#Lex: I hate him so much

[saedyne]

this may be a hot take, but - for me, adaptations extricating kon's creation from its original circumstances (i.e. superman was dead!!) bothers me almost as much as the lex retcon

[navree]

the fact that lex specifically introduces himself to waller and wilson as lex but wilson insists on calling him alex, you go king you create that toxic work environment

[shehungthemoon]

i see a general dc post bullying lex luthor for the sake of sucking batman's dick. i cry bc theyve never seen smallville before.

[alvie-pines]

siiince we're on the topic, i am gonna talk about my angsty little superboy ideas... cw for sexual assault, pseudo-father-son incest, and dehumanization. viewer discretion advised and such

riiiight so here's the thing. lex treats kon like a product. an object. he refers to kon in extremely dehumanizing ways while kon is standing right next to him. it's pretty clear that kon does not feel that lex loves him, or even views him as a whole person.

i need to lay that out as backdrop for everything else.

so let's consider for a moment, a world in which lex used kon not only to bolster his company's image in public, but for sex in private.

kon can't really say no to this. lex is his creator, probably legally his father, and his entire world. where would he go without lexcorp? not to mention: lex can and will kill him like the other "failed" clones if he becomes too disobedient. to say no would be to condemn himself to a life on the run from a supervillain, and from his pseudo-father.

but it's not forever. kon was practically desperate for superman to take him in. it was his opportunity to jump ship; and jump he did. lex didn't really love him, but kon thought that maybe clark could.

except that clark didn't accept him as a son either. clark sent him away to live with his own parents instead of allowing connor to stay with him as he requested. so connor is rejected once more. once more, he is an object to be put away on the shelf when not in use.

so this is where i think kon might start to make advances on clark when he sees him.

because during sex? that was the only time lex made kon feel like a person. a person, not a product. he felt real. he felt wanted.

he wants clark to want him. if not as a son, in some way.

kon isn't stupid. he knows what lex did to him while calling him a son was not normal. he knows why clark is horrified when he realizes what is happening.

but he wants a positive response anyways. he wants clark to want him.

[patheticblorbloscholar]

Its on sight.

Well ???

[kxsagi]

hihi how would the bllk men act/respond when their gf says she’ll sleep on the couch after an argument?? pls include the itoshi brothers and whoever else you want

tyyy

“𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐲, 𝐛𝐞𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐝”

a/n: my guy best friend’s name is alexis so for ness, i wonder what nicknames reader would call him. lex? alex? 

ft. itoshi rin, itoshi sae, isagi yoichi, nagi seishiro, mikage reo, kaiser michael, ness alexis

itoshi rin

you don’t yell. you just say it, quietly, firmly, “i’m sleeping on the couch tonight.” 

rin doesn’t even look up from where he’s pulling the comforter back. “then sleep out there forever,” he mutters. 

that’s it. that’s all he says. 

your jaw tightens. fine. he wants to be a dick? you’ll go be a comfortable, petty little burrito on the couch. 

the second you’re gone, he sighs and slumps against the pillows. he stares at the ceiling for a while. then turns to your empty side of the bed. 

it’s cold. and he hates it. 

he tosses. turns. groans. this is stupid. 

five minutes later, he storms out like a grumpy cat. hoodie half-on, socks mismatched, glaring like you murdered his whole family. “you’re being dramatic,” he says. “and annoying.” 

you open your mouth to respond, but he’s already sitting down on the floor next to the couch and crossing his arms. 

“i’m not going to bed without you,” he says flatly. “so either come back, or we both suffer.” 

you end up back in bed, wrapped in his hoodie, with his hand loosely curled around yours under the covers. he whispers, “i hate you,” and kisses your forehead. 

it’s his version of “i missed you.” 

itoshi sae

when you declare you’re sleeping on the couch, sae just gives you one of those flat, deadpan stares. like he’s watching a toddler throw a tantrum. 

“seriously?” he says. “over that?” 

you grab your blanket anyway. you’re halfway down the hallway before you hear him sigh. not a regular sigh, a tired, you’re impossible, but i love you sigh. 

he lets you go. but only for ten minutes. 

then he casually appears in the living room like he owns the place, leans against the doorway with his arms crossed. “you know the couch ruins your neck,” he says. 

you roll your eyes. “so?” 

“so come to bed.” 

you turn away from him with a stubborn huff. he crosses the room in two strides, crouches down in front of the couch, and gently tugs your hand. 

“i don’t like going to sleep angry,” he murmurs. “not with you.” 

you don’t say anything, but your eyes soften. 

he kisses your hand and gives a rare, tired little smile. “c’mon. the bed’s warm. and so am i.” 

he doesn’t let go until you’re back under the covers, head tucked under his chin, heart finally calm again. 

isagi yoichi

“wait, baby, hold on. what? what do you mean the couch?” 

he looks like you just threatened to leave him forever. arms stretched out, eyes wide like a kicked puppy. 

“c’mon, don’t do that... not over something this dumb.” 

you grab your pillow and ignore him, brushing past. he follows immediately, practically tripping over himself to keep up. 

“you want me to sleep in the bed alone? do you hate me that much?” he says it with the most tragic, oscar-worthy expression on his face. 

when you don’t turn around, he dramatically flops on the couch right next to you. “okay then. if you’re on the couch, i’m on the couch.” 

he makes it five seconds before whining, “my back already hurts.” 

eventually he wraps his arms around you from behind and buries his face in your neck. “i’m still mad,” he mumbles. “but i love you. and i can’t sleep unless you’re squished up against me like a koala.” 

you both fall asleep tangled up on the couch like weird puzzle pieces. 

you wake up in the morning with his face squished into your shoulder and a whispered, “you’re not allowed to sleep away from me again, okay?” 

nagi seishiro

you announce your decision like it’s a declaration of war. “i’m sleeping on the couch tonight.” 

nagi, half-asleep already, barely blinks. “… that sounds like so much work.” 

you expect him to argue. or care. but instead, he just sits up, yawns, and wanders over to you like a very lazy puppy. 

