Kal-El

* Superman
* Clark Kent

*"His whole planet was destroyed. He's the last of a **holocaust**. He grew up in the dirt. Finding out slowly how different he was. A stranger discovering every day how strange he was. He has the power to tear the world apart. And he could. With a pinkie. It's not his world. We're not his people. We should be ants to him. Imagine that. Always being on the outside. The pain that would come from always being on the outside. And yet, he took that pain and became the symbol of hope."*
―Batman[src]
**Kal-El** (born February 29, 1980), legally named **Clark Joseph Kent**, is one of the last children of Krypton and the premire superhero on Earth known as **Superman**.

Born to Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van of the House of El, the couple realized that Krypton was doomed to be destroyed entirely with their entire civilization going with it. So to save their son, they placed baby Kal-El in a rocket aimed towards Earth, where he was found and adopted by the loving Kent family and raised in America's heartland of Smallville under the human name "Clark Joseph Kent." Using his maturing superpowers, he defends the people of Earth from various threats of all sorts, using the alias **Superman**.

He is often considered the first among equals of the founding members of the Justice League. In his civilian life, he is employed as an investigative reporter for the *Daily Planet* and resides in Metropolis.

## Biography

### Origins

#### Last Son of Krypton

*"Sleep, Kal-El, my beautiful child, my heartbeat, my life."*
―Lara Lor-Van to Kal-El[src]

Kal-El, the last son of the House of El, was born in secrecy on the day known on Earth as February 29, 1980, in the outskirts of Kryptonopolis to scientists Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van in the final days of the planet Krypton.

He was the first Kryptonian conceived from natural birth on the planet in centuries since the end of the age of Krypton's cosmic expansion, which was culturally a tremendous breach of tradition and scientifically enforced deterministic social engineering. However, Kal-El was Jor-El's proof that their race could continue past the planet's demise, despite breaking Kryptonian law. As such, Jor-El kept his son's existence a secret, only informing his brother Zor-El, Alura In-Ze, and Kara Zor-El of the pregnancy and subsequent birth.

Aware of their planet's impending fate, Jor-El and Lara conducted extensive (but remote) research on habitable worlds within range, modified a defunct specialized pod from the Great Age of Expansion, and equipped the vessel with experimental Phantom Drive capabilities so that their son might survive. Ultimately, they chose Earth, located many light-years away from Krypton. Jor-El deduced his son would develop astonishing abilities during his time on the planet, allowing him to thrive in a way he never could on Krypton.

As an infant, he was introduced to his paternal cousin Kara Zor-El. She frequently babysat little Kal-El while Jor-El and Lara made final preparations for their prototype rocket.

On March 14, 1980, with Krypton's final death throes drawing closer in a matter of hours, Jor-El and Lara placed baby Kal-El into his rocket ship. Moments before bidding his son farewell, Jor-El bonded the genetic information within Krypton's Growth Codex to the cells of Kal-El's body. After which, he placed a Sunstone into the starship.

As Krypton's core finally collapsed and imploded, the planet began to shake apart, and massive, exploding streams of green energy erupted through the surface of Krypton. With little time to spare, Jor-El and Lara launched the starcraft toward Earth, and it successfully lifted off. Then, behind Kal-El's ship, Krypton explodes. The Phantom Drive of Kal-El's starcraft activates and opens a portal to another solar system, with several chunks of Kryptonite entering it too.

#### Discovered in Kansas

*"The truth about you is beautiful. We saw that the moment we laid eyes on you. We knew that one day, the whole world would see that."*
―Martha Kent to Clark[src]

On June 17, 1980, the starship emerged near the gas giant Saturn and continued to Earth. Eventually, the rocket finds Earth, but upon entering its atmosphere, its systems fail. As a result, it came crashing down in the rural town of Smallville, Kansas, within the property of the Kent farm on June 18, 1980. Nearby, local farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent (driving home from a grocery run) sought to put out the flames to prevent further damage to the farm while noticing the craft that had crashed in the middle of their farm.

As they tried to think of ways to put out the flames, Martha noticed the wailing sound of cries coming from the craft. The Kents immediately determined that there was a baby inside the vessel, realizing the added urgency of the situation. Jonathan and Martha sprung into action, with Jonathan using a tarp to beat out the giant flames. In contrast, Martha used her jacket to snuff out the smaller flames around the craft. The two thoroughly fought the fire, knowing that any remaining spark could destroy the rest of their crops.

Martha and Jonathan continued to discuss the possible origin of the baby as they examined both the baby and the craft. Jonathan brought up the idea that the baby had come from the Russians. Still, Martha disputed the idea, pointing out that the ship didn't look like it came from Earth. Finally, Jonathan agreed before mentioning that they should contact the authorities. Martha once more disagreed, pointing out the likelihood of the baby being experimented on by government entities. Martha eventually convinced Jonathan to let them keep the baby.

The childless couple decided to adopt the infant inside the pod and hide his origins from everyone for most of his childhood, raising the infant. They arbitrarily picked a June 10, 1980, birth date for their new son and named him Clark, Martha's maiden name.

### Childhood

#### Risky Meetings

*"This was in the chamber with you. We took it to a metallurgist at Kansas State. He said whatever it was made from didn't even... didn't even exist on the periodic table. It's another way of saying that it's not from this world, Clark... and neither are you. You're the answer, son. You're the answer to, "are we alone in the universe?"."*
―Jonathan shows Clark the Sunstone[src]
As Jonathan and Martha attempted to care for the child, they soon began running into unseen factors that caused them to worry. The six-month-old Clark couldn't stop crying, and the Kents, trying to find out what was wrong, brought him to get examined—believing Clark to be suffering from colic, Dr. Whitaker administers a hearing test. But, unfortunately, Clark screams so loud that he blows out the glass elements in the doctor's office and the windshields and storefront windows across town.

The fiery crash of Clark's space pod allowed Jonathan to extract a small sample from the ship. He thus sent the piece to be tested by Bill Metcalfe, a Professor and Metallurgist at Kansas State University. When meeting with Bill, the Professor showed puzzlement at the sample, stating that it contained elements that were not even in the periodic table. Although the Professor asked after its source, Jonathan revealed that he could not tell anything more. He also requested that the two keep the findings, despite Metcalfe's interest in sharing them with his colleagues. Metcalfe agreed, citing his and Jonathan's past.

