History ComicBook / TheBlackRing

* BattleInTheCentreOfTheMind: Luthor and Mind engage in one early in the arc. [[spoiler:Brainiac is also in on the act, using his mental probes to alter both Luthor and Mind's perceptions. Luthor works this out after the fact. Mind does not.]]

* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: Toyed with. Mister Mind is portrayed this way, yet Luthor never lets himself forget that Mind [[ComicBook/FiftyTwo nearly ended the multiverse one time]], and is far more than the harmless {{butt monkey}} he appears to be.

-->'''Luthor:''' I was happy to be rid of [[AbusiveParents what I had for a father!]] But you...you got them! [[FantasticRacism You're not human!]] You don't ''deserve'' to be Clark Kent!

Can be read [[https://readcomiconline.to/Comic/Superman-The-Black-Ring/ here]]

* NotSoWellIntentinedExtremist: Whenever confronted with his reprehensible traits, no matter how much insight the observer has, even an entirely objective ''recounting of his entire life'', Lex justifies himself as [[IDidIHadToDo doing only what was necessary]], ostensibly to protect humanity from those who would subjugate it. It's ''very'' quickly transparent that Lex only ever does anything for his own personal glory and that he can't stand any genuine aid he himself hasn't provided.

During the events of ''Blackest Night'', Luthor had briefly served as an Orange Lantern. Infected by the Orange Light of Avarice, Luthor finds himself unstable and unsatisfied without the [[GreenLanternRing power ring]], and sets out on a quest, not to regain what he has lost, but to gain a greater power still, by tapping into the energies of the Black Lantern Rings. His quest takes he and his allies around the world, as they seek the energy spheres containing the rings' power, and come into conflict with foes including, but not limited to, [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Mister Mind]], ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}}, [[TheFlash Gorilla Grodd]], ComicBook/VandalSavage, ComicBook/TheJoker, [[Franchise/GreenLantern Larfleeze]], ComicBook/{{Brainiac}}, and even [[ComicBook/TheSandman Death herself]]. The arc explored Luthor's relationships with these other villains, doing its best to define the Post-Crisis, Pre-New 52 Luthor as a character, and as a major figure within the DC Universe as a whole.

* VillainousBreakdown: During the final confrontation between him and Superman, Luthor tries to break Superman by showing him painful moments from his life, thinking that Superman ''has'' no feelings. He shows him his death in front of many, the destruction of both Krypton and New Krypton and the sacrifice of his adopted son Chris Kent. But, when Superman shows him the most painful memory he has - the death of Jonathan Kent, who had a heart attack when Brainiac invaded awhile back - Luthor promptly ''loses it.''

During the events of ''Blackest Night'', Luthor had briefly served as an Orange Lantern. Infected by the Orange Light of Avarice, Luthor finds himself unstable and unsatisfied without the [[GreenLanternRing power ring]], and sets out on a quest, not to regain what he has lost, but to gain a greater power still, by tapping into the energies of the Black Lantern Rings. His quest takes he and his allies around the world, as they seek the energy spheres containing the rings' power, and come into conflict with foes including, but not limited to, [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Mister Mind]], ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}}, [[TheFlash Gorilla Grodd]], {{Vandal Savage}}, TheJoker, [[Franchise/GreenLantern Larfleeze]], ComicBook/{{Brainiac}}, and even [[ComicBook/TheSandman Death herself]]. The arc explored Luthor's relationships with these other villains, doing its best to define the Post-Crisis, Pre-New 52 Luthor as a character, and as a major figure within the DC Universe as a whole.

* GodTest: LexLuthor meets ''[[Comicbook/TheSandman Death]]'' and he immediately demands proof. She softly pokes the tip of his nose, and it turns grey and begins cracking.

'''Superman: The Black Ring''' was an arc in ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' taking place following the events of ''ComicBook/BlackestNight''. While Franchise/{{Superman}} and his allies (Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}, Comicbook/{{Superboy}} and the like) struggled against a revived Doomsday in ''Reign of Doomsday'', {{archenemy}} ComicBook/LexLuthor took Superman's place as the star of ''Action Comics'', for an eleven issue run that included two crossovers with ''ComicBook/SecretSix'' and an annual.

