Lex Luthor (DC Universe)


Created by:
Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster; recreated by Marv Wolfman and John Byrne
First Appearance:
(historical) Action Comics #23 (May 1940); (current) Superman: The Man of Steel #4 (Late Nov 1986)
Doppelgangers:
Alexander Luthor (Anti-Matter Universe), Lex Luthor (Animated DC Universe), and Lex Luthor (Justice Lord’s Earth)

“I take his [Superman’s] leadership of this preposterous team of alpha males [the JLA] as a direct challenge, a throwing down of the gauntlet, a clear and deliberate escalation of the hostilities between us.” - Lex Luthor (JLA #11 (Oct 1997))

Name:
Alexander “Lex” Joseph Luthor
Aliases:
Lex Luthor II (identity used when posing as his own son) and Alex Luthor (“criminal” identity used while under the influence of a mind control nanite)
Status:
  • Identity: Public figure
  • Legal: US Citizen with a criminal record (status of convictions unclear)
  • Marital: Assumed widowed; multiple previous divorces
Occupation:
Super villain; formerly President of the United States and Chief Executive Office of Lexcorp International
Location:
Metropolis, USA
Affiliations:
Injustice Gang II ( (March 2004) , (March 2004) ), Injustice League I (retroactive story Silver Age #1 (July 2000) - (vol. ) #1 ()), and Lexcorp International (Superman: The Man of Steel #4 (Late Nov 1986) - to present)
Genotype:
Homo sapiens
Height:
6’ 2”
Weight:
210
Eyes:
Green
Hair:
Bald, original red
Description:

Lex Luthor has possessed two different bodies in the Chronicles. During his first encounter with Superman (on the Sea Queen) Lex appeared to be a slightly overweight man in his early 50s with receding red hair. By the time of Metallo’s first appearance (the start of the post-Crisis Chronicles) Lex has lost the rest of his hair and had gained a few more pounds. His second and current body was grown around his disembodied brain (all that was saved from the original) and has been genetically “tweaked” by Lexcorp scientists. Lex now appears twenty years younger, is four inches taller and 15 pounds lighter that his old-self. In the identity of Lex Luthor II he had long flowing red hair, but it fell out when he became infected with the clone plague. Lex has maintained the physique of his new younger body and often spars with his bodyguards Hope and Mercy.

Lex Luthor is one of the world’s most successful business men and is almost never seen dressed in anything other than his trademark black suits - the cut and style may vary, there may or may not be a waistcoat, but the suit is always black. Lex originally stuck with the black tie, white shirt, black waistcoat look, but has recently developed a fondness for modern white collarless shirts.

Known Relatives:
Contessa Erica Alexandra del Portenza (wife, assumed deceased), Casey and Elaine Griggs (foster parents, deceased), Lena Luthor (daughter), Edna Luthor (ancestor, deceased), Daine Luthor (ancestor, deceased), Wallace Luthor (grandfather, deceased), other ex-wifes (unnamed), parents (unnamed, deceased), Elizabeth Perske (ex-wife), and Perry J. White Jr. (son, deceased)

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