Parallels

Hey, do you remember that billionaire industrialist? You know the one I mean. One of the world's richest men? A genius to boot. He built himself a super-suit. This guy was convinced that he knew best. He could run the world in a way that nobody else could. He got into a big fight with a guy in red and blue over it. Is this ringing any bells?

Am I talking about Lex Luthor?

Or am I talking about Tony Stark?

You've got to admit: there are some striking parallels between the Tony Stark of (and post) Civil War with our good friend Lex Luthor, the world's most dangerous man. Each is completely convinced that what he is doing is for the good of humanity. Even if that's not really his goal.

Still, one can't really compare the two side by side. By any measure, poor Tony Stark doesn't measure up. He may be a genius, but that doesn't make him smart. Not the way Lex Luthor is smart.

Tony Stark won his big fight. He became the big guy, and gained a chance to put his plans into action. But he only got there because his foe in the "Civil War" ended up folding.

Lex Luthor's opponent never gives up. He never gives in. And he's the most powerful man anywhere. And despite being beaten at every turn, Lex Luthor keeps going. He manages to compete. He's still Superman's greatest foe.

So what would happen if Tony Stark and Lex Luthor had lived side by side in the same universe? My guess: by the end of a work week Stark Enterprises is a wholly owned subsidiary of LexCorp. And Tony Stark ends up in a ditch somewhere. And not even drunk...