Lex Luthor Explained: From Mad Scientist to President to Supercorp (1939–2025) Episode #28 of Comics & Brews.
By Comics & Brews — with hosts TazAlGhul & Just Abby
Beers of the Episode: Wiley Roots “County Fair Cobbler: Cherry Cheesecake” (Greeley, CO) & Black Forest Brewery “Juice Bomb” NE Hazy IPA (6.8% ABV, 42 IBUs)
Here’s a quick breakdown for the skimmers.
Lex Luthor is the Superman foil: a genius obsessed with proving human supremacy over a “god.” He’s been a Golden-Age war profiteer, a Silver/Bronze-Age world-hopping scientist who even ran a planet called Lexor—then accidentally destroyed it, an ‘80s/’90s LexCorp tycoon who poisoned himself with a kryptonite ring and returned in a cloned body as “Lex Luthor II,” the President of the United States (2001), a reluctant savior during Forever Evil who then joined the Justice League, and most recently, the prisoner-kingmaker who rebranded LexCorp as Supercorp to “help” Superman in DC’s 2023 relaunch. Now that you’ve gotten the brief nitty gritty of the insane Lex Luthor be sure to give the full episode a listen right below. And if you want to keep reading to get even more details just keep on scrolling away.
Why Lex Luthor Still Matters.
Every era reinvents Lex to match real-world power: mad scientists during wartime, hostile takeovers in the ‘80s, political strongmen in the 2000s, tech-barons and PR puppeteers today. That elasticity—plus an unbreakable grudge—keeps him in Superman’s weight class without throwing a single punch.
Golden Age: The Red Haired Puppet Master
Lex debuts in Action Comics #23 (April 1940): a war-stoking mastermind with a full head of red hair. The bald look we all recognize came later after an artist mistake. The important part was always there—ruthless intellect vs. Superman’s ideals.
Why it clicked: In a world rattled by global conflict, “brains behind the war” felt terrifyingly real.
Silver / Bronze Age Smallville Grudge, Lexor, and a Planet-Sized Tragedy
Writers retrofitted Lex’s baldness and hatred into a Smallville origin in Adventure Comics #271 (1960): a lab accident during a Superboy-era mishap wipes out Lex’s hair and a prized experiment. He vows revenge—forever.
Bronze-Age Lex even had a world—Lexor—where he was celebrated as a hero, married, and had a son. In Action Comics #544 (1983), Lex’s vendetta leads to catastrophe: Lexor is destroyed during his battle with Superman; the issue also debuts the now-iconic green/purple warsuit. Tragedy + tech armor harden Lex’s image heading into the modern era.
Post-Crisis Reinvention (1986): CEO of LexCorp
The 1986 mini-series The Man of Steel rebuilt Superman’s world—and transformed Lex into an ‘80s corporate titan: the billionaire who owns Metropolis and corrupts its institutions. It’s less ray-guns, more non-disclosure agreements and “plausible deniability.” This version became hugely influential across TV, film, and games as you can tell today with the most recent superman movie that shows exactly this. Bald man. Millionaire and ready to smoke superman at any moment.
Why it works: Superman defends people; Lex controls systems. That makes him terrifying without a fistfight. However, I think I dig the fist swinging crazy super suit version of lex just a weeee bit more. At least this version is more realistic so that’s pretty neat.
The 1990s: Kryptonite Ring, Cancer, & Lex Luthor II
Post-Crisis Lex flexes with a kryptonite ring—then discovers prolonged exposure is carcinogenic… to him. He fakes his death and returns in a cloned, younger body as “Lex Luthor II,” complete with flowing red hair and a new accent—until the facade crumbles. Peak comics soap opera, but it cemented the idea that Lex will burn the world down before admitting weakness.
President Luthor (2000–2003)
Yes, it happened. The President Luthor era kicks off with Superman: Lex 2000 #1 and cascades through the early 2000s. It’s not parody—Lex governs, leverages crises, and ultimately loses power under the weight of his obsession. It’s the crystal-clear thesis of the character: status above virtue.