“babe,” he mumbles, hugging your waist from behind. “you’re comfy. the bed’s comfy. come be comfy with me.” 

you protest, but he’s already scooping you up with both arms like you’re a stuffed animal. “too tired to fight. let’s nap it off.” 

he drops you both onto the bed in one go, pulling the blanket over your heads like a makeshift fort. 

you glare at him. “we’re still mad at each other.” 

he hums sleepily. “okay. we can be mad tomorrow. bedtime now.” 

he falls asleep with your fingers tangled in his and your forehead against his shoulder. 

you’re not mad anymore by morning. not when he snores softly and still refuses to let go of your hand. 

mikage reo

“the couch?” he gasps like you just told him you were eloping with his worst enemy. 

“my love, my sunshine, my everything, you would choose the crusty old couch over your charming, heartbroken boyfriend?” 

you blink at him. “reo–” 

he drops to the floor dramatically, clutching his chest. “say it isn’t so!” 

you actually laugh, which pisses you off more because you’re supposed to be mad. 

“i’m serious,” you say. “i need space.” 

reo nods solemnly and lets you go… but you know it’s not over. 

ten minutes later, he shows up with a cup of tea, your favorite blanket, and his own pillow under his arm. 

“room for one more?” he asks, already crawling beside you. 

he strokes your hair and whispers, “i hate when we fight, you know. but i’m not letting you go to sleep thinking i don’t love you.” 

you fall asleep with your head on his chest and his heartbeat thumping under your ear. 

he kisses your temple and mumbles, “next time we argue, let’s just yell into a pillow and then make out.” 

kaiser michael

“i’m sleeping on the couch.” 

you expect him to scoff. to roll his eyes. maybe even say “fine, go ahead.” 

but instead… he just laughs. not the mocking kind. it’s the amused, oh my gosh, you’re so cute when you think you’re winning kind of laugh. 

he leans back against the bedroom wall, arms crossed, watching you like you’re performing a one-person drama. “you?” he drawls. “on my couch? schatz, that thing isn’t worthy of your ass.” 

you glare at him as you march off with your pillow. “good. now i won’t have to see your smug face until morning.” 

“you’ll miss me before you even fall asleep.” 

“wanna bet?” 

you wrap yourself up like a burrito, determined to win. five minutes pass. ten. you think you hear him shuffling around, but you refuse to give him the satisfaction of checking. then – 

a sudden weight on the couch. 

you shriek as kaiser climbs on top of you, shoving your blanket aside with all the grace of a golden retriever in a silk robe. “what the hell, micha –” 

he silences you with a kiss to the cheek and a smirk. “you said you were sleeping on the couch. you didn’t say i couldn’t join you.” 

he settles in, spooning you tightly, chin on your shoulder. “still mad?” he whispers. 

you huff. “a little.” 

“good. you’re cute when you’re pissed.” 

he doesn’t let go once all night, and the next morning, you wake up with his arm draped over your waist and his voice low against your skin: “next time we fight, just yell at me in bed. it’s more comfortable.” 

ness alexis

“i’m sleeping on the couch.” 

ness freezes mid-step, like someone just yanked the power cord out of him. his whole face crumples. his arms fall limply to his sides. he looks like he just got rejected on live TV. 

“w-wait… really?” he says, voice small. “because of what i said?” 

you nod. firmly. “i need space.” 

ness nods too, quickly. “right. okay. space. of course. totally.” 

he watches you grab your blanket. he follows like a shadow, lingering behind you, clutching his hoodie sleeves like they’re your hands. 

“if you need anything, i’ll be… just down the hallway,” he says. “if the light flickers, or if you get cold, or– i dunno– if the couch tries to eat you.” 

you raise a brow. “alexis.” 

he stands there a moment longer, eyes shining just a little too much. “… do you still love me?” he whispers. 

your heart softens immediately, but you keep your back turned. “go to bed, lex.” 

you think he leaves. but then, an hour later, a small rustling wakes you. you peek open your eyes, and there he is, curled up on the floor next to the couch with a blanket and one of your socks. 

“lex?” 

he sits up instantly, bleary-eyed. “i-i wasn’t trying to sneak in! i just… missed you.” 

you sigh and pull him up beside you. he cuddles into your chest like a human teddy bear, arms wrapped tight. 

“sorry again,” he mumbles. “please don’t leave the bed next time. i’ll be better. i swear.” 

you kiss the top of his head and feel him melt like butter in your arms. 

© 𝐤𝐱𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐢

[blessyouhawkeye]

very funny to me that the planet blowing up part of superman's backstory almost immediately became a problem for comic book writers who wanted more kryptonians to work with. they just have to keep finding increasingly convoluted reasons behind why yet another kryptonian survived. "this is supergirl, she's superman's cousin, her dad also got her off the planet before it exploded!" yeah okay i'll buy that for a dollar. "this is superdog, superman's dad sent him to earth for clark before he died!" well that'll take a few more dollars from me but i love him so okay. "this is superboy, lex luthor hated superman so much he created a clone in a test tube using his dna and superman's to create a half human half kryptonian" well. uh. what? huh? hello?

[the-irreverend]

Words cannot begin to describe how much I LOVE TO HATE Nicholas Hoult's portrayal of Lex Luthor, and that Russian Roulette with Malik did for his version of Luthor what the "LOOK AT ME!" scene did for Heath Ledger's Joker.

It truly captures what makes Lex Luthor a great Superman antagonist: a megalomaniacal capitalist pig driven by a lethal cocktail of pettiness and psychopathy; a man who postures himself as a saviour of humanity who doesn't have a trace of humanity in him.

He could've taunted Superman with all the tragedies in Metropolis and the world that he could've stopped if he wasn't imprisoned, and just left it at that. But he went further. He abducted an ordinary man whose only crime was offering Clark some food to eat and forced him to witness the hero he looked up to at his lowest point. Breaking both Malik and Clark in one fell swoop. But he went further.

He could've just shot him then and there, but what does he do? He turns it into a game of chance. And when he actually ends up murdering him, he gets bummed out that it couldn't go on longer!

All of this to destroy someone who others treat as a god just so he can keep pretending to be one.

