There are a lot of big twists in the new Superman movie, but perhaps the most pivotal one is also the most classic. Lex Luthor’s convoluted plot to turn the world against the Man of Steel might seem a little far-fetched, but it’s also nearly identical to the methods that Luthor employed back in his very first appearance. In 1940, in Action Comics #23, the world was first introduced to a supervillain called “Luthor” in a story called “Europe at War (Part II).” And the original Luthor’s machinations were very similar to what plays out in the new film.
Spoilers ahead for Superman.
