Since his first appearance in Action Comics #23 in 1940, Lex Luthor has been a constant thorn in Superman’s side. Often depicted as a genius determined to convince the world that he is superior to Superman, Lex Luthor is one of the most iconic comic book villains of all time. The fact that a regular human is able to give the Man of Steel so much trouble is a testament to Lex Luthor’s intelligence and determination.
However, despite the countless atrocities that he has committed over the years, Lex Luthor has also performed numerous good deeds. Even though it is usually for ulterior motives, Lex Luthor has used his intellect and resources to create many heroic and wholesome moments.
Officially Recognized Atlantis
Lex Luthor successfully ran for President of the United States in 2000, defeating Al Gore and George W. Bush. Despite an initial dispute between Lex Luthor and King Orin of Atlantis, President Lex Luthor proved to be a skilled diplomat who developed a mutually beneficial relationship with Atlantis by establishing a trade agreement and becoming one of the first world leaders to officially recognize the nation of Atlantis in Superman Vol. 2 #165.
Even though Lex Luthor has consistently clashed with Superman because of his powers, he was surprisingly open-minded and forward-thinking when it came to his policies regarding other metahumans, treating the Atlanteans with dignity and respect.
Helped Restore Gotham City
One of the events that helped propel Lex Luthor into a position to mount a presidential campaign was his apparent humanitarian work in rebuilding Gotham City. In the No Man’s Land storyline, an earthquake devastated Gotham, prompting the government to disavow the city by declaring it a no man’s land. This caused Gotham to become overrun by villains. In an effort to save the city, Batman contacted Lex Luthor, who agreed to rebuild the city in an attempt to take control of Gotham.
While he had a hidden agenda, Lex Luthor did step in and save Gotham and its citizens during a time of crisis.
Protected The Earth As President
President Lex Luthor faced one of the first challenges of his administration when the Earth faced the threat of annihilation in the Our Worlds at War story arc. The alien Imperiex attempted to destroy Earth and cause a new Big Bang, wiping away the universe and creating a new one.
Lex Luthor played an instrumental role in coordinating the military with metahumans such as Superman, Wonder Woman, and even Darkseid to defeat Imperiex and preserve life on Earth. This was an important moment that showcased the positive impact Lex Luthor was capable of having when he worked for the common good.
Established World Peace
Superman: Red Son reexamined the relationship between Superman and Lex Luthor. In this storyline, Superman landed in Ukraine instead of Kansas, causing him to become the oppressive leader of the Soviet Union rather than the model of truth, justice, and the American way. Conversely, Lex Luthor became the US symbol of resistance, using his intellect to rebel against and eventually defeat Superman.
Upon his victory, President Lex Luthor created a unified government that brought worldwide peace. This story proved that Superman and Lex Luthor are opposite sides of the same coin, each just one or two choices away from heroism or dictatorship.
Stopped Zod’s Invasion
In Superman: Last Son, General Zod led a squadron of Kryptonians out of the Phantom Zone, attacking and invading Earth. When Superman realized that he was in over his head, he turned to Lex Luthor for help. Lex Luthor assembled the Superman Revenge Squad which was made up of Bizarro, Parasite, and Metallo, equipped with Kryptonite weapons.
This team fought alongside Superman and Lex Luthor eventually engineered a way to send the Kryptonians back to the Phantom Zone. Lex Luthor demonstrated leadership and ingenuity, saving the day and protecting the world from invasion.
Saved Nightwing By Killing Him
The Forever Evil storyline saw the Justice League pitted against the Crime Syndicate, an evil version of the Justice League from Earth-3. The Crime Syndicate proved to be worthy opponents, incapacitating many members of the Justice League and taking Nightwing captive. This led to the unlikely partnership of Lex Luthor and Batman leading the remaining heroes of Earth against the Crime Syndicate. The villains strapped Nightwing to a Murder Machine and rigged a bomb to go off unless Nightwing’s heart stopped. Lex Luthor allowed the machine to kill Nightwing, prompting Batman to attack Lex Luthor. However, once Nightwing’s heart stopped, Lex Luthor revived him, saving Nightwing and preventing the bomb from going off.
This storyline saw Lex Luthor thrust into the position of being Earth’s hero, and he rose to the occasion, defeating the villains and saving the day.
Joined The Justice League
At the conclusion of the Forever Evil storyline, Lex Luthor helped save the world, defeated the Crime Syndicate, and even saved Superman by removing Kryptonite from his brain. Because of all of this, Lex Luthor was invited to join the Justice League, earning his place among Earth’s greatest heroes.
Lex Luthor’s time as a member of the Justice League was brief as his past quickly caught up with him, but it was further proof that Lex Luthor has the capacity to be a hero, even if only when it aligns with his interests. It was rewarding seeing a complicated character like Lex Luthor finally get some vindication and validation.
Protected The Justice League’s Identity
The Injustice: Gods Among Us storyline was a comic book tie-in for the video game of the same name, and depicts a world in which Superman becomes an oppressive dictator who does whatever it takes to achieve world peace. In Year One, the parallel universe Lex Luthor is shown to be a high school friend and confidant of Superman rather than a villain. Lex Luthor asked to join the Justice League and offered to help them achieve their mission. When asked why they should trust him, Lex Luthor revealed that he was smart enough to have figured out all of their secret identities but had kept them a secret because he cared about them and wanted to protect them.
This version of Lex Luthor is committed to protecting the Justice League and helping them, a far cry from his normal depiction. Seeing him as Superman’s friend and an ally of the Justice League is a different but interesting take on the character.
Saved Lexor
In Superman #164, Lex Luthor challenged Superman to a fair fight on a planet under a red sun, where Superman would not have access to his powers. After Superman bested Lex Luthor in physical combat, the two stumbled upon a devastated civilization. Lex Luthor managed to help the aliens rebuild their society and restored power and water. When his plan began to fail, Lex Luthor felt genuinely bad about it and asked Superman to use his powers to save the people. Superman was kind enough to oblige, even giving Lex Luthor credit for it. The aliens were so grateful they named the planet Lexor and built a statue in Lex Luthor’s honor.
Seeing Lex Luthor actually caring about the well-being of others and being regarded as a true hero was a heartwarming moment that humanized the famous villain.
Became The New Superman
After the death of Superman, Metropolis was in need of a new defender in Action Comics #957. The Lex Luthor of this continuity, who had gained powers from an energy release on Apokolips, declared himself the new Superman, even wearing the late Superman’s cape. Lex Luthor had good intentions and did publically stop crime before the Superman from another timeline showed up. The two then teamed up to stop Doomsday. However, they never fully developed a trusting relationship, and Lex Luthor slowly slid back into his old lifestyle.
For Superman fans, Superman and Lex Luthor working together against Doomsday is an unforgettable moment. For a brief time, Lex Luthor finally got the admiration he has always wanted and was viewed as Metropolis’ Superman.
