WARNING: Contains Spoilers for Superman #26 (2025)!

After 87 years, DC is teasing the possible end of Lois Lane’s relationship. As the couple that fans always believed would last forever, the idea of a breakup is devastating. But as Lex Luthor points out, a recent twist may spell trouble for their marriage. If DC moves forward with a Clark and Lois divorce, Clois fans may not recover.

Given that Superman and Lois Lane both debuted in Jerry Siegel’s Action Comics #1 (1938), there’s no denying these two have been connected from the very beginning. Over their 87 years in comics, fans have followed their iconic romance and watched them grow, hitting major relationship milestones along the way.

Superman: The Wedding Album #1 (1996) saw Lois and Clark officially tie the knot, marking one of the biggest moments in their shared history. However, in Joshua Williamson’s Superman #26, Lex Luthor teases trouble in paradise for the legendary couple, and the Man of Steel’s reaction is telling.

Lex Luthor Teases Trouble Ahead for Superman and Lois Lane’s Marriage

Comic Page Comes from Joshua Williamson’s Superman #26 (2025) - Art by Sean Izaakse, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, and Alejandro Sánchez

Superman #26 sees the Man of Steel visiting Lex Luthor in jail after the Super-Family was blindsided by the activation and attack of X-El, a clone-like being Luthor created in his own image who also possesses Kryptonian powers. Superman arrives with the intent of asking if there are any more dangerous clones he should know about. Luthor quickly brushes off the concern, insisting he did not unleash X-El, and then shifts the conversation to Lois. In Superman #25, the battle against X-El drained Lois of her powers, and issue #26 confirms that Superwoman's powers are gone with no sign of them ever returning.

Luthor casually asks how Lois is doing “post-Superwoman” before revealing what he really wants: to work with Superman again. He then offers a tempting incentive, claiming he knows how to restore Lois’s powers. Superman is clearly shocked, but he immediately rejects the idea, saying he does not trust Luthor. The seemingly reformed villain refuses to give up and tries to appeal to Superman’s emotions. “Then think of Lois… what your wife must be feeling right now… to be so close to greatness… to have that yanked away.”

Luthor follows this with an unexpectedly insightful point. He acknowledges that Lois’s love for being Superwoman went far beyond the powers she gained. “But it wasn’t just about the power for her, was it? She knew she could truly make a difference in the world instead of reporting on it.” It is a strong and likely accurate observation. However, Luthor then makes a critical mistake. He pushes further by asking what losing all of that does to a person... “to a marriage.” In this moment, Luthor suggests that Lois’s loss of her Superwoman identity may damage her relationship with Superman, a warning that may prove true.

If Lex Luthor Didn’t Convince You There’s Trouble in Paradise, Superman Will

Comic Page Comes from Joshua Williamson’s Superman #26 (2025) - Art by Sean Izaakse, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, and Alejandro Sánchez

Some may argue that Luthor has no real insight into the state of Lois and Superman’s relationship or that he is simply trying to manipulate Clark into working with him, both of which are valid points. However, Superman’s reaction to Luthor’s insinuation that his marriage is in trouble is incredibly revealing. He responds with an emotional and volatile outburst that activates the red kryptonite in his system, causing him to lose control of his anger and powers. This moment is significant because it proves Luthor struck a nerve. Superman’s defensive reaction does not reflect someone who is completely confident in the state of his marriage.

Others might claim that Superman’s extreme response was caused by the red kryptonite itself, but that is not entirely accurate. As Mercy established, the red kryptonite is fueled by negative emotions. This means the emotional trigger came first, confirming that Superman’s reaction was genuine and not just the result of kryptonite influence. Luthor implied many things in his speech, but it was the suggestion that Clark’s marriage might be in jeopardy that pushed him over the edge. His line, “I… I don’t need… marriage counseling from… you,” says it all. Considering Luthor never actually said anything overtly offensive, Clark’s intense response strongly suggests that even he may fear his marriage is at risk.

Superwoman No More: How Is Lois Lane Handling the Loss of Her Powers?

Comic Page Comes from Joshua Williamson’s Superman #26 (2025) - Art by Sean Izaakse, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, and Alejandro Sánchez

When it comes to truly getting to the bottom of whether DC is preparing to bring trouble to the Clois marriage, it is important to look beyond Luthor and Superman and focus on Lois Lane herself. As the one most directly impacted by her power loss, it is her emotional state and attitude that will ultimately reveal whether her marriage with Clark is headed for hardship. At the beginning of the issue, fans see Mister Terrific and the Atoms confirm that Lois has lost her powers. They offer to run additional tests to see if her powers can be recovered, but Lois has a surprising reaction.

She calmly rises from the examination table, politely declines the offer for further testing, and excuses herself from the room. Superman immediately follows, clearly concerned about how she is handling the news. Lois reassures him that she is truly okay, explaining that she loved her life before she had powers and still loves it now without them. However, this may not be the full truth. Luthor’s monologue about her power loss is paired with s showing a somber Lois gazing out over Metropolis, suggesting she may not be coping as well as she wants Clark to believe. This moment suggests that Luthor may, in fact, have valid insight regarding their marriage.

The fact that DC pairs Lex’s words with visuals that quietly echo his point is extremely telling. It s the argument that the Clois relationship could be facing challenges due to Lois’s power loss. What further reinforces this possibility is that, during their conversation in the Watchtower, Lois clearly was not being fully honest with Clark about how she felt. Her decision to emotionally shut him out and avoid opening up is another sign that their relationship may be on shaky ground. So, is this the beginning of a Superman and Lois Lane divorce?

Suoerman #26 is available now from DC Comics!