Conner Kent

* Conner Kent
* Superboy (LoSH)
* Prisoner of Cadmus
* Stealth Suit
* DCIU Concept Art

Superboy, also known as Kon-El and Conner Kent, was a DNAlien designed to replace Superman after the hero's death touted as Superman's direct clone.

## Character Origins

Match A1 came into this world in an unusual manner. He wasn't born. He was created in a lab, Cadmus Labs to be exact. As best we can figure, Match A1 is a clone of Superman, created with the use of tissue and blood samples after a battle between the JLA and the spawn of Trigon during the summer of 2006 in Fawcett City. We suspect that the collected samples had lost much of their genetic integrity in the cloning process and so a human donor was found to help "fill-in" the gaps in the genetic coding. The donor seems to be Lex Luthor, though we are not certain how Cadmus came in possession of Luthor's DNA.

Cadmus originally intended this clone to be part of a plan to eliminate Superman, and replace him. The clone's growth was hastened through genetic tampering and his mind subjected to telepathic training with an emphasis on combat expertise and behavioral programming.

In a matter of months, Match A1 was grown to the biological maturity of a teenage boy at the end of puberty and was scheduled for field testing, but a suspicious fire at Cadmus Labs on July 3rd, 2007 resulted in Match A1's discovery by Aqualad, Wonder Girl, and Kid Flash. To deal with these meddling kids, the Cadmus director triggered the release of this very confused Kryptonian clone, whose built-in aggression kicked in, causing him to attack the young heroes.

Unprepared to fight a Kryptonian, Match A1 nearly defeated the first three members of Young Justice, before Aqualad was able to use his limited telepathic ability to establish enough contact with the raging clone to distract him and allow Wonder Girl a chance to bind him with her indestructible lasso. When he still wouldn't calm down, Wonder Girl subdued him with an electrical shock that could have powered the Eastern seaboard.

### Superboy: 2007 - 2008

Taken from Cadmus Labs as a "souvenir" by Kid Flash, Match A1 was put on ice using Kara's old spaceship until the team's newest member, M'gann M'orzz could telepathically remove enough of Cadmus Labs' mental programming to allow the clone to function. Once removed from his stasis, the clone was given a name by M'gann, who had chose to refer to him as Conner and given the moniker "Superboy" by Kid Flash.

Upon joining the misfit team called "Young Justice", Conner struggled to find his place in the team. His latent aggression made him a bit of a jerk and only M'gann seemed to be protected from his snide remarks. Still, he was a welcome addition to the team, even though he was mostly kept benched for the first year. At high school, Conner decided to work out his aggression as a football player. M'gann kept his rage in check by joining the cheerleading team and posing as his girlfriend. Though it was originally an act, the romance soon became very real.

### Superboy: 2008 - 2014

He developed a close bond with several teammates, particularly those who joined the team at nearly the same time as him: Robin (Tim Drake), Batgirl (Cassandra Cain), and Miss Martian. For his freshman year of high school (his first actual experience with school), Conner attended Happy Harbor High School as “Conner Jones” and was somewhat cavalier in the use of his powers at school, and became something of a local legend when he joined the school’s football team. He even dated the school’s head cheerleader, Megan Morse. But when a highlight reel of Conner’s amazing freshman season made its way to the press, Clark Kent came to Happy Harbor to write a story…

Clark persuaded Conner to feign an injury in a car accident to take him out of the spotlight and in exchange, Superman held a press conference to introduce the world to his new sidekick, Superboy. He was a quick hit with the press and when Superman disappeared a couple of months later due to being kidnapped by the alien bounty hunter Lobo, Superboy stepped up and did a fine job as Metropolis' guardian (even if his “tactile telekinetic” powers didn’t match up to pure-blooded Kryptonian powers). In so doing, Superboy proved he was more than mere sidekick.

This is how it was for Conner for a long while. He spent his school days in Smallville, keeping Martha company and helping her with the Kent farm, and spending his summers in Happy Harbor, working as a member of Titans full-time. Conner was a young, happy-go-lucky hero back in those days. And then his world fell apart.

