#alexander rosenbaum

[izvletchenie]

“A Russian song does have a custom / A bit by drop from blood to borrow […].”

"У русской песни есть обычай / По капле брать у крови в долг […]."

Arseny Tarkovsky

[infjpaladin]

This is really good.

[juridical-angel-blog]

Special Picture ''Lex Luthor Smallvillverse Earth-167'' Luthor Corp Plant in Smallville!

[the-shades-of-night-descend]

The real winners of the cold war were Nazi war criminals, many of whom were able to escape justice because the East and West became so rapidly focused after the war on challenging each other.

— Eli Rosenbaum, director of the Justice Department’s Office of Special Investigations and America’s chief Nazi hunter.

Antonio Alexander - Germany Was Never Denazified

[deadpresidents]

Thanks for being real today.

I get people wanting to be hopeful.

But I can't with "it will be okay" and "we will survive this."

It was not okay for Heather Heyer, Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber, Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil & David Rosenthal, Bernice & Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax, Irving Younger, Andre Anchondo, Jordan Anchondo, Arturo Benavides, Leonardo Campos, Angie Englisbee, Maria Flores, Raul Flores, Guillermo "Memo" Garcia, Jorge Calvillo García, Adolfo Cerros Hernández, Alexander Gerhard Hoffman, David Johnson, Luis Alfonzo Juarez, Maria Eugenia Legarreta Rothe, Maribel (Campos) Loya, Ivan Filiberto Manzano, Elsa Mendoza Marquez, Gloria Irma Márquez, Margie Reckard, Sara Esther Regalado Moriel, Javier Rodriguez, Teresa Sanchez, Juan Velazquez, or any of the other people killed by white supremacists whose actions were aided and abetted by the Trump presidency. These people did not survive. Not to mention all the people who haven't survived COVID, but might have if the Trump administration had taken timely action. Or the women who have died after being refused appropriate medical care because of the rapist and his buddies that Trump appointed decided with some weird pastor in the 1600 said was more important than the lives of actual living, breathing, human beings. Or the school children who would not have been shot to death if we had actual gun control laws in this country, a thing that would have been possible to achieve if Trump had lost in 2016.

Yeah, sure, the majority of us in the United States will probably survive. That's how statistics work. And if that's what somebody needs to hear in order to move forward, then I guess saying such things has a purpose. But it's looking pretty shitty for anybody living in Ukraine and to me, it comes across as disrespectful to the people whose lives have been lost in no small part thanks to what goes down in US elections.

I needed somebody today who would say not only that this is not okay, but this is *really* not okay.

Thanks for being that voice.

Thank you for this. I can't help but write what I feel, even if some of it hasn't been the most optimistic message to send. There is a reality that we need to come to terms with in order to find some way forward. I'm pissed off and I'm disgusted with this country, so I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing because it is therapeutic for me right now and I'm too old to go around punching and kicking people.

I do want to say that I'm also cognizant of the fact that some people just need some time to allow this reality to settle. I certainly don't want to add to the stress or darkness that some of us are feeling right now. There is no denying that this is fucking terrible, but we will regroup and find a way through it. It won't be easy and we're going to have to fight, but I don't want anybody to think that there is genuinely no hope. There's always something that we can do, even if it seems bleak.

If I'm writing something or somebody else is saying something that you're not ready to hear, it's okay to do what you need to do to remain healthy. These posts are going to be here whenever you might feel like reading them. You can and should step away from this if you just need a fucking break. It doesn't mean you're any less ready or willing to fight this battle than anybody else. Even if Trump and the rotten MAGA cult takes control of every lever of power, you can gain a personal victory by not allowing them to completely crush your faith in the future. You can be depressed and despair, but do not give up. Do not give them that power over you. We will find a way. We will get through this. We will figure out what it is that we need to do and who we need to back and how we need to attack, but taking care of your personal health and well-being is more immediately important than the bigger political battle or the next step in the resistance. Take care of yourselves first and we'll still be here and ready to eventually harness this anger and frustration and fucking disgust to defeat the MAGA movement and Trump's Christian nationalist personality cult.

The main thing, though, is that if you're really having a tough time in the immediate future, step away, take some time, go for a walk, read something that has absolutely nothing to do with Donald Trump or American politics (if you need suggestions, I always have book recommendations!), and regroup. Again, we'll get through this, and as goofy and weird and ridiculous as Tumblr can be at times, there's always a community of people on this site willing to listen and help each other when we're struggling. So, if you are having trouble getting to tomorrow, reach out because there are scores of people here who will help get there with you.

[ultraericthered]

Favorite Takes - DC

Where I cite my personal favorite non-source material (so film, TV, and video games only) adaptations of some comic book characters.

Clark Kent/Superman

Superman The Movie & Sequels (Christopher Reeve)

All Star Superman (James Denton)

DC Animated Universe (Tim Daly, George Newbern)

My Adventures With Superman (Jack Quaid)

CW DC Universe (Tyler Hoechlin, Brandon Routh)

NOTE: I was never the biggest fan of Dean Cain from Lois & Clark so he couldn't get on here, Tom Welling from Smallville might've been a contender had his character and story not got so bastardized, and the less said of poor Henry Cavill from the DCEU, the better.

Lois Lane

DC Animated Universe (Dana Delany)

All Star Superman (Christina Hendricks)

Superman The Movie & Sequels (Margot Kidder)

TV Versions (Terri Hatcher, Erica Durance, and Elizabeth Tulloch)

My Adventures With Superman (Alice Lee)

Lex Luthor

DC Animated Universe (Clancy Brown)

All Star Superman (Anthony LePaglia)

Smallville (Michael Rosenbaum)

CW DC Universe (Jon Cryer, Michael Cudlitz)

DC DTV Universe(s) (James Marsters, Jason Isaacs)

JLA (James Woods) & Young Justice (Mark Rolston)

NOTE: The last two get a split spot since one of them's got the voice of an evil political fascist while the other got his character mangled in later seasons to be a bad parallel to an evil political fascist. I also like the Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey, Stan Jones, Travis Willingham, Fred Tatasciore, Steve Blum, Ranin Wilson, Giancarlo Esposito, Zachary Quinto, Darin De Paul, Lance Reddick, Marc Maron, and Max Mittelman versions of Lex, and await to see Nicholas Hoult's.

