I thought Busiek turning Luthor from Berganza era’s mad humanist who does anything to protect Earth to the mad scientist who runs around planting bombs under Metropolis was the worst I’d ever see of the character, but I was wrong. The Luthor in this JL “Totality” arc is much worse SMH I’m not talking in terms of his morality, but in terms of his enjoyability as a character.
Totality’s Luthor gleefully murders old people for petty reasons. He smiles widely as slaughters the elderly of his late father’s Masonic (or whatever) lodge simply because they still attend its meetings. Totality’s Luthor also enthusiastically toils to dominate the universe and “destroy justice,” whatever that means.
In my opinion, there’s nothing enjoyable about a character like that, it lacks sophistication and complexity, which reduces Luthor to a mustache-twisting bad guy who does what he does because he’s eeeeviiiil!
That’s the worst kind of bad guy Luthor, or anyone, can be tbh
LOL just noticed something about the Rebirth JLA: Just one and a half arcs in, I’ve seen a good dealing heroes either kill their enemies, attempt to kill their enemies, or pledge to kill their enemies.
In the Totality, Aquaman openly states he states is killing his mutated White Martian opponent as he rams his trident through the Martian’s neck and face. Later in the arc, Kendra threatens to use lethal force against an opponent, and the duo of John Stewart and Cyborg fire Sinestro with a tandem blast they know will kill the guy.
In the next arc, Drowned Earth, Aquaman and Mera set out to find and use a weapon that is specifically made to kill Earth’s invading deities, Mera finds that weapon, and Mera attacks the deities with it and she does so in Superman’s presence. He doesn’t mind at all.
I don't got a problem with the League using lethal force. In fact, I prefer it to then sending the bad guys packing to so easily escapable prison or what have. I’m just surprised to see League use it without hesitation. In the past, they’d be all moralizing and fretting over the prospect of killing their opponents. If that’s over and done with, that’s great. 😂