History Characters / SupermanLexLuthor

* "Luthor Unleashed!" [Action Comics #544]: Lexor is destroyed; introduces Luthor's distinctive green and purple PoweredArmor

* YoureInsane: He's been on the receiving end of this a few times. |Most notably, in a crossover featuring Superman battling and then working alongside [[Characters/SpiderManPeterParker Spider-Man]], he's called out as this by [[Characters/MarvelComicsOttoOctavius Doctor Octopus]], of all people, when he realizes that while he's okay with defeating Superman and Spider-Man to showcase their superiority, he's ''not'' okay with Lex being willing to destroy the world out of spite, causing him to defect Lex and temporarily work with Superman and Spider-Man in stopping Lex's attempt on ravaging the world.

* KickTheDog: Constantly. Most notably when he healed his (Post-Crisis) sister of a neurological disease in the "Superboy: The Boy of Steel" arc of the 2009 ''ComicBook/AdventureComics'' series, then gave it right back to her just because he could.

* ''ComicBook/{{Justice}}''

[[caption-width-right:350:If there was ''ever'' a job for Franchise/{{Superman}}... this is it.]]

Alexander Joseph "Lex" Luthor is the {{archenemy}} of Franchise/{{Superman}}, and one of the oldest villains in comic book history, making his debut in ''Action Comics'' #23 in April of 1940. Created by Creator/JerrySiegelAndJoeShuster, the same team who created Superman himself, Luthor was an instant success, and ensured himself a permanent place in the Last Son of Krypton's RoguesGallery. Since then he's gone onto be a major player in the DC Universe, serving as one of its most iconic villains, alongside the likes of [[ComicBook/TheJoker the Joker]].

He has since gone back and forth in terms of characterization, at times the CEO of [=LexCorp=], at times a MadScientist, at times a classic DiabolicalMastermind, and sometimes a combination of all three. He has faked his own death, and impersonated his supposed son, revealed himself as one of Superboy's genetic donors, and met [[ComicBook/TheSandman1989 Death]]. He's been the mastermind of numerous plots against the heroes of Earth, a participant in General Lane's genocide of ComicBook/NewKrypton, and briefly, President of the United States of America, helping codify the PresidentEvil trope in the process. He's even starred in his own spinoffs, serving as the VillainProtagonist in ''ComicBook/LexLuthorManOfSteel'', the "[[ComicBook/TheBlackRing Black Ring]]" story arc in ''ComicBook/ActionComics'', and ''Comicbook/ForeverEvil2013''. In any incarnation, Luthor is driven by his burning hatred of Superman (not unlike ComicBook/DoctorDoom and Reed Richards), which is frequently put down to envy over the fact that, no matter how rich Luthor becomes, no matter how much political power he attains, and no matter how hard he schemes, he will never, ever ''[[DrivenByEnvy be]]'' Superman. His current characterization is a balanced medium between all his incarnations: he is the ruthless and savvy corporate executive, the formidably brilliant mad scientist and the egomaniac conqueror in equal measure. This makes him one of the more complex and multifaceted villains in all of comics, which helps cement his enduring popularity.

* ''Comicbook/{{Justice}}''

** He can also be considered an EvilCounterpart to Comicbook/IronMan: a [[Fiction500 very rich]] genius and a BadassNormal who has a PoweredArmor. Lex's good counterparts of other universes can be even closer, as they share Iron Man's morality. On the other hand, [[EvilCounterpart evil versions]] of Iron Man are also close to mainstream Lex. It also helps that both Lex and Iron Man were involved, at some point, with Italian villainesses (Contessa Erica del Portenza and Madame Masque, respectively).

** His niece Nasthalthia's last appearance was in ''Adventure Comics #424'' published in 1972. A Post-Crisis version showed up in ''Comicbook/AllStarSuperman'' and faded in comic limbo right afterwards.

** His brutal beatdown of Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} during one of her first Post-Crisis outings is also a standout. Within about a minute of engaging Luthor, the normally overconfident Kara realizes that she's in way over her head. She ends up comparing it to Superman's first fight with Doomsday.

* DistaffCounterpart: Both Alexandra Luthor of ''ComicBook/SupermanEarthOne'' and Franchise/WonderWoman villain Veronica Cale can be said to be female versions of our Lex.

* EasilyForgiven: Even after the public revelation of years' worth of his various murders and manipulations, and [[ComicBook/TheFallOfMetropolis a nearly successful attempt to destroy Metropolis just to spite Superman]], Luthor manages to make himself a VillainWithGoodPublicity again by taking credit for saving the world during Comicbook/FinalNight.

** In Comicbook/GreenArrow, it is revealed that Lex Luthor was offered membership in The Ninth Circle - a financial group built on laissez-faire capitalism that funds super-crime - and turned it down. While one might think this is because Lex refuses to be part of any group he isn't in charge of, even Lex drew the line at a Satanic bank that abducted children and sold them into slavery or to be used for medical experiments.