[batsandbirdbrains]

I think the idea of Dick actually being Lex Luthor’s original test clone is fun. Like he’s the original clone that’s half Lex and half Clark. Maybe Lex thought he wasn’t developing Kryptonian powers, or maybe he just decided that he wanted to try full Kryptonian clone next and he got bored of the half Kryptonian clone he didn’t really want. Dick was a test to prove cloning could work. Lex didn’t actually want a child that was only half Kryptonian.

So he tells a lab tech to get rid of the baby. What he meant was for the tech to dispose of the baby. He didn’t realize the lab tech took the baby and gave it to a couple he knew that worked in a circus.

So Dick is raised not knowing he’s actually a clone. But then when Bruce takes him in, he thinks there’s something so oddly familiar about Dick. He can’t put his finger on it right away, but he looks like someone Bruce knows. Maybe a couple someones. It drives Bruce nuts until he finally just runs a DNA test to see if maybe the Graysons had some relatives Bruce knew, maybe Dick had some extended family that he might want to get to know.

But then it comes back that he’s a match for both Lex Luthor and Superman. And Dick is so confused, because he’s eight.

Bruce figures it out almost immediately. He tries very gently to explain it to Dick.

Dick freaks out and gets upset at first, because he’s sad his parents weren’t really his parents, but Bruce promises him that they must have loved him so much if they raised him like their own while knowing he wasn’t really their biological baby. Then he gets upset that Lex Luthor is his dad, because Lex is a bad guy, and Dick met him at a gala a few weeks ago and he was mean and called Dick a circus monkey.

Bruce spends several days comforting Dick about the whole thing. The fact that he’s half Superman helps him feel better. But he doesn’t want Superman to be mad at him for being his half-clone. And if Superman decides to take him away to raise him, Dick doesn’t really want to leave Bruce. He likes Bruce. He likes the manor. He likes Alfred. He likes being Robin. He doesn’t want to be a Superboy.

But Bruce convinced him to tell Clark anyway. And Dick is so nervous and he makes Bruce hold him the entire time they talk to Clark, and he hides his face in Bruce’s neck when Clark freezes and doesn’t say anything for a few minutes.

“Well,” Clark says after a few minutes, clearing his throat. He’s only met Dick a couple times now, and he hates that the boy who had been so excited to meet him at first is now scared of him. “I suppose if I was going to have a half-clone, I’m glad it’s you, Dickie.”

Dick is still a little freaked out, and now he’s getting upset, and he pulls his face away from Bruce’s neck to ask Clark in a teary voice, “Am I gonna end up bald like Lex?”

Clark lets out a startled laugh, then moves closer to ruffle Dick’s hair.

“Nah,” Clark teases him. “My genes are clearly much stronger than his. That’s why you’re so handsome.”

Dick smiles at him, but then goes back to hiding his face in Bruce’s neck. Bruce pats his back, then turns to Clark.

“He wanted to make sure that you wouldn’t take him away from me,” Bruce tells him.

“Oh,” Clark gasps, “oh, um. No, no, I won’t take him away. I think - you’d be much better for him, anyway.”

“You don’t hate me, right?” Dick’s question is muffled.

“No,” Clark says quickly. “I could never hate you, Dickie. Never.”

“See?” Bruce whispers to Dick, planting a hand firmly on the back of Dick’s head. “I told you everything would be alright.”

Then years later, when Dick finds Superboy when he’s investigating Cadmus with Wally and Kaldur, he’s so determined to save Superboy. Because that’s basically his brother. That is his brother. And he tells Clark as much when Clark gets weird about it and gets all standoffish with Conner (who Dick names almost immediately).

Idk I just like the idea of Dick eventually messing with Clark bc he gets mad about how mean he’s being to Conner, and Dick eventually scares the crap out of Clark because he sneaks up on him and asks in a creepy, deep voice, “Am I a real boy, papa?” And that’s what gets Clark to finally get over himself and go have a real conversation with Conner.

I also like Dick immediately claiming Conner as his brother. Except he gets mad that he’s technically older but Conner is physically older.

“You’re the little brother!” Dick insists.

“I’m much bigger than you.”

“Thats not the point! I’m the big brother!”

“Hmm. No thanks.”

Conner has learned the fine art of trolling from Dick himself. Dick regrets teaching him so well.

[grimdarling69]

Another deaged Ellie and Dan, but Danny was reincarnated as Damian Wayne

Danny Damian because he was Damian now, wasn't he? He remembers now the Fentons, the GIW, Sam and Tucker, jazz. He wonders if they could have also followed him here. A part of him longs to see his fraid again, but are they his fraid still? He was a new person. Son of The Bat and Heir to the Demon Head. Something Dami he remembers reminding people of. If only Sam could see him now, he knows she'd love that. "Who's edgy now?" He can picture her saying. He can almost see Tucker laughing so hard he'd fall out of his seat.

Crack

The sharp sound of the thunder brings him to the present. He looked over at his clock, 3:00 A.M. The witching hour he can hear Ellie tell him with a mischievous smile on one of their flights around Amity Park. She loved to drag him and Dan sometimes Vlad if he was feeling friendly. Dan, his future evil self tormented by the deaths of all his family and friends, so hurt he got Vlad to rip his human half out so he didn't have to feel the pain. Ellie, his clone, created by Vlad to be the perfect son, too bad she was a daughter. Looking down at his stomach where their cores are now incubating, he couldn't help but wonder if Vlad had anything to do with this.

He shook his head as if that would rid himself of that thought. Vlad was a real fruitloop,but he would never purposefully endanger Dan or Ellie. Vlad, in his twisted and weird ways, did love them in his own ways like kidnapping and keeping him hostage to save Ellie. He had forgiven vlad for the desperate attempt to save his daughter, but incubating Ellie and Dan's cores would make him their father now, too. Ew, coparenting with Vlad does not sound like a fun time. He glanced down and lifted his shirt hesitantly. If he focused on his stomach, he could see a faint blue and red glow emanating from his stomach. Red, Vlads' color, he thought distantly. Hopefully, it didn't mean much. As if signaling him, the envelope they had carried with them to him fell off the bed carried to the floor by the slight breeze.