#### Childhood Friends

Within a few years, Clark was considerably stronger than other children at an early age. This caused concerns for his adoptive parents, who couldn't let the boy be in playgroups out of concern that he might inadvertently injure the other children. While his childhood was mainly happy, his parents' restrictions made the boy feel like he was being punished for having these abilities.

Despite the restrictions, Clark managed to befriend some kids in Smallville, like Pete Ross and later Lana Lang. After that, the trio was inseparable and did everything together.

However, after saving her life from the blades of a combine harvester, Lana became privy to Clark's unusual abilities at an early age. As a result, she became his earliest confidant outside of his parents.

### Teenage Years

#### Becoming the Example

*"The world isn't a bad place. It's as good as the people in it. And deep down, folks"' want' "to be good to each other. Not everyone. And not always all the time. Sometimes, a person just has nothing left in the tank. But most people find a way to give, even when it hurts."*
―Jonathan Kent to Clark[src]
One particular autumn during Clark's teenage years, the Kent farm suffered a bad harvest. Despite this, Jonathan Kent decided to share what little they could spare with their neighbors, who had endured worse. As a result, the entire community helped each other out, surprising Clark, who had heard that some people disliked each other. Jonathan explained that people ultimately want to be good; they need an example to bring out their best side. Jonathan tells Clark to be that example.

#### The Boy of Steel

"*I... I don't want to be someone else. I don't want to be "'different'". **I want** to be **Clark Kent**. **I want** to be **your** son.*"
"*Clark... You "'are' "my son.*"
—Jonathan and Clark Kent[src]
One day in 1994, when Clark was 14, he played football with Pete Ross and some other friends. In a display of emerging strength, Clark accidentally breaks Pete's arm. Guilt-ridden, Clark rides home with his father. The next day at school, when Pete asks Clark to sign his cast, Clark's powers let him see the break in Pete's arm, and he runs away. Lana follows him as they talk about the day they discovered Clark's superpowers when Clark saved her from the blades of a combine harvester. When Clark responds that he's afraid to touch people, Lana kisses him. However, this leads to Clark's heat vision activating, and he accidentally burns down the gym. Clark wonders what's wrong with him.

That night, Jonathan and Martha tell Clark the whole story of how he joined the family. They always knew he was special. Not just for who Clark is or for his uncanny abilities. They knew because he dropped out of the sky in a silver rocket and answered their prayers, giving him a crystal found in his ship. Clark is initially overjoyed until the rocket begins playing a recorded message from Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van. The Kryptonian scientists introduce themselves as the parents of Kal-El, the last son of Krypton. They tell him of his Kryptonian heritage and the powers he will gain from  Earth's sun; they also warn him that his powers may bring fear and attempted destruction from others. Despite this, he should never use his powers in anger. This message, however, only serves to alienate Clark further, who reacts with rage and blasts the ship with his heat vision. Still, the spacecraft is resistant to his powers. Clark runs across the field and breaks down crying. Jonathan catches up to him, and the two embrace.

Although Clark was confused, Jonathan told him that no matter what happened, he could decide what to do with his life. Regardless, he and Martha would always be proud of him.

The next day, the Kents have an idea: since the rocket is immune to Clark's powers, they make him a set of glasses from some of its crystals to block the heat vision. Martha Kent thinks it makes him look clever. Going back to the rocket, Martha sees some of the disasters that befell Krypton before its destruction and catches a glimpse of day-to-day Kryptonian wear.

Clark avoids playing football with the other boys for fear of hurting someone. Instead, Lana suggests that he get better at lying, then asks him to help her set up her aunt's stall at the county fair. There, Clark meets a young red-headed man: Alexander Luthor, who is selling off his books so Lex can get a ticket out of Smallville. Clark is interested in a book about aliens, but when Lex pulls out the green rock he found earlier, he faints, knocking over Lex and smashing the jar with the stone.

A tornado brews from nowhere, and although everyone else gets to safety, Lana is swept up. Reacting, Clark runs to her and jumps and goes on jumping. He flies to her, rescuing her from the tornado. When she asks how he is flying, his power fails him, and he falls to Earth. The two land in a stream, and Lana kisses him. The glasses, he notes afterwords, contain the effects of the heat vision.

Clark is happy that he has found a positive use for his condition. Still, Martha is firm that he should wear something else if he uses his powers, or he will swiftly be without clothes. So, she plans to make a suit for him to wear using sketches based on the Kryptonian clothing in the hologram and the blanket he came wrapped in as a baby. Still, she needs his heat vision to help her sew it (since the impervious nature of the suit has so far resisted five pairs of scissors, a sewing machine, and Jonathan Kent's chainsaw).

When Clark asked why the costume did not have a mask, Martha replied that people need to see his face to see he is honest about his good intentions. Furthermore, should he pursues this path, it is in his day-to-day identity that he will have to hide who he is.

Once made, Clark comes down wearing it. Martha and Jonathan are impressed, but Clark believes he will never wear something this silly again.

#### Meeting the Legion of Super-Heroes

*"Up, up, and away! Heh, I always wanted to say that!"*
―Lightning Lad[src]
Driving drunk,  Lex's father, Lionel, goes off a cliff but is rescued by Clark. No one will believe a "flying boy" saved him. Clark has thus far managed to stay out of sight, partly out of embarrassment over his costume.

Clark looks to the skies with his Pa, sees into distant galaxies, and wonders if he's alone. He studies Dr. Erdel's book the next day, and Lex interrupts him in the research of Metropolis for the building Lex plans to construct someday. Lex doesn't want to be friends, though.

Clark has been avoiding the other kids, partly for fear of accidentally hurting them or betraying his superpowers. Finally, he tells Lana he only wants to be friends. Instead, he overhears the other kids making fun of him.

He is soon interrupted by Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad of the Legion of Super-Heroes, an organization of super-powered teens inspired by his legacy. During this incident, he aided the trio in stopping Brainiac 6.0, who had traveled back in time from the 31st century to kill Clark before he could become Superman. After defeating Brainiac, the trio returned to their time, but not before Saturn Girl removed all memory of the incident from his mind. Nevertheless, the Legionnaires left him a Legion flight ring to communicate.

As Clark describes the future to his parents, a rocket approaches the house.