Jimmy Olsen

Batman: The Brave & The Bold (Alexander Polinsky)

DC Animated Universe (David Kaufman)

My Adventures With Superman (Ishmael Sahid)

Superman Returns (Sam Huntington)

All Star Superman (Matthew Gray Gubler)

Supergirl

DC Animated Universe (Nicolle Tom)

DC Superhero Girls (Anais Fairweather)

My Adventures With Superman (Kiana Madeira)

CW DC Universe (Melissa Benoist)

Supergirl '84 Film (Helen Slater)

Brainiac

DC Animated Universe (Corey Burton)

My Adventures With Superman (Michael Emerson)

Injustice Series (Jeffrey Combs)

Superman Unbound (John Noble)

TV Versions (James Marsters and Blake Ritson)

Bruce Wayne/Batman

DC Animated Universe (Kevin Conroy)

Under The Red Hood & Young Justice (Bruce Greenwood)

The Batman Trilogy (Robert Pattinson)

The Dark Knight Trilogy (Christian Bale)

Batman: The Brave & The Bold (Diedrich Bader)

Batman '66 (Adam West)

NOTE: I really wanted David Mazouz from Gotham on here, but he had to compete with these other Bruces who were actually full time Batmen, so consider him an honorable mention. I also like Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, and Ben Affleck as Batman, but there were some problems with their particular iterations. Other runner ups include the other Kevin Conroy Batmen (particularly Arkham and Injustice), Rino Romano, Jeremy Sisto, Daran Norris, Anthony Ruivivar, Ben McKenzie, Jason O'Mara, Troy Baker, Peter Weller, Jensen Anckles, Keanu Reeves, Ethan Hawke, and of course the LEGO Batman(s).

Alfred Pennyworth

Burton-Shumacher Films (Michael Gough)

The Dark Knight Trilogy (Michael Caine)

DC Animated Universe (Clive Revill, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.)

The Batman (Alastair Duncan)

Arkham Series (Martin Jarvis)

Gotham (Sean Pertwee) and The Batman Trilogy (Andy Serkis)

NOTE: Other great Alfreds include James Garrett, Brian George, JB Blanc, David McCallum, Enn Reitel, Anthony Head, Ralph Fiennes, Nolan North, Tom Hollander, Jason Watkins, and Jeremy Irons.

James Gordon

DC Animated Universe (Bob Hastings)

Batman Year One (Bryan Cranston)

The Dark Knight Trilogy (Gary Oldman)

The Batman Trilogy (Jeffrey Wright)

Beware The Batman (Kurtwood Smith)

Batman '66 (Neil Hamilton, Jim Ward)

Barbara Gordon

DC Animated Universe (Melissa Gilbert, Mary Kay Bergman, Tara Strong)

Arkham Series & Injustice Series (Kimberly Brooks)

The Batman (Danielle Judovits)

Young Justice (Alyson Stoner)

Batman: The Brave & The Bold (Mae Whitman)

Batman: Caped Crusader (Krystal Joy Brown)

Dick Grayson/Robin

Teen Titans (Scott Menville)

Young Justice (Jesse McCartney)

Batman '66 (Burt Ward)

The Batman (Evan Sabara)

Batman: The Brave & The Bold (Crawford Wilson, Jeremy Shada)

Arkham Series (Josh Keaton)

Dick Grayson/Nightwing

Teen Titans (Scott Menville)

Young Justice (Jesse McCartney)

DC Animated Universe (Loren Lester)

Under The Red Hood (Neil Patrick Harris)

Arkham Series and Injustice Series (Troy Baker)

DC DTV Universe (Sean Maher)

The Joker

DC Animated Universe (Mark Hamill)

The Dark Knight Trilogy (Heath Ledger)

Burton-Shumacher Films (Jack Nicholson)

Joker 2019 (Joaquin Phoenix)

Under The Red Hood (John DiMaggio)

Gotham (Cameron Monaghan)

NOTE: Other great Jokers include Mark Hamill and Troy Baker as Arkham series Joker, Mark Hamill in JLA, Troy Baker in Batman Unlimited and some of the newer DTVs, Caesar Romero in Batman '66, Michael Emerson in The Dark Knight Returns, Kevin Michael Richardson in The Batman, Jeff Bennett in Batman: The Brave & The Bold, Richard Epcar in Mortal Kombat and Injustice, John Kassir in Superfriends 2010, Alan Tudyk in Harley Quinn, Tony Hale in Batman Ninja, Barry Keogan in The Batman Trilogy, and the LEGO Joker(s).

The Penguin

Batman '66 (Burgess Meredith, William Salyers)

Gotham (Robin Lord Taylor)

The Batman Trilogy (Colin Farrell)

Arkham Series (Nolan North, Ian Redford)

DC Animated Universe (Paul Williams, David Odgen Stiers)

The Batman (Tom Kenny)

NOTE: I like the Stephen Root, David Jennison, Dana Snyder, and Wayne Knight Penguins as well, but they're not quite good enough to crack this. Mad respect to Danny DeVito too, but his Penguin sucks.

The Riddler

Batman '66 (Frank Gorshin*, Wally Wingert)

Gotham (Cory Michael Smith)

The Batman Trilogy (Paul Dano)

The Batman (Robert Englund)

DC Animated Universe (John Glover)

Arkham Series (Wally Wingert, Matthew Gray Gubler)

NOTE: Sorry Jim Carrey, you couldn't quite make the cut! Also in the running: Shannon McCormick, John Michael Higgins, Rob Paulsen, Weird Al Yankovic, Jim Rash, Brent Spiner, and Geoffrey Arrend.

*I refuse to credit John Astin's one appearance. That didn't happen!

Selina Kyle/Catwoman

Arkham Series (Grey Griffin, Chantelle Barry)

The Dark Knight Trilogy (Anne Hathaway)

Burton-Shumacher Films (Michele Pteifer)

Gotham (Camren Bicondova)

Batman: The Brave & The Bold (Nika Futterman)

The Batman (Gina Gershon)

NOTE: Wish DCAU Selina could've made it since Adrienne Barbeau has easily the best voice for the character, but the writing and artwork let her down too often. Other good Catwomen include Julie Newmar, Ertha Kitt, Patty Matson, Jaynse Jaud, Eliza Dushku, Stephanie Sheh, Laura Bailey, Cree Summer, Jennifer Morrison, Naya Rivera, Liz Gilles, Gina Rodriguez, Christina Ricci, and Zoe Kravitz.

Two-Face

DC Animated Universe (Richard Moll)

Arkham Series (Troy Baker)

The Dark Knight Trilogy (Aaron Eckhard)

Batman '66 (William Shatner)

Batman: Caped Crusader (Diedrich Bader)

Batman: The Brave & The Bold (James Remar)

NOTE: Apologies to Billy Dee Williams, who would've done great, and Tommy Lee Jones, who could've done great (but definitely didn't). Also in the running but their coins landed on tails: Travis Willingham, Matthew Mercer, Robert Picardo, Petter Jessop, Dave Boat, Keith Ferguson, Gary Cole, Andrew Daly, and Josh Duhamel.

