Visualizing Lex Luthor's Power Suit

[Daybreak_st]

Now i don't know if it will ever appear in the Live action films or not but with the popularity of Iron Man i wouldn't be surprised. so the question is how do you want to see Lex's Power Suit visualized in a new movie? Here are a few of the suits he's used in the comics and i threw in a pic of the ultimate iron man armor as it looks different from the mainstream armor from the movies. Would you go for one of these? Would you keep the green/purple color scheme? Would you not use the armor and make lex gain superpowers as in All-Star Superman (last pic)?

Come on and join in people t:

 

[Jochimus]

Assuming I could come up with a reason for it to be in the film apart from the obvious ones (cashing in on the success of "Iron Man" AND shilling another of them precious revenue-generating action figures to shoehorn in with the six or seven differently-colored Superman figures in the same wave), I'd probably go with a darker green and swap out the purple for camo brown, to lend it better to the idea of it being a military prototype.

I'd probably have to put some kind of helmet on it, too, since leaving his head exposed like that wouldn't necessarily be a smart idea on Lex's part.

 

[Daybreak_st]

Good points. As for the head exposure, in the comics he's supposedly protected by a force field but i agree, a cool helmet would be an improvement.

 

[GreenKToo]

Not sure it needs to be there. Not a fan of it. But if it had to be, then I like the first pic, but with a helmet.

A good explanation for me as to why Lex would use a powersuit would be maybe he creates Metallo first, that fails, then Lex creates his power suit. It would be an upgrade over what Metallo was.

 

[Daybreak_st]

I want to see technology played up in the new film. Everything from Luthor Corp, Brainiac and Star Labs. That's one way to make the film more realistic/modern. I love those elements in Iron Man. Also with the popularity of Iron Man no one is going to say it's silly to Lex in a Powered Armor Suit. Not saying it's a must, especially not for the first film but it would be a great addition if handled well. I like your thoughts on the Metallo upgrade

 

[Webhead2006]

well i would say probably going with a more sleeker design like ironman live action movie with be a good way to go with it. as for the whole purple/green deal they would probably want to go with more mutated colors so it doesnt look so cheesy and all that. I made the point before if we had a rise and fall to power storyline with lex. Where we start off with him with lexcorp, and then by end of second film becomes president, and third film he loses power and has the suit then to take out superman as a last ditch effort. Which he loses and is sent to jail.

As for the suit i would go about having it being slowly designed over the course of the film series. And with first film if we see brainaic. He is defeated at the end, which leads to brainiac tech to be used as the creation of metallo lets say. Let also uses brainiac tech as early basis for power suit.

The second film we see metallo which lex wants as his ultimate weapon against superman but it fails in the end. When superman defeats metallo. But his designs and all that leads to refinements to be made on suit.

So then in 3rd film it could be used in climax with superman in a big battle and we see advancements lex made from brainaic/metallo stuff added with array of kryptonite lasers/weapons and all that.

 

[Daybreak_st]

Very nice ideas Web. I'd like to see it developed that way.

 

[GreenKToo]

The site seems to be running smoothly now.

 

[solidsnake86]

Great thread Daybreak. You're right, with the popularity of iron man I could see them actually thinking about using it as opposed to not using it before, but at the same time I could see them avoiding it completely because of iron man. I do think the suit should be connected somehow with metallo because story wise it would be easier to bring about. It could be the final battle if you have the super suit. Or another thing that I liked from that superman doomsday film was that room and gauntlets luthor had that emulated a red sun (correct me cause I'm not sure). They have a few options if they don't want to go down the full on iron man route with luthor.

 

[GreenKToo]

Honestly, it seems kinda chessy at first thought, but i'm sure they could make it come off believable if they chose to use it.
LEX: I'll defeat you Superman. I'll bring you down with my ultra-powerful-super-battle-suit.... ( insert evil laugh)

Superman looks perplexed: He fries Lex to a molten lump with his heat vision.

 

[Bad Superman]

When I saw Avatar, I thought a similar battle suit could be used by Lex.

 

[Daybreak_st]

Honestly, it seems kinda chessy at first thought, but i'm sure they could make it come off believable if they chose to use it.
LEX: I'll defeat you Superman. I'll bring you down with my ultra-powerful-super-battle-suit.... ( insert evil laugh)
Superman looks perplexed: He fries Lex to a molten lump with his heat vision.

