No, canonically Lex Luthor is depicted as white. However, his portrayal in certain animated series has led to perceptions of racial ambiguity among viewers.
Lex Luthor's Established Ethnicity
In his vast history across comic books and most media adaptations, Lex Luthor is consistently characterized as a white man. This established background is fundamental to his character's lore within the DC Universe.
Perceptions of Racial Ambiguity in Animation
Despite his canonical ethnicity, specific animated adaptations have presented Lex Luthor's appearance in a way that has led to different interpretations among audiences. This ambiguity primarily stems from:
- Superman: The Animated Series: In this influential animated series, Lex Luthor's facial features and skin tone were rendered in a manner that some viewers found to be racially ambiguous, departing from a distinctly white portrayal.
- Justice League and Justice League Unlimited: This ambiguous depiction continued into the popular follow-up animated shows. As a direct result of these artistic choices, some viewers genuinely perceived Lex Luthor to be Black, illustrating how visual interpretation in animation can lead to diverse understandings of a character's ethnicity, even when their established background is different.
Therefore, while Lex Luthor's official ethnicity is white, the unique art styles and character designs in particular animated series did create an appearance that led some individuals to perceive him as racially ambiguous or even Black.
