Why Does L.L. hate Superman?

[Cash Lone]

I recall reading a comic where Lex Luthors hair fell out because of an accident involving Superman but I'm thinking that was a silver age story?

anyway, are there different reasons and/or versions why Lex Luthor hates/wants to eliminate Supes?

Thanks!

[Sean Whitmore]

Yeah, the classic Luthor/Superboy story was from the Silver Age, and isn't what they go by anymore.

The root source of Lex's hatred is simple jealousy. Luthor was the most powerful and loved man in Metropolis, and Superman effortlessly stole it all. This was introduced during the Byrne revamp and continued until at least as recently as the Timm cartoon.

Lex often uses rhetoric about how Superman is an alien and can't be trusted, but I tend to believe he doesn't actually think that way. I think he's just smart enough to realize that it's an easy way to trick large, stupid masses of people into believing he has a point.


SEAN

[Spiffy]

The better Luthor stories try to point out a more complex motive for Lex.

He CLAIMS to want Superman dead and gone because in Lex's mind Superman is damaging the human race's own ability to develop. Lex is a big believer in Darwinism, apparently, and sees Supes as getting in the way of that.

Of course just because Lex SAYS that's his real motive doesn't mean he's telling the truth. In some appearances, the story supports his honesty in this, and in others it doesn't.

Here's a general guide: If Lex is wearing a Purple Battlesuit, chances are its a shallower, more two dimensional Lex appearance where he's probably just bitter and shallow. If he's wearing a business suit, then chances are its a more complex Lex portrayal where maybe he's actually sincere, even if VERY misguided and excessive.

[Alan2099]

It used to be that Luthor was upset because Superman cost him his hair. Now he's just jealous that Superman has better hair.

[Sean Whitmore]

It used to be that Luthor was upset because Superman cost him his hair. Now he's just jealous that Superman has better hair.

This resentment subsided for a time in the 90s when Superman began sporting a mullet.


SEAN

[Bored at 3:00AM]

This resentment subsided for a time in the 90s when Superman began sporting a mullet.


SEAN

Yeah, but at the time Lex had even more embarrassing hair. A long bushy red Jew-fro with an Amish beard.

Ouch.

The creators of Superman at the time really didn't understand the concept of "cool", did they?

[NotSuper]

Here's a general guide: If Lex is wearing a Purple Battlesuit, chances are its a shallower, more two dimensional Lex appearance where he's probably just bitter and shallow. If he's wearing a business suit, then chances are its a more complex Lex portrayal where maybe he's actually sincere, even if VERY misguided and excessive.
I don't agree with that at all. My favorite version of Lex (and I'd argue the most complex) is from the Bronze Age, where he first wore the battlesuit.

Lex's motives in the Bronze Age (which evolved from the Silver Age) were based on Superman "stopping" him from being the greatest that Earth had to offer. The hair loss and the destruction of his artificial life-form were not that important in the long-run. Lex would've eventually turned on Superman anyway, due to some other perceived "sabotage." If you've read Red Son, the motives for that Luthor were the same as the Bronze Age version (not surprising, as Red Son was inspired by a scene in a Maggin story and Maggin greatly defined the Bronze Age Luthor). This was the first time Luthor became a three-dimensional character, instead of being a fascist (as in the Golden Age) or a generic mad scientist. He was someone who might've been a great hero, had Superman not shown up.

Today, I'd argue that Luthor shares many traits with his Bronze Age counterpart. His speech about how he could "cure cancer and end famine, if only Superman wasn't in my way" is something the Bronze Age Luthor would say (and truly believe). Of course, the current Luthor is FAR more ruthless these days.

[Sanagi]

Lori Lemaris? Oh.

The whole idea of Lex's bald rage is silly, and yet it sticks in your mind because it makes too much sense.

[Lord of Denial]

I agree that it is jealousy but in one of Supermans first acts Superman was given power to arrest Luthor by the Metropolis PD and Superman did so at a very public charity event I believe.

[MythicBrawn]

Lex is simply a man with power that only wants one thing: More Power!! I got that from the Oracle in the Matrix. Essentially, that is his being and Superman stands in the way of that. Other heroes/villains do too, but Superman is the epitome of that struggle. For a man that gets whatever he wants, not being able to destroy/eliminate Superman really chaps his hide. And, it doesn't help that the public adores Superman either.

