Name: Alexei Luthor
Universe: Earth-2
Alter Ego: None
Occupation: Criminal Scientist
Marital Status: Single
Group Affiliation: None
Base of Operations: Metropolis
Known Relatives: None
Height: 5 ft. 11 in.
Weight: 180 lbs.
Hair Color: Red
Eye Color: Blue
First Appearance: Superman #4

History:
Alexei Luthor's origins are unknown -- even his nationality is uncertain, since he first appeared in Europe when war had broken out between the small countries of Galonia and Toran. He used his scientific genius to sabotage a peace conference, and then planned to involve all Europe in the conflict, but he was stopped by Superman, who destroyed several of Luthor's followers in doing so.

Luthor returned many times, battling the Man of Steel with his fantastic inventions, until he was placed in the same prison cell as Dan Rivers.

Rivers was a small-time crook who had been running a racket as a fake fortune-teller, but he seemed able to hex Superman because the "gem" in his turban was really Kryptonite. Tracking down this, the first example of the mineral he had encountered, led the Golden-Age Superman to discover his origins. Using his super-breath to get rid of the turban, Superman arrested Rivers. Later, Rivers tried again to expose Superman to Kryptonite but failed. No one would believe the green stone was deadly to the Man of Steel -- except Luthor!

Luthor finally discovered a Kryptonite meteor entering Earth's atmosphere and tracked it down. Then he used it to expose Superman's weakness to the world -- although the Man of Tomorrow escaped death.

At last, Alexei met the Earth-One Luthor and their plots resulted in the Earth-Three Luthor becoming that world's first super-hero.

During the so-called Crisis on Infinite Earths, Alexei Luthor was among the villains gathered together by Brainiac. Angered at the Earth-One Luthor being made field commander, Alexei declared, "My genius is far greater than his! You don't need him!"

Brainiac replied, "You are correct. We do not need two Luthors!" And he promptly killed Alexei.

Powers:
Luthor had no super-powers, though once obtained the Powerstone, which enabled him to fight Superman with similar powers. For the most part, however, he relied on his fantastic genius, which he used to create all sorts of incredible weapons. No one ever battled the original Superman so often, or came as close to defeating him.