Summary

• Lex Luthor despises Superman, but his hatred for communism runs even deeper.
• In the fight against Metallo and the USSR, Luthor defends capitalism for his own selfish reasons.
• Despite his selfish motives, Lex Luthor teams up with Superman to save the day.

Warning! Preview pages ahead for Superman '78: The Metal Curtain #5!Sure, Lex Luthor hates Superman to his very core, but there's something that the Man of Steel's nemesis absolutely can't stand even more. One of Lex's plans has majorly backfired and the villain has put global stability at risk. While making up for it, Luthor sheds light on the one thing he hates worse than Superman.

In a preview for Superman '78: The Metal Curtain #5 by Robert Venditti and Gavin Guidry, Superman brings Lois Lane to meet with General Sam Lane, in the California Desert. The three prepare to meet with Lex Luthor, who arrives in a limousine.

General Lane threatens to throw Lex in prison for selling weapons to the Russians, but Luthor its he was duped, thinking they were United States Military officers. Lois doesn't buy his story saying Lex personally sold the Metallo armor to them, but Luthor claims he never would have sold to communists since he's a proud capitalist.

Lex Luthor Hates Communists More Than Superman

Set in the same continuity as the Richard Donner-directed Superman franchise, the Russians infiltrated America looking to create a hero who could become the USSR's 'Superman'. They illegally purchased a war suit from Lex Luthor and then used a chuck of kryptonite that had landed behind the Iron Curtain decades ago to power it. Giving the armor to a military Captain named Nikolaev, Metallo was born and he set out to destroy Superman. Metallo attacked the White House, preparing to demonstrate his power to the world, but Lex came to Superman's aid and gave Clark advice on how to defeat Metallo.

No matter what continuity it is, one of the things Lex Luthor simply can't stand is Superman and the reception he gets from the people of Earth. However, at his core, Lex is one thing above all else: A businessman. He's not helping out here out of some sense of patriotism or love of his country. Lex loves making money and an ideology like communism is antithetical to his entire way of being. Luthor isn't going to stand by and allow Metallo and the Soviet Union to destroy capitalism, even if that means Lex has to work with Superman.

Superman's Greatest Enemy is Ready to Defend Capitalism

Sure, Lex Luthor is angry at being deceived and made to look like a fool. However, he knows that if capitalism is overthrown, his way of life is over. Lex is a ruthless businessman who is dedicated to amassing as much money as possible, a 'freedom' only afforded to him under his current way of life. If Metallo helps the USSR secure victory, then he can say goodbye to his pursuit of the almighty dollar. Maybe it's not the most noble reason to get involved, but at least Lex Luthor is trying to help Superman save the day.

Superman '78: The Metal Curtain #5 is available March 5th from DC Comics.