Clark and Lex

[gideon]

A comment on last nights episode of Smallville made me wonder: What if Lex and Clark had been allies? Stayed allies, I mean. Or ever were. What is the cannon origin this week?

Anyway, Lex is a genius, either equal to or beyond Superman, depending again on storyline. With a net worth that's amazing, technological and engineering companies, and dozens of other high level assets. And he's driven.

If they'd been allies, if the powers of Superman, and the genius and resources of Lex were combined, what would they be capable of? How would America or the world be better? Would they have sponsored and ran the League, rather then Maxwell Lord? Or something better? A new country? The world?

Has this ever been looked at, in an Elseworlds or some other story? What ifs are sometimes interesting.

[herogirl]

That could either be a very bright or a very dark world. In Smallville, I believe that if Clark hadn't turned his back on Lex, Lex could have been a very good person with a lot to offer society. But then you wouldn't have the Superman story. Of course, Lex could eventually have corrupted Clark which would leave humanity S-O-L.

[caboose]

This scenario was kinda investigated in the Superman-Superman fight during Infinite Crisis.

The world becomes Superman's personal Superhero police state after he and Batman blackmail Lex into helping them.

Lex eventually tires of being Superman's tech guy and the world ends in a big Meta War.

I think.

[Supermancho]

There was a pre-crisis story about this IIRC. I'll have to find the issue....

http://www.yelims.com/IPB/Invision-Board-France-234.gif

[dupersuper]

Also the Superman adventures episode "Brave New Metropolis"...that didn't work out well...

[marshal99]

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/01062288700.511.GIF

[princesa]

The Lex/Clark friendship is what I really liked best about Smallville.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Given the similarities between the two, I'd imagine that Lex's relationship with Clark wouldn't be all that different from Bruce's relationship with Clark.

Both are driven billionaire geniuses, just on opposite sides of the law.

[gideon]

Given the similarities between the two, I'd imagine that Lex's relationship with Clark wouldn't be all that different from Bruce's relationship with Clark.

Both are driven billionaire geniuses, just on opposite sides of the law.

Perhaps, but Bruce has his own demons that drive him, and thus they've never truly operated together. Especially since that Worlds Finest crap is over.

Lex and Clark, from the beginning, I suspect could have built something amazing. Horrible or beautiful, that's the question.

[datriadx18]

I've always been a firm supporter of the whole Clark and Lex friendship... I always looked at it that Lex is not inherently bad, but it's his hatred of what Superman represents as an alien in man's world that makes him make questionable choices. This ultimately drives him and Clark apart.
I also like the Smallville dynamic, citing that because of Clark turning his back on him, Lex ultimately becomes the embodiment of evil.

People should read the Lex Luthor, Man of Steel trade.