#### Krypto the Super-Dog

One evening, during a family dinner, Clark's enhanced senses noticed an object crashing from space a few miles away. He immediately set off to find it with super speed, with his parents warning him not to touch it until they arrived. Later, all three converged on the object; a Kryptonian space-pod lodged into a dry creek bed. Clark immediately recognized it as resembling the pod he arrived in and, reaching out to it, found that it recognized him in turn. It opened, revealing a small dog. The dog playfully jumped on Clark and began to display the same Kryptonian powers that Clark possessed.

Clark quickly sped off to play with the dog, easily bonding with it. As he did, a holographic recording of his birth father, Jor-El, activates. Jor-El reveals to Jonathan and Martha that the dog was a test subject for a pod prototype that eventually would bring Clark to Earth. The recording also revealed the dog's name, given to him by the infant Kal-El: Krypto. Approving how happy Krypto made Clark, Jonathan and Martha allowed him to keep and raise the dog.

### Becoming Superman

#### Searching for Purpose

*"Life was meant to be lived full measure, flat out, pedal to the metal. Don't live the rest of your life like a Porsche that never leaves the garage because somebody's afraid to scratch it."*
―Jonathan Kent's guidance to Clark[src]
After graduating from Smallville High School, Clark followed Jonathan Kent's bidding, leaving Smallville searching for places where he could do the greater good. He traveled across the globe for years, surviving on the borders of civilization and earning college credits while he traveled. While traveling the world, secretly saving lives, and averting disasters, Clark begins submitting stories to the international press corp.

##### Rescue at the *Bright Aurora*

Six years after leaving Smallville, Clark's journey continued as he landed a job on the *Debbie Sue* fishing boat as a greenhorn. One day while on the job, Clark heard reports over the captain's radio of the Bright Aurora oil rig at critical meltdown in need of evacuation and, without hesitating, jumped overboard to try and help the remaining crew. After securing the crew members aboard the rig, Clark escorted them to one of the helipads, where a Coast Guard rescue helicopter was passing by to transport the crew to safety.

As the helicopter landed and the rig's crew boarded, the drilling derrick collapsed, weakened from the conflagration. Moving swiftly, Clark seized the derrick and held it up, giving the helicopter enough time to get the crew to safety while he stayed behind, though the feat visibly strained him. As the copter got clear, an explosion sent Clark flying into the water, where he drifted below the surface as the oil rig collapsed, watching in peace as whales passed by. Shortly after that, Clark swam to shore and stole some clothes hanging nearby, deciding to move on from the town.

#### New Career at the *Planet*

In 2003, Clark was hired at the *Daily Planet* and arrived in Metropolis. Awestruck, he encounters a citizenry that lives fast, cheap, and out of control. He comes up to the *Daily Planet*, a dilapidated building with graffiti. Inside, Clark makes a point of catching his briefcase on the revolving doors and spilling it subtly. In the elevator, he meets Rudy Jones, a janitor who says he has forgotten his lunch. Taking Clark for a country rube, Jones talks him into handing over his lunch.

He encounters Ron Troupe, Steve Lombard, Cat Grant, and photography intern Jimmy Olsen on the main floor. He is mistaken for a bill collector and eventually goes to the Planet office. Upon arriving, he meets editor-in-chief Perry White, who immediately assigns him to work alongside his best reporter Lois Lane, who is absent.

#### Saving the *Constitution*

"*Who... who **are** you?*"
"*Just someone who wants to help.*"
—Superman and Lois[src]
Later that day, a special NASA shuttle-craft, the "Constitution", attached to a Boeing 777, prepares to land at Metropolis International Airport. Lois Lane occupied the shuttle, where she was covering the story. Suddenly, a mysterious power outage affects the entire Eastern seaboard. The power loss interferes with the flight test. Clark realized he must act and reveal himself.

Changing in secret into his blue and red costume, adorned with the "S"-shaped house of El crest, Clark flies up as Superman to save the falling plane. Separating the space shuttle from the plane with his heat vision, Clark grabbed hold of the shuttle and guided it to safety while the plane plummeted down to Earth.

Immediately flying after it, Clark slowed the plane's spiraling and wild fall by ripping off the wings, enabling a more controlled and straight descent. Clark grabbed hold of the nose of the aircraft and physically used his body to try and stop the plane as it got closer to Metropolis. He narrowly managed to succeed before it crashed into a baseball stadium full of spectators. They cheered as Clark brought it down safely to land. As soon as the shuttle was on the ground, Lois burst out of the shuttle to meet her savior. The two instantly had chemistry and started to connect.

As Lois approached Clark, she asked for his name, suggesting "Mister Metropolis" or "Red and Blue Man." After a grateful mob of people surrounds them, Superman, unable to deal with the sudden attention, says she'd come up with something and flies away.

#### Interview with Lois

Amazed by the flying man, Lois soon coined the name "Superman" when she stole the headlines of the next edition of the *Daily Planet*: **MYSTERIOUS SUPERMAN SAVES SPACE PLANE!**.

Clark is uncertain about maintaining a public image, but knows that if he keeps acting secretively, people will start to fear him. After a conversation with his parents, who openly disapprove of the methods of 'that nut from Gotham City," Clark decides to interview Lois privately to earn the people's trust.

The newly dubbed Superman takes Lois to a private place where they can talk. He tells her of his Kryptonian background and that he's not here to scare anyone, only to help people. Lois is skeptical and wants to know his true identity. Superman formally introduces himself to her as Kal-El, the last son of Krypton.

### Hero of Metropolis

#### A Beacon of Hope

In his first days of openly being a superhero, Superman took to dealing with natural disasters (notably the wildfires in the home forests of the state of Senator Stearns that had almost claimed hundreds of lives), crime, and humanitarian missions. Still, he notably avoided getting involved in controversial political disputes, such as wars between the nations of Earth.

At different points, Superman also prevented a missile attack on the United States, rescued victims from a building explosion, and contained a devastating earthquake (by shifting an entire tectonic plate).

As Clark Kent, he is quickly promoted from just a junior reporter, rising through the ranks at the *Daily Planet*. After promptly displaying exceptional insights and investigative skills, Perry White assigned him bigger and bigger stories for the Planet. After working as a reporter for only a year, Clark had already twice received the Elliot Prize for Investigative Journalism. He was the first of any of the reporters on the Daily Planet staff to earn such prestige so quickly.

