Superman I (Kal-El)

Real Name: Kal-El
Aliases: Clark Joseph Kent
Former Aliases: Gangbuster II, Krypton Man, Superman Blue, Superman Red, Nightwing III
First Appearance: Action Comics #1
Death: Superman (2nd series) #75
Resurrection: Action Comics #689
Known Relatives: Bizarro (clone), Hank Henshaw (Cyborg II, genetic recipient), Kon-El (Superboy, genetic recipient, adoptive cousin), Match (clone of genetic recipient), Jor-El I (grandfather, deceased), Jor-El II (father, deceased), Lara Jor-El (mother, deceased), Zor-El (uncle, deceased), Allura Zor-El (aunt, deceased), Kara Zor-El (cousin), Jonathan Kent (adoptive father), Martha Kent (adoptive mother), Lois Lane (wife), General Samuel Lane (father-in-law, deceased), Ellen Lane (mother-in-law), Lucy Lane (sister-in-law).
Group Affiliation: Justice League of America III, formerly Justice League of America I, Justice League America, Justice League of Aliens
Known Allies: Lana Lang, Jimmy Olsen, Superboy, Krypto, Steel IV, Batman I, Wonder Woman II
Major Enemies: Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Brainiac, Mxyzptlk, Metallo.
Height: 6'3
Weight: 225lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Super Black


During the final moments of the planet Krypton's doom, renowned scientist Jor-El and wife Lara placed their son Kal-El into a small, intergalactic rocket ship in hopes that he would survive as the last son of Krypton. The rocket ship entered Earth's atmosphere and came crashing down like a meteor into the sparse farming fields of Smallville, Kansas, U.S.A. Per chance, the local couple of Jonathan and Martha Kent witnessed the event. Curious, the two approached the ship and found the baby Kal-El. Unsure at first, the childless Kents decided to adopt the baby, naming him Clark, and covered up the alien event from the public and the rest of the world. Clark would spend the remainder of his formative years in small town Smallville.

It wasn't until Clark's adolescence that the Kents realised of his superhuman abilities. Throughout high school, Clark not only continued to learn more and more of his superpowers, but began sbusing them to cheat in his academics as well as to be the star of his football team. When the Kents revealed Clark's extraterrestrial origin to him, he began to understand the responsibility that came along with such powers. It was also in high school where Clark met his first love, Lana Lang, and his friend, the future president of the U.S.A., Pete Ross.

Soon after, Clark pursued his higher education in the nearby city of Metropolis, wherein he would graduate with a degree in journalism. One day, while a malfunction in a NASA plane caused it to come crashing down through the sky, Clark quickly thought to use his powers to save it. Witnessing the event, hotshot Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane scooped the incident, labeling the mysterious figure as "Superman." Clark quickly adopted it as his official codename, and created a blue and red superhero costume, while giving his secret identity Clark Kent a pair of glasses, to distinguish his two identities to protect his loved ones from his enemies. Clark himself joined the Daily Planet staff and soon began an endearing friendship with his main competitor, the gung-ho reporter Lois Lane. It was also here where Clark met his best friend, Daily Planet staff photographer Jimmy Olsen.

Meanwhile, Superman became the beloved protector of Metropolis. But with Superman's appearance also came bigger threats to society. Superman then first meets his nemesis, Lex Luthor, who in his growing obsession to thwart the Man of Steel came upon Green Kryptonite -- radiated chunks of the exploded planet Krypton that made Kryptonians weak or even die with prolonged exposure. Time and again, the two would face off, and although Superman continues to thwart Luthor's plans, his personal vendetta has made each time prove more and more dangerous. One such plan was to create a clone of Superman that Luthor could control for his own evil purposes. But the result was a twisted imperfection that became known as Bizarro. Superman's appearance also led to the creation of Intergang, an organised crime syndicate led by the businessman-cum-crime-lord Morgan Edge, who received Apokolips technology to wreak havoc on Earth from Darkseid himself.

Superman's reputation as a hero quickly grew to not only the rest of America, but the whole wide world. His heroism also ushered in a new era of superheroes who continued the legacy of Earth's first generation of superheroes from the golden age World War II era. He would soon meet with Batman of Gotham City and begin a love-hate relationship that has endured over the years. While Superman may often disagree with Batman's unethical methods, he also understands that the Dark Knight's detective and strategy skills are unmatched on the field. Later, the two would join up with other pioneers of their era, Aquaman, Black Canary, the Flash, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter of the Justice League of America, which doubled its membership over the years and became the world's greatest superhero team and defenders of the planet. But this seemingly happy marriage would later wane when Aquaman disbanded the first incarnation of the JLA and demanded that the League function with only full-time members instead of an "available" on call basis. It would be quite a while before Superman rejoined the ranks of the League again.

