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Few comic book villains command the same respect and fascination with casual readers as Lex Luthor. People who have never read a comic book know that Lex Luthor is Superman’s foe. He’s not just Superman’s nemesis—he’s a mirror reflecting humanity’s ambition, intellect, and moral fragility. Across decades of comic book storytelling, Lex has shifted from being mainly a mad scientist in the Golden Age to a Modern Age corporate titan. He is the ultimate enemy and ally to Superman.
It sounds odd, but like Batman and the Joker, Lex Luthor and Superman are narratively weaker if one exists without the other. The power dynamic between these two characters is dramatic because one is an alien with the powers of a God and the other is a human with no powers. This dynamic reflects the moralities of Superman and Lex; why would a human with no powers want to become the arch-nemesis of an omnipotent being?
Luthor is a complicated character; the Lex Luthor that we all know today did not really exist until the Gene Hackman characterization in 1978’s Superman and the 1986 comic Man of Steel.
The Ultimate Enemy and Ally
Lex Luthor made his debut in Action Comics #23 in 1940. From 1940 to 1986, Luthor was basically a criminal mastermind or mad scientist in the comic books and cartoons. Hackman’s portrayal of the character in 1978 was the first time that Lex was seen as a rich, corporate tycoon who got a personal thrill and was visibly enjoying harassing Superman.
In 1986, the Man of Steel comic permanently modernized Luthor into a billionaire corporate titan who found Superman’s existence on Earth an insult to the human race. Luthor, who has no powers, has a God complex, bottomless ego, ruthlessness, and narcissism as his main personality traits.
He tells himself that Superman is a potential threat to humanity, but he really resents the fact that as long as Superman exists, Luthor will never be recognized for his accomplishments. Lex is quite envious of Superman, whether he admits it or not. Lex also sees himself as the ultimate threat on Earth, a threat that Superman never takes seriously enough.
It took decades for writers and artists to craft Luthor into the ultimate enemy, and all for Superman. As much as Luthor despises Superman, there are crucial moments when even Luthor realizes that he must ally with the alien for the greater good and his long-term agendas.
These eight stories reveal the many faces of Lex Luthor – his brilliance, his ego, and his rare moments of redemption.
1. All‑Star Superman (2005)
Grant Morrison’s All‑Star Superman delivers one of the most profound portrayals of Lex Luthor. Facing a dying Superman, Lex finally achieves his lifelong dream of defeating the Man of Steel. Unfortunately, Lex briefly experiences Superman’s perspective through a serum granting him super‑intelligence. Lex then realizes the truth: Superman’s compassion for Earth and humanity isn’t weakness; it’s strength.
Superman, an alien, possesses a depth of compassion and humanity that Luthor could never hope to match.
Lex’s motivation is pure envy and existential resentment; he believes humanity can only thrive without gods. For a fleeting moment, Lex becomes an ally in understanding, not destruction. It’s a rare glimpse of humility from a man defined by his narcissism and pride.
Buy the 298-page paper on Amazon for $17.46 now.
2. Lex Luthor: Man of Steel (2005)
Lex Luthor: Man of Steel tells a disturbing story from the point of view of Luthor. This story is not just about Luthor, but the fickle moral standards of human beings towards threats they perceive. Told from Luthor’s perspective, the story explores his steadfast belief that Superman’s existence undermines human progress and perpetually endangers them.
Luthor’s manic ideological mindset is that he alone is humanity’s sole protector against alien interference. He also won’t admit that he is envious of Superman and that Superman outshines his achievements. Still, he’s driven by the fear that humanity will never reach its full potential under Superman’s shadow.
So, Luthor sponsors the creation of a new superhero, Hope, to show the world how dangerous Superman is. This story shows Lex at his most human—and most dangerous.
Get the 144-page paperback now at Amazon.
3. Forever Evil (2013)
After the Justice League disappears, the Crime Syndicate, an evil version of the Justice League from another reality, takes over Earth. Lex Luthor, whose greatest dream was to get rid of Superman, finally has a world without Superman. Now, with the help of Batman, Catwoman, Black Manta, Captain Cold, Bizarro, Black Adam, and the worst villains on Earth, Luthor vows to stop the Crime Syndicate.
In the 7-issue Forever Evil, Lex becomes a reluctant hero leading a team of villains to restore order. Still, his main motivation, as always, is control.
Lex doesn’t want chaos—he wants a world that bends to his will. Yet his actions save countless lives, proving that even his selfishness can yield good. Here, Lex is an ally by necessity, not morality. He fights evil not because he’s good, but because he refuses to let anyone else rule his world.
Buy the 240-page paperback for $21.51 on Amazon now.
4. Superman: The Black Ring (2010)
In The Black Ring, Lex embarks on a cosmic quest for ultimate power after Superman’s “death.” The story follows Lex’s obsession with acquiring the Black Lantern energy—a force tied to death itself. Luthor’s motivation is pure greed for knowledge, dominance, and more power. Black Lantern energy creates zombies and almost destroyed the universe, and Luthor wants its power.
