Lex Luthor's Role

Is he just interested in Bizarro? Some thoughts on a possible storyline based on the solicit.
Lex Luthor has been a part of this series almost from the start even if he's only directly interacted with the trio once thus far. His role as Bizarro's creator already makes a link between him and the leads. Tim's program made it possible to hack into Lex's network to get information on his Bizarro project. After several failures, including one that was so horrible it was filed under "endworld" Lex ordered the rest of the clones to be destroyed. (*1)

Lex seems to be intrigued with the Bizarro that survived being so different from the last bunch. Bizarro even admits he almost went insane due to being stuck inside his birthing tube so long with only Superman's memories and his own thoughts to occupy him. Was Bizarro different because of Jason and Artemis?

According to the solicits for #22 Lex Luthor has a past with Artemis too. Looking at their previous interaction makes it hard to guess what that history was. With Creeper we can at least guess at some unpleasantness, see the familiarity and her annoyance with him from what they say. It's not so clear when she interacts with Lex. Possibly because of Jason's presence when they've been around each other.

At the end of the twelfth issue Lex arrives after Bizarro falls and Artemis questions what he's doing there before he blasts them. She knew he created Bizarro but she never thought he'd bother to turn up to help. Artemis and Jason hang out on his balcony while he takes care of Bizarro discussing whether they can trust Lex. (*2)

Artemis doesn't think they had any choice since LL created Bizarro and says he's an expert in the field.

Jason Todd: You sound like a fan.
Artemis: Not at all. But Bizarro is a clone based on Kyrptonian DNA. My...understanding is Luthor made the study of all things Krypton his life's work.

Her hesitation after saying "my" is strange, when I first read the issue I thought she was just trying to delicately phrase things because Jason was so upset. Artemis is blunt but she might have realized how dire the situation was and learned to be more sensitive. But if she does have a history with Lex it makes that pause have more meaning. "My" what? Possibly her past working with him and potentially doing things she regretted? That thought process does make her behavior in these scenes have more depth.

Much like his earlier talk with Black Mask prior to Bizarro's "birth" Jason questions if Lex is really on the side of angels. He states that just because Batman trusts him (he does?) doesn't mean he has to. Lex arrives having apparently overheard what they said and claims Bizarro is copyrighted. His insensitive ownership talk is naturally something that angers Jason.

Jason Todd: Call him a "thing" again and see what happens, Luthor.
Artemis: Red Hood. Nothing he's said is incorrect. Let's hear what this man has to say.
Lex Luthor: Yes, well..."This man" can see the two of you have clearly bonded with...Bizarro.

This panel is pretty amazing when you think about it. Jason is the one who's the most emotionally charged and looks like he will make good on his threat if Lex disrespects Bizarro again. Artemis is restraining Jason but looking back her phrasing seems to be very deliberately chosen. She choses to refer to Jason by his codename. Regardless if Lex knew Batman's ID he'd likely know Red Hood's name because she called him Jason before Lex joined them. Since he's been watching recordings of them in #19 it seems likely that he'd record them while they waited. If Artemis knows Lex at all she'd have to realize this.

The codename use is professional, which could get Jason to back off. She doesn't dispute what Lex said and has no real negative response to it. Logically it makes sense not to piss off the only person capable of saving Bizarro. But her "this man" sounds like he's a stranger which seems to give even Lex pause. If Artemis is trying not to bring up the past for whatever reason he plays along and even decides to refer to Bizarro by name as a peace offering. At the end he gave them custody of Bizarro and makes it clear he expects some form of payment.


From RHATO #15 Vol. 2:

Artemis: I'm just saying Lex Luthor has never been known as a humanitarian.
Jason Todd: Funny, when Bizarro was dying you sounded like Luthor's PR person.
Artemis: Hardly. I was being pragmatic. Our options were zero.

This is the second time Jason assumes Artemis is defending Lex when she was just going with the only possible choice they had. Artemis suspects Lex may have had something to do with Bizarro doing questionable things. Her wariness was present when they met with him yet she never told Jason about her past with Lex? Why not? She could speak from experience on how she suspects he's capable of warping Bizarro or give other insights. Not saying anything feels like she ashamed of something.

So if Lex is interested in Bizarro and Artemis then what about Jason? If nothing else I think he's intrigued by Jason's closeness to Bizarro and how that affected the clone. Besides the Batman connection I'm not sure if there's anything else that he'd look into.




*1 What's especially creepy about the recordings is the lead scientist realizing how helpless he is as his test subject can hear everything. This is later reflected with the leads when Artemis and Jason go to the bat cave. There they write about their fears over Bizarro in case he could still hear them. It's a truly scary situation.

*2 I like to assume there was an awkward invite to wait at his place while he operated on Bizarro since Lex blasted them.