If you have a fire, you call the fire department. When you get injured, go to the hospital. If you need a story with horrifying images, you get in touch with writer Jason Aaron and artist Juan Ferreyra. They will create something so imaginative and terrifying that it will certainly give you nightmares.
Sometimes it’s Absolute Parasite, and it has a bunch of mouths and feeds on its captives' fear. Or it’s a combination of mental torture and visual horror. The latter is what happened to Lex Luthor.
Back in Absolute Evil, Brainiac said that he needed someone to balance out what was being called the Justice League (despite them all being evil). More importantly, someone had to counter Jack Grimm (aka Joker). Brainiac thought that his best bet would be to recruit Lex Luthor, who, in this universe, is a family man who lives a modest, happy life. He even has hair. Sadly, Lex was content with how things were and turned down Brainiac’s offer. Well, if you’ve been reading Absolute Superman, you understand that refusal wasn’t an option.
At the end of Absolute Superman No. 17, Luthor is strapped to his back porch with his eyes forced open. He’s also crying, terrified, and begging for the bloodied Brainiac to stop. The restraints were removed, and Brainiac leaves Lex, saying, “I hope you don’t squander the work we’ve done here today. Seize this opportunity, Lex Luthor, I beg of you.” After he leaves, readers see why Brainiac was covered in blood. He forced Lex to watch as he massacred Lex’s entire family.
When it comes to Brainiac, it’s unclear what his goal is (mostly because he's insane). When he was torturing Superman (the "Superman, Son of the Demon" storyline), it looked like he wanted Kal-El to kill him. During Absolute Evil, he seemed to be looking for balance, but for what reason? Then, in Absolute Superman: The Never-Ending Begins, Brainiac says that Lex’s job would be to monitor Kal-El. If the latter was the point, I'm uncertain if torture will get the job done.
This isn’t the prime DC Comics universe. Lex isn’t an angry, vengeful, and jealous person who hates Superman. He has love in his heart and cares about people. At first, it wouldn’t be shocking if Lex looked to hurt Kal-El. Brainiac's methods of torture are so precise and ruthless that he likely changed some of how Lex thinks.
Thankfully, there is some good news. I’d bet that Luthor wouldn’t have the rage needed to kill or consistently hurt the Man of Steel, since Kal-El’s only want is to help people. Then again, this is the Absolute Universe. Brainiac’s torment may have turned mild-mannered Lex Luthor into someone willing to kill.
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