* EvilVersusEvil: Luthor has regularly clashed with the DCU's other major villains, most notably in ''Comicbook/TheBlackRing'' when he took on Mr. Mind, Gorilla Grodd, Larfleeze, and Brainiac in rapid succession, and in ''Comicbook/ForeverEvil2013'' when he took on the Crime Syndicate. His war with Alexander Luthor Jr. in ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' is also notable, as are his various conflicts with Darkseid.

** And to his equally evil niece Nasthalthia 'Nasty' Luthor in Pre-Crisis and ''Comicbook/AllStarSuperman'' continuities. 'Nasty' tried to help him kill Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} and when their plot failed, she tried to prove that Linda Danvers was Supergirl every so often.

** TheResenter: During the ''Comicbook/ForeverEvil2013'' event he admitted this was driven out of envious resentment not only towards Superman but to a great many SPB's (Super Powered Beings) who could fly farther, move faster and hit harder than he ever could, he kinda got over it eventually.

* {{Fiction 500}}: One of the richest, if not ''the'' richest men in the world, alongside the likes of [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]].

** He reforms the Injustice Gang solely because Superman is now leading the Comicbook/JusticeLeague, which Lex believes can only be Superman deliberately trying to escalate their conflict.

* ALighterShadeOfBlack: Lex can and does end up here in conflicts with other villains. This is most notable when he faces Alexander Luthor Jr. in ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'', when he allies with Superman against Zod in ''ComicBook/LastSon'', in ''Comicbook/TheBlackRing'', where he is up against a virtual who's who of DC's worst, including Venusian parasite [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Mr. Mind]], brain eating primate [[ComicBook/TheFlash Gorilla Grodd]], immortal psychopath and conqueror ComicBook/VandalSavage, a living embodiment of {{greed}} in [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Larfleeze]], and [[OmnicidalManiac omnicidal]] computer mind ComicBook/{{Brainiac}}, and in ''Comicbook/ForeverEvil2013'', where he takes on Earth-3's Crime Syndicate.

* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: In his early Comicbook/PostCrisis appearances, in which he takes special pleasure in belittling women or threatening them into sleeping with him, and taunting Maggie Sawyer regarding her sexuality.

** On the giving end, he gave a try, even though ''he'' of all people should know better. In ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfLuthor'', he picks an ordinary machine gun, shoots at Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} and then he swears because [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/action_286_31.jpg the bullets bounce off]].

** In ''Action Comics #286'', Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} saved Lex Luthor's life. He yelled he hated her and he tried to kill her again. It didn't help that Supergirl informed him that she saved him because she wants him to pay for his crimes. He declared, [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/action_286_31_0.jpg "[He] loathed [her] ]] '''[[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/action_286_31_0.jpg more]]''' [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/action_286_31_0.jpg than]] '''[[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/action_286_31_0.jpg Superman]]'''"

** Played straight in ''Comicbook/JusticeLeague2018'', where its shown that Luthor was once a kind, loving child and that he was the one who [[spoiler:freed Comicbook/MartianManhunter from captivity]]. A combination of these memories being erased and the years of parental abuse Lex suffered after this turned him into the monster he is today. Ironically, his final words to [[spoiler:J'onn before sending him back to Mars]] were "[[HumansAreGood Remember we weren't all bad.]]"

* VillainProtagonist: Of ''ComicBook/LexLuthorManOfSteel'', ''ComicBook/TheBlackRing'', and ''Comicbook/ForeverEvil2013'', as well as his during his time as a JLA member.

* BullyingADragon: For all his genius, Lex has a bad habit of trying to intimidate or antagonize individuals who could easily destroy him if they wanted to. It's kind of amazing he's not dead:

[[Characters/SupermanCentralRoguesGallery Central Rogues Gallery]] ('''Alexander "Lex" Luthor''', [[Characters/SupermanBizarro Bizarro]], [[Characters/SupermanBrainiacCharacter Vril Dox/Brainiac]], [[Characters/SupermanCyborgSuperman Cyborg-Superman]], [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]], [[Characters/SupermanDoomsdayCharacter Doomsday]], ComicBook/{{Lobo}}, [[Characters/SupermanMisterMxyzptlk Mister Mxyzptlk]], [[Characters/DCComicsMongul Mongul]], [[Characters/SupermanRoguesGalleryPhantomZone Phantom Zone Criminals]] [[[Characters/SupermanGeneralZod General Zod]]]) | [[Characters/SupermanRoguesGalleryAToL A-L]] | [[Characters/SupermanRoguesGalleryMToZ M-Z]] ([[Characters/SupermanSuperboyPrime Superboy-Prime]])\\

** In one ''ComicBook/{{Batman}} storyline, [[Characters/BatmanTheJoker the Joker]] has Luthor tied up and has been torturing him. But it's Luthor who does the most damage when he asks: "Does it bother you... bother you at all, really... that Batman ''likes Catwoman better?''" The Joker is [[StunnedSilence visibly stunned]] and immediately [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness drops his clownish demeanor]] to become full-on ''furious'' and plan to outright murder Luthor without any tricks or gimmicks. See it [[https://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3mzad3flG1rurl5co1_500.jpg here.]]

