Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman #119
In the latest issue of Batman, DC Comics suggests that Lex Luthor might be a more fitting rival for the Dark Knight than Superman. Having been secretly funding Batman Inc., the Dark Knight finds Luthor amidst a new investigation overseas involving the murder of a villain known as Abyss. Furthermore, with Clark Kent’s Superman being off-world for the long term in the current DC continuity, it seems Luthor could become a much stronger rival for Batman as his series gains a new creative team.
Having taken over from James Tynion IV with the previous Batman #118, Joshua Williamson begins a new era for the Dark Knight when Bruce Wayne learns that the members of Batman Inc. have all been arrested in Badhnisia. Leaving Gotham in the safe hands of his Bat-Family, Batman traveled to the scene of the crime, revealing that he’d lost contact with Batman Inc. after they disbanded and hadn’t been tracking their movements for some time. However, the evidence suggests that they all became killers when they murdered Abyss before they turned themselves in.
That being said, while Batman confirms he was no longer able to fund Batman Inc. after losing his fortune in the recent Joker War, Lex Luthor reveals that he began sponsoring Batman Inc. instead, “picking up the slack” from Bruce Wayne. This brings things to Batman #119 from Williamson, Jorge Molina, Adriano Di Benedetto, and Mikel Janín, beginning with a look at the past when Bruce first revealed his plans to his butler Alfred that he intended to dress like a bat and operate in the dark. As such, Alfred’s response is quite wise while also carrying the implication that Luthor might have always been the more fitting foe for Batman than he ever was for Superman, being a villain of the light while Batman himself is a hero of the dark.
While Luthor suggests that he and Batman are old friends, the Dark Knight clearly has no intentions of trusting him, even when Luthor later offers to sponsor Bruce along with Batman Inc. Considering Lex Luthor always has an ulterior motive, he likely has a secret master plan up his sleeves beyond simply financing vigilantes out of the goodness of his heart, no matter how much of a changed man he claims to be in this new issue. That being said, the idea of him being a more fitting foe for the Dark Knight is an entertaining one given their similarities and stark differences, perhaps offering a more dynamic relationship that could surpass Superman’s brawn vs. Luthor’s brains.
In any case, Superman’s absence makes this the perfect time for Williamson to explore Batman and Lex Luthor’s relationship more than ever before. However, it remains to be seen if they’ll be outright rivals or uneasy allies in the issues to come. Readers will just have to wait and see as Batman continues.
About The Author