Lighting lumineating the bedroom, making the crisp white color shine for just a second. He tentatively reached down to grab it. He was being a baby. He was a trained assassin from birth, and his fear trained beaten out of him a long time ago. Some part of him whispered his father and Richard's teachings of being brave but not without fear.

He paused. Father would want to know everything. His past life, Ellie and Dan, the ghosts, being a halfa. He wouldn't understand, Richard would try to, but not even he could never really understand. He couldn't subject his babies to that. He couldn't live with the threat to being ripped apart molecule by molecule. His father's lack of emotional intelligence certainly would not help young halfas. He was fourteen again the age he was killed in his first life. The age he started facing ghosts from another dimension.

He started younger in this life. Killing younger, he learned to fight his whole life. Jazz would hate that. Jazz... he wondered if she was alright if she survived the attack... no, there's no time to think of that right now. He ripped open the envelope( like a band-aid, Richard would remind him), and he noticed Vlad's familiar fancy fruitloop writing immediately(he had fancy fruitloop writing now, instead of the chicken scratch Jazz chided him over). So he was right about one thing this had vlad all over it.

Dear Daniel,

Though I understand you might not be Daniel when this letter finds you. I have been reincarnated into another life as I believe you have as well. My new name is Alexander Luther. I own a corporation called Lexcorp. I unfortunately can not change the name according to my board. The idiot lot of them.

He snickered at that. His smile dropped immediately. Vlad was Lex Luthor, the archnemesis of Superman. Jon would most certainly not like this. He forced himself to read on before he spiraled further.

I regained my memories after an experiment went wrong. I know how original. My new incarnation was able to open a small portal that grew in size, and eventually, somehow Danielle and Dan fell through. The portal then exploded, and I regained my memories. Unfortunately, it destabilized their clone bodies. I couldn't grow working bodies in time, and eventually, I had to hope they could find you. I hoped somehow that the yeti doctor would have imparted some of his strange knowledge onto you that might save them.

Vlad, no Lex still wrong. Vlad was somewhat right about that. During one of his all things ghostly lessons from Frostbite, he told him of how in the old ages ghosts often incubated their ghostlings. A protective measure back when magic and spirits were more prevalent. He didn't really understand it back then, and he doesn't understand it much now, either. Apart from the fact he was doing it, he supposed. What if he did something wrong and he lost them? He doesn't think he could live out his half-life if he lost them again. He needed to get to Vlad, and quickly too so they could start building a new portal to the infinite realms.

If this letter finds you. Come find me immediately at these coordinates. I've gone deep underground to escape my new archnimesis's suoer senses. I've m started research on a new portal, but I'll need your endeneering skills. This world is severely lacking in ectoplasmic science and engineering. I am once again forced to start from scratch on my own. Once we get the portal open, you'll need to go straight to The Far Frozen.

It's as if he's reading my mind, I think jokingly.

P.s. One of my experiments may or not have regiven then my new DNA in an attempt to restabilize them.

Only Vlad.

Well, it looks like they actually were going to be coparenting after all. This was going to go great.

I sigh and lean my head back down on my pillow. He committed the cords to memory before lighting the letter on fire with the lighter he kept in his bedside drawer. Point to assassin training. Jason would be proud. He supposed he could stay for a month or so before leaving, which would give him enough time to get away or think of some kind of mission to give himself. He shoots up. Todd had died and came back. He was a revenant. He couldn't stick around if he were to visit he'd know something was wrong immediately even if he didn't understand it.

He sprung out of bed quickly, but quietly, his foot steps perfectly silent despite his rushed mood of packing a bag. He packed a few pairs of clothes and lots of hidden weapons, some snacks he kept hidden for that should keep him fed on his journey but leaving any sentimental things behind. He glanced longingly at his sketch pad, but Vlad was most likely under the water judging by the coordinates he was given. Who knows if it would survive.

He checked the pack, making sure he got all he needed. He promptly checked it again. Twice. After deeming it sufficient, he willed himself to open the door. He mentally cataloged everyone in the manor. Pennyworth was most likely still in Father's room, making sure he actually listened to his insructions. Richard and Todd in Bludhaven and Crime Alley, respectfully. Cain and Brown in Hong Kong. Thomas was sleeping after his dayshift.

Everyone accounted for except Drake. He was most likely using Pennyworth's attention on Father to work cases. He just had to take the risk. For his ghostlings, for himself, Vlad. He crept down the hallways. He was opening the grandfather clock in record time. He went slower this time. He would use his powers, but his father had supernatural wards of all kinds in the cave. Who knows what they did. He was also admittedly trying to save his little energy for his voyage on the open sea. Light snoring hit his ears as he peered around the corner.

Thank ancients.

Drake was sleeping at the batcomputer, still in his Red Robin suit sans mask surrounded by his poor choices. Empty coffee cups and files spread around. He would still need to be quiet, Drake was a light sleeper, as was everyone else in his family. He grabbed the keys to his bike quickly, sneaking by. If he wasn't ditching his bike at Gotham Bridge, he would have disabled his trackers. He checked the gas and made sure he could make it. That's when he made his first mistake.

Putting the gas jug back down, he accidently hit another of one of his siblings' tools to the floor. He tried catching it without success, but it fell anyway, the loud clang echoing. Mistake number two.

Shit.

"Huh? What's happening?" Drake arose sleepily rubbing his eyes.

He froze. Mistake number three.

"Damian? What are you doing down here?" His eyes landed on him, and he spoke confusedly with his voice heavy with sleep or lack thereof.

He panics. He's blaming the pregnancy hormones on this.

He runs.

"Damian!" Drake responded to his dead sprint with his own. "Stop!"

He reaches his bike, and he turns the keys and prays. Luckily, it comes to life. He fumbles with his helmet it would hide his tears he needed it. who knows if he'll ever get to see them again. He shoots off down the tunnel. Flicking the cave door open remotely.

Another bike rears to life behind him. "Damian wants going on?" Drakes voice echoes in his ears. He can almost taste the concern in it amplified by the helmet. He ignores it and accelerates. He ignores the returned acceleration behind him.

