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. He discovers that Luthor grew up poor and abused in Metropolis's worst slum. At age 13, he forged his father's signature on a life‑insurance policy and sabotaged 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. 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. 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 superiority over his nemesis. == References ==