### The Death of Superman

#### Death

*"This is my world... You are my world!"*
―Superman to Lois Lane[src]

### Interregnum

#### Burial and Memorial

*"Though we gather here today, bound together in sorrow and loss, we share a precious gift. We are, all of us, privileged to live a life that has been touched by Superman. The Man of Steel possessed many extraordinary gifts, and he shared them with us freely. None of these gifts were more remarkable than his ability to discern what needed to be done, and his unfailing courage in doing it, whatever the personal cost. Let us all strive to accept his gift, and pass it along, as an ongoing tribute to Kal-El of Krypton, the immigrant from the stars, who taught us all how to be heroes."*
―J'onn J'onzz[src]

## Personality

*"Dreams **save** us. Dreams lift us up and **transform** us. And on my soul, I **swear**... until **my** dream of a world where **dignity**, **honor** and **justice** becomes the reality we **all** share -- I'll **never** stop fighting. **Ever**."*
―Superman[src]
Superman is a brave and innately benevolent hero with a strong sense of justice, morality, and righteousness. Having been raised by a kindly Kansas farmer and his wife, he grew up to selflessly care for others and do the right thing. In addition, his adoptive human parents, the Kents, imbued young Clark Kent with a strong sense of purpose, morality, compassion, and wholesome values.

Jor-El foresaw that his son would become "an ideal" for humanity to strive towards, which at first proved correct. Even Batman, who had doubts, later claimed that Superman is a "beacon to the world." As he didn't just save people but also "make them see the best parts of themselves." Also, despite being an alien from Krypton by birth, Batman admitted that Clark's personality and values make him more human than he is.

He is kind, even to a fault, polite, humble, modest, and respectful. However, despite his powers, he does not see himself above people. Instead, he sees everyone as equal and treats everyone with respect, even encouraging others to be better. Superman expresses a resolutely noble personality, so much so that it can be hard to find noticeable flaws in him. A mix of idealism, restraint, fairness, and compassion often defines Clark, as he is very optimistic and never gives up, even when things look bad.

Raised with a strong moral background, he does not like invasions of privacy, thinks the bad guys should be punished and wants things to be fair. Clark is also hard-working and usually does not place much value in material possessions. He has also shown to be a workaholic, using work to cope or avoid his problems or working unreasonably long hours.

He is resolute, with a firm knowledge of right and wrong and an ability to act decisively in a crisis, although he can still struggle with the differences between what is right and what is practical. He adheres to a strict moral code often attributed to the small-town American values with which he was raised, thanks to his adoptive parents. His commitment to operating within the law has been an example to many other heroes. Still, it has stirred resentment among others, who refer to him as the "big blue boy scout." Superman can be relatively rigid in this trait, causing tensions in the superhero community.

Superman dislikes killing and vows to "never take a life" and to retire if he ever does. When General Zod taunts Superman for his resolve, Superman responds, "My code doesn't say a damned thing about not battering you to within an inch of yours!."

Despite being one of the strongest beings on Earth, Clark makes every effort to avoid using force to solve problems, instead attempting level-headed, diplomatic solutions at every turn and only relying upon his powers as a last resort. His restraint in using his powers, rather than the powers themselves, define him as a hero. All who meet and interact with him say that something is reassuring about extraordinary powers being entrusted to such a compassionate, gentle, and determinedly peaceful individual.

In addition, Superman, the son of Krypton's most prominent Thinker Guild genius Jor-El, is a highly prolific and eclectic genius. He quickly became a brilliant "Daily Planet" reporter as an adult, almost rivaling the far more experienced Lois Lane herself. He could instinctively tell that General Zod couldn't be trusted and could even deduce Batman's secret identity. Despite being a highly prominent eclectic genius, Superman was still considerably intellectually surpassed by supergenius Lex Luthor in many ways.

Growing up as the only person of his kind, thus being very different and alienated by his peers, Clark grew up a confused, lonely, and lost person. He still regresses to being socially awkward well into maturity, having a somewhat shy and slightly withdrawn nature. Hence, this, as well as his inability to understand his superhuman powers, made Clark subconsciously suppress them, with him unable to reach his full potential for many years. However, once Clark finally met the AI projection of his birth father, Jor-El, he permanently overcame this weakness and gained his full potential. As a result, Clark's powers became much more potent than ever before, becoming more optimistic and confident as Kal-El.

While Clark had an optimistic view of humanity in his adolescence and early adulthood, he also had a deep self-loathing and self-pity about not being human. He has often expressed a desire to be human and initially disdained his alien heritage, presumably because he feels his biology hinders his humanity, despite several people telling him that humanity is more than biology. Not to mention, Clark understood his powers' destructive and disruptive potential from a young age. Rather than exercise said powers excessively, he seeks to understand and respect humanity, not rule or enforce his will over them. Thus, in adulthood, he chooses to leave the humans to sort out their issues and only intervene when the situation becomes serious.

Clark has made some improvements toward accepting who he is, expressing gratefulness for his abilities, and taking pride in his compassion for the human race, which he views as a strength. Clark strongly believes that feelings such as compassion are synonymous with the human race and thinks humans are, on the whole, noble beings. Superman loves humanity and doesn't seek to emphasize the flaws in humankind but instead seeks to highlight its strengths in man.

Having lost his home world of Krypton, Superman is very protective of Earth, especially of his family and friends. This same loss, combined with the pressure of using his powers responsibly, has caused Superman to feel lonely on Earth, despite his many friends, his wife, and his parents. Previous encounters with people he thought to be fellow Kryptonians, Power Girl (who is actually from the Krypton of the Earth-Two universe), and Mon-El, have led to disappointment. However, the arrival of his cousin, Supergirl, has relieved this loneliness somewhat.

In the past, the US government attempted to use Superman as their political pawn. They want to dictate what he should do and how he should do it to help the American way. However, Superman refuses to follow US orders blindly. Instead, he investigates things himself and makes his own choices. Superman doesn't just go around overthrowing dictators because the government tells him to. He looks at things from both perspectives to better understand the truth. Unfortunately, some US officials look down upon him because they don't think he is doing enough to help them (Lois Lane's dad General Lane for example, typically isn't the biggest fan of Superman and his ways).

### Secret Identity: Clark Kent

To successfully maintain his double identity as a human reporter of the *Daily Planet*, Clark created a persona so bumbling and oafish that the last thought anybody would ever have about him is that he is the all-powerful, ever-perfect, and godlike Superman. As a result, Perry White thinks of Clark as somewhat of a meek pushover, as shown when he goes out of his way to advise Clark to watch himself in Gotham City due to the city's high crime rate.

