Lex Luthor, Your Recommended Reading List for Superman’s Archenemy

Alexander Joseph “Lex” Luthor is one of the smartest people in DC Comics and Superman’s most emblematic villain. Initially depicted as a mad scientist and narcissist, the character was reimagined in the mid-late 1980s (following Crisis on Infinite Earths) as the powerful CEO of LexCorp, willing to do anything to rid the world of Superman.

Although Luthor has no superpowers per se, he considers his genius to be his gift—and with good reason! Luthor is not only a mad scientist but also a criminal mastermind, expert tactician and manipulator, ruthless businessman, and formidable leader. His ability to survive any scandal underscores his cunning. Luthor is the master of complex, multi-layered plans to destroy Superman, with his primary weakness being, as is often the case for men like him, his arrogance—and his inability to truly understand his enemies.

As one of the most important characters in the Superman mythos, Lex Luthor has appeared in many adaptations across various media, including television, film, animation, and video games. Gene Hackman’s portrayal of Lex Luthor in the Superman film series (beginning in 1978) introduced a more charismatic yet devious Luthor, while a whole generation became familiar with the character through Michael Rosenbaum’s nuanced and conflicted version in Smallville (2001-2011). The animated series, particularly Justice League and Superman: The Animated Series, offered a tactical Lex Luthor, perfectly blending his scientist and businessman personas.

Now is the perfect time to learn more about Superman’s greatest adversary by exploring the rich history of Lex Luthor in the comics. Below is a recommended reading list of must-read stories that highlight what makes Lex Luthor such an iconic villain.

Recommended Lex Luthor Comics To Read, A Select Reading Order

Where to Start with Lex Luthor Comics?

The Origin Story of Lex Luthor

Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Lex Luthor made his debut in Action Comics #23 (1940) as a villain living in a flying city suspended by a dirigible, plotting to incite a war between two European nations. Initially depicted as a mad scientist during the Golden Age, Luthor’s character gradually evolved into the diabolical and ruthless genius we recognize today.

The original portrayal of Lex Luthor differed in both name—the “Lex” was added later—and appearance. He was first introduced as a middle-aged man with a full head of red hair. The iconic bald Luthor we know appeared less than a year later due to an artistic mistake in a newspaper strip.

Twenty years after his debut, Lex Luthor’s motivations were explored by his co-creator Jerry Siegel in the Silver Age origin story, Adventure Comics #271 (1960). In this story, Luthor grows up in Smallville with a young Superman, who was then known as Superboy. As an ambitious young scientist, Luthor calls Superboy for help after an accident, but Superboy’s intervention ended up destroying Lex’s hair and his work! Following this event, Luthor’s grudge against Superman became more a personal than professional one.

Following the DC Universe reboot after Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of Lex Luthor made his debut. John Byrne’s classic run on The Man of Steel introduced Luthor as an evil corporate executive, initially depicted as brutish and overweight before becoming a more athletic version of his character. This version of Luthor didn’t grow up in Smallville but in the Suicide Slum of Metropolis, as explored in Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography (1989) by James Hudnall and Eduardo Barreto. Told from the perspective of a struggling journalist, this biography presents a gritty tale and explores the more monstrous aspects of Luthor’s personality.

This unauthorized biography is perhaps the most in-depth story on Luthor’s origins. However, other works have revisited his past since, such as Superman: Birthright (2003-2004) by Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu, which reestablishes Luthor’s childhood in Smallville and focuses more on his personal vendetta against Superman. The more recent Superman: Secret Origin (2009) by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank also includes flashbacks to Lex’s youth in Smallville, alongside Clark Kent.

Last but not least is Lex Luthor: Man of Steel (2005) by writer Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo. While not being part of the main continuity, this story is often regarded as the definitive Lex Luthor story. This tale isn’t an origin story but explores Luthor’s motivations as he consistently opposes Superman in a city that admires the Man of Steel. It highlights the unique dynamics between him and Superman, presenting events from Luthor’s perspective.

Lex Luthor Across 75 Years of History

As DC put it, “From mad scientist to corrupt business tycoon to President of the United States, Superman’s greatest nemesis has been reinvented time and again.” You can trace a significant part of Luthor’s history through DC Comics and get a comprehensive view of the character’s development with the anthology Lex Luthor: A Celebration of 75 Years, which compiles stories published from 1940 to 2014.

