I picked up this volume to see the conclusion of the "Super Lex" story arc begun in The Darkseid War. Lex and Superman stranded on Apokolips was my favorite subplot of Darkseid War - so I was quite disappointed with the way it was wrapped up here. First of all, it's only four issues, so it's got frenetic pacing and several things just happen with little-to-no explanation.
Lex is kidnapped and forced back to Apokolips to rule because the power vacuum is becoming an issue. But aren't they always fighting on Apokolips? Why is it suddenly an issue now?
The Lexbots in turn kidnap Superman (and Lois and Jon) to save Lex. Superman is angry about this, but the Lexbots were only activated because Superman ignored his calls for help to go see a movie with Lois and Jon. Seriously . . . You would think Supes might feel a little bad that he ignored genuine calls for help, but no, not at all.
Anyway, on Apokolips Lex immediately admits to the rebels that he is not their prophesied savior and tells them it's Superman. But...why though? We know Lex wanted to return to Earth and be a hero at least partly to make his sister Lena proud (this was over in Action Comics) but there is no mention of his sister, or anything else here. He says something vague about Earth needing more help, but it's only said as an excuse. There's no sense about what Lex is actually thinking or feeling in regards to any of this. He fought to have this great power and now he's throwing it away for no reason. Is he scared of being trapped on Apokolips? Does he not think he could do it? Doesn't sound very Lex-like. Does he think staying on Apokolips would just suck and he's trying to screw over Superman by dumping it on his plate? Or is it because he genuinely thinks Superman would give these people hope? He tells Superman he is inspiring genuine hope in the people, but I couldn't tell you if (or why) Lex actually cared about that.
Also, you would think Lex would notice Lois and Jon being dragged along to Apokolips with Superman, but - like an episode of Smallville or something - Lex spends the majority of the story conveniently knocked unconscious.
So, Superman says he will stay and rule because it's the responsible thing to do - and he doesn't want to be like that shifty Lex Luthor and ignore his responsibilities!! But then he just immediately delegates everything and takes off back to Earth. So, he does EXACTLY the same thing that Lex did - Lex passes the buck to Superman, Superman passes the buck to Ardora (with vague promises that he'll come back if he's needed.) And yet he still gets mad at Lex at the end and calls Lex a "hypocrite" and says that this somehow (?!) justifies not answering Lex's original calls for help. Um, it doesn't though? None of this was actually Lex's fault? If Superman hadn't beaten him up and left him for dead on Apokolips during the Darkseid War this never would have happened. Lex took on the mantle of savior for this group of rebels as a desperate bid for survival. And I know that was another Superman (New 52), so this Superman would be confused/have questions about what's going on - so would any readers who aren't caught up - but the narrative doesn't bother pausing to explain anything for anybody.
No wonder Lex rips off the "S" insignia from his armor at the end!
Imagine if Lex and Superman actually talked about the situation on Apokolips like adults? But that would be crazy, right?
Um, also there's a ridiculous subplot about Lois becoming one of the Furies. Also, Superman and Jon's powers work no problem on Apokolips because it makes it easy.
There are some more stories in this tpb, but I was in NO MOOD for the sick kids getting a field trip to the Watchtower given how angry the conclusion to Lex Luthor's story made me. Sorry, kids.
Also, the synopsis has the absolute GALL to compare this story to Game of Thrones! I mean maybe the story of Superman, Lex Luthor, and others battling for the throne of Apokolips could have been that epic, if the writer had actually cared and fleshed out the story/characters. But there are episodes of He-Man that are deeper than this.