While he is Clark Kent, in public, he wears his glasses, stutters, raises his voice an octave, and slouches, drawing attention to several personal details that would detract from thoughts of anything "super." Essentially, Clark portrays a very meek and clumsy demeanor with an old-fashioned and mild-mannered attitude because he has to pretend to be a klutz constantly; he has noted those klutzy moments sometimes were real.

Clark sees his job as a journalist as an extension of his Superman responsibilities—bringing truth to the forefront and fighting for the little guy. He believes everyone has the right to know what is happening in the world, regardless of who is involved. Other motivations for Clark's professional writing were his love for art and mysteries.

## Powers and Abilities

### Powers

"*Why am I so different from them?*"
"*Earth's sun is younger and brighter than Krypton's was. Your cells have drunken its radiation, strengthening your muscles, your skin, your senses. Earth's gravity is weaker, yet its atmosphere more nourishing. You've grown stronger here than I ever could have imagined. The only way to know how strong is to keep testing your limits.*"
—Clark and Jor-El[src]
**Kryptonian Physiology**: As a Kryptonian, Superman's cellular structure is much more dense, resilient, and biologically more effective than human tissue. Despite his enhanced cellular ability, he does not possess superhuman strength levels without his cellular structure charged with yellow solar energy. While on a planet near a red class M main-sequence star, Superman would have nearly identical physical attributes to humans. However, under the effects of a yellow G-type main-sequence star, he attains a wide variety of immense, seemingly godlike abilities (rivaling an Old God in power). Due to spending nearly his entire life on Earth and adapting to its environment, Superman exceeds any Kryptonian with immediate exposure in terms of raw power and skill in applying said powers. His father, Jor-El, stated that he'd grown more powerful than he could've imagined, and the only way to know just how powerful was to keep testing his limits.

