Complex Feelings: Reflections on a Man of Steel by Lex Luthor

Superman.  Why him?  How have I gotten involved with him so much that the two of us are practically synonymous?  I am a very rational man who makes very rational, calculated decisions.  Why do I waste so much of my time, money and livelihood on the alien?  I am smart enough, clever enough and resourceful enough to stay off of his radar.  I have enough money that I do not even need to partake in activities that some would consider criminal.  So why even bother the Big Blue Boy Scout?

There is no one answer to this subject.  I am a very complex man with very complex motivations.  But when it all comes down to it I am a spoiled rich kid who wants a toy.

I am Lex Luthor.  My achievements are unparalleled in the fields of science, business and politics.  Everything I have I have worked for.  I have reached a level above all else on Earth.  I am no longer a man.  I am the only one of my kind.  My intellect had become a burden, because there was no use for it on Earth.  I was a man with a lot of power and no way to use it.  I was bored.  Until he came along.

Superman surprised me and I am never surprised.  Suddenly I had my edge back, a reason to be.  I now had a muse, an adversary, someone to test my superiority against.

And I have not won yet.  Which is fine.  The Man of Tomorrow is a plaything that never gets old.  People like to use simplistic labels of “hero” and “villain.”  But that is all subjective.  Many would consider me to be a loser.  Superman has many short-term victories and I have never succeeded in killing him, although I could really if I really wanted to.  But from my point of view, which is a perspective no other human could possibly understand, I always win.  Because I always get Superman to pay attention to me.

It is not just that I am fascinated with the Man of Steel, I have made him fascinated with me as well.  He is constantly fighting powerful adversaries.  Alien warlords, sentient robots, evil incarnate.  But he always comes back to me.  One of the most powerful beings in the universe, a perfect physical specimen and his arch nemesis is an aging bald man without any powers.  Superman’s entire existence on Earth is to prove my eminence.  He serves me without even knowing it and he will continue to serve me for as long I am able to extend our lives.

Making me one of the most powerful beings in the universe.  Which is a status that I revel in.

Father's Day: Reflections on a Man of Steel by Jonathan Kent

In Smallville everyone is proud of their kids.  We are all old fashioned and nothing matters to us more than family.

Our neighbors always brag about how their son is taking over the family farm.  The town hardware store is run by a father and his daughter.  The Church pianist never misses an opportunity to talk about her son that is serving overseas.

As for me?  Well sometimes it seems like I am the only father in town that doesn’t talk about his son.  There is a lot I could say about him, but there is also a lot I shouldn’t.

 People do ask.  At the grocery store a cashier will sometimes say, “my daughter is home from college, why does Clark never come home?”  To which I say, “He’s busy,” as I subtly smile to myself.

“When is Clark coming home?”  “What is Clark doing in Metropolis?”  “Have you heard from Clark in a while?”  I always have great answers to those questions, but I keep them to myself.

I have every reason to worry about him and what he does.  I know he faces much more danger than he lets me in on.  I know he has stresses he cannot share.  But I don’t dwell on that too much, because I trust and respect him.  And I am proud of my son.

I am proud of my son when I look at the Daily Planet.  I might see a picture of him or I might see his name.  He is in it quite a bit.

I am proud of my son when I wake up and I’m still here.  I think of him when things are peaceful and people are safe.  I know that he had something to do with that.

I am proud of my son when I see a child smiling.  When they have some sort of hope or imagination.  When everybody from a young dreaming child to a weary old man or woman is happy, I know he had a lot to do with that.

So I don’t see my son too much.  I wish I did.  But I understand why I don’t.  There is no one on this planet or any planet that is like Clark.  And I am always proud of him and I hope he knows that.