Action Comics #23 (Europe at War, Part 2) – This is Lex Luthor’s first appearance by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
Superman #4 (The Challenge of Luthor a.k.a. “Superman versus Luthor”) –  Luthor puts Superman through some competitive trials as a distraction from some sneaky robberies. By Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Superman #17 (When Titans Clash) – Luthor is sentenced to death but the mad genius has prepared for this event. By Jerry Siegel and Joe Sikela.
World’s Finest #59 (Superman’s Super Hold-Up) – The Arch Criminal scientist forces mighty Superman to assume the burden of Atlas, the mythical giant who upheld the whole Earth! By Bill Finger, Wayne Boring, and Stan Kaye.
World’s Finest #88 (Superman and Batman’s Greatest Foes!) – Luthor and the Joker form a partnership to make Batman and Superman’s lives more complicated! By Edmond Hamilton, Dick Sprang, and Stan Kaye.
Adventure Comics #271 (How Luthor Met Superboy!) – The Silver Age Origin Story of Lex Luthor where he met the Man of Steel when he was operating as Superboy. The story also leads Luthor to develop a personal grudge against the superhero. By Jerry Siegel and Al Plastino.
Action Comics #277 (The Conquest of Superman!) – Luthor plans his next scheme against Superman, involving the robbery of the federal gold reserve from Fort Knox. By Bill Finger, Curt Swan, and John Forte.
Superman #164 (The Showdown Between Luthor and Superman!) – Superman and Lex confront each other as equal combatants on a planet with a red son in a story exploring the idea of what could have become of Lex Luthor in a world without Superman. By Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan, and George Klein.
Superman #248 (The Man Who Murdered the Earth!) – Lex Luthor creates a weapon that could potentially destroy the Earth in a story illustrating his destructive genius. By Len Wein, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson.
Action Comics #544 (Luthor Unleashed!) – First appearance of Lex Luthor’s Warsuit, built to even the playing field against Superman. By Cary Bates, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson.
Superman #416 (The Einstein Connection!) – Who is a hero to a villain? This is a question that is answered here by Elliot S. Maggin, Curt Swan, and Al Williamson.
Superman (Volume 2) #2 (The Secret Revealed!) – Did Lex Luthor just discovered Superman’s secret identity? By John Byrne, Terry Austin & Keith Williams.
Superman (Volume 2) #9 (Metropolis 900 Miles) – Lex Luthor visits a diner 900 miles from Metropolis and offers a waitress $1,000,000 to spend a month with him. By John Byrne and Karl Kesel
Action Comics #678 (Talking Heads) – Luthor is a man always working behind the scenes to assure destruction and his own survival, as this issue once again proves it. By Roger Stern, Jackson Guice, and Ande Parks.
President Luthor Secret Files and Origins #1 (The Why) – Explore the motivations behind Lex Luthor’s decision to run for President of the United States. By Greg Rucka, Matthew Clark, and Ray Snyder.
Justice League (Volume 2) #31 (Injustice League, Chapter Two: Power Players) – A threat is coming to earth and Lex Luthor is convinced he had to join forces with Bruce Wayne to stop it. By Geoff Johns, Doug Mahnke, Keith Champagne and Christian Alamy.

While JLA #11, Lex Luthor: Man of Steel #3, All-Star Superman #5, and Action Comics #894 are also collected in Lex Luthor: A Celebration of 75 Years, those issues are part of bigger stories that are highlighted in the article!

Further Reading: More Essential Lex Luthor Comics

Now that you have a better grasp of Lex Luthor’s rich history in DC Comics, read more about the many schemes and exploits of Superman’s Archenemy with stories released between 1975 and 2014.

Superman #292 (The Luthor Nobody Knows!) – For those who liked The Einstein Connected, this is another story from the seventies written by Elliot S. Maggin that explores Luthor’s complex nature. Collected in Superman Vs. Lex Luthor.
JLA Vol. 3: Rock of Ages – Lex Luthor plans a hostile corporate takeover… of the JLA during Grant Morrison’s run on the JLA and in a story that pits for a time Bruce Wayne against Lex Luthor.
Superman: President Luthor – At the beginning of the new millennium, Lex Luthor ran for the highest office in the land with a campaign calculated to bring maximum grief to the Man of Steel. His rise to power and presidency is concluded in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies which can be read independently.
Batman Confidential Vol. 1: Rules of Engagement – Go back to the beginning of Batman’s career and discover his first battle against Superman’s arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. 
Superman: Up, Up and Away! – A classic Superman Vs. Lex Luthor story. As Clark Kent concentrates on his career, the need for the Man of Steel is stronger than ever-especially now that Lex Luthor has returned to Metropolis with his thirst for power fully intact! 
Superman: The Black Ring Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 – Despite the title, Superman is mostly off-panel. After briefly becoming an Orange Lantern in Blackest Night, Lex Luthor has got a taste of true power. Now he’’ll do anything to get that power back.
Forever Evil – When the Crime Syndicate from Earth-3 comes to our Earth to take over, the future is in the hands of Lex Luthor and his Injustice League to fight back!

Out-of-Continuity Lex Luthor Stories

As Lex Luthor: Man of Steel (2005) reminded us, not all great stories are part of the confusing main continuity! Following are various tales set out of the main continuity that, nevertheless, offers great moments to Lex Luthor!

All-Star Superman – One of the most celebrated Superman story, Grant Morrison’s All Star Superman has naturally Luthor as a main villain and even an issue putting him in the spotlight! But one of Luthor’s greatest talent is his capacity to make his menace felt throughout, even when not on panel, as this is the case here.
Superman Red Son – What would the world be like if Kal-El landed in Soviet Russia during the Cold War instead of Kansas? That is Mark Millar’s premise in this Elseworld story that naturally place Lex Luthor as a man determined to destroy the Man of Steel.
Superman: The Animated Series– Don’t read, watch the adventures of Superman in the classic animated series with Lex Luthor voiced by the great Clancy Brown. Follow up with ‘Justice League’ and ‘Justice League Unlimited’ where the actor reprise the role.
Last Son of Krypton – At this stage, you already read some stories from writer Elliot S. Maggin, which is the man who also wrote the novel Last Son of Krypton, released as a tie-in to the 1978 Superman film, but is an original story set in the comics continuity at the time. Superman and his greatest enemy, Lex Luthor, must join forces to stop an alien ruler.

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And don’t forget! Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes!