Lex Luthor
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Real Identity: Dr. Lex Luthor
Affiliations: Gotham University, S.T.A.R. Labs, and Project Fair Play
Appearances (Movie): Justice League: Gods and Monsters
Appearances (Comics): Genesis Part One, Part Two, and Part Three
Powers/Skills: Genius
Voiced By: Jason Isaacs
Dr. Lex Luthor was a preeminent scientist and taught at Gotham University. He was also a friend and advisor of President Amanda Waller. Suffering from a genetic disorder, Luthor was forced to use a walking cane at a young age. Luthor was part of a military recovery operation in the middle of the Arizona desert. A space ship from Krypton was secured. He focused on the empty Incubator Pod and dipped his pen in its fluids. He asked a sergeant what was in it but that was still unknown. Luthor ordered the area to be searched thoroughly and for the ship to be taken to S.T.A.R. Labs under Code Black parameters. Years later, Kirk Langstrom studied with Luthor for three years at Gotham University. Langstrom was part of a group of eight students informally known as "Luthor's boys."
On graduation day, Luthor posed for a photo with them. He then advised them one last time. Luthor declared they were the best their generation had to offer and warned them not to squander their talents but to be brazen and bold. They were one of the few who could administer the change the world needed. Will Magnus equated Luthor's speech to pep talk from Albert Einstein. He took an interest in the tales of the mysterious Batman and believed in his existence. He sifted through the hyperbolic reports, the blurry cellphone video, and the surveillance tapes and came to the conclusion he was trying to fashion himself a hero but his motivation was raw hunger. Likewise, Luthor didn't like Superman either. More specifically, he hated what Superman embodied - unassailable power. Superman couldn't be trusted. After the Metropolis Central Station incident where Superman incinerated the Chaos Society before they could finish their killing spree, Luthor was foremost amoung scientists who voiced their concern with Superman and his methods.
After Batman finished locating and interrogating former Hairies across the United States of America, he returned to Gotham. He flew to Gotham University, bypassed Luthor's security systems, and confronted Luthor in a lecture hall. Luthor admitted he was impressed but was wary of Batman's agenda. Batman revealed his identity and connection but Luthor didn't remember him. Batman revealed he wanted Luthor's help in stopping Jackson Alpert and the Forever People. Luthor questioned why he wanted to then Batman stated Alpert was really an underground scientist named Doctor Psycho. Luthor was quick to point out those accusations were never substantiated and all evidence leaned towards Psycho's death in 1967. Batman grabbed Luthor by the tie and exclaimed he had new evidence. Luthor electrocuted Batman with his modified walking cane. Luthor believed Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman posed a more dangerous threat. Together, they were the greatest threat known to humanity. Batman denied it but Luthor made his point.
Dr. Luthor recognized Superman and Wonder Woman were from other worlds but not Batman. Luthor offered Batman a chance to stay with him and he would help find a cure. Batman was already gone. Days later, Luthor was among the international task force that occupied the Eternity Institute to study the former Forever People and Psycho's research. Wonder Woman mused the battle with the Forever People would be inspiration to the world to rebuild together but Superman bet they would go back to killing each other in time. Luthor walked up to the three from behind and admitted Superman was right but added they would go back to their ways as well. He reiterated his belief they were more dangerous than the Forever People and warned them they should take their own advice -- go to another planet. Deep down, Luthor knew things would only get worse. And it did.
Following the battle against Imperiex, the trio was approached by President Waller, Colonel Trevor, and Dr. Luthor for a discussion. At the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Luthor reiterated how he thought the conflict would not have happened if Jackson Alpert didn't have access to their DNA and added the Forever People was their fault, too, as it was inevitable there would be attempts to match or surpass their powers. Superman found Luthor's claims absurd. Waller made her point and the Justice League was founded. Publically, Luthor testified at the United States Capitol against the Justice League. Whie it was officially a government sanctioned task force, Luthor argued they were more than a super SWAT team. They were a weapon of absolute power. Luthor warned that sooner or later, the ties between the Oval Office and Tower of Justice would fray.
Dr. Luthor played the reluctant advisor to the League all the while developing advanced technology capable of taking them out. At the Tower of Justice, Luthor told them the people would come to fear them less and implored them to make the world a better place. Luthor warned them that if they betrayed the pact, action would taken. He bid them a good afternoon and good luck then left the Tower. Wonder Woman mused she hated him. Superman told her he wasn't worth the energy. Several months later, Luthor met with Lois Lane and recounted the encounter with Batman. He admitted seeing a vulnerability in Batman and he was the only one of the three that could be reached. He thought Superman and Wonder Woman should be studied and, if necessary, terminated. Superman, in turn, thought Luthor was a frustrating elitist whose influence was waning.
Dr. Luthor started and served as administrator of Project Fair Play, one of the government's secret programs dedicated to perfecting a way to neutralize the Justice League as a failsafe. Superman later requested the return of his ship from the government. Luthor suggested they place fake copies of the ship's files in place of the real ones so that Superman would not know his true heritage as General Zod's father and not try to emulate him on Earth. Luthor thought it would be better if Superman thought his biological father was a hero. Eventually, Luthor tired of his life and went into seclusion. He never cared for power and walked away from it. Many in the scientific community, including his former students, had no idea where he went or if he was even still alive. In reality, Luthor resided on a space ship he built mostly from Kryptonian science he gleaned from files extracted from Superman's ship. From the ship, he engaged in his true passion - accumulating knowledge. He set out to map the universe and reveal its many mysteries.
Over time, Luthor's disease left him crippled and gaunt. He moved around in a special hover chair. Years later, Luthor was paid a visit by Superman. Already anticipating this, Luthor immediately told Superman about Project Fair Play, stealing his ship's files, planting fakes, and told him the truth about his conception. Luthor played the last moments of Krypton, noted Superman's mother Lara, and revealed who General Zod really was. Superman demanded the original files but Luthor stated they were with President Waller. He warned Superman that Fair Play was completed and the government had a way to kill him. As Superman left the ship, he told Luthor things could have been different if Luthor told the truth from the start. And because of it, Superman was as much a creation of Zod as he was of Luthor's. Suddenly, Will Magnus' Superdroid boomed into the ship and destroyed it. NASA confirmed the ship's explosion, and that Superman was the last visitor, to Steve Trevor. Trevor relayed the news to President Waller.
President Luthor greenlit Project Fair Play and had Metropolis evacuated. Luthor was assumed dead but he was able to boom to safety. He secretly monitored the Tower of Justice and learned Will Magnus was the real mastermind behind the murders of scientists associated with Fair Play. Due to the Tower of Justice's Kryptonian force field, Luthor discovered he was unable to boom into the Tower. He instead boomed outside and appeared in front of Superman and Wonder Woman. Trevor asked Luthor to move. Irritated, Luthor called Trevor an ass and explained Magnus and his plan to merge everyone's minds with nanites. After Magnus was defeated and the world was saved, Luthor and Wonder Woman came to a decision together. Wonder Woman felt she was long overdue to return home and settle her past. Luthor had grown bored and wanted to explore other universes. They would go together. A few days later, Luthor boomed to the Tower for Wonder Woman. He returned the ship files to Superman and mused things often get lost in bureaucracies. He hinted Kryptonian sciences had dramatic applications on Earth and implored Superman to be a real hero. Superman thanked Luthor. Luthor generated a Boom Tube and left with Wonder Woman.