Lex Luthor and the Joker are, respectively, Superman and Batman’s most iconic and dangerous foes, and now their threat level is skyrocketing as the two supervillains fuse into a single entity in DC’s latest character fusion. Only one hero stands a chance of taking down this Clown-themed egomaniac.
Mark Waid and Adrián Gutiérrez kick off a new story arc in their Batman / Superman: World’s Finest series as Joker and Lex Luthor join forces. While the two villains teaming up is rare, it’s not unheard of.
However, this partnership is unlike anything before: when a heist goes wrong, Joker and Luthor fuse into a single, horrifying form, combining both their minds and character designs into one of the wildest mash-ups to date.
How DC’s Joker and Lex Luthor Became a Single Terrifying Villain
Main Cover by Dan Mora for Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #47 (2026)
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #45 sees Lex Luthor’s heist at S.T.A.R. Labs’ Gotham branch interrupted by the Joker, forcing Lex to begrudgingly accept a partnership with the clown. During their uneasy alliance, Joker introduces Lex to a stolen piece of alien tech he calls the Absorbascon, insisting on Luthor’s help in stealing it.
Joker reveals that the Absorbascon supposedly holds the key to infinite knowledge, immediately capturing Luthor’s attention. The two launch a heist at the Midway City Museum, only to be interrupted by Hawkman. Luthor keeps Hawkman occupied while Joker searches for the device. Backup arrives in the form of Superman and Batman, yet the villains still manage to escape with the alien tech.
As they flee, Joker and Luthor’s partnership quickly sours, erupting into a fight over the Absorbascon. In the chaos, they trigger the device, which fuses their forms into a single, hybrid villain. This new form combines both the minds and physical features of the two supervillains, creating a dangerous foe whose intelligence, unpredictability, and ruthlessness make them an unprecedented threat to the heroes.
SuperBat vs. Joker-Lex: The Epic Hybrid Fight Fans Didn’t Know They Needed
Main Cover by Dan Mora for Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #45 (2025)
Fans will recall that Mark Waid’s World’s Finest previously introduced a hybrid form of Superman and Batman known as SuperBat. This makes it extremely likely that the heroes will need to employ their own fusion to combat the Joker-Lex hybrid. This theory is further supported by cover art from future issues of World’s Finest, which spotlights SuperBat fighting Joker-Lex.
With Joker’s chaotic madness paired with Lex Luthor’s genius and technological mastery, this hybrid is undeniably one of DC’s most lethal new villains. Superman and Batman will need every advantage and strategic edge if they hope to survive a showdown against this fused, unstoppable threat.
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #45 is available now from DC Comics!
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- NAME
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Arthur Fleck
- Alias
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Red Hood, Clown Prince of Crime, Ace of Knaves
- Created By
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Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson
- POWERS
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Criminal Mastermind, Expert Chemist, Weaponized Props, Psychological Manipulation, Combat Skills, Unpredictability, High Pain Tolerance, Charisma, Escape Artist
- RELATIONSHIPS
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Batman (archenemy), Harley Quinn (former psychiatrist, on-and-off girlfriend), Penguin (frequent collaborator), Two-Face (frequent collaborator)
- HISTORY
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The Joker’s history has been depicted with various origin stories, the most common being his transformation into the Joker after falling into a vat of chemical waste that bleaches his skin white, turns his hair green, and lips bright red. This disfigurement drives him insane, leading him to become Batman’s greatest nemesis.
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.
