My Adventures With Superman season 2, episode 4 cements its iteration of Lex Luthor as my current most despised version of the DC villain, after several scenes that make it clear he’s a unique kind of menace. Lex Luthor is an antagonist that seems so straightforward in a lot of ways that I think it actively makes him harder to get right. Given he’s associated with a lot of villain tropes with centuries-long histories, changing him up at all risks losing what makes him work so well – but avoiding switching things up entirely risks making a version of the character who fades into the background.

Michael Rosenbaum’s Lex Luthor proved to me years ago that DC shows and movies can absolutely nail the villain in a way that it might otherwise seem only comics can truly pull off, but a more recent release has reinforced that belief further. While My Adventures With Superman‘s Lex Luthor is very different in a lot of regards, this is what makes him work so well in the show – and what makes him an especially annoying Superman antagonist.

My Adventures With Superman’s Lex Luthor Is Truly Insufferable

My Adventures With Superman’s Lex Continually Gets More Annoying

Over the years, there’s been a magnificent range of versions of Lex Luthor, all evil and awful in their own distinctive ways. However, there are traits shared by almost every Lex, as even more heroic iterations of the character still tend to carry some signs of his telltale ego, just to remind viewers that it’s still Lex Luthor being depicted. My Adventures With Superman keeps Lex’s most annoying traits – his arrogance, his snide nature, and his fondness for scheming – and changes things up in a way that creates a whole new sort of antagonism.

The changes made to My Adventures With Superman‘s Lex Luthor make him a truly individual and uniquely frustrating figure. He doesn’t have the more conventional motives of being Clark’s childhood friend gone rogue or a corrupt business tycoon, but rather has an origin story that sees him be annoyed that Superman defeated his boss before Dr. Ivo could do untold damage with his tech. Still, that’s enough to have Luthor make an entire presentation on “The Superman Problem” in My Adventures With Superman season 2, episode 4, and bring Jimmy Olsen in just to argue with him about it.

This all adds an element of pettiness to his decision to hate Superman with every ounce of his being that makes him a different kind of evil to most of his counterparts, as instead of their rivalry being inevitable, it’s one almost entirely borne out of Luthor actively going out of his way to create and nurture it. While this makes a refreshing dynamic, it’s also one that makes me hate this version of Lex Luthor in new ways, as his origin story is remarkably close to dedicating your life to evil because you were cut off in traffic.

My Adventures With Superman Season 2 Shows Lex Luthor Is Only Going To Get Worse

The Show Sets The Stage For Lex Luthor To Grow In Power & Ego

Whereas many other versions of Lex Luthor are focused on at the height of their villainy, My Adventures With Superman has provided a more unconventional origin story for its iteration of the villain. While this move was half for more real-world practical reasons – as Lex Luthor wasn’t supposed to be in My Adventures With Superman so early in the show, and the changes made to him meant he could easily be a different character if the needs be – it also serves a narrative purpose, by showing him steadily amping up.

It’s clear Luthor is only getting more confident in the narrative he spins about why Superman should be stopped. He’s also at a point where anything the Man of Steel does is only going to be interpreted in a way that further validates his hatred to himself, especially while working alongside Task Force X, who employ much the same mindset.

Combine this with My Adventures With Superman season 2, episode 3 showing Lex seemingly obtaining Steel’s supersuit and Metallo robots – not to mention episode 4 adding the support of STAR Labs and the Pentagon to his roster – and all the signs to me point to the idea that Lex Luthor is only set to get a bigger and more troubling threat as time goes on. While this is exciting, it’s also an idea that fills me with at least a little dread, as the stage is set for some truly diabolical villainous plans.

My Adventures With Superman May Be Setting Up A Long-Term Lex Luthor Origin Story

Lex Luthor Could End Up Closer To The Traditional Version Of The DC Villain

My Adventures With Superman is seemingly aiming for a long run for Lex’s villainous story, given the already drawn out nature of his official introduction and the fact that his first encounter with the Man of Steel sees no physical fighting, even though he has the tools to do so. Indeed, My Adventures With Superman season 2, episode 4 shows the villain scheming like he’s never schemed before, with enough resources to be able to play the long game instead of going all out against his heroic foe.

All this suggests Luthor may end the show in a state more similar to his usual self, as his storyline now can justify him gaining the immense wealth usually associated with the character, and his design seems to me to be primed for a dramatic hair loss moment akin to the original comic explanation for his baldness. While returning Lex Luthor to a place and look that audiences know best would be a great payoff, I think the unique way My Adventures With Superman makes its iteration unlikeable is also something special.