He wants to transcend mortality and prove his superiority to all beings. So, Luthor gains control of an Orange Lantern ring. Green Lantern rings need willpower to work, but Orange Lantern rings are powered by greed. However, Luthor ultimately fails in his quest. Even when offered godlike power, Lex cannot feel joy, only the void left by his endless rivalry with Superman.
Unfortunately, the longer he wields the Orange Lantern ring, the more paranoid and feral he becomes. He’s the enemy of peace, even his own.
Buy the 140-page hardcover for $25.50 at Amazon.
5. The Man of Steel (1986)
John Byrne’s The Man of Steel reboot redefined Lex for a new era of fans. Gone was the mad scientist or madcap criminal mastermind version of Luthor; in his place stood a billionaire tycoon manipulating Metropolis from the shadows. Lex’s new motivations became ruthless control through influence. Lex learns that he doesn’t need to destroy Superman physically when he can just undermine him socially and politically.
This version of Lex is the ultimate enemy of ideals, using wealth and power to corrupt truth itself. Byrne’s take made Lex terrifyingly real—a villain who could exist in our world. However, he wears a luxury suit and watch instead of armor.
It cannot be understated that before this series, Luthor was only a run-of-the-mill and sometimes bungling criminal mastermind in the comics. Byrne created the character type for Lex Luthor as a billionaire, industrialist, and megalomaniac that endures today in comics, film, TV, cartoons, and video games. (Gene Hackman deserves credit, too, for his 1978 portrayal in Superman.)
Buy this 478-page hardcover collecting the entire saga for $28.86 at Amazon.
6. Justice League: Darkseid War (2015)
In Darkseid War, Lex Luthor temporarily becomes the God of Apokolips, Darkseid’s homeworld, after Darkseid’s “death.” Empowered by divine energy, Lex faces the ultimate test of his ego. His motivation shifts from rivalry to transcendence. Proving he’s not just Superman’s equal is not enough for Luthor anymore. He is now a god among gods.
Yet power only amplifies his flaws. Lex’s arrogance blinds him to the moral responsibilities of divinity. His brief alliance with the Justice League collapses under Luthor’s perpetual need for dominance. He’s an ally in name only but an ultimate enemy in spirit.
Buy the 376-page paperback for $29.99 at Amazon.
7. Dawn of DC: Superman – Supercorp (2023)
In the Dawn of DC era, Lex Luthor shocks everyone by funding SuperCorp, a company designed to help Superman protect Metropolis more efficiently. His motivation? Legacy. Lex wants to ensure his name endures even if it means empowering his greatest rival. While imprisoned, he manipulates events from afar, positioning himself as both benefactor and puppet master.
Here, Lex is an ally cloaked in altruism, using corporate power to shape Superman’s mission. It’s a fascinating evolution: Lex as a partner in heroism yet still scheming to control the narrative of who saves the world. He is posing as Superman’s ally to prove he is better than Superman without his fortune and while in prison.
Buy the 184-page paperback for $11.74 now on Amazon.
8. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2003)
In Public Enemies, Lex Luthor becomes President of the United States. President Luthor uses his position to frame Superman and Batman as threats to national security. His motivation is beyond political domination; he believes only he can lead humanity into a new and better age of prosperity. So, Luthor assembles and sponsors his own team of metahumans to take down Superman.
Batman proves the duo’s innocence.
After his corruption is exposed, Lex descends into madness, proving that absolute power only magnifies his paranoia. As the enemy of both heroes, Lex embodies the danger of unchecked ambition. Yet his presidency also shows his true potential. If Lex could have overcome his obsession with Superman and narcissistic tendencies, he might have been the world’s greatest leader.
Buy the 160-page paperback for $8 on Amazon.
The Appealing Duality of Lex Luthor
Across these eight stories, Lex Luthor emerges as more than a villain—he’s a study in human contradiction. His genius is undeniable, his ambition unmatched, and his morality ever shifting. Sometimes he saves the world; sometimes he tries to burn it down. But in every incarnation, Lex represents the eternal question: Can humanity thrive under the shadow of gods, or must it destroy them to be free?
Whether he’s battling Superman, leading villains, or funding heroism, Lex Luthor remains one of comics’ most complex figures—a man who could have been humanity’s greatest ally if not for his own pride.
Lex’s stories endure because they speak to our deepest fears and desires. We all want to be seen, respected, and remembered. Lex takes those impulses to their extreme, turning ambition into obsession. His greatest battles aren’t against Superman; they’re against his own limitations.
That’s why readers keep returning to him: Lex Luthor isn’t just the enemy of Superman; he’s the embodiment of humanity’s struggle to define greatness. So next time you pick up a comic, look beyond the cape and the kryptonite. Look at Lex, the man who could have saved the world, if only he could stop trying to own it.
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The post The 8 Best Lex Luthor Comics Where He Becomes Superman’s Greatest Enemy – and His Greatest Ally appeared first on Personal Finance Advice.
