This is a book that no comic fan should miss. This comic provides a deep look into the life and mind of perhaps the most well known comic villain of all time, Lex Luthor. Though Luthor is as ruthless as he is common. He is also often to be found doing as much good for the community as damage. Little is really known about this multi billionaire Mr. Clean look alike, until now. Lex Luthor: Man of Steel, gives the reader a look at Metropolis from the eyes of its most notorious inhabitant, only to find a kind, generous, and thoughtful man attempting to better the world, but one who is also tragically hindered by his skewed views. Perhaps the most interesting part of this comic is when we get a look at Luthor’s feelings toward Superman. Instead of being angry or bitter about Superman’s past interference, we find that Luthor is instead afraid of what Superman is. To Luthor, Superman signals the end of the human race, or at least the human race's potential. Man has reached so far just to be beaten by strange creatures pretending to be one with them. Creatures that will, in all likelihood, replace humans, or at the very least stop their forward progress. In Luthor’s mind, he is the hero, but with a strange superhuman girl that appears to be under development and mysterious meetings with Bruce Wayne, his mind may be the only place where Luthor actually is a hero. Unless you ask his mom, I guess.

Writer Brian Azzarello should be commemorated, or at least given vigorous head nods, for this different view on Lex Luthor. Luthor’s witty lighthearted attitude, mixed with his stalwart fight to further the human race, coupled by his borderline insane ruthlessness make a character that has far more than three dimensions. Azzarello’s portrayal of Luthor’s situation is so moving, I often find myself rooting for the maniacal chrome-dome as he muscles and murders his adversaries into submission. As you would expect, this off-kilter off-shoot contains some pretty non-standard artwork, but there is much more to Lee Bermejo’s art than that. Bermejo’s shadow focused style is nothing short of beautiful with its gritty attention to detail and very human characters.

This mini series is, thus far, one that should go down in the history of comic masterworks. Seldom have I ever seen such masterful development of a character with grace, tact, and brevity. Fan’s of Superman who ignore this comic should expose themselves to high voltage in hopes that the electricity can cure their diseased minds, all other comic fans who let this one pass by should at least have someone show embarrassing photo’s to their coworkers so that they can feel the awful shame that should have come naturally. All joking aside though, I cannot stress enough the importance of this series to collectors and enthusiasts alike.

-Fumanchu