Which Luthor do you like best?

[Kid Kyoto]

OK I just got Superman vs Luthor TPB and highly recommend it as a good overview of Superman's history.

While Superman has been more or less the same since the 40s or 50s, Luthor is constantly re-imagined for the present. At his heart he's an evil scientist who matches wits with Superman but other elements change.

First he was a warmongering dictator.
Then a criminal mastermind
Then Superman's best friend gone bad, a man who could save the world with his genious but wastes it with hate. (I alway thought this was inspired by the conflict of nuclear bombs vs peaceful nuclear power but that might just be me)
Then the noble hero of Lexor trapped in a feud he wants to leave behind
(insert crisis here)
Then an evil, untouchable businessman
Then a xenophobic but ultimately good man (around Silent Night or so)
Then an evil, untouchable president
And now a criminal scientist once more

So... which Luthor do you like best?

[aeastwic]

Lex Luthor IS the greatest criminal mind of our time.

He should be science-savvy and know how to apply it, but essentially science is a means to an end for him.

[colossus34]

I don't like the word "evil" becuase to me Luther, Magneto and other great villians don't see themselves that way. I think he is essenstially a corrupt bussiness man who has very machavelian tactics and willing to do do almost anything to achieve his personal desires.

[Nate Grey]

None of the choices matched what I would have picked, so I picked "evil president" cause I loved that period (except how it ended). I like the way the animated series depicted him best: he was a corrupt businessman with a genius IQ and intellect and a master scientist and builder. I guess all the best aspects rolled into one.

[Damo]

What, no "all of the above"? Gyp.

[JR EWING]

I think the JUSTICE version of him is the most accurate.

[Dustin]

Superman's best friend gone wrong .:cool:

[Alcoholic]

I don't like the word "evil" becuase to me Luther, Magneto and other great villians don't see themselves that way. I think he is essenstially a corrupt bussiness man who has very machavelian tactics and willing to do do almost anything to achieve his personal desires.

That's exactly as I see him too. In the "Lex Luthor: Man of Steele" he doesn't see himself as being "evil."

[The K-MAN]

I would go with business man that does bad crap but thinks its for the good of mankind.

[chriskenny]

That's exactly as I see him too. In the "Lex Luthor: Man of Steele" he doesn't see himself as being "evil."

You don't have to see yourself as evil to be evil. If evil as a concept does exist--and it should at least apply to the fictional arch-enemy of Superman-- then one can be evil and not realize that they are, in fact, evil.

To Osama bin Laden, he is a freedom fighter to resist against the oppressive superpower. To most people who live in Manhattan, he is an evil man. Now by your logic, Osama bin Laden can't be evil because he doesn't view himself as such. I don't agree.

[Steve Brady]

I like the Luthor who could have been his century's Ben Franklin if not for his ego and obsession with Superman.

So, Justice or the DCAU Luthor.

But really, I'll take any version so long as they pronounce his name correctly B)

[Kid Kyoto]

I like xenophobe luthor, who's mopre or less the one from LL:Man of Steel, while most of the time Luthor knows he's evil and doesn't care, Xenophobe Luthor really, really thinks he's defending the world from an alien.

Warmongering dictator Luthor is another fun one, maybe Luthor can take Kuraq at some point?

[Heraclevs]

The one who looks and acts like Gene Hackman.


- Romans 9

[Psylocked]

Criminal Mastermind

[J. Robb]

I went with "Evil Businessman". The CEO Luthor takes Superman back to his roots of fighting corrupt industrialists, while also giving a legitimate reason why Lex can't simply be scooped up and thrown in jail at the end of every adventure (only to break out and commit more crimes, Joker-style.)

The average person can imagine themselves foiling a bank robbery, but most feel powerless against monolithic corporations. I liked how Luthor tapped into that dark side of capitalism, it made him a more interesting villain to me.

Plus, I think Dr. Sivana really nailed the "mad scientist" archetype. They need to use him more.

