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The superstar, critically acclaimed team behind BATMAN: DAMNED and JOKER deliver a bold story in which readers get a glimpse into the mind of Superman’s longtime foe, revealing why Luthor chooses to be the proverbial thorn in the Man of Steel’s side: to save humanity from an untrustworthy alien being. Celebrate the tenth anniversary of LUTHOR with this brand new DC Black Label edition.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
49 people are currently reading
2231 people want to read
About the author
Brian Azzarello
1,282 books1,102 followersBrian Azzarello (born in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American comic book writer. He came to prominence with 100 Bullets, published by DC Comics' mature-audience imprint Vertigo. He and Argentine artist Eduardo Risso, with whom Azzarello first worked on Jonny Double, won the 2001 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story for 100 Bullets #15–18: "Hang Up on the Hang Low".
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 379 reviews
March 8, 2018
Lex Luther is such a compelling villain because he is so convinced that he is the good guy and that is so, so, dangerous.
He fears Superman; he fears that this alien could one day turn and that nobody could ever hope to stop him. He is right to have such fears, though his reactions are nothing short of evil. And he knows it, though he is willing to sacrifice his morality because he believes he is striving towards a greater goal: the protection and betterment of mankind.
This comic almost made me feel sorry for him simply because you cannot fault his reasoning; it is his actions after that brand him a villain. In this he consorts with Bruce Wayne and gives him the tools to bring down Superman, though this was a largely underdeveloped and rushed idea within the story. Certainly, it shows the broadness of Luther’s mind, and his resourcefulness, though it did detract from the main message Luther was trying to show: with Superman on the scene hope is dead, simply because we can never hope to be as good as him: it is impossible.
So this is definitely worth a read. The art work was dark and grimy; it perfectly fitted the story, though I wanted the narrative to be a little tighter and more focused on Luther’s introspective choices and scheming.
He fears Superman; he fears that this alien could one day turn and that nobody could ever hope to stop him. He is right to have such fears, though his reactions are nothing short of evil. And he knows it, though he is willing to sacrifice his morality because he believes he is striving towards a greater goal: the protection and betterment of mankind.
This comic almost made me feel sorry for him simply because you cannot fault his reasoning; it is his actions after that brand him a villain. In this he consorts with Bruce Wayne and gives him the tools to bring down Superman, though this was a largely underdeveloped and rushed idea within the story. Certainly, it shows the broadness of Luther’s mind, and his resourcefulness, though it did detract from the main message Luther was trying to show: with Superman on the scene hope is dead, simply because we can never hope to be as good as him: it is impossible.
So this is definitely worth a read. The art work was dark and grimy; it perfectly fitted the story, though I wanted the narrative to be a little tighter and more focused on Luther’s introspective choices and scheming.
June 4, 2012
3.5 stars
Good story told from Lex's point of view. Of course, he doesn't see himself as a villain, and by the middle of the book you can feel yourself mustering up quite a bit of sympathy for him. Poor misunderstood fellow.
Or maybe not.
I would have given this a solid four stars, but there was this weird fight between Batman and Superman that really confused me. Maybe I'm missing an important piece of the puzzle, but it just didn't make sense. Other than that it was a great portrayal of everyone favorite bad guy.
Good story told from Lex's point of view. Of course, he doesn't see himself as a villain, and by the middle of the book you can feel yourself mustering up quite a bit of sympathy for him. Poor misunderstood fellow.
Or maybe not.
I would have given this a solid four stars, but there was this weird fight between Batman and Superman that really confused me. Maybe I'm missing an important piece of the puzzle, but it just didn't make sense. Other than that it was a great portrayal of everyone favorite bad guy.
February 6, 2012
Lex Luthor gets his own book to give his side of the story, to convince us readers that Superman is the menace he believes he is. Lex is building a giant new structure devoted to science and the accomplishments of humanity, making sure people understand Superman is not human nor is he needed to save anyone. But just to be sure Lex is also building a female version of Superman to become the new saviour of Metropolis.
I think Brian Azzarello's books are hit and miss but this one was definitely a hit. He writes Lex as a charming, suave, and pretty decent guy who talks to cleaning staff like real people, who give a helping hand to underprivileged people, basically is the opposite of the arrogant and selfish prig he's depicted as in many Superman books. More than the image, Azzarello gives him a voice that's authentic to the reader and adds weight to his monologues against the idea of Superman.
Interestingly, Azzarello plays up Lex's obsession with Superman in the form of "Hope", a robotic superhero under the control of Lex and a pretty good impersonator of Superman - except she's a woman. Then he has Lex seduce her! I thought it was a funny as Azzarello basically implied that Lex's entire obsession with Superman was, despite the rhetoric and argument, sexual in nature - Lex loves Superman, he really just wants to have sex with him. But maybe I'm wrong.
Full credit too goes to Lee Bermejo who draws utterly beautiful panels on every single page. He is one of the finest comics artists working today and nowhere does his work shine more than in the DC books he's worked on - Joker, Lex Luthor, and more recently Batman: Noel (which he also wrote) are hugely impressive works of art. He's one of the few artists whose work I immediately buy purely on his inclusion on the project alone.
Lex is a fascinating character and through his eyes we see Superman from a different angle, making him more interesting too. "Lex Luthor: Man of Steel" is a compellingly written, beautifully drawn, comic book that any fans of Superman will love, and those with a passing interest in Superman will find strangely beguiling. A must read for all fans of comics.
I think Brian Azzarello's books are hit and miss but this one was definitely a hit. He writes Lex as a charming, suave, and pretty decent guy who talks to cleaning staff like real people, who give a helping hand to underprivileged people, basically is the opposite of the arrogant and selfish prig he's depicted as in many Superman books. More than the image, Azzarello gives him a voice that's authentic to the reader and adds weight to his monologues against the idea of Superman.
Interestingly, Azzarello plays up Lex's obsession with Superman in the form of "Hope", a robotic superhero under the control of Lex and a pretty good impersonator of Superman - except she's a woman. Then he has Lex seduce her! I thought it was a funny as Azzarello basically implied that Lex's entire obsession with Superman was, despite the rhetoric and argument, sexual in nature - Lex loves Superman, he really just wants to have sex with him. But maybe I'm wrong.
Full credit too goes to Lee Bermejo who draws utterly beautiful panels on every single page. He is one of the finest comics artists working today and nowhere does his work shine more than in the DC books he's worked on - Joker, Lex Luthor, and more recently Batman: Noel (which he also wrote) are hugely impressive works of art. He's one of the few artists whose work I immediately buy purely on his inclusion on the project alone.
Lex is a fascinating character and through his eyes we see Superman from a different angle, making him more interesting too. "Lex Luthor: Man of Steel" is a compellingly written, beautifully drawn, comic book that any fans of Superman will love, and those with a passing interest in Superman will find strangely beguiling. A must read for all fans of comics.
July 25, 2016
Bullet Review:
I'm pretty familiar with the essence of this comic - namely, Lex Luthor isn't the baddie like we know him traditionally but is trying to protect Earth from a potential alien dictator. I suppose when this first came out, it was more uncommon and "new" than it is these days. I can't help but yawn slightly and mutter, "Been there, done that."
