Finally, some good fucking Clex content again. Superman: Lex Luthor Special opens with a reminder that normally, Lex is the smuggest man alive:
But some time ago, Lex allowed his memories to be completely erased in order to stop Brainiac. Since then, he's been doing fuck-all besides growing a beard and taking pleasant walks around Metropolis. It's probably the closest thing to a vacation he's had in decades, but unfortunately it's because he is in permanent No Thoughts, Head Empty mode. (Or is he?)
During one such walk in the park, someone recognizes him (should have put on some glasses too, Lex. Amateur!) and throws coffee in his face. Superman, probably not for the first time, keeps a righteously angry mob from turning Lex into paste.
Possibility 1: Clark has been avoiding Lex because he feels tremendously guilty about not being able to prevent Lex's brain from being scrambled, and also because seeing the Guy Formerly Known As Lex weirds him out.
Possibility 2: Clark has been avoiding Lex because there's a really good chance Lex will just spontaneously redevelop the ol' murder-crush on him if they make eye contact for too long, and he feels guilty about that.
Regardless, for plot science reasons, they need the old Lex back. Amnesia Lex is...not enthused. (That brown splotch across his face is supposed to be the coffee that was thrown at him several panels ago. Liquids, how do they work?)
HNNNG Clark immediately noticing a difference in how Lex talked about himself, and Lex countering by dropping the big, nuclear question: 'Do you actually want Lex Luthor back? Is the world better with me him in it?'
Clark flees the scene immediately rather than answer 💔
Throughout the special, Lex has been flashing back to his horrible, abusive childhood in Smallville, guest starring not!John Glover:
I was very pleased to see them continuing the emotional beat of young Lex feeling desperately lonely and isolated from everyone else because of his mind. Birthright and The Last Days of Lex Luthor both used that to great effect to compare him with Clark, and it's a backstory I personally like.
Anyway, Lionel Luthor is terrible:
But Lex isn't ever as alone as he thinks:
In the present, a brooding Lex stares at the piano he was 'unable' to play earlier that morning:
And Superman gets a call from Mr. Terrific, who just received the Important Science Equation Thing he was hoping for from Supercorp. But Superman didn't send it...
[menacing lullaby of devotion intensifies]
Joshua Williamson loves us, Clex nation.
