Superboy

Revision as of 05:24, 4 December 2005

Real name: Kal-El
Secret Identity: Clark Kent

The Adventures of Superman when he was a boy!

Upon his arrival on Earth from Krypton, the baby Kal-El was adopted by Jonathan & Martha Kent. At various times, the Kents were farmers, and during the majority of young Clark's school years, owners of a general store in Smallville.

Superboy first announced his existence to the world in an Untold Story.

Superboy was also the inspiration for the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th Century. After an initation, he became a regular member of the Legion, which included his cousin Supergirl.

Superboy's love interest and a pain in young Clark Kent's neck was the red-headed Lana Lang, who alternately tried to prove that Clark and Superboy were the same or found herself turned into some sort of Insect Queen. Lana was the younger counterpart to grown up Lois Lane.

Unbeknownst to Superboy, Clark Kent's best friend, Pete Ross, accidentally discovered his true identity. Being a true friend, Pete kept that secret to himself and often aided Superboy/Clark without him realizing it.

Superboy didn't think of himself as "Superman" until he first when to college and one of his professors tried to prove that Clark Kent and Superboy were one and the same by wiring young Clark to a lie detector. "Clark Kent's College Days".

When needed by the authorities in an emergency, Police Chief Parker, could summon Superboy by means of an ingenious flashing light system.

Some of Superboy's foes included young Lex Luthor, The Kryptonite Kid, Dev-Em a.k.a. the Knave from Krypton, and The Superboy Revenge Squad.

Discrepancies in Earliest Accounts

According to the earliest accounts, Clark Kent embarked on his super-heroic career as Superman only after reaching adulthood (S No.1/1, Summer 1939; and others), and first learned of his extraterrestrial origins as late as November-December 1949, when, after having already functioned as a super-hero for more than a decade, he journeyed through the barriers of time and space --to the planet Krypton prior to its destruction-- and actually witnessed the cataclysm that destroyed his native planet. He also witnessed the aftermath of that cataclysm, including his arrival on Earth in a rocket and his adoption by the Kents.

"That old couple ... they're my foster parents!" thinks Superman excitedly as he watches Jonathan and Martha Kent lift his infant self gently from the rocket that has just brough him to Earth. "I'm Clark Kent! Then that's me .. that infant is me back in the past!

"Now I understand why I'm different from earthmen! I'm not really from Earth at all --I'm from another planet-- the planet Jor-El called Krypton!!"

"So at last," notes the textual narrative, "after all these years, Superman is at last aware of his birthplace, and why he is the strongest man on Earth!" (S No.61/3: "Superman Returns to Krypton!").

In the years that followed, however, these early accounts underwent substantial revision. In the newer version, Superman was portrayed as having battled crime and injustice as a youngster --as Superboy-- prior to embarking on his adult crime-fighting career as Superman (S No.72/2, Sep/Oct 1951: "The Private Life of Perry White!"; and many others), and he was described as having learned of his extraterrestrial origins while still a boy "by overtaking and photographing light rays that had left Krypton before it exploded" (S No.132, October 1959: "Superman's Other Life!" pts.1-3 "Krypton Lives On!"; "Futuro, Super-Hero of Krypton!"; "The Superman of Two Worlds!"; and others) In addition, it was stated that "Because of his super-memory, Superman can recall all the incidents of his childhood!" (Act No,288, May 1962: "The Man Who Exposed Superan!"; and others).

Despite this revision, however, all the texts of the Superman chronicles agree that Superman has lived a double life since the onset of his super-heroic career, using his super-powers openly only as Superboy or Superman while concealing his true, extraterrestrial identity beneath the deceptive guise of mild-mannered Clark Kent.

Earliest Adventures

The Legion of Super-Heroes

Friends and Family

External Links

Kal-El's entry at the LSH Clubhouse

Superboy Index by Mike

External Links to Online Comics

The Birth of Superboy from More Fun Comics No. 101

"The Superdog from Krypton" from Adventure Comics No. 210

"The Super-Teacher from Krypton" from Adventure Comics No. 240

"The Legion of Super-Heroes" from Adventure Comics No. 247

"How Luthor Met Superboy" from Adventure Comics No. 271

"Superboy's First Public Appearance" from Superman No. 144

"The Phantom Superboy" from Adventure Comics No. 283

"Superboy's Big Brother" from Superboy No. 89

"Pete Ross' Super Secret" from Superboy No. 90

"The Boy with Ultra-Powers" from Superboy No. 98

"The Three Ages of Superboy" from Superboy No. 103

"Superboy and the 5 Legion Traitors" from Superboy No. 117

"The Strange Death of Superboy" from Superboy No. 161

"Don't Call Me Superboy!" from DC Super Stars No. 12

"Taking Time" Unpublished

"Tomorrow's Lesson" Unpublished

"Strange Visitor" Unpublished