The art is great, but really, was it necessary to have so many butt and boob shots of women? Mona is basically just a walking butt and boob shot, only there to whinge about wanting into Lex's tighty-whiteys. As for "Hope" - I think a brick to the face is a bit more subtle than that inclusion, coupled with Lex's pretentious monologuing.
BUT at the end of the day, this was not unenjoyable. Meaning: it was a decent read.
I'm pretty familiar with the essence of this comic - namely, Lex Luthor isn't the baddie like we know him traditionally but is trying to protect Earth from a potential alien dictator. I suppose when this first came out, it was more uncommon and "new" than it is these days. I can't help but yawn slightly and mutter, "Been there, done that."
The art is great, but really, was it necessary to have so many butt and boob shots of women? Mona is basically just a walking butt and boob shot, only there to whinge about wanting into Lex's tighty-whiteys. As for "Hope" - I think a brick to the face is a bit more subtle than that inclusion, coupled with Lex's pretentious monologuing.
BUT at the end of the day, this was not unenjoyable. Meaning: it was a decent read.
April 23, 2025
When I see you(Superman), I see something...
No man can ever be. I see the End.
"The End of our Potential.
The End of our Achievements.
The End of our Dreams.
You are my biggest nightmare"
-Lex Luthor.
It is because of this reason that he is considered to be one of the greatest villains in the Superman canon. Because he discusses the viewpoint of the average person around the world and how we would fear a man who would be indestructible and immortal. For individuals who desire to understand how relatable the character is within the modern world of superheroes, I would highly recommend this book.
No man can ever be. I see the End.
"The End of our Potential.
The End of our Achievements.
The End of our Dreams.
You are my biggest nightmare"
-Lex Luthor.
It is because of this reason that he is considered to be one of the greatest villains in the Superman canon. Because he discusses the viewpoint of the average person around the world and how we would fear a man who would be indestructible and immortal. For individuals who desire to understand how relatable the character is within the modern world of superheroes, I would highly recommend this book.
January 1, 2015
MINI REVIEW: focus is upon the perspective of Luthor and how he feels Superman holds humanity back from greatness because he makes us lazy. Cameo by Bruce Wayne/Batman. Beautiful artwork and a credible enough story that probably needed another 20-30 pages to do the story seeds justice.
OVERALL GRADE ON THE SHANNON SCALE: B minus to B.
OVERALL GRADE ON THE SHANNON SCALE: B minus to B.
March 10, 2012
Azzarello seems to think that Luthor thinks in metaphor. Clever, inventive metaphor, but intellectual flights of fantasy all the same.
I never quite perceived Luthor as a man of intellectual ego, more someone who mercilessly beats down his opponents until they're ready to yield, and then takes advantage. This is a whole new character - a reinvention, or even a phoenix-like rebirth.
It's also possible that - rather than a narrative telling Luthor's story - this is all a self-rationalising delusion of Luthor's mind, like some internal misinterpretation trying to polish the turd that is his evil, petty life. However, in the end Luthor grants us a little tragedy, a little sadness, and a hint of powerlessness, which ties the whole story into a believable whole.
The portrayal of Superman as a mute judge from on high is really effective, and only borrows (or overlaps) slightly from Irredeemable. He looks very *sharp* throughout, and often pissed or distasteful.
The art throughout this book is incredibly well executed - nice style of lines, interestingly near-abstract inks, and great selection of colour - each section given a tone that subtly supports or offsets the moods.
In the end I still feel a little ambivalent about what Azzarello is trying to do here. I'm not entirely convinced whether he's fully committed to the idea of Luthor as a good guy with the oersonal strength and conviction to break the moral code for greater self-sacrificing good, or if he's just a deluded weak man who can't find it within himself to embrace the fact that someone else is better than him. If Azzarello intentionally drew this line for the readers to walk precariously, bravo. If he chickened out of committing fully to one vision or the other, then sorry.
I just wish I could decide which it is for myself - and thus, I feel like Azzarello is holding up a mirror to my own inability to fully commit to my own convictions in the face of a world of strong opinions. Bravo dear sir.
I never quite perceived Luthor as a man of intellectual ego, more someone who mercilessly beats down his opponents until they're ready to yield, and then takes advantage. This is a whole new character - a reinvention, or even a phoenix-like rebirth.
It's also possible that - rather than a narrative telling Luthor's story - this is all a self-rationalising delusion of Luthor's mind, like some internal misinterpretation trying to polish the turd that is his evil, petty life. However, in the end Luthor grants us a little tragedy, a little sadness, and a hint of powerlessness, which ties the whole story into a believable whole.
The portrayal of Superman as a mute judge from on high is really effective, and only borrows (or overlaps) slightly from Irredeemable. He looks very *sharp* throughout, and often pissed or distasteful.
The art throughout this book is incredibly well executed - nice style of lines, interestingly near-abstract inks, and great selection of colour - each section given a tone that subtly supports or offsets the moods.
In the end I still feel a little ambivalent about what Azzarello is trying to do here. I'm not entirely convinced whether he's fully committed to the idea of Luthor as a good guy with the oersonal strength and conviction to break the moral code for greater self-sacrificing good, or if he's just a deluded weak man who can't find it within himself to embrace the fact that someone else is better than him. If Azzarello intentionally drew this line for the readers to walk precariously, bravo. If he chickened out of committing fully to one vision or the other, then sorry.
I just wish I could decide which it is for myself - and thus, I feel like Azzarello is holding up a mirror to my own inability to fully commit to my own convictions in the face of a world of strong opinions. Bravo dear sir.
July 19, 2017
This was pretty interesting. Superman is almost always in a positive light. Besides Red Son or Injustice he basically is the "Good guy" everyone looks up to. He's all about hope, about helping, and about fighting for a better future. He's our protector. Lex obviously doesn't see him that way. What makes this story interesting is you see the perception of Lex and how Superman can come across as evil. On top of that you get a pretty cool flashback of Bruce vs Clark (which I assume is when they first meet) to show how scary Superman really could be. Lex creates a creature/robot called Hope to combat Superman. Not one on one but as a symbol of protection.
What I liked: Watching Lex and his view of the world and how he's not all bad. He actually is very humanized in here and somewhat likeable. I really enjoyed the art design and they made Superman pretty freaking scary. I also enjoyed the hope storyline though the ending not so much but before that it was nice.
What I didn't like: The Batman vs Superman scene was a bit confusing at first. I also thought Lex had too much talking to himself haha. It was really short too which was a bummer. Another 2 issues would have flushed out Lex more.
Overall this was a unique and different take on Superman. It's a Lex story for sure but still feels like a Superman, just the other side of the coin. I liked it just didn't love it so it stands at a 2.5-3. Check it out if for nothing else then the sweet art.
What I liked: Watching Lex and his view of the world and how he's not all bad. He actually is very humanized in here and somewhat likeable. I really enjoyed the art design and they made Superman pretty freaking scary. I also enjoyed the hope storyline though the ending not so much but before that it was nice.
What I didn't like: The Batman vs Superman scene was a bit confusing at first. I also thought Lex had too much talking to himself haha. It was really short too which was a bummer. Another 2 issues would have flushed out Lex more.