* ProgressivelyPrettier: Silver Age Luthor was a fat, rather ugly middle-aged man, as was John Byrne's interpretation. Ever since the 90s, however, Lex has been thin and decently handsome.

* AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul: In Pre-Crisis, Lex's hatred against Superman was due to a freak accident that went wrong when Clark (then known as Superboy) accidentally ignited Lex's hair, making him permanently bald. While Lex's reaction and later responses are petty, there is at least a personal reason for their enmity. In Post-Crisis, Lex begins to hate Superman without having met him and by the time they first meet, Lex already wants him dead for daring to take over the spotlight as "Humanity's Beacon of Hope and Potential" away from him.

* DarkLordOnLifeSupport: In the early '90s, he contracted terminal cancer from the kryptonite ring he wore. Later, after his CloningGambit backfired into CloningBlues, he was left a shriveled husk suffering from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locked-in_syndrome locked-in syndrome]]--though by wiring himself into Superman's Kryptonian battlesuit he was still able to be a serious threat.

* DealWithTheDevil: In ''ComicBook/UnderworldUnleashed'', he sold his soul to the [[DemonLordsAndArchDevils demon lord]] Neron in exchange for a cure for the [[CloningBlues degenerative illness afflicting his cloned body]].

* ''ComicBook/JusticeLeague'': The later half, in which he is a member of the League.

* BullyingADragon: For all his genius, Lex has a bad habit of trying to intimidate or antagonize individuals who could destroy him. It's kind of amazing he's not dead:

* BaitTheDog: In the 2009 edition of ''ComicBook/AdventureComics'', he holds his own niece Lori hostage and refuses to cure his sister of her paralysis unless Superboy follows his instructions. Luthor does follow through and give his sister the cure after Superboy does as he told him, but he immediately thereafter undoes the cure and leaves his sister paralyzed again just because he can. Superboy was ''not happy'' about Luthor's duplicity.

* ForTheEvulz: Normally, Lex tries to subvert this, being laser-focused on the completion of his goals, but, combined with a need for useless {{sadis|t}}m, some of his KickTheDog moments fall under this. He once thrashed Supergirl around simply because the "S" symbol on her outfit reminded Lex of Superman, who Lex sees as a BerserkButton.

* KickTheDog: Constantly. Most notably when he healed his (Post-Crisis) sister of a neurological disease, then gave it right back to her.

** To his niece, Lori, Post-Crisis. During the "Superboy: The Boy of Steel" arc of the 2009 ''Adventure Comics'' series, Luthor holds his own niece hostage to manipulate Kon-El into following his instructions so he can cure his sister's paralysis. While he is true to his word, he immediately thereafter restores his sister's ailment and therefore upsets his niece just to be an asshole.

** To his niece, Lori, Post-Crisis. During the "Superboy: The Boy of Steel" arc of the 2009 ''Adventure Comics'' series, Luthor holds his own niece hostage to manipulate Kon-El into following his instructions so he can cure his sister's paralysis. While he is true to his word, he restores his sister's ailment and therefore upsets his niece just to be an asshole.

** To his niece, Lori, Post-Crisis.

* PsychologicalProjection: In some continuities, like the New 52, he presumes Superman is the one obsessed and conspiring against him. It's also part of the reason he can't work out Superman is Clark Kent, even when told. Not only can he not accept that he hasn't figured it out, but he also can't believe that someone with Superman's powers would ''want'' to hide anything.
* ProgressivelyPrettier: Silver Age Luthor was a fat, rather ugly middle-aged man, as was John Byrne's interpretation. Ever since the 90s, however, Lex has been thin and decently handsome,

[[folder:A-F]]

** In ''Action Comics #286'', Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} saved Lex Luthor's life. He yelled he hated her and he tried to kill her again. It didn't help that Supergirl informed him that she saved him because she wants him to pay for his crimes. He declared, [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/action_286_31_0.jpg "[He] loathed [her]]] '''[[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/action_286_31_0.jpg more]]''' [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/action_286_31_0.jpg than]] '''[[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/action_286_31_0.jpg Superman]]'''"

** In ''Action Comics #286'', Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} saved Lex Luthor's life. He yelled he hated her and he tried to kill her again. It didn't help that Supergirl informed him that she saved him because she wants him to pay for his crimes. He declared, [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/action_286_31_0.jpg "[He] loathed [her] '''more''' than '''Superman'''"]]

* KaramHoudiniWarranty: He spent his term as President avoiding any real consequences for his actions, but that came to an end in ''ComicBook/PublicEnemies'', which ended with him getting impeached after he went crazy and tried to publicly destroy Superman while wearing Apokoliptian battle armor.

* ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem: During his time as President, Luthor violated many, many laws.