Alexander Joseph Luthor is one of the richest and smartest men in the world, a malignant narcissist with a genius-level intellect and endless resources. Before Superman arrived in Metropolis, Lex was the hero of the city, the man who helped build the backbone of Metropolis. Then along came this man, someone who was faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and could fly faster than the speed of light. Because of Superman's prescience, Lex feels like he's lost his mantle as the hero of Metropolis, and he can't stand feeling small. His jealousy soon spirals into xenophobia, and Lex starts to see Superman as the ultimate threat to humanity. Seeing no reason to trust this all powerful alien being, Lex swears to rid the world of the Kryptonian threat for the benefit of all mankind.
