Luthor or Joker: which one would be a greater menace to society?

[Buried Alien]

Lex Luthor and the Joker, as archenemies of Superman and Batman, respectively, are arguably the two most famous DC supervillains. Each personifies evil in the DCU in his own manner, despite the differences in their personalities, skills, and abilities.

Setting aside their personal skills, capabilities, and resources (which would generally greatly favor Luthor), just in terms of their sheer sociopathy, which one poses a bigger menace? In Luthor, we have ruthless, calculating ambition. In Joker, we have homicidal insanity. Which one represents the greater threat to society taken just in terms of their motives and personalities?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[The Whovian]

Luthor. His wealth and devious intelligence would be a threat on a global scale. The Joker would terrorize a city, much like he does in Gotham.

[LifeIsILL]

Joker.

Lex isn't some mass murdering rampaging psycho who can blow up any minute, if he kills he can always frame it as if Superman did it.

[Kuwagaton]

Luthor is bad, but only terrible when obstructed. He also understands the give and take of power in a civilized world, so he actually does good on his way to doing bad. The worst thing is that his brand of villainy is more likely to endure, but this is a world where somehow the joker is never executed, so that's moot.

[Dr Quinch]

You know, this question reminds me weirdly of the current U.S. Presidential election...

[Ascended]

Lex Luthor and the Joker, as archenemies of Superman and Batman, respectively, are arguably the two most famous DC supervillains. Each personifies evil in the DCU in his own manner, despite the differences in their personalities, skills, and abilities.

Setting aside their personal skills, capabilities, and resources (which would generally greatly favor Luthor), just in terms of their sheer sociopathy, which one poses a bigger menace? In Luthor, we have ruthless, calculating ambition. In Joker, we have homicidal insanity. Which one represents the greater threat to society taken just in terms of their motives and personalities?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Luthor.

Joker is a madman and a cold blooded, ruthless killer. But his particular flavor of deviance is obvious and only appeals to those as equally twisted as he is. Even other bad people will look at the Joker and recognize the danger he poses to society. Other than the small handful who are drawn to his particular brand of crazy he'll never be more than a deviant in the social order.

Luthor's evil is far more insidious. Luthor's evil is an evil that presents itself as nobility and righteousness and, as the character's history will demonstrate, can easily gain a mass following capable of forcing social changes.

Joker is the kind of evil that you see on the evening news; it makes you sad and you shake your head but it'll never be more than the worst elements of society rearing its ugly head. Lex's evil is the kind that wins political elections and controls policy going forward, leading the masses into putting a noose around their necks and not only thanking Lex for the opportunity, but paying him for the privilege.

[mr_crisp]

The Joker............

[phantom1592]

Luthor.

Joker should always be on a smaller scale... where as Lex JUST MAY build a giant robot with nuclear weapons... or obliterate a country just to manipulate the economy somehow...

Joker may kill a busload of people without blinking... but Lex could take out millions and feel nothing.

[MoneySpider]

I'd say Luthor because he's been a scientist (I think), businessman, U.S. President...

Joker is a psychopath who most likely would have been put to death by now if we're talking about the real world.

[daBronzeBomma]

Menace to my personal safety?

The Joker, esp if he chooses his victims seemingly at random because the manner of deaths would amuse him. You may not even need to make eye contact with him (seriously he's become such the horrific boogeyman lately that Bats can look completely ineffectual as a crime-fighter).


Menace to society at large?

Lex Luthor, 10 times out of 10. Luthor can plunge the world into crisis fairly easily and he'll have an army of employees and followers at his beck and call to carry out his wishes.

Look, the real world has examples of both (deranged serial killers and inhumane entrepreneurs) running free, they just don't always wear clown make-up or shave their heads.

[Jabare]

Trump...............

[Steven Kaye]

Clinton.........

[theoneandonly]

last laugh endgame

[NeathBlue]

Joker is a homicidal maniac who could bring down a city, but Luthor could destroy the planet.

[colonyofcells]

Joker does not seem obsessed about killing lots of people and seems to kill for fun only rarely. Lex probably will end up killing more people due to unforeseen consequences which is true also for other heroes.