Lex Luthor Saves the World (from The Joker)
Superman’s nemesis and super genius villain, Lex Luthor is a powerful and corrupt criminal with a vendetta against Superman. Lex is also a bit of a hero.
If you are talking supervillains, you don’t get much bigger than Lex Luthor.
On a daily basis, Luthor uses his genius to fight against an alien with the ability to fly, move at super speed and literally carry the weight of the world (in one comic, Superman lifted the planet).
What is impressive about Luthor’s character is he manages to be a super villain without an exaggerated gimmick like most of the costumed villains in comic books. Sure, there are lots of villains without catchy codenames and Lycra suits (like Amanda Waller who is making moves in DC Comics at the moment). The difference about Luthor, is he is often involved in physical conflict with super heroes. He does have a snazzy looking power suit, but it always seems more an extension of his genius than a super villain gimmick.
The separation between Luthor and costumed villains is apparent when he is involved with the Joker. And the popularity of the Batman and Superman team-ups like the World’s Finest series, means that a Luthor and Joker team-up is inevitable.
In World’s Finest #25, Luthor enlists the help of the Joker to find a powerful relic that will provide him with his heart’s desire. Luthor only organises the team-up because he needs the insanity of the Joker.
Luthor has found an ancient manuscript that provide. Unfortunately, for Luthor, the manuscript is cursed with a magic than sends anyone who tries to read insane. Luthor’s simple and inspired solution is to use the Joker, who is already insane, to read the manuscript. Unfortunately, it also means teaming up with the unpredictable Joker.
To control the Joker, Luthor fits the mad super villain with an explosive collar.
The Joker leads Luthor to a secret entrance and the combination of the Joker’s insanity and Luthor’s intelligence opens an impossible doorway to a bizarre train.
The train takes Luthor and the Joker to the Rock of Eternity. With the Joker reading the manuscript, they wander around the Rock of Eternity and take a few wrong turns into different dimensions until they arrive at the chamber of the Eternium Heart.
Made from the walls of the Rock of Eternity, the Eternium Heart will allow create the heart’s desire of the possessor.
When Luthor takes hold of the rock, he sees the defeat of Superman and his final supremacy over the man of steel. For Luthor, beating Superman isn’t about taking over the world (although he does attempt to do that regularly). For Luthor beating Superman is about proving himself in the face of Superman’s power.
However, this is not a happy ending for Luthor. Despite being a super genius, Luthor isn’t prepared for the unpredictable nature of the Joker. Luthor has been dupped into underestimating the Joker as a consequence of the Joker’s madness.
The Joker manages to take the Eternium Heart from Luthor and Luthor is given a glimpse of the horrors of the Joker’s heart’s desire. Wrestling with the Joker, Luthor uses the power suit to ensure that the Joker’s heart desire is not created. In doing so, he also foils his own plan to realise his heart’s desire.
Lex Luthor is not a character without vulnerabilities. His sense of ego makes him vulnerable, but his determination and intelligence makes his dangerous.
Luthor is not willing to sacrifice his own supremacy over Superman just to ensure the defeat of Superman. He also will not allow the world to fall into the Joker’ horrors.
For more about Lex’s battle with The Joker, check out World’s Finest #25.
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