New52 & Rebirth: Forever Evil Heroics → Justice League Member
In Forever Evil (2013–2014), the Justice League is gone and the Crime Syndicate rules. Lex organizes a counterattack, saves the world, and parlayed that into a seat on the Justice League—a PR judo throw only Luthor could pull off.
Rebirth (2016): With Superman presumed dead, Lex dons an S-shield and cape in Action Comics #957, declaring himself Metropolis’s protector—an ego play wrapped in public service.
Dawn of DC (2023): Prison Chess & Supercorp
The 2023 relaunch puts Lex behind bars but still three moves ahead: he rebrands LexCorp as Supercorp and hands it to Superman to “help” him—strings attached, obviously. See Superman Vol. 1: Supercorp (collecting #1–5). It’s the perfect modern Lex move: change the label, retain the leverage.
How Lex Works: The Psychology of a Nemesis
- Human exceptionalism: Lex worships humanity—specifically himself. An alien ideal undermines his self-myth.
- Power as narrative: Scientist → CEO → President → “Superman.” Each reinvention is a new story where Lex wins the argument.
- Mirror of Superman: Where Superman chooses service, Lex chooses control. That’s why their fight never ends.
Essential Reading & Key Book Checklist
- Action Comics #23 (1940) — First appearance; red-haired mastermind.
- Adventure Comics #271 (1960) — The Smallville hair-loss origin that fuels the lifelong grudge.
- Action Comics #544 (1983) — Lexor destroyed; debut of the warsuit. Massive status-quo shift.
- The Man of Steel (1986) — Byrne’s corporate-overlord LexCorp era begins.
- Kryptonite Ring / ‘90s clone saga — Hubris → cancer → “Lex Luthor II.”
- President Luthor / Lex 2000 — The White House tenure and fall.
- Forever Evil (2013–2014) — Lex saves the world and joins the Justice League.
- Action Comics #957 (2016) — Lex as Superman (armor + S-shield).
- Superman Vol. 1: Supercorp (2023) — The latest “ally” play from prison.
Beers of the Episode
- Wiley Roots – “The County Fair Cobbler: Cherry Cheesecake” (Greeley, CO)
Dessert-in-a-glass that tastes like a glorious cherry pie—perfect for the Silver/Bronze-Age melodrama vibe. - Black Forest Brewery – “Juice Bomb” NE Hazy IPA (near Colorado Springs) — 6.8% ABV, 42 IBUs
Big, juicy citrus and haze—our pick for the swaggering LexCorp era.
If you’re in the Colorado Springs area and have never hit the Black Forest Brewery I’d def swing on by and give their Gose flight a try. Normally not the biggest Gose fan since I feel like they taste like cologne half the time but these ones absolutely slapped. My fav of them all though is hands down the Pickle Gose. For sure an acquired taste though so beware.
Lex Luthor FAQ (For Quick Searchers)
Who created Lex Luthor and when did he first appear?
Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster’s villain debuts in Action Comics #23 (April 1940).
Why is Lex Luthor bald?
The bald look stuck after early art inconsistencies; later writers canonized a Superboy-era lab accident that burned off his hair (Adventure Comics #271).
What is Lexor and did Lex really destroy it?
Lexor was a world where Lex was adored—and it was destroyed amid a Luthor/Superman clash in Action Comics #544.
How did Lex become president?
The President Luthor arc begins with Superman: Lex 2000 #1 and unfolds across early-2000s Superman titles.
Did Lex ever become a “hero”?
During Forever Evil, Lex leads the resistance against the Crime Syndicate and even joins the Justice League afterward—temporarily.
What’s “Supercorp”?
In DC’s 2023 relaunch, Lex (from prison!) rebrands LexCorp as Supercorp—a corporate “gift” to Superman collected in Superman Vol. 1: Supercorp.
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At Comics & Brews we have a love for craft beer and a need to read comics. Whether we’re telling the drunk history of comic book characters on our podcast or touring the US hunting for beers and books we’re here to give you the comic and beer content you need. That’s why our slogan is Read Brews, Drink Comics … Because why not? Take a look at our blog for all of our daily content.
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