The Last Days of Lex Luthor #2 variant cover by Francis Manapul

Nice score on this variant cover, some beautiful intentional art.  Cheers!

Some lovely pen and brushwork techniques on display. I like the way Superman seems to be floating rather solidly, and Luthor seems to need to 'tread air' to keep aloft. Great background details to the artist and the piece.

It's funny, when you look at the foot placement on Lex, it looks like he's actually using the debris as steps.

This is the begining of a beautiful friendship!  ...right?

At least beauty of the art will last. 

Love that fine detail!

When Clark and Lex have to work together it can create some intriguing story possibilities, whether you end up reading them or not! ;) Fantastic first purchase of 2026 and a strong modern addition to the Phillipines artist gallery, double win! Manapul is doing some really awesome work. congrats!

So cool, a perfect blend of classic and modern style.  Fantastic!

Manapul's work is awesome! Congrats!

Francis' style seems to continue to evolve and I totally love this new look! Congrats!!

Thanks bud.  Yeah, I think that's why it took me a while to check this particular box.  I pegged it more as inconsistency.  But I think you nailed it as just an evolving style.  I think there's still a bit of hit-and-miss to his work (although you could say that about almost everyone), but I think the effort, skill, and artistry on this cover is fairly evident.

This is impressively splendid.

Thanks D.  Was thinking of maybe getting something from the interior to go with my cover, but you already scored the best DPS from the issue (maybe even in the entire series).  You dog!

I like that Manapul leaves nothing to chance, even as the colorist would drown out his lines within the figure work.

Don't you just love artists who won't compromise?  Most of the old pros (and many younger ones) don't even bother to put all that work in because they are savvy to what does and doesn't show up on the published page.  I mean, I get the whole "drawn for color" concept.  But that's no excuse to be lazy.  That's what I always loved about someone like Art Adams because he honestly doesn't give a shit if you can see it in the comic or not.  He puts in whatever he thinks will make the drawing better and draws what looks good to him, not what looks good in print.  Nice to see Manapul following that example.  

Super cool art and lovely little details.

The postures and facial expressions are great --- that's one tense Superman and an enthusiastic Luthor.  Great movement with the floating figures and flying cape

Great acquisition! A very nice way to star 2026!

Great cover. I love how the debris frame both of them but most of alln how relunctant and pinched Superman seems to be.

Not familiar with this artist but I can see there is a lot of talent there!

I love how these two characters are framed, and how great is all that detail?  I also like how reluctantly Superman is shaking Lex's hand.  Like, "Okay, we'll team up for this venture, but when it's over, you better believe it'll be back to our status quo."  Fantastic grab!

I guess there are two schools of thought when it comes to what the objective of a comic cover is.  One, that it’s all about the visual impact.  The cover should jump out at you from the rack to make you want to buy it, or at least pick it up and flip through.  The other is that with just one look, it should tell the viewer everything he/she needs to know about what’s inside the issue.  Me personally, unless I’m planning to actually read the comic, I could care less about what’s inside.  As an art collector, all I care about is the visual impact.  The narrative content of a drawing is secondary, if it even factors in at all.  That said (plus the fact that I have not read the series), I find all the comments alluding to Supes being reluctant, or tense, or distrustful, or hesitant – kind of amusing.  Sure it’s a fun game to play.  Why does Supes look so stern while Lex has what looks to be a knowing smirk on his face?  Obviously there’s a lot of history between these two that comes into play.  But other than that (again as someone who has not read the story) their respective facial expressions don’t really mean anything to me.  And certainly had nothing to do with why I bought this cover.  I’m sure Manapul knew the story beforehand, so he drew the cover with these deliberate expressions.  And I’m sure if and when I ever do read the story, those expressions will also make more sense.  But for now, I’m simply just happy to have this dynamic, well designed, and well executed drawing. 

Oh yeah, it does appear that I'm not the only one to address Supey's expression.  And here I thought I was being so clever haha!  What I *meant* to say is ... What a dynamic, well designed, and well executed drawing! 😊.  Seriously, awesome cover, congrats!

Haha!  I could've just used that one line for my entire description.  Then I wouldn't have had to waste my time with the other four paragraphs.  Thanks for both your comment and follow up comment.  Sorry for the long winded response (which was not specifically direct at you by the way), but I just thought the whole expression thing was amusing.

Stunning cover - love the contrast in styles for the art on Supes and Lex, compared to the very detailed background - it really pops. Love Supes look as well ... something tells me that look is letting Lex know he won't get the boyscout version of Superman if he crosses him. Congrats!

Congrats on joining the Manapul bandwagon!  I'm still partial to his early work, but his linework has certainly refined over the years, and this is a great example of that.

What an absolute SCORCHER of a piece, Eric!  It's a phenomenal and weighty composition that is a tantalizing hint of this specific story without spoiling -anything- (it makes me want to re-read the series as I look at it right now!) that also serves as a meta-observation on the historical relationship between these two characters.  The main figures look -FANTASTIC- here, illustrated with a smooth and fluid, almost animation-style line (that reminds me a tiny bit of Pasqual Ferry?), and stand strong in front of a -gorgeously- detailed debris background that serves as the perfect backdrop: a historical tally of the planet-sized wake of destruction that is ultimately left behind when Lex gets a wild hair (so to speak).  The compositional masterstroke is the "fissure" of white space that cracks this thing down the middle: a perfect vehicle to pop the central figures in front of, to be sure, but it also serves as a thematic reminder of the symbolic gulf between these two powerhouses, and what would need to be overcome or set aside to move forward.  SO good.  THEN! The juxtaposition of their "usual" expressions (Luthor's grin and Kal's scowl) helps the viewer see what this moment truly is: This is a devil's pact.  Phenomenal storytelling and composition (and truly breathtaking art) on this cover here, Eric, that reinforces the old adage of "two sides to every story" at ~every~ level.  Quite possibly (probably?) the "perfect" Superman and Luthor image...?  ENORMOUS congrats on adding this masterpiece, Eric!  Scatchamagowza!

DAMN!!!!!  I know Marcus is the king of comments, but I'm really starting to question that when I read posts like this.  Thank you SO MUCH for always choosing your words so carefully and putting so much thought into you comments.  Whether those words were in my head or not at the time I decided to buy this, I think you probably nailed pretty much what I was thinking.  But thanks for expressing it better than I ever could.