Warning! Spoilers ahead for Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1!A surprising character from the Superman mythos may be playing a larger part in the DC Universe thanks to her most recent upgrade. Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 shows how Mercy Graves may have just become a powerful, new antihero.
While Lex Luthor has repeatedly plotted out devious machinations against Superman in the past, the villain rarely did it alone. Though she isn’t always right by Luthor’s side, the extremely loyal Mercy Graves is usually never too far from her employer. Mercy is the chauffeur, personal assistant, and extremely capable bodyguard of Lex, and has helped in his schemes against Superman for years. While she’s nowhere near as vile as Lex has been in the past, Mercy has demonstrated a flexibility when it comes to her own personal morals. While she’s occasionally allied herself with heroes, Mercy’s undying loyalty to Luthor usually puts her in opposition to them.
And now, a new change to Mercy Graves life could be making her DC’s latest and greatest antihero. In Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1’s story “Breakthrough” by Frank Barbiere and Sami Basri, the magical storm battering the world is raging on, and its effects have come to Metropolis. Lex Luthor looks on at the damage as he receives updates from Mercy. The electricity bursts through the top floor of LexCorp’s offices, hitting Mercy directly and sending her colliding right into Luthor’s armory of Warsuits. Before Mercy knows what’s happened to her, she jumps into action to protect LexCorp’s data centers from animals mutated by the storm. Though Mercy is almost immediately stabbed by one of the creatures, she discovers that she’s fine. Apparently, colliding with Luthor’s suits after being hit with magic lightning has turned Mercy into a cybernetic being.
Is Mercy Graves Superman’s Newest Ally or Menace?
Not only has Mercy’s internal physiology changed, she now has the power to shapeshift and create weapons such as blades, shields, and a high-powered canon. This wouldn’t be the first time Graves has been portrayed with powers as she was previously depicted as an Amazon in the Post-Crisis continuity. But this is the first time she’s been seen as a player in an event of this scale since the New 52 reboot. With this intense upgrade, Mercy is primed to become a possible ally or a powerful enemy.
Though Mercy takes pride in working for LexCorp, she’s shown to be a bit more honorable than its leader, willing to risk her life and other employees of Lex Luthor. Granted, she claims to be doing it solely for the stability of the company. Still, Mercy shows bravery and confidence, and now she’s got an impressive set of powers to go along with it. She very well could use those new gifts to bring some positive change to Metropolis. However, as Lex’s close companion, any good deeds she does may have an ulterior motive. Fans interested in the origin of Superman’s potential new antihero can read it in Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1.
