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====[[Post-Crisis]]==== |
====[[Post-Crisis]]==== |
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{{main|The Man of Steel}} |
{{main|The Man of Steel}} |
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| − | When the planet [[Krypton]] was on the brink of destruction, married scientists [[Jor-El (New Earth)|Jor-El]] and [[Lara Lor-Van (New Earth)|Lara Lor-Van]] built a [[Kryptonian Rocket|rocket]] they could use to save their unborn son [[Kal-El]] in his [[Kryptonian Birthing Matrix|gestation chamber]]. Jor-El administered a serum<ref>{{c|Action Comics Vol 1 600}}</ref><ref>{{c|Superman: The Man of Steel Annual Vol 1 4}}</ref> that would prevent Kal from dying due to the biological link with Krypton that all Kryptonians had to an artifact called [[Eradicator (New Earth)|the Eradicator]]. Jor-El planned to send his son to a distant planet orbiting a yellow sun he had been studying for some time. Just before Krypton finally came to an end, his parents sent him to the planet |
+ | When the planet [[Krypton]] was on the brink of destruction, married scientists [[Jor-El (New Earth)|Jor-El]] and [[Lara Lor-Van (New Earth)|Lara Lor-Van]] built a [[Kryptonian Rocket|rocket]] they could use to save their unborn son [[Kal-El]] in his [[Kryptonian Birthing Matrix|gestation chamber]]. Jor-El administered a serum<ref>{{c|Action Comics Vol 1 600}}</ref><ref>{{c|Superman: The Man of Steel Annual Vol 1 4}}</ref> that would prevent Kal from dying due to the biological link with Krypton that all Kryptonians had to an artifact called [[Eradicator (New Earth)|the Eradicator]]. Jor-El planned to send his son to a distant planet orbiting a yellow sun he had been studying for some time. Just before Krypton finally came to an end, his parents sent him to the planet — [[Earth]]. |
{{Image|Superman 0036.jpg|Clark first tries on the [[Superman]] costume.|right|150px}} |
{{Image|Superman 0036.jpg|Clark first tries on the [[Superman]] costume.|right|150px}} |
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Upon landing, the child was discovered by [[Jonathan Kent (New Earth)|Jonathan]] and [[Martha Kent (New Earth)|Martha Kent]] in [[Smallville]], [[Kansas]]. The kindly couple decided they would adopt and raise him, naming him [[Clark Kent]]. Apparently a normal child at first, <ref>{{c|Action Comics Vol 1 655}}</ref> Clark's abilities increased steadily as he grew up, with super-strength and invulnerability manifesting at an early age and the power of flight developing during high school. When he was 18 years old, his adopted parents revealed the rocket and his foreign heritage to their son, leading Clark to the decision that he would become a hero in secret and use his powers to protect innocents.<ref name="MOS1">{{c|The Man of Steel #1}}</ref> |
Upon landing, the child was discovered by [[Jonathan Kent (New Earth)|Jonathan]] and [[Martha Kent (New Earth)|Martha Kent]] in [[Smallville]], [[Kansas]]. The kindly couple decided they would adopt and raise him, naming him [[Clark Kent]]. Apparently a normal child at first, <ref>{{c|Action Comics Vol 1 655}}</ref> Clark's abilities increased steadily as he grew up, with super-strength and invulnerability manifesting at an early age and the power of flight developing during high school. When he was 18 years old, his adopted parents revealed the rocket and his foreign heritage to their son, leading Clark to the decision that he would become a hero in secret and use his powers to protect innocents.<ref name="MOS1">{{c|The Man of Steel #1}}</ref> |
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| − | He operated this way for seven years until he was forced to save a space-plane in front of crowds of people, meeting reporter [[Lois Lane (New Earth)|Lois Lane]] for the first time at age 25. He was attracted to her the moment they met and felt like a spark had developed between them, before a mob of inquisitive people descended on him. Deciding that it was time for him to become a public figure, Clark and his father designed a [[Superman Symbol|symbol]] for him to wear while Martha created a costume. In his secret identity, he would drastically change his physical appearance and mannerisms while wearing spectacles so that nobody would suspect he led a double civilian life.<ref name="MOS1"/> He was dubbed [[Superman]] by Lois Lane.<ref>{{c|Action Comics Vol 1 597}}</ref> |
+ | He operated this way for seven years until he was forced to save a space-plane in front of crowds of people, meeting reporter [[Lois Lane (New Earth)|Lois Lane]] for the first time at age 25. He was attracted to her the moment they met and felt like a spark had developed between them, before a mob of inquisitive people descended on him — forcing him to fly away. Deciding that it was time for him to become a public figure, Clark and his father designed a [[Superman Symbol|symbol]] for him to wear while Martha created a costume. In his secret identity, he would drastically change his physical appearance and mannerisms while wearing spectacles so that nobody would suspect he led a double civilian life.<ref name="MOS1"/> He was dubbed [[Superman]] by Lois Lane.<ref>{{c|Action Comics Vol 1 597}}</ref> |
