Is Lex Luthor the evil version of Batman?...

[DR.MID-NITE]

Watching "The Great Brain Robbery" really made me think that Lex is the evil version of Bats. Think about it. The only power either has is their intellect. It was very evident in the scenes where Lex is dealing with a room full of villains in the conference room. Almost every one has the power to wipe the floor with Lex...Yet, he is able to keep them in line. The same as Batman, although the work with him out of friendship and respect...not fear. Think of Batman with the JL. He works along side Superman, WW, Flash and Green Lantern. Heroes with awesome & powerful abilities....Yet, is able to keep up with them and is more feared than some heroes, even ones more powerful.

[Joker1238]

Even though we had a Joker vs Lex match with the Joker winning in WF.(And Supes and Bats saving Lex in that one)

I am kinda of suprise Lex could mop the floor with the LOD useing his wit. I WONDER if Lex had to battle the Joker again. Could he put up a better fight?? Or would the Joker once again out wit Lex???

Out of ANY of the EARTH Supervillan, The Joker was the ONLY one to be able to put Lex in his place. Lex seem to have impove a LOT since WF. I think its a close guess.

[DR.MID-NITE]

You bring up a good point. But, at the time. Lex was a master at his game. Corporate and to an extent people control. He could easily manipulate and intimidate most "regular" people. But, with Joker and other super villians the same tricks and powers of persuasion that worked so well normally failed him. Lex, is not stupid...So he adapted. And now his expectations and reactions are different. For example the way he was able to turn the tables on that Magneto like guy.

[reflection]

Lex is the evil version of Batman. Joker is the more crazy version of Batman (because Batman is already crazy).

[Simpler Simon]

We've all heard the "well Batman could defeat anyone if he had enough time to prepare" bit.

Well Lex Luthor *can* defeat all of the Legion because he did prepare. So, uh, yeah.

[BigFatHairyDeal]

Hey guys,

I think it should be pointed out that the Lex we see now was more in tuned with early versions of the character than the STAS Lex was. Before he was savvy, evil, 80's businessman, he was the evil mad scientist. He'd come up with crazy, hair-brained schemes and devices to attempt to foil Superman time and time again. One issue, I assume it was one of those "imaginary" storylines, explained that all Luthor wanted to be was a great scientist, and when Superman caught him for the final time, he showed Luthor pity by letting Luthor honor his idol, Albert Einstein. Classic Supes story.

I know I'm going to get killed for this, but Lex is way smarter than Batman. Batman has him beat as a detective, and perhaps as a strategist, but when it comes to science Lex has few peers. There are other scientists who surpass him in particular fields, such as Ray Palmer, but few have his general grasp. On the other hand, Batman's intelligence has been incredibly amplified for JLU. His knowledged used to be a "jack-of-all-trades, master of few." For instance, remember how Batman used to outsource his Batmobile production? Well on JL, he now designs his own space shuttles capable of hyperspace jumping. Since he couldn't contribute much in the physical department, they had to amp his brains, otherwise he'd just be another one of those powerless second-second stringers who got their butts kicked by General Eiling in "Patriot Act."


In short, JLU Batman is the good version of Lex Luthor, not vice versa. :) Of course, Batman could kick his butt in a fight any day...

[Shadow09]

Hey guys,

I think it should be pointed out that the Lex we see now was more in tuned with early versions of the character than the STAS Lex was. Before he was savvy, evil, 80's businessman, he was the evil mad scientist. He'd come up with crazy, hair-brained schemes and devices to attempt to foil Superman time and time again. One issue, I assume it was one of those "imaginary" storylines, explained that all Luthor wanted to be was a great scientist, and when Superman caught him for the final time, he showed Luthor pity by letting Luthor honor his idol, Albert Einstein. Classic Supes story.

I know I'm going to get killed for this, but Lex is way smarter than Batman. Batman has him beat as a detective, and perhaps as a strategist, but when it comes to science Lex has few peers. There are other scientists who surpass him in particular fields, such as Ray Palmer, but few have his general grasp. On the other hand, Batman's intelligence has been incredibly amplified for JLU. His knowledged used to be a "jack-of-all-trades, master of few." For instance, remember how Batman used to outsource his Batmobile production? Well on JL, he now designs his own space shuttles capable of hyperspace jumping. Since he couldn't contribute much in the physical department, they had to amp his brains, otherwise he'd just be another one of those powerless second-second stringers who got their butts kicked by General Eiling in "Patriot Act."


In short, JLU Batman is the good version of Lex Luthor, not vice versa. :) Of course, Batman could kick his butt in a fight any day...

I would go on the record with agreeing with you on Lex with his scientific knowledge... he doesn't have many peers when it comes to his vast knowledge... so I'll back you on that one. :)

[Geo-Force]

I too am in agreement, Lex is far smarter than Batman. You have to be super-intellegent to Face Superman as an opponent on such a regular basis.

[BoyScout]

Theior smart in their own fields. Batman in fighting and detective work, and Luthor with politics and science and eveil schemes.

I guess both have a hard time of dealing with the Joker because they both think logically and practically. And Joker does the exact opposite...so he's a hard man too try and prepare for.

[BigEclipse]

I think the JLU version of Batman is meant to be the "Reed Richards" of the team and he seems to be on-par with Lex in the intellect department. Remember that it was Batman who discovered the weakness of the invaders in "Secret Origins" and was able to reverse the effect of their machines. Batman's intelligence seems to stem from his knowledge of all things, whereas Lex limits his to science. But, Lex has the edge in the fact that he has a photographic memory. He was able to re-contruct AMAZO just by glancing at the plans a few times in "The Return" and those who have seen "Alive!" know how he used it to get to Braniac's asteroid base. I have always wondered why Bruce Wayne didn't run against Luthor for president in both the Comic and animated universes. It makes sense, since he is perhaps the only one who could compete with Lex financially. I'm sure Bruce wouldn't run to win, just to take votes away from Luthor.

