Overview[]
Background[]
Although there have been several superheroes who predated him, there is no doubt in anyone's mind that Superman is perhaps the most influential, inspirational, and important superhero in history; ushering in the Golden Age of Comics.
Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman debuted in Action Comics #1, published on April 18, 1938 by DC Comics and has continued to be in constant publication in various media throughout the decades ever since and has become a vital part of pop culture.
Action Comics #1, 1938
An alien born on the dying planet of Krypton, the infant Kal El was rocketed to Earth via his scientist father, moments before the planet exploded. His rocket landed in the American Heartland in Smallville, Kansas where he was discovered by a married pair of childless Kansas farmers, Jonathan and Martha Kent who secretly adopted him and raised him as their own, naming him as Clark Kent.
Growing up, Clark would discover that his alien physiology and the combination of Earth's yellow sun conferred upon him with vast superhuman powers including superstrength, invulnerability, super senses, heat vision, and the power of flight. His adopted parents urged him to hide his secret and his powers from others while instilling their own strong morals into the orphan and he would ultimately chose to dedicate himself towards helping others.
Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound; Clark Kent became better known throughout the world as Superman!
While in his alter ego of mild mannered Clark Kent, he resides in the great city of Metropolis and works as a reporter and journalist for the Daily Planet, a prominent newspaper printed around the world. Among his co-workers are his editor Perry White, aspiring photographer Jimmy Olsen, and his professional rival and love interest, Lois Lane. However to better conceal his secret as the Man of Steel, Clark would often be forced to portray himself as meek, clumsy, and squeamish to the extreme which resulted in Lois being disdainful of him while she was hopelessly in love with his larger than life alter ego.
But Clark's invaluable contacts in the Daily Planet allowed him to locate potential trouble spots and disasters and better serve as Superman who would often arrive on the scene in a timely fashion to assist and also wrote up these stories in his alter ego as Clark Kent. His frequent scooping and ability to miraculously be on the scene to get the best stories often resulted in professional jealousy and annoyance from Lois who ultimately came to suspect a connection between the duo and would ultimately become entrusted with Clark's secret in the 1990's and also as his girlfriend and later wife.
Truth, Justice, and the American Way!
As one of the most powerful beings on the planet, Superman served as a key part in numerous storylines and as part of the DC Comics Universe alongside other such greats as Batman and Wonder Woman and would often clash against intergalactic despots Darkseid and Mongul, the computer tyrant Brainiac, and the brilliant but power hungry Lex Luthor over the decades, striving to keep his adopted world safe and its citizens free.
Despite his alien origins, Superman is often considered the ultimate American immigrant and has been widely considered one of the principal American icons with his motto of serving "Truth, Justice, and the American Way". He has been adapted into various media over the decades from newspaper comic strips, film serials, cartoons, live action television series, and major motion pictures.
Major Plots[]
Personality and Traits[]
Trivia[]
Quotes[]
Other Versions[]
- Superman (Super Friends)
- Superman (Lois & Clark)
Related Pages[]
Affiliations[]
- Daily Planet
- Justice League
Superman Legacy Pages[]
- Superboy (Smallville)
- Superboy (Young Justice)
- Supergirl (DCAU)
- Supergirl (Supergirl 1984)
- Kara Kent (Smallville)
- Supergirl (Superman/Batman: Apocalypse)
- Supergirl (Supergirl 2015)
- Supergirl (Superman Unbound)
- Supergirl (Super Best Friends Forever)
- Supergirl (DC Super Hero Girls)