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Conceived on the doomed planet Krypton, scientist Jor-El had his
unborn son Kal-El, still within his birthing matrix, placed on a hyperlight
drive rocket. Then with his wife Lara, Jor-El watched the ship's launch as a
simmering nuclear chain reaction tore the planet apart. Jor-El targeted his
son's rocket to reach the planet Earth through hyperspace, where Jor-El hoped
his son would find a good life.
The tiny rocket was found by a Kansas farming couple, Jonathan
and Martha Kent. They found the infant within the rocket and, being childless,
Martha persuaded Jonathan that they should adopt him. Named Clark Kent, the
child grew up in Smallville, Kansas never knowing how his parents found him.
The Kents began realizing Clark's special abilities at age 8
when he was unhurt after being trampled by a bull. Clark demonstrated more
abilities as he grew, even being able to fly at age 17.
The following year, after using his abilities to excel in a
football game, Jonathan Kent revealed the remains of the rocket and how his
adoptive parents had found him. Clark now understood his special powers came
with responsibilities.
That night, Clark revealed his secret to his closest friend,
Lana Lang. He also told her he would be leaving Smallville the following day.
Thus at age 18, Clark Kent began to travel around the world to learn about his
powers, become better educated, and secretly help people. Places he went to
include India, the High Sierras, China, Bangkok, and Sudan.
After about four years Clark enrolled in the University of
Metropolis and majored in journalism.
Seven years after leaving Smallville, Clark witnessed an
experimental NASA space plane about to crash. He saved the plane and there first
met Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane. It was Lois' newspaper account of
the rescue that gave Clark the superhero name of Superman. Although Clark
managed to hide his identity during that incident, he realized he must adopt a
superhero identity if he was to continue a public career of superheroics. With
his parents' help Clark developed a superhero costume with a distinctive chest
emblem. He also practiced mannerisms and began wearing glasses to distinguish
Clark Kent's appearance from that of Superman.
The "flying man" soon reappeared in Metropolis in a bright red
and blue costume. He caused a sensation, and the press took to calling him
"Superman". The first full length story on Superman appeared in the Daily
Planet, and was written by Clark Kent.
Superman began his career in Metropolis, and quickly reassured
puzzled police. During his early adventures, Superman discovered his
vulnerability to magic and Kryptonite. After causing the arrest of Lex Luthor, (MOS
miniseries #4), Superman found Luthor to be a constant threat. Soon after
Superman's debut, criminal groups like Intergang and superpowered villains like
Metallo soon began to appear. The Special Crimes Unit was created to deal with
these extraordinary threats, and Superman works closely with them. He is a duly
deputized special operative of the Metropolis police force.
Superman's appearance began a new age of heroes, with other
heroes like Batman (Bruce Wayne) in Gotham, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) in Coast
City, and Flash (Barry Allen) in Central City appearing.
At age 28, Clark learned about his Kryptonian heritage from an
electro-psionic recording created by Jor-El and stored in Clark's birthing
matrix (i.e. rocketship). Learning of Krypton's fate, Clark was further
determined to protect his adopted home planet, Earth.
The public soon learned that Superman was an alien (SUP
#1), but Metropolis learned to trust him, especially as he made it clear that he
was raised on Earth, and considered himself an American. Superman's DNA is
incompatible with humans; he will be unable to father children on an Earth
woman. Luthor, himself the proud father of a baby girl, is not above cruelly
reminding Superman of that fact. Superman, could, in fact, mate with Maxima, but
he has rejected her, and is, in fact, resigned to being the "Last Son of
Krypton."
In spite of his obvious power, Superman is trusted by the
people of Earth. Part of that is due to his overwhelming desire to help, part
due to the fact that he has sworn never to kill. He has, in fact, killed
however. With the help of Supergirl, Superman went to a "pocket universe" which
had an Earth that had been destroyed by three super-powered villains. Superman
executed all three of them (SUP #221-22; AOS #444). The stress and
the guilt from this action caused him to develop a split personality, and for a
time he acted as Gangbuster. Fearing that his emotional instability made him a
danger to the people of Earth, Superman exiled himself into outer space,
swearing never to take another life.
Superman's powers have undergone a number of changes during
the years. Brainiac and others have managed to switch bodies with Superman. A
satellite device controlled by Lex Luthor managed to make them go out of
control, but Superman discovered that, and destroyed the satellite (SUP
#10). Mr Mxyzptlk created Red Kryptonite, which made his powers go away
completely. His powers have even increased until he couldn't control them, and
were only returned to normal by a judicious use of the Parasite (AOS
#511; 512). During the Final Night, Superman lost his powers completely.
At one point Superman became an energy based being (SUP #123). As an
energy being, he lost his ability to fly or physically touch objects. He used a
new costume - a blue and white containment suit - to control his new powers. In
an interesting development, when he was Clark Kent he was totally human. As an
energy being he was later split in two, and for a while there were two Supermen
- Superman Red and Superman Blue. Following his selfless sacrifice for the world
during the Millennium Giants crisis, he become his old self again (Superman
Forever).
Thanks to the plans of Dominus, Superman thought he needed to
control the earth 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure that people didn't
destroy themselves, setting himself up as King of the World. However Superman
soon discovered that Dominus was behind his misconceptions and soon defeated
him. However Superman's reputation was tarnished and he had to work hard to
re-earn people's trust.
Since then, Superman has regained his status of Earth's
geatest super-hero, having helped defeat the many menaces that have come
along... including the machinations of Brainiac 13 and Imperiex through the "Our
Worlds At War" saga.
Superman's feats helped inspire a new generation of
superheroes to appear following the discrediting of the previous generation's
Justice Society. Some of the new generation banded together as the Justice
League who Superman has often assisted, and ultimately joined. When Superman
"died" fighting Doomsday, he was given a state funeral. A large memorial was
placed at the site of his grave. Today, the statue remains as a symbol of his
unquenchable spirit, and selfless heroics.
Known to only a few, Superman lives a double life as Clark
Kent. |
