Real name: Lex Luthor
A.K.A.: Alexi Luthor, Atomic Man
First Appearance: Superman I#23 (April 1940)
Abilities: Genius intellect
Quotes: "With scientific miracles at my fingertips, I'm preparing to make myself supreme master of the world!"
Worst Act: Murder, multiple attempts to take over the world and trying to kill Superman
Created by: Jerry Sigel (writer) and Joe Shuster/Paul Cassidy(pencils/inks)
Last year I did Two-Face for the 22nd, so why not take a look back at another personal favorite?
Lex Luthor has been a near constant thorn in Superman's side since 1940 and has gone through a few different versions. Introduced first as a red-haired genius dictator, Luthor's background would be expanded in the late 50's. Now he was the childhood friend of Clark Kent and idolized Superboy until a freak lab accident robbed him of his hair.
From there he would be your standard criminal mastermind (although he did managed to kill Superman in one classic imaginary story), often using his prison grays as a costume.
The 1970's would introduce a new wrinkle. Earlier, Lex found himself being worshipped as a hero by the planet Lexor, even marrying a local and fathering a son, but Lexor soon went the way of Krypton. Lex became a bitter and driven, now swearing to destroy Superman.
The 1980's take would be a radical departure and would stay with the character for decades. Now head of a multi-billion company, Lex was now the type of villain that personified the 80s-greed unchecked. He was also smart enough to figure out Superman's identity, but refused to accept that someone of Superman's power would be content to pretend to be human.
Unrelenting arrogance and genius mixed together. I suppose that's the thing and that puts Lex over other villains is that he views himself as a hero, in fact the only hero capable to stopping Superman.
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