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Lex Luthor: Man of Steel

by Brian Azzarello, Lee Bermejo (Illustrator)

3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 · rating details · 1,180 ratings · 61 reviews

Superman has been called many things, from the defender of Truth, Justice and the American way to the Big Blue Boy Scout. In Lex Luthor: Man Of Steel, he is called something he never been called before: a threat to all humanity!

In this trade paperback collecting the acclaimed 5-issue miniseries Lex Luthor: Man Of Steel, fan-favorite writer Brian Azzarello (Superman, 100 Bu...more

Paperback, 144 pages

Published January 1st 2006 by DC Comics

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Jun 03, 2012 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: comics, graphic-novels, read-in-2012

3.5 stars

Good story told from Lex's point of view. Of course, he doesn't see himself as a villain, and by the middle of the book you can feel yourself mustering up quite a bit of sympathy for him. Poor misunderstood fellow.

Or maybe not.

I would have given this a solid four stars, but there was this weird fight between Batman and Superman that really confused me. Maybe I'm missing an important piece of the puzzle, but it just didn't make sense. Other than that it was a great portrayal of everyone...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Azzarello seems to think that Luthor thinks in metaphor. Clever, inventive metaphor, but intellectual flights of fantasy all the same.

I never quite perceived Luthor as a man of intellectual ego, more someone who mercilessly beats down his opponents until they're ready to yield, and then takes advantage. This is a whole new character - a reinvention, or even a phoenix-like rebirth.

It's also possible that - rather than a narrative telling Luthor's story - this is all a self-rationalising delusion...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 28, 2008 E.H. rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: comic lovers

Shelves: comics, theboxmarkeddone

If you've ever delved into the Superman comics at all, you've come across Lex Luthor, the billionaire who makes it his business to make life difficult for Our Hero. The back story between him and Clark Kent is pretty compelling stuff - friendship and betrayal in rural Kansas. But this isn't that story.

Brian Azzarello has interrogated Lex and come back with six issues of reasons to hate the Big Nietzschian Joke. There's nothing not to like here - the storytelling is tight, the art is gorgeous and...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Ryan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

Lex Luthor is a humanitarian. He gives to charities, helps his employees with family problems, and does his best to make his city a better and more prosperous place.

Lex Luthor is an engineer, a spiritual descendent of Archimedes. He knows that, with a fulcrum and lever big enough, we could move the world. Move it out poverty, out of war, out of ignorance.

There's only one problem with Lex's vision: Superman. Superman, that pompous, arrogant alien who has come to his city and amazed the populatio...more

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May 14, 2012 Jonathan Briggs rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lex Luthor's not such a bad guy. He's just misunderstood. That criminal mastermind stuff is just a sideline to finance his real work: Lex ("Call me Lex") is a fiercely dedicated humanitarian with grand visions for the future, a future that can be reached without the crutch provided by a certain solar-powered alien guarding Metropolis. "When I see you?" he tells Superman. "I see the end. The end of our potential. The end of our achievements. The end of our dreams." So Lex creates his own superher...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Julian rated it 5 of 5 stars

What if Superman's much vaunted love for humanity were only a front? What if he went bad? What if being an alien, he had a weird alien agenda that required being good for now, but which might have a much less beneficial purpose? These are among the fears that are confronted head on by Lex Luthor in this story. Now, an optimist might say that Superman has been pretty good thus far, but Luthor is no optimist. He is convinced that Superman is not all good, simply because he is alien, and hence unkn...more What if Superman's much vaunted love for humanity were only a front? What if he went bad? What if being an alien, he had a weird alien agenda that required being good for now, but which might have a much less beneficial purpose? These are among the fears that are confronted head on by Lex Luthor in this story. Now, an optimist might say that Superman has been pretty good thus far, but Luthor is no optimist. He is convinced that Superman is not all good, simply because he is alien, and hence unknowable. Moreover, he poses a greater threat, in that his sheer excellence and superiority tells humanity that they can aspire no further: Superman will always be above them. Thus Luthor sets out to create an environment in which people will be encouraged to develop to exceed even Superman, and to need no man in red and blue to protect them.

This, at least, is what Luthor would like us to believe, and for the first three quarters of this story you might almost believe him. And then it turns around, and we see that his true purpose in all this is not to make humankind surpass itself, but simple to make more people, just one will do, hate Superman just as much as he does. And if, in the process, he has to kill people - lots of people - trample on people's desires, love and aspirations, betray people who have trusted him, and create mayhem on a massive scale, well that's all justified by the goal of making people hate Superman.

