the life of one dying man is a fair trade to save 8 billion others. As he tries to convince Clark of the logic, Superman is seen tinkering with the machine. By the time Lex finishes his rant, Clark begrudgingly agrees to go through with the plan.

After the transfer is complete, Superman carries what appears to be Luthor’s lifeless body up to the roof into the sunlight. But in a twist, it’s revealed that Lex is still alive. When he questions Clark, Superman explains that he re-engineered the device. Hence, it still restored his powers, but also rewrote Luthor’s genetic makeup to match his own, effectively giving Lex Luthor Kryptonian superpowers. Yet, this isn’t the happy ending it may seem to be.

Lex Luthor May Be a Villain, But He Died a Hero

Cover C Declan Shalvey Variant for Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #3 (2025)

With Superman’s powers restored and Lex Luthor now a fully powered Kryptonian, the two forces to battle Brainiac. Although Superman gets injured, they successfully defeat the infamous 12th-level intellect. In his final moments, however, Brainiac reveals a hidden failsafe: his body will self-destruct in a red sun energy blast. With Superman too wounded to escape in time, Lex makes a surprising sacrifice. Using the powers Clark gave him, he saves the Man of Steel, giving his own life in the process. Lex Luthor's final words, “Tell no one,” ensure that only Superman knows he died a hero, not a villain, making for a powerful and emotional conclusion.

Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #3 is available now from DC Comics!