Lex Luthor

For other versions of the character, see Lex Luthor (1978 film series character), Lex Luthor (DC Extended Universe), Lex Luthor (Smallville), and Lex Luthor (Arrowverse).
"Luthor" redirects here. For other uses, see Luthor (disambiguation).

Lex Luthor
  • Lex Luthor, as appeared on a variant cover of Action Comics #890 (June 2010).
  • Art by David Finch.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceAction Comics #23 (April 10th 1940)
Created by
In-story information
Full nameAlexander Joseph "Lex" Luthor
Place of originMetropolis
Team affiliations
Notable aliases
Abilities
  • Genius-level intellect
  • Criminal mastermind
  • Expert strategist and tactician
  • Exceptionally gifted engineer and scientist
  • Via high-tech warsuit:
    • Superhuman strength, speed, and durability
    • Energy projection
    • Force fields
    • Flight
    • Advanced weaponry (often incorporating kryptonite)

Alexander Joseph "Lex" Luthor (/ˈluːθɔːr, -θər/) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Lex Luthor originally appeared in Action Comics #23 (cover dated: April 1940). He has since endured as the archenemy of the superhero Superman.[1]

Lex Luthor was depicted as a narcissistic and egotistical mad scientist from the 1960s to the mid-1980s. Since the mid-late 1980s, he has more often been portrayed as the power-obsessed CEO of LexCorp. He wishes to rid the world of Superman, ostensibly because he views Superman as a threat to humanity, but in reality because he envies Superman's popularity and influence.[2] Given his high profile as a supervillain, however, he has often come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe.[3] Lex Luthor is physically an ordinary human and has no natural superpowers, but he is a genius with a high aptitude for business, politics, science, and technology. He is typically portrayed as a mad scientist lacking a secret identity, costume, or other elements of supervillains, but he occasionally wears his warsuit, a suit of mechanized armor that gives him enhanced strength, flight, advanced weaponry, and other capabilities.[4] While Lex is primarily depicted as a supervillain allied with other villains, such as Metallo, Parasite and Bizarro, and frequently leading DC supervillain teams such as the Legion of Doom, he has also been portrayed as an antihero who will ally himself with Superman and other heroes against common enemies such as Brainiac and Darkseid.

The character was ranked 4th on IGN's list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time[5] and as the 8th Greatest Villain by Wizard on its 100 Greatest Villains of All Time list.[6] Luthor is one of a few genre-crossing villains whose adventures take place "in a world in which the ordinary laws of nature are slightly suspended".[4] Scott James Wells, Sherman Howard, John Shea, Michael Rosenbaum, Jon Cryer, Titus Welliver, and Michael Cudlitz have portrayed the character in television series, while Lyle Talbot, Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey, and Jesse Eisenberg have portrayed the character in films, and Nicholas Hoult is set to play him in the upcoming film Superman. Several actors have provided Luthor's voice in animated adaptations, including Clancy Brown, Mark Rolston, James Marsters, Giancarlo Esposito, Marc Maron, and Max Mittelman.

  1. ^ "Lex Luthor". dccomics.com. October 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  2. ^ "Lex Luthor". dccomics.com. October 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  3. ^ Siegel, Jerry (w), Sikela, John (a), Ellsworth, Whitney (ed). "The Skeletons in Armor" Action Comics, no. 47, p. 1 (April 1942). DC Comics.
  4. ^ a b Sanderson, Peter (February 24, 2007). "Comics in Context #166: Megahero Vs. Megavillain". QuickStopEntertainment.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
  5. ^ "Lex Luthor is Number 4". Comics.ign.com. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  6. ^ McCallum, Pat (July 2006). "100 Greatest Villains Ever". Wizard (177)