Haha, that's pretty good . I know it seems silly at first thought but at the same time you have an entire film based around a genius building/improving a super suit in Iron Man. And it works remarkably well, don't seem goofy or anything. I think it's all about the approach, and how you visualize the technology. In Iron man it all seemed authentic, but in something like Fantastic Four the tech seemed fake to me. If they approach it well i think it would add an aditional element to the new film series.

He could also look like the lex from the new animated film Crisis on Two Earths. He basically wore a black suit with hi-tech gauntlets and used forcefields to protect his body.

Great thread Daybreak. You're right, with the popularity of iron man I could see them actually thinking about using it as opposed to not using it before, but at the same time I could see them avoiding it completely because of iron man. I do think the suit should be connected somehow with metallo because story wise it would be easier to bring about. It could be the final battle if you have the super suit. Or another thing that I liked from that superman doomsday film was that room and gauntlets luthor had that emulated a red sun (correct me cause I'm not sure). They have a few options if they don't want to go down the full on iron man route with luthor.

Yeah good point, i guess it just depends on what their looking for, cash in on the iron man stuff or avoid it? I hope they use it but make it unique and cool on its own and technology is another way to give the superman film its own personality. It was sadly lacking in the other movies. And tech is really the only way to challenge a character like supes other than kryptonite and another alien. I hope they are a little diverse this time. I wouldn't mind seeing some cool star labs technology stuff compared with lex stuff, contrasted with Brainiac tech. I love the idea of lex reverse engineering brainiac tech to create metallo. Later like some said he could use metallo as a starting point for his suit.

And yes you're right about the gloves and red light room in Supermanoomsday, that also could work well.

 

[GreenKToo]

If anybody else but Nolan and goyer were writing it with the battlesuit included, i'd be worried.

 

[Daybreak_st]

I see where you're coming from green

 

[AnorexicBatman]

I would actually like something small and sleek like the suits from CRYSIS
Would be a nice change from the bulky suits of Iron Man and the like

 

[Daybreak_st]

I would actually like something small and sleek like the suits from CRYSIS
Would be a nice change from the bulky suits of Iron Man and the like

Not familiar with Crysis, could you post an image?

 

[Daybreak_st]

Never mind i found it, looks pretty cool, wouldn't mind something like this at all:

 

[GreenKToo]

Now that would be preferred over the green and purple whatchamacalit.

 

[Webhead2006]

thanks for liking my idea. i think that would be a good way to handle the power suit if it was to be included in this film series.

 

[Superfreak]

I want to see technology played up in the new film. Everything from Luthor Corp, Brainiac and Star Labs. That's one way to make the film more realistic/modern. I love those elements in Iron Man. Also with the popularity of Iron Man no one is going to say it's silly to Lex in a Powered Armor Suit. Not saying it's a must, especially not for the first film but it would be a great addition if handled well. I like your thoughts on the Metallo upgrade

In terms of a franchise:

movie 1) origin, vs. Luthor, and a large Battlesuit like TAS/Avatar

movie 2) Brainiac invades, does his thing in Metropolis

movie 3) Luthor with newly acquired Brainiac technology from the previous invasion, can then go make his power suit.

 

[Mr. Earle]

Definitely no superpowers for Lex.

As for the suit, i think its ridiculous that he fights Superman with that, even in the comics. Unless he throws some K weapon at him first to weaken him, there is no way it will help him against Supes.

Personally i consider Lex one of the best villains in the DCU because he is the genius billionaire, scientist, etc who uses others for his deeds. He is the king on the chessboard, not the pawn, nor the queen. He is the man who can negotiate with Brainiac or Amazo. The moment he starts throwing punches he becomes just like the rest.

What i would do:
1) Use green and purple as the colours of Lexcorp as an easter egg for the suit. Kinda like making the symbol of Stark Ind red and gold.
2) Use the suit when he is meeting other villains and he is afraid of his safety and perhaps as a way to escape Superman. A last resort escape pod of sorts.

But i would use it very sparingly and never show Lex fighting anyone. He is a brain type of villain, not brawn. He is above that and imho every writer that has shown him fight does him injustice.

 

[Webhead2006]

some nice thoughts there earle

 

[Mr. Earle]

Thanks mate!

 

[Daybreak_st]

Definitely no superpowers for Lex.

As for the suit, i think its ridiculous that he fights Superman with that, even in the comics. Unless he throws some K weapon at him first to weaken him, there is no way it will help him against Supes.

