Editing Lex Luthor (section)

==== ''DC Rebirth'' ====
Following the death of the ''New 52'' Superman, Luthor creates a new warsuit decorated by Superman's S-shield, deciding he is the new protector of Metropolis. He is confronted by the Pre-''[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]]'' version of Superman, who refuses to believe Luthor's intentions are noble. In DC's 2016 line-wide relaunch ''[[DC Rebirth]]'', large parts of the New 52 canon are removed (later said to have occurred in a different timeline) while large parts of the Post-Crisis canon are restored to the DC Universe. Eventually, this affects the Superman comics as well, in the wake of the 2017 storyline "Superman Reborn"<ref>''Superman'' (vol. 4) #18, ''Action Comics'' #975, ''Superman'' (vol. 4) #19 and ''Action Comics'' #976.</ref> Luthor's backstory from ''Superman: Secret Origin'' and large parts of his Post-''Crisis'' continuity are restored, while the ''New 52'' events are largely removed. The canon says that Luthor still served in the Justice League for a time.

In ''[[Doomsday Clock (comics)|Doomsday Clock]]'', Luthor is approached by [[Adrian Veidt]], who attempts to enlist his aid in finding [[Doctor Manhattan]]. He is then attacked by a seemingly-revived [[Comedian (character)|Comedian]].<ref>''Doomsday Clock'' #2, DC Comics</ref> After recovering from surgery, he reveals he has been investigating claims that many heroes and villains gained their powers from government experiments rather than accidents.<ref>''Doomsday Clock'' #5, DC Comics.</ref> He later provides Lois Lane with footage of the [[Justice Society of America]], who in the new canon were not the publicly known superheroes of World War II, but were clandestine heroes whose existence was largely denied.<ref>''Doomsday Clock'' #7–9, DC Comics.</ref> ''Doomsday Clock'' ends with Luthor considering utilizing and improving Veidt's methods for his own personal use. It is also revealed the New 52 Luthor and history still exist in a parallel universe.

===== ''Year of the Villain'' =====
Lex Luthor's childhood is fleshed out further in the pages of ''Justice League''. Before he ever met Clark Kent, it is said his father Lionel Luthor was a scientist working with the Legionnaires Club, an organization created by the immortal villain [[Vandal Savage]] to unlock the secrets of the universe. At one point, Lionel is able to reach through space and time to bring a Martian child named [[Martian Manhunter|J'onn J'onzz]] to Earth. Lex and J'onn form a brief friendship. When the heroic Blackhawks attacks the operations of the Legionnaires' Club, Lex sends J'onn back home to Mars to protect him. Many years later, he will meet J'onn again when the alien operates on Earth as the Martian Manhunter. To protect his secrets, Vandal Savage has Lionel's memories altered. As a result of this psychological trauma, Lionel becomes a "broken man" and an alcoholic. Lex comes to hate his father and only feels family love for his sister Lena, who is increasingly ill and whom he wishes to help.<ref>''Justice League'' (vol. 4) #17</ref>

After the universal barrier known as the Source Wall is broken during the events of "No Justice," Luthor forms a new Legion Of Doom to track down the secrets that were once pursued by the Legionnaires' Club, discovering they are connected to the god-like Perpetua, Mother of Forgers. In the ''[[Year of the Villain]]'' special, Luthor commits suicide to gain favor with Perpetua, who resurrects him as her acolyte/child, becoming a powerful Martian/human hybrid called '''Apex Lex'''. He then offers power to many DC Universe villains.<ref>''Year of the Villain'' #1 (2018). DC Comics.</ref><ref>''Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen'' #1-3</ref>