----------------

Tim has no clue what made Damian panic enough to run away. He quickly ran to his own bike while swearing. Damian is already gaining distance on him. After another attempt at getting Damian to calm down and talk, he calls the only person Damian would actually listen to.

He hopes Dick will forgive him for waking him at five o'clock in the morning on his day off.

[jesncin]

Unimaginable Utopia vs the believable Colonized World

"Why can't we make Krypton, Superman's home planet, flawed or evil instead of a utopia (as it was traditionally portrayed)?"

Much of the justification for an evil or flawed Krypton is that it "adds depth" or "makes it believable/ interesting" when Krypton isn't a utopia. Because utopias, in a lot of people's minds, are unimaginable. We can imagine aliens, distant planets, magic, superpowers, but utopia without suffering is "ridiculous".

I have been gripped by this Little Joel video on Omelas: How We Talk About Utopia for ages now because I think it succinctly wraps up everything I feel about the topic. Omelas and Krypton are both fictional worlds (in the case of Omelas, explicitly a fiction within the short story fiction where the author herself encourages you to imagine utopia with her as a thought experiment), yet in the demand to make these fantastical worlds more "believable", suffering (regardless of how nonsensical) needs to be added in order to "make sense of the good that exists". The idea of utopia without suffering is unimaginable.

For Krypton, this means any sort of interpretation from "Kryptonians are colonizers now" or "Kryptonians are evil aliens who hate Earth, plot twist!" or "Kryptonians have a class system that punishes progressive thought" or "Kryptonians are racist, sexist, ableist, etc."! Somehow this fictional alien world has to look a lot more like our flawed world in order to be "believable". But that's not the full picture. Many real world societies in themselves are hard to believe, especially in the American mindset.

["From A Native Daughter" by Haunani-Kay Trask excerpts]

People are shocked to learn of societies outside of the West with more broad systems for gender, or that queerness existed at all in indigenous cultures around the world without the influence of white people. Societies outside of a patriarchal or capitalistic system? Is that really possible?

["From A Native Daughter" by Haunani-Kay Trask excerpts]

I'm not here to paint all these cultures as perfect or necessarily enlightened before colonialism set them back. But I am saying that the way many of these societies were built were so unimaginable to colonizers that they had to lie and label these worlds as barbaric or worse-than-they-were as a means of "civilizing them" through colonization. Projecting familiar European structures on them, regardless of accuracy. "These indigenous genderqueer roles are perverse, they must fit our binary two gender system!" And now all of these cultures are set back, and we'll never really know what they'd have looked like had they been allowed to develop and grow without colonizers intervening. Many have bought into the European structures enforced on them. Because that's believable.

(American Missionaries in the 1800s abolishing the genderqueer practices of the Māhū, from Kumu Hina documentary)

The basic premise of Superman is that he was born on a utopian planet, but sent to Earth as a baby when said planet faced world-wide destruction. He is raised by his adopted American parents and culture. Superman is by all technicalities, an undocumented immigrant.

So why do I think utopia is important to Superman mythos? Isn't there an argument to be made for portraying a refugee allegory when Superman leaves a bigoted Krypton to find safety in a flawed Earth? Because any other alien character in DC's roster could do that. Martian Manhunter used to be written as coming from a utopian Mars, but I personally think that him fleeing from a bigoted one works better for his themes. What makes Superman different? What makes him unique from all these alien migrants?

Because being the Man of Tomorrow, an ideal to strive for, is inherit to the best Superman stories. Part of what makes his rivalry with Lex Luthor so compelling is that Lex Luthor has bought into the flawed Omelas premise. He's been raised to believe that power without stepping on someone else is impossible. So when he sees Superman, he's frustrated that this alien man flaunts power without malice. It's unimaginable to Lex that someone can be powerful and selfless. It's even become a meta discussion for fans that someone as kind as Superman is unbelievable. "Too good to be true".

When you remove utopia from Superman's backstory, this contrast is lost. Superman just becomes an exception from an evil planet. A miraculous white savior, assimilated into American culture to be our hero.

(the infamous, xenophobic John Byrne panel)

Nowadays, people want to shake up the formula. It's a trendy twist to make Krypton a planet of colonizers. Or maybe a morally grey one. Or a feudal, classist, and bigoted one.

Superman is no longer a guy from a native utopia who hopes to bring our flawed world into a better tomorrow like the one he came from. He's now just magically the best guy from the shitty planet. Sometimes he's like that because his Kryptonian parents happen to be activists (Absolute Superman). Other times, Superman is good because he was raised by upstanding American citizens. He's not like those other aliens; barbaric, feudal, bigoted. Superman's good because he's assimilated into being an American. And he will spread that American goodness throughout the galaxy to bring them into the American Way- oh wait that's the less progressive line, I mean- "A Better Tomorrow".

Think for a moment about Superman as an immigrant allegory and how that parallels real human experiences for a second. What does it mean to change Superman's home planet to be something "more believable"? To add elements of American/western bigotry into these distant sci-fi worlds? Why make Kryptonians evil colonizers like yourselves? Why make a Superman that disavows his Utopian Kryptonian roots? Why make a Superman that assures us he is more human than alien? It's because our modern imaginations are limited by colonial constructs. New writers think they're twisting the Superman formula, but they manage to bring it backwards to xenophobic directions.

"The trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of considering happiness as something rather stupid. Only pain is intellectual, only evil interesting. This is the treason of the artist: a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain."

-Those Who Walk Away from Omelas, Ursula K. Le Guin

[luludeluluramblings]

I can't imagine Connor not rushing to Reader when they're giving birth. Or that he'd even miss it.

Like, imagine he's in a situation where he was originally being held hostage or something. But he hears Reader panicking and calling Alfred about them needing to get to the hospital for birth, and Connor turns into this machine of cold, calculative, determination. Uses every trick he's learned from the Bat Family under two different Robins. Just destroys all obstacles and threatens that he has to leave now. So either get out of his way or risk what it means when he doesn't care if you live or die. Breaks the sound barrier as he flies as fast as possible. Barely makes it in time to watch his baby being born and proceeds to allow himself to be used as a heating pad while guarding Reader and his new baby. While trying to do as much skin to skin contact as possible when Reader isn't holding them.

