A Consummation Devoutly to be Wished

The fan speculation began when it was revealed that Lionel had killed his parents for the insurance money, just like DCU canon Lex had.

It intensified when Lionel confessed that Julian was being raised by his childhood best friend, just like DCU canon Lex's son, Perry White Jr., had been.

Just after Lionel had, just like DCU canon Lex had, his right hand amputated for bone cancer, Millar and Gough admitted in an interview that Lionel, and not Lex, would be Clark's arch-nemesis.

The next morning, they found that their offices had been filled with flowers sent by grateful fans.