There are comedian ebook villains after which there’s Lex Luthor, a person whose genius, ambition, and ego is aware of no limits. Whereas typically dubbed “Superman’s arch-nemesis,” Lex is way over that. Throughout DC’s comedian ebook historical past, Luthor’s actions have repeatedly crossed many a line that places him up there subsequent to Ozymandias from Watchmen, although crucially, it isn’t typically both that Lex does any villainy based mostly on an ethical code. As an alternative, it’s regularly simply his ego that’s motivation sufficient for a few of his most villainous deeds.
With James Gunn’s Superman film giving new audiences as glimpe of simply how diabolical the one and solely Lex Luthor will be, let’s check out among the most unhinged issues the final word villain has completed in comics
7) Ran for President and Received
Let’s be sincere: billionaires working for president isn’t uncommon and even all that unhinged. They’ve received the cash, the starvation for energy, and typically a hidden agenda. Lex Luthor matches this mildew completely and was very profitable, working for — and profitable — the American presidency in “Lex 2000.” The story is a near-perfect parody of the rich getting into into politics. Thankfully, the pages of comics nonetheless make sure the villains get their comeuppance in the long run and Lex’s time as Chief of the Free World didn’t final. All in all, Lex’s marketing campaign isn’t that unhinged, given actual world plausibility of all of it, so this second belongs proper up there at quantity seven.
6) Cloned Superman Simply to Kill Him
One in every of Lex Luthor’s most iconic acts is cloning Superman, a plot repeated typically throughout DC Comics media. That’s partly why it lands at quantity six: it’s a recurring incidence within the comics and past. Nonetheless, the truth that Lex has cloned Superman a minimum of thrice reveals how far he’ll go to destroy Superman and that’s fairly unhinged. These clones, handled like weapons somewhat than individuals, replicate Lex’s chilly, tactical thoughts. Whereas not shocking for him, it’s telling simply how obsessive he’s grow to be through the years. For that motive — in addition to its frequent incidence — this second sits at quantity six.
5) Attempt to Kill Superman Utilizing A Kryptonite Ring, Solely to Wind Up Getting Most cancers
One would assume Lex Luthor was being intelligent by all the time carrying Kryptonite on his individual, all the time ready for a shock encounter with Superman because it’s the one substance that may weaken or kill the Man of Metal, however the irony that adopted afterwards informed a unique story. Luthor’s fixed publicity to Kryptonite would trigger him to develop most cancers, and even go as far as to amputate his hand to fight this situation. Seems, the very weapon meant to harm Superman essentially the most right here would wind up doing most harm to Lex himself. Had he used even a fraction of that effort in the direction of self-preservation, he would possibly’ve averted this fully. However Lex’s hatred would possibly as was blind to him, and for this unhinged case of self-sabotage the second will get a rank of 5 from this record.
4) Employed Deathstroke to Assassinate His Personal Father
Like his son, Lionel Luthor had a deeply flawed status, formed largely by years of alcohol-fueled abuse in the direction of Lex. So, in Lex’s thoughts, hiring Deathstroke to kill him felt justified — chilly, however logical. To Lex, his father wasn’t only a private wound, however a stain on his legacy, one greatest eliminated completely. Then once more, whereas the choice is probably not fully stunning, given their historical past, it nonetheless speaks volumes. As an alternative of looking for assist for his father, or on the very least letting bygones be bygones, Lex selected homicide for rent. Regardless of the reasoning, having your individual father assassinated nonetheless sounds unhinged.
3) Gave Lois Lane Most cancers Simply to Get at Superman
Lots of Lex Luthor’s battles with Superman present how intellectually superior he’s, however moments like this show that there are nonetheless a variety of deficiencies with that — even when he’s arguably attempting to do the precise factor. In certainly one of his most unhinged acts but on this record, Lex provides Lois most cancers to “assist” Superman recuperate emotionally. He believes the trauma will snap Clark out of his droop, framing it as a twisted type of help. However utilizing most cancers as remedy is past deranged and even when Lex tries to assist, it looks like a vicious and unfeeling assault. Yikes.
2) Let a Metropolis Get Demolished Simply to Destroy Superman’s Popularity
Lex Luthor as soon as constructed a whole metropolis — and destroyed it — simply to wreck Superman’s status. In Justice League: Limitless, Lex posed as a reformed-criminal-turned-philanthropist, constructing Lexor Metropolis to deal with low-income households as proof. When Superman finds a suspicious gadget beneath, he clashes with Shazam to get it, destroying Lexor within the course of. The gadget is later revealed to be a clear vitality supply, till this modifications when Lex’s true intentions lastly come to mild. Lexor was designed to sabotage Superman’s picture, and it labored, displaying as soon as once more the immense lengths of Lex’s hatred for Superman and simply how far he’s prepared to go. However why merely destroy a metropolis when you’ll be able to go… greater?
1) Destroyed an Complete planet
Sure, you learn that proper. Luthor is on report for as soon as destroying a whole planet, Lexor. What led to this was, in fact, the arrival of Superman. Luthor, feeling threatened by his arrival, gears up in a strong mechanical swimsuit, constructed from Lexor tech, and proceeds to do battle with the Man of Metal. This then has the consequence of ensuing within the complete destruction of Lexor, which does away with not solely the whole inhabitants, however the household that Lex had constructed throughout his keep on the planet as properly. So not solely did Lex destroy a whole world, however his circle of relatives as properly. For that motive, this second deserves high billing on the primary spot on this insane record.
What do you assume essentially the most unhinged factor Lex Luthor has ever completed is? Tell us within the feedback.