* **Solar Radiation Absorption**: As a Kryptonian, his cells function like a super battery, hyper metabolizing specific wavelengths of radiation as fuel to enable living functions and superhuman abilities. Different wavelengths of radiation have other effects on Superman's physiology and well-being. Still, his cells cannot absorb or utilize all types of radiation. The wavelength of his home solar system's red sun enables his body to function like a healthy human. In contrast, the Earth's solar radiation in its raw and filtered state through its atmosphere acts as fuel to enable all of its powers. Every time Superman uses his superhuman abilities, his body expends absorbed sunlight. He can utilize any of them to various degrees through controlled circumstances. The solar-based radiation of a foreign blue star increased his known abilities under a yellow sun to a higher degree and enabled additional powers. The existence and constant exposure to proven "healthy" radiation sources are not required for him to live and utilize his abilities. Still, prolonged periods without exposure to them or utilizing his powers will need Kal-El to recharge to live and continue using his powers. His emotional state correlates to fluctuations in his solar storage. The more stress he is under, the more energy he retains from the sun.
	+ **Superhuman Strength**: Superman possesses immense levels of power that are virtually incalculable and limitless, as he can carry, lift and exert billions of tons of force. Different periods and intensities of exposure to Earth's solar radiation can cause its strength to fluctuate over time. Still, since he was a baby, Clark has absorbed incredible amounts of Solar Energy reserves within himself due to his living on Earth. As time goes by, his strength and power tend to increase, whether he notices it or not. As a teenager, Clark could casually lift cars and warp a fence post by squeezing. At full power, Superman was shown to be physically superior to the resurrected Darkseid, as he had defeated him many times. His physical strength surpasses that of Darkseid and rivals that of Doomsday. In addition, Superman rarely used all his powers to their full extent. On one occasion, he finally cut loose, revealing to Darkseid that the world was like cardboard to him. Superman then sent him across the city and through at least three or four skyscrapers with one punch. He could also hurl a massive comet through space to stop it from hitting Earth. While fighting Black Adam, Superman stopped himself from throwing a blow that would've split a moon in half when Adam turned his back. He stopped a falling asteroid and impact with the relative load of a five thousand megaton bomb. According to Leo Quintum, unhealthy levels of high exposure to solar radiation can exceed Superman's "normal" strength level.
		- **Shock Wave Projection**: Superman is strong enough to create powerful sonic booms with just the clap of his hands. In his fight with Doomsday, they created craters in the street, shattered windows from Metropolis to Gotham, and shifted buildings across Metropolis. When he fought Black Adam, he landed punches with the volume of cannon blasts and the impact of a small bomb. He thunder clapped and dispersed an F4-F5 tornado with 100 MPH winds. Clark can produce **18 terahertz** of **white noise** during the test **Z** made for him.
	+ **Nigh-Invulnerability**: Superman's body is virtually indestructible, allowing him to withstand the extreme heat of an oil rig conflagration, the extreme cold of the Arctic, exposure to the vacuum of outer space, falls from great heights, and a high-speed collision with a mountaintop without injury. High-caliber bullets bounce off of him, and artillery, including anti-tank-depleted uranium rounds and Maverick missiles, has no effect. While Superman was immensely strong in terms of muscle power and ability to take physical punishment, he was not invincible. He could be injured, bleed, and conceivably be killed, and he has sometimes been known to strain and sweat when performing superhuman feats of strength. Even when Batman used kryptonite to weaken Superman during their clash in Gotham, Superman retained enough durability to survive blows from the armored Batman, who could throw him through concrete. However, he was left reeling; otherwise, he seemed uninjured. As Superman recovered, he took the armored Batman's punches while only getting his face turned back and being irritated by Batman's persistence before fully recovering.
		- **Regenerative Healing Factor**: Superman can heal at incredible rates when exposed to the solar radiation of a yellow sun. He quickly recovered from the stress of battling the World Engine once exposed to sunlight. Later, a wound on his face inflicted by kryptonite healed with direct exposure to the sun. After getting shot with a Kryptonite bullet by Metallo, the tissue was still closing up even though the bullet was slowing down his cellular restoration.
		- **Self-Sustenance**: Superman can survive in the harshest of environments without food, water, air, or sleep for indefinite periods, as evidenced during his self-imposed exile in the Arctic for a few days, in addition to his remaining underwater and the vacuum of space without experiencing any adverse effects.
	+ **Superhuman Speed**: He can move, react, run and fly faster than the speed of sound. He can use this power to disarm opponents, catch bullets or shrapnel, and cross vast distances in seconds. Thanks to his training with the Flash (Barry Allen), Superman can use his speed creatively in combat and travel vast distances faster than he usually could. Superman's speed is so great that even time manipulation has little effect on him. He can even run and catch the Flash (Barry Allen) going at the speed of light and capable of having a causal conversation with the Flash in attoseconds. In addition, Superman could easily surpass Steppenwolf's speed, dodging his blows with virtually no effort and catching him off-guard to knock down and pummel him.
		- **Molecular Acceleration**: Superman can vibrate his molecular structure at various levels to achieve various effects. If he chooses, Superman can excite the molecules of whatever substance he vibrates through to critical mass, causing it to explode.
		- **Intangibility**: Superman can vibrate his molecules to achieve an intangible state. While in an intangible state, Superman is immune to all attacks. He can also vibrate so fast that light does not reflect off him, rendering him invisible.
		- **Phasing**: Superman can control his speed and angular momentum at the molecular level and his molecular interactions to allow his body to pass through any substance.
	+ **Superhuman Agility**: Superman's agility, balance, and bodily coordination are enhanced to superhuman levels. This allows him to easily make sharp turns and easily maneuver while flying and moving at superhuman speed.
	+ **Superhuman Reflexes**: Superman's super speed also extends to his perception. His brain can process information at such high speeds that time appears to have slowed down, allowing him to perceive what would usually be moving too fast to see and respond accordingly.
	+ **Superhuman Stamina**: Superman is able to maintain continuous strenuous physical action for an indefinite period of time. This based on his body converting yellow solar radiation directly to energy, but is limited by physiological and psychological needs to eat, drink and sleep.
	+ **Flight**: Clark can fly via manipulations to his own gravitational field, taking advantage of Earth's weaker gravity to propel himself through the skies and even beyond the planet's atmosphere. Upon mastering this technique, Superman can fly at hypersonic speeds in a planetary atmosphere and faster-than-light speeds in space. Further practice with this power has allowed him to extend it to others, most notably Lois Lane, so they don't experience the adverse effects of traveling at high speeds.
		- **Interstellar Travel**: Superman is immune to the nature of space and is not inhibited by its lack of gravity. He can travel the reaches of space where no human body could possibly survive without the aid of technology or protection.
	+ **Superhuman Breath**: Superman can survive prolonged periods without oxygen, allowing him to walk through a burning oil rig, travel at tremendous hypersonic speeds, and even remain underwater or within the vacuum of space without adverse effects.
		- **Arctic Breath**: Superman can significantly focus the intensity of his breath to the point of freezing targets by blowing on them. This ability was powerful enough to freeze Steppenwolf's Electro Axe to the point that he could shatter it with a single strike.
		- **Hypersonic Scream**: As an infant, Clark was able to release a scream that shattered every glass or ceramic object along Main Street in Smallville, Kansas.
	+ **Superhuman Senses**: All of Superman's senses are enhanced to superhuman levels, allowing him to perceive the world in far greater detail than the average human.
		- **Superhuman Hearing**: Superman can hear at extreme variances of sound and pitch frequency, allowing him to pick up numerous sounds, including both infra- and ultra-sound, from immense distances. In his youth, this and his enhanced vision overwhelmed him until he eventually learned to control it. Honing his senses, he has enough control to block out ambient sounds to focus on a specific source or frequency. Later in life, Clark could passively pick up Alfred Pennyworth's voice in Bruce Wayne's earpiece. Clark heard Martha Kent in distress at the Kent farm from miles away and even heard Lois Lane drowning over the noise of his ferocious battle with Doomsday.
		- **Superhuman Smell**: Superman has incredibly acute olfactory senses, as he could detect sulfur discharge in the ozone, alerting him to a volcanic eruption.
		- **Superhuman Vision**: Superman possesses superhuman eyesight that encompasses a variety of sensory capabilities, including telescopic, infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray visual capabilities that allow him to see the entire electromagnetic spectrum when he desires through mental focus. In his youth, his enhanced vision overwhelmed him as he saw everything in his hometown at once.
			* **Electromagnetic Spectrum Vision**: He can see into all of the EM Spectrum. Superman can see and identify radio/television and any broadcast/transmitted frequencies, allowing him to avoid detection through radar or satellite monitoring. Superman can trace cell phone signals. He can also trace frequency links. Superman can make sense of fractional fluctuation in the quantum fields of a valley. He can even see Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet.
			* **Infrared Vision: Superman can see with better acuity in darkness, and to a degree in total darkness.**
			* **Telescopic vision**: Superman can focus his vision to see great distances. Hence, he could see the *Black Zero* in low orbit from his parent's farm and later saw Lois Lane within a falling drop pod.
			* **Microscopic Vision**: Superman can see tiny objects and images down to the subatomic level, which includes even the traces of ionic particles. Superman can see the individual strands of DNA in someone and the genetic markers of human blood. He can also see the genetic makeup of New Gods.
			* **X-Ray Vision**: Superman can focus on past layers of matter to see through them. Since it is passive, this ability would not generate harmful radiation in the same manner as a focused projection of hard X-rays. He could see through the one-way glass in the interrogation room to read Emil Hamilton's ID badge in the latter's pocket while simultaneously seeing through walls to identify the squad of soldiers nearby. The only known material impenetrable to Superman's X-ray vision is lead.
			* **Thermal Vision**: He can see through the heat tracks left by a living being or object.
	+ **Heat Vision**:     Superman can emit beams of intense heat from his eyes that can reach temperatures of 5500 °C. Visually, the power manifests as two laser-like beams of fiery energy released from his eyes. The surrounding areas are outlined as the energy builds. These beams can be made less intense to the point of being invisible, allowing Clark to work undetected. They can be adjusted to affect matter on a microscopic level. Clark has developed a fine control of this ability, as he can cauterize wounds and avoid damage to a person's skull for surgical purposes. At full power, Clark can utilize his heat vision to dismember an army of Doomsday clones in one blast, quickly melt a thick steel beam, and momentarily stun other Kryptonians.
		- **Super Flare**: Superman's last resort power, which he'd discovered through his heat vision, was the ability to immediately expel all of his stored solar energy in one gigantic burst of explosive force. This Solar Flare uses all the stored energy within his cells at once, allowing for an all-out AoE attack. However, he cannot use it more than once or twice, as it drains him of all his powers until he can recharge his cells with solar energy. In that expanse of time, he is rendered virtually human and vulnerable. Luckily for Superman, thanks to his training from the Justice League, he learned to keep his flares smaller and more contained so that it didn't take as long for his powers to come back.
	+ **Mimicry**: He also has precise control over his body's muscles which gives him the ability to mimic seemingly anyone's voice, he once used this when impersonating a missing Batman.