Shortly after graduating high school, Conner’s dormant Kryptonian powers began to emerge. Investigating the reason for such at the remains of Cadmus Labs, Tim discovered the part Lex Luthor played in Conner’s genetic code. Conner went a bit mental at this information. He broke off his relationship with M'gann, distanced himself from the Kents, and moved to Hawaii.

### Superboy: 2014 - 2017

While in self-imposed exile to Hawaii, Conner did some soul searching and self-discovery. He also apparently spent a lot of time in the sun, because he was solar-powered in a way that only Kryptonians can. That’s right, sometime between hitting on bikini-clad beach bodies and wrestling with King Shark, Conner found the time to master his nascent Kryptonian powers.

As he did so, his “tactile telekinesis” became less potent until it disappeared altogether, but Conner wasn’t complaining because he was a six year old Kryptonian clone with the mind of a twenty-one year old human male who just got X-Ray vision and a physiology that seemed to be allergic to body fat and retaining water. Seriously, the Kents might be richer than the Waynes if Clark and Conner ever decided to sell calendars… Cass and I once went on a Hawaiian cruise and “bumped” into Conner down there (it may have been a favor from a certain mild-mannered friend), and I saw Conner sauntering out from the beach and talk about abs of steel! Wait, where was I going with this?

So, anyway, after Tim returned from his undercover antics with the League of Assassins, he decided to get his teen buddies back together to bring back “the Team”. First stop: Bring his best friend back. Conner actually came back without much urging, I’m told, after he learned that Tim had not actually become Ra’s al Ghul’s heir apparent. However, Conner had changed. He was not longer all smiles and laughs, he was mad as hell and had really simplified his costume. I guess it was supposed to be edgier?

After working on his rage issues as people like us do best (by kicking bad guys’ teeth in), Conner did seem to lighten up a bit; Though he is still upset with M'gann for some reason. Even I have not been able to figure out why that is and Tim is unwilling to talk gossip about the personal lives of “his” team. That twerp…

Well, it’s a good thing Donna does gossip, as I have learned through her that Conner has recently started dating her successor, Cassandra Sandsmark. Talk about a power couple!

## Powers, Abilities and Weaknesses

### Powers

* **Kryptonian Physiology**: Under the effects of a "yellow" sun, Superboy possesses the same potential powers as an average Kryptonian. These include:
	+ **Solar Energy Absorption**: Under optimal conditions, this is the main source of Superboy's super powers as they are contingent upon exposure to solar radiation from a yellow sun star system. His biological make up includes a number of organs which lack analogues in humans and whose functions are unknown. It is believed that between one or more of these and his bio-cellular matrix, "yellow" solar energy is stored for later use. This allows for the use of these powers to fade when yellow solar radiation is not available instead of immediate failure.
	+ **Heat Vision**: Superboy can, as a conscious act, fire beams of intense heat at a target by looking at it. He can vary the heat and area affected.
	+ **Super-Hearing**: Superboy's hearing is sensitive enough to hear any sound at any volume or pitch. With skill and concentration, he can block out ambient sounds to focus on a specific source or frequency.
	+ **Enhanced Vision**: Superboy's vision processes the entire electromagnetic spectrum as well as allowing vast control over selective perception and focus. This umbrella ability includes the following:
		- **Electromagnetic Spectrum Vision**: Superboy can see well into most of the electromagnetic spectrum. He can see and identify radio and television signals as well as all other broadcast or transmitted frequencies. Using this ability, he can avoid detection by radar or satellite monitoring methods. This also allows him to see the aura generated by living thing.
		- **Telescopic Vision**: This is the ability to see something at a great distance, without violating the laws of physics. Though limited, the exact extent of the ability is undetermined. In function, it is similar to the zoom lens on a camera.
		- **X-Ray Vision**: This is the ability to see through any volume of matter except lead. Superboys can see things behind a solid, opaque object as if it were not there. He can focus this ability to "peel back" layers of an object, allowing hidden image or inner workings to be observed. The exact type of energy perceived—such as x-rays, cosmic rays, or some other energy invisible to normal humans—is unclear. This ability perceives an ambient energy source though, it does not involve the eye projecting a concentrated, possibly toxic, beam to be reflected back from objects.
		- **Microscopic Vision**: This is the ability to see extremely small objects and images down to the atomic level.
		- **Infrared Vision**: Superboy can see with better acuity in darkness, and to a degree in total darkness.
	+ **Flight**: Superboy is able to manipulate graviton particles to defy the forces of gravity and achieve flight. This ranges from hovering to moving in any posture, in any direction.
	+ **Invulnerability**: Due to the interaction of his dense molecular structure and supercharged bio-electric aura, Superboy is nigh-invulnerable to extreme energy forces. In addition, his extends this protection against toxins and diseases.
		- **Enhanced Immunity**
	+ **Superhuman Stamina**: Superboy 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.
	+ **Superhuman Strength**: Superboy's strength is augmented by yellow solar radiation interacting with the greater than human density, resilience and biological efficiency of his musculature. His strength is more an act of conscious will on energy fields than actual physical strength. It is this act of conscious will that enables him to perform physical feats that are beyond the mere application force, such as moving a mountain top without said rock crumbling under its own mass.
	+ **Superhuman Speed**: Superboy is able to move at incredible speed by sheer force of will. This extends to his perceptions and allows for feats such as catching bullets in mid flight as well as covering vast distances in little or no time. This also confers:
		- **Superhuman Agility**
		- **Superhuman Reflexes**
	+ **Super-Breath**: Superboy is able to create hurricane force winds by exhaling air from his lungs. He can chill the air as it leaves his lungs to freeze targets. He can also reverse the process to pull large volumes of air or vapor into his lungs.
	+ **Longevity**: Superboy can live longer than regular humans, remaining at his prime as long as he was under the exposure of the "yellow" sun.