Overall this was a unique and different take on Superman. It's a Lex story for sure but still feels like a Superman, just the other side of the coin. I liked it just didn't love it so it stands at a 2.5-3. Check it out if for nothing else then the sweet art.
January 5, 2017
4 1/4 stars
January 31, 2014
Upon finishing Joker, I learned that Azzarello and Lee Bermejo had teamed up again on Lex Luthor: Man of Steel, another captivating character in the DC universe that is often poorly represented as simply a mad genius.
Where Joker is violent and unpredictable, Lex Luthor reflects its main character’s cold, calculating subtlety. It lays out Luthor’s purpose right from the start, painting the undeniable picture of Superman as an alien. A monster with no understanding of humanity. Luthor despises the hero that Metropolis worships, but he is the only one who seems aware of how easily such a being could snap. In other words, that Man of Steel movie with the questionably violent Superman wreaking havoc and murdering bad guys in cold blood? That’s the Superman Luthor fears and wants to protect his city from. But Luthor is also intent on showing the world what Superman’s existence takes away from humanity. If Superman is there to do everything for us, what need is there for self-improvement?
These aspects of Superman are touched on in my other favourite Superman story, Superman: Red Son. The latter focuses on Superman himself, while Luthor ison the other side of the world thinking up bigger and better ways to defy Superman’s reign of perfection. The only problem I have with Red Son’s Luthor is that he is too cold and inhuman. Azzarello ensures that you never forget Luthor’s humanity as he works toward his ideal, which takes the form of a manufactured superhero Luthor aptly names, “Hope.” Luthor’s story culminates in his ultimate success and his ultimate failure in the most perfectly atypical way.
When I initially glanced at the issues of this series, I joked about Batman’s involvement since Bruce Wayne seems incapable of staying out of other people’s books. Yet it was when Luthor meets with Bruce Wayne to negotiate a business arrangement that this book went from five stars to simply delicious for me. Because if there is anyone who would appreciate Luthor’s hatred of Superman, it’s Bruce Wayne. The interactions between them are so intricate and delectable as they speak to each other in an intimate dance of words that reveals just how brilliant these two men are.
Where Joker is violent and unpredictable, Lex Luthor reflects its main character’s cold, calculating subtlety. It lays out Luthor’s purpose right from the start, painting the undeniable picture of Superman as an alien. A monster with no understanding of humanity. Luthor despises the hero that Metropolis worships, but he is the only one who seems aware of how easily such a being could snap. In other words, that Man of Steel movie with the questionably violent Superman wreaking havoc and murdering bad guys in cold blood? That’s the Superman Luthor fears and wants to protect his city from. But Luthor is also intent on showing the world what Superman’s existence takes away from humanity. If Superman is there to do everything for us, what need is there for self-improvement?
These aspects of Superman are touched on in my other favourite Superman story, Superman: Red Son. The latter focuses on Superman himself, while Luthor ison the other side of the world thinking up bigger and better ways to defy Superman’s reign of perfection. The only problem I have with Red Son’s Luthor is that he is too cold and inhuman. Azzarello ensures that you never forget Luthor’s humanity as he works toward his ideal, which takes the form of a manufactured superhero Luthor aptly names, “Hope.” Luthor’s story culminates in his ultimate success and his ultimate failure in the most perfectly atypical way.
When I initially glanced at the issues of this series, I joked about Batman’s involvement since Bruce Wayne seems incapable of staying out of other people’s books. Yet it was when Luthor meets with Bruce Wayne to negotiate a business arrangement that this book went from five stars to simply delicious for me. Because if there is anyone who would appreciate Luthor’s hatred of Superman, it’s Bruce Wayne. The interactions between them are so intricate and delectable as they speak to each other in an intimate dance of words that reveals just how brilliant these two men are.
November 3, 2019
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
With every hero comes a villain. They often follow our hero in their lives and push them into making decisions that would put them in peculiar predicaments that will destroy but also build the hero's persona, forging them into extraordinary people whom we then look up to. Amongst the plethora of heroes, one of the greatest rivalries of all time lies in Superman and Lex Luthor. While one is an alien who encapsulates the most human traits possible, the other is a human being who sheathes a monster within. After a decade since its publication, writer Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo, the same phenomenal creative team behind Joker and Batman: Damned, see their introspective and eye-opening story Luthor republished under the DC Black Label imprint where original stand-alone stories are featured, exploring the lore of classic heroes without worrying about their continuity with canon storylines.
What is Luthor about? Collecting the acclaimed five-issue miniseries, this graphic novel dives deep into the mind of Superman's greatest villain: Lex Luthor. While the world sees the Man of Steel as the epitome of Truth, Justice and the American way, Lex Luthor sees in him an untrustworthy threat to humanity, a wolf in sheep's clothing, a reason to act before it's too late. Deep down, Lex Luthor profoundly wishes for his city to strive for greatness, to outdo itself and redefine progress, but sees in Superman an obstacle that stands in the way, as he sets a standard that is impossible for anyone to attain. To prove his point, he plots a wicked plan to unveil Superman's potential for chaos and his unworthiness as humanity's ultimate saviour. He thus looks into introducing Metropolis with its own hero, baptized as Hope, and is willing to do whatever it takes to expose this alien that could never fit in.
The Man of Steel has never been less than the symbol of virtue for humanity ever since he came sweeping out of the blue to rid Metropolis of its vices. To give the world the chance to see what hope is like is a gift that he brings to all with open arms and it is out of pure intentions that he shoulders the pains and troubles of humankind without a single care, despite the countless sacrifices he has to make as an individual. Through this story completely narrated and told through the point of view of Lex Luthor readers uncover the reasoning that brings this billionaire criminal mastermind to despise everything that Superman represents for society. Writer Brian Azzarello draws this villain under a charismatic and humanistic light that allows the reader to somehow comprehend the source of Lex Luthor's worries, almost making us believe that there might be something completely sane and rational in what he is trying to prove to himself and the world.
To further embellish this brilliant piece that offers readers the opportunity to be exposed to a villain's monologue dressed with scorn is Lee Bermejo's incredible artwork. Completely grim with a dark tone that perfectly captures the venomous mindset that holds Lex Luthor deep within, his visionary artistic style reminds us that the worries of one man are in fact completely blinded with hate although his intentions remain authentic at heart. It is how he draws Superman that ultimately proves that Lex Luthor isn't looking to reach an end that is completely unjustifiable but that the means he employs is what really brings him to cross lines that set him apart from the good guys. Quite immediately, the reader is invited to reflect on Superman's existence while taking into consideration where Lex Luthor is coming from when he sees in this alien a threat that could turn into a weapon without notice.
Luthor is an exploration of Superman's greatest archnemesis' inner psyche as he brings to light the root of his hatred for the man who embodies Hope.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
_______________________
I'd be all in if they could make a Luthor movie à la Joaquin Phoenix's Joker.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
November 9, 2020
I do like a story where the villain is the protagonist, so Lex Luthor: Man Of Steel was always going to appeal to me.
It is possibly the best story about Lex that has been (or will be) ever told.
