Alienated Origin

For his parents, one look at their son's I.Q. test results was enough to convince them that he would make them wealthy. Their determination for him to excel however, helped to destroy his soul and create a sociopath.

Lex spent years searching for extraterrestrial life and as part of his hunt went to Smallville, Kansas when he was 18. While there, Lex befriended another alienated young man, Clark Kent (Superman). When a fire destroyed his laboratory and his scientific achievements, he refused to take any of the blame. Instead he blamed the people of Smallville for "letting the Luthors burn." To this day, he refuses to acknowledge he has ever been to Smallville.

The Rise of Lex Luthor

Years later, Lex appeared in Metropolis and built his technology company, Lexcorp. The company grew by leaps and bounds. With financial success comes political power and soon Luthor was considered to be the most powerful man in Metropolis. Then came the day when the people looked beyond Luthor's skyscaper to see a man in the skies above. With the arrival of Superman, Luthor's world was turned upside-down. Superman openly accused Lex of his criminal behavior, shattering the humanitarian image Lex had created. Luthor was unable (or unwilling) to link the "meddling alien" with the boy he knew years before.

Kryptonite Ring

Luthor tried many times to end the "alien menace", but was thwarted by Superman every time. Lex even fashioned a ring from kryptonite to use. The constant exposure to kryptonite radiation gave Lex cancer. Lex eventually faked his death and had his brain transferred to a healthy clone body. He assumed the role of his own, hitherto unknown, heir. He resumed his battle with Superman with the same lack of success.

Metropolis In Ruins

When Lois Lane exposed his criminal dealings, Luthor showed his true colors. He triggered explosive devices throughout the city. Metropolis was virtually destroyed by the explosions. Superman and his fellow heroes helped in the reconstruction and the battle between them continued.

President Luthor

Realizing the need to silence his detractors in the fourth estate, Luthor bought the Daily Planet and sold it to Perry White. The sale came with a string, that Lois killed one story of his choosing. Feeling safe from exposure, Luthor ran for President of the United States to gain the power to bring Superman down. He served the U.S.'s interests surprisingly well, forging links with Atlantis and Russia and rallying troops for the Imperiex Invasion.

Stop The Press

The tenacious Lois found out that Luthor had known about the threat from Imperiex much earlier than stated. This was the article Luthor tried to kill, however Lois gave her notes to Clark who produced a scathing report.

Descent Into Madness

Luthor takes the fight to Superman