Lex Luthor

Alexander Joseph "Lex" Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Luthor is the archenemy of Superman, though given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the character first appeared in Action Comics #23 (April 1940).

Superman

Here you are, sir! This serum will cure cancer.

• Lex Luthor: Here you are, sir! This serum will cure cancer.

Warden: Just like that eh...? I'll have some reputable scientists investigate your claim. Meanwhile, return to the rock-pile!

• Superman #149, The Death of Superman (1961) by Jerry Siegel, Curt Swan and Sheldon Moldoff

Lex Luthor: Man of Steel

I believe there’s something inherently dangerous when something real becomes mythic. Because when faced with a myth we can’t win. So the mythic must be exposed for what it is. So we can believe in ourselves. Because it’s only what’s in us…the drive to be mythic…that matters.

• A life, some would argue, is a series of problems. There’s no denying the truth in that – but why get lost in it? Why not rise above the truth… and lead a good life? Shouldn’t we all look at problems as a chance for us to find… solutions?

• I believe there’s something inherently dangerous when something real becomes mythic. Because when faced with a myth we can’t win. So the mythic must be exposed for what it is. So we can believe in ourselves. Because it’s only what’s in us…the drive to be mythic…that matters.

• But one thing’s clear, beyond the mask he wears… is his passion. A palpable thing, that’s almost greater then the man himself. And if there’s passion… there’s desire. And desire means there’s a hole in the man. (About Bruce Wayne/Batman)

• What gives measure to a man's choices is what he has to give up to make them.

• (Talking to Superman) You profess a love for humanity, but that's an emotion you cannot possibly know, because those same abilities make it impossible for you to know it's opposite, it's something that today has its grip on every heart of Metropolis, fear.

• But then, Hope is an aspiration, a beacon that shines brighter than any star lighting the way for all mankind, Hope is the refusal of the inevitable, a hand lifted to the clouds, Hope is what makes us humans, for when reality threatens to destroy us, we reach inward, and we create Hope. It's the greatest gift we can give each other, though it may just be the foundation to a house of cards.

• (Talking to Superman) "Those red eyes, I'm sure they look right through me, like I am nothing more than a nuisance. But when I see you? I see something no man can ever be. I see the end. The end of our potential. The end of our achievements. The end of our dreams. You are my nightmare."

All-Star Superman

• I’ve tried to be a model citizen, General Lane. I know I promised I wouldn’t waste my intellect on kryptonite robots and elaborate super deathtraps. I know that. But three months ago, I looked in the mirror at those nasty little spiderwebs of lines around my eyes and I realized something. I’m getting older, and... and he isn’t.
• Chief Judge: Attila the Hun, Genghis Kahn, Al Capone, Adolf Hitler, Lex Luthor. You freely admit that these vile and appalling criminals are the men you revere above all as heroes and role models. Your insane schemes have placed in jeopardy the lives of every man, woman and child on this planet. Have you anything more to say before I deliver the verdict of this court?

Lex Luthor: Superman made me do it. He should be on trial here.

Adventure Comics

• Lex giveth-- --and Lex taketh away.
  • Adventure Comics Vol 2 #6, written by Geoff Johns

Smallville

• You know, I used to think that it was our families that makes us who we are? Then I hoped it was our friends. But if you look at history, the great men and women of the world have always been defined by their enemies.

About Lex Luthor

• It's a pity Lex Luthor has become a multinationalist; I liked him better as a bald scientist. He was in prison, but they couldn't put his mind in prison. Now he's just a skinny Kingpin.
• Neil Gaiman, Neil Gaiman Interview, Hero Illustrated #18, (December 1994).

• Mr. Wicker: Although my expert contact is charging one million dollars for a ten-minute consultancy, I think you'll agree he's worth it. We want to destroy an indestructible being. My contact is a specialist in that area. Gentlemen....
  Mr. Lex Luthor.
  Our ten minutes start now.
  • Alan Moore, Swamp Thing #52, (Oct, 1986), p.17.

• Despite my own personal prejudices, I say we leave Lex the criminal businessman he's been for the past 17 years. The Lois & Clark producers liked it, the WB cartoon guys liked it... so clearly, it works on some level. My concern is that, at least in my eyes, the fact that Luthor's allowed to operate uncontested for years makes Superman look ineffectual.
  • Waid, Mark (2005). Superman: Birthright – The Origin of the Man of Steel. DC Comics. ISBN 1-4012-0252-7

• I never believed the original Luthor. Every story would begin with him breaking out of prison, finding some giant robot in an old lab he hid somewhere, and then he'd be defeated. My view was if he could afford all those labs and giant robots he wouldn't need to rob banks. I also thought later that Luthor should not have super powers. Every other villain had super powers. Luthor's power was his mind. He needed to be smarter than Superman. Superman's powers had to be useless against him because they couldn't physically fight each other and Superman was simply not as smart as Luthor.
  • Marv Wolfman; Interview with Marv Wolfman. Superman Homepage. by Freiman, Barry (2005-11-15). Archived June 14, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.