Mr. Freeze

DC Animated Universe (Michael Ansara)

Arkham Series (Maurice LeMarche)

Young Justice (Keith Szarabajka)

Batman '66 (George Sanders, Otto Preminger, Eli Wallach)

Gotham (Nathan Darrow)

Burton-Shumacher Films (Arnold Schwarzenegger)

NOTE: Other noteworthy Freezes who got frozen out of making it include Clancy Brown, Eric Bauza, Robert Kraft, Oded Fehr, Peter Stromare, Jim Pirri, and Matthew Mercer.

Poison Ivy

Arkham Series (Taisa Valenza, Amy J. Carle, Darcy Rose Byrnes)

DC Animated Universe (Dianne Pershing)

The Batman (Pierra Coppola)

Harley Quinn (Lake Bell)

Batman: The Brave & The Bold (Vanessa Marshall)

Gotham (Peyton List, Clare Foley, Maggie Geha)

NOTE: Uma Thurman, Laure Bailey, Fryda Wolff, Natasha Leggero, Paget Brewster, Peyton List II, Cristina Milizia, and Katee Sackhoff are all fun Poison Ivys as well.

Harley Quinn

DC Animated Universe (Arleen Sorkin)

Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco)

The Batman (Hynden Walch)

DCEU (Margot Robbie) and Suicide Squad ISEKAI (Karlii Hoch)

Arkham Series (Arleen Sorkin, Tara Strong)

Batman: Caped Crusader (Jamie Chung)

NOTE: Meghan Strange in Batman: The Brave & The Bold, Jenny Slate in The LEGO Batman Movie, Laura Post in the Telltale games, and Melissa Rauch in Batman and Harley Quinn are also great, and I've no doubt Lady Gaga could've really rocked it too but....yeah.

Ra's Al Ghul

DC Animated Universe (David Warner)

Gotham (Alexander Sidigg)

The Dark Knight Trilogy (Liam Neeson)

Batman: The Brave & The Bold (Peter Woodward)

Young Justice (Oded Fehr)

Arkham Series (Dee Bradley Baker)

NOTE: Also among the great Ra's Al Ghuls are Jason Isaacs, Lance Reddick, Giancarlo Esposito & TC Carson, JB Blanc, and Cas Anvar.

Bane

The Dark Knight Trilogy (Tom Hardy)

Arkham Series (JB Blanc, Fred Tatasciore)

Young Justice (Danny Trejo, Eric Lopez)

DC Animated Universe (Henry Silva, Hector Elizondo)

The Batman (Joaquim de Almelda, Ron Perlman)

Harley Quinn (James Adomian)

Scarecrow

Arkham Series (Dino Andrade, John Noble)

DC Animated Universe (Henry Polic II, Jeffrey Combs)

The Dark Knight Trilogy (Cillian Murphy)

Injustice Series (Robert Englund)

Batman: The Brave & The Bold (Dee Bradley Baker)

Batman Unlimited (Brian T. Delaney)

Killer Croc

Arkham Series (Steve Blum, Khary Payton)

The Batman (Ron Perlman)

Beware The Batman (Wade Williams)

DC Animated Universe (Aaron Kincaid, Brooks Gardner)

Batman: The Brave & The Bold (Stephin Root)

Batman Unlimited (John DiMaggio)

Clayface

The Batman (Steve Harris, Wallace Langham)

Arkham Series (Rick D. Wasserman)

Batman: Caped Crusader (Dan Donohue)

DC Animated Universe (Ron Perlman)

Harley Quinn (Alan Tudyck)

Batman Unlimited (Dave B. Mitchell)

Professor Hugo Strange

Arkham Series (Corey Burton)

Gotham (BD Wong)

The Batman (Frank Gorshin, Richard Green)

Strange Days Short (Brian George)

Batman '66 (Jim Ward)

DC Animated Universe (Ray Buktenica)

NOTE: William Salyers in Gotham By Gaslight is fine as well but his part is too secondary. Young Justice Strange is the only one I dislike.

Diana Prince/Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman DTV (Keri Russell)

Wonder Woman '76 (Lynda Carter)

DCEU (Gal Gadot)

Young Justice (Maggie Q)

Batman: The Brave & The Bold (Vicki Lewis)

DTV Universe (Grey Griffin, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson)

JLA (Rachel Kimsey)

NOTE: Really wish a Susan Eisenberg Wonder Woman could've landed here, but both of her most major iterations had some issues.

Slade Wilson/Deathstroke

Teen Titans (Ron Perlman)

CW DC Universe (Manu Bennett, Michael Chiklis, Esai Morales)

DTV Universe (Thomas Gibson, Miguel Ferrer)

Injustice Series (JG Hertzler)

Arkham Series (Mark Rolston)

Tara "Terra" Markov

Teen Titans (Ashley Johnson)

Teen Titans GO! (Ashley Johnson)

DTV Universe (Cristina Ricci)

LEGO DC (Laura Bailey)

Young Justice (Tara Strong)

Darkseid

DC Animated Universe (Michael Ironside, Kevin Michael Richardson)

Justice League Heroes (David Sobolov)

Batman: The Brave & The Bold (Michael Leon Wooley)

Injustice Series (Michael Leon Wooley)

DTV Universe(s) (Andre Baugher, Bruce Thomas, Tony Todd)

JLA (Johnathan Adams)

NOTE: I discount Steve Blum from the DTV Universe(s) 'cause what the fuck was that, and Ray Porter in the DCEU was tragically ill-fated.

[laddersofsweetmisery]

My former English professor is retiring and gave away a bunch of the books in her office. She's a gem. I giddily returned to campus just to sort through her collection. Super excited about the ones I brought home with me. I thought someone else might appreciate some of the books I found.

I've already began poring over the poetry collections, but what should I read first? Are there any that you guys have read that you highly recommend?