### Abilities

* **Acrobatics**: There have been times when Superman has lost his powers and had render to rely on his own nimbleness, agility, balance and body coordination to help him get by and survive.
* **Animal Training**
* **Disguise**
* **Genius Level Intellect**: He has shown incredible intelligence and computational abilities; his mind works sharply and with extreme speed relative to earth humans. Kal-El discovered that he's 1000 times less intelligent than Brainiac, whose spinal station can process and sort knowledge of over seven octodecillion beings, with Brainiac's brain being 70 times that. Superman's analytical powers enable him to read information directly from machines (with careful usage of his heat vision, he can even reprogram machines). Clark even upgraded and redesigned his apartment with video image screens that can generate worldwide channels using **smart glass**. He even modified the JLA's portal technology to open a portal to the Fortress of Solitude. He even manufactured protective plates for all the surfaces of his bathroom that could resist the blast of a small to a medium nuclear weapon.
	+ **Eidetic Memory**: Clark has the ability to recall everything he has ever read or heard with absolute precision.
	+ **Mechanical Engineering**: Clark has displayed familiarity with Kryptonian technology, able to use and assemble a variety of tools to aid him.
* **Expert Combatant**: Clark believes strongly in non-lethal combat and has never directly killed anyone using his powers. As a result, he has adopted a fighting style that depends mainly on knocking opponents unconscious using his superhuman strength. He will sometimes combine these attacks with super speed to remain anonymous or to sneak up on his opponents. He does use more force when battling more powerful metahumans, extraterrestrials, and even supernatural beings. Due to having superpowers all his life and constantly engaging in battle with various foes, Superman has, over time, become an excellent hand-to-hand fighter utilizing a fighting style that directly complements his superpowers. Superman's combat versatility allows him to adapt to any foe and beat them. Back in high school, he was trained in wrestling and became an expert at it. Additionally, Superman has been trained in boxing by Wildcat, Mongul in Gladiator combative methods, Wonder Woman in wrestling, and even learned some advanced martial arts techniques from Batman. Clark can engage in battle so fast that he can move and fight in different parts of the world (Egypt, China, Siberia, and Arizona) in just a few seconds. Even when pushed into a near-hopeless situation, Clark never gives up and can multitask, simultaneously performing both acts of fighting and saving lives.
	+ **Boxing**
	+ **Horu-Kanu**: The deadliest form of physical combat on Krypton. A martial art that involves taking advantage of the body's pressure points. Superman learned this martial art in private and used it when fighting Batman, filled with Green Kryptonite energy, Maxima, Mongul II, and Ultraman.
	+ **Karate**
	+ **Wrestling**
* **Indomitable Will**: Superman has tremendous determination and strength of will, since he refuses to ever hunker down and give up, even when placed against seemingly insurmountable odds. Having been raised by a kindly Kansas farmer and his wife, he was taught to protect life and help others. Having been raised by a kindly Kansas farmer and his wife, he was taught to protect life and help others. He is very optimistic and never gives up, even when things look bad.
	+ **Free Will**: Being a Kryptonian born of biological reproduction, Kal-El possesses a more complete and higher free will than his fellow men and his parents. Although the latter has completely broken the boundaries of their engineered DNA thinking, they needed as much free will as their son. Jor-El had predicted that his son might have the right to choose to protect humanity or have Krypton be reborn on Earth. Despite initially wanting to be with his fellows, Kal-El decided to protect Earth and side with humans when he learned of the Kryptonians' apocalyptic plan to extinguish humanity to save Krypton and rebuild it on Earth. Because of his superior free will, he was looked down upon by his fellow Kryptonians, artificially born with a specific purpose to fulfill. While he was free to decide what purpose or destiny he could pursue without anyone's imposition, Faora accused him of being weak and insecure due to his high morality, which artificially born Kryptonians with a purpose have never had. Unlike his other Kryptonian companions, who cannot genetically move forward once their purpose is lost, Kal-El can go on to pursue his purpose of protecting Earth from the threats that follow.
	+ **Limiters**: Over the course of his life and acquisition of power under a yellow sun, Superman has learned how to place mental inhibitors on his own power. These "limiters" as he calls them, are used to keep his power in check so that he doesn't accidentally "flex and cause the tectonic plates to shift." Though it is known that he has placed several of these limiters within his own mind, it is unknown how many and just how powerful he would be if he decided to release them all. To him, they are the barriers that allow him to be human enough to live a normal life, and he only ever releases one of them when fighting a particularly powerful opponent or performing a predominately difficult task. When he punches a normal human, his punch is considerably pulled, otherwise they could be knocked clear to another planet, and die instantly.
* **Intimidation**
* **Investigation**: One of the best reporters of the *Daily Planet*, Clark is an exceptional investigator.
* **Journalism**: Clark, as a reporter for the very famous and respected *Daily Planet* newspaper, is an exceptionally skilled investigative reporter, displaying remarkable insight and investigative skills immediately after getting hired as a junior reporter and quickly climbing through the ranks. After only a year, Clark had already twice earned the Elliot Prize for Investigative Journalism (the first of any of the Planet's reporters to gain such prestige so quickly), almost rivaling his far more experienced wife.
* **Leadership**: Superman has proven many times over his ability to command respect and inspire others with his charisma, ardor and idealism. He often serves as the primus inter pares of the Justice League.
	+ **Charisma**
* **Meditation**: During his 20s, Superman traveled around to see the world and learn more about his powers. After meeting with his "then" lover Terri Chung, they traveled to Bhutran. There, Superman learned of their customs and the secrets they had to offer, which involved meditation and yoga techniques; taught to him by Terri's father, the former Rhana Bhutra. Superman even learned some meditation techniques that allowed him to slow his heart rate down to mimic death and to slow his metabolism down to let him meditate, all of which he learned while studying in Bhutran and from Batman. His training in Bhutran was most effective when his powers went out of control due to excessive amounts of energy coursing through his body at the time. He even resorted to meditation when creating the world of Metropia. Likewise, his meditation practice was invaluable when he first used Torquasm Vo to enter the Theta State when fighting against Dominus.
* **Multilingualism**: In addition to his native language of Kryptonese, thanks to perfect recollective abilities, Clark is fluent in several human languages, including English, Spanish, Cantonese, Russian, and Korean, able to speak them at a native level. Clark claims in an interview with Lois Lane to have learned all human languages to learn more about and connect to his adopted world.
* **Tactical Analysis**: Clark was capable deducing a proper way of subduing and escaping the Justice League, while in mid-fight with them.
* **Survival**
* **Weaponry**
	+ **Swordsmanship**: Considering Superman's reputation in hand-to-hand combat and his use of his powers. Superman is actually quite the skilled swordsman, capable of fighting on par with the Space Pirate Captain Freelance in a duel.

