Best look for Lex Luthor

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Inspired by the Brainiac thread, I summon thee to tell us which Lex Luthor costume you think works the best.

The white lab coat Mad Scientist ensemble?

The high-collared green & purple canister-laden disco suit?

The Super Powers armor?

The black power suit?

The grey prison uniform?

[Denny Colt]

I grew up with the purple jumpsuit with collar version, so I have an affinity for it even though it's incredibly goofy.

I never cared for the battlesuit.

I liked the original version with red hair (which later became identified with the Earth II version).

I have to admit I like the tack that Byrne took in MOS. The older, version with red receeding hairline was excellent. When I returned to comics last year after about a 16 year hiatus, I was sad to see that he'd been retconned into a younger/smallville version. I think that Luthor was one of the really great things that Byrne did with Superman. Ah well, I'm sure that all our favourite versions are alive and well somewhere in some version of the multiverse.;)

[Rik Levins]

I prefer the heavy-set Luthor of the fifties, who wore either a lab coat or standard suit-and-tie.
Byrne's early "Kingpin" version also looked pretty much like this, except for wearing slightly more expensive-looking suits.

To me, the bulky Luthor just looks more intimidating. He might have had a double chin, but he projected a threatening impression of physical strength that just doesn't come across in the slimmer, more fit-looking versions.

He also seemed more dangerous precisely because he DIDN'T show the more obvious threat of the costumed or armored version. If you are Superman and you are about to tackle Luthor, you have to worry about what weapons he might have in the belt pouches, or built into the armor. But with the lab-coated guy, you didn't see any obvious threat--only, you knew there WAS one, some kind of hidden Kryptonite or something--but had no idea where it was going to come from.

Byrne captured this really well in his first "Generations" miniseries. That sequence when Superman breaks in to Luthor's hideout, and the bald villain is sitting calmly in a chair, waiting for him. That was much scarier than if he'd been poised in combat stance, wearing armor. And sure enough, after witnessing graphic scenes of all his friends being murdered on the monitor screens, Superman angrily grabs Luthor--only to find that his powers have deserted him, because Lex is wearing Gold Kryptonite disguised as cufflinks and jewelry.

THAT'S the fiendish Luthor that I like to see.

[Rob on the Job]

I like Lex's "radio announcer" look.

http://info.jpost.com/C002/Supplements/AmericasVoices/pics/ms_studio2.jpg

[PatchMadripoor]

While I liked the look from the 80's, the Animated Series version really hit me as being the true Luthor one should approach with caution. And initially I hated the look. This "Luthor" eventually won me over.

Sophisticated, smart, but no weakling either.

http://img.search.com/thumb/2/27/Luthor1.jpg/220px-Luthor1.jpg

[Kage Kisaragi]

I prefer the black business suit aka power suit. The bald head also makes him seem more sinister and strong.

[brundlefly]

Thirding the love for Black Power Suit Lex, specifically the era from Underworld (where he got his youth and health rejuvenated by Neron) through his Presidency (and also in Azzarello's Man Of Steel), where he rocked the black suit and white mandarin-collared shirt ensemble (which was also used in the Animated Version that PatchMadripoor referenced). Overweight Lex comes off as way too much of a Kingpin-clone and often gives off a comic-relief 'blustering, angry fat guy' vibe that the healthy, in-shape version does not. Meanwhile Lab Coat Lex or Prison Greys Lex just scream 'Generic Bald Mad Scientist' or 'Generic Prison Escapee' and lack any of the dignity that his ego demands. And the less said about Garish Disco Collar Lex the better.

I dig the Battle Armor for the rare occasions that he's got to get physical (for instance, I like the scene in Villains United where he changes from Black Power Suit Lex to Battle Armor Lex, a sign that the time for subtle manipulation was over and now a more direct approach would be necessary), but I think his look in JUSTICE (black trenchcoat covering a thinner, less bulky cybernetic suit that contains numerous weapons and gadgets) is cooler for physical confrontations, actually. I'd like to see that make an appearance in the mainstream DCU as a look for his current 'fugitive mastermind' status.

[Thunderman38]

Have always preffered the black suit. powerful and classy, without any cheesy bulbs or tights or high collar.

