Since the start of the New 52 I'd argue that perhaps no character has had as much of a journey or undergone more change than Lex Luthor.

For both good and ill DC have done a lot with him in the last nine years and I'd like to take a look at that to see how it all panned out.
Since the start of the New 52 I'd argue that perhaps no character has had as much of a journey or undergone more change than Lex Luthor.For both good and ill DC have done a lot with him in the last nine years and I'd like to take a look at that to see how it all panned out.
Since the start of the New 52 I'd argue that perhaps no character has had as much of a journey or undergone more change than Lex Luthor.For both good and ill DC have done a lot with him in the last nine years and I'd like to take a look at that to see how it all panned out.
Since the start of the New 52 I'd argue that perhaps no character has had as much of a journey or undergone more change than Lex Luthor.For both good and ill DC have done a lot with him in the last nine years and I'd like to take a look at that to see how it all panned out.
Since the start of the New 52 I'd argue that perhaps no character has had as much of a journey or undergone more change than Lex Luthor.For both good and ill DC have done a lot with him in the last nine years and I'd like to take a look at that to see how it all panned out.
We meet Lex in Morrison's Action Comics. Archetypally arrogant and hateful of alien life, he immediately begins his rivalry with a young Superman.

Lex is ultimately not the main villain, as this is a Brainiac story, but literally throwing a train at Supes was a fitting start.
We meet Lex in Morrison's Action Comics. Archetypally arrogant and hateful of alien life, he immediately begins his rivalry with a young Superman.Lex is ultimately not the main villain, as this is a Brainiac story, but literally throwing a train at Supes was a fitting start.
We meet Lex in Morrison's Action Comics. Archetypally arrogant and hateful of alien life, he immediately begins his rivalry with a young Superman.Lex is ultimately not the main villain, as this is a Brainiac story, but literally throwing a train at Supes was a fitting start.
Luthor's next chronological appearance is later in an Action Comics arc written by Andy Diggle.

A few years down the line Lex is more established and his psychopathology is read back to him in therapy for our benefit.

(Also lovely art from Tony S.Daniel)
Clark recognises the threat Luthor really poses for the first time.

Luthor's ego is on full display and ultimately his scheme fails and he's sent off to Supervillain jail.
Clark recognises the threat Luthor really poses for the first time.Luthor's ego is on full display and ultimately his scheme fails and he's sent off to Supervillain jail.
Clark recognises the threat Luthor really poses for the first time.Luthor's ego is on full display and ultimately his scheme fails and he's sent off to Supervillain jail.
Back in the 'Superman' book, Clark and Lex have a chat about H'el from inside Luthor's cage.

It's implied they've talked before and have more of an adversarial repartee by now.

The New 52 Superboy is a curiosity to Lex and Superman still his only challenge.
Back in the 'Superman' book, Clark and Lex have a chat about H'el from inside Luthor's cage.It's implied they've talked before and have more of an adversarial repartee by now.The New 52 Superboy is a curiosity to Lex and Superman still his only challenge.
Back in the 'Superman' book, Clark and Lex have a chat about H'el from inside Luthor's cage.It's implied they've talked before and have more of an adversarial repartee by now.The New 52 Superboy is a curiosity to Lex and Superman still his only challenge.
'Superman: Unchained' by Scott Snyder and Jim Lee has Lex break out of his confinement to enact a scheme that will have Superman save the world, at the cost of his life. It's a good book.

Lex is only foiled by a last moment save from Wraith, and he's sent back to prison.
'Superman: Unchained' by Scott Snyder and Jim Lee has Lex break out of his confinement to enact a scheme that will have Superman save the world, at the cost of his life. It's a good book.Lex is only foiled by a last moment save from Wraith, and he's sent back to prison.
'Superman: Unchained' by Scott Snyder and Jim Lee has Lex break out of his confinement to enact a scheme that will have Superman save the world, at the cost of his life. It's a good book.Lex is only foiled by a last moment save from Wraith, and he's sent back to prison.
'Superman: Unchained' by Scott Snyder and Jim Lee has Lex break out of his confinement to enact a scheme that will have Superman save the world, at the cost of his life. It's a good book.Lex is only foiled by a last moment save from Wraith, and he's sent back to prison.
'Superman: Unchained' by Scott Snyder and Jim Lee has Lex break out of his confinement to enact a scheme that will have Superman save the world, at the cost of his life. It's a good book.Lex is only foiled by a last moment save from Wraith, and he's sent back to prison.
Lex is released just before the 'Forever Evil' event that would become so important to his story.

