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When Jesse Eisenberg was cast asLex Luthorfor Zack Snyder’sBatman v Superman : Dawn of Justice , many fan did n’t realize that he was based on a specific version from the funnies . Although Lex is traditionally a barefaced , middle - aged , and seemingly noetic businessman , this has n’t always been the casing .
AsBatman v Supermandepicted a savvy millennial Lex Luthor , even casual audience appendage assumed Zack Snyder had simply reinvented the iconic baddie . However , long before Eisenberg bet the part , a likewise manic and awkward Lex appear inSuperman : Birthright , written by Mark Waid with artistic production by Leinil Francis Yu and Gerry Alanguilan . The evil genius was reinvented by Waid for a modernretelling of Superman ’s origin storey . standardized toSmallville , the fresh take research a teenage friendship between Alexander Luthor and Clark Kent .
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When Clark fetch the red - headed Lex home to his family , it was instantly clear that something was n’t right . His odd and distant demeanor was unlike any version of Luthor that had appeared in comics or other media in the past . Typically write as a competent evil genius , the Lex ofSuperman : Birthrightis shake up and far removed from a unconstipated societal life story . The Kents are n’t bother by Lex ’s queerness , unlike audience who take issue with Jesse Eisenberg ’s portraying for being overly animated and unstable . Birthrightgoes onto reveal that Alexander rise up to be a more recognizable version of Lex , but his younger self resembles Eisenberg inSnyder’sBatman v Superman .
In the context ofSuperman : Birthright , the teenage Lex ’s lack of social experience add together to his friendship with Clark , who does n’t mind the clumsiness . Without their pre - established dynamic , Eisenberg ’s Luthor feels even more detached and jarring . As Waid introduces readers to Lex through Clark ’s center , it becomes easier to feel sympathy for the misunderstood teenager . Accompanied by Clark ’s example , the human relationship has a spell that Snyder ’s film lack . It ’s unclear how old Eisenberg ’s Lex is intended to be , as he references his father and seems to be youthful than Superman . This difference of opinion in the long time of the cartoon strip ’ Lex and the motion-picture show ’s Lex might be a determining factor in their contrasting reception .
Although Eisnberg’stake on Lex Luthororiginates fromSuperman : Birthright , there are many ground why his take might not connect with buff . The little - known world that a misguided , younger Lex first appeared in the cartoon strip does n’t needs make Snyder ’s motion picture better , but it does raise questions . It ’s possible that without teenage Clark ’s friendship and guidance , Lex Luthorwouldn’t acquire into the man of affairs he becomes in Waid ’s retold origin story . The deranged reading of the LexCorp CEO inBatman v Superman : Dawn of Justicecould have profit from experience Clark growing up , as he also felt obscure and alone among equal .
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