* **Tactile Telekinesis**: At first, Superboy's only superpower was "tactile telekinesis", a telekinetic force field that surrounded his body as a protective shield allowing him to simulate Superman-level speed, strength, flight and invulnerability. The TK field also let Superboy break free of an opponent's grip by pushing the field outward to force the opponent away. Other creative uses include rendering an opponent immobile by extending the TK field as long as they were both standing on the same ground.
	+ **Telekinetic Superhuman Strength**: He, like Superman was able to lift almost anything he could conceive of. He lifted the world's largest yacht and threw a football at Mach 5. Objects lifted with his telekinetic strength did not crumble under their own weight or internal stresses. This was not super strength in the traditional sense, as Superboy had been bound with chains that were surrounded by an energy field which he was unable to escape because he could not directly affect the chains with his power. It was stated he could lift a battleship.
	+ **Telekinetic Flight**: Superboy was able to fly at high supersonic speeds using a reflexive action of his telekinesis, literally dragging himself through the sky. Concentration was required to maintain great speeds which could reach roughly speeds of Mach 5.
	+ **Telekinetic Force-Field**: By creating a field around his body Conner was able to resist or reduce injury from non-energy based attacks by causing the object to be deflected from his personal force field. Bullets and shrapnel were easily deflected. This field did not repel gases or energy based attacks as well, though his skill in deflecting energy attacks improved.
	+ **Telekinetic Force Blasts**: Superboy also learned that he could shoot energy blasts from his hands from Knockout. The blasts he can shoot are more powerful than supermans heat vision.
	+ **Telekinetic Super Hearing**: Superboy's TK allows him to hear sounds from far away and through glass.

### Abilities

* **Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced)**: Conner was trained by Guardian during his time at Cadmus. Not to mention being trained by Project Cadmus, during his time being powerless. While in the future with the Legion of Super-Heroes. Connor spent his time training with the Karate Kid. Conner was also trained by the Teen Titans. Conner has successful defeated **100 warrior slaves** without the use of his powers. Kon-el even managed to stalemate Orion (Servants of Darkness). Who had all of his warrior skills similar to the original Orion, but was more savage.

