Summary

• Maxwell Lord's control over Superman in Wonder Woman #219 showcases a new level of villainy that even Lex Luthor has not been able to achieve.
• Unlike Lex Luthor, Maxwell Lord opts to control Superman rather than destroy him, using him as a powerful weapon against his enemies.
• Wonder Woman is forced to take drastic action and kill Maxwell Lord to free Superman from the terrifying mind control he was under.

Lex Luthor has spent decades trying to defeat Superman for good, but one Wonder Woman villain actually succeeded where Luthor has repeatedly failed. During one of DC's darkest crises, Maxwell Lord managed to take absolute control of Superman.

Before the 2005 event Infinite Crisis kicks into full swing, Maxwell Lord attempts world domination in the pages of Wonder Woman #219. It's here that Wonder Woman discovers Maxwell Lord's deception, and where Maxwell reveals the terrifying control that he has over Superman.

Using his powers of mind control, Maxwell Lord is able to turn Superman into his evil minion, forcing the Man of Steel to attack and try to kill Wonder Woman. Maxwell's control over Superman's mind is so strong, that Wonder Woman has no choice but to kill Maxwell to free Superman.

Maxwell Demonstrates His Full Control Over Superman

Wonder Woman #219 by Greg Rucka, Rags Morales, David Lopez, Tom Derenick, Georges Jeanty, Karl Kerschl, Mark Propst, Bit, Dexter Vines, Bob Petrecca, Nelson, Richard Horie and Tanya Horie, Todd Klein.

Because Superman is by far one of the strongest characters in the DC Universe, a lot of characters —both heroes and villains — have had to plan around him. Batman has tons of contingency plans to take Superman down if it ever comes to that. Lex Luthor has been trying for years to find ways to beat Superman, and Maxwell Lord realizes that the easiest way to handle Superman isn't to kill him, but to turn him into an ally. This is far more devastating than just defeating Superman, as Max is able to use him to nearly kill both Wonder Woman and Batman.

The big difference between Lex's approach and Maxwell's to Superman is the fact that Lex doesn't really want to control Superman. Lex just wants Superman gone. Controlling Superman would imply that Lex needs to rely on Superman's powers, which is the exact opposite of how he feels. Lex wants Superman dead and gone, but wanting that is a lot easier than achieving it. Maxwell Lord, however, simply needs a tool to use against his enemies, and Superman is the most powerful option.

Superman Attempts To Murder Wonder Woman Due To Maxwell's Influence

Lex Luthor has always hated Superman, but he's never been able to succeed in killing him or even harming him to any real degree. Despite all of Lex's brilliance and his aptitude as a scientist, he just can't match Maxwell Lord's ingenuity and psychic abilities. With a bit of forward planning, patience, and psychic powers, Wonder Woman's old foe Maxwell Lord is able to brainwash Superman so thoroughly that he serves Maxwell without question, which is a feat that Lex Luthor has simply never accomplished.

Wonder Woman #219 is on sale now from DC Comics!