This features some gorgeous artwork by Lee Bermejo. The pages are filled with detailed, eye-catching illustrations - the gritty, dark style used fits it perfectly.
Lex is wholly convinced that he is the good guy, which I think makes him all the more dangerous. But around the half way mark, you do find yourself sympathising with him. You cannot find flaws within his reasoning, but his subsequent actions are what make him a villain.
His romance with the "hero" he has created, Hope, almost softens his villainous edge at times and makes him seem almost vulnerable. But he is hoping that Superman will destroy her at the same time.
It feels as though the "Batman VS Superman" subplot is a tad rushed, and this is where I feel the story overall is lacking a tad. The interactions between Lex and Bruce Wayne are great though.
But I’d say, for any DC fan, this is worth a read.
Overall I give it: 3.5 stars, rounded down to a 3.
It is possibly the best story about Lex that has been (or will be) ever told.
This features some gorgeous artwork by Lee Bermejo. The pages are filled with detailed, eye-catching illustrations - the gritty, dark style used fits it perfectly.
Lex is wholly convinced that he is the good guy, which I think makes him all the more dangerous. But around the half way mark, you do find yourself sympathising with him. You cannot find flaws within his reasoning, but his subsequent actions are what make him a villain.
His romance with the "hero" he has created, Hope, almost softens his villainous edge at times and makes him seem almost vulnerable. But he is hoping that Superman will destroy her at the same time.
It feels as though the "Batman VS Superman" subplot is a tad rushed, and this is where I feel the story overall is lacking a tad. The interactions between Lex and Bruce Wayne are great though.
But I’d say, for any DC fan, this is worth a read.
Overall I give it: 3.5 stars, rounded down to a 3.
June 4, 2016
Fun story. I would have rated this higher but I don't love the art. 3.5 stars.
October 26, 2013
I read Joker and Luthor at the same time. Despite having the same creative team on both, I enjoyed the former yet disliked the latter. So what gives?
Both focus on the villains as the protagonists, with the usual heroes—Batman and Superman—as their antagonists. Before Joker, I wasn’t sure if I liked Brian Azzarello’s writing, but he nails it here. He doesn’t explain why Joker got freed from Arkham Asylum—he is a criminal after all—but he does explain just one part of the Joker through the narrator, a henchman named Jonny Frost. Nailing this one aspect of the Joker does enough to carry the rest of his mayhem, and the narrative distance from the madman does the story good. Even other villains have a hard time with the Joker, and Azarello writes Jonny Frost’s doomed loyalty well.
The problem with Luthor is that it has to be told from Lex’s viewpoint. He’s an egomaniac who guards his secrets, so everything is told through his perspective, and the insight that a Jonny Frost-type character could give is missing. Additionally, Joker benefits from layered storytelling—Frost clarifies certain situations, but he’s in the dark on others. Meanwhile, I missed parts of Luthor by tuning out his monologuing and apparently being dense regarding visual cues. There’s even an amusing moment where a nude Lex Luthor has a giant speech bubble over his manhood (visual cue averted!). Alas, I have that now boring opinion where I think Superman is boring, but I generally like his villains, as they’re scheming to fly kryptonite missiles and the like into his Superchin. In Luthor though, Superman is hardly around, and the bald man is kinda dull when he’s just being a seedy capitalist. Call me crazy, but the Union is not an enticing villain, and when Superman finally collides with Luthor, he glares at him silently through a window. Yup, that’s it.
This isn’t to say everything in Luthor falls short of Joker. I preferred the art in the former, as Heath Ledger seems to have shifted this era’s take on the clown. Meanwhile, I appreciated how Superman is drawn with Luthor’s skew: He looks down on humanity with a snarl and sneering red eyes. It’s a nice touch, but unfortunately, artist Lee Bermejo missed out on the chance to skew the Joker’s view of Batman… if only for a few panels. Still, the misses in Luthor are often story-related. A couple of times, Azarello brushes up against the notion of Luthor’s theology, but stops short of what could be an interesting view of the world with Superman in the mix. Maybe if he’d nailed other parts of Luthor’s viewpoint, I wouldn’t have rabbit trailed into what I’d like to see instead. One star for Luthor; four for Joker.
Both focus on the villains as the protagonists, with the usual heroes—Batman and Superman—as their antagonists. Before Joker, I wasn’t sure if I liked Brian Azzarello’s writing, but he nails it here. He doesn’t explain why Joker got freed from Arkham Asylum—he is a criminal after all—but he does explain just one part of the Joker through the narrator, a henchman named Jonny Frost. Nailing this one aspect of the Joker does enough to carry the rest of his mayhem, and the narrative distance from the madman does the story good. Even other villains have a hard time with the Joker, and Azarello writes Jonny Frost’s doomed loyalty well.
The problem with Luthor is that it has to be told from Lex’s viewpoint. He’s an egomaniac who guards his secrets, so everything is told through his perspective, and the insight that a Jonny Frost-type character could give is missing. Additionally, Joker benefits from layered storytelling—Frost clarifies certain situations, but he’s in the dark on others. Meanwhile, I missed parts of Luthor by tuning out his monologuing and apparently being dense regarding visual cues. There’s even an amusing moment where a nude Lex Luthor has a giant speech bubble over his manhood (visual cue averted!). Alas, I have that now boring opinion where I think Superman is boring, but I generally like his villains, as they’re scheming to fly kryptonite missiles and the like into his Superchin. In Luthor though, Superman is hardly around, and the bald man is kinda dull when he’s just being a seedy capitalist. Call me crazy, but the Union is not an enticing villain, and when Superman finally collides with Luthor, he glares at him silently through a window. Yup, that’s it.
This isn’t to say everything in Luthor falls short of Joker. I preferred the art in the former, as Heath Ledger seems to have shifted this era’s take on the clown. Meanwhile, I appreciated how Superman is drawn with Luthor’s skew: He looks down on humanity with a snarl and sneering red eyes. It’s a nice touch, but unfortunately, artist Lee Bermejo missed out on the chance to skew the Joker’s view of Batman… if only for a few panels. Still, the misses in Luthor are often story-related. A couple of times, Azarello brushes up against the notion of Luthor’s theology, but stops short of what could be an interesting view of the world with Superman in the mix. Maybe if he’d nailed other parts of Luthor’s viewpoint, I wouldn’t have rabbit trailed into what I’d like to see instead. One star for Luthor; four for Joker.
August 18, 2016
Personally, I loved Batman v Superman, I thought it got a lot of flack it did not deserve, however what I will say is, THIS IS HOW YOU DO LEX LUTHOR!!!! So here we have Brian Azzarello, doing another villain story, and like his 'Joker' novel, this book is entirely from Luthor's perspective! The story, well its basically a week in the life of Lex Luthor, is how I would put it! You get the monologue of Luthor as he narrates the story. Its a perfect example of Luthor's character. as he is an idealist, and he wants Metropolis to be a shining example of Hope! But of course in Luthor's eyes, if you wanna make an omelette you gotta break some eggs, in Luthor terms, that is whoever gets in the way of 'progress', is eliminated! Lee Bermejo's art is awesome in this, he draws Superman in this way, where his face his blacked out, and his eyes are always red because of his heat vision, it projects him as this villain; and that's exactly what Luthor's perspective is! Overall this an amazing read!