[Metamorpho]

Prison Grey all the way!

[Super Buddies Forever]

I'll always be partial to the Lex in the cloned body, overcompensating with a flowing red mane and full beard. That Lex also put on a phoney Australian accent and successfully nailed Supergirl. He wins all around.

[PatrickG]

I picture him with a purple silk shirt remniscent of his "Super Friends" look with some kind of utility harness underneath and a black armani suit.

But if he's gonna go costumed, I like the turtleneck look that's been in Busiek's run. Somehow, it seems to tie together Lex the Scientist, Lex the Self-Made Man, Lex the Utilitarian.

A turtleneck. Rugged cargo pants. A labcoat. A few holsters.

Somehow, it feels like a mix between fox hunting sportswear and a yachting outfit. It's what super-genius trillionnaires wear when they kill super-heroes for sport.

Actually... Maybe what's missing for Lex isn't the social acceptance he had in the Byrne-Stern days; that got old for me. But maybe what we need is to place him in a group that's more like an underground country club of homicidal fugitive billionnaires than a new Injustice Gang.

Clubs full of attractive men and women, people with plastic surgery and personal trainers, who wear designer "rugged" clothes with tasteful signature logos or colors, hang out with celebrities, drink martinis and kill metahumans with killer robots they design -- the dirty little secret being that poor Lex isn't in the in crowd because he actually designs and builds his own robots whereas most of these folks leave it to the help. And maybe he's on the outs because he takes his crusade seriously whereas these "friends" treat the "hobby" dispassionately. But Lex is drawn to them because he wants these people's approval and they're drawn to him because he killed one of them and blackmailed most of the others. But, y'know, being... civil... he's always going for a voluntary compliment from his blueblooded serial killer/terrorist pals.

[Patient Boy]

I'm actually amazed by how popular the armoured redesign of the 1980s is. Versions of it have appeared in MOS, JLA: Earth 2, the Justice League animated series, Superman/Batman and probably lots of other instances I can't remember offhand.

Count me in for animated series Lex though, the Telly Savalas look works for me.

[Kid Quick Foots]

I prefer Lex in the black suit and tie from the animated show. i never got the whole, lex in a half-assed iron man style power suit, totally out of character, lex should never get his hands dirty, let his minions do all the dirty work and NOTHING can be traced back to him:D

[J. Robb]

I prefer Lex in the black suit and tie from the animated show. i never got the whole, lex in a half-assed iron man style power suit, totally out of character, lex should never get his hands dirty, let his minions do all the dirty work and NOTHING can be traced back to him:D
That's my kind of Lex as well. I don't mind occasional variances, like maybe some jail time or some time as an "on the run" mad scientist, because everything gets old after a while. But I think the shrewd businessman should be the "default" version.

[mattx110]

he really needs to try a goatee for a couple years.

people keep mistaking him for someone that isn't evil.

[CMBMOOL]

I like the looked he had within the Superfriends series, classic Luthor. :o

[Darth Joker]

Lex is best with the black business suit, and of normal (if not thin) built. Overweight Lex (regardless of what he's wearing) makes me think too much of the Kingpin. The green/purple power armour should be reserved for those special occassions when Lex gets fed up with the incompetence of his underlings, and tries to wipe Superman (or another Justice League member) out himself.

I perfer Luthor to be a man that the law just can't get - a man that gets through legal loopholes all the time. Hence, I perfer him OUT of prison/military wear.

[Harding Prime]

<---- See Photo

[AmyLoPan]

Hmm... I was going to say the President Luthor look was the best, but Harding Prime has a good point with Rosenbaum. *drool*

[Cayman]

Inspired by the Brainiac thread, I summon thee to tell us which Lex Luthor costume you think works the best.

The white lab coat Mad Scientist ensemble?

The high-collared green & purple canister-laden disco suit?

The Super Powers armor?

The black power suit?

The grey prison uniform?

Just the black power suit, I suppose.

To be contrary, I'll say Red Son Luthor. :p

http://theages.superman.ws/History/redson/lex.jpg

[Speed Force]

Lexanity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dmup1nQNJE

[Bo-Man]

Earth 2 Luthor with red hair.
Read the Superman and Golden Age Superman team up from Pre-Crisis against both Luthors from the different Earths.
Alexei Luthor was ruthless and pure evil.

