Superman: They Saved Luthor's Brain

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Superhuman Fantasy!
Review: "They Saved Luthor's Brain" collects several storyarcs featuring the early post-Crisis Lex Luthor and Superman (all happening before the famed "Death of Superman"). The high point of this collection is the characterization of Luthor as the archetypal self-made man of the '90s whose hatred for Superman stems from his feeling of being supplanted as "Metropolis Favourite Son" by this alien being.

The first story in this collection (Superman #2) is by John Byrne and it's also one of the best Superman stories ever (it's also included in "The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told" collection). In it Lex Luthor, with the aid of scientists and supercomputers, actually successfully deduced Superman's secret identity - Clark Kent! But in true Luthor form, he arrogantly dismiss the machines' deductions since he can never accept that the one who supplanted him is actually the pansy-boy, Clark Kent!

The second storyarc features the gradual deterioration of Luthor's body owing to Kryptonite poisoning. It's written by Roger Stern and pencilled by Bob McLeod (both creators at their peak during this story). This story ultimately ends with the "death" of Luthor and its aftermath - painting the archvillain as truly larger-than-life (and a lot madder). This reviewer recommends "Krisis of the Krimson Kryptonite" as background reading since this chapter is the climax of that storyarc.

The third storyarc gives us the appearance of a mysterious stranger from Australia claiming to be the heir of Luthor - Lex Luthor II. Roger Stern writes this arc also and manages to give us a brilliantly charismatic Luthor II albeit with hints that there's more to this guy than meets the eye. The readers as well as Lois, Clark and Perry is desperate to know the truth about this man.

The fourth and final storyarc actually comes after the famed "Panic in the Sky" story (read that TPB first). Luthor II is now embraced as a hero on par with Superman in that he saved Metropolis from both an economic downturn and an alien invasion (Brainiac). The Matrix-Supergirl appears in this storyarc as noted by a previous reviewer and she's very beautifully rendered by penciller Jackson Guice. The final chapter of this storyarc reveals the chilling details behind the mysterious Luthor II and sets up the events for the cataclysmic "Death of Superman" that follows soon after.

In my opinion, the Luthor in these earlier tales is far better than the recent ones by Jeph Loeb and company - showing Luthor as US President. For one thing, this Luthor is far more sinister and his hatred/envy for Superman is so overwhelming that it literally can be "felt" by the reader. Also recommended - "The Unauthorized Biography of Lex Luthor" as a companion piece to this collection.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Superhuman Fantasy!
Review: "They Saved Luthor's Brain" collects several storyarcs featuring the early post-Crisis Lex Luthor and Superman (all happening before the famed "Death of Superman"). The high point of this collection is the characterization of Luthor as the archetypal self-made man of the '90s whose hatred for Superman stems from his feeling of being supplanted as "Metropolis Favourite Son" by this alien being.

The first story in this collection (Superman #2) is by John Byrne and it's also one of the best Superman stories ever (it's also included in "The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told" collection). In it Lex Luthor, with the aid of scientists and supercomputers, actually successfully deduced Superman's secret identity - Clark Kent! But in true Luthor form, he arrogantly dismiss the machines' deductions since he can never accept that the one who supplanted him is actually the pansy-boy, Clark Kent!

The second storyarc features the gradual deterioration of Luthor's body owing to Kryptonite poisoning. It's written by Roger Stern and pencilled by Bob McLeod (both creators at their peak during this story). This story ultimately ends with the "death" of Luthor and its aftermath - painting the archvillain as truly larger-than-life (and a lot madder). This reviewer recommends "Krisis of the Krimson Kryptonite" as background reading since this chapter is the climax of that storyarc.

The third storyarc gives us the appearance of a mysterious stranger from Australia claiming to be the heir of Luthor - Lex Luthor II. Roger Stern writes this arc also and manages to give us a brilliantly charismatic Luthor II albeit with hints that there's more to this guy than meets the eye. The readers as well as Lois, Clark and Perry is desperate to know the truth about this man.

The fourth and final storyarc actually comes after the famed "Panic in the Sky" story (read that TPB first). Luthor II is now embraced as a hero on par with Superman in that he saved Metropolis from both an economic downturn and an alien invasion (Brainiac). The Matrix-Supergirl appears in this storyarc as noted by a previous reviewer and she's very beautifully rendered by penciller Jackson Guice. The final chapter of this storyarc reveals the chilling details behind the mysterious Luthor II and sets up the events for the cataclysmic "Death of Superman" that follows soon after.

In my opinion, the Luthor in these earlier tales is far better than the recent ones by Jeph Loeb and company - showing Luthor as US President. For one thing, this Luthor is far more sinister and his hatred/envy for Superman is so overwhelming that it literally can be "felt" by the reader. Also recommended - "The Unauthorized Biography of Lex Luthor" as a companion piece to this collection.

Rating:
Summary: A major turning point in Superman mythos
Review: After the death of Lex Luthor and an exhaustive search for an heir to his empire, a charming young man claiming to be the long lost son of Luthor brings Metropolis out of dissaray and even wins the favor of his father's detractors. Can Superman discover the truth behind this mysterious "heir" before his twisted plans come into fruition?

Lex Luthor is to Superman's mythology what the Cigarette-Smoking Man is to the X-Files. This book not only presents a major turning point in Luthor, but also what makes him Superman's greatest foe, bar none.

Rating:
Summary: Supergirl Outshines Lex Luthor
Review: I know that this collection is mainly about Lex Luthor, but, being a huge Supergirl fan, I bought this book for her alone. Supergirl is back on Earth after her trip in space, and she makes the big mistake of falling in love with Lex Luthor. Even though this Supergirl is Matrix, not Linda Danvers as in her own later series, she's an interesting character. Matrix is so naive and blindly trusting. If you like Supergirl (or Lex), get this collection!