Superman Gifts Lex Luthor a New Backstory, And It'll Make You See Clark Kent In a New Light

Warning! Contains Spoilers For Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1!

There are few enemies with a deeper connection than Superman and Lex Luthor, but DC fans have been surprised by the reveal that the similarities between the iconic hero and his perennial antagonist go as far back as having one similar tragic experience in childhood that shaped both of them forever.

Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1 – written by Joshua Williamson, with art by Eddy Barrows – explores the surprising new details about Lex Luthor’s history, which strengthen his parallels to the Man of Steel.

The issue contains flashbacks to Lex Luthor’s abusive childhood and his encounters with his alcoholic father, Lionel. In a desperate attempt to earn his father’s love, Lex builds a device that can sound musical signals into space as a gift for Lionel – but it doesn’t go exactly as Lex would have hoped.

DC Comics Expands Lex Luthor’s Backstory, As The Character Continues His Long Redemption Arc

Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1 – Written By Joshua Williamson; Art By Eddy Barrows; Ink By Eber Ferreira; Color By Adriano Lucas; Lettering By Dave Sharpe.

One of the most important elements of Superman’s backstory is the fact he was raised on a farm by two deeply loving parents. While Martha and Jonathan Kent were concerned about Superman’s growing powers, they knew that they’d never be able to confine him to the farm forever. Eventually, Superman would have to go out and face the world, for better or worse. That’s why the two tried their best to raise him with love and warmth, to give him support so that when he went out into the world, he’d be able to deal with whatever he encountered.

Lex Luthor Becomes President Of The United States

Would you like to see President Lex Luthor in the DCU?

In the original comics, Superman’s arch-nemesis Lex Luthor got himself elected as President of the United States. This is something that I think could have some very exciting potential in the DCU, though perhaps not in James Gunn’s first Superman movie set to release in 2025. I think it would be really cool if the DCU started gradually building toward a Luthor presidency as a core part of Nicholas Hoult’s take on the classic DC villain.

This is the complete opposite of Lex Luthor. During his childhood, Lex spent a lot of time in Smallville, where he tried and continually failed to earn his father’s love. Lionel was a vicious drunk and a man haunted by his own inadequacies. No matter what Lex achieved, it never impressed Lionel, who constantly downplayed or dismissed it. Yet when Lex created a complicated invention, Lionel realized just how intelligent his son was, and labeled him a freak for it, stating that Lex could never be allowed to leave the farm because of it.

Lex Luthor Was Denied The Support Clark Got To Enjoy, Prompting His Villainous Journey

Lex’s Gifts Weren’t Nurtured Like Clark’s Were

Lex Luthor eventually grew into a man who is plagued by inadequacies. It’s one of the major reasons that Lex hates Superman so much, because Superman is simply capable of doing everything. Superman didn’t have to work for his powers, he simply has them. Seeing someone who is so utterly and effortlessly perfect is an infuriating thing for someone like Lex, who is more intelligent and talented than most, but those talents were never recognized during his childhood, instead they just got him labeled as a freak and a monster.

While Superman and Lex Luthor are usually enemies, they could have been friends if Lex had just gotten the same upbringing that Clark did.

The upbringing that someone gets is one of the most important things in the development of their personality; it shapes someone into who they are. Superman was shown love and support and became one of the most loving and positive people on Earth, while Lex Luthor wasn’t given that same treatment. Both of them ended up in the same place, but their final destinations were very different. While Superman and Lex Luthor are usually enemies, they could have been friends if Lex had just gotten the same upbringing that Clark did.

Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1 is available now from DC Comics!