During his adventures alone, Superman met a mysterious shapeshifting being called Matrix from a pocket universe who would become known as the first Supergirl. This Supergirl brought Superman to her reality, where he would experience what could possibly be the most traumatic experience of his life. When three Kryptonian outlaws from a pocket universe threatened the destruction of Earth, Superman was overwhelmed by his emotional wont to protect his second home from a similar fate to Krypton. So much so, that he became an executioner and killed these three Kryptonians. This experience left Superman emotionally distraught. When the costumed Metropolis vigilante named Gangbuster was paralysed, Superman secretly donned the mask and identity to fight crime in Metropolis using more excessive methods. But when the masquerade was exposed, the already unstable Superman decided to keep the planet safe from himself and acted out a self-imposed exile away from Earth.

During this prolonged period of time in outer space, Superman first came upon the Kryptonian artifact called the Eradicator, which would play several important roles later on in his life. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the shapeshifter Matrix adopted the guise of Clark Kent in Superman's absence. Finally overcoming his inner conflicts and realising that Earth was better with him than without him, Superman returned to Earth. The Eradicator caused much trouble for the Last Son of Krypton, which culminated in its manipulation of Kal-El to denounce his Earth culture and completely embrace his Kryptonian heritage. During this phase, Kal-El donned traditional Kryptonian garb and called himself Krypton Man. But with the assistance of his Earth friends and family, Kal-El found his "true" self once more.

Admitting how much they missed each other during Superman's exile, Clark and Lois become an official couple. But theirs would not be an easy relationship. Clark still felt the need to keep his superhero persona from Lois. Things didn't get much better when a Princess from the planet Almerac, named Maxima, came to Earth to find a worthy spouse. Finding such in Superman, Maxima demanded the two marry and mate. For Superman, whose Kryptonian genes were incompatible with humans to make offspring but compatible with Almerans, it was a tempting offer. But his love for Lois could not be budged. The two are engaged and Clark finally tells Lois about his double life as Superman to further instill his faith in their love.

Their relationship would come to a startling halt when the being called Doomsday made its way into Metropolis. With Supergirl and the JLA defeated and gravely injured, it fell upon Superman to stop the rampaging beast and save the day. Unfortunately, it came at a price... Superman's life. As the Kent's watched the incident on television, Pa Kent was unable to handle the grief and collapsed of a heart attack. Almost immediately, four figures emerged to lay claim as Metropolis' protector: the Eradicator, taking the appearance of Kal-El himself but with energy-based powers; the astronaut Hank Henshaw, who took on a cyborg body and was called Cyborg Superman; a cloned younger body from Superman's genes called Superboy; and the engineer John Henry Irons, the armour-clad superhero called Steel. The Eradicator would recover Superman's body from his tomb, bring it to Superman's Fortress of Solitude in Antarctica, and use it as a conduit for solar energy. Meanwhile, during a near-death experience, Pa Kent and the Lord of Order called Kismet rescued Superman's spirit. The two events led to the eventual return of Superman. It wasn't long before the Cyborg Superman revealed his true nature, his alliance with the intergalactic warlord named Mongul, and their plans to convert Coast City (hometown of then Green Lantern Hal Jordan) into "Engine City." Together, Superman, Superboy, Supergirl, Steel, and the Eradicator defeated the two, but not before Coast City was totally decimated, which is what caused the Green Lantern Hal Jordan to become insane.

While Superman's life returns to "normal," Clark Kent's takes a turn for the worse. Not only does Lois break off their engagement because she feels neglected by Clark's life as Superman, and more importantly thinking of the heartache she experiences should he "die" once more with the dangerous life he leads, but she also takes on the job of foreign correspondent to the Daily Planet to distance herself from him. Meanwhile, the heartbroken Superman stays busy by once more forming a new Justice League of America with his colleagues Batman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, the Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman. Fortunately, it wasn't long before Lois returned to Clark's longing arms, and the two soon exchanged marital vows to fortify their union for the rest of their lives.

But Superman is not given a break when the Sun-Eater heads towards Sol (our solar system's sun). Heroes and villains the world over rally together to stop the disaster. Alas, to no avail. The Sun is consumed, and the planet falls into panic. As heroes the world over try to contain the chaos, Superman's powers, which must be replenished with solar energy, begins to wane more and more, until finally completely lost unto him. Even after Hal Jordan sacrifices himself to reignite the Sun, Superman's powers do not return. But with the help of the New Gods of New Genesis, Superman was placed into the core of the Sun, which returned his powers. All was not right, however, when Superman's body soon began exhibiting electrical anomalies and eventually turned into an all-energy construct. To contain this new body, Superman's own nemesis Lex Luthor and S.T.A.R. Labs' Professor Emil Hamilton designed a special suit. It took a while for Superman to adjust to his new energy-based powers. But just as he does, the villainous team-up of the Cyborg and Toyman, in their attempt to destroy the new Superman, surprisingly resulted in a split into two energy beings that would be dubbed Superman Blue, with a more passive and subdued personality, and Superman Red, with a more aggressive and volatile personality. When the two realised of their coexistence, they would first butt heads, but eventually realised that they had to work together if they were to reunite. It took the threat of the Millenium Giants, and the two Supermen's monumental battles against them that followed, for them to merge into the one true, original Superman.

Now with his regained original body and powers, Superman yearned to learn more about his homeworld of Krypton. Opportunity knocked when S.T.A.R. Labs' Professor Hamilton helped him and Lois to travel back in time to a parallel Krypton through the Phantom Zone. There, he sought to get in touch with his Kryptonian heritage and culture. The couple even met with Kal-El's parents Jor-El and Lara. Their visit was not without trouble, however, when the cunning General Zod branded them outlaws. With their public freedom revoked, Kal-El and Lois adopted the guise of Nightwing and Flamebird, legendary heroes of Krypton's distant past. With the help of Jor-El, they were able to defeat Zod and safely return to their rightful place and time.

Superman's archenemy Luthor, in all his wealth and power, felt the only way to go up from his influencial position was to run for the United States presidency. Much to Superman's chagrin, not to mention other heroes', Lex Luthor wins the presidential election. Surprisingly, Clark's friend Pete Ross, now also husband to his first love Lana Lang, accepted to be Luthor's running mate, hence becoming the Vice President. Since then, Luthor and has been using his high seat of power to control the country, and even the world, and has expanded his machinations to burden many other heroes beside Superman. Most recently, the vile leader of the free world manipulated the world into believing that Superman was responsible for a Kryptonian asteroid hurling to Earth. President Luthor enlisted the manpower of many heroes in arresting Superman, who was branded a fugitive. But with the loyal help of Batman, Luthor's corruption was revealed, thus ending his presidency, himself now a known criminal.

Kryptonians do not have superhuman powers by nature on their homeworld of Krypton, which revolved around a dying red sun. Superman's powers come from the Earth's sun still being a yellow one, giving him flight, a high level of invulnerability, superstrength, and superspeed. A superbreath is often used to release strong winds or even freeze. In addition, he has heightened senses. His eyes can also emit a heat beam and are capable of x-ray vision, which is only obstructed by lead and lead-laced objects. He must "recharge" his powers by means of exposure to a yellow sun.

As a reporter, Clark Kent has mastered investigative journalism. Through it, he has significantly developed his detective intellect, which helps in solving cases Superman is faced with. Superman has also adopted a Kryptonian meditation/martial arts style called Torquasm-Vo, which allows him to enter a higher state of consciousness and psychic plane.


APPEARANCES:
A. Bizarro #2
Action Comics #0, 584-686, 689-790, 792-793, 795-
Action Comics Annual #1-2, 4, 7
Adventures of Superman #0, 424-500, 503-
Adventures of Superman Annual #1-2, 4, 7, 9
Animal Man #2
Aquaman (3rd series) #43, 53
Aztek #9
Batman #428-429, 566
The Batman Chronicles #7
Batman: Gotham Knights #27
Batman: Our Worlds at War
Batman: Shadow of the Bat #92
Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity #1-3
Batman & Superman: World's Finest #1-12
Bizarro Comics
Booster Gold #16, 23
Captain Atom #25
Challengers of the Unknown v.2 #15
Cosmic Odyssey #1-4
Day of Judgment #1-5
DC Firsts: Superman/Flash #1
DC Firsts: Superman/Lobo #1
DC Universe Holiday Bash
Deathstroke the Terminator #12-13
Detective Comics #756
Doom Patrol (2nd series) #10
Final Night #1-4
The Flash (2nd series) #53
Genesis #1-4
Girlfrenzy! Superman: Lois Lane
Green Arrow (2nd series) #137
Green Arrow (3rd series) #1
Green Lantern (3rd series) #46, 55, 149
Green Lantern: Our Worlds at War
Green Lantern & Superman: Legend of the Green Flame
Hawkman (second series) #10
Harley Quinn #15, 17-19
Hitman #34
Impulse #47
The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman
Invasion! #1-3
Jack Kirby's Fourth World #20
JLA #1-59, 61-68, 70, 72, 74-
JLA 80-Page Giant #1-2
JLA: Black Baptism #1
JLA/JSA: Virtue & Vice
JLA: League of One
JLA: Our Worlds at War
JLA: Secret Files #1
JLA: Seven Caskets
JLA Showcase 80-Page Giant #1
JLA vs. Predator
JLA: Welcome to the Working Week
JLA/Wildcats
JSA #33-37
Justice League America #40, 61-69, 86
Justice League Europe #9
Justice League International #7, 10, 19
Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare #1-3
Justice League Spectacular
The Kingdom #1-2
The Legacy of Superman
Legends #1-6
Legends of the DC Universe #1-3, 6, 14, 22-23, 39
Legends of the World's Finest #1-3
Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography
Man of Steel #1-6
Martian Manhunter #8-9
Millenium #1-8
Nightwing #30
The Power of Shazam! #20, 46
President Luthor: Secret Files and Origins #1
Robin #63
Secret Files and Origins: Guide to the DC Universe 2000
Secret Origins #32
Silver Surfer/Superman
Sins of Youth: Superman Jr. & Superboy Sr.
Sovereign Seven #24
The Spectre (3rd series) #21-22, 62
Starman (1st series) #14, 28, 38
Starman (2nd series) #43
Steel #6-8, 22, 50
Superboy (3rd series) #6-7
Supergirl (4th series) #6, 20, 76
Supergirl and Team Luthor
Superman (2nd series) #0-77, 80-
Superman 3D
Superman 80-Page Giant #1-3
Superman/Aliens II: Godwar #1-4
Superman Annual #1-2, 4, 7, 9-12
Superman/Batman #1-
Superman: Birthright #1-12
Superman: Blood of My Ancestors
Superman & Bugs Bunny #1-4
Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey #1-3
Superman: Emperor Joker
Superman: End of the Century
Superman/Fantastic Four
Superman for All Seasons #1-4
Superman for Earth
Superman for the Animals
Superman Forever
Superman Gallery
Superman/Gen 13 #1-3
Superman: King of the World
Superman: Lex 2000
The Superman/Madman Hullabaloo #1-3
Superman: Metropolis #1-12
Superman: Metropolis: Secret Files #1
Superman: Our Worlds at War: Secret Files and Origins #1
Superman: Peace on Earth
Superman Plus
Superman Red/Superman Blue
Superman & Savage Dragon: Chicago
Superman & Savage Dragon: Metropolis
Superman: Save the Planet
Superman: Secret Files and Origins #1-2
Superman: Silver Banshee #1-2
Superman Special
Superman/Tarzan: Sons of the Jungle #1-3
Superman: The 10-Cent Adventure
Superman: The Doomsday Wars #1-3
Superman: The Earth Stealers
Superman: The Kansas Sighting #1-2
Superman: The Last God of Krypton
Superman: The Man of Steel #0-21, 25-134
Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #1, 4, 6
Superman: The Man of Steel Gallery
Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #1-15
Superman: The Odyssey
Superman: The Wedding Album
Superman/Thundercats
Superman/Toyman
Superman: Under a Yellow Sun
Superman vs. Aliens #1-3
Superman vs. Darkseid: Apokolips Now!
Superman vs. Predator #1-3
Superman vs. The Terminator #1-4
Superman: Where is Thy Sting?
Superman: Y2K
Swamp Thing (2nd series) #68, 79
Team Superman
Teen Titans (2nd series) #18-19
Teen Titans (3rd series) #1, 6-7
The Titans #2
War of the Gods #1-4
Wonder Woman (2nd series) #16, 61, 88, 125, 170, 188
The World of Krypton #4
The World of Metropolis #3-4
The World of Smallville #1-4
World's Finest #1-3
World's Finest: Our Worlds at War