Lex Luthor's Weirdest Mate? James Gunn Reveals the Touching (and Twisted) Tale of Mr. Handsome
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
James Gunn revealed the surprisingly heartfelt (and bizarre) origin story of Lex Luthor's henchman, Mr. Handsome, confirming he was created in a Petri dish and is possibly the only being Lex truly cares about, adding a layer of weirdness and depth to the new DCU.
Right, so you've seen the new *Superman* flick, yeah? And you're probably thinking, 'Blimey, who's that grey, kinda unsettling bloke hanging around Lex Luthor?' Well, that's Mr. Handsome, and fair dinkum, his backstory is weirder and more touching than you might reckon.
James Gunn, the big cheese at DC Studios (and *Superman* director, of course), dropped a bit of a bombshell on social media, revealing the origins of Lex's silent sidekick. Forget your typical henchman; Mr. Handsome is something else entirely. Apparently (and this is where it gets a bit bonkers), Lex created him in a Petri dish. Yep, when he was 12. The idea? To make a human. Didn't quite go to plan, did it? (Thanks to Michael Cripe at IGN South Africa for spotting this!)
Gunn reckons Mr. Handsome might be the only being Lex Luthor actually has genuine feelings for. I know, right? Lex Luthor, the arch-villain who probably uses puppies for target practice, has a soft spot. There's even a photo of Mr. Handsome on Lex's desk. Not his girlfriend, mind you. Mr. Handsome. Now, that's saying something.
It seems Mr. Handsome, played by the ever-versatile Trevor Newlin (who’s also been a hideous Monstrosity in *Smile 2* and a Xenomorph in *Alien: Romulus* – talk about range!), has become a bit of a fan favourite. He's quiet, a bit unsettling, and impossible to ignore. He's the kind of character that sparks a thousand fan theories, isn't he?
Some folks have wondered if this Mr. Handsome is connected to other characters with the same name in DC Comics lore. But Gunn's comments seem to suggest this is a brand-new, uniquely Luthor-ian creation. A twisted science experiment gone slightly right (or maybe horribly wrong, depending on your perspective).
So, what does this all mean? Well, it suggests Gunn is injecting a hefty dose of weirdness and unexpected heart into the new DCU. It’s not just superheroes punching things; it’s about the messed-up relationships between supervillains and their...creations. It's about finding the humanity (or the lack thereof) in the most unlikely places. And maybe, just maybe, it's about exploring what it means to create life, even if it comes out a little...grey.
Plus, if Lex is capable of such a tender moment towards someone he created in a petri dish, then what other twisted creations does he have waiting in the wings? The possibilities are terrifying and fascinating at the same time, aren't they? And isn't that what makes a good villain?
Tags: Superman, DCU, James Gunn, Lex Luthor, Mr. Handsome
Original article: IGN South Africa