[mosdef]

Anyone here read Lex Luthor: Man of Steel? It was a great mini that showed his own point of view of why he hates Superman so much.

[pariah-1972]

The Superman returns movie seemed to imply he was jealous of Supermans godlike power which is just about the only thing good about that movie.

[PatrickG]

Summation of all versions:

Lex can't accept that he has limits. He thinks he could fix the world. He hasn't yet. So he blames Superman... and as long as he can blame Superman, he can rationalize the idea that he is the world's greatest genius without solving the world's problems. Superman is his excuse for not being better at what he does and so killing or subjugating Superman means he would be without any limits.

In the Silver Age when Lex lost his hair, the real issue was that he believed his experiment was under control when Superboy saved him. So he not only blamed Superboy for the loss of his hair but for his experiment failing. (The experiment was to create intelligent artificial life or cure Superboy of his weakness to Kryptonite, depending on the telling.) The lost hair was just a visible symptom of how he believed Superboy had screwed up his brilliant plan.

In the Byrne age, Luthor believed he was Metropolis' savior and that his greed was a "fair cut" for the services he provided. Superman tried to set an opposing example.

In Birthright, Luthor felt like an outsider and wanted to contact aliens to find someone he could relate to. Superman rejected him and humiliated him, much as Clark Kent had years before.

In all cases, Superman challenges the idea that Lex is always right and represents a convenient excuse for why he hasn't done more. "I'd have cured cancer if you hadn't insulted me so badly, distracting me from my real work."

The truth is that Lex is either far too easily distracted or not capable of everything he thinks he is. But as long as he can blame Superman, he has an excuse for not changing the world for the better.

[Matthew E]

The other thing is that Luthor has a cynical view of human nature, and doesn't believe in Superman's innate goodness. He thinks that Superman has just found a shtick that goes over with the public, and is really motivated by fame or ego or hatred of Luthor or something.

[gwor]

I liked Action Comics 544, where the reason for his his hatred gets a whole new spin.

Check it out, it's one of the finest comics ever.

[hmnut73]

I think one of the best stories about why Lex hates Superman was told in an issue of Adventures of Superman (you know the one based on the Animated Series).

Summary: Lex's latest plan to beat Superman fails then Mercy tells Lex that he has spent so much money on beating Superman his money could go to beater uses to which Lex replies all it means is he is not spending enough money on beating Superman. Mercy leaves and we have then have a flash-back Lex as a little boy.

Boy Lex is playing with toys and he builds a toy model of the Lex Corp building, he tells his parent that when he grows up he will be the most powerful man in the city and he will build the tallest building in Metropolis so no man in the city can look down on him.

We then see a shot of grown up Lex looking down on the city, then a shot of Superman flying over looking down on Lex.

I felt it was a very powerful story.

[BoosterBronze]

I liked Action Comics 544, where the reason for his his hatred gets a whole new spin.

Check it out, it's one of the finest comics ever.

And if we don't have it... what is it?

[Lord of Denial]

I think one of the best stories about why Lex hates Superman was told in an issue of Adventures of Superman (you know the one based on the Animated Series).

Summary: Lex's latest plan to beat Superman fails then Mercy tells Lex that he has spent so much money on beating Superman his money could go to beater uses to which Lex replies all it means is he is not spending enough money on beating Superman. Mercy leaves and we have then have a flash-back Lex as a little boy.

Boy Lex is playing with toys and he builds a toy model of the Lex Corp building, he tells his parent that when he grows up he will be the most powerful man in the city and he will build the tallest building in Metropolis so no man in the city can look down on him.

We then see a shot of grown up Lex looking down on the city, then a shot of Superman flying over looking down on Lex.

I felt it was a very powerful story.


That is a rip-off from the second episode of Lois and Clark.

Not the flashback but the concept.

[Conner_Kent]

why does Lex hate Superman...thats an easy one, cause he's a douche lol

[Lord of Denial]

why does Lex hate Superman...thats an easy one, cause he's a douche lol

It's not nice to come in to Superman's Forum and call him names.

