L L T T HE HE

KEY STORYLINES DC C DC C L UTHOR,LEX • SUPERMAN: PRESIDENT LEX (TPB, 2000): The world looks on LUST FOR POWER aghast as Luthor becomes U.S. President, following the Realizing the need to muzzle the most controversial election of all time. OMICS OMICS S UPERMAN’ S G REATEST E NEMY press, Luthor bought and then sold SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT #1–12 (September the Daily Planet to Perry White (see 2003–September 2004): Dating back to their childhood WHITE,PERRY) on condition that in Smallville, Luthor’s tortured relationship with Clark FIRST APPEARANCE ACTION COMICS #23 (April 1940) LEX LUTHOR MAY BE the most gifted man alive but rather Kent/Superman is redefined and explored. E Lois Lane killed any single story of E NCYCLOPEDIA REAL NAME Alexander Joseph Luthor than use his supreme intellect and skills for the betterment his choosing. Feeling safe from • SUPERMAN/BATMAN #1–6 President Luthor NCYCLOPEDIA BASE Metropolis; Washington D.C. (while U.S. President) of mankind, the sociopath has continually sought power exposure, Luthor ran for U. S. becomes a kryptonite junkie and goes insane. HEIGHT 6ft 2in WEIGHT 210 lbs EYES Green HAIR None President to gain the power needed • LEX LUTHOR: MAN OF STEEL (issue nos? p/b?? OCCUPATION Mastermind and influence without regard for the pain and suffering he to bring Superman down. 2004): Luthor’s recovery from his downfall. SPECIAL POWERS/ABILITIES Luthor is one of the smartest men on causes.The gifts are also wasted on his single-minded hatred Surprisingly, he served the U.S.’s Earth, able to invent technological marvels or manipulate entire of a more pure and noble man, especially given his interests well, strengthening or nations. He believes in brute force and is an unskilled fighter, EVIL GENIUS Luthor's early forging relationships with many nations from relying instead on weapons and armor. alien origins. attempts to kill Atlantis to Russia, and rallying the troops when Superman all failed. IMPERIEX arrived to destroy Earth (see Great Battles, pp. 320–1). THE RISE OF LUTHOR CLASH OF WILLS Perry White and Luthor EVIL AND ALIENTATED Years later, Lex appeared in never got along and it chafed when Luthor One glance at Luthor’s I.Q. test Metropolis and built his came to own Perry’s beloved Daily Planet. ADVANCE WARNING results, convinced his parents that Luthor had secretly their little genius would make technology company, LexCorp, known of FRONT PAGE NEWS into a powerhouse. Financial Imperiex’s them rich.They were Lois found out that Luthor had known success led to political power, invasion plans, determined he should excel, but of Imperiex’s threat earlier than stated. but ordered Lois their soul-destroying “guidance” and he was considered the city’s He demanded that this be the story the Lane to kill the bred a sociopath who most powerful figure.Then came Planet killed, but the savvy reporter story. However, engineered their deaths to capitalize on their life insurance.A budding tricked him, giving her notes to Clark the day that SUPERMAN appeared Clark Kent astrobiologist, Lex then spent years searching for evidence of extraterrestrial life. Kent, who wrote a scathing piece, in the skies above Metroplis and turned Lex’s world upside down. printed the full His hunt took him to Smallville when he was 18. Lex befriended another exposing Luthor for the criminal he was. seemingly alienated young man, Clark Kent. He turned his back on Smallville Superman openly accused Luthor of being a criminal mastermind rather truth, marring when a fire destroyed his lab and his scientific achievements, as well as his foster than a benefactor of mankind. Unwilling or unable to link this Luthor’s term as father. Refusing to take any responsibility for “meddling alien” with the boy he had known a decade earlier, Luthor WARSUIT Luthor finally took U.S. President. the accident, Lex blamed the town swore to bring down the Last Son of Krypton. Over the years, he has matters in his own hands, for “letting the Luthors burn,” attempting to destroy both and to this day, refuses used his power and influence to plague the Man of Steel time and again. Superman and to admit he has ever Batman. set foot in Smallville. KRYPTONITE RING Luthor got in his licks but ONLY THE LONELY Deprived of a continued to be thwarted normal childhood, by Superman both directly Lex hid his and indirectly. On one personal pain behind occasion, a ring Luthor had a mask of arrogance. fashioned from kryptonite gave him cancer owing to the radiation inherent in the alien rock. Lex faked his death, and transferred his mind into the body of a clone, pretending to be Luthor’s heretofore unknown son.This Luthor soon evolved to resemble the original, but U.S. PRESIDENT Luthor was quite continued to come second in his effective in his post, improving diplomatic relations with Atlantis and struggles with Superman. other countries.

METROPOLIS DESTROYED ACT OF MADNESS Lex showed his true colors by refusing to Luthor's presidential power still could not TWO STRANGERS Clark bring about the end of Superman and his was the only person in sacrifice himself to help reignite the sun after the Sun-Eater had snuffed out its costumed friends.When an asteroid neared Smallville who Earth, Luthor detected kryptonite radiation empathized with Lex’s energy.When Lois Lane (see LANE,LOIS) and used that to try and turn the public feelings of isolation. exposed his criminal dealings, Luthor against the Man of Steel. He even sent triggered devices hidden within Metropolis costumed champions after Superman, but this EXPLOSION An accident that destroyed the city. Superman and his gambit also failed. Finally, he donned a LexCorp physically and mentally war suit and tried to take down not only IN RUINS Luthor fellow heroes rebuilt Metropolis and the battle scarred Lex so deeply he Superman, but BATMAN as well. His efforts were in destroyed Metropolis in has erased all record of his between Superman and Luthor continued. His vain and his deception was made public. Driven from a bid to avoid exposure ever being in Smallville. manipulations extended to Metropolis’s citizens, the presidency, Luthor was thought to have died but by Lois Lane. who sided with Superman over Luthor. limped to freedom, an angry, vengeful man. RG