Summary

• Superman and Lex Luthor have swapped roles in saving Metropolis, showing a new level of teamwork and cooperation.
• Dr. Pharm's attack forces Superman to provide from a distance while Lex Luthor takes on the hero role.
• Superman #12 is on sale on March 19 from DC Comics!

Lex Luthor have had a huge rivalry for decades, but now they're trading places to save Metropolis. Usually, the two characters fundamentally do not see eye to eye on how humanity needs to be saved. But over the past year, they've been forced to work together, and now, they've even been forced to switch places. Lex is the one flying above Metropolis trying to save it, while Superman works tirelessly in a lab.

Superman has been trying his best to battle against the evil Dr. Pharm, who is hellbent on taking revenge on Lex Luthor. This culminated in Dr. Pharm trying to force Superman to the Lex Luthor Revenge Squad, but thankfully, the Man of Steel was able to break free of Pharm's influence. Now, still weakened from everything that's happened to him, Superman has to watch as Lex Luthor saves Metropolis.

In order to take revenge on Lex, Dr. Pharm unleashed a strain of kryptonite gas on Metropolis that can affect humans. Unable to go out into the gas himself, Superman is forced to provide back-up from SuperCorp as Lex Luthor is the one to put his life on the line to save Metropolis. All of this and more will be seen in the Superman #12 by Joshua Williamson and David Baldeon.

Lex Luthor Is Metropolis' Hero, While Superman Applies His Genius Intellect

Metropolis' Kryptonite Gas Means the Man of Steel Is Forced to Work at a Distance

Superman and Lex Luthor have always clashed over their differing ideologies. Superman believes that if he has the power to make a difference, he should. If he can help people, it's his moral duty to do so. Lex Luthor believes that humanity will only ever evolve by solving their own problems. Because of this, he dislikes Superman for making humanity soft, while also secretly harboring an overwhelming jealousy that the world loves an alien over its native son. This has caused them to clash for years, however Lex recently decided to help Superman in his mission. While his idea of aid is manipulative and arrogant, he did hand control of his company over to Superman, and is a major asset in the ongoing fight with Dr. Pharm.

Lex Luthor claims to have changed his opinion on Superman, saying that he believes working together the two could change the world far more easily than working apart. However, no-one expected this alliance to become a trade of identities. With modified kryptonite gas blanketing the city, Lex Luthor, in his old Superman suit, is the one out there trying to save the day. Superman has now been relegated to the "man in the chair" role, where he stays inside and provides Lex with advice and strategy.

Lex Luthor Is the Superman Metropolis Needs Now

But Can Superman's Nemesis Really Be Redeemed?

Superman has always tried to see the best in the villains he's been fighting, and he knows just how much good Lex could do if he wasn't so fixated on their rivalry. Now that Lex finally seems to be turning over a new leaf, it's been hard for Superman to trust him, but over the past year, he's certainly been opening up to the idea. If Lex truly does manage to save Metropolis from Dr. Pharm's latest attack, that might be enough to convince Superman that Lex truly wants to be a hero. And part of what makes this so much easier to believe is that Superman has seen things from Lex Luthor's side of the glass now.

Superman #12 is on sale on March 19 from DC Comics!