Books included in Photo 1:

● Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (Alta Edition includin Persuasion)

● Robert Burns by David Daiches

● Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

● Leigh Hunt's What is Poetry? by Albert S. Cook

● Love Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister by Aphra Behn

● Virginia Woolf: A Biography by Quentin Bell

● Holy Madness: Romantics, Patriots, and Revolutionaries 1776-1871 by Adam Zamoyski

● Earnest Victorians by Robert A. Rosenbaum

● Lord Byron: Selected Letters and Journals by Lord Byron, Leslie A. Marchand (Editor)

Books Included in Photo 2:

● Orlando by Virginia Woolf

● Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

● The Portable Irish Reader, (The Viking portable library) by Diarmuid Russell

● The Last Days of Pompeii by Edward Bulwer-Lytton

● Becoming a Heroine by Rachel M. Brownstein

● To the Lighthouse Virginia Woolf

● East Lynne by Ellen Wood, writing as Mrs Henry Wood

● Poetry and Prose of Alexander Pope edited by Aubrey Williams

● In Memoriam; An Authoritative Text, Backgrounds and Sources, Criticism (Norton Critical Editions) by Alfred Tennyson

● Daughters and Fathers by Lynda E. Boose, Betty S. Flowers

Books Included in Photo 3:

● Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy

● A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne

● Goblin Market and Other Poems by Christina Rossetti (Dover Thrift Editions)

● Sound the Deep Waters: Women's Romantic Poetry in the Victorian Age includes works by Christina Rossetti, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, George Eliot, Alice Meynell, and Edith Nesbit

● The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

● The Monsters: Mary Shelley and the Curse of Frankenstein by Thomas Hoobler and Dorothy Hoobler

● Wordsworth and the Poetry of Human Suffering by James H. Averill

● Victorian Ghost Stories: By Eminent Women Writers (Part of the The Virago Book Series) edited by Richard Dalby

● The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

● Victorian Poetry and Poetics by Walter E. Houghton G. Robert

[cinnamonanddean]

Lord, they done shot my boy AGAIN.

And they can't even give him a pillow, godamn.

Wait, I think this one needs notes, Clark is gonna go into Lex's miiiiiind:

First of all, Clark already lives rent-free in Lex's head so yanno...

Where's the best pie you've ever had, honey? Is it Martha Kent's?

Oh SHIT that actually startled me.

White suit, this can't be good.

Oh a baaaaby. Hmm Alexander though, that's sus. Is he the bad side hiding out as a baby?

"Trust me, Clark. You're my best friend." WHY THO 😭😭😭

Why does Clark have to look at Baby Lex so SOFT?

LIONEL YOU PIECE OF SHIT DON'T TALK TO HIM

Oh my god he's literally got him by the scruff of the neck this is awful

How the EFF are they gonna let Clark witness this FIRST HAND and then still give up on Lex??? I am AGHAST

Clark I swear to God, if you watch that man abuse his wife and child and don't snap his neck as the first fucking thing you do when you wake up

I'm sorry, the Stride gum product placement is sending me

Lol Lois wtf did you think was gonna happen? I'm surprised he didn't snap the phone in half

BWAHA Lex calling him a voyeur is funny. Careful honey, glass houses.

OHHHHHH MY GOD THROWING HIM INTO A LEXANA LOVE SCENE JAYSUS

Christ his little "look at that" head jerk was SO HOT 🥵

Omg holding his head. I am having an aneurysm.

Oh you better believe I'm rewinding that

Fuck that was hot 🚬

Clark chasing after Lex and Alexander instead of going out the door 🥺

"Promise me that you will never stop fighting" agghhhgkfkgkghh 😭

I'm not gonna quote the whole scene but just know that I am sobbing in a puddle

Uh I'm pretty sure being thrown through that thing would have killed that dude

Lionel you ambulatory trashcan, how the hell are you making yourself out to be the hero here??

Oh gosh

Oh daaaang, that's cold. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE LIONEL!

Aww Clark and Chloe 🥺 I love their relationship so much

Uh ohhhh. Was he telling the truth about Lana hanging up?

God, the lashes on Rosenbaum. Welling too, I noticed them in Persona. Men always get the good lashes.

"I grew up" that ain't the whole truth honey and you know it

[romancomicsblog]

Who should play Lex Luthor in the DCU?

With the DCU casting its red caped hero last month as David Corenswet in Superman Legacy, the Man of Steel's archenemy feels just around the corner.

While nothing is confirmed, names like Nicholas Hoult, Alexander Skarsgard, and Bill Skarsgard have been rumored for the role.

While I have no problem with any of these actors or these Luthors, I feel we can do better.

So before James Gunn throws out a name that will likely break the internet, I thought I'd pitch my three ideas for The DCU's Lex Luthor. Unlike my last fancast (shameless plug for My Flash Fancast Article), I have one actor who I think truly stands beyond the rest.

But first, as always, let's answer a few questions:

What performances are we looking to emulate?

Much like the Man of Steel himself, Luthor has a number of appearances across DC media, including animation, film, and live action television. So unlike my Flash article, I will not be going through all of them, even the main ones.

While I don't think any performance has been perfect, I think there are several we can draw from to create a better Lex.

I'm going to try to remain positive and only look at performances I appreciate, so instead of dunking on Jesse Eisenberg for 45 minutes, I'll just say quickly: He's doing a real good Mad Hatter in Batman vs Superman.

1. Michael Rosenbaum - Smallville

There's a lot to love from this one.

Unlike most iterations of Luthor in media, Rosenbaum begins the series an ally to Clark, even a friend. Luthor is confident, smart, but has a likeability to him I think we have lost in more recent interpretations. All those aspects should be brought over to the DCU.

We need someone who you could believe the city loves almost as much as Superman.

Rosenbaum also had a physical presence and voice to beat. He projected strength, and felt like someone who could throw hands if he needed to.

Finally, his anger and rage were bubbling just beneath all that. He could snap at a moment's notice, and in those moments is where you see the villain. That's what I want from my Lex, someone who mastered masking his demons.

2. Clancy Brown - Superman the Animated Series, Justice League & Justice League Unlimited

If it wasn't for Rosenbaum, this would be my definitive Lex Luthor.

Clancy Brown has never misunderstood the assignment, as he plays a much more aggressive and fiercer Luthor in the DCAU.

What I love about this Luthor is his ability to become a bigger threat from season to season. Making deals with Darkseid, giving speeches to Amazo, and even fusing with Brainiac, this Luthor could hang and outsmart the best of them.

While he was a little quick to anger in my opinion, this Luthor had that same strength and confidence I absolutely love in Rosenbaum.

Something inbetween these two may make the perfect Luthor.

3. Jon Cryer - Arrowverse

While there is a huge gap between two and three, I think there is a lot to love about Cryer.

While he is harder to take seriously than the other two, he does show off one thing the others don't, the fun of being the richest, smartest person in the room.

Cryer always felt like Luthor was having fun toying with heroes. Only when he dealt with the Girl of Steel did he really go off the rails.

Do I want a performance as hammy or out there as Cryer? Not necessarily, but someone who can do a little comedy may be fun here.

What ethnicity is Lex Luthor?

This one doesn't have a definitive answer.

While in most iterations of the character he appears to be white, in Justice League/Justice League Unlimited, some fans speculate he is a person of color, specifically black.

I have mixed feelings on changing a villain into a person of color, as that can have its own implications, especially when their hero wears Red and Blue.

