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Alexander Luthor Jr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Alexander Luthor" redirects here. For the mainstream DC Universe character of that name, see Lex Luthor.
Alexander Luthor Jr.
Alexander Luthor Jr. featured in a portion of a panel from Crisis on Infinite Earths #3 (February 2006). Art by George Pérez.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceCrisis on Infinite Earths #1 March 31, 1985
Created byMarv Wolfman
George Pérez
Jerry Ordway
In-story information
Full nameAlexander "Alex" Luthor Jr.
SpeciesMetahuman
Place of originEarth-Three
Team affiliationsSecret Society
Black Lantern Corps
Notable aliasesLex Luthor
AbilitiesGenius-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.

Publication history

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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.

Fictional character biography

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Crisis on Infinite Earths

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Main article: Crisis on Infinite Earths

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, dramatically accelerating his aging process. 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]

Infinite Crisis

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Main article: Infinite Crisis
Multiple comic panels of Alexander Luthor confronting his father
Alexander Luthor is confronted by Lex Luthor. Panels from Infinite Crisis #3 (February 2006); art by Phil Jimenez.

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]

Large comic drawing of human-looking tower
The Anti-Monitor's corpse is turned into a tower. From a panel in Infinite Crisis #3 (February 2006); art by Phil Jimenez.

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 so that he can 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]

Multiple panels of Alexander Luthor Jr.'s death
Alexander killed by the Joker as Lex Luthor watches, in panels from Infinite Crisis #7 (June 2006); art by Phil Jimenez and Jerry Ordway.

Following his death, Alexander returns on two occasions. He returns as a Black Lantern in Blackest Night and is temporarily resurrected by the Tangent Comics Green Lantern in Justice League of America (vol. 2).[14][15]

Powers and abilities

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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.

References

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  1. ^ Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 218–219. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
  2. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 (April 1985)
  3. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths #2 (May 1985)
  4. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths #3 (June 1985)
  5. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths #5 (August 1985)
  6. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths #9 (December 1985)
  7. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths #12 (March 1986)
  8. ^ Infinite Crisis #1 (December 2005)
  9. ^ Infinite Crisis #2 (January 2006)
  10. ^ Infinite Crisis #3 (February 2006)
  11. ^ Infinite Crisis #6 (May 2006)
  12. ^ Infinite Crisis #7 (June 2006)
  13. ^ "5.2 ABOUT 52 (with Stephen Wacker): Week 3". Newsarama. Archived from the original on June 23, 2007.
  14. ^ Blackest Night #1 (July 2009)
  15. ^ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #50 (October 2010)
  16. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 (October 1985)
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