DC Explains New Origin Of A-List Supervillain

Over the last year, Action Comics has primarily focused on delivering a new take on Clark Kent’s teenaged years as Superboy. This storyline took a brief hiatus when the younger Clark was transported to the present during the "Kingdom of Zod" crossover and teamed up with the present-day Superman family. After his memories of the event were erased by Martian Manhunter, he was returned to his proper place in time. Now Clark is back to resuming his hero’s journey in Smallville, Kansas. Unfortunately for him, this next chapter brings Lex Luthor into the mix.

In addition to being Superman’s arch-nemesis, Lex has ranked as one of DC’s best supervillains for decades. While some Superman origin stories depict the Man of Steel as not meeting Lex until Clark moves to Metropolis, others depict the two of them being friends with each other as teenagers in Smallville. The current Action Comics run falls into the latter category, and its Lex-focused storyline has delivered a new origin for one of his most powerful weapons.

Lex Luthor Used An Early Invention To Attack His Father

Action Comics #1104, Written By Mark Waid, Art By Patricio Delpeche

The "Lex Luthor: Year One" arc is underway in the pages of Action Comics, with this second installment showing Luthor and Clark becoming best friends after the former moves to Smallville. Before that happens, however, another pivotal moment that pushed Luthor to become the man he is today is shown. Despite Lex and his mother, Leticia, escaping his abusive father in Action Comics #1103 by faking their deaths, this issue shows them being forced to go back to Lionel Luthor after falling on even harder times.

This leads to Lex’s sister Lena (not to be confused with his daughter of the same name) being born, though unfortunately, she develops a paralyzing disease at five years old. Feeling that he failed his sister, Lex builds Lena an exoskeleton to help her walk. However, one night when Leticia and Lionel are in a particularly intense argument about their dwindling finances, and the latter is about to hit the former, Lex dons the exoskeleton himself to knock his father to the ground.

Despite Lex successfully stopping Lionel from hurting Leticia, this incident ultimately divides the Luthor family for good. Leticia runs away with Lena, leaving Lex behind. By the time he’s 17 years old, Lex is sent to live with his father’s cousin and his wife in Metropolis. When his arson scheme against them fails (as previously depicted in Krypton: The Last Dog of Krypton), Lex decides to leave them behind and go back to Smallville, as he’s drawn by Superboy’s arrival.

This Exoskeleton Is The Precursor To Lex Luthor’s Warsuit

Lex Luthor designed that exoskeleton to be a medical aid, but it ended up being the precursor to a tool of destruction. Though he primarily antagonizes Superman from afar using his exceptional intellect and any supervillains he’s employed, there are occasions when Lex has to get his hands dirty. In those instances, he usually dons his iconic green and purple warsuit, i.e. armor that enhances his strength, lets him fly, and is packed with advanced weaponry, many of which incorporate Kryptonite to harm Kryptonian adversaries.

Whether he’s using the warsuit to go toe-to-toe with Superman physically, or he’s utilizing it as a force for good during those periods when he’s a fellow superhero, this armor is an integral part of Lex Luthor’s arsenal. It’s also been featured outside of the comics in TV shows like Justice League, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl, and Superman & Lois, among other projects. The warsuit will make its live-action theatrical debut in the upcoming DC movie Man of Tomorrow, which comes out on July 9, 2027.

Action Comics #1104 is now available from DC Comics.