But here's the interesting thing. Luthor accuses Superman of seeing us as mere ants, but what of Luthor? He protects people when he needs them, only to have them killed when he doesn't. He happily sacrifices the lives of hundreds to make a point. That suggests that he doesn't like or value people all that much either. But most damning is his treatment of the two women in his life. Mona, his assistant, who is clearly in love with him, he treats as if she were a machine, only to abruptly confront her with her love and inform her, with maximal hurtfulness, that it will never be returned. The other woman is (mild spoiler) not fully human, but he treats her as a human, eventually making love with her. And this, which should be the full revelation of her humanity, for what is more humanising than love, precedes immediately his coldly sending her to her death. For it isn't death, you see: she is a thing to be controlled with a mouse-click. Philip K Dick always argued that humanity lay in actions not the body: in his story Human Is he contrasts a caring, empathic alien with a monstrous, egomaniacal human, and concludes that the alien is the truly human one. Luthor, it seems, would disagree. Then, Philip K Dick would no doubt see Luthor as the monstrous egomaniac. At the end, Luthor hopes that he is at least fully human. I doubt it.

So, a disturbing and powerful story which packs far more punch than its short length would suggest. It's aided by a dark, almost noir art-style, with nearly everything seen in half-light, and in particular by the careful way that everything, even scenes with Superman where Luthor is not present, being seen from Luthor's point-of-view.(less)

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Feb 06, 2012 Sam Quixote rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lex Luthor gets his own book to give his side of the story, to convince us readers that Superman is the menace he believes he is. Lex is building a giant new structure devoted to science and the accomplishments of humanity, making sure people understand Superman is not human nor is he needed to save anyone. But just to be sure Lex is also building a female version of Superman to become the new saviour of Metropolis.

I think Brian Azzarello's books are hit and miss but this one was definitely a hi...more Lex Luthor gets his own book to give his side of the story, to convince us readers that Superman is the menace he believes he is. Lex is building a giant new structure devoted to science and the accomplishments of humanity, making sure people understand Superman is not human nor is he needed to save anyone. But just to be sure Lex is also building a female version of Superman to become the new saviour of Metropolis.

I think Brian Azzarello's books are hit and miss but this one was definitely a hit. He writes Lex as a charming, suave, and pretty decent guy who talks to cleaning staff like real people, who give a helping hand to underprivileged people, basically is the opposite of the arrogant and selfish prig he's depicted as in many Superman books. More than the image, Azzarello gives him a voice that's authentic to the reader and adds weight to his monologues against the idea of Superman.

Interestingly, Azzarello plays up Lex's obsession with Superman in the form of "Hope", a robotic superhero under the control of Lex and a pretty good impersonator of Superman - except she's a woman. Then he has Lex seduce her! I thought it was a funny as Azzarello basically implied that Lex's entire obsession with Superman was, despite the rhetoric and argument, sexual in nature - Lex loves Superman, he really just wants to have sex with him. But maybe I'm wrong.

Full credit too goes to Lee Bermejo who draws utterly beautiful panels on every single page. He is one of the finest comics artists working today and nowhere does his work shine more than in the DC books he's worked on - Joker, Lex Luthor, and more recently Batman: Noel (which he also wrote) are hugely impressive works of art. He's one of the few artists whose work I immediately buy purely on his inclusion on the project alone.

Lex is a fascinating character and through his eyes we see Superman from a different angle, making him more interesting too. "Lex Luthor: Man of Steel" is a compellingly written, beautifully drawn, comic book that any fans of Superman will love, and those with a passing interest in Superman will find strangely beguiling. A must read for all fans of comics.(less)

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Dec 07, 2011 Craig Powell rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Born to greatness is a lie. Fate was invented by cowards. But destiny is something we hold in our hands." - Lex Luthor (Lex Luthor: Man of Steel)

Lex Luthor is easily one of my favorite villans of the DC Universe. I say that because a majority of the time the "evil" acts he is performing are somewhat gray in nature on the good/evil spectrum. He has a very compelling drive that you are almost attracted to as a reader. His humanistic view of mankind and what we are able to accomplish is inspiring...more "Born to greatness is a lie. Fate was invented by cowards. But destiny is something we hold in our hands." - Lex Luthor (Lex Luthor: Man of Steel)

Lex Luthor is easily one of my favorite villans of the DC Universe. I say that because a majority of the time the "evil" acts he is performing are somewhat gray in nature on the good/evil spectrum. He has a very compelling drive that you are almost attracted to as a reader. His humanistic view of mankind and what we are able to accomplish is inspiring at times. While you ultimately end up rooting for Superman, it is hard to ignore the dynamic nature of Luthor as a character.

It is this reason that authors have dabbled with him over the years by inserting him in almost supporting, anti-hero type roles that showcase the conflict in him to be a great leader. By supporting his actions with an impressive mental capacity for master planning, he has become the intellectual superior second to almost none in the DC Universe.

Aside from his characterization in Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman, never has Luthor been more inspiring to me personally than he was here in Brian Azzarello's one off story. You find yourself drawn to his reasoning and by the end you are not exactly won over by the appearance of Superman as is customary. It almost seems plausible that Lex would act in the way that he does. Combined with his astute business acumen and you are left with a force to be reckoned with.

