Anybody else want to see a definitive Batman vs LUTHOR story?

[L.R Johansson]

Yeah - this is something I've been thinking about... it's something that logically, within the DCU greater metastory, should already have happened! We've seen them clash before, in Morrison's JLA, where they do superhuman warfare with each other through corporational methods. We've seen the reaction Bruce had to Luthor figuring out his identity and showing up on his door-step - to, shall we say, pull a bit of... leverage.

Yet, as far as I can see, we've never seen them actually go toe-to-toe head-to-head, Iron Bat vs Iron Lex - Lexcorp vs WayneCorp. Mano a mano!

I actually think that could be rather interesting... mainly because the two characters, are actually FRIGHTENINGLY similar in a way...! Which should be a fun in-story commentary as well - perhaps with a grand finale, showing why Waynecorp isn't Lexcorp - that Batman really does care, and it's not all business.

There's also the dimension that Luthor is fundamentally different from most of Batman's rogues - he is, arguably, not actually insane. In fact, he might well be more well-adapted than Batman!


Wouldn't this be rather interesting??


Man, I gotta' do a bit of fan-fiction jonesing for this one! Ahem, forgive the less-than-professional rambling below:

Batman: The White Knight

Part 1: Batman #980
"A tale of two boys"
Past: "Alexander Luthor grows up in suicide slum, with an emotionally unstable mother and a violent alcoholic father. Bruce Wayne grows up in the finest parts of Gotham, with a loving mother and a Doctor for a father."

Present: Bruce Wayne courts a dashing lady at a party.
Present: Lex Luthor stares at a painting of hell, alone at a party.

Past: "When one boy scrapes his knee, he loses supper and receives the back of his fathers hand. When the other boy scrapes his knee, his father cleans his wounds and stitches the cuts - body and soul."

Present: Batman has an altercation with the Court of Owls, getting the snot beat out of him. Patched up by Alfred.
Present: Lex Luthor looks on, as Mercy Graves beats a gentleman to the brink of death, a lone drop of blood splatting on his face - very annoyed look.

Past: "Both boys are tremendously gifted - one boy receives every word of encouragement there is, every word of appreciation, to be the best he can be, to dream big. The other boy receives fear, and confusion, rage and mockery."

Present: Both Wayne and Luthor survey one of their technical divisions - Wayne has a new project to create small-scale renewable energy in third-world countries. Luthor has a new reactor-type which will power all Luthorcorp holdings across the world.

Past: "One night, the lives of both boys change... forever. One boy loses his mother and father to a gun, and swears to protect the people he cares about. The other boy loses his mother first, to a broken bottle of rum, then, he loses his father, to a gun, and swears to protect what he cares about."

Present: Bruce Wayne is at a charity-event. Lex Luthor comes around in limousine. Man introduces them: "Now here's a man of your own heart, Bruce! I assume you don't need an introduction?" "Why sure, of course I know Lex...!"
Bruce and Lex stare each other down, shaking hands.

Past: (twin images - one of Bruce kneeling down, crying, parents dead, tears of sorrow. The other, little Lex, smoking gun in hand, tears of rage - dead father!)


Part 2: Detective Comics #980


Part 3: Harley Quinn #65
Today's a great day! Because Harley's back home! And she's even got a new job, working for Mista' L, secretary by day, bustin' heads by night! Too bad Mista' L's already got a Secretary... Mercy is less than pleased with Lexcorp's newest hire!

Part 4: Detective Comics #981
"Introducing the LEX-MOBILE! And it's amazing features! Soon in every man's home!"
Cover: The Lex-mobile and bat-mobile racing towards the reader, slamming into each others sides! Parts flying towards the reader. Batman and Luthor shouting towards each other.

Part 5: Nightwing #58
Dick is gravely wounded, shot down by Luthor's "Assistant Police Force" - he needs treatment, now! So Robin takes him to the best hospital in town - too bad Gotham General is owned by Lexcorp now!


Part 6: Batman #981
"A tale of two men / Knights in armour"
Shattering storm, hale of rain filling the panels with greyish white. Lightning crackles, illuminating the panels in sequence - blue from the storm, and green from Luthor's failing reactor!
Soon, it will blow, and Gotham City, and half the Eastern Seabord will go with it! Luthor rants about how he is protecting the people of Gotham, succeeding where Batman has always failed, how he stands tall in the sun, like a beacon to the people - while Batman skulks in the shadows. Both are wearing power armour. Batman tells him once, to turn it off. Luthor rants on. Battle commences!