### Weaknesses

* **Kryptonite**: Superman is vulnerable to the effects of Kryptonite, a radioactive xenomineral created by the destruction of Krypton. It can weaken or even kill him if exposed to it for a prolonged period of time or if he is impaled with a shard of it.
* **Lead**: Superman cannot see through lead with his x-ray vision powers.

## Equipment

### Other Equipment

* **Growth Codex**: Kal-El's cells have been bonded to the Kryptonian growth codex by Jor-El, which contain the genetic makeup of over a billion Kryptonians. As revealed by Jax-Ur, it was still possible to extract the codex's information from Kal-El's body even if he were dead.
* **House of El sunstone**
* **Supersuits**
* **Legion Flight Ring** and **Time Bubble**: As a former or reserved member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superman keeps a Legion Flight Ring (though he does not use it unless he cannot use his powers) and Time Bubble, the ring either cloaked on his hand or like the Bubble, kept in the Fortress of Solitude.

### Vehicles

* **Starcraft**: As a baby, Kal-El was placed into a small starship equipped with a Phantom Drive, which his parents used to send him to Earth.

## Facilities

* **Kent Farm**: The Kent farm was the primary residence of the Kent family, which consists of Jonathan and Martha Kent, as well as their adopted son Clark, located on the outskirts of Smallville, Kansas.
* **344 Clinton Street**: Clark originally lived in apartment complex located on Clinton Street in the Midtown area of the city of Metropolis.
* **Fortress of Solitude**: Clark maintains a private hideaway and occasional headquarters called the "Fortress of Solitude", which is located somewhere in the Arctic. Here, Superman keeps a collection of mementos and a laboratory for science experiments. Superman's Fortress of Solitude acts as a place of solace for him in times of loneliness and despair.
* **Mount Justice**: Following the Appellaxian invasion, Mount Justice was chosen as a headquarters by the newly formed Justice League. The mountain was hollowed out and reinforced by Superman and Green Lantern Hal Jordan.
* **Hall of Justice**: After Snapper Carr compromised the secret location of the Cave, the Justice League moved bases to the more public Hall of Justice.
* **Justice League Watchtower**: The League started operating out of the orbiting space station after their base in Mount Justice was compromised. Its existence has been kept from public knowledge, with the aid of cloaking capabilities. Clark has a set of personal quarters on the Watchtower, although he rarely uses it.
* **1938 Sullivan Place**: Clark and Lois live in a shared apartment in the uptown section of New Troy, Metropolis. The building is owned by Bruce Wayne, who gave the tenancy to Lois and Clark as a wedding present.

### Prisons

* **Phantom Zone**
* **War World**: When Superman was brought to War World to compete in the games, he successfully overthrew Mongul, with Draaga and the other gladiators, and left the rulership of the planet to Draaga.

## Relationships

	+ Jor-El † - father and temporary mentor
	+ Lara Lor-Van † - mother
	+ Zor-El - uncle
	+ Alura In-Ze - aunt
	+ Kara Zor-El - cousin
* Jonathan Kent † - adoptive father and mentor
* Martha Kent - adoptive mother and mentor
* Harry Kent Jr. † - adoptive uncle
* Lois Lane - wife and colleague
* Jonathan Samuel Kent - son

Allies* Krypto - pet
* Pete Ross - childhood best friend
* Lana Lang - childhood best friend and ex-girlfriend
* *Daily Planet*
	+ Perry White - boss and friend
	+ Jimmy Olsen - close friend and colleague
	+ Cat Grant - friend and rejected colleague
	+ Steve Lombard - friend and colleague
	+ Ron Troupe - friend and colleague
* Shazam Family
	+ Billy Batson
	+ Freddy Freeman
* Whitney Fordham - bully and rescuee
* LexCorp
	+ Lex Luthor
* Parasite - former colleague
* Brainiac
* Sword of Rao
	+ General Zod
	+ Faora Hu-Ul
* Bloodsport - attempted killer

## Appearances

* *Superman* (flashbacks)
* *Clark: A Superman Story*
	+ *Season One*
* *Superman*
	+ *Superman: The Official Movie Novelization*
	+ *Superman (video game)*
* *The Batman* (mentioned)
* *Superman: Man of Tomorrow*
* *The Batman: Part II*
* *Justice League*
	+ *Justice League VR: The Complete Experience*
* *Shazam!*
	+ *Shazam! Freddy's Guide to Super Hero-ing* (drawing)
* *Suicide Squad* (mentioned)
	+ *Suicide Squad: The Official Movie Novelization* (mentioned)

## Trivia

* Clark is right-handed.
* Superman's African Samburu name is Moja Ini Chapa Nyumba, which means One Heart, Many Homes.
* Superman has gone to therapy a couple of times, his psychiatrist is Claire Foster.
* Superman hates magic.
* Superman does not drink alcohol.
* Clark was a vegetarian at one point in his life.
* Clark's favorite movie is *To Kill a Mockingbird*.
* Clark was a part of the Webelos Cub Scouting (Boy Scouts of America) Association.
* Lex Luthor's theory about Superman's power was proven to be true, by Emil Hamilton. Clark's emotional state correlates to fluctuations in his solar storage. The more stress Kal is under, the more energy he retains from the sun.
* Superman's trip to the country of Bhutran, during his travels, is one of his most favorite countries that he ever enjoyed traveling to. He often mentions his trip to Bhutran in presence of friends and often recollects his training in times of crisis or states of calm.

## External Links

* Superman on DC Database
* Superman on Wikipedia