Alexander (Lex) Luthor Reading Order

This reading order is designed to give an outline of major storylines featuring Lex Luthor throughout DC Comics. It may not encompass every one of his appearances but is an outline of the major ones and the stories that affect them.

The continuity details relating to each specific storyline are explained in the “Review” of each storyline. Every “Review” link will provide a detailed continuity breakdown of that story and will explain any reference the story makes to other aspects of the DC Universe. All of this can be found under the “Continuity” section of each link.

Jump to: New 52 – Rebirth

New 52

With the start of the New 52, the DC Universe was reset. This effectively erased Lex Luthor’s pre-New 52 history. All that is retained is Luthor’s status as a wealthy businessman and his antagonism toward Superman.

Lex Luthor was reintroduced through the first few arcs in the Action Comics series, which all take place six years before the majority of the titles in the New 52. This time gap is then bridged in Action Comics #19-21, which detail events one year before the majority of the titles in the New 52. All stories after this point then take place in the “present”.

The stories in the present start with only a few appearances from Luthor. However, after the events of Forever Evil (Reading Order), his role becomes more pronounced. Eventually, he begins making appearances in the Justice League (Reading Order) series, which leads him into participating in the Darkseid War (Reading Order) event. The conclusion of the Darkseid War event and a change in Superman’s situation from The Final Days of Superman (Reading Order), help establish Lex Luthor’s status quo going into the Rebirth era.

Action Comics issues are from the Vol. 2 series
Superman issues are from the Vol. 3 series.
Supergirl issues are from the Vol. 6 series.
Justice League of America issues are from the Vol. 3 series.
Justice League issues are from the Vol. 2 series.
Batman and Robin issues are from the Vol. 2 series.
Batman/Superman issues are from the Vol. 1 series.
Catwoman issues are from the Vol. 4 series.

Notes

1. These issues feature minor appearances from Lex Luthor and elaborate upon his situation at the time.
2. Though Lex is not the primary antagonist in this series, he takes some actions that some readers may find interesting and delivers some speeches about Superman that elaborate upon his feelings toward him.
3. Luthor's appearance here simply explains his brief participation in the Trinity War (Reading Order) event.
4. Lex Luthor has a minor role through the Superman: Doomed (Reading Order) crossover event.
5. Lex Luthor's appearances across these issues are relatively small. However, they help expand upon his work alongside the Justice League (Reading Order) and its individual members.
6. Lex Luthor's appearances across these issues are relatively small. However, they help expand upon the darker side of his recent actions.

Rebirth

The transition into the Rebirth era, at first, creates little change for Lex Luthor. His status quo from the end of the New 52 is kept and immediately expanded upon. After the events of Superman: Reborn (Reading Order), additional aspects of Luthor's pre-New 52 history are presumably brought back into continuity, but these aspects are not significantly expanded or even mentioned in this era.

Lex's appearances mostly take place in the Action Comics series, where he often appears alongside Superman. Outside of Action Comics, he also makes a number of brief appearances in other comics. His status quo remains relatively consistent through this era, besides a minor change at the conclusion of the "Imperius Lex" story arc. This changes in the Justice League: No Justice (Reading Order) event, which directly primes Lex Luthor for his role in the next era.

RHatO = Red Hood and the Outlaws
JL:NJ = Justice League: No Justice
Action Comics issues are from the Vol. 1 series
Suicide Squad issues are from the Vol. 5 series
Green Arrow issues are from the Vol. 6 series
Red Hood and the Outlaws issues are from the Vol. 2 series
Superman issues are from the Vol. 4 series
DC Nation issues are from the Vol. 2 series

Notes

1. These issues are mostly about Superwoman (Reading Order) and her heroic struggles. However, they also further develop Lex Luthor's relationship with his sister, Lena (Reading Order). This helps resolve some plot threads that were introduced when Lana appeared in the Darkseid War (Reading Order) event.
2. Lex's appearances here are rather small but help set up his role in the next story arc.
3. Luthor only makes a brief appearance here but these appearances provide some interesting information about his feelings toward Amanda Waller and the Suicide Squad (Reading Order).
4. This is a pretty isolated story that is mostly centered around problems currently plaguing Green Arrow (Reading Order). However, it offers readers a chance to see Luthor functioning as a CEO in a way that may be interesting.
5. This story arc features contributing appearances from a number of Superman's allies. In this way, Lex is a minor character in this arc.
6. These issues are mostly about the New Super-Man (Reading Order). However, they also feature minor appearances from Lex and hint at the fact that he still has schemes in the works.
7. Luthor only makes brief appearances in these issues. However, they expand upon his feelings toward the Bizzaro clones, which were developed during the Forever Evil (Reading Order) event, in a way that fans may find interesting.
8. Only the "The Last Will and Testament of Lex Luthor" is collected in Action Comics Vol. 5: Booster Shot (Review).

All DC Comics Reading Orders