I do think leaving Lex Luthor as an only white character can take away from the depiction. Luthor sometimes is a self made man, and making him a person of color who clawed his way through oppression only to be seconded by another white man could be an interesting take.

Again my feelings are mixed, but for now I'm going to say either way works.

Any other stipulations?

Yes, a few.

For one, I will not bring back an actor who played him before, so I'm sorry Rosenbaum fans, maybe next time.

My Luthor will be either A) a friend to Superman of the same age or B) a mentor like figure, still a friend though, at least for the first movie. So age range is anywhere between 30-50.

Unlike Superman, Luthor's are usually played by actors with a name. Jesse Eisenberg and Gene Hackman both are heavy hitters, so I will be looking for actors of similar caliber.

I also don't want to go with actors who have been or are known for different superhero roles. That doesn't mean they can't have ever been in a superhero movie (hint hint) but we're not getting Downey Jr.

If they are bald that is a plus, but not necessary.

Again I think these picks all can do it, but I really love my number 1 pick.

3. Jason Bateman

This one will probably take the most convincing but think about it.

Known for his wide ranging work such as Ozark, Arrested Development, Game Night & Air, Bateman is a comedic and dramatic force.

At 54, Bateman is my oldest Luthor, but I think he can emulate better than anyone else on this list the fun of Cryer.

I have a few problems with this casting. While he has a great calming voice, I don't know if it's Luthor. It can be sinister, and it can be friendly, but I don't know how confident it can be.

My other main problem is this Luthor doesn't seem like he can fight. I think this Luthor would feel more like someone who needs the mech suit.

Overall I think this is a fun cast and would be a little unexpected, and a challenge for Bateman. But one I think he could nail.

2. John David Washington

If we want a cool, strong, and same age Luthor to befriend Superman, I think John David Washington slides into this very well. At 38, Washington still looks like a passable 30.

Known for his roles in Tenet and Malcolm and Marie, Washington I think is our best bet at emulating Rosenbaum. The swagger, the look, and the dangerous presence bubbling beneath the surface.

My main problem with casting Washington is always the same, does he fit better elsewhere?

Washington is such a versatile actor, he sometimes feels like a blank slate. Would he better suited for Cyclops? Green Lantern? An older Firestorm? Who is to say.

In any case, I'm sure he'll be casted in one of these sooner or later, but Luthor may be an example of right place, right time for Washington.

1. Sterling K. Brown

Several years ago, I saw an episode of Brooklyn 99, which to this day is my favorite episode, where Jake Peralta and Captain Holt try their absolute best to get this killer to admit his crime or slip up.

He is so intelligent, suave, and calm, that they are unable to break him, until they hit the right nerve, and the bubbling anger boils so hot, he admits everything.

That is Lex Luthor.

And that is Sterling K Brown.

Known for hit shows like This is Us, The People vs OJ Simpson, the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and movies like Black Panther and Waves, Sterling K Brown may be the most underrated actor working today.

Brown has an intensity about him that screams Luthor. He can play likeable and caring like Rosenbaum, he can reach that rage and intensity that Clancy Brown nailed, and have the fun of Jon Cryer.

Brown also has a kindness that reads extremely genuine. You'd get the sense in another world, this Luthor would be a hero.

At 47, he's old enough to be a mentor to Clark, but still feel formidable, especially with his current physical build.

Brown's Luthor I can see as a staple character for the DCU, appearing as an overarching puppet master, leader of villainous teams, tormentor of many heroes, or even uneasy ally when greater threats emerge.

No matter where they take Luthor as a character, Sterling K. Brown is the right pick to menace the DC Universe for years to come.

Thank you for reading! Let me know who you'd like me to fancast next for Marvel or DC!

If you'd like to support me you can follow me on my socials here!

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Reviews for Week 33, 2023

Rethinking retrosplenial cortex: Perspectives and predictions. Alexander, A. S., Place, R., Starrett, M. J., Chrastil, E. R., & Nitz, D. A. (2023). Neuron, 111(2), 150–175.

Evidence accumulation modelling in the wild: understanding safety-critical decisions. Boag, R. J., Strickland, L., Heathcote, A., Neal, A., Palada, H., & Loft, S. (2023). Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 27(2), 175–188.

From cognitive maps to spatial schemas. Farzanfar, D., Spiers, H. J., Moscovitch, M., & Rosenbaum, R. S. (2023). Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 24(2), 63–79.

The Development of Color Perception and Cognition. Maule, J., Skelton, A. E., & Franklin, A. (2023). Annual Review of Psychology, 74(1), 87–111.

[ao3feed-j2]

Reflective Introspection

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/M05Lw9h

by SamandDean76

Jensen is an FBI agent that has been missing for three years. Jared (his current boyfriend) and Jeffrey (his former boyfriend) had come together while he was missing. But when Jensen turns up mysteriously, the hunt is on for the kidnapper who is still keeping tabs on his experiment.

Words: 7134, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Supernatural (TV 2005) RPF

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Rape/Non-Con

Categories: M/M

Characters: Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Alexander Calvert, Michael Rosenbaum, Original Male Character(s)

Relationships: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki, Jeffrey Dean Morgan/Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles/Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jensen Ackles/Jeffrey Dean Morgan/Jared Padalecki

Additional Tags: Past Rape/Non-con, Canon-Typical Violence, Alternative Universe - FBI, Top Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Bottom Jared Padalecki, Bottom Jensen Ackles, Hurt Jensen Ackles, Protective Jared Padalecki, Protective Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Hurt Alexander Calvert, Slightly Psychotic Alexander Calvert, Mind Control, Bad BDSM Etiquette, Implied/Referenced Torture, Psychological Torture, Bittersweet Ending, Mystery to be solved, Selectively Mute Jensen Ackles, Rescue, Revenge, Or Justice

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/M05Lw9h

[theultimatefan]

Savage, Routh, Tate, ‘Harry Potter’ Duo Added to FAN EXPO Cleveland Celebrity Lineup

Five more headliners joined the burgeoning FAN EXPO Cleveland celebrity roster today as Adam Savage (“Mythbusters”), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), Catherine Tate (“Doctor Who”) and the Harry Potter tandem of James Phelps and Oliver Phelps added their names to the pop culture celebration set for March 21-23 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

Savage served as co-host of the long-running Discovery reality program “MythBusters” for 14 years, helping to debunk urban legends. His extensive work as a special effect designer on such franchises as Star Wars, The Matrix, Space Cowboys and others and outgoing personality have made him an ideal collaborator on “MythBusters” and a popular convention guest.

