How come Lex Luthor never made an appearance - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 09-03-2024, 12:14 AM

The character was first introduced in April 1940, which was at least, a good 12 years or so before The Adventures of Superman debuted. So you can't say that it's because the character wasn't created yet.

Either way, not having Lex Luthor on a Superman TV series would be like making a Batman TV series and not having The Joker in it as a recurring villain. And funny enough, the latter Batman TV series with Adam West would actually showcase The Archer (played by Art Carney), who originated as a villain in the Superman comics in December 1941 and The Puzzler (played by Maurice Evans), who first appeared in the Superman comics in June 1942.

biffbronson · 09-10-2024, 05:20 AM

Of course he should have appeared, but readers of modern superhero comics and followers of films need to realize the following fact: in the 1940s and 1950s, DC's superhero comics were not anywhere near as super-villain oriented as they later became. They are now super-villain DRIVEN. Readers going back to the old comics often complain about the lack of heavy-hitter villains back then.

Luthor and The Joker appeared at times, but as a rule super-villains were not at all emphasized in the way we are now used to. There were long stretches of time when they didn't appear in Action/Superman and Detective/Batman. (In the LATE 1950s, DC did a memorable Luthor-Joker team-up in World's Finest.)

Look at The Riddler for example, he had no comics appearances between 1948 and 1965. The Scarecrow similarly.

09-03-2024, 12:14 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,453	How come Lex Luthor never made an appearance The character was first introduced in April 1940, which was at least, a good 12 years or so before The Adventures of Superman debuted. So you can't say that it's because the character wasn't created yet. Either way, not having Lex Luthor on a Superman TV series would be like making a Batman TV series and not having The Joker in it as a recurring villain. And funny enough, the latter Batman TV series with Adam West would actually showcase The Archer (played by Art Carney), who originated as a villain in the Superman comics in December 1941 and The Puzzler (played by Maurice Evans), who first appeared in the Superman comics in June 1942.

09-10-2024, 05:20 AM	#2
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,268	Of course he should have appeared, but readers of modern superhero comics and followers of films need to realize the following fact: in the 1940s and 1950s, DC's superhero comics were not anywhere near as super-villain oriented as they later became. They are now super-villain DRIVEN. Readers going back to the old comics often complain about the lack of heavy-hitter villains back then. Luthor and The Joker appeared at times, but as a rule super-villains were not at all emphasized in the way we are now used to. There were long stretches of time when they didn't appear in Action/Superman and Detective/Batman. (In the LATE 1950s, DC did a memorable Luthor-Joker team-up in World's Finest.) Look at The Riddler for example, he had no comics appearances between 1948 and 1965. The Scarecrow similarly.