If I were to have one slight complaint (and this is more difference of opinion) it would be the art style. This type of frenetic, loose line style is not my favorite. It gives the appearance of a muddled mess at times and doesn't give the strong line style that I prefer. This is only a minor gripe as it does get the job done and doesn't necessarily take away from the story. It just doesn't serve to improve it visually for me.

I would highly recommend this book if you want a better insight to the very most human and relatable of characters that DC has to offer. (less)

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May 21, 2010 Kati rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, comic-books, in-english

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 18, 2011 Travis rated it 3 of 5 stars

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Jul 27, 2012 Jennifer Hooker rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: superheros, villains, good-versus-evil, graphic-novels

I haven't read much Superman. In fact, I just finished my first Superman book right before I read this. The story takes place from the perspective of Lex for a short period of time. Basically, Lex believes he is in the right and that he loves Metropolis more than Superman does because he's human and Supes is not.
The writing was good and the storyline was not bad. I actually had a feeling for Luthor at some point, which I don't think happens in comics enough. It's almost always about the good gu...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Eric rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: superman, villains

This is actually more effective than I thought it would be. A mini-series trying to humanize Lex Luthor while still reminding us why he is a terrible man, it gets the point across better than it deserved. We see Lex doing good things for good reasons, even if his methods are underhanded. We see him doing bad things for good reasons, so he can save "his" city from Superman. But we also see him doing bad things for very bad reasons, and when the the climax comes and we see what he's been building...more

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Feb 23, 2011 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, comics-superheroes, superman

Brian Azzarello brings an amazing tale like normal. To see into the eyes of a mad man and to think that maybe he is right. Maybe Superman is evil. Maybe every lie Luthor tells us isn't a lie. Lex Luthor has been built as the greatest evil in so many comics. It's about time we got to see his side of the story. Which I think is a good one.

Lee Bermejo bring a style to comic this amazing. His Superman makes him look so evil. An evil that Luthor has been warning us about for ever. He is a suburb arti...more

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May 11, 2011 Aliza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Things are always interesting when seen from the villain's perspective but Lex Luthor has always been a complicated villain. He really thinks Superman is wrong for mankind and lacks the self-awareness to realize that he wishes he were a type of Superman or that his issues with Superman stem from any kind of jealousy. We see Lex here at his most human and inhumane all the while accusing Superman of lacking the very humanity that Lex truly lacks. Dark, interesting, complex. Like the villain himsel...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Joshua rated it 4 of 5 stars

I like it a lot better than Joker. The way Superman was drawn, his eyes constantly glowing red, was a pretty nice touch. It was interesting to actually hear Luthor's motivations and reasons for hating Superman instead of just seeing him from Superman's perspective. But, a good question is how much can we trust Luthor's explanation of his actions. And even if we can accept them at face value, the fact still remains that the course of action he takes to try and make the world see Superman the way...more

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May 05, 2013 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars

From the front cover I thought this was to be a new spin on the Superman story and have Lex Luthor with his powers but it's actually a lot cleverer than that. In this book we see Superman how Lex Luthor sees him, as a dangerous threat to mankind. How long before Superman starts to look down on us and our failure to aspire to be anything better than we are and so decides to rule us instead? The illustrations brilliantly add to this vision as Superman looks almost demon like through Lex's eyes. A...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Carla rated it 3 of 5 stars

The story from the bad guy's point of view. I love that concept. Brian Azzarello excels at writing complex anti-heroes and downright vile villains. With Lex Luthor, he poses the question: does a villain consider himself a villain? do they see their actions as evil? In Man of Steel, you don't have to dig too deep for the answers, as the story is as shallow as Luthor's own convictions that he is doing the work of an aristocratic humanitarian (obviously a man of many contradictions.) The plot gets...more

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Mar 24, 2011 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This graphic novel comes highly recommended by my son, and I've got to say it is way beyond the Superman comics of my childhood. This story is from the Lex Luthor point of view, and dare I say, he comes across somewhat sympathetically.

Lex loves his city Metropolis and is enormously frustrated at the child-like devotion it's citizens bestow on the alien Superman. Luthor believes that Superman could turn on the humans at some future time, and then it would be too late to intervene. So Lex has a co...more

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Jan 28, 2011 Ringthebells rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 08, 2009 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel

I loved what Azaarello and Berjemo did with Joker in the graphic novel by the same name that came out last November. Lex Luthor: Man of Steel turns another classic DC villain on his head by showing the world through his eyes. In the story, Lex is the last hope of humanity's line of defense against that shadowy alien in the blue and red tights. Unfortunately, Lex engineers a female "superman," who he later has sex with (ick!!!) named Hope to destroy Supes, which ironically reinforces what is inhe...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Steve Sanderson rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: comics

The idea of Luthor as a good guy, and Superman as a red-eyed unknowable alien is interesting in the abstract.

