I didn't think I'd ever start an appreciation on this particular version of my favorite super-villain.
I'm referring to Live-Action Lex Luthor VIII (LALL 8), better known as Jesse Eisenberg's performances in the movie BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, and the end- credit scene in JUSTICE LEAGUE.
Look, I know he's not an easy interpretation to appreciate. He lacks most of Lex's charm, most of his outward genius, most of his (increasingly better in the comics) physicality. His voice lacks the sinister gravitas I've come to expect from the character.
But you know what?
In terms of sheer villainy, Eisenberg's Luthor is also the most successful Live-Action Lex Luthor of them all. By far.
His biggest accomplishment? Figuring out Superman's Secret all by himself.
Lex is the absolute last person who should ever believe that Clark is Superman. In no other live-action version does he ever acquire this knowledge (not without immediately losing it). But LALL 8 does it, and boy is he devious about it. He immediately imperils both Lois and Martha, and literally brings Clark to his knees and forces him to confront the sociopathic Batman at his behest.
Which brings us to LALL 8's next biggest accomplishment: figuring out Batman's secret and then playing him like a fiddle for months on end to turn him explicitly against Superman.
This Luthor's next biggest accomplishment: setting the groundwork for the World's Finest to kill each other.
He led PsychoBats right to the kryptonite, in the hopes that PsychoBats would do his dirty work for him. And if not for the unpredictable "Maaarthaa!" moment, this Lex would have absolutely succeeded.
He also turned Zod's corpse into an effective Doomsday (which granted, did immediately try to kill him first). A Doomsday which technically succeeded in killing Superman.
Finally, this Lex escaped prison and still had the resources to form the Legion of Doom (implied, anyway).
So, to Jesse Eisenberg: a much-delayed thank you. You weren't the Lex we deserved, but in hindsight, you actually were the Lex we needed at the time.
This will probably be the shortest appreciation thread on these boards.
Anyone else appreciate what Jesse was trying to do? Or am I alone on LALL 8 Island?