I don't think he'd allow Reader to go with the Bat Fam. Especially if it stresses Reader out.

But say he was off world for a quick mission again, and the baby was early? When he gets back, he's all confused as to why the Reader isn't at their apartment.

He then finds Reader, at the manor, crying from the stress of being a new mom while not even getting to use the baby things they picked! They're not in the nursery Connor painted for them! And the Bat Family won't. Leave. Them. Alone!!! They're going through heavy disassociation and depression. Cause being around all these people that they were sure hated them right before the baby was born? Makes Reader question if they only want them back because of the baby. It also makes Reader so broken.

How could they immediately love the baby, but couldn't ever bother with them?

Connor breaking the both out and flying back to the apartment.

This, this is getting too far ahead. But, it’s beautiful.

A fully yandere!Conner with a scared Reader that just had their newborn would be brutal and terrifying.

He wouldn’t kill anyone. That would just piss the family off more. But, they way he would cut ties with the family or anyone that sides with them would be done in such a cold buisness like manner, that they’d start doubting if they ever where actually friends with him.

Even Injustice!Superman had emotions.

But, Conner? That apathy is all Lex Luthor genetics shinning through. The part of him that makes it so easy to destroy those around him.

Though Conner is using it to defend his family, so he’s justified. But, it would be chilling.

Teammates would be paralyzed, and friendships shattered like some bones.

Do not fuck with his Reader or his child. And, God help you if you fuck with both of them.

As for the other part, I think that would make Reader have so many issues with motherhood if they were allowed to feel that way.

It’s so common for everyone to care about the baby and ask about the baby, when you’re basically at a physical low and exhausted.

I don’t think this would happen with Reader, thankfully. Being pregnant is a state that Reader was in to the family. A condition that bore results.

Some of the family, yes, would obsess with the baby right away. But, the big thing they the want is to watch Reader be themselves and a mother. They will ask, “Are you okay?” “Do you need something?” “Can I get you something?”

Those mommy issues are what’s triggering some of the absolute worst of their yandere tendencies. Anyone that intervenes on Reader being a mother to their child are a villain in the family’s eyes.

[natalievoncatte]

It was a very good day, all in all. Nia had spent the day winding through the downtown shops with Lena, who was enjoying the anonymity afforded by dressing down in a hoodie. The spring air was crisp but not cold and they made their way down, eventually, to the waterfront and strolled through the open air markets, to Lena’s favorite food cart, where she bought them both tamales.

They were sitting on high stools around a bar height table and Nia was indulging thoughtfully on her mournful of tamale and sour cream when Lena very casually said, “when did Kara tell you that she’s Supergirl?”

Nia almost choked, grabbing her lemonade in a mad dash to wash down her mouthful of food and breathe again. Lena wasn’t looking at her. The question had come in a cool tone, but with a hard, brittle edge.

It wasn’t some weird joke, or strange passing fancy. Lena’s eyes were hard, a sharpness to her look that often came into her delicate features when she spoke of someone she hated. It made her stunning beauty seem dangerous and vulpine.

“Not long after we met. I told her I was an alien first and about the whole dreaming thing, and then she told me.”

Lena nodded and sipped a bottle of Mexican soda, nudging her half-dismembered tamale with a plastic fork, smearing thin strips of shredded pork angrily across the cardboard bowl.

“When did she tell you?” Nia asked, wincing at the quaver in her voice.

Lena looked up, and met Nia’s gaze. She had her CEO face on- unflappable, a little contemptuous, even arrogant, a kind of distance in the way she looked down her nose. It made her look queenly.

It also made Nia’s bowels turn to water and she had to focus on shoving her lunch back down where it belonged.

Lena said very softly, “she didn’t.”

Nia made a fist and pushed the heel of her hand against the table to hide her shaking.

Oh God, she thought, what have I done?

“How did you…” Nia began, “when…”

There was a bird chirping nearby. The crisp pleasant air carried the salt of the sea. It was a good day, a nice day. The sun was shining and Nia fancied she might look up and see Kara zooming overhead, just to check on them.

To check on Lena. Like she always did.

“My brother told me before I shot him.”

There was a cracking, brittle and qualify to Lena’s half-whispered confession, and Nia instinctively looked around for eavesdroppers.

“W-what do you mean?”

“Lex had an emergency portal device in his suit, set uo to ‘port him out if he was in danger. When he portalled back to his old hideout I was waiting for him.”

Nia licked her lips. “Then what…”

“He showed me. He had surveillance footage- Kara using her powers, not just to protect me but to hide evidence, conceal her secret from me.”

“Oh,” said Nia.

“He wanted me to join him. He expected me to flip out and decide to help him kill her, I guess.”

Lena gave a little shrug.

“And then…”

“Then I killed him. I shot him twice in the chest and then again in his stupid face.”

Nia looked around again. This was a conversation to be had across the path from a food truck selling deep fried fruit pies. Lena’s usually pale face was flushed a deep red and her eyes grew wet.

“You know,” said Lena. “James must. Alex, obviously. Wynn, Wynn must have known. Alex’s boss, other people at the DEO, right? How many people know there?”

Nia thought of Kara’s locker at the DEO and felt a surge of panic, as if she’d been dunked right in the ocean.

“How many times was I in a room with all of you and I was the only one who was wasn’t in on it?”

“Lena,” Nia began.

“What did I do wrong? Why me? Why did I have to be the one kept in the dark? I could have helped her, just like you do, just like Querl does. I could have done so much, but… what? What the fuck did I do wrong? Is it because I’m a Luthor? Is that how you all see me, too? Is that how she sees me?”

“No,” said Nia.

It was burning in her chest, yearning to break free.

You must never tell either of them, Brainy had intoned, you have to swear. The fate of the entire universe depends on you not revealing what I’m about to tell you before it’s time.

It was like an unscratchable itch. The knowledge that Brainy had shared with her, the secret he had whispered in her ear, almost drove her mad. It took her a while to make peace with it, even find comfort in it. She knew, knew with total certainty that things would be alright because something that was supposed to happen hadn’t yet.

Lena was staring at her, silently begging for Nia, for anyone, to make it make sense.

