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Quote1 Lois, Superman is what I can do. Clark is who I am. Quote2
Clark Kent src

Kal-El is the Kryptonian superhero Superman, protecting his home city of Metropolis. In his civilian life, reporter Clark Kent is happily married to his coworker Lois Lane.

Early Life

Kal-El was born on Krypton. However, while he was still an infant, his father discovered that Krypton was going to explode. With Kal-El's mother, Jor-El constructed a spaceship and sent their son to Earth.[1]

Kal-El landed in Smallville in 1966, where he was found by Martha Kent and Jonathan Kent. The couple adopted Kal-El, naming him Clark Kent, and raised him as their own. As the boy matured, he began to display super powers. Clark eventually left Smallville, after he turned 18 and began traveling the world, while occasionally working as a reporter.[2]

Season One

In 1993, Clark arrived in Metropolis, where he got a job at the Daily Planet. He befriended Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Perry White. Clark felt ready to settle down. However, at the same time, he kept finding himself in situations where he had to use his powers to save people. Wanting a normal life, he couldn't let anyone find out about him. At the same time, he couldn't just stand by and let people die. This gave him the idea of creating an outfit, an effective disguise and alter ego. Someone who could publicly save people, while Clark still had a chance at a normal life. Martha Kent made him a suit and Clark soon made his public debut as "Superman".[2]

His activities attracted the attention of Lex Luthor and Jason Trask of Bureau 39. Both wanting Superman destroyed.[3][4] While investigating Bureau 39, Clark discovered his ship (which had been lost) and an orb, taking the latter with him.[4] Eventually, the orb activated and a hologram of Jor-El revealed Clark's true origin to him.[1]

An assignment brought Clark, together with Lois, back to Smallville. A strange green rock had been discovered by one of Jonathan's friends. The radioactive material attracted the attention of Bureau 39. When Clark was exposed to the rock, he was weakened and even lost his powers for a while. In a confrontation with Trask, Trask discovered that Clark was Superman. Trask tried to kill him but was gunned down by the local sheriff.[5]

Lex Luthor proved a more difficult problem. Not only would Lex regularly try to find ways to get rid of Superman, but he also romantically pursued Lois (whom Clark also loved). Clark knew the truth about Lex, but couldn't reveal it, without revealing his dual identity. Eventually Lex had the Daily Planet bombed and shut down. Clark joined forces with Perry and Jimmy, to uncover the truth and prove that Lex had been behind it. However, Lex had managed to get a piece of the green rock from Smallville (now called "Kryptonite") and tried to kill Superman with it. Clark survived, but in his weakened state, was incapable of preventing Lex's suicide. Afterwards, the Daily Planet was opened again, with Clark and most other employees coming back.[6][7]

Season Two

While Lex had died, new threats soon emerged in the form of Intergang and Metallo.[8][9] Furthermore, Clark almost lost his civilian identity, after Clark Kent was seemingly killed by cloned gangsters. However, Clark managed to divert the crisis, by pretending to have been resurrected by Superman.[10]

Later, Clark learned that Lex had been brought back to life, but Clark managed to apprehend Lex and turned him over to the police.[11] Clark had also gotten close to Mayson Drake, a prosecutor with no love for Superman. However, Mayson ended up being murdered by criminals, whom Superman brought to justice.[12][13]

An unexpected encounter with H.G. Wells led to Clark and Lois having to travel back to 1966, to prevent a criminal named Tempus from killing Clark as an infant. But they managed to stop him, while Clark ensured that the Kents would find his infant self.[14]

Season Three

After Lois broke up with her then boyfriend, Dan Scardino, Clark began dating her and decided to reveal his secret identity.[15] However, Lois revealed that she already knew. Clark asked her to marry him, but she declined.[16] Lois would later say "yes", after an incident with Red Kryptonite transferring his powers to her. Forcing him to survive as a regular human for a while.[17] After he regained his powers, Clark had to deal with a super powered kid, whose mother claimed was the son of Superman. It was later revealed that this was a lie and that some of Clark's powers had only temporarily been transferred to the boy (which soon faded).[18]

Not long after, Clark married Lois. However, he soon discovered that "Lois" was a clone, created by Lex (who had kidnapped the real Lois). Clark managed to save the real Lois, while both Lex and the clone were killed.[19][20][21]

With Lex dead again, Clark's relationship with Lois soon returned to normal. However, another problem was just around the horizon. Two Kryptonians named Zara and Ching appeared in Metropolis and began subjecting Clark to a series of tests. Eventually, they revealed that they had come for his help. More shockingly, Zara revealed herself to be Clark's wife, per Kryptonian traditions. Clark decided to help his people and left Earth with Zara and Ching.[22][23]

Season Four

Clark wouldn't be gone from Earth for long, as Lord Nor invaded the planet. Clark returned to fight them and managed to defeat Lord Nor. Afterwards, his union with Zara was dissolved and Clark was able to stay with Lois.[24][25] Clark and Lois were soon married, but problems continued to emerge.[26]

If they didn't have to deal with a curse,[27] they had to adjust to married life. Dealing with issues relating to Clark having a longer lifespan than Lois[28] and being unable to have children with a human.[7][29] In the spring of 1997, Clark met Leslie Luckabee. However, it soon turned out that Luckabee worked for Lex Luthor, Jr., who uncovered Clark's dual identity. Luthor's son tried to kill Clark and Lois but was stopped and killed by Luckabee.[30][29] A few weeks later, Clark and Lois discovered a mysterious infant in their apartment. The boy was seemingly Kryptonian and came with a note, informing them that this boy was their son.[31]

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.
  • Telepathy: As a Kryptonian, Superman is able to communicate telepathically.[23]

Abilities

Weaknesses


  • Nicknamed 'C.K.' by Jimmy Olsen.
  • Clark's legal birthday is February 28th, 1966.[32]

Related

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Foundling
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Pilot
  3. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Neverending Battle
  4. 4.0 4.1 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Strange Visitor (From Another Planet)
  5. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: The Green, Green Glow of Home
  6. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Barbarians at the Planet
  7. 7.0 7.1 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: The House of Luthor
  8. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Top Copy
  9. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Metallo
  10. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: That Old Gang of Mine
  11. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: The Phoenix
  12. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Lucky Leon
  13. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Resurrection
  14. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Tempus Fugitive
  15. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: And the Answer Is...
  16. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: We Have a Lot to Talk About
  17. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Ultra Woman
  18. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Chip Off the Old Clark
  19. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: I Now Pronounce You...
  20. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Double Jeopardy
  21. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Seconds
  22. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Through a Glass, Darkly
  23. 23.0 23.1 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Big Girls Don't Fly
  24. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Lord of the Flys
  25. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Battleground Earth
  26. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Swear to God, This Time We're Not Kidding
  27. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Soul Mates
  28. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Brutal Youth
  29. 29.0 29.1 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Voice From the Past
  30. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Faster Than a Speeding Vixen
  31. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: The Family Hour
  32. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Episode: Never on Sunday


Superman Red and Blue Vol 1 6 Textless
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Superman Family member
This character is or was an incarnation of or an ally of Superman, and a member of the Superman Family. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Superman Family members" category.

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Daily Planet Staff member
This character is or was an employee of the Daily Planet, a daily newspaper based in Metropolis. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Daily Planet Staff members" category.

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