### Weaknesses

* **Kryptonian Physiology**: Under the effects of a "yellow" sun, Superboy possesses the same potential weaknesses as an average Kryptonian. These include:
	+ **Vulnerability to Kryptonite**
	+ **Vulnerability to Magic**

* **Vulnerability to Red Sun Radiation**: The damage from the Red Sun seems to be less effective on him than the full Kryptonians.
* **Yellow Sun Processing**: Because Superboy absorbed less solar energy than Superman as an adult, Superboy was unable to process as much yellow sun energy as Superman could; as a result, overexerting his powers could spell his death, as his body would literally begin to feed on itself, unable to absorb solar energy fast enough to restore itself.
* **Arrogance**: Conner has always had always had a bit of a hubris when it came to himself, due to half his DNA coming from Lex Luthor. This issue had got him into disquiet situations multiple times during the early parts of his superhero career. Conner has learned to be more humble and embrace humility more often, due to the death of his first girlfriend Tana Moon, nearly losing Guardian and almost killing the Teen Titans thanks to Lex Luthor. But Conner's ego still has resurfaced a few times, that has inconvenience him in stressful situations. Which has allowed someone like General Zod to get the better of him in combat.

## Paraphernalia

### Equipment

* **Visor**: ***(Formerly)*** Superboy briefly had a visor, given to him by Emil Hamilton, that allowed him to simulate Superman's vision powers. He lost the visor and it was recovered by the Technician. When he got it back, Superboy destroyed it, rationalizing that he would probably lose it again somehow and then it would put others at risk.

## Notes and Trivia

### Notes

* Roy expands on Conner's decision to leave for Hawaii: *"When people find out he's part Luthor, he feels ashamed. Every hesitation or ounce of concern he sees on a friend's face, Conner took as mistrust or scorn. In some cases, his friends and family even genuinely felt that way amid the confusion. So to get away from that, he ran away to figure out who he was... to find himself"*.
* Kaye Ou being his lover might be a nod to Kaye's first appearance in *Superboy, Vol. 4 #1*.

### Trivia

* He is very camera shy in recent years, likely afraid someone will recognize his resemblance to Lex Luthor.
* Conner is an outfit repeater. His closet consists of mostly the same basic outfit.
* Conner is a closet roleplaying enthusiast. Tim, Steph, Wally, and Marvin have a long-running fantasy campaign they indulge in every couple of weeks and Conner tags along with Cassie who was recruited sometime ago. Conner acts like he only plays to be nice, but according to his internet history Conner spends ample time visiting forums concerning this hobby.
* Conner does not like surprises and prefers not to celebrate holidays or birthdays.
* Ever wonder why a Kryptonian's glasses make such an effective disguise? Well, because Conner lacks the character performance abilities needed to help differentiate his civilian and heroic identities, Cassie gave him the glasses he wears now. They are enchanted by Hephaestus and give off a mild psychic impulse that helps prevent people unfamiliar with Conner from making the connection between his two identities.
* Conner's favorite food is Martha Kent's rhubarb pie.
* As much as he professed to only like heavy metal, Tim tells Oracle that Conner can't help but tap his toe and sing under his breath to Genesis and Phil Collins.
* Conner used to have a crush on Karen Starr. He was mortified to learn she was his genetic cousin. His new crush is Dinah Lance. From what Oracle gather, he's got a thing for blondes (or at least apparent blondes - as neither Karen or Dinah are natural blondes).
* Conner has not decided on his major at Metropolis University, but he is leaning towards Criminal Justice.
* He and Kaye Ou were lovers at some point. Kaye toyed with him, pretty much most of what Kaye said was pretty blunt innuendo as she manipulated his attraction to her to try turning him into her slave - like a true Apokalyptan incubator.
* He accidentally immolated Bill Starr's hat while shooting glares at him.
* Originally, Superboy had no name besides "Superboy". Later, Superman gave him the Kryptonian name "Kon-El", to show that he considered him family. He adopted the secret identity of "Conner Kent".
* Clark considers Conner to be his little brother.
* Superboy was also known as *Experiment 13* and *Project: Superman*.
* Conner was in love and in a relationship with Wonder Girl. He previously dated Tana Moon.
* Conner was best friends with Tim Drake and Bart Allen.
* Conner and Supergirl had a close friendship. Kara even considered Conner her "cousin" just as much as Kal-El.
* Superboy's favorite TV show is *Wendy the Werewolf Stalker*.
* Conner had a mutual crush on Cassandra Cain and even ended up being her first kiss, but the two quickly decided to just remain friends.