Routh portrayed “Superman” and “Clark” in the 2006 Superman Returns movie and is also well-known for popular roles in “Arrow,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” “The Flash,” “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” and many others. Last year he starred opposite Mena Suvari in the feature sci-fi film "Ick.”

Tate played “Donna Noble” during several seasons of “Doctor Who,” also gaining fame as “Nellie Bertram” in the NBC hit “The Office.” She hosted the British variety/sketch comedy “The Catherine Tate Show” and also co-starred in the full run of “Big School,” highlighting her body of work in the U.K. and U.S.

Identical twin British actors James and Oliver Phelps, best known for playing Fred and George Weasley, respectively, in the Harry Potter film series, were first cast in the roles at age 14 and have been mainstays through various iterations of the blockbuster franchise's more than two-decade run.

The star-studded FAN EXPO Cleveland field already includes such luminaries as: • David Tennant and Jenna Coleman (“Doctor Who”) • Jared Padalecki, Mark Sheppard, Mark Pellegrino, Alexander Calvert, Ruth Connell, DJ Qualls and Samantha Smith (“Supernatural”) • “Smallville” stars Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, Erica Durance, and Laura Vandervoort • Tyler Hoechlin and Bitsie Tulloch (“Superman & Lois”) • Grant Gustin (“The Flash”) • Charlie Cox (“Daredevil”) • Giancarlo Esposito (“The Mandalorian”) • Aidan Scott (“One Piece”) • Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanagh and Candice Patton (“The Flash”) • Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel (“High School Musical”) • David Giuntoli (“Grimm”)

FAN EXPO Cleveland features the biggest and best in pop culture: movies, TV, music, artists, writers, exhibitors, and cosplay, with three full days of themed programming to satisfy every fandom.

Adult, Youth, and Child Single-Day Tickets, Three-Day Passes, Family Passes, and Ultimate and VIP Packages for FAN EXPO Cleveland are available now at www.fanexpocleveland.com. Advance pricing is available until March 6. More guest news will be released in the following weeks, including line-up reveals for additional headline celebrities, comic creator guests, voice actors, and cosplayers.

Cleveland is the sixth event on the 2025 FAN EXPO HQ calendar; the full schedule is available at fanexpohq.com/home/events/.

[my-patron-saint-is-jimmy]

This just in: 1970-80s Soviet Pop and Weed are a killer combo that make the world a better place

[lairreparablefugadeltiempo]

De fire djævle (Alexander Christian, Robert Dinesen, Alfred Lind, Carl Rosenbaum, 1911)

[lonelywretchjervistetch]

My DC Cinematic Universe: Superman (Part VI)

Chapter Six: Powerless Power

There are few villains better known than Alexander Joseph "Lex" Luthor. The archenemy of Superman, Luthor was meant to be the brains to oppose Superman's brawn. But this was never truly meant to be, as Superman himself kept changing to become more than just raw brawn. So, over time, Luthor also had to change. Because of this, we've seen a lot of version of Lex Luthor, From mad scientist and maniacal supervillain, to vindictive businessman with lofty ambitions. Luthor's been the leader of the Legion of Doom and Injustice League, as well as a member of the Justice League and a member of the "SuperFamily". His history is extremely complicated.

But even then, there are a few things that have always stayed the same with Luthor. His lack of hair, his incredible mind, his love of Kryptonite usage, and most important of all...his absolute hatred and jealousy of Superman. Sometimes this hatred is disguised in xenophobia, and sometimes it's a lot more personal, based on a shared past. Most of the time, though, it's raw jealousy of the Man of Steel and the power he wields. But, again, why? I mean, I'm jealous of Superman as well, but that doesn't mean I'm Lex Luthor, right?

Luthor has 82 years of comic book history to parse through, and that would take...a while. So for most of this post, I want to talk about how I see Lex, how others have seen Lex, and why Lex absolutely is not the main antagonist of this film. Surprising? We'll get there.

Lex Luthor: Mad Scientist

Lex Luthor was first introduced to the comics in Action Comics #23, in April of 1940. At the time, he was introduced as simply Luthor, and has a brilliant scientist and inventor with a hatred for Superman. He would steal devices from the government, hang out in flying cities and abandoned temples for his lairs, and would basically do anything he could to get money or take over the world. But every time, he kept getting stopped by fuggin' Superman. And at the time...y'know, whatever. Dude's an ass, but he doesn't hate Superman specifically. And, in early appearances, he has hair! But once World War II came, two things happened. One, his hair went away, forever. And two, with the birth of Silver Age, came Luthor's hatred for Superman.

Originally, fun fact, his hair was lost in an experiment that he blamed Superboy for, causing his permanent baldness and hatred for Superman. Which, yeah, is stupid, but this is the '50s and '60s at this point; comics were silly, and I'm here for that. During this time period, he became responsible for creating Bizarro as a clone of Superman, leading the Legion of Doom and Injustice Gang, stealing 40 cakes (which is as many as four tens, and is terrible), and entering an ill-advised team-up with alien computerized being Brainiac. That partnership would be revisited in the comics and adaptation many times over the years. And then...Crisis. Once Crisis on Infinite Earths happens, everything about Lex changes. While Lex kept the baldness, the insane intellect, and the hatred of Superman, he lost the mad scientist schtick, and gained a Fortune 500 company.

Lex Luthor: Businessman

Starting in the mid-80s, Lex Luthor is the leader of LexCorp, an is an evil executive with a FUCKTON of money. Based in part of Donald Trump and the Devil (NOT FUCKING KIDDING), this Luthor is a pure intellect, and used said intellect to be rich as FUCK. He clawed his way up from the dirt, from nothing, and became one of the richest men in the world, as well as one of the most prominent men in Metropolis. And this is at the root of his jealousy for Superman.

Put yourself in Lex's shoes here. You were raised in Suicide Slums, some of the worst parts of Metropolis. Parents were abusive, the environment was poor, and you were locked in a position that would've prevented you from moving out of your position. But you, with an insane amount of hard work and dedication, as well as some desperation and extremely high intelligence, claw your way from th very bottom and scale to the highest heights. You are as tall as a human being can be, inside of the tallest building in Metropolis which YOU BUILT with your hard-earned money...

AND THEN SOME STUPID IDIOT FROM ANOTHER FUCKING PLANET COMES HERE WITH POWERS THAT SHOULD BE RIGHTFULLY YOURS? The ever-loving FUCK did THIS asshole do to deserve that power? It should be MINE! LEX FUCKING LUTHOR IS THE REAL SUPERMAN!!!