September 12, 2017
A fantastic character study of Lex Luthor that makes you think he isn't as bad as he is and leaves you wondering if Superman is actually the bad guy.
November 26, 2020
"I am a man, I hope."
I've been known to mention my aversion to Superman. I don't hate him, as some do, and I can say that there have been excellent Superman stories that I'm happy to recommend to others, I've just never found him that interesting. Though, ironically enough I find that it's the things that I'm not fond of with Superman is what makes him work so well, and his genuine desire of inspiring people to be better and to find the hope in themselves is a truly heartfelt one. I guess it's just my gravitation to more 'human' and grounded characters like Batman, Daredevil, and The Punisher that has also led to my general lack of enthusiasm towards Superman.
Yet there are great Superman stories, if you look. Grant Morrison's All Star Superman reeks of his signature oddness, but is also one of the most touching and heartfelt tributes to Superman that I've ever had the pleasure of reading, Alan Moore's For The Man Who Has Everything and Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow is also surprisingly heartfelt, though has a more tragic tinge to it, Tom King's recent Superman: Up in The Sky is a poignant reminder of why Superman still matters in our modern, more cynical age, and Mark Waid and Alex Ross' opus Kingdom Come, which is not only a great send up to Superman, but of superheroes in general. There are others, but the point still stands that there are great Superman stories out there.
Luthor is one of the most iconic villains in comics history, he is Superman's antithesis in every way, like many who grew up in my era (good God, I'm old) most remember Clancy Brown's iconic performance as Luthor in the Superman cartoon and the later Justice League cartoons, and I'd go as far as to say that his version is the definitive version of the character (without being Gene Hackman of course). He's gone through a lot of odd changes throughout the years, to put it lightly, but Azzerello is different, he's more interested in the man rather than the myth that's been cultivated of his character.
Everyone loves to hear the villain's point of view, even if there's some who won't admit it. Azzerello writes with a deft hand, painting Lex as understandable and human while still being arrogant and self-righteous. Azzerello writes Lex deftly, basing many of his decisions off of his psychology, his desires, and motivations, Luthor has certainly had some strange motivations for hating Superman over the years, but here Azzerello gives him more natural and human reasons for disliking Superman, such as his fear of what Superman could do, rather than anything that Superman's done in his past, and Brian's roots in writing noir crime fiction also comes into play here, with him getting Luthor's head and offering him a chance to give his side of events, which brings another interesting point to the table. Who's telling the story: Luthor is, and with that, we see his side of the story, skewed and paranoid as it is. It goes the opposite direction of Morrison's All Star Superman, where we see the world as seen by Lex rather than by Superman.
What's also touched is Luthor's other underlying motivation for hating Superman: jealousy. As he points out in this book, how could anyone like somebody just because he looks human, and also Supes is the only person who has the gall to try and stop him. Like Victor Von Doom and Reed Richards, Superman makes Lex insecure about his own place in the world, because he's so ingrained in the thought that because he's made it based on his own skills that he's some sort of supreme being. It's the old Randian ideal on how one can make it on his own, without help from 'the herd.'
Really, his desire to help humanity is rather self serving. Like Ozymandias, he says that he wants to save humanity and does horrible things in order to get to his goal, but he's rather taken with the idea of being the one who did it, rather than actually attaining the goal of doing it. Like in All Star Superman, he boasts to Clark Kent that he could've saved the world a long time ago if Superman hadn't came along and stolen his thunder. He can't handle the fact that Superman helps people far more than he ever could, and he can't comprehend the ideas of coming together and being inspired to be better, because in his view, everyone should be able to work hard and get to their best, and anyone who isn't is just part of 'the herd.'
It's just so misanthropic and delusional, to think that he's better than everyone simply because he has extraordinary abilities and he was lucky and skilled enough to apply them, and he only hates Superman because, he feels, that Superman is the only being that dares to come to his level and the one who might prove that what he believes is wrong. But he'll never accept it of course, because how can someone as supreme as himself be wrong?
Lee Bermejo's art is also impressive, and this, alongside with him and Azzerello's later collaboration Joker, was some of the first work that I encountered from him. He takes Alex Ross' hyper detailed style of artwork, refines it, and offers a more gritty, grounded approach to said art style. It showcases Bermejo as one of comics' great talents who is still working today. While everyone knows the Azzerello/Risso partnership from their much lauded collaborations such as 100 Bullets and Moonshine, but I've found myself more fond of his collaborations with Bermejo. They work together in a way that compliments each other's talents perfectly, not unlike other powerhouse duos over the years like Ennis/Dillon, Brubaker/Phillips, Lemire/Sorrentino. I must also commend the work of Dave Stewart, who seems to be on everything that I find myself reading. His uncanny ability to perfectly mimic the art styles of the artists that he works with is one that makes me wonder why he is isn't praised more often, it makes me more annoyed at the constant dismissal of the work of colorists.
Yet in the end, we see the exact opposite of what Luthor thinks of himself: he's merely a man, alone, fearful, and arrogant in his conviction that Superman is a menace to society, and by the end we see him as a pitiful and sad man, rather than the triumphant super genius that he'd like to imagine himself as.
I've been known to mention my aversion to Superman. I don't hate him, as some do, and I can say that there have been excellent Superman stories that I'm happy to recommend to others, I've just never found him that interesting. Though, ironically enough I find that it's the things that I'm not fond of with Superman is what makes him work so well, and his genuine desire of inspiring people to be better and to find the hope in themselves is a truly heartfelt one. I guess it's just my gravitation to more 'human' and grounded characters like Batman, Daredevil, and The Punisher that has also led to my general lack of enthusiasm towards Superman.
Yet there are great Superman stories, if you look. Grant Morrison's All Star Superman reeks of his signature oddness, but is also one of the most touching and heartfelt tributes to Superman that I've ever had the pleasure of reading, Alan Moore's For The Man Who Has Everything and Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow is also surprisingly heartfelt, though has a more tragic tinge to it, Tom King's recent Superman: Up in The Sky is a poignant reminder of why Superman still matters in our modern, more cynical age, and Mark Waid and Alex Ross' opus Kingdom Come, which is not only a great send up to Superman, but of superheroes in general. There are others, but the point still stands that there are great Superman stories out there.
Luthor is one of the most iconic villains in comics history, he is Superman's antithesis in every way, like many who grew up in my era (good God, I'm old) most remember Clancy Brown's iconic performance as Luthor in the Superman cartoon and the later Justice League cartoons, and I'd go as far as to say that his version is the definitive version of the character (without being Gene Hackman of course). He's gone through a lot of odd changes throughout the years, to put it lightly, but Azzerello is different, he's more interested in the man rather than the myth that's been cultivated of his character.
