Modern Age

As part of the continuity changes which followed The Man of Steel and Superman: Secret Origin, Lex is shown actively participating in the creation of three Superman villains, Parasite (indirectly), Bizarro (the failed result of an attempt to clone Superman), and the cyborg Metallo. Upon discovering that Metallo is powered by a 'heart' of kryptonite rock in Superman (vol. 2) #2, Lex steals it in order to fashion a kryptonite ring for himself. He wears the alien ore around his finger as a symbol that he is untouchable, even to the Man of Steel.[39] Lex eventually suffers from a severe cancer brought on by long-term radiation exposure to the ring;[40] before this, kryptonite was mistakenly assumed to produce a 'clean' radiation that is harmless to humans. His hand requires amputation to prevent the cancer's spread,[41] but by then it has already metastasized, and his condition is terminal.

Lex decides to fake his own death by piloting a prototype jet on a proposed trip around the world and crashing it in the Andes; this is merely a cover for the removal of his brain from his cancer-ridden body and the growth of a cloned body around it, whereupon he passes himself off as his hitherto unknown, illegitimate 21-year-old son and heir, Lex II. His deception is benefited by a vibrant new body with a beard and full head of red hair, as well as assuming an Australian accent as part of his fake backstory.[42] Lex II inherits control of LexCorp and seduces Supergirl (a protoplasmic clone of an alternative universe Lana Lang), due to his resemblance to her creator.[43] Lex's clone body eventually begins to deteriorate and age (and lose its hair) at a rapid rate, a side-effect of a disease that affects all clones. Meanwhile, Lois Lane discovers proof of Lex's clone harvesting and false identity;[44] with help from Superman, she exposes the truth, and a despondent Superman helps to apprehend Lex. In the end, Lex becomes a permanent prisoner in his own body, unable to even blink, and swearing vengeance on Superman.

Aid comes in the form of the demon Neron; Lex is offered full health in exchange for services and his soul. Not believing in the existence of souls, he agrees.[45] Returning to Metropolis, Lex freely turns himself over to the police and is put on trial. He is acquitted on all counts when Lex claims to have been kidnapped by renegade scientists from Cadmus Labs, who replaced him with a violent clone that is allegedly responsible for all the crimes Lex is charged with.[46]