5 Times Lex Luthor Got Superpowers

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One interesting aspect about Lex Luthor, one of the most captivating villains in the entire DC universe, is that although his adversary, Superman, is among the mightiest characters in DC Comics with superpowers, Luthor himself lacks such abilities. Yet, he remains a formidable opponent. Luthor’s strength lies in his intellect and an impressive arsenal which allows him to challenge Superman closely. His arsenal includes devices like the war suit that help him measure up to the Man of Steel. However, beneath this facade of cunning and ambition, Luthor is a man consumed by bitterness and jealousy towards Superman’s natural endowments. In his relentless pursuit to surpass Superman, he often uses his genius mind to devise ways to acquire superhuman abilities for himself.

On multiple occasions, Lex Luthor has acquired super abilities, either through self-creation or theft from others. Regardless of the means, Luthor consistently employs these powers in his relentless pursuit to demolish Superman and the values he symbolizes.

1) Taking the Everyman Serum

Via Lex Luthor’s Everyman Project, individuals had an opportunity to acquire superpowers and act as heroes. Interestingly enough, the project didn’t mesh with Luthor’s genetic makeup. Despite this obstacle, Luthor still opted to ingest the serum, granting him extraordinary strength, speed, heat vision, and other abilities. He then employed these new powers in an attempt to eliminate Steel and his niece Natasha. To halt his destructive path, Natasha managed to counteract the effects of the Everyman serum, leaving Luthor powerless once more. In doing so, she unintentionally spared Luthor’s life, as the serum’s incompatibility would have resulted in his demise within six months. In an attempt to become omnipotent, Luthor almost met his own end.

2) Becoming the God of Apokolips

During the Darkseid War, Lex Luthor allied with the Justice League and was transported to the realm of Apokolips, a fiery planet ruled by the tyrant Darkseid. Stranded on this inhospitable world, Luthor encountered a group known as the Forgotten People who believed him to be the long-prophesied savior of Apokolips, Superman. Deceitfully, Luthor claimed to be the hero they sought. Following Darkseid’s demise, the Forever People imbued Luthor with the omega effect, transforming him into a new deity of Apokolips. This metamorphosis granted him powers akin to those of Darkseid, such as immense strength, Omega Beams, and command over all Parademons. Initially, he employed his newfound might to attempt the slaying of Superman; however, he eventually shifted his attention towards battling Darkseid’s slayer: the Anti-Monitor. In the final act, Darkseid’s daughter exploited the power-absorbing capabilities of Earth 3’s Superwoman to strip Luthor of the omega effect.

3) Becoming a Martian/Human Hybrid

As a young Martian Manhunter, he was kidnapped by the government, later freed by a young Lex Luthor. Seeking to resolve the ongoing battle between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom, J’onn attempted to forge an alliance with the man who had once shown him kindness. However, any goodwill in Luthor had faded, using this moment of vulnerability to set a trap and absorb the Martian into his own form. With Martian Manhunter’s incredible abilities – such as super strength, shape-shifting, regeneration, heat-vision, and more – Luthor transformed into a dominant force. Luthor served the ancient deity Perpetua in her conquest of multiple realities until she betrayed him, stripping him of his power. In a fitting twist of fate, the notorious backstabber was ultimately betrayed himself, left as a shattered remnant in a devastated world.

4) Taking Superman’s Powers for Himself

In the epic story of All-Star Superman, Lex Luthor was given an opportunity to experience life as his arch-nemesis does. He developed a formula that temporarily granted him Superman’s powers, enabling him to overpower and scheme against the Man of Steel with plans for U.S. domination. However, while using his newfound microscopic and X-ray vision, Luthor glimpsed the fundamental building blocks of existence, providing a profound realization of our interconnectedness with the universe. Regrettably, this enlightenment was fleeting as Superman hastened Luthor’s 24-hour tenure with a gravity gun, restoring him to human form. Though he claimed he could have saved the world with his newfound wisdom, Superman knew that if it truly mattered to Luthor, he could have done so years earlier.

5) Acquiring Infinite Power

Regardless of his divine status, Lex Luthor’s inherent human weaknesses would ultimately bring about his downfall. After merging with the all-powerful entity from the Phantom Zone called the Zone Child, Luthor gained infinite power. With this newfound omnipotence, he aimed to eliminate Superman permanently. However, there was a condition: he couldn’t utilize his power for harm. As Luthor attempted to kill Superman, he violated this rule, causing all his cosmic power to dissipate. Despite feeling the loss of power and continuing to try to kill Superman, he was knocked unconscious with a single punch. In the end, by giving in to hatred once more, Lex lost the godhood he had strived for his entire life.

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2025-06-30 15:21