Everyone loves to hear the villain's point of view, even if there's some who won't admit it. Azzerello writes with a deft hand, painting Lex as understandable and human while still being arrogant and self-righteous. Azzerello writes Lex deftly, basing many of his decisions off of his psychology, his desires, and motivations, Luthor has certainly had some strange motivations for hating Superman over the years, but here Azzerello gives him more natural and human reasons for disliking Superman, such as his fear of what Superman could do, rather than anything that Superman's done in his past, and Brian's roots in writing noir crime fiction also comes into play here, with him getting Luthor's head and offering him a chance to give his side of events, which brings another interesting point to the table. Who's telling the story: Luthor is, and with that, we see his side of the story, skewed and paranoid as it is. It goes the opposite direction of Morrison's All Star Superman, where we see the world as seen by Lex rather than by Superman.
What's also touched is Luthor's other underlying motivation for hating Superman: jealousy. As he points out in this book, how could anyone like somebody just because he looks human, and also Supes is the only person who has the gall to try and stop him. Like Victor Von Doom and Reed Richards, Superman makes Lex insecure about his own place in the world, because he's so ingrained in the thought that because he's made it based on his own skills that he's some sort of supreme being. It's the old Randian ideal on how one can make it on his own, without help from 'the herd.'
Really, his desire to help humanity is rather self serving. Like Ozymandias, he says that he wants to save humanity and does horrible things in order to get to his goal, but he's rather taken with the idea of being the one who did it, rather than actually attaining the goal of doing it. Like in All Star Superman, he boasts to Clark Kent that he could've saved the world a long time ago if Superman hadn't came along and stolen his thunder. He can't handle the fact that Superman helps people far more than he ever could, and he can't comprehend the ideas of coming together and being inspired to be better, because in his view, everyone should be able to work hard and get to their best, and anyone who isn't is just part of 'the herd.'
It's just so misanthropic and delusional, to think that he's better than everyone simply because he has extraordinary abilities and he was lucky and skilled enough to apply them, and he only hates Superman because, he feels, that Superman is the only being that dares to come to his level and the one who might prove that what he believes is wrong. But he'll never accept it of course, because how can someone as supreme as himself be wrong?
Lee Bermejo's art is also impressive, and this, alongside with him and Azzerello's later collaboration Joker, was some of the first work that I encountered from him. He takes Alex Ross' hyper detailed style of artwork, refines it, and offers a more gritty, grounded approach to said art style. It showcases Bermejo as one of comics' great talents who is still working today. While everyone knows the Azzerello/Risso partnership from their much lauded collaborations such as 100 Bullets and Moonshine, but I've found myself more fond of his collaborations with Bermejo. They work together in a way that compliments each other's talents perfectly, not unlike other powerhouse duos over the years like Ennis/Dillon, Brubaker/Phillips, Lemire/Sorrentino. I must also commend the work of Dave Stewart, who seems to be on everything that I find myself reading. His uncanny ability to perfectly mimic the art styles of the artists that he works with is one that makes me wonder why he is isn't praised more often, it makes me more annoyed at the constant dismissal of the work of colorists.
Yet in the end, we see the exact opposite of what Luthor thinks of himself: he's merely a man, alone, fearful, and arrogant in his conviction that Superman is a menace to society, and by the end we see him as a pitiful and sad man, rather than the triumphant super genius that he'd like to imagine himself as.
December 7, 2016
No soy un gran conocedor de los cómics de DC ni concretamente de los de Superman, pero Lex Luthor es uno de los grandes villanos del mundo del cómic y un icono de la cultura popular, además uno que lleva dando tumbos desde siempre como aquel que dice y se le ha dado tratamientos muy dispares, se le ha caricaturizado y se le ha retratado como un loco, un megalómano o un enemigo de la humanidad... en éste cómic, sin embargo, se nos ofrece una imagen de él muy distinta, no es que sea una visión amable pero si mucho más compleja.
Aquí se nos ofrece un Lex Luthor con un lado humano, muy equilibrado en casi todos los aspectos, que lucha por el progreso de la humanidad, preocupado por la gente que le rodea y capaz de sentir remordimientos... pero al mismo tiempo, obsesionado con el peligro de la existencia de superman, un ser alienígena y superpoderoso que para su parecer es una amenaza potencial para el bienestar y la libertad de la vida humana y que cree que en este caso el fin justifica los medios.
El dibujo de Bermejo es genial y muy detallado, y el trabajo de entintadores y coloristas me parece a destacar tambien, es un cómic que ofrece muchas atmósferas distintas pero al mismo tiempo empasta todo muy bien, da la sensación de que todo está unificado en un mismo criterio estético.
Lo recomendaría a cualquiera a quién le guste el género superheroico, un cómic autoconclusivo (no hace falta estar al tanto de la continuidad de DC ni leer nada más para entender la historia sin problemas) con una historia bien pensada y un dibujo estupendo.
Aquí se nos ofrece un Lex Luthor con un lado humano, muy equilibrado en casi todos los aspectos, que lucha por el progreso de la humanidad, preocupado por la gente que le rodea y capaz de sentir remordimientos... pero al mismo tiempo, obsesionado con el peligro de la existencia de superman, un ser alienígena y superpoderoso que para su parecer es una amenaza potencial para el bienestar y la libertad de la vida humana y que cree que en este caso el fin justifica los medios.
El dibujo de Bermejo es genial y muy detallado, y el trabajo de entintadores y coloristas me parece a destacar tambien, es un cómic que ofrece muchas atmósferas distintas pero al mismo tiempo empasta todo muy bien, da la sensación de que todo está unificado en un mismo criterio estético.
Lo recomendaría a cualquiera a quién le guste el género superheroico, un cómic autoconclusivo (no hace falta estar al tanto de la continuidad de DC ni leer nada más para entender la historia sin problemas) con una historia bien pensada y un dibujo estupendo.
August 21, 2018
Najlepszą rzeczą w tym był fakt, że Luthor używał zwykłej myszki z dwoma przyciskami, nawet bez scrolla, do kontrolowania robota
March 30, 2016
Actual rating a low 2.5 stars.
I was extremely disappointed in this book and if I'd been getting the arc as single issues I'd have wanted my money back. Nothing really happens at all until nearly the end when Lex without any real purpose and without it bringing anything to the story. We don't learn anything different or new about Lex and the "bad guy" in this story is the union....yeah. This was definitely not for me and sadly the artwork didn't do anything for me either.
I was extremely disappointed in this book and if I'd been getting the arc as single issues I'd have wanted my money back. Nothing really happens at all until nearly the end when Lex without any real purpose and without it bringing anything to the story. We don't learn anything different or new about Lex and the "bad guy" in this story is the union....yeah. This was definitely not for me and sadly the artwork didn't do anything for me either.
February 24, 2022
Una historia sencilla donde vemos como Luthor atormentado por el odio que tiene a Superman le entregará criptonita a Batman y también creará a una robot llamada Hope para que acabe con el hombre de acero. La historia no es de lo mejor pero el arte de Bermejo es una belleza.
October 4, 2020
Cuando Azzarello quiere, puede dar una buena obra. Pero no tiene ni el impacto, ni la calidad que tiene su miniserie de Joker, mucho más loco y violento. Aquí la historia es desde la mente de Lex Luthor y la historia como el personaje se nos muestra desde su punto de vista y el estilo en ese sentido se apega a él.
