10 Times Superman Ruined Lex Luthor’s Life

In a sense, Action Comics #796 is a defining point of Luthor's life in the pre-reboot DC timeline, as it involves the villain being punished for the one good deed he ever did for Superman, and ensures it will never happen again.

Because, after discovering that the Man of Steel is in fact Clark Kent, Luthor goes against his instinct to be the worst guy ever and decides to keep this information to himself. Sure, he isn't exactly nice about it - and he implies that part of the reason he doesn't reveal Kent's identity is because he still fancies Lois Lane - but the fact is he's presented with the option to ruin Superman's life for once and for all, and he refuses to take it.

As a reward for this, a villain named Manchester Black deletes all of Luthor's files on Superman, and wipes his memory, so he has no way of rediscovering who the hero is. And where is Superman, while his newest ally is having his memory eroded? Well, he's in bed with Lois. For three whole days.

We know where the Man of Steel's priorities lie, at least.