Because as my father always said, in his drunken stupor and smug arrogance--vincere aut mori. Conquer or die. 
Lionel Luthor was the father of Lex and Lena.
History
Origins
Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography
Lionel lived in an apartment building in the Suicide Slums of Metropolis with his wife Leticia and son Lex whom he abused daily under the influence of alcohol. One day, he threw reporter Peter Sands out of his house for coming to interview his son. Lex eventually killed him for his insurance money which then helped him to start his company LexCorp.[1]
Superman: Birthright
  Superman and his supporting cast had their origins revised in the Superman: Birthright series written by Mark Waid in 2003. This rewrote the previous definitive origin story, John Byrne's 1986 mini-series The Man of Steel, to include more elements from the Silver Age character. It would remain in continuity until Infinite Crisis in 2006 established Geoff Johns' Superman: Secret Origin. |
Lionel lived in a mansion with his son Lex in the outskirts of Smallville, Kansas because of him using his genius son to earn millions for the family whilst also abusing him and not letting him make any friends at all. When Clark Kent came to the mansion looking for Lex, Lionel kicked him out saying Lex wasn't there. Later on, Lex created a dangerous experiment which caused him to lose his hair and for the mansion to burn down wherein he also killed Lionel for the years of abuse and manipulation he had caused him.[2]
Countdown to Final Crisis
Lionel Luthor was a business mogul and the founder and owner of LuthorCorp located in Metropolis which was where he also lived with his wife Letitia and gifted son Lex. Because of his son's genius-level IQ and pretentious behavior and personality, Lionel sent the teenage Lex to live in Smallville with his aunt Lena whilst he himself lived in Metropolis until his death after which Lex became the new owner of LuthorCorp.[3]
Superman: Secret Origin
Lionel was an alcoholic small town farmer and resident who lived with his daughter Lena and son Lex in Smallville. He was not respected by the town however and took his anger out on his "bookworm" son by emotionally and physically abusing him.[4] When Lex was in his final year of high school, Lionel was the victim of a series of unusual and near-fatal accidents, which resulted in his being saved by the mysterious "Super-Boy" that haunted the town in those days.
This came to a head when his underlying heart condition was activated by an allergic reaction to medication. Upon his death, Lex Luthor took the insurance money on his father's claim and absconded.[5]
Blackest Night
Lionel returns as a Black Lantern as part of the swarm attacking Lex prior to his induction to the Orange Lantern Corps.[6]
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
Other Characteristics
- Alcoholism: In the final years of his life, Luthor was an alcoholic.
- Medication Allergy
- Heart Condition: Lionel had a heart condition that, when compounded with his allergy to a certain medication, ultimately killed him.
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Black Lantern Ring (Formerly)
Notes
- Lionel Luthor's name and appearance are based on his counterpart adapted for the Smallville TV series by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar.
Related
- 8 Appearances of Lionel Luthor (New Earth)
- 3 Images featuring Lionel Luthor (New Earth)
- Quotations by or about Lionel Luthor (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Lionel Luthor (New Earth)
Footnotes
 Black Lantern Corps member |