S3E47 - Issue 47 - Lex Luthor

Patron Ariel requested we cover Superman's archenemy LEX LUTHOR! Find out what makes this mad scientist/mad businessman so mad! Plus find out which real-life executive Anthony compares to Luthor! Listen now! (DISCLAIMER: We inadvertently forgot this was episode 47, so we keep calling it 48 in the show. Don't worry, you're not missing anything, we just can't count ;-P ) SHOW NOTES: Intro IWB live show on July 12th Podcoin plug Background (5:10) Created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster in Action Comics #23 (April 1940) or Superman #4 (Spring 1940) Originally a mad scientist who lived in a flying city, he was a standard megalomaniac, and Superman was just the only one who could foil his plans Origin story later revealed that he was a scientist in Smallville who liked Superboy until an accident at his laboratory turned him bald and killed an artificial life-form he had created – explains his hatred and jealousy of Superman After Crisis on Infinite Earths, Luthor was reimagined as a corrupt corporate executive, who hates Superman because he cannot be corrupted Family depends on the continuity - pre-Crisis, he has a sister named Lena, over whom he is very protective, and a wife Adora from another planet, and they have a son, Lex Jr. - both are killed when the planet explodes Post-Crisis, he is revealed to have been married eight times – his eighth wife is Contessa Erica Alexandra Del Portenza, who is as greedy as he is – she gives birth to a daughter, Lena In various continuities, his parents are either estranged and ashamed of him, or he killed them In basically all continuities, he believes himself to be the smartest man on the planet, and he feels that makes him superior to Superman Issues (13:30) Ariel: why does he hate aliens, and Superman in particular? Is he capable of actual love, trust, or friendship? (21:24) Feelings towards family – parents and sister (26:21) Treatment (37:26) In-universe Out of universe (44:25) Skit Ending References: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me: "Oh no, I've gone cross-eyed" - Anthony - 3:48 The Simpsons - Hank Scorpio - Anthony - 8:45 Clue - "Flames on the sides of my face" - Anthony - 16:20 Scarface - "Say goodnight to the bad guy" (NSFW) - Anthony - 25:10 Goldwater rule - Doc - 46:29 Captain America: The First Avenger - "I'm just a kid from Brooklyn" - Anthony - 51:23 iTunes: here Google Play: here Stitcher: here TuneIn: here iHeartRadio: here Spotify: hereTwitterFacebookE-mailPatreon