This scene is a quick but excellent look at his entire philosophy.
As so we reach Forever Evil.

With no heroes to save the day Lex and a bunch of villains save the Earth from the Crime Syndicate.
As so we reach Forever Evil.With no heroes to save the day Lex and a bunch of villains save the Earth from the Crime Syndicate.
As so we reach Forever Evil.With no heroes to save the day Lex and a bunch of villains save the Earth from the Crime Syndicate.
The kind of Doctor Frankenstein relationship Lex has with his monster Bizarro is nicely explored throughout the event, as Lex begins to open up to his creation for the first time.
The kind of Doctor Frankenstein relationship Lex has with his monster Bizarro is nicely explored throughout the event, as Lex begins to open up to his creation for the first time.
The kind of Doctor Frankenstein relationship Lex has with his monster Bizarro is nicely explored throughout the event, as Lex begins to open up to his creation for the first time.
Bizarro's demise seems to genuinely affect Lex, and we get his ultimate victory with a classic Luthor line.

"But I'm smarter."
Bizarro's demise seems to genuinely affect Lex, and we get his ultimate victory with a classic Luthor line."But I'm smarter."
Bizarro's demise seems to genuinely affect Lex, and we get his ultimate victory with a classic Luthor line."But I'm smarter."
Lex kills Atomica, but seems a changed man.

After earlier blackmailing, threatening and finally failing to save Thomas Kord, he elects not to take Kord Industries away from the family and praises Ted's work.

Ted calls him "one of the good guys".
Lex kills Atomica, but seems a changed man.After earlier blackmailing, threatening and finally failing to save Thomas Kord, he elects not to take Kord Industries away from the family and praises Ted's work.Ted calls him "one of the good guys".
Lex kills Atomica, but seems a changed man.After earlier blackmailing, threatening and finally failing to save Thomas Kord, he elects not to take Kord Industries away from the family and praises Ted's work.Ted calls him "one of the good guys".
As a result of these events Lex decides he wants on the Justice League, during Geoff Johns' run.

Partly out of pure ego, and partly out of a seemingly genuine realisation that they are not the threat he thought.
As a result of these events Lex decides he wants on the Justice League, during Geoff Johns' run.Partly out of pure ego, and partly out of a seemingly genuine realisation that they are not the threat he thought.
As a result of these events Lex decides he wants on the Justice League, during Geoff Johns' run.Partly out of pure ego, and partly out of a seemingly genuine realisation that they are not the threat he thought.
Batman initially rejects Lex, with a modified tale of the Scorpion and the Toad.

Lex does, however convince the League to allow him to join the greatest heroes of the world.

He also pops up briefly in the Batman/Superman book, in an outfit I maintain is fucking rad.
This leads to an issue which is mostly just members of the Justice League teaching Lex how to be a hero.

Which contains one of my favourite comic pages ever.
He's starting to get it.
Next comes the Amazo Virus arc, in which a virus he created gets loose and causes absolute devastation.

A couple of good scenes with both his sister and Diana. (And lovely art by Fabok).

He's still an undeniable arsehat at times here....
Next comes the Amazo Virus arc, in which a virus he created gets loose and causes absolute devastation.A couple of good scenes with both his sister and Diana. (And lovely art by Fabok).He's still an undeniable arsehat at times here....
Next comes the Amazo Virus arc, in which a virus he created gets loose and causes absolute devastation.A couple of good scenes with both his sister and Diana. (And lovely art by Fabok).He's still an undeniable arsehat at times here....
...and yet he's now doing all he can to help.