Personally i consider Lex one of the best villains in the DCU because he is the genius billionaire, scientist, etc who uses others for his deeds. He is the king on the chessboard, not the pawn, nor the queen. He is the man who can negotiate with Brainiac or Amazo. The moment he starts throwing punches he becomes just like the rest.

What i would do:
1) Use green and purple as the colours of Lexcorp as an easter egg for the suit. Kinda like making the symbol of Stark Ind red and gold.
2) Use the suit when he is meeting other villains and he is afraid of his safety and perhaps as a way to escape Superman. A last resort escape pod of sorts.

But i would use it very sparingly and never show Lex fighting anyone. He is a brain type of villain, not brawn. He is above that and imho every writer that has shown him fight does him injustice.

You make some good points. I'm still not opposed to using the suit in battle. After Iron Man i don't think it will look goofy and could potentially look outright awesome. My feeling is make it something he builds progressively and only uses in the final conflict. I think you could approach it as they did Ezekiel Stane (if Iron Man 3 doesn't use him). He essentially made himself into a weapon but also used a suit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel_Stane

“No matter how high tech or evolved, even with Extremis, the Iron Man armor is still a guy in a suit, if you get between the man and the suit you can undo it. So Stane doesn’t need a suit. That’s the difference. That’s what we start to see, the future of Iron Man is that there’s no gap between Iron and Man. It’s one being and Stane is quite literally evolving himself and people who pay him as we see in the book’s opening.”

—Matt Fraction[2]​

I don't know all the specifics, but it seemed pretty interesting. Similar to how the President Luthor arc ended with him injecting himself with kyptonite ( i don't mean that specifically) but he was trying to enhance himself. Perhaps with all the experimenting and what not that takes place through the films, lex has also being attempting to modify his DNA. this in connection with a nano suit, something very sleek like the design above, would make him on par with Superman. Would be interesting if in the final battle superman is truly outclassed by luthor and now he's the one who has to use his head to defeat luthor. Illustrating the point that the true fall for lex was that he began relying on brawn over brains.

alternatively if you've been following my posts in the supervillain thread it could interesting to see lex use a suit of some sort if fighting other kryptonians, like Zod and his men.

 

[Mr. Earle]

You make some good points.

Thank you!

I'm still not opposed to using the suit in battle. After Iron Man i don't think it will look goofy and could potentially look outright awesome. My feeling is make it something he builds progressively and only uses in the final conflict.

1) It would look like an Ironman rip off. I know it isnt, but does the GA?
2) As i said, i dont see why Lex would expose himself to such danger when he can use others to do his dirty work.
3) I believe that Lex considers this beneath him. He calls Superman a powerful brute, so trying to match him in brute strength makes no sense.
4) Lex cant be as fast or powerful as Superman, so unless he is beating up a K poisoned Supes, there wont be much fighting. Supes will tear it off him. Either way it wont be impressive because the fight will be over very quickly in both cases.

I think you could approach it as they did Ezekiel Stane (if Iron Man 3 doesn't use him). He essentially made himself into a weapon but also used a suit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel_Stane

“No matter how high tech or evolved, even with Extremis, the Iron Man armor is still a guy in a suit, if you get between the man and the suit you can undo it. So Stane doesn’t need a suit. That’s the difference. That’s what we start to see, the future of Iron Man is that there’s no gap between Iron and Man. It’s one being and Stane is quite literally evolving himself and people who pay him as we see in the book’s opening.”

—Matt Fraction[2]​

I have started reading this a few times but always drop it after a while. I saw a black suit beating up Ironman in that wiki page. Is that him?

Anyway, this way they would be giving Lex powers... I just dont feel it. It would be like the Joker learning martial arts and fighting Batman. Its... completely off character for me. I prefer the suit a 1000 times over this.

Also, Lex believes in humanity and its purity and is distrustful towards aliens and metahumans. I think its completely off character for him to become one. Comics need to print a new issue every month, so they leave no stone unturned (not to mention that there are millions of bad comic book writers out there) so why would a movie trilogy jump right into this when there is so much more to Lex? Here:

Would be interesting if in the final battle superman is truly outclassed by luthor and now he's the one who has to use his head to defeat luthor. Illustrating the point that the true fall for lex was that he began relying on brawn over brains.

Superman is often found in situations when he has to use his brains to beat more powerful opponents or opponents who have gotten the upper hand of the battle. Why bring Lex in something where he doesnt belong when there are other villains for that? Superman can use his brain to figure out Lex's plan or beat his superpowered thugs, not Lex himself in a brawl.