Patron Ariel requested we cover Superman's archenemy LEX LUTHOR! Find out what makes this mad scientist/mad businessman so mad! Plus find out which real-life executive Anthony compares to Luthor! Listen now!
(DISCLAIMER: We inadvertently forgot this was episode 47, so we keep calling it 48 in the show. Don't worry, you're not missing anything, we just can't count ;-P )
SHOW NOTES:
Intro
Background (5:10)
Created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster in Action Comics #23 (April 1940) or Superman #4 (Spring 1940)
Originally a mad scientist who lived in a flying city, he was a standard megalomaniac, and Superman was just the only one who could foil his plans
Origin story later revealed that he was a scientist in Smallville who liked Superboy until an accident at his laboratory turned him bald and killed an artificial life-form he had created – explains his hatred and jealousy of Superman
After Crisis on Infinite Earths, Luthor was reimagined as a corrupt corporate executive, who hates Superman because he cannot be corrupted
Family depends on the continuity - pre-Crisis, he has a sister named Lena, over whom he is very protective, and a wife Adora from another planet, and they have a son, Lex Jr. - both are killed when the planet explodes
Post-Crisis, he is revealed to have been married eight times – his eighth wife is Contessa Erica Alexandra Del Portenza, who is as greedy as he is – she gives birth to a daughter, Lena
In various continuities, his parents are either estranged and ashamed of him, or he killed them
In basically all continuities, he believes himself to be the smartest man on the planet, and he feels that makes him superior to Superman
Issues (13:30)
Ariel: why does he hate aliens, and Superman in particular?
Is he capable of actual love, trust, or friendship? (21:24)
Feelings towards family – parents and sister (26:21)
Treatment (37:26)
In-universe
Out of universe (44:25)
Skit
Ending
References:
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