[Frank White]

Come on......spoilers?!

[Joker1238]

Alive has not aired in the USA.

[S.C.B]

The only reason Joker managed to outwit Luthor (at least, in my opinion), is because Joker is a complete and total nut. There's little way to tell what he'll do next, unlike the other members of the LoD. It's most likely why (Bat-Embargo aside) Grodd decided not to enlist the Gotham rogues gallery; they were just too crazy and unpredictable.

Of course, we've seen from Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker that Joker is incredibly intelligent and crazy, so draw from that what you will.

[BigEclipse]

Alive has not aired in the USA.

I live in Jersey.

[Joker1238]

I lived in Kansas. So I have not been able to watch the un aired ones yet.

I miss the one were Grodd turns people into Apes, but been up to date with eveything else.

[Pksoze]

Nah, I have to agree with those that said Batman is the good version of Luthor.

For most of his career in the comics and in his own series Batman has been a great martial artist and detective.

Luthor has always been cunning and mean, there is a brilliant story where he kills Superman(Imaginary Story) by using manipulation and guile.

The differences between Luthor and Batman were brilliantly illustrated in Swampthing, when Swamp Thing invaded Gotham and just crushed Batman. Luthor was called by the govt and gave a plan to defeat him in 9 minutes.

Batman's intelligence in science and other areas has been amped dramatically to put hm on par with Lutho, not vice versa.

[Tim Drake]

I always assumed that Batman himself did not design the Watch Tower or the Javelin all by himself. He wanted a Space Shuttle with Hyper Drive but he didn't actually design it all himself. In the original JL, most of the team didn't know his identity and therefore he didn't need to explain that he used his billions of dollars to fund the Javelin and WatchTower.

[Arsenal]

Bigfathairydeal is spot-on with his assessment. Lex has the superior scientific acumen. Bats is no slouch, but he's no Ray Palmer or John Henry Irons. (I still can't believe they named Steel that.)

I always thought of Two-Face as the opposite of Batman. A man who believes in justice (a district attorney) has a traumatic incident. Out of that incident is born another persona, a dangerous persona. Unfortunately, Two-Face lacked an Alfred to ground him and a Dick to humanize him.

[Iguana]

Most definitely Lex is the superior scientific intellect. Bats does not develop his toys, he gets them from Wayne scientists and then augments them. On the same token though, Batman would probably be the greatest grand master chess player of all time. he is more of a strategist, thinking his moves out, tailoring his attack to the foe. He also has a superior will. Batman does not quit, or change directions to fit Bruce Wayne. Lex does not have the patience or endurance (mentally) of Bats. I see the evil Bats as the Death stroke. Pretty much has all the skills as Batman, plus the evil part on top of it (OK he has regenerative powers too, but oyu get the idea).

[BigFatHairyDeal]

Batman would probably be the greatest grand master chess player of all time.

Supposedly Shayera has beaten Batman in chess. I forgot which episode, but it was in the show's dialogue.

[I-Am That Is]

Supposedly Shayera has beaten Batman in chess. I forgot which episode, but it was in the show's dialogue.
"Wake the Dead"

[Grimlock]

Did we ever figure out which 3 people in the world were smart enough to start up the league's BFG (big ******* gun)?

Steel, Atom, and...?

[BoyScout]

Did we ever figure out which 3 people in the world were smart enough to start up the league's BFG (big ******* gun)?

Steel, Atom, and...?


Luthor is one...(because Batman said two were on the watchtower)

My first guess was Jonn Jonzz, and Mr Terrific

but when thinking about it more...they more good at just organinsing people and multi-tasking then tech.

yeah...probaly Steel and Atom.

[Iguana]

Mr Terrific, Steel and Lex I always thought.

[Frank White]

I dont remember Terrific being on the Watchtower in that ep so I think it was Steel and Atom, by the way what exactly are Mr.Terrifics powers/talents?

[Trevor Balena]

by the way what exactly are Mr.Terrifics powers/talents?

Mr. Terrific -- real name: Michael Holt -- is an Olympic-level decathlete, genius, and world-class inventor and technology expert. The gizmos in his costume makes him invisible to all monitoring technology, and those flying orbs that follow him around are his T-spheres, which can be use for offense, surveilance, and just plain making him look cool.

[mystery]

Well Lex Luthor is a rich businessman,as well as Bruce Wayne.However,Bruce Wayne doesn't let anyone find out that he is really Batman (except for a few persons he trusts) ,while Lex Luthor is known to be a criminal by everyone.I sincerely don't think Lex Luthor is the evil version of Batman,because they don't have enough in common.

[Knight]

Well Lex Luthor is a rich businessman,as well as Bruce Wayne.However,Bruce Wayne doesn't let anyone find out that he is really Batman (except for a few persons he trusts) ,while Lex Luthor is known to be a criminal by everyone.I sincerely don't think Lex Luthor is the evil version of Batman,because they don't have enough in common.I think that pretty accurate. Besides both being smart rich humans they dont have a lot in common. Owlman of the Crime Syndicate is the evil Batman. Too bad they havent shown up yet.

[Revelator]

My memory is probably playing tricks on me, but I remember reading an online bio somewhere that mentioned something about Luthor growing up in the slums and then arranging for his parents to be killed in an "accident" so he could receive the insurance money. None of this--if I'm even remembering it half accurately--was ever touched on in the DCAU, but if it was, the idea of Luthor as the evil Batman would become even more intriguing.