DC Comics
Lex Luthor
Luthor's modern form dates from a 1986 revision that turned him from a mad scientist in a jumpsuit into a billionaire industrialist, and it is one of the most effective updates in comics because it made his argument coherent. This version's objection to Superman is not envy but sovereignty: an alien with unlimited power has appointed himself humanity's protector, nobody elected him, and if he ever changes his mind there is no recourse.
- First appearance
- Action Comics #23 (1940), DC Comics
- Created by
- Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster
- Also known as
- Alexander Luthor, The Man of Tomorrow
- Universe
- DC Universe
- Appears in
- comics, film, television, animation, games
Who is Lex Luthor?
Luthor's modern form dates from a 1986 revision that turned him from a mad scientist in a jumpsuit into a billionaire industrialist, and it is one of the most effective updates in comics because it made his argument coherent. This version's objection to Superman is not envy but sovereignty: an alien with unlimited power has appointed himself humanity's protector, nobody elected him, and if he ever changes his mind there is no recourse. Luthor is wrong about almost everything else, and the books are clear that his real motive is that Superman makes him feel small — but the stated argument is good enough that readers have to work to dismiss it, which is what a first-rate antagonist requires. He also had hair until a 1960 story attributed the baldness to a laboratory accident Superboy caused, which remains one of the pettiest supervillain origins on record.
Lex Luthor: the details
- First appearance
- Action Comics #23, April 1940
- Created by
- Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
- Had hair originally
- A 1960 story attributed the baldness to an accident he blamed on Superboy
- The 1986 revision
- John Byrne recast him from mad scientist to billionaire industrialist, which is the modern baseline
- His stated argument
- That an unelected, unaccountable alien with unlimited power is a danger regardless of intent
- Became US President
- Elected in a 2000 storyline and served in office within continuity
- Warsuit palette
- The green and purple of his armour is inherited from Silver Age costume conventions
Why Lex Luthor endures
The archetype of the villain who is an ordinary human standing against a god, and one of the few antagonists in the genre whose stated position readers have to actively argue against rather than simply dismiss.
What Lex Luthor looks like on a shirt
Signature motif: The bald head; the green-and-purple warsuit; the LexCorp wordmark
The bald silhouette is the most efficient identifier, and the green-and-purple armour palette is inherited from the Silver Age. Corporate-parody LexCorp wordmark designs are a distinctive and popular alternative treatment.
The bald silhouette identifies him instantly. LexCorp corporate-wordmark parody designs are a strong and distinctive alternative to character art. Green and purple on black. Teen and adult sizing.
Lex Luthor T-shirts
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Popfunk
Popfunk Justice League Lex Luthor Retro Unisex Adult T Shirt, Black, Large
$15.99on amazon.com · Aug 7, 2026
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DC Comics
Superman Lex Luthor for President T-Shirt
$19.99on amazon.com · Aug 7, 2026
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Justice League
Justice League Lex Luthor Retro T-Shirt
$19.99on amazon.com · Aug 7, 2026
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Popfunk
Popfunk Superman Lex Luthor Skyline Unisex Adult T Shirt, Black, X-Large
$15.99on amazon.com · Aug 7, 2026
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The Goozler
LEXCORP - Evil mad Scientist Villain - Mens Cotton T-Shirt, 3XL, Black
$19.99on amazon.com · Aug 7, 2026
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Buying from outside the United States? Prices shown are amazon.com in US dollars. Links redirect international readers to their local Amazon, where pricing, sizing and availability are shown in local terms.
Price and availability are taken from Amazon at the time shown and can change. The price on Amazon at the time of purchase applies.
Sizes: kids to adult
Lex Luthor shirts are produced across the full US size range. These links run a live Amazon search filtered to each band, so they show what is genuinely in stock rather than a cached list.
| Band | Ages | US sizes | Search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toddler | 2–4 years | 2T, 3T, 4T | Search toddler sizes |
| Kids | 4–7 years | XS (4/5), S (6/7) | Search kids sizes |
| Youth | 8–14 years | M (8), L (10/12), XL (14/16) | Search youth sizes |
| Adult | 15+ | S–3XL | Search adult sizes |
US sizing shown. Cut and measurement vary between brands — see the size guide before ordering, especially for youth sizes. Base search: Lex Luthor t-shirt.
Who has played Lex Luthor
| Performer | Production | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gene Hackman | Superman | 1978 | Live action |
| Kevin Spacey | Superman Returns | 2006 | Live action |
| Jesse Eisenberg | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | 2016 | Live action |
| Michael Rosenbaum | Smallville | 2001 | Live action |
| Nicholas Hoult | Superman | 2025 | Live action |
Lex Luthor T-shirts: common questions
Who created Lex Luthor?
Lex Luthor was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, first appearing in Action Comics #23 in 1940 (DC Comics).
What does a Lex Luthor T-shirt usually look like?
The bald head; the green-and-purple warsuit; the LexCorp wordmark. The bald silhouette identifies him instantly. LexCorp corporate-wordmark parody designs are a strong and distinctive alternative to character art. Green and purple on black. Teen and adult sizing.
Are Lex Luthor T-shirts made for children?
No. Lex Luthor comes from work made for older audiences, so we keep the character off our kids pages even where children's sizes are manufactured.
Who has played Lex Luthor?
Lex Luthor has been played on screen by Gene Hackman (Superman, 1978), Kevin Spacey (Superman Returns, 2006), Jesse Eisenberg (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2016), Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, 2001).
How much does a Lex Luthor T-shirt cost?
Lex Luthor shirts we currently track start from around $15.99 on amazon.com. Every price on this page is dated, because they move.
This profile was compiled from published reference material about Lex Luthor — first appearance, creator credits and production history — and is a secondary source rather than a substitute for the original publication. Where a detail could not be corroborated it has been left out. We do not physically test garments; see how we work for what that means and what it does not.
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