Quizás sea lo mejor de la obra, entender al personaje de Lex, una persona que es capaz de cualquier cosa para conseguir sus fines, pero no se ve a sí mismo como un villano, sino como un salvador. Un idealista que quiere lo mejor para la humanidad, llevarla hasta sus límites, y ve como la figura de Superman (un alíen) tan perfecta y invencible hace que las personas se acostumbren a la seguridad que les proporciona. Ve como la gente ya no se esfuerzan, no quieren conseguir todo su potencial, pues ven como un ser de otro mundo es superior a cualquier humano y o le adoran o simplemente se adaptan a él limitándose a vivir sus vidas con la idea de "tenemos a Superman" para cualquier peligro o adversidad.
En ese sentido si que puedo llegar a entender a Lex, pero claro... hablamos de un villano y Lex al final no deja de ser un hipócrita, frío y calculador. Cercano en apariencia y amigable (como cuando ayuda y conversa con un trabajador de su empresa, dándole una ayuda personal a su hijo, no sabemos si de forma altruista o por mero ego), pero frío en el fondo, dando órdenes aberrantes con tal de ensuciar la figura de Superman y hundirle aunque tenga que crear caos y destrucción y quitarse de encima a inocentes para conseguir tener razón. El fin justifica los medios, aunque el fin sea convertir a alguien noble en un monstruo con tal de llevar razón y confirmar sus miedos y dudas proyectadas en una figura disfrazada de rojo y azul. Aquí Superman siempre le vemos lejano, distante, silencioso; siempre juzgando y observando a Lex desde los cielos con sus ojos rojos, nunca humanos. "¿Quién vigila a los vigilantes?" sería la máxima expresión de Luthor, "¿quién vigila a Superman?".
Me sobra mucho Batman en esta obra, no hace casi nada y realmente parece metido solo para lo típico de ver juntos a los dos héroes. Bruce Wayne cómo tal si me encaja, pero Batman no tanto. Aunque los dos comparten cierto temor a Superman, aunque uno al final no deja de ser un amigo y el otro un enemigo.
Y en lo artístico que decir ya. Lee Bermejo es un ARTISTA en la máxima expresión de la palabra. Uno de mis dibujantes favoritos de la actualidad, quizás esta obra sea algo menor en ese sentido, hay cómics como Joker, Batman: Noel o Batman: Condenado donde su dibujo es condenadamente perfecto. Pero no deja de ser un dibujazo aquí también.
Recomendable obra si te interesa el personaje de Lex Luthor y entender su psique mientras nos narra una historia de manipulación empresarial y moral, mientras se ve a sí mismo como el "héroe" que Metrópolis se merece pero aún no lo saben. No hace falta tener gran conocimiento del Universo DC para leerlo.
Quizás sea lo mejor de la obra, entender al personaje de Lex, una persona que es capaz de cualquier cosa para conseguir sus fines, pero no se ve a sí mismo como un villano, sino como un salvador. Un idealista que quiere lo mejor para la humanidad, llevarla hasta sus límites, y ve como la figura de Superman (un alíen) tan perfecta y invencible hace que las personas se acostumbren a la seguridad que les proporciona. Ve como la gente ya no se esfuerzan, no quieren conseguir todo su potencial, pues ven como un ser de otro mundo es superior a cualquier humano y o le adoran o simplemente se adaptan a él limitándose a vivir sus vidas con la idea de "tenemos a Superman" para cualquier peligro o adversidad.
En ese sentido si que puedo llegar a entender a Lex, pero claro... hablamos de un villano y Lex al final no deja de ser un hipócrita, frío y calculador. Cercano en apariencia y amigable (como cuando ayuda y conversa con un trabajador de su empresa, dándole una ayuda personal a su hijo, no sabemos si de forma altruista o por mero ego), pero frío en el fondo, dando órdenes aberrantes con tal de ensuciar la figura de Superman y hundirle aunque tenga que crear caos y destrucción y quitarse de encima a inocentes para conseguir tener razón. El fin justifica los medios, aunque el fin sea convertir a alguien noble en un monstruo con tal de llevar razón y confirmar sus miedos y dudas proyectadas en una figura disfrazada de rojo y azul. Aquí Superman siempre le vemos lejano, distante, silencioso; siempre juzgando y observando a Lex desde los cielos con sus ojos rojos, nunca humanos. "¿Quién vigila a los vigilantes?" sería la máxima expresión de Luthor, "¿quién vigila a Superman?".
Me sobra mucho Batman en esta obra, no hace casi nada y realmente parece metido solo para lo típico de ver juntos a los dos héroes. Bruce Wayne cómo tal si me encaja, pero Batman no tanto. Aunque los dos comparten cierto temor a Superman, aunque uno al final no deja de ser un amigo y el otro un enemigo.
Y en lo artístico que decir ya. Lee Bermejo es un ARTISTA en la máxima expresión de la palabra. Uno de mis dibujantes favoritos de la actualidad, quizás esta obra sea algo menor en ese sentido, hay cómics como Joker, Batman: Noel o Batman: Condenado donde su dibujo es condenadamente perfecto. Pero no deja de ser un dibujazo aquí también.
Recomendable obra si te interesa el personaje de Lex Luthor y entender su psique mientras nos narra una historia de manipulación empresarial y moral, mientras se ve a sí mismo como el "héroe" que Metrópolis se merece pero aún no lo saben. No hace falta tener gran conocimiento del Universo DC para leerlo.
September 14, 2022
Where would superheroes be without their villains? And what greater villain than Lex Luthor?
The thing that makes the bold gazillionaire so interesting, co compelling is that like many great villains he isn’t awake of being one. In fact, in his own eyes he’s a superhero.
Which is a pretty awesome premise – the flip of perspective.
In Luthor’s eyes, Superman is a dangerous alien who’s helping people for now, sure, but can flip at any moment and then what?
And Luthor’s main frustration is that no one else sees Superman that way.
So, like many men with a potent superiority complex and more money than they know what to do with, Luthor comes up with a plan to discredit the world’s great superhero in the eyes of the public.
It’s a complex and convoluted plan, one that ultimately only serves to reveal the real depravity of its mastermind, but as we watch Luthor brainstorm it, explain and justify his actions and ideas, we are presented with a complex and layered portrait of a complex and layered man.
Luthor here is moral but it’s a morality of his own making. Flawed but compellingly so. Even romantic albeit in a kind of frightening way. In other words, a fascinating character to read about. So the writing is aces.
Combine that with an absolutely epic looking artwork and you got a great book. Recommended.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
The thing that makes the bold gazillionaire so interesting, co compelling is that like many great villains he isn’t awake of being one. In fact, in his own eyes he’s a superhero.
Which is a pretty awesome premise – the flip of perspective.
In Luthor’s eyes, Superman is a dangerous alien who’s helping people for now, sure, but can flip at any moment and then what?
And Luthor’s main frustration is that no one else sees Superman that way.
So, like many men with a potent superiority complex and more money than they know what to do with, Luthor comes up with a plan to discredit the world’s great superhero in the eyes of the public.
It’s a complex and convoluted plan, one that ultimately only serves to reveal the real depravity of its mastermind, but as we watch Luthor brainstorm it, explain and justify his actions and ideas, we are presented with a complex and layered portrait of a complex and layered man.