[brundlefly]

Hello, all. Longtime lurker, firsttime poster. I agree with Nate Grey on the "best aspects rolled into one" interpretation of Lex, since that's a more well-rounded character and a better nemesis for Supes as opposed to being either a one-dimensional mad scientist or a Kingpin clone. After all, the world's smartest man wouldn't just be an expert in science and technology. He would also be an authority on history, politics, and economics and would work the system to place himself above the law via money and power. From that position he can use all his varied resources against his enemies instead of just throwing giant robots and doomsday weapons at them. A pity we're stuck with the fugitive cackling mad scientist for the moment, but that can be undone with another "Final Night" type scenario. Lex can use his brains to stop an impending worldwide disaster or cosmic menace and use the public goodwill from that deed to move from his sewer hideout back into the LexCorp tower. Not unlike Doom constantly being removed from his Latverian throne by one writer and then quickly put right back on it by the next.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

What, no "all of the above"? Gyp.

I agree. My favorite Luthor is all of these things and more. Limiting Luthor to just one of these categories is like limiting Superman to one power.

[Marked Man]

My two favorite interpretations were those in the JLU animated series and Mark Miller's Red Son. The Red Sun version combined the best elements of every incarnation of Luthor: genuis scientist, amoral businessman, and cunning politician. It explicitly illustrates that he could single-handedly save the world if only he gave up his obsessive hatred of Superman.

[nuclearman]

I like Rosenbaum's Luthor the best in Smallville. So I went best friend gone wrong but I like the evil businessman as well.

[Kid Lantern]

Its got to be lex luthor : man of steel..... cose, you know what. F*ck Superman! lex has a very good point! Or maybe Red Son Lex luthor with his plan thought out 15 years in advance to the 5th decimal place....


(also the first necronought)

[Rich L]

[QUOTE=J. Robb]I went with "Evil Businessman". The CEO Luthor takes Superman back to his roots of fighting corrupt industrialists, while also giving a legitimate reason why Lex can't simply be scooped up and thrown in jail at the end of every adventure (only to break out and commit more crimes, Joker-style.)

The average person can imagine themselves foiling a bank robbery, but most feel powerless against monolithic corporations. I liked how Luthor tapped into that dark side of capitalism, it made him a more interesting villain to me.
[QUOTE]

Nailed my thoughts exactly.

Evil business-man - and how was it Byrne described him?

"A balls-to-the-wall rat-bastard."

There are already enough genius evil scientists around...although I do like Michael Rosenbaum's Lex too.

[Kara Zor El]

I really like the one you can scrub your back with in the bath. :D

[PatrickG]

Evil business-man - and how was it Byrne described him?

"A balls-to-the-wall rat-bastard."



I guess my beef is that, no matter how many supposed examples I see, I'm not convinced that any such creature can or does exist.

I can believe that a man can fly a lot easier than I can believe in someone who's pure evil. If you can't name five evil things Lex Luthor would never do (even if it would benefit him) then something is broken.

Real monsters, villains with depth, are people bound by principle -- not impossibly oblivious opportunists.

Seriously, an opportunist businessman with no scruples shouldn't last a week against Superman and if they do, it makes it seem like Superman's muscles are more prominent than his brain.

Remember that even without Superman's full physical potential being reached, few of those Golden-Age industrialist robber baron types posed a threat to Superman or withstood Superman for long. The stories weren't rooted in conventional conflict but in the wish fulfillment of seeing Superman solve the world's ills in record time.

If someone wants to seriously oppose Superman they need:

A) Some genuine good in them to make it interesting.

B) To be positively otherworldly in nature.

Seriously, a team of lawyers and a lot of money should not be able to stand up to Superman...

And Superman should be intellectual and philosophical enough to operate outside the bounds of conventional law when it conflicts with higher moral law. Meaning that smashing through a wall or exiling somebody like Luthor to the Phantom Zone should be valid options when confronted with the mass murder and acts of genocide committed by Luthor.