During his first costumed adventures in Metropolis, he simultaneously pursued his education at [[Metropolis University]] and put himself through school by working at [[Balducci (New Earth)|Balducci]]'s restaurant for two years, where he had a brief affair with an older woman named [[Ruby Carson (New Earth)|Ruby Carson]]<ref>{{c|World of Metropolis #3}}</ref> He later began his new career as a reporter for the [[Daily Planet]] working for chief-editor [[Perry White (New Earth)|Perry White]], alongside Lois and cub reporter [[James Olsen (New Earth)|Jimmy Olsen]]. There, Clark would score the illustrious first documented interview with Superman, which Lois was forever be envious of. <ref name="MOS2">{{c|The Man of Steel #2}}</ref><ref>{{c|The Man of Steel #4}}</ref> |
During his first costumed adventures in Metropolis, he simultaneously pursued his education at [[Metropolis University]] and put himself through school by working at [[Balducci (New Earth)|Balducci]]'s restaurant for two years, where he had a brief affair with an older woman named [[Ruby Carson (New Earth)|Ruby Carson]]<ref>{{c|World of Metropolis #3}}</ref> He later began his new career as a reporter for the [[Daily Planet]] working for chief-editor [[Perry White (New Earth)|Perry White]], alongside Lois and cub reporter [[James Olsen (New Earth)|Jimmy Olsen]]. There, Clark would score the illustrious first documented interview with Superman, which Lois was forever be envious of. <ref name="MOS2">{{c|The Man of Steel #2}}</ref><ref>{{c|The Man of Steel #4}}</ref> |
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===The Tribunal's Trial of Superman=== |
===The Tribunal's Trial of Superman=== |
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| − | After a battle with the [[Parasite]] leaves him near death, Superman was arrested by [[Brute]] at the behest of an intergalactic group known as the [[Tribunal]]. Superman was brought into space and put on trial for the destruction of Krypton. The Tribunal argued that it was Superman's ancestor's fault that Krypton was |
+ | After a battle with the [[Parasite]] leaves him near death, Superman was arrested by [[Brute]] at the behest of an intergalactic group known as the [[Tribunal]]. Superman was brought into space and put on trial for the destruction of Krypton. The Tribunal argued that it was Superman's ancestor's fault that Krypton was destroyed and, because they believed that the sins of the father should be paid by their sons, found him guilty for the planet's destruction.<ref>{{c|Superman: The Man of Steel #50}}</ref> |
The [[Alpha Centurion]] rallied together a [[Superman Rescue Squad]] while Superman managed a jail break with some fellow prisoners. <ref>{{c|Adventures of Superman #529}}</ref> After several adventures in space, Superman and the Rescue Squad all ended up on the Tribunal's home world, each captured by the [[Cyborg Superman]], working for the Tribunal. When the Cyborg betrayed the Tribunal, Superman saved all its members, despite their guilty verdict, because it was the right thing to do. The Tribunal decided to "commute his sentence" and sentenced him to never give up his "never-ending battle." Superman and the team returned to Earth triumphant. <ref>{{c|Adventures of Superman #531}}</ref> |
The [[Alpha Centurion]] rallied together a [[Superman Rescue Squad]] while Superman managed a jail break with some fellow prisoners. <ref>{{c|Adventures of Superman #529}}</ref> After several adventures in space, Superman and the Rescue Squad all ended up on the Tribunal's home world, each captured by the [[Cyborg Superman]], working for the Tribunal. When the Cyborg betrayed the Tribunal, Superman saved all its members, despite their guilty verdict, because it was the right thing to do. The Tribunal decided to "commute his sentence" and sentenced him to never give up his "never-ending battle." Superman and the team returned to Earth triumphant. <ref>{{c|Adventures of Superman #531}}</ref> |
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Superman also had to contend with the return of Brainiac, who switched his mind into Superman's and Superman's into the body of a young mental patient, [[Chas Cassidy]], before briefly capturing all of Metropolis. He used the citizens of the city as a vast data storage unit until Superman—in Chas's body—was able to breach his fortress. Now in seperate bodies, Superman and Chas were able to put everybody back in their right bodies and save the city.<ref>{{c|Adventures of Superman #536}}, {{c|Action Comics #723}}, {{c|Superman: The Man of Steel #58}}, {{c|Superman Vol 2 114}}</ref> |