Luthor here is moral but it’s a morality of his own making. Flawed but compellingly so. Even romantic albeit in a kind of frightening way. In other words, a fascinating character to read about. So the writing is aces.
Combine that with an absolutely epic looking artwork and you got a great book. Recommended.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
January 15, 2018
While it was good, it wasn't particularly entertaining.
I expected more from Lex Luthor (action, maybe?). However, I greatly enjoyed his ''pure views'' against Superman and I think them fitting. I guess one can't help siding with him (I know I can't!).
If you're a big comics fan (and villains' too!), I suggest you check it out the library like I did and read it just so you know what it's about. But buying it? I'm not too sure.
Brian Azzarello usually impresses me (like with ''The Joker''!), but this one didn't hit the bull's eye.
It wasn't bad; it was fun but not that much. So, two stars for this one.
I expected more from Lex Luthor (action, maybe?). However, I greatly enjoyed his ''pure views'' against Superman and I think them fitting. I guess one can't help siding with him (I know I can't!).
If you're a big comics fan (and villains' too!), I suggest you check it out the library like I did and read it just so you know what it's about. But buying it? I'm not too sure.
Brian Azzarello usually impresses me (like with ''The Joker''!), but this one didn't hit the bull's eye.
It wasn't bad; it was fun but not that much. So, two stars for this one.
May 8, 2021
Venía bien la historia, el más que atendible punto de vista de Luthor sobre la compleja cuestión en relación al “kriptoniano”, del que, si nos ponemos serios, sobran razones para desconfiar. Lamentablemente, más o menos desde la aparición en escena de Hope, un personaje totalmente “traído de los pelos”, todo paso a ser un sinsentido irrelevante.
Artísticamente, el realismo de Bermejo me parece muy bueno, pero creo que Stewart se excede en la textura de sus colores y abusa en la utilización de sombras (negros), provocando un dibujo que aparece mayoritariamente saturado y empastado.
Pasa raspando.
Artísticamente, el realismo de Bermejo me parece muy bueno, pero creo que Stewart se excede en la textura de sus colores y abusa en la utilización de sombras (negros), provocando un dibujo que aparece mayoritariamente saturado y empastado.
Pasa raspando.
December 4, 2019
Luthor by Brian Azzarello is a stunning portrayal of the man we know to be the antithesis of everything Superman represents. Or is he. This rendering of Lex Luthor does not paint the all powerful man as a villain, but instead, as a man who fears for what may happen if the all powerful is left unchecked. And the lengths he will go to protect not only himself, but his city.
"...Those red eyes, I'm sure they look right through me, like I am nothing more than a nuisance. But when I see you?
I see something no man can ever be. I see the end.
The end of our potential.
The end of our achievements.
The end of our dreams.
You are my nightmare..."
Superman has come to Metropolis and all of humanity sees him as the hero and savior of the world. All except one man. Lex Luthor. In the Man of Steel, Luthor sees power unchecked. A being that could be a God and if it decides, could bring humanity to servitude for its sense of what is the greater good.
But the question is to what lengths is Luthor willing to go to bring down Superman? What is he will to do?
From Metropolis to Gotham to the darkest secrets he possesses, Luthor weaves a plan to destroy and discredit the Man of Steel and begin a war with the greatest power on Earth. The battle between Lex Luthor and Superman has begun.
This is entire book is narrated by Luthor and a great deal of it takes place inside his mind, conversations he has only with himself. It is intense and reflective as he watches the world changing around him as the time of Superman brings in the time of meta-humans and a man is reduced. No longer the most powerful creature on the planet no matter what his wealth is. A situation Luthor will not accept.
It is stunning and incredible in scope and well worth the read. If the movie Joker did so well, one can only wonder what someone could do with this story and Lex.
"...Those red eyes, I'm sure they look right through me, like I am nothing more than a nuisance. But when I see you?
I see something no man can ever be. I see the end.
The end of our potential.
The end of our achievements.
The end of our dreams.
You are my nightmare..."
Superman has come to Metropolis and all of humanity sees him as the hero and savior of the world. All except one man. Lex Luthor. In the Man of Steel, Luthor sees power unchecked. A being that could be a God and if it decides, could bring humanity to servitude for its sense of what is the greater good.
But the question is to what lengths is Luthor willing to go to bring down Superman? What is he will to do?
From Metropolis to Gotham to the darkest secrets he possesses, Luthor weaves a plan to destroy and discredit the Man of Steel and begin a war with the greatest power on Earth. The battle between Lex Luthor and Superman has begun.
This is entire book is narrated by Luthor and a great deal of it takes place inside his mind, conversations he has only with himself. It is intense and reflective as he watches the world changing around him as the time of Superman brings in the time of meta-humans and a man is reduced. No longer the most powerful creature on the planet no matter what his wealth is. A situation Luthor will not accept.
It is stunning and incredible in scope and well worth the read. If the movie Joker did so well, one can only wonder what someone could do with this story and Lex.
July 22, 2023
Ясно е, че ако ви трябва патаклама с хиляда и двеста герои, то трябва да се обърнете към Джоф Джоунс. Човекът прави истински читави истории от тотален миш-маш, за което шапки долу. Но ако ви трябва мрачна, гадна, мъничка по мащаб, почти интимна история за злодей - има един гений тука и това е Браян Азарело.
Едно време се влюбих в "Жокер"-а му и мога да кажа, че тука също е постигнал невероятни висини. Lex Luthor: Man of Steel е уникална история, която показва Лекс Лутър в пълния му гениален и извратен вид, който в крайна сметка го прави е повече антигерой отколкото злодей.
А артът е само една от причините комиксът да е тотален шедьовър. Велика поредица, която препоръчвам на всички да прочетат.
Едно време се влюбих в "Жокер"-а му и мога да кажа, че тука също е постигнал невероятни висини. Lex Luthor: Man of Steel е уникална история, която показва Лекс Лутър в пълния му гениален и извратен вид, който в крайна сметка го прави е повече антигерой отколкото злодей.
А артът е само една от причините комиксът да е тотален шедьовър. Велика поредица, която препоръчвам на всички да прочетат.
April 2, 2019
Una genial historia de cómo comprende Luthor el mundo y su rivalidad con Superman. Se cuentan las relaciones de Luthor con Metropolis, Lexcorp y sus empleados, con otro millonario como Wayne y como no con Superman.
La historia muy bien narrada por Azzarello va genialmente acompañada por el dibujo de Bermejo, dupla que ya conocía y nunca decepciona.
La historia muy bien narrada por Azzarello va genialmente acompañada por el dibujo de Bermejo, dupla que ya conocía y nunca decepciona.
October 20, 2022
Well-crafted and beautifully drawn: a more human Luthor, he causes violence all around him. Azzarello and Bermejo succeed, but you have to be interested in Luthor and a successful, well-crafted portrayal of the antagonist, somewhere between business magnate and mad scientist.
Mildly recommended.
Read in comics issues/chapters/installments thanks to my local comics shop.
Mildly recommended.
Read in comics issues/chapters/installments thanks to my local comics shop.
August 17, 2025
I'm interested in knowing more about Lex, but this fell a little short for me.
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