Superman of Earth-2
- Real name: Kal-L
- Secret Identity: Clark Kent
- Birth Parents: Jor-L and Lora
- Adoptive Parents: John and Mary Kent
- Wife: Lois Kent (see Lois Lane of Earth-2)
- Other known relatives: Uncle Zor-L, Aunt Allura, and Cousin Kara Zor-L aka Karen Starr aka Power Girl
An alternate Superman from Earth-2: a "co-existing world in a parallel dimension—not identical, but similar to its twin in many respects". (Act No. 484, Jun 1978: "Superman Takes a Wife!") The Earth-2 Superman's powers are the result of his Kryptonian birth, his power of flight being limited to very long leaps (at least in the begining). This Superman lives a life similar if not identical to the Golden Age Superman, in the city of Metropolis with a secret mountain retreat located outside the city known as The Secret Citadel.
(Note: The Earth-2 Superman is similar in many respects to Superman as presented in the early chronicles. First introduced fully as a distinct character in November-December 1977 (though seen earlier soon after Earth-2 was introduced), the existence of this Superman postulates a historical divergence from the events as presented in the middle and later chronicles. Some were then said to have occured to the Earth-1 Superman.)
In February 1978, Superman of Earth-2 finds a spacecraft, which turns out to be from his home planet of Krypton. This spacecraft was built and sent by Kal-L's uncle, Zor-L, and contains his long lost cousin, Kara Zor-L. Superman educated and trained Kara Zor-L in the use of her super-powers and she ultimately became the super-hero known as Power Girl (Earth-2’s equivalent of Supergirl). The significantly older Superman goes into semi-retirement after Power Girl's arrival on the scene.
Clark Kent is promoted from senior reporter to editor-in-chief of the Daily Star in the early 1950's when George Taylor retires. Kent is promoted to this post over Perry White. (SF No. 197, Sep-Oct 1979: "Clark Kent's Mynah Dilemma")
In 1982, Kal-L assists his Earth-1 counterpart in preventing Alexei Luthor, Lex Luthor, and Ultraman from annihilating both Earth-1 and Earth-2. The two Supermen are aided in their battle against the three villains by Alexander Luthor in his first outing as a superhero. (DCCPA No. 1, 1982: "Crisis on Three Earths!")
Kal-L is a founding member of the Justice Society of America, but he elects to remain a reservist for the first several years of the team's existence.
[see Parallel-Worlds]