Lena was on the verge of hyperventilating, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

“I had to do it,” Lena whispered.

“Do what?”

“I had to shoot him, Nia. He was never going to stop. He was going to kill her eventually. Do you understand?”

Nia slid off her stool, and gently took Lena’s arm, guiding her down as well.

“I can’t do it,” said Lena. “I can’t keep it in anymore, not after this, nor after what I did. I can’t pretend now I just can’t do it.”

“Pretend what?”

Lena didn’t answer, not directly. “I know why she didn’t tell me. I can see it. It must be obvious, right? I must be so sad and pathetic to all of you.”

“What? No! Why would you think that?”

“Everybody has to see it. I’m such a goddamn cliche. I know why she won’t tell me.”

Nia blinked, shaking her head. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“She’ll never want me the way I want her.”

Those words, that tiny little half-confession, rocked Nia to her core. She felt her knees give a little and her own expression go momentarily vacant, and the words were out of her mouth before she could even think to stop herself. Nia Nal was a bad liar. She had no poker face. She was an open book.

“Yes, she does.”

Lena looked up sharply, her eyes almost comically wide with shocked hope.

“What? Nia, what do you mean? Do you understand what I’m saying here?”

Oh.

Oops.

Nia’s gaze searched Lena’s face, trying to find some way to get herself out of this without dropping a timeline-risking truth bomb.

She couldn’t. It wasn’t right. Lena should know. She had a right to know.

“You know all that stuff Brainy says about how the records from the past -the past to people like him way in the future- are gone?”

“What of it?”

Nia swallowed hard. Lena edged closer to her.

“If you know something, please! Nia please.”

“You’re one of the most historically significant people who ever lived,” said Nia. “They still know about you in the future, and Kara is… who she is. There are still some records.”

“What records? Nia what are you saying?”

Nia bit her lip for a moment, then closed her eyes. “Brainy told me that you’re remembered by history as a great inventor, scientist, and explorer… and as Supergirl’s wife. The mother of her children.”

Lena’s mouth actually fell open in an absurdly comical look of shocked disbelief.

“The mother of… me? I’m going to have children? Kara’s children?”

“Yes,” said Nia. “Or you’re supposed to. Hopefully I didn’t just mess up the entire future. Shit, Brainy is going to kill me when he finds out about-“

Lena was staring at nothing, her eyes wide.

“I… I have to get home. I have to get ready for tonight. The Pulitzer gala, to celebrate Kara’s award. I’m meeting her there so I can give the speech before she accepts it.”

“Okay,”‘said Nia.

They discarded their half-eaten tamales and took a Lyft back to Lena’s building on Nia’s account. Nia watched her walk inside and drop her hood so the doorman would escort her in, and then sat in stunned silence as she rode back to her own apartment.

She was sitting on the couch aimlessly scrolling on her phone when there was a knock at the door.

When she opened it, Kara rushed in, dressed and made up for her big party. She stormed across the room and looked around in a wild panic.

“I have to tell Lena tonight,” she said. “I have to. I can’t keep this a secret anymore, it’s eating me alive. I can’t let her go out there and give a speech about how trustworthy and honest I am after I’ve been lying to her this whole time, but I’m scared. I can’t… I can’t lose her, Nia. I can’t. I’m worried it’ll break us. I can’t lose her.”

“You won’t lose her.”

“She’s going to be mad I lied. She’s going to figure out why I couldn’t tell her.”

“Because Alex would blow up at you?”

“No,” said Kara, meeting her gaze. “Because she’ll never want me the way I want her.”

Nia looked at Kara for a moment, and then sighed.

She understood why Alex liked that nasty whiskey she always drank.

Nia could use some too.

[autisticrosewilson]

so I’m not a fan of Talia (this is important to my ask) but i see a lot of Talia fans. and i really want to ask, without anyone getting angry, why people are fans of her with her history?

the main things i know about her are how she drugged Bruce to make Damian in Batman and Son, and her relationship with Nyssa in Death and The Maidens.

is there more to it? i don’t want to explore on my own if its just that it’s never explained, is there an arc to reference or anything?

That arc is actually retconned because Grant Morrison admitted that it was racist characterization.

Talia had 30 years of characterization before Damian needed a sad backstory. She WASN'T raised as an assassin, she was studying to be a doctor when her and Bruce met. Because she was invented in the 70's she was modeled more after your typical bond girl, and leaned more towards spy than assassin. She hated killing and felt immense guilt the few times she had to.

Her and Bruce loved each other deeply, but Talia also loved her father. Ra's tends to get sanded down to "insane, cruel, and needlessly violent", but the whole point of the league is preserving the environment and endangered species. Talia agrees with his goal, but not his methods and this conflict is what allows Bruce to come between them.

For a lot of her history her main conflict is between the man she loves and the man who raised her, which changes in Damian's ORIGINAL origin, Son of the Demon. Bruce enthusiastically consents and is excited to have a baby with Talia, but Talia realizes that Bruce will never give up Batman and that whether she raises the child herself or gives him to Bruce he'll never get to have a normal life. So she tells Bruce she lost the baby and gives up Damian for adoption in secret.

The next big change in her character happens in JLA: Tower of Babel, explicitly said to be the FIRST time she's ever helped her father with one of his big schemes and she hates it. This marks her breaking point as she ditches Ra's entirely. This leads into President Luthor Secret Files where she takes over Lex Corp and GUTS it. Naturally Clark is suspicious of her, but she continues to help Bruce.

Then, Death and The Maidens happens. Talia is tortured and brainwashed. Batman, supposedly the world's greatest detective, explicitly said to LOVE Talia, sees this extreme shift in loyalties and behaviour, and leaves. Either not noticing or not caring. There is no resolution to this plotline.

Damian's nonconsensual origin follows this up on the basis that Talia's character after she's been brainwashed is just, who she is and who she's always been. Unfortunately it became her most popular story, and even though it's no longer canon it's done UNTOLD damage to her character.

Talia is so deeply compassionate and she cares so much for everyone and everything. She's endearing and she's insanely competent and her moments with Bruce are some of the most genuinely heart wrenching I've ever read. Batman Chronicles #8 continues to be one of my favorite comics EVER. I highly recommend you read her 70's-90's comics.

