Alexander Luthor Jr. | |
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![]() Alexander Luthor Jr. featured in a portion of a panel from Crisis on Infinite Earths #3 (February 2006). Art by George Pérez. | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 (April 1985) |
Created by | Marv Wolfman George Pérez Jerry Ordway |
In-story information | |
Full name | Alexander "Alex" Luthor Jr. |
Species | Metahuman |
Place of origin | Earth-Three |
Team affiliations | Secret Society Black Lantern Corps |
Notable aliases | Lex Luthor |
Abilities | Genius-level intellect Ability to manipulate matter and anti-matter Ability to fire offensive energy bursts Ability to form and control dimensional portals |
Alexander Luthor Jr. is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The son of Earth-Three's Lex Luthor, he played a large role in the Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis events.
Created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, the character made his first appearance in Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 (April 1985). He had a prominent role in that series, and appeared 20 years later as one of the two primary antagonists of the sequel Infinite Crisis , alongside Superboy-Prime.
Alexander Luthor Jr. is born on Earth-Three, the son of Lex Luthor and Lois Lane. [1] Luthor Sr. is Earth-Three's only hero, fighting the Crime Syndicate (an evil version of the Justice League of America). In Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Anti-Monitor destroys Earth-Three and countless other universes with an antimatter wave. To save their son, the Luthors place him in an experimental device which carries him to Earth-One. [2]
The Harbinger takes Alexander in at the request of the Monitor. [3] Alexander's passage through the anti-matter storm grants him power over both matter and anti-matter, accelerating his aging. By the end of Crisis, Alexander has aged into a young adult over the course of several weeks. [4] After the Monitor's death, Alexander helps lead the heroes and villains of the DC Universe against the Anti-Monitor. [5] [6] After defeating the Anti-Monitor with the help of the Earth-Two Superman (Kal-L) and Superboy-Prime, Alexander reveals that he has saved Kal-L's wife, the Earth-Two Lois Lane, from being erased from existence. No longer having a place in the post-Crisis universe, the four retreat to another dimension. [7]
Alexander watches the events on the post-Crisis Earth for several years with his companions, and eventually convinces a pessimistic Kal-L to escape their dimension. [8] Alexander tells Kal-L and his cousin Power Girl that they can help him bring aspects of Earth-Two into predominance over the merged universes, which will help Earth-Two's Lois Lane recover from her current illness. [9]
Alexander masquerades as Lex Luthor and forms a new incarnation of the Secret Society of Super Villains, who he has construct a dimensional "tuning fork" from the remains of the Anti-Monitor to recreate the multiverse. [10] However, the tower is destroyed in a battle between Superboy-Prime and Superboy (Conner Kent). [11] Alexander flees to Gotham City, where the Joker mutilates and kills him. [12] [13] Following his death, Alexander returns on two occasions. He returns as a Black Lantern in Blackest Night and is temporarily resurrected by the Green Lantern of the Tangent Comics universe in Justice League of America (vol. 2). [14] [15]
Alexander Luthor Jr. possesses a genius-level intellect and is a master manipulator. The circumstances of his escape from Earth-Three give him power over matter and antimatter, which he can use to generate energy bursts and dimensional portals. [16] He also has a form of precognition, enabling him to foresee the most probable events.