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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes” is an epic card of the Memes World series 70, number 20909 of the collection, and the 92nd best-known meme of its 243 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes” meme mean?
This meme relies on deadpan humor and sheer nonsense. The contrast between the educational tone and the triviality of the crime creates a comedic effect. It often expresses confusion over something incomprehensible or highlights the unnecessarily specific nature of an anecdote. The dominant emotion is nervous laughter at an assumed non-sense.
Where does the “Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes” meme come from?
The image comes from *The Super Dictionary*, published in 1978 by DC Comics for kids. The page illustrates Lex Luthor fleeing with a cart full of forty cakes. The original text explains: “When no one was looking, Lex Luthor took forty cakes. He took 40 cakes. That’s as many as four tens. And that’s terrible.” The first online trace dates to September 8, 2005, on YTMND. Its popularity spread to Digg, CollegeHumor, and 4chan around 2006-2007. In 2011, DC Comics integrated this reference into *Superman* #709, validating its cult status.
- 1978Publication of The Super Dictionary by DC Comics featuring the original illustration.
- September 8, 2005Creation of the first dedicated YTMND page for the meme.
- 2006-2007Mass diffusion on Digg, CollegeHumor, Nextround, and 4chan.
- 2011Canonical reference integrated into the Superman #709 comic book.
How to use the “Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes” meme
- Use the image to answer a question whose response is completely off-topic or absurd.
- Share the meme to highlight the gratuitous or quirky nature of received information.
- Employed as a punchline after recounting a personal anecdote deemed stupid but memorable.
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The “Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 20909 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Epic |
| Collection | Memes World series 70 |
| Fame | 78/100 · #92 of 243 |
| Recycle value | 20 MemeCoins (60 in Shiny) |
How to get the “Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes comes out of the Memes World series 70 as an epic card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 20 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes”
More cards of the Memes World series 70
Frequently asked questions
Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes meaning?
The meme showcases the absurdity of a situation presented seriously. It serves to illustrate humorous nonsense or a reaction to something incomprehensible.
Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes origin?
It originates from a children’s dictionary published in 1978 by DC Comics. The first internet version dates to 2005 on YTMND.
Why did Lex Luthor steal cakes?
It is a fictional invention from the 1978 book used to explain numbers (forty equals four tens). The narrative context is purely pedagogical and absurd.
Does DC Comics acknowledge this meme?
Yes, DC officially referenced this event in the Superman #709 comic in 2011, confirming its place in pop culture.
How do I get the Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes” is an epic card of the Memes World series 70. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes card?
It is an Epic card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes · Forty Keks | Know Your Meme · Lex Luthor Took Forty Cakes: The 1978 DC Meme Origin · checked on October 11, 2026.
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Open your free pack: 5 meme cards, no account needed.