Lex Luthor was hired by General Sam Lane to capture Superman by setting a train accident as a trap for him. Superman barely stops the train and is left unconscious. Lex collects Superman and subjects him to a series of tests to ascertain his strengths and weaknesses. He tortures Superman until the latter manages to escape. Lex Luthor is later revealed to have obtained contact with the Collector through unknown means and was told to say the word "Krypton" to Superman. He later appears when the Collector abducts New Troy as one of the residents in the area. He along with Lois and Jimmy go into Glen Glenmorgan's hotel where Lex calls the Collector and it is revealed that Lex had made a deal with him. It was also discovered that Lex Luthor was the secret caller named "Icarus" that was giving information on Glen Glenmorgan to Clark Kent. After he gets fired from General Sam Lane, he creates his own project with the two stolen Kryptonite rocks. He creates the Kryptonite Man, but that also doesn't worked as well as planned.
Years later, Lex Luthor arranges the illegal smuggling of war machines in Qurac. Knowing that Superman would intervene, Luthor laces the weapons with Kryptonite and nanite technology in order to acquire a sample of Superman's DNA in order to create a monster based on the genetic structure of Superman known as the Hybrid. As Superman seemingly defeats the monster with his ice-breath, it is later found out that the Hybrid is attacking Metropolis - whilst also having infected civilians with a virus (that was carried by Superman when he in turn was infected by poison from his earlier tussle with the war machines), as Luthor had intended. The plan by Luthor was to show the people of Metropolis that Superman is indeed an alien menace, and only Lex can save them from the Man of Steel. The final confrontation between Kale El and Lex, of course resulting in the defeat of Lex.
In the wake of the Crime Syndicate invasion, public opinion of Lex Luthor was incredibly favorable, and he decided that he liked it. In an effort to continue being regarded as a hero, he tried to convince the Justice League to recruit him, but was initially unsuccessful. The Justice League eventually talked about how Luthor was going to keep on his crusade with or without the help of the Justice League. They let Luthor join the Justice League knowing he could find out information that could put all of them in danger, but Batman figured at least they could keep a close watch on Luthor and LexCorp.
During the conflict between Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor, Lex traveled with the Justice League to the planet Apokolips. After Darkseid's death, a large amount of energy from the Anti-Life Equation was released, giving Lex and the rest of the League all-new special abilities. Luthor was deemed the 'God of Apokolips.'
Following the death of the New 52 Superman, Luthor decides to assume Superman's symbol in a new suit of battle-armor that is powered by a Mother Box to protect Metropolis, but he is confronted by the pre-Flashpoint Superman, who refuses to believe that Luthor's intentions are as noble as he claims.
Current Version:
Lex Luthor
Former Version:
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor (Battle Suit)
Lex Luthor (Prison Warsuit)
Lex Luthor (Post-Forever Evil)
Lex Luthor (God of Apokalips)
Lex Luthor (Superman Armor)
Lex Luthor (Apex Lex)