Superman does not answer to governments or red tape. He DOES answer to the example he sets, mind you... But a defense in court or dummy bank accounts shouldn't fool Superman for long and certainly shouldn't stop him from doing anything and everything short of torture or killing to safeguard life, liberty and human progress.

[Rich L]

I guess we'll have to disagree on this; I think that you're right to a large extent and a character with the qualities you mention does make for an interesting villain.

But I think that a villain driven wholly by power and the accumulation thereof makes for an interesting character too. They may not always see themselves as villianous, but someone who completely lacks a moral compass is a challenge for any hero - especially if that person happens to be :

a) sane (so not the Joker)
b) respected (so he can put on a public 'game face')
c) rich

An untouchable, if you will. You can add human foibles if you like - wanting an heir, liking cats whatever - but if the underlying character is calculating and self-serving, there should be nothing that they will stop at as long as nothing can ever be traced directly back to them.

And that pretty much describes business-Luthor to a tee

[Kara Zor El]

I always thought Satan was an intersting character and he's pure evil.

[Kid Lantern]

meh, hes also a fallen angel of god whoes only sin was pride. I mean Ive got more sins than that! :D Are you saying im more evil than the devil?

[J. Robb]

And Superman should be intellectual and philosophical enough to operate outside the bounds of conventional law when it conflicts with higher moral law. Meaning that smashing through a wall or exiling somebody like Luthor to the Phantom Zone should be valid options when confronted with the mass murder and acts of genocide committed by Luthor.
I agree, but it goes beyond just Superman knowing he's right, he has the entire human race to answer to. Are they okay with Superman declaring himself judge and jury? Should he be imposing his will on humans to the point of hauling off villains himself if their justice system fails?

[Lorendiac]

I don't like the word "evil" becuase to me Luther, Magneto and other great villians don't see themselves that way. I think he is essenstially a corrupt bussiness man who has very machavelian tactics and willing to do do almost anything to achieve his personal desires.

I don't see why it matters if Luthor thinks he's evil or not. Most criminals in the real world probably don't think of themselves that way. That doesn't mean they aren't doing evil things.

I think Darkseid has been known to give speeches about being Evil with some degree of conviction, but let's face it, Darkseid is a special case! Most villains are probably just trying to steal lots of money, satisfy some personal fantasies, kill anyone who gets in their way, etc., and not really thinking too hard about whether the word "evil" might apply to their own moral condition.

[reta666]

Nobody thinks theyre evil, like Pa Kent said on smallville, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" no human being will ever think as themselves as being evil.
NOw back on topic Smallville Luthor is one of the best, it mixes evil corporate Luthor with best friend gone wrong, now if he had a bit more xenophobic he's be perfect

[Kara Zor El]

meh, hes also a fallen angel of god whoes only sin was pride. I mean Ive got more sins than that! :D Are you saying im more evil than the devil?

That was his origional sin but then once he became lord of hell and got into torturing zillions of souls for eternity and plotting armageddon and unleashing the Anti-Christ on Earth, he became the embodiment of pure EEeeeevil!!!!!!!!:evilsmile

[Kara Zor El]

Nobody thinks theyre evil, like Pa Kent said on smallville, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" no human being will ever think as themselves as being evil.
NOw back on topic Smallville Luthor is one of the best, it mixes evil corporate Luthor with best friend gone wrong, now if he had a bit more xenophobic he's be perfect

I think that some people do think that they are evil. Some people are cruel because they like being cruel. Some people kill for pleasure and no that it is wrong.
When I was a young child I could be pretty evil. Luckily I grew out of it.

I think a Luthor who is Evil makes him far more terrifying.

[Evil Supergirl]

the Justice league TV version of him is the best.

[Smallville]

Michael Rosenbaum on Smallville. I love that interpretation of Luthor. I also love how they did his father, Lionel.

[Kaos]

Rosenbaum is sick but i picked criminal mastermind cos i couldnt pick