Even though he's a good guy, Luthor has some underhanded ways of dealing with bad guys. And, a serious lack of empathy. And even though Superman is a good guy he's basically mute, and scary.

I wanted to see more of Luthor's strange ways, get into his mindset but the comic stays more of the surface and doesn't go deep enough. But I say - give me more madman, more stonecold maniacal leader!

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Feb 26, 2010 Jacobi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trades-read-in-2010

Azzarello is great at showing a unique side of villains. We know who these characters are, but Azz shows us how they tick. How they operate, in a totally believable fashion. And his characterization is so good, it makes other shit look pedestrian.

Here, he makes you really like Lex Luthor, and shows you why Superman is someone to be feared...at least for a while.

I really like Azz's take on these big villains, and I wish he would do a story like this more often.

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Feb 15, 2012 Rob Durdle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Luthor isn't a bad man. If it was't for superman, Lex would be the hero. In the real world, any of us would love to be Lex. Powerful, Smart, sexy.

But who can stand up in comparison to the Übermensch, the creature Nietzsche posited as a goal for humanity to set for itself. I say creature, because Superman is not Human. Humanoid? Yes, but not a man.

This is a story of a man, who should have been great, but was overshadowed by an outsider.

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Feb 16, 2013 Gilang Danu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

"You'll never see Superman the same way again after reading this!" -- me

"Lee Bermejo artwork is SICK!" -- me

"Best Superman story (that wasn't starred by Superman) ever!" -- me

"Don't ever compare it to that shitty movie Megamind!" -- me

"No one's going to read long, thoughtful review anyway!" -- me

"Yeaah!" -- me

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Apr 07, 2013 Bert rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comic-book, graphic-novel

What if... we looked at things from Lex Luthor's point of view? I guess it is an intriguing idea, but somehow I felt throughout this book that I should have read another comic first, because it seems to reference another Superman story all the time.

It doesn't help that so much of this comic is Lex's inner dialogue, which gets tedious after awhile. You start to long for actual dialogue, a real story.

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Apr 26, 2013 Serial Saudi_00 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Getting to lex luthor mind . I think this was an awesome read , but overall it does not explain itself as good as it have should been . There are some moment of this book that are pure speculation on the reader mind , that the writer does not mind to confirm it or even to explain what is actually happening . For instance , why did lex luthor detonated "hope" over his grand building , that he said its the achievement of humanity and all , not to forget how much it meant to him ? , and what was th...more

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Apr 05, 2012 James rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved the idea behind this graphic novel, told from the perspective of Lex Luthor. It's refreshing to see a look into his mind and really find out how he feels about Superman and why. There was also some great artwork that showed us how HE sees Superman, which is much more disturbing than the images we're used to. I highly recommend it for any comics fan.

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Sep 07, 2008 Lafcadio rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Michaele

Recommended to Lafcadio by: Comic Book Store Guy

Shelves: archetype, fanscifree, ficus, foyer

The constant struggle between Superman and Lex Luthor reminds me a bit of partisan politics. One side is always quick to point out what they are doing right and vilify the other side by whatever means necessary.

Superman is our hero. He represents the good, the wholesome, truth, justice, and the American way and all that. Since Lex Luthor seeks to undermine Superman, Lex can only be evil.

And yet, from Lex's perspective, Superman is evil. He is an alien from another world with powers capable of o...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Eduardo Barbosa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Being my first read from a Brian Azzarello´s work, I can tell that I´m now a fan! His work in this book was so amazing that I will certainly look for others!
Lee Bermejo is another surprise for me. His artwork is so incredible that I find it strange I never discovered him before!
Looking foward for more Bermejo&Azzarello works!

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Jan 18, 2013 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Interesting perspective on what can be a one dimensional character when done poorly. Here nuances are explored, and LL's vision and version of himself as not on the side of evil in the battle of good v evil.

You may even find yourself rooting for LL, at least for a while before the depths of his self-delusion become apparent.

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About Brian Azzarello

Brian Azzarello (born in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American comic book writer. He came to prominence with 100 Bullets, published by DC Comics' mature-audience imprint Vertigo. He and Argentine artist Eduardo Risso, with whom Azzarello first worked on Jonny Double, won the 2001 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story for 100 Bullets #15–18: "Hang Up on the Hang Low".

Azzarello has written for Batman ("B...more

More about Brian Azzarello...

Books by Brian Azzarello

100 Bullets, Vol. 1: First Shot, Last Call (100 Bullets, #1)

100 Bullets, Vol. 2: Split Second Chance (100 Bullets, #2)

100 Bullets, Vol. 3: Hang Up on the Hang Low

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