Polygon.com / 12.07.25

James Gunn fixes Lex Luthor's biggest problems in Superman

Superman is the most powerful superhero in DC Comics, able to go toe to toe with its most powerful villains, like Darkseid and Brainiac. Thats why its surprising that his nemesis is Lex Luthor, a man without any superpowers. The best versions of Luthor across comics, television, and movies make him a threat precisely because of that disparity. He fights Superman with wealth and connections rather than with fists or energy beams. He understands Supermans moral code and uses it to his advantage, knowing that even if Superman is convinced Luthor is behind the latest scheme hes unraveled, he cant do anything about it without hard proof that will convince the authorities. But superhero stories require an exciting climax, and writers have struggled with how to put Luthor at the center of the action. Some stories put him in a war suit so he can survive a punch from the Man of Steel. Justice League Unlimited gave him superpowers by fusing him with Brainiac. In Grant Morrison and Frank Quitelys...
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