Warning! Contains spoilers for Superman #3!

The relationship between The Man of Steel makes a big leap of faith by giving an iconic item to his most nefarious enemy.

In Superman #3 by Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell, Clark's energy-consuming nemesis, Parasite, is on a rampage, with tiny versions of himself running rampant across Metropolis. Superman heads to Stryker's Island to find Livewire and use her energy to draw the Parasite army to one location. Lex Luthor assists the plan and the team successfully attracts all the tiny offshoots and allows the prime Parasite to reabsorb his clones.

With Parasite's attack behind him, Clark discusses things with Lois and wonders if Luthor is being genuine about his desire to help Superman for once. After getting the advice he needs, Clark goes to talk to Lex himself. Lex stands firm that his offer is serious and that he's ready to help Superman and make the world better. Superman decides to take a chance on Lex and gives him a gift and departs. Luthor opens the box and smirks as the hero has given Lex his very own signal watch.

Superman Gives Lex Luthor an Official Signal Watch

The signal watch is a unique part of Superman's canon. The item first appeared in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen, belonging to the Daily Planet's ace photographer. Whenever Jimmy found himself in trouble, all he had to do was activate the timepiece, and a high-frequency signal only Superman could hear would blare out. Considering Jimmy's tendency to get in over his head, this was a frequently used relic. While Superman doesn't necessarily need the watch to be aware of Jimmy's actions, it remains a valuable tool when Olsen needs help ASAP.

But for the first time in Superman history, Clark has decided to give his greatest enemy a direct line to him. This is no doubt in response to Lex's recent actions. Not only has Lex been trying to talk to Superman directly from prison, but the villain has also handed over LexCorp to Clark, offering him up all sorts of advanced tech to help him protect Metropolis. While Clark is still unsure of how much he can trust Lex, the signal watch is a bold step in potentially mending their contentious relationship.

Superman's Gift Could Fix His Rivalry With Lex

After everything they've been through, Superman may not trust Lex completely, but he's always willing to give people another chance. Lex says he wants to help Clark, and so far, he's been truthful about everything. He helped Clark defeat Parasite, and signed over LexCorp with seemingly no strings attached. Though Superman has every reason to doubt Lex, the villain is potentially making some steps for improvement. Clark giving Lex the signal watch is a symbol that shows he appreciates Lex's changes and that he's willing to move on from the past if Lex is serious. The gift of the signal watch could bode well for a potential alliance between the two longtime nemeses. Fans can see the powerful gesture Clark makes in Superman #3, on sale now.