Alexander "Lex" Joseph Luthor (/ˈluːθɔːr, -θər/) is a supervillain in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, he made his first appearance in Action Comics #23 (published on February 22, 1940, with a cover date of April that same year). Since then, he has remained the ultimate nemesis of Superman, embodying the hero’s polar opposite in every way.[1] While Superman represents hope and selflessness, Luthor personifies unchecked ambition and the supremacy of human intellect over the superhuman.[2]
Unlike many supervillains, Luthor is an ordinary human with no superpowers or secret identity. His true strength lies in his unparalleled intelligence, vast wealth, and influence over politics, science, and technology. A genius with an extraordinary aptitude for business and manipulation, he is also proud, calculating, pragmatic, and vengeful—driven by an insatiable thirst for control and devoid of ethical principles. Luthor does not envy superheroes for their abilities but rather for the adoration they receive. He believes that the admiration society bestows upon them is recognition that rightfully belongs to him. Convinced that he alone possesses the intellect and capability to lead humanity, he justifies his ambition with the belief that only he is fit to guide the world. Luthor sees Superman as a threat, seeking to eliminate him not only out of personal rivalry but also because he believes the existence of an all-powerful being fosters dependence, preventing humanity from achieving its full potential.[3]
Due to his high-profile status as a supervillain, Luthor has clashed with Batman and other heroes within the DC Universe.[4] He frequently leads teams of villains, such as the Legion of Doom. While he prefers intelligence and strategy as his primary weapons, he occasionally dons his mechanized "warsuit", an advanced armored exoskeleton that grants him enhanced strength, flight capabilities, high-tech weaponry, and other tactical advantages in direct combat.
Throughout different comic eras, Luthor has embodied various forms of villainy. In his early appearances, he was depicted as a narcissistic and selfish mad scientist. Since the mid-1980s, however, he has more commonly been portrayed as a ruthless corporate tycoon, obsessed with power and controlling LexCorp (or LuthorCorp).
In 2009, IGN ranked him #4 on its list of the 100 Greatest Comic Book Villains of All Time,[5] surpassed only by the Joker, Magneto, and Doctor Doom. Wizard magazine also placed him at #8 in its ranking of the 100 Greatest Villains of All Time.[6]
Lex Luthor’s official day is celebrated on February 22, marking the date of his first appearance in Action Comics #23, which had an April 1940 cover date but was released earlier on February 22, 1940. In 2025, the character’s 85th anniversary was commemorated.
Several actors have portrayed Lex Luthor in television adaptations, including Scott James Wells, Sherman Howard, John Shea, Michael Rosenbaum, Jon Cryer, Titus Welliver, and Michael Cudlitz. In animation, the character has been voiced by notable actors such as Clancy Brown, Mark Rolston, James Marsters, Giancarlo Esposito, and Marc Maron. On the big screen, Luthor has been played by Lyle Talbot, Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey, and Jesse Eisenberg, and Nicholas Hoult will soon take on the role in Superman (2025).