'''Superman: The Black Ring''' was an arc in ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' taking place following the events of ''ComicBook/BlackestNight''. While Franchise/{{Superman}} and his allies (Comicbook//{{Supergirl}}, Comicbook/{{Superboy}} and the like) struggled against a revived Doomsday in ''Reign of Doomsday'', {{archenemy}} ComicBook/LexLuthor took Superman's place as the star of ''Action Comics'', for an eleven issue run that included two crossovers with ''ComicBook/SecretSix'' and an annual.

'''Superman: The Black Ring''' was an arc in ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' taking place following the events of ''ComicBook/BlackestNight''. While {{Superman}} and his allies struggled against a revived Doomsday in ''Reign of Doomsday'', {{archenemy}} ComicBook/LexLuthor took Superman's place as the star of ''Action Comics'', for an eleven issue run that included two crossovers with ''ComicBook/SecretSix'' and an annual.

* CallingYourAttacks: Luthor does this during his battle with Brainiac in order to psychologically trick Brainiac into doing the same. This allows Luthor to Brainiac's defences, since he can hear and plan around his vocal commands.

* EvilIsPetty: Luthor gives up omnipotence and the chance to give everyone in the universe eternal bliss — all because one of the conditions of keeping that power is that he can't do anything negative with that power such as, say, destroying Superman. To Luthor, godhood is meaningless if he can't use it to crush his greatest foe.

* AnAxeToGrind: Vandal Savage brings one for his confrontaton with Luthor.

* ContinuityNod: The issue about Vandal Savage trying to hurry up the prophecy relating to Lex Luthor features two flashbacks to previous meetings between the two. One was from the relatively recent ''ComicBook/SalvationRun'', the other was from ''TheFlash'' #124, back in 1997.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Larfleeze, more or less the incarnation of {{Greed}} itself, states in Action Comics 898 that what Luthor wants is the one thing he doesn't want, something that shocks even him.
-->'''Larfleeze:''' ''That'' is what Lex Luthor wants?! No. He must be ''mistaken''. ''Nobody'' would want that! I don't want that! [[ARareSentence I... do not]] ''[[ARareSentence want]]'' [[ARareSentence that.]] There ''is'' something! Hah. Hairless Lex Luthor gave something, after all.

* VillainousBreakdown: During the final confrontation between him and Superman, Luthor tries to break Superman by showing him painful moments from his life, thinking that Superman ''has'' no feelings. He shows him his death in front of many, the destruction of both Krypton and New Krypton and the sacrifice of his adopted son Jon Kent. But, when Superman shows him the most painful memory he has - the death of Jonathan Kent, who had a heart attack when Brainiac invaded awhile back - Luthor promptly ''loses it.''

'''Superman: The Black Ring''' was an arc in ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' taking place following the events of ''ComicBook/BlackestNight''. While {{Superman}} and his allies struggled against a revived Doomsday in ''Reign of Doomsday'', {{archenemy}} ComicBook/LexLuthor took Superman's place as the star of ''Action Comics'', for an eleven issue run that included two crossovers with ''SecretSix'' and an annual.

* ImAHumanitarian: Grodd, who devours the brains of his victims to gain their memories, and attacks Luthor with a spoon.

During the events of ''Blackest Night'', Luthor had briefly served as an Orange Lantern. Infected by the Orange Light of Avarice, Luthor finds himself unstable and unsatisfied without the [[GreenLanternRing power ring]], and sets out on a quest, not to regain what he has lost, but to gain a greater power still, by tapping into the energies of the Black Lantern Rings. His quest takes he and his allies around the world, as they seek the energy spheres containing the rings' power, and come into conflict with foes including, but not limited to, [[{{Shazam}} Mister Mind]], ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}}, [[TheFlash Gorilla Grodd]], {{Vandal Savage}}, TheJoker, [[Franchise/GreenLantern Larfleeze]], {{Brainiac}}, and even [[ComicBook/TheSandman Death herself]]. The arc explored Luthor's relationships with these other villains, doing its best to define the Post-Crisis, Pre-New 52 Luthor as a character, and as a major figure within the DC Universe as a whole.