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Lex Luthor in other media

From Alfawiki
Lex Luthor
Occupation(s)Antagonist, Business magnate, Scientist
Known forPrimary adversary of Superman, head of LexCorp

Lex Luthor is a fictional antagonist featured in American comic books published by DC Comics. As the primary adversary of Superman, he is present in almost every adaptation and media property related to Superman.

A central character within the Superman mythology, Lex Luthor has transitioned from being depicted as a deranged scientist to a wealthy, ambitious American business magnate who heads the technology enterprise LexCorp, based in Metropolis. His cinematic representations range from a narcissistic criminal with interests in real estate to an intelligent CEO overseeing LexCorp.

Live-action

  • The younger version of Lex Luthor is shown in Superboy (1988), played initially by Scott James Wells and subsequently by Sherman Howard. After enduring abuse from his parents, he gains wealth by insuring and then murdering them. By his college years, he engages in petty crime aimed at surpassing Superboy. He loses his hair following a laboratory fire rescue performed by Superboy, later killing businessman Warren Eckworth and attempting to employ Eckworth’s "Superboy Gun" invention against Superboy.
  • In Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Lex Luthor is portrayed by John Shea. This incarnation ranks as the world’s third-wealthiest individual and is a womanizer who publicly pretends to be a philanthropist with assistance from Nigel St. John (Tony Jay). His criminal activities are revealed during his wedding to Lois Lane, resulting in his suicide to escape incarceration. In the second season, his corpse is stolen and resurrected by his ex-wife and doctor, though he loses his fortune and works for Intergang. After killing Gretchen Kelly, he is imprisoned but regains wealth through a presidential clone and tries to disrupt Clark Kent and Lois' wedding, uncovering Superman’s true identity before perishing when his hideout is destroyed.
    • His illegitimate offspring—billionaire Jaxon Xavier and deformed Lex Luthor Jr.—appear across multiple episodes, portrayed by Andy Berman and Keith Brunsmann respectively.
  • The character of Lex Luthor appears in Smallville, enacted by Michael Rosenbaum.
  • In the Arrowverse, Lex Luthor is portrayed by Jon Cryer as an adult and Aidan Fink as a child. He mainly appears in Supergirl and the crossover event "Crisis on Infinite Earths".
  • A series titled Metropolis, developed by Gotham creators John Stephens and Danny Cannon along with Warner Bros. Television in 2018, intended to center on Lex Luthor and Lois Lane investigating fringe science and urban mysteries; however, no further progress has been reported.
  • Lex Luthor features in Titans, played as a child by Payne Novak and as an adult by Titus Welliver. This version is depicted as being in his late 60s with a lengthy beard; his father Lionel mentions that Lex once had a friendship with Clark Kent.
  • Lex Luthor appears in Superman & Lois, portrayed by Michael Cudlitz.

Animation

  • In The New Adventures of Superman, Lex Luthor is portrayed by Ray Owens and characterized as "the world's foremost criminal scientist," featuring a more slender build during the third season.
  • Within the Super Friends series, with Stanley Jones providing the voice, Luthor serves as the leader of the Legion of Doom, first appearing in Challenge of the Superfriends and returning in multiple follow-up installments.
  • Luthor is also seen in a commercial for Sunnyland Refining Company’s Superman Peanut Butter and the 1988 Superman show, where Michael Bell voices the character.
  • The character "Wex Wuthor," a parody of Lex Luthor, is portrayed by Montana Max in segments of Tiny Toon Adventures.
  • In the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), Clancy Brown provides the voice for Luthor:
    • He makes his initial appearance in Superman: The Animated Series as a corrupt corporate magnate who wields control over Metropolis alongside Mercy Graves, consistently thwarted by Superman but never imprisoned.
    • In Justice League, after Batman and others expose him, Luthor loses control of LexCorp, develops fatal blood cancer caused by Kryptonite exposure, bribes the Ultra-Humanite to secure his escape, constructs a powered armor suit, forms the Injustice Gang, and eventually aids the League against the Justice Lords, earning a presidential pardon.
    • During Justice League Unlimited, Luthor campaigns for president to antagonize Superman while covertly financing Project Cadmus to create an android duplicate. He later merges with Brainiac, attempts to remake the universe, is defeated by the Flash, re-incarcerated, escapes imprisonment, joins and leads the Secret Society, and acquires the Anti-Life Equation to confront Darkseid.
  • Lex Luthor appears in Robot Chicken, voiced by several actors, where he leads the Legion of Doom and forms comedic parody musical groups.
  • In Krypto the Superdog, Brian Dobson voices Luthor, who owns an intelligent iguana named Ignatius.
  • A family member named Alexis is featured in Legion of Super Heroes, voiced by Tara Strong, depicted as a savvy businesswoman and "the wealthiest girl in the galaxy."
  • Luthor is present in The Batman two-part episode titled "The Batman/Superman Story," with Clancy Brown reprising his role.
  • In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, he commands the Legion of Doom; an alien version called Rohtul serves as Batman's nemesis.
  • Lex Luthor features in both Mad and Young Justice, voiced by Mark Rolston. In these series, he is a prominent member of the Light and eventually becomes Secretary-General of the United Nations.
  • The character is humorously portrayed by Elmer Fudd in the episode "Super Rabbit" of The Looney Tunes Show.
  • In Justice League Action, James Woods voices Luthor, who utilizes various armors including a nanotechnology-based suit named Repulse.
  • As a teenager competing with his sister Lena, Lex appears in DC Super Hero Girls (2019), voiced by Will Friedle.
  • In Harley Quinn, voiced by Giancarlo Esposito through seasons 1 to 4 and Wendell Pierce in season 5, Luthor leads the Legion of Doom. He also appears in its spin-off Kite Man: Hell Yeah!, initially voiced by Lance Reddick, then Amuche Chukudebelu.
  • In My Adventures with Superman, Max Mittelman voices Luthor, who begins as an assistant to Professor Ivo before partnering with Task Force X to establish LexCorp.

Live-action

Animation

Video games

Lego series

Miscellaneous

  • In Elliot S. Maggin’s Superman: Last Son of Krypton, Lex is portrayed as a scientific prodigy and childhood peer of Clark Kent from Smallville, harboring resentment toward Kent over an accident that caused his hair loss. As an adult, he remains incarcerated to dedicate himself to scientific pursuits.
  • Lex features in Superman: Doomsday & Beyond, voiced by William Hootkins.
  • A 1930s alternate version of Lex, owner of Lexco, appears in Tom De Haven’s It's Superman!. Following a failed assassination attempt, he develops Lexbots, leading to conflict with Superman.
  • A youthful Lex shows up in issue #13 of Legion of Super Heroes in the 31st Century, not yet antagonistic toward Superman.
  • In Kevin J. Anderson’s Enemies & Allies, Lex is depicted as a 1950s LuthorCorp head who bribes members of the Wayne Enterprises board to acquire military designs and collaborates with a Russian general over Kryptonite. He is eventually defeated and sentenced to death.
  • The character appears in DC Heroes United, voiced by Jabari Rayford.
  • Additionally, Lex is featured within the crossover miniseries DC X Sonic the Hedgehog.

References

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