Luthor

Like all comic book characters, Luthor has changed over time. My dad, for example, thinks of Luthor as a dorky, impotent schemer from earlier eras of comics and the Super Friends cartoon. I, on the other hand, tend to think of the version of Luthor I grew up with--an intense, xenophobic, and genius humanist who believes that Superman is the Earth's greatest threat. But also a character who, underneath that bluster and purported altruism, is a twisted, cowardly, jealous, and petty human being. This book, Luthor, perfectly captures the version of Luthor I tend to imagine, the consummate businessman and politician who sees no legal or moral limit in achieving his goals. It also goes further and does what I think is the impossible: making you understand his thought process while not making him sympathetic (which is good, because he is a mass murderer in this and other stories). The only reason I mark this down slightly to 4 stars, is because the actual plot Luthor employs to take Superman down a peg )involving a super entity named "Faith") is a bit overwrought and hamfisted. But the rest of the book, particularly its ending, is extremely powerful. Luthor is a man who sees a god, a greater power, and refuses to bend his knee. In his mind, he is humanity's champion who will resist to the very end, collateral damage be damned. And it's fascinating, horrifying, and engaging, all at once. A definite must read for any Superman fan.

Superman, without a doubt, is my favorite super-hero. For me, it is not his immense powers that are so captivating to me, but rather his choice in how to use them. For all that he could do with the powers of a deity, he chooses not to, and instead acts as a servant to mankind. This story calls that element of the character into question, and for that reason alone makes this book a rarity in the Superman mythos.As the title implies, this story arc is told through the eyes of Lex Luthor, and delves into the nature of why he hates Superman, and the reasoning is surprisingly sound. This Luthor is depicted as, while not necessarily sympathetic, certainly less malicious than his reputation is known for. Azzarello pens the dialogue and narration well, providing character-appropriate dialogue and a deep narrative. There are sveral small points of ambiguity within this collection, most of which is eventually revealed by the conclusion. However, there is one particular chapter, in which Batman and Superman clash over the former's possession of some Kryptonite. The reason the two were fighting is never completely made clear, which fits with the rest of the story, depicting heroes as villains in Lex's eye, but it felt a bit off. Superman has GIVEN Batman Kryptonite in the past, so his behavior made me scratch my head a bit. With that aside, however, this story was easy to become immersed in, and nothing was dragged out for an 'ultimate showdown' finale. This is an atypical super-hero story, so expect a unique read.Bermejo's art is outstanding. It is hyper-realistic like Alex Ross', but gritty and slightly twisted. He was the perfect artist for this project. His style is not your normal comic-book penciler, which is most appropriate for Luthor. His Luthor is softer in appearance, in a similar way that his Superman is frightening and imposing, accentuating his alien heritage. His work invokes emotion, and I can ask for nothing else from an artist.To conclude, this is a must for comic book fans. This is an important tale to read for both Superman and Luthor. Neither character is depicted as an extreme, which gives depth to both titans. At $7, I cannot think of a better choice of book.

A philosophical work that explores questions of good and evil, the nature of heroism, the influence of fear and hope on our personality, and overall a reflection on what it means to be a human being and to do your best for humanity.While it makes no explicit reference to Nietzsche or other philosophical sources, writer Brian Azzarello is clearly aware of them.This work takes Luthor's viewpoint and makes some very intriguing insights as a result.It is also told in a very sophisticated manner, leaving out nonessential details and forcing the reader to play close attention and do lots of work; and that's not a bad thing.The artwork is well suited to this non-comic-book philosophical investigation; it is as thought-provoking and stylized as the storytelling. For example, videos and/or reflections of Superman facing Luthor as he reflects on the nature of humanity heighten the philosophical and psychological drama.This work is truly original; you don't feel like it is copying scenes from films or former stories, and it's not a version or retelling or adaptation, even if it explores familiar Superman/Luthor (and comic book) questions about heroism and humanity.Overall, a deeply original and philosophical work.

The first impression most have of Lex Luthor is a stereotypical mad scientist, or more recently the clown in a ridiculous space suit. Forget all that. Brian Azzarello has delivered one of the most complex comic characterizations in the history of the medium. What we see is not your basic villain with evil intent but a man with vision, fear, envy, insecurity, and passion. A multifaceted man who views himself the last beacon of hope for mankind, whose megalomania is tempered by his concerns for the human race and its future. And what is the challenge facing humanity that must be overcome to take control of our destinies? The same obstacle that has haunted Lex for years, Superman. In his eyes we cannot strive for greatness if some superpowered alien is there to guide and protect us. Lex's obsession with Superman is seen in a different light, that of a benefactor and not scourge of the human race, a sympathetic character more concerned with the welfare of others than his own happiness, which he is willing to sacrifice to achieve that goal. Aside from his portrayal in Superman The Animated Series his previous personas have been one dimensional. This is the definitive look at Lex Luthor, a cunning, devious, dynamic businessman, not some parody from a bad B movie.

I didn't expect this comic to be what it was...Let alone one of my favourites, I honestly bought it just because of the new Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice movie coming out. I had a feeling that this book was one of the influences of the film, and it was confirmed on the DC Comics' Twitter (although the exact tweet was deleted, mysterious). So i thought, 'might as well, plus the art looks cool'.The story follows Lex Luthor obviously, but it presents him as the protagonist, or at least, less of the bad guy we thought him to be. Brian Azzarello gives Lex a likeability, and I ended up respecting Lex a lot through the book. He seemed humble yet unapologetic, a man willing to make sacrifices because Superman prevents us from reaching for greater things. Superman is shown perfectly as an alien or an 'it' through the eyes of Lex. This book is short, but I think it suits the book, It has things which I wanted expanded upon, but that's because I liked so much of what I read and I wanted more. The book also has a good sense of emotion, and you feel the passion of Lex shine through. The art is also fantastic, sometimes stylishly realistic and sometimes sharper and less detailed. But always great. Lee Bermejo aced it.Art: 9/10 (I just wanted more of the realistic style, my preference)Story: 10/10 (short but awesome and doesn't get carried away)Characters: 9/10 (I wanted more Bruce and some more stuff with Lex, again my preference)Themes: less themes but more like 'feels'. A strong theme and character motivation really made me feel happy for some reason.

A really good comic with beautiful art. It strikes a nice balance between making Lex Luthor understandable, even sympathetic at points, and still absolutely the bad guy.

Thought this story was pretty neat, because it wasnt the usual Superman story. He only features on a few pages throughout the novel. Nice artwork - good clear pictures and layout was clear to follow. This novel led me to the similar  Joker¹ , which is same in concept. I would recommend this to those that want a different style of Superman story. Joker¹

Was really surprised by how good this was. I really liked the way that Lex could be seen as the (kinda) good guy while no one seemed to act out of character. The artwork was brilliant, maybe not everyones taste but I like it.Minor criticisms, the batman section (which is good) feels like a tangent from the main story, and it would have been nice if it was a bit longer.All in all, I recommend this for any comic fan.

cool book,we view superman from lex luthors perspective,and because of the quality of azzerelos writing and characterisation you will be surprised how sympathetic you feel towards him,does not get 5 stars because the third act is not as strong as the first two,but still a worthy entry into any superman collection!Great art to!