WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Justice League #38, by Scott Snyder, Jorge Jimenez, Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran, Alejandro Sanchez and Tom Napolitano, on sale now.
When Lex Luthor killed himself this year in the Justice League comic, it was all part of his plan to evolve into the Apex Predator under Perpetua. The cosmic goddess allowed him to bond with Martian Manhunter's DNA and as a result, Lex transformed into a being of raw power, unlike anything he's ever been before.
However, courtesy of Issue #38, Lex has one final bit of evolution to embark upon and while the change actually occurs on the inside, it's clear he really has become the most destructive version of himself the League's ever faced.
This Apex Predator goes way beyond the conniving man in a robotic or business suit we've read over the years in several comics or seen in animated movies and cartoons. As the Apex Predator, he's truly a monster and the first victim to feel this when he arrives on Earth and barges his army of Martians down on the Hall of Justice is John Stewart/Green Lantern. John brings the house down on Lex's head using his green ring, but Lex reciprocates by channeling the ultraviolet spectrum to instead drop every construction John has ever made on him. This is made easier as the Green Lantern has a connection to the ultraviolet light as well. To add insult. Lex is harnessing the powers of the imprisoned Legion of Doom in Perpetua's lair, and this is what Sinestro has been kept around for as he too is linked to the U.V. spectrum.
Barry Allen/Flash sees this disaster and rushes over to aid his comrade, but by channeling the Still Force from Grodd and baby Turtle, Lex turns the speedster into a decrepit old man. It's all fun and games because even when Diana of Themyscira slices him down the middle, Lex heals as if he's Wolverine, even poking fun at Wonder Woman's pantheon of deities. He reveals Perpetua is the one true God and blasts Diana away only for Jarro to go all 'Facehugger' on the villain.
Batman attacks with his electric gauntlets as part of a big combo move but Lex uses a long, forked tongue like a snake to cut Jarro up before taking out the Dark Knight with a series of tentacles emerging from his back. This leaves us wondering just how much of a creature Lex truly is and what aspects of herself did Perpetua embed in the villain because he has a sinister alien feel to him that might even rival the likes of Darkseid.
By the time Superman enters the fray and they trade punches, Lex appears impervious and indestructible. On the outside, he looks the same, but while he's bloodied a bit, he laughs at the best shot the Man of Steel throws at him.
The Doom War outside the Hall occurs as if it were Zack Snyder's Man of Steel with buildings being torn down due to shockwaves and surprisingly, not even Kal-El can prove to be an equalizer. Luckily, Shayne (the son of J'onn J'onnz and Hawkgirl/Kendra Saunders) has a secret plan up his sleeve and he executes it in the blink of an eye to bring Martian Manhunter back to deal with Lex and Perpetua once and for all. But still, you have to think from the one-man wrecking crew we've witnessed Lex be, the League remains short of numbers and will require a big play if they're going to save the DCU.