[itsyaboy]

I need to stop drinking early. When I first read the title I thought the OP was referring to LL Cool J. :)

[BoosterBronze]

I need to stop drinking early. When I first read the title I thought the OP was referring to LL Cool J. :)

Because Superman really is the Greatest of All Time, and no matter what his momma says, LL can't knock him out.

[IamtheRock3]

The better Luthor stories try to point out a more complex motive for Lex.

He CLAIMS to want Superman dead and gone because in Lex's mind Superman is damaging the human race's own ability to develop. Lex is a big believer in Darwinism, apparently, and sees Supes as getting in the way of that.

Of course just because Lex SAYS that's his real motive doesn't mean he's telling the truth. In some appearances, the story supports his honesty in this, and in others it doesn't.

Here's a general guide: If Lex is wearing a Purple Battlesuit, chances are its a shallower, more two dimensional Lex appearance where he's probably just bitter and shallow. If he's wearing a business suit, then chances are its a more complex Lex portrayal where maybe he's actually sincere, even if VERY misguided and excessive.


I Think The One Year LAter Arc shows how much of what LEx did is Bs

Superman basicly came back and said

"FIND lex, I was gone for a year, You thought I was dead. Where is these CURE for Cancer and all the BS you claim you would do if you didnt have to deal with me. You had the resource to help people but you didnt. You did the SAME supervialln garabage you always did. And the MOMENT I show up you drop everything and build a giant Robot to kill me"

[Conner_Kent]

It's not nice to come in to Superman's Forum and call him names.

what the hell are you talking about? I'm calling Lex a douche

[Lord of Denial]

what the hell are you talking about? I'm calling Lex a douche

I know I was joking.

[Nate Grey]

"I'd be a savior if not for you" doesn't line up with most of the crap Lex has done. How does sacrificing his daughter (probably retconned by now, I forget) result from "you're in the way of mankind's darwinism"?

Lex could care less about being a savior or curing anything, his actions has shown that even if his words have not. What he IS interested in, again what his actions have shown if his words have not, is BEING Superman. Not literally, but being THE most powerful person on the planet, either financially or physically or by status (president), or even all of the above (again, president + venom addiction).

Superman, obviously, stands in the way of that, and therefore he hates him, but its still not blind hatred, as he knows how to manipulate him to a certain degree and even use him, namely the whole DNA thing.

Speaking of which, I wish they had touched on more of the Superboy thing. Superboy turning out to be half Luthor and half Superman seemed exactly like something Luthor would do, and something he'd be proud of himself for doing. Its both the ultimate being (which is technically a Luthor), and something Lex could potentially himself become. Superboy was essentially a glorified guinea pig to that end cause Lex wouldn't try that on himself first without knowing the results.But it worked, and I could tell Lex was awestruck by the potential of it all. He could in theory beat his greatest enemy be becoming half of his enemy. A fact I'm sure Lex hasn't forgetten with Superboy's death.

[gwor]

And if we don't have it... what is it?

Oops, sorry. Supes accidentally causes the destruction of a planet where Lex is considered a hero. Lex's wife and child also buy the farm.

A nice twist on the Krypton explosion... man, pre-Crisis comics were damn good!

[NotSuper]

And if we don't have it... what is it?

Oops, sorry. Supes accidentally causes the destruction of a planet where Lex is considered a hero. Lex's wife and child also buy the farm.

A nice twist on the Krypton explosion... man, pre-Crisis comics were damn good!
That would be planet Lexor. Luthor was a hero there and Superman (solely because he was Luthor's arch-enemy) was the greatest villain in the universe. The destruction of the planet was especially tragic as Luthor was content to live there with his wife and child and never plague Earth again. But Superman went after him, enraging Lex. Lex then accidently destroyed the planet while trying to kill Superman. He blamed Superman for the destruction and now hated him more than ever.

All in all, Lexor was a pretty cool concept.

[The Shelf]

Q. Why does Lex hate Superman?
A. Superman stole Lex's cake.

(the cake is a lie)

[Sean Whitmore]

Q. Why does Lex hate Superman?
A. Superman stole Lex's cake.

(the cake is a lie)

Yeah, but Lex got his ass back good, though.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_C1FvYKe2jFM/RbRIfxpavMI/AAAAAAAAAGc/7-_pzAVzYco/s400/Random_SA_Image_1_lex.jpg


SEAN