Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Sean Izaakse
Colors by: Alejandro Sanchez
Letters by: Ariana Maher
Cover art by: Dan Mora (cover A)
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: May 28, 2025
Superman #26, by DC Comics on 5/28/25, finds Superman confronting Lex and mercy over the recent mess with Project X-El, but breaking ties is not as easy as he thought.
Is Superman #26 Good?
Recap
When we last left the Man of Steel in Superman #25, Project X-El (PXL), a superpowered clone of Lex Luthor, threatened the Kent family, so Superwoman blasted PXL with an overload of heat vision, but it was the original Lex who delivered the killing blow. The issue ended with Superman and the original Lex at odds over what needs to be done and Superwoman learning the cost of a heat vision overload.
Plot Synopsis
In Superman #26, it's the issue where everyone argues. First, Lena visits Lex at Stryker's prison to let him know exactly what she thinks of him as a father. She doesn't use complimentary words.
Next, we learn that Lois's super-flare in the previous issue appears permanent. Solar energy isn't recharging her cells. The Atom scientists aboard the Watchtower don't know if her powers are gone or if they returned to their original host (whoever that might be). Lois returns to Earth, claiming she's fine with being who she was, but Superman is concerned about her.
Elsewhere, Lena continues her "tell 'em off" tour by giving Mercy a piece of her mind before quitting. Lena steals a Superbike and heads to the home of Supergirl, Midvale. Superman arrives on the scene to echo Lena's position and to inform Mercy that he's shutting down Supercorp. Mercy contends that only Lex can shut it all down.
Elsewhere, the Darkseid Legion tortures Time Trapper to learn more about Earth Prime's Superman on behalf of Lord Darkseid. In space, General Zod's ship is invaded by Khund raiders carrying Supercorp weaponry.
The issue ends with Superman paying Lex a visit in Strykers. Lex tries to convince Superman to let him continue acting as a partner, even offering to restore Lois's powers. The presumption enrages Superman, spinning his Red-K infection out of control, breaking open Lex's prison cell. Lex uses his freedom to strike a deal with Pharm and Graft to cure the infection, and Marilyn Moonlight arrives to stop Superman's outburst.
First Impressions
I like what Joshua Williamson is doing in this issue. It's not perfect because we have multiple threads going at the same time, but they all orbit around the main character, which makes Superman's life the focus and rich with characters at the same time.
How’s the Art?
The reasoning is unclear, but we have multiple artists working on this issue, and it looks perfectly fine. The editors wisely split the disparate artists into exceptionally clear interludes to set the stage for events happening in other parts of the multiverse, which is really the best way to do it. On the whole, the art looks great.
What’s great about Superman #26?
Although it's not super-clear, Joshua Williamson lays the groundwork for Superman's Red-K infection to become a source of strong conflict in the near future. What's a Superman to do when his body won't obey him, and even mild anger creates devastation? That's a hefty question at the heart of Williamson's current arc, wherein multiple characters are helping to solve the problem or use the problem to their advantage.
What’s not great about Superman #26?
Williamson is doing a commendable job keeping all the threads moving in the same direction, but it's starting to become a little unwieldy. Williamson would do well to resolve a few of the lesser threads to tighten the focus. For example, there's no need to spend so much time with Lena Luthor. For another example, Lois's adventures with superpowers are taking up too much space, so either ship her off into a Superwoman series or be done with her temporary adventures in superheroing.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Superman #26 has a lot of little threads to keep your attention occupied, but Superman is still at the heart of all the major developments, which makes this issue a positively complex read. Joshua Williamson presents interesting developments on all fronts, and the unusually large art team does a great job. That said, it would help if Williamson pared away some of the lesser threads to tighten up the focus.
8.5/10
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Out of all the DC characters, Superman is strangely my least favorite. #26 is no exception.
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