[Magneto_X]

Business suit Lex.

The animated (Timm-verse) and comic (Morrison) are my favourite Luthor's.

[Captain Mobra]

Buisness suit. He doesn't look like a whacko.

[Pinnacle]

Lex is best with the black business suit, and of normal (if not thin) built. Overweight Lex (regardless of what he's wearing) makes me think too much of the Kingpin. The green/purple power armour should be reserved for those special occassions when Lex gets fed up with the incompetence of his underlings, and tries to wipe Superman (or another Justice League member) out himself.

I perfer Luthor to be a man that the law just can't get - a man that gets through legal loopholes all the time. Hence, I perfer him OUT of prison/military wear.

I pretty much agree with this post. As far as actors, Michael Rosenbaum hands down. To me, he is exactly what Luthor would have been like in his rise to power. I don't see Luthor as inherently evil but consumed by power to the point that he becomes evil.

[Terry_McGinnis]

While I liked the look from the 80's, the Animated Series version really hit me as being the true Luthor one should approach with caution. And initially I hated the look. This "Luthor" eventually won me over.

Sophisticated, smart, but no weakling either.

http://img.search.com/thumb/2/27/Luthor1.jpg/220px-Luthor1.jpg
Agreed. I grew up with this Luthor and have always considered him the best.

[Harding Prime]

Hmm... I was going to say the President Luthor look was the best, but Harding Prime has a good point with Rosenbaum. *drool*

You want him to be your Rosen"lip"baum. OOOHH!:D

[Carter Hall]

Definitely bald, definitely middle-aged. Business suit is nice but I also liked the more casual jumpsuit from season 3 of JLU, which was a great blend of elements of the character.

I grew up reading the Byrne-era red-haired Lex, and the more I look back at it now, the more I hate it.

[Frankie Dennis]

I always liked the mad scientist look.

[nuclearman]

While I liked the look from the 80's, the Animated Series version really hit me as being the true Luthor one should approach with caution. And initially I hated the look. This "Luthor" eventually won me over.

Sophisticated, smart, but no weakling either.

http://img.search.com/thumb/2/27/Luthor1.jpg/220px-Luthor1.jpg

agree with you patch... the animated guise or smallville Lex works best for me.

[CDB]

While I liked the look from the 80's, the Animated Series version really hit me as being the true Luthor one should approach with caution. And initially I hated the look. This "Luthor" eventually won me over.

Sophisticated, smart, but no weakling either.

http://img.search.com/thumb/2/27/Luthor1.jpg/220px-Luthor1.jpg

Like most I grew up on this version of Luthor, and even when I went back and compared older & earlier version of the character to this one. This Lex remained my all-time definite, one true rendition of Lex Luthor.

[Mon-el]

For me, It's a combination of the white lab coat Mad Scientist/The high-collared green & purple canister-laden disco suit.

Mad Scientist when he's working on his schemes to overthrow Superman, and when gets down to business the green and purple canister-laden disco suit.

[Kirayoshi]

Gotta go with the cartoon. Was able to pull off being a criminal businessman without coming across like a Kingpin wannabe.

I do have a soft side for John Shea in the first season of Lois and Clark. He was very good at finding a win in any situation, up until his attempted takeover of the Planet/nearly marrying Lois.

[Arilou]

I like Lex's "radio announcer" look.

http://info.jpost.com/C002/Supplements/AmericasVoices/pics/ms_studio2.jpg

I prefer the prime-minister look:
http://www.moderaterna.net/bilder/highres/reinfeldt_fredrik.jpg

[dockwats]

I really like some of the general character designs on S:TAS, especially for Braniac and Luthor.

I think Luthor's primary look works well in a black power suit, though his build should be a bit thinner (though everyone on that cartoon looked a bit boxy).

My ideal Luthor would have an alternate garb, the white lab coat, that he would don when in the labs frantically yelling at his scientists to hurry up with his next tech/bio-weapon shenanigan. So basically, a thin/mid-sized business-man/scientist Luthor is a great look.

That old "disco-armor suit" is only cool for nostalgia!