DC’s Lex and the City #1
Scheduled to arrive in stores: January 29, 2025
Cover date: March 2025
Cover: Amanda Conner and Sabine Rich
Variant Cover: Saowee Sozomaika
Reviewed by: Tony Parker
“Lex and the City”
Writer: Sina Grace
Artist: Sina Grace
Daily Planet gossip columnist Trish Q has an interview she badly needs to go viral, with the one and only Lex Luthor. Normally, the greatest criminal mind of our times wouldn’t care much for such frivolous pursuits, but public opinion affects stocks, and currently, public opinion holds him in contempt of being “out of touch”. Lex gets it over with quickly, as he has far more important matters at hand. Such as confronting the odd compulsion to ask her out on a date. Lex tells himself this is to help her career, but Trish isn’t interested in gaining his advice. However, after a staged battle with Atomic Knight for an unpublished romance novel (something she sees right through), Trish is a tad more intrigued by the psychology of Superman’s greatest enemy. The two reconvene at his third panic room, where Trish ends up finding her story. Lex’s attempts to gain approval are to distract from his other schemes. Or perhaps, it is the attention to that, to his misdeeds, that makes him feel noticed. Lex would normally protest her article, but instead he sends her flowers. Perhaps that is the most love a man like him could ever handle.
Story – 4: The ending could be a little clearer, but this is a fun little character study of Lex, a man so obsessed with being adored, yet seemingly would even take expose’s as long as he feels that an equal admires him. Trish’s intelligence impresses him, and to be honest, I find that a lot more compelling than the recent hints at him and Mercy getting together. A decent Lex story, though I’d have loved a few extra pages.Art – 4: The art is really good too, lots of great greens and blues. It really set a different tone. Plus, Lex has never looked more human.
“A Valentine’s Day Gift for Poison Ivy”
Writer: Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Artist: Leslie Hung
In a fairytale-poem fashion, Harley Quinn goes out to find a gift on Valentine’s Day for her girlfriend, Poison Ivy. She tries a bank, a chic store, and even a truck, before finding the perfect gift: Each other, in Wayne Manor’s greenhouse. As things get steamy, Bruce Wayne is notified by Alfred of their presence, but chooses not to act. Their love does not endanger Gotham City… At least, not tonight.
Story – 5: Genuinely perfect, not too over-Harley (if you guys know what I mean), fun formatting with the narration, decent pace, and a surprisingly sweet ending. Even Batman gets to be a little romantic in a way.Art – 5: Genuinely wonderful, want a whole comic looking like this.
“Beautiful Lies”
Writer: Jonathan Rivera
Artist: Michael Avon Deming
Mr. Freeze is trying to steal a replica of The Rose of Muldoon, an exhibit that was the last thing that made his beloved Nora smile before she froze his heart forever. Gigi, a friend of one of his goons, joins the heist in order to pay the bills for her and her boyfriend, David, who happens to guard at the same museum. When David gets hurt, Freeze sees himself in Gigi, and chooses to show rare compassion, freezing the guard to save his life. Batman pops in and gifts Gigi a second chance at his foundation, while Freeze gifts his wife the replica rose, feeling, perhaps only for a moment, a little lighter.
Story – 5: I’m not sure what to say except that this is my favorite Mr. Freeze story besides “Heart of Ice”. What a perfect understanding of one of Batman’s greatest villains.Art – 5: Like the animated series it has paid tribute to so well.
“Together Again”
Writer: Charles Skaggs
Artist: Serg Acuna
Dick Grayson (Nightwing), Roy Harper (Arsenal), Wally West (The Flash) and Garth (Tempest) all come back to a small Rhode Island town, where they bonded and became friends for the first time, after fighting Raxadon.
Story – 3: A bunch of cute moments, especially with Dick, but it’s nothing special and honestly falls flat as an explanation. They just fought some monster and barely talked and suddenly they were best buddies.Art – 3: It’s okay, again, nothing special.
“To Live and Date in Gotham”
Writer: Brendan Hay
Artist: Stephen Byrne
Damian Wayne has a date with Flatline, and asks Tim Drake for advice on it. He, Jason Todd and Stephanie Brown help him find the perfect Gotham City way to treat her.
Story – 5: This is how I’d write a story like this. Call me biased but I love it.Art – 3: It’s very modern comics, but the gloss is still good.
“Riddle Me Kiss!”
Writer: Sabrina Futch
Artist: M.L. Sanapo
While talking to Joker, Scarecrow and Mr. Freeze, Riddler bemoans his failure in the field of romance. He makes attempts on Magpie and Poison Ivy during an escape from Arkham, both failing miserably, but then realizes what he truly loves: Gotham City and The Batman.
Story – 4: Very funny, if not much else.Art – 3: Solid, I suppose.
“Roses Are Red… Blood is Too”
Writer: Callie C. Miller
Artist: Lisa Sterle
Raven and Beast Boy go on a date, as hard as it is for Raven to stomach the traditions of such a day. Things go south when Brother Blood attempts to woo her again, though perhaps that’s just what’s needed to make the date end right.
Story – 4: As a long time shipper of these two, I quite enjoyed this story, yes.Art – 4: Cute but also great inks with Raven’s powers.
“Heartbreak Lake”
Writer: Dave Wielgosz
Artist: Howard Porter
Hawkman and Hawkgirl are always together. Or, they were. For once not destined to live a life together with his one true love, Hawkman searches for a device that will allow him to relive the memories, only to learn that forging new ones would serve him better.
Story – 4: I actually quite enjoyed this one, despite having never really connecting to Hawkman. Good story, hope it leads to something interesting in the future.Art – 3: Solid.Cover Art – 5: Quite funny!Variant Cover Art – 3: Nice Harley and Ivy cover.
Variant Cover Art – 2: Dick looking a little too flirty.
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