10 Times Superman Ruined Lex Luthor’s Life

2. Killing Him - Various

Superman Lex Luthor Injustice
DC Comics

As Superman's biggest rival, Luthor exists as a sort of litmus test for the Man of Steel. In storylines where Supes starts to become unhinged or just straight-up evil, Lex's bald head is usually first on the chopping block, with his death marking the start of the hero's quick descent down a slippery slope of wrongdoing.

The most famous of these is of course in Injustice, where a tyrannical Superman breaks Lex's neck after the two finally get in a fight. While this is the most brutal death, it's not the only time that DC's golden boy has decided to just go hogwild on his nemesis.

Of these various mutilations, the most interesting is actually one of the most recent, in the 2019 Lex Luthor: Year of the Villain. When the fully-evil 'Apex Lex' explores the multiverse to see his doppelgängers, he discovers a version of him who is currently in critical condition after a fight with the Man of Steel.

As it turns out, Lex had used a biological weapon called the Black Mercy on Supes, who had then hallucinated an entire life on Krypton due to the plant's effects. Displeased at discovering his entire life as he knew it was a lie, Superman brutalised Luthor, giving him such severe wounds that he'd end up ultimately dying to them. In this circumstance, however, Luthor would at least die with a suitably smug smile on his face.

Contributor
Contributor

I like my comics like I like my coffee - in huge, unquestionably unhealthy doses.