Superman also had to contend with the return of Brainiac, who switched his mind into Superman's and Superman's into the body of a young mental patient, [[Chas Cassidy]], before briefly capturing all of Metropolis. He used the citizens of the city as a vast data storage unit until Superman—in Chas's body—was able to breach his fortress. Now in seperate bodies, Superman and Chas were able to put everybody back in their right bodies and save the city.<ref>{{c|Adventures of Superman #536}}, {{c|Action Comics #723}}, {{c|Superman: The Man of Steel #58}}, {{c|Superman Vol 2 114}}</ref> |
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| − | Lois, frustrated that she had become so reliant on Superman, decided to take a foreign correspondent position overseas and parted with Clark on good terms.<ref>{{c|Superman: The Man of Steel #59}}, [[Superman Vol 2 115|Superman #115]]</ref> Not long after, Perry White revealed to Clark that he would be taking a leave of absence because he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. In his absence, Perry promoted Clark to his position as lead editor of the Daily Planet. On the same night, Superman encountered [[Obsession]], who went on a rampage after Superman did not return her affection, causing him to wonder if he had been smothering Lois in the same way at the end of their relationship.<ref>{{c|Adventures of Superman #538}}</ref> |
+ | Lois, frustrated that she had become so reliant on Superman, decided to take a foreign correspondent position overseas and parted with Clark on good terms.<ref>{{c|Superman: The Man of Steel #59}}, [[Superman Vol 2 115|Superman #115]]</ref> Not long after, Perry White revealed to Clark that he would be taking a leave of absence because he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. In his absence, Perry promoted Clark to his position as lead editor of the ''Daily Planet''. On the same night, Superman encountered [[Obsession]], who went on a rampage after Superman did not return her affection, causing him to wonder if he had been smothering Lois in the same way at the end of their relationship.<ref>{{c|Adventures of Superman #538}}</ref> |
[[Tolos]], an alien wizard Superman encountered while on the run from the Tribunal, arrived on Earth and attempted to collect Superman in his bottle city of [[Kandor]].<ref>{{c|Action Comics #725}}</ref> Superman managed to defeat the wizard but was unable to free the Kandorians from their prison.<ref>{{c|Superman Vol 2 116}}</ref> When the field around Kandor began to destabilize, Superman took the bottled city to the Fortress of Solitude (which had been rebuilt after its destruction by a single surviving Kryptonian robot), hoping to find something to save the city.<ref>{{c|Superman: The Man of Steel #61}}</ref> |
[[Tolos]], an alien wizard Superman encountered while on the run from the Tribunal, arrived on Earth and attempted to collect Superman in his bottle city of [[Kandor]].<ref>{{c|Action Comics #725}}</ref> Superman managed to defeat the wizard but was unable to free the Kandorians from their prison.<ref>{{c|Superman Vol 2 116}}</ref> When the field around Kandor began to destabilize, Superman took the bottled city to the Fortress of Solitude (which had been rebuilt after its destruction by a single surviving Kryptonian robot), hoping to find something to save the city.<ref>{{c|Superman: The Man of Steel #61}}</ref> |
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===The Wedding and Beyond=== |
===The Wedding and Beyond=== |
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{{Image|SupesWeddingBeyond0021.jpg|The Wedding of Clark Kent and Lois Lane|right|150px}} |
{{Image|SupesWeddingBeyond0021.jpg|The Wedding of Clark Kent and Lois Lane|right|150px}} |
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| − | After the world ending threat with the sun had been resolved, Lois returned from her time abroad and reconciled with Clark; the two decided to resume their engagement and get married right away. Lucy Lane threw Lois a bridal shower and a bachelorette party, while Clark had a bachelor party thrown at the [[Ace O' Clubs]]. Jimmy Olsen and Lucy Lane were chosen as best man and maid of honor. |
+ | After the world ending threat with the sun had been resolved, Lois returned from her time abroad and reconciled with Clark; the two decided to resume their engagement and get married right away. Lucy Lane threw Lois a bridal shower and a bachelorette party, while Clark had a bachelor party thrown at the [[Ace O' Clubs]]. Jimmy Olsen and Lucy Lane were chosen as best man and maid of honor. Perry White attended the wedding ceremony, but unfortunately didn't feel well enough to make the reception. Batman revealed that an apartment building where Lois wanted to rent was owned by Bruce Wayne, and so, as a wedding gift, allowed for Clark and Lois to move into the building.<ref>{{c|Superman: The Wedding Album #1}}</ref> |
Lois and Clark went on a honeymoon in Hawaii, where Clark was kidnapped by terrorists, and Lois had to come to his rescue.<ref>{{c|Adventures of Superman #541}}, {{c|Superman: The Man of Steel #63}}</ref> |
Lois and Clark went