Even as a 40-year-old, I am always intrigued when it comes to middle grade stories. Exploring the world of DC Comics through the lens of a younger eye allows me to sit back and enjoy a superhero tale for what it is. Christof Bogacs crafted Lex Luthor: Diabolical Genius for a younger audience, but can still entertain the middle age as well. It’s a fun romp in the DC Universe featuring younger versions of classic characters.
When his father, Lionel Luthor, is thrown into prison by none other than that meddling blue Boy Scout Superman, the heir apparent to the Luthor crime empire must find a way to get his revenge. And Lex has the perfect plan. With the help of his infamous bodyguard Slade Wilson, he is going to kidnap Lois Lane. Lex knows that Superman would trade just about anything in exchange for Lois’s safe return—maybe even Superman’s ultimate weakness.
But what happens when Clark calls in his broody friend Batman instead?
You don’t see many playful stories featuring Lex Luthor, let alone a young Luthor, so it was a refreshing story from the point-of-view of a diabolical genius. The funny thing is, with it being a younger version of the character you might feel like you can let his evil tendencies to slide, knowing he hasn’t matured. However, he really is evil to the bone. Taking the more evil option of the two in this story, kidnapping Lois Lane to help draw out Superman. Dude is rotten to the bone.
Another fun aspect of Lex Luthor: Diabolical Genius was featuring Lena Luthor as part of the main story, seeing the sibling rivalry and how they are different, yet also the same. Plus, we get a great story thread of the friendship of Slade Wilson and Lena along the way. The Luthor family is dysfunctional to its core, even in their younger years.
What surprised me the most was that it is a Superman story, but really it’s Lex Luthor, Lena Luthor, and Slade Wilson versus Batman. We see more Clark Kent than Superman, and even that is minimal. Batman is the hero featured in this story, which was fantastic in my eyes, but I was expecting more Superman. I am much more of a Batman fan than Superman, so it ended up a bonus for me in the end.
The illustrations from Valerio Chiola made for a real Saturday morning cartoon vibe, that had me glued to the pages. It’s playful, animated, and action-packed and will play well for the middle grade audience. The characters are expressive and kept me entertained. This story is not intended for my demographic, but was just as much fun as I had hoped. While 40-year-olds might not all feel that way, I am sure the intended 8-12 year-olds will love diving into the diabolical world of Lex Luthor and his family hijinks.
Lex Luthor: Diabolical Genius brings a fun, fast-paced adventure to a middle grade audience looking for a fresh look at one of DC’s most iconic families. Christof Bogacs crafts a fun story where the dysfunctional family dynamics in the Luthor family and Batman take center stage. Valerio Chiola’s energetic artwork wonderfully brings this story to each panel with a real Saturday morning cartoon vibe. Lex Luthor: Diabolical Genius is a delightful diabolical romp for all ages.
Lex Luthor: Diabolical Genius hits local comic shops and bookstores everywhere on July 7, 2026 from DC Comics.