That is how you would feel in Lex's position, and that's mostly how Lex feels. But that's sort of the obvious take; there's more to it than that. Because Superman is a hero. By all rights, he is a heroic figure, but also uses his powers responsibly. Lex, on the other hand, is not heroic. He's not good, he wouldn't do good things with that power. He would use that power to wrest control of the world, no matter the costs. And Lex is smart, he knows that. He knows exactly what he would do with that power. And maybe he'd try to justify his actions, but he definitely wouldn't do good things with it. And again, he knows that.

He KNOWS that. And he doesn't care. HE STILL WANTS IT.

Lex Luthor: The Man Who Has Everything

No matter how you slice it, Lex Luthor is an intellectual giant. The only thing that holds him back is his arrogance, and even that doesn't really hold him back. Luthor's hunger for power makes him one of the most dangerous men on the planet, and he uses xenophobia and hatred to project these desires onto Superman. Superman can't be bought, and Lex can't be Superman. But he;ll be damned if he doesn't try.

The real goal of Lex Luthor is this: to look down on everybody. Sounds satirical, but it really means that Lex doesn't want to acknowledge that anyone is above him in any way. And so, he's richer than the rest, and he's smarter than the rest. And if he CAN'T become for powerful than someone on his own, then that somebody's gotta go. To me (and for my version of Lex), Lex's hatred for Superman is partially jealousy, but mostly greed and ambition.

Lex Luthor is the man who has everything...and it isn't enough.

But if that's the case, why isn't Lex the villain of my movie? Easy answer: he's too smart for that shit. Yeah, maniacal laughter, ostentatious plots that lead to you as the perpetrator, a masterful crime with obvious fingerprints? Come on. Amateur hour. What does he look like, the Joker? No, no, no, Luthor is a behind-the-scenes villain. He'll fund villainy to get ahead in the world, but he won't be even a little obvious about it. Fact of the matter is, he should be Superman's worst enemy because Superman can't actually prove that Luthor is the villain. Clark Kent could be able to help uncover evidence, but it'd be extremely hard. Luthor should look squeaky clean to everybody, including Superman.

That doesn't mean, however, that Luthor won't be in the first film, or that he won't have something to do with the villains of the picture. In any case, he won't be the person who funds them directly. But indirectly? Absolutely. I will talk about those villains, I promise. But before I do that, I do want to go through some interpretations of Luthor. By now, you may have picked up on what I think makes the perfect Lex. In summary, those qualities are:

An unmatched intellect, above almost anybody else in this time, as well as the ability and propensity to invent scientific wonders

Money. So much goddamn money, and the power that comes from it.

Arrogance, and knowledge that only he can direct the world towards a proper path.

Hatred for anyone whom he perceives to be more powerful than him, in any way.

Power, and a hunger for more power.

And with that...

Lex Luthor: Adaptations

I'm not sure anybody's had as much fun as Gene Hackman had when playing Lex Luthor in the Reeves Superman films. And honestly, I have a lot of fun watching him. Taking a lot from the Golden Age version of the character, Luthor is a diabolical money-hungry supervillain with the arrogance to combat Superman's strength. He also uses Lex's favorite tool: Kryptonite. And he uses it pretty well, setting up a decent trap for Superman, while also being responsible for the temporary death of Lois Lane (in the first film). He also sides with General Zod and the Kryptonians, and creates the infamous Nuclear Man to take out Superman once and for all. Never works, but he always gives it the old college try.

More importantly, this Luthor is campy, but in a way that fits. Being arrogant, Lex shouldn't really care how he acts for people. However, I'd say that Lex has a public face, as well as a more diabolical private face and demeanor that people usually don't see. Like I said, Hackman has a really fun time with this role, and I really enjoy watching him. Not exactly my preferred version of the character, though.

Kevin Spacey takes over for Hackman in Superman Returns, and does a pretty OK job with it. Doesn't seem to take as much delight in being evil as Hackman did, but he definitely still enjoys himself. I honestly really enjoy this version of the character, and he takes the usage of Kryptonite to a much greater degree than any other version I've seen. He's in second place of the cinematic Luthors, that's for sure. And in dead fucking last...

Guuuuuuuuh, FUCK this version of Lex. Jesse Eisenberg's turn in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (STILL a dumb-ass name) is a very bad attempt to make a quirky, "millennial" version of Lex with a poorly-formed xenophobic motive to take out Superman. And the result is so bad, I blame it for helping destroy the DCU 5 years later. Eisenberg's Luthor, understand, is basically a take on the Gene Hackman Luthor...AGAIN. But in entirely the wrong universe and setting.

Is this Luthor threatening? No. He does threatening things, and he makes threats, but I'm never actually intimidated by him. Every time I see that stupid hair, all I can think of is "You want a Jolly Rancher?" or "Granny's peach tea." It's just silly. And maybe more importantly, he's not a smart man, he's just a homicidal maniac. Yeah, he manipulated both Superman and Batman into fighting each other; and yeah, he blows up a courtroom to frame Superman somehow; and yeah, he creates Doomsday (God, this is a shit movie), but none of these things logically should work. They rely only on the characters themselves being mind-numbingly stupid. And y'know, given that one of them is a DETECTIVE, I feel like that only worked because of bad writing. And, of course, it's obvious that it's Lex. That's why this is far more of a Hackman Luthor than anything else. Just doesn't work. Also, Eisenberg's acting is NOT good, for the record.

And yeah, I do like the Justice League after-credits scene with Luthor, hinting at the formation of the Injustice League. But that's a different story, and it's only a minute-long scene.

OK, before I get into my favorite Luthor, I wanted to highlight Jon Cryer in Supergirl and the Arrowverse shows. Because honestly, he plays a very interesting version of the character, and I would call him good! He plays off the xenophobic indignance and jealousy very well, and when he finally faces off against Superman in the crossover episodes, he's definitely effective. Cryer's Luthor really does seem like a megalomaniacal genius plotting against the Kryptonians at every waking moment of his life. I like it! And also, it's the first version I've ever seen with a beard, which is actually very interesting for some reason.

Where I struggle a bit with Cryer is that, while he's definitely a threat, he also looks like you could knock him over with a napkin. And it's true, I haven't seen all of his appearances, but he's definitely not physically threatening in any way. But you might be wondering why that's important. Well, let me point you to my favorite version of Lex Luthor. And this really shouldn't be a surprise.

Clancy Brown's decade-long take on the character in the DCAU is a marvel. Starting as a business man in Superman: The Animated Series, this Lex absolutely is a threat on first glance. Afraid of no one and superior to everyone, he goes toe-to-toe with Superman with no restraint, and constantly. Now, I mean that in terms of attitude, not physically, but he's also a powerhouse. See, Lex's arrogance, to me, should also extend to his appearance. If he really thinks he's better than everyone else, he should show it mentally and physically. In fact, in the comics, most versions of the character at least work out, with some versions doing a lot MORE than that.

