Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography is a 48‑page one‑shot comic book published by DC Comics in 1989.[1] Written by James D. Hudnall, with pencils by Eduardo Barreto and inks by Adam Kubert, it presents a noir‑tinged origin story of Superman’s arch‑enemy through the lens of a down‑and‑out reporter investigating Lex Luthor’s rise to power.[2][3]
The comic book has been ranked #33 in Wizard Magazine's list of "100 Best Single Issue Comics Since You Were Born".[4][5]
The cover design was inspired by Donald Trump's autobiography The art of the deal.[6]
DC Comics released Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography as a standalone special in 1989, commemorating a trend toward more mature, character‑driven Superman stories. It was later reprinted in the Superman: President Luthor collected edition and made available digitally via DC Universe Infinite.[2]
The story is framed by a police interrogation of Clark Kent, accused of murdering tabloid journalist Peter Sands. Through flashback, Sands recounts how he was hired to write a tell‑all biography of Lex Luthor, Metropolis’s billionaire CEO. As Sands interviews Luthor’s childhood teacher, former employees, and ex‑girlfriend, he uncovers a pattern of deception and violence.[1][7]
He discovers that Luthor growed up poor and abused in Metropolis’s worst slum. At age 13, he forged his father’s signature on a life‑insurance policy and sabotages the family car to kill his parents and finance his future. Using his ill‑gotten gains, Luthor established LexCorp, crushing competitors through intimidation and blackmail.[1][7]
Sands faces increasingly violent warnings to drop his investigation. His obsession drives him into paranoia, leading him to seek Superman’s protection—too late to save his own life.[1][7]
The narrative closes with Kent’s arrest and hints at Luthor’s warning that Superman’s friends will be used against him—underscoring Luthor’s intellectual and moral superiority over his nemesis.[1][7]