In his own often abrasive way.
...and yet he's now doing all he can to help.In his own often abrasive way.
...and yet he's now doing all he can to help.In his own often abrasive way.
And so we roll to Darkseid War, where Lex and Supes have to work together on Apokolips, after Lex is shot by his sister 'For Darkseid'.

They talk, and both ultimately end up with new Godly powers.
Lex, obviously revels in this.
And so we roll to Darkseid War, where Lex and Supes have to work together on Apokolips, after Lex is shot by his sister 'For Darkseid'.They talk, and both ultimately end up with new Godly powers.Lex, obviously revels in this.
And so we roll to Darkseid War, where Lex and Supes have to work together on Apokolips, after Lex is shot by his sister 'For Darkseid'.They talk, and both ultimately end up with new Godly powers.Lex, obviously revels in this.
But in the tie ins we see a short tale of Lex learning to trust others and the origin of some of his psychological damage.
But in the tie ins we see a short tale of Lex learning to trust others and the origin of some of his psychological damage.
But in the tie ins we see a short tale of Lex learning to trust others and the origin of some of his psychological damage.
But in the tie ins we see a short tale of Lex learning to trust others and the origin of some of his psychological damage.
But in the tie ins we see a short tale of Lex learning to trust others and the origin of some of his psychological damage.
He comes out of this looking like a proto Darkseid, but soon has the Omega Sanction taken from him.

Not before getting to take part in an awesome splash pages renouncing Godhood.
He comes out of this looking like a proto Darkseid, but soon has the Omega Sanction taken from him.Not before getting to take part in an awesome splash pages renouncing Godhood.
He comes out of this looking like a proto Darkseid, but soon has the Omega Sanction taken from him.Not before getting to take part in an awesome splash pages renouncing Godhood.
After the war New 52 Superman learns his fate and Lex takes the mantle of Superman for himself.

Literally changing the *ping* of a Motherbox to *Lex* might be the most brilliant and hilarious thing about this whole issue.
Only Luthor could aspire to that level of arrogance.
After the war New 52 Superman learns his fate and Lex takes the mantle of Superman for himself.Literally changing the *ping* of a Motherbox to *Lex* might be the most brilliant and hilarious thing about this whole issue. Only Luthor could aspire to that level of arrogance.
After the war New 52 Superman learns his fate and Lex takes the mantle of Superman for himself.Literally changing the *ping* of a Motherbox to *Lex* might be the most brilliant and hilarious thing about this whole issue. Only Luthor could aspire to that level of arrogance.
The last we see of Luthor before DC: Rebirth is in JL #52, in which is takes the now dead Superman's cape and decides to be a true hero.
The Superman of Metropolis.

He deals with a crime here in a pretty dark way, though he seems troubled by his own actions.
The last we see of Luthor before DC: Rebirth is in JL #52, in which is takes the now dead Superman's cape and decides to be a true hero.The Superman of Metropolis.He deals with a crime here in a pretty dark way, though he seems troubled by his own actions.
The last we see of Luthor before DC: Rebirth is in JL #52, in which is takes the now dead Superman's cape and decides to be a true hero.The Superman of Metropolis.He deals with a crime here in a pretty dark way, though he seems troubled by his own actions.
The last we see of Luthor before DC: Rebirth is in JL #52, in which is takes the now dead Superman's cape and decides to be a true hero.The Superman of Metropolis.He deals with a crime here in a pretty dark way, though he seems troubled by his own actions.
The last we see of Luthor before DC: Rebirth is in JL #52, in which is takes the now dead Superman's cape and decides to be a true hero.The Superman of Metropolis.He deals with a crime here in a pretty dark way, though he seems troubled by his own actions.
From this point on Luthor has declared himself a hero and will wrestle with that going forward.

'SuperLex', as he was dubbed, was a character I grew to love over the next few years and I didn't expect the hero version of Luthor to be something I enjoyed so much.
I'll continue this thread tomorrow with his arc through Rebirth in 'Action Comics" and other titles, and beyond in to current storylines and where we are now.

For now, however, that is...
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