But yes, this version of Lex begins as a well-built and threatening genius businessman. That all changes with Justice League. Despite mostly escaping the grasp of the law previously, this Luthor is allowed to dip into the true supervillain roots of the character, complete with Kryptonite-powered armor, supervillain organizations, and a life-threatening cancer caused by his constant exposure to a radioactive mineral! God, I love this version of Luthor so much.

And then, THEN, Justice League Unlimited comes along, and Lex is allowed to play BOTH roles. And this is where he hits his stride. Regaining his wealth and running for President throughout the series, he partners up with Brainiac in mind and body, then flees justice and joins the Legion of Doom. Eventually, he takes over and uses their resources to bring back Brainiac, only to kick off the events of the series finale. Lex Luthor in the DCAU is a versatile, plotting, intimidating bastard in the best possible ways, and I love him. There has not been a better version of this character.

...Oh, shit.

Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor...Jesus Christ, how do I even start this? Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor is an insanely complicated character, who we as an audience watch skillfully descend into abject evil over the course of several seasons. He goes from being Clark's best friend to his bitterest enemy, taking his loved ones away from him, and plotting against him in every possible way. He goes from being a victim of his father's manipulations and machinations, to...well, spoilers for how that story ends, but it's bad. Lex Luthor makes you believe he can be good...even though you know that he'll become one of the biggest villains the world has ever seen.

I'm sure that if you looked, you'd see a fuckton of essays written about this version of Luthor on here, because it genuinely is very good. The only thing holding it back, I think, is the realistic nature of the CW shows. This Luthor is definitely more of a businessman, whose genius lies in his acumen and strategy more than the sciences. In fact, this version of Luthor is not a scientist, hiring others to do those jobs for him and punishing them when they fail. He's a brutal mastermind, but a somewhat incomplete version of the character. He's also not quite allowed the came pomp and circumstance that other versions are allowed, never really becoming a supervillain. And I think that's something Lex should be allowed to do. Still, this is an excellent version of the character, and one of the few that you'll actually find yourself caring about.

And with all of that said...what is my version of Luthor? Yeah, let's get to that before I start talking about the other good versions of the character, like this one.

My Lex Luthor

When the film starts, it's apparent that Luthor is a force in Metropolis, as he should be. His central facility, LexCorp, looms over the skyline from the distance, and you should never truly escape its shadow. LexCorp should be all over the city, but this should still be a pretty peaceful city. That's because Lex's influence shouldn't be felt near any form of criminality. In fact, Lex himself won't even be seen in this film until close to the very end. Superman will never think of him as a villain, or see his seedy connections. There are maybe some investigations focusing on Luthor, but nobody's really onto him. Part of that is because he's subtle, and part of it is because he sends a representative, Mercy Graves, to investigate and control any dialogue against him. To pursue legal action, of course. Of course.

Anyway, Luthor is always around the periphery in the first movie. But by the time we get to the theoretical third movie, he'll be going toe-to-toe with Superman, in person. That's right, I'm proposing a trilogy, and Luthor is the central villain throughout and at the end. See, while he's in his ivory tower, he is indeed hating Superman, and the power that he holds over him. And Luthor has only one thing to say in regards to those with power: surpass them or remove them. But first, he has to observe the limits to this power, as well as any weaknesses that there may be. And his strategy begins with stress-testing this "Superman", and making him a little more necessary than he was previously.

Through multiple connections, and without a paper trail, he steals the unpublished blueprints for a powerful prototype weapon from an unknown engineer (John Henry Irons) working for a subsidiary of a subsidiary of a subsidiary (Amertek), and manages to get these designs smuggled to a local gang leader (White Rabbit, AKA Angora Lapin) in the less-policed areas of Metropolis. The result of this act is perhaps the first fight we see in this theoretical movie, as Superman stops a conflict between this gang and another. And yes, I just threw in some Steel Easter eggs in there, but that';'s a story for a different occasion, obviously.

However, this even has a surprising consequence. See, these weapons almost have enough firepower to hurt even Superman, but the ordinance isn't quite enough to really hurt him. Still, the potential for these weapons is noticed by the true villains of the movie: Intergang. And promise I'll get more into Intergang in the next chapter, but for now, let's get back to why this matters to Lex. See, Intergang's also got some connections. And those connections are able to supply them with upgrades and new weapons, as well as one MAJOR new weapon. Again, more on that later. But the major thing these guys bring into this universe is Kryptonite. Had to come from somewhere.

And that, of course, gets the attention of one Lex Luthor.

When Intergang's head soldier goes head-to-head with Superman, he seriously hurts him. However, the damage he takes in the fight will require some upgrades, which will be supplied by Intergang's benefactors. After the final fight, Luthor will have observed the effects of Kryptonite on Superman, and will probably have some ideas of what to do with it. In some of the last scenes of the film, we'll see the recovered sample of Kryptonite secretly make its way into Luthor's hands, marking his first actual appearance in the film.

So, while Luthor does indeed have a connection to the villains, his main goal doesn't crystallize (pun intended) until these final moments. We learn about Lex and get a hint into his plans. And what are his plans? Simple: use Kryptonite to find new ways to take out Superman. Oh...and to make some friends along the way. And he takes that Kryptonite to Infinity Labs, a subsidiary of LexCorp and a direct competitor to S.T.A.R. Labs. There, they'll experiment with the Kryptonite. In the process, they'll find that its unique radioactive and chemical signature can be used to harm Superman...and for other purposes. In fact, Lex Luthor will use this to make his own group of superhumans, whom he'll call Infinity, Inc. But we'll get to this version of the Superman Revenge Squad in the next movie (and in a couple of chapters).

But for now, for this movie, Lex is a behind-the-scenes villain. When the second movie starts, Lex will be put front-and-center, as will his opinions of Superman. I'll admit that putting Lex in the second movie was a smart move on Snyder's part, even though the rest of the movie is a fucking garbage fire. But I digress. Next time, we'll FINALLY look at the villains of this film, which includes the dangerous Intergang, and their own private soldier: Metallo.

And they're gonna FUCK up Superman.

Index: Superman

Part I: Why I Love Superman

Part II: On Lois Lane

Part III: The Kents

Part IV: The 'Rents

Part V: The...Frendts?

Part VI: Lex Luthor

Part VII: The Real Villains

Part VIII: Superman's Rogues Gallery

Part IX: The Story - Act One

Part X: The Story (Acts Two and Three)

Part XI: The Story - Climax

Part XII: Epilogue (Part One)

Part XIII: Epilogue (Part Two)

[mrmaxxxpleasure]

so many people are so mad about bisexual Superman… like hello do you not remember Smallville??