Kyle's Funnybook Corner (KFC) is a new regular blog section that will cover comic books and the subsequent entertainment inspired by them. All geeks (this isn't an insult, as I am one as well) who are as mild-mannered as Clark Kent, clever as Reed Richards, or as flexible with their opinion as Plastic Man is with his buttocks, are welcome.
Written by Kyle Huffman
The rogues gallery of comic book heroes are nearly too numerable to count. Even non-fans can roll off the names of nearly any hero, or heroine's, collection of villains. So many have specific themes or motivations that they can only be used in specific situations. The great ones, however, can be applied at nearly any time to great effect. The ones that endure are also the ones who can adapt at will and even change their alliances, all of course if it works within the context of the story. No villain in comics quite fits this mold more perfectly than the self proclaimed "Greatest Criminal Mind of Our Time": Lex Luthor.
Created not to long after his arch nemesis, Superman's, genesis, Lex Luthor originally fit the bill as a typical mad scientist role, an archetype immensely popular at the time. He eventually lost his hair to become the bald SOB he's been for decades now. Always without superpowers, his intellect and technological know-how made him a viable villain for the Man of Steel. He played this role for decades, eventually until the 1986 reboot, penned by John Byrne, were he was transformed into an even greater nemesis: an evil corporate executive. He's mostly remained the same since them.
His disdain for Superman and the threat he poses to Luthor's constant quest for power leave many seeing him as a one dimensional villain from a bygone age of little motivation and maximum villainy. Although I can see where these interpretations may come from, I must respectfully disagree. Anyone will tell you that the bad guy doesn't really see himself as a bad guy, but rather the hero of his own tale. The same applies for Luthor: he sees himself as a liberator of his own planet in the face of a strange, but indistinguishable alien masquerading as a hero. It's almost redundant to say Luthor is equivalent to any anti-immigration "activist" who blindly enlists fear in the people. Deep down, he's just as convinced himself at the dangers Superman can pose.
But also, his mad and greedy quest for power must not be forgotten. Showing rare complexities for such a forgotten comic book character, Luthor only uses this above stated jingoism to justify the annihilation of Superman. Business as usual has been interrupted by the Man of Tomorrow and his allies. They have to go if he is to succeed in his quest for power and, often forgotten, knowledge. Seeing himself, often correctly, as the pinnacle of human intellectual potential, his deep down jealousy of meta-humans and their alien friends leaves him constantly unsatisfied in reaching the ultimate goal: manly perfection. He proved himself in the classroom, the underworld, and the boardroom (sometimes, the difference is hard to spot). In his reality, he's almost happy to have these new problems on his hands, as a new challenge has presented itself.
As you can tell, Superman and his arch nemesis have a special place in my heart as the pinnacles of who and how comic book characters exists as forms of entertainment and enlightenment. You can probably also tell, if you're a consumer of comic book related media/material, that their misuse and under-use often leaves me frustrated. Although I love Gene Hackman in everything he's in, he's just a bit too funny as Luthor in the original film series. Kevin Spacey, one of the true great actors of his time, didn't quite hit the character notes as well as I would have looked.
As usual, a fan such as my self must turn to the spectacular framework that was the DC Animated Universe (DCAU). They nailed nearly every character they took a swing at (and the ones they didn't would sound like monumental nitpicks). Superman was done superbly, and just as importantly, so was Luthor. Brilliantly voiced by Clancy Brown, the Machiavellian tycoon matched wits with Superman regularly in the Man of Steel's own show. I was also very pleased, maybe even more so, how he was utilized in the Justice League and Unlimited incarnations, continuing his characterization. To call him pure evil would take away the fun of the character. Here, he would help out Superman if it meant he got something in the long run, which he almost always did. And I won't spoil it, but his ultimate fate in the show is perfect in portraying his somewhat noble and also selfish soul.
A character as old as this one is inevitably open to a myriad of interpretations. But the classical feel he emits has made sure it sticks with him forever. With reboots and retcons always on the horizon, more and more risk is there to get the character wrong. But always remember, there's more than meets the eye. Support your local comic shop and see the source material. More often than not, if you have an open mind to a different type of storytelling, you can find your self surprised.
I leave you with this hilarious Funny or Die sketch performed by the always great Jon Hamm.
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