[wanderingmind867]

Lex Luthor is one of those roles where there's so much to it. So many interpretations, all of which add something to the character. A mad scientist, a rich capitalist, a child born to poor parents, destined to be lonely and ostracized in the slums; an heir to a corporate fortune with an abusive father. Sometimes he knew clark kent in his youth. Sometimes he didn't. But there's always an element to this character of fundamental goodness. Lex Luthor could've been a superhero. But Superman reminds me of everything he isn't. Superman makes him feel like a failure. Superman is similar to Lex in soso many ways. I'd say they both grew up feeling ostracized from their peers. Lex because of his intellect and Clark because of his powers. But one had a supportive family, and one didn't. It's nature vs nurture, I suppose. Lex Luthor could've been a hero. Clark could've theoretically been the villain if he was raised in a worse environment. The parallels work because neither one of them can be completely hated. At least not by me. I like both of them a lot.

I don't think Batman and Joker can compare. Because occasionally those two get a good setting to showcase their similarities, but they don't always. And they also aren't consistently as entertaining as each other. But with clark and lex, it's kind of hard to say I like one more. They're both very compelling. And I really just like both of them.

[omgfangirlland]

Okay so to add to the superfam x neglected! reader! What if the reader is an absolute nerd with engineering (mechanical, computer, electronics, software, and robotics) and as they slowly grew comfortable with Lex Luthor, they just found themselves yapping away about the functions of the Omnitrix, interesting projects they're working on, and what they want to do yk. Like this girl went from quiet, demure, shy who is not used to attention to someone who could talk Lex's ears off for HOURS, and he isn't even mad??? All her ideas are pretty interesting and it's also nice to see her just be in her element. The superfam being regretful because they didn't know Reader could talk this much or be so bright about something. Lois feeling immense guilt because she got so used to the easy way of not having to worry about injuries because Jon, Kon, and Clark don't that she forgot her daughter didn't inherit any of the indestructableness

Also!!! As Reader slowly got used to actually have an adult pay attention to her and encourage her with her interests, plus the praise she receives with her hero persona, she just became more confident. Idk it's like 1 am and the drabble was too good

-🪻

I want to start with the Ben10 reader x Invincible- I don't really feel the vibe for it- like Debbie has bitten into Nolan for not being happy for powerless kiddie Mark, and she'd do it again, and Nolan honestly just gave "angry because I'm getting attacked" vibes. But it'd be funny to see how shocked Battle Beast would be to see a youngling of his race try and battle him :)))

Also- Dad!Lex honestly just gives PTA Mom vibes to me-

(This and the 3 other Tony Stark!Reader stories I read are slowly making me want to do a TS!Neglected!Reader x batfam, Bruce would lose it at his daughter being so much like Brucie and so little like Bruce)

I'M HAPPY Y'ALL LIKE MY RAMBLING!! Most of the time I feel like it has no rhythm or reason :))

Lex: My kid is a mastermind in robotics and alien tech, on her way to have a greater empire than mine- What can your monkey-brained son do besides chase a ball, Janet?!

You: I don't even go here... I don't even know this woman.

Like, once this man gets attached, he goes crazy. He has an important business meeting at the same time you have a school event? At best, he's video chatting from your school, screaming mid-sentence that you did great, or at worst, not even present in the meeting.

Because let's be honest- rich man who knows how to act and can provide proof of neglect vs an above middle class family who didn't even know where the kid was? The rich man wins.

And sure, you may hate it at first, think it's a ploy to get back at Superman, because why would an adult actually care for you? But instead of lowering the anti-supers measures he has in place, he triples them. He asks about school shit, nags you about homework, if you ate, "You shouldn't sit for so long in front of a screen."

It drove you crazy. And you started acting out- missing homework, having sleepless nights, arguing with him over the smallest shit, until he called you for a serious talk. You were ready for him to tell you to pack your shit and go- but he just asked if everything was fine at school. "Because this isn't you."

Your lip may have trembled, but you refuse to acknowledge that you cried, that tears were even a concept. After hugging, definitely not crying in his arms, you got better- even if he suspended you from hero activity for a year "because you should have just come to talk to him" but whatever-

And boy does all of this fuck with the family. Not every place is anti-super proof, so they hear you talking his ear off at the restaurant he takes you to for the weekly family outing, or to celebrate whatever you made that day. And it builds the anger and guilt.

Lois started stalking Lex, not what she'd call it, but she was. Because she knew you wouldn't be far away. And it was amazing to see you talk about whatever machine-thingy-robot- whatever it was. It hurt to realize what she's been missing, and it hurt even more to see you smile so brightly and proudly at the man who, for years, has tried to ruin the family.

And when Jon sees you out and about and tries to follow after you, wanting his sis back, he loses track of you. Lex just finds a note stating that the cloaking tech works, but after 30 seconds, it fried. He doesn't ask, he already knows. But if you told him, he would obediently listen.

Kon is straight up thinking Lex brainwashed you. He refuses to believe you're doing that out of your own free will and is actively plotting with Tim and Young JL.

It was eerie how much you resembled Kon in his early days as "the real, new Superman" but the difference was in the way you actually were strategic in your flirting. Just enough to charm, but not enough to insinuate a possibility of more. Not that Lex would allow anyone to sniff around you, he has a strict list of requirements for the ideal one, and he's sure no one will hit all of them.

Honestly- he may as well start creating an android, the perfect one, to be the right lover. You shut that idea down quick. "Feels wrong to create an android and take away its free will. There are so many movies and games about why that's a bad idea."

All he hears is to create an android with another main mission, and just let the thing fall in love with you on its own. He has mad confidence in your rizz, mainly because he thinks you are the prize, and anyone not seeing that is crazy or blind. (*caugh* the superfam *caugh*) You could also do no wrong in his eyes, could kill everyone, and he'd still be like "lil baby, innocent, sweet thing", but that's another discussion.

This man will need to take calming pills if you show interest in JL members, aliens like Rook Blonko and Ester, or the witch Charmcaster.

You and Lex: