Superman (born Kal-El, legally Clark Kent) is a kind, idealistic and protective Kryptonian superhero who uses his incredible powers to defend Earth from disastrous threats. In his civilian identity, he works as a reporter for the Daily Planet in Metropolis alongside Lois Lane.
History
Early life
Kal-El was born sometime in the 1990s on the planet Krypton to a pair of brilliant scientists. Knowing their world was doomed, Kal's parents sent him to Earth in a spacecraft, which landed in Smallville, Kansas and was found by human farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent. The Kents adopted the baby and gave him the name "Clark".
As he grew older, Clark's Kryptonian physiology allowed him to develop extraordinary abilities, including flight, superhuman strength and durability, heightened senses and more. He sought to use these abilities to help others, in accordance with the values of compassion and empathy his adoptive parents had taught him, and so wrote for the Smallville Sentinel in high school, which allowed him to seek out trouble in town and put a stop to it as soon as possible.[1]
Moving to Metropolis
As an adult, Clark decided that he could do this on a larger scale in Metropolis, the largest city in the world, and applied to the Daily Planet, a prestigious news publication based in Metropolis. The Planet's editor, Perry White, was not interested in Clark unless he could bring him a "scoop" before anyone else, which Clark did, reporting on a new metahuman named Superman who stopped an attack on a toy factory, which Perry did not believe until another reporter confirmed it.[1]
The attack had been facilitated by LuthorCorp, whose CEO, Lex Luthor, decided he could not stand for Superman's interference. He had his scientists develop a robot, Metallo, to take on Superman, but concluded it lacked a "killer instinct", so he arranged for the mortal wounding of world-class hitman John Corben and transplanted his brain into Metallo. Clark fought Metallo alongside the team of metahumans informally known as the Justice Gang. During this time, Clark was mentored by the Planet's Lois Lane, befriending her and her photographer Jimmy Olsen, and also became suspicious of Lex.[1]
In the present day, Clark is dating Lois, who is aware of his dual identity as the increasingly controversial Superman.[2]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Kryptonian Physiology: Under the effects of a "yellow" sun, Superman possesses the same potential powers as an average Kryptonian. These include:
- Solar Energy Absorption: Under optimal conditions, this is the main source of Superman'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: Superman 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: Superman'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: Superman'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: Superman 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. Supermans 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: Superman can see with better acuity in darkness, and to a degree in total darkness.
- Flight: Superman 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, Superman is nigh-invulnerable to extreme energy forces. In addition, his extends this protection against toxins and diseases.
- Superhuman Stamina: Superman 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: Superman'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: Superman 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: - Super-Breath: Superman 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: Superman can live longer than regular humans, remaining at his prime as long as he was under the exposure of the "yellow" sun.
Abilities
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Notes
- This version of the character is exclusive to the continuity of the DC Universe and is an adaptation of Superman. The original character was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and first appeared in Action Comics #1.
- Superman is portrayed by David Corenswet.
Trivia
- Clark Kent is 30 years old.[3]
- Clark's favorite films are It's a Wonderful Life, Good Will Hunting, Star Wars and Old Yeller, though he turns the latter off before the end.[4]
Recommended Material
Related
- 2 Appearances of Kal-El (DCU)
- 10 Images featuring Kal-El (DCU)
- 2 Quotations by or about Kal-El (DCU)
- Character Gallery: Kal-El (DCU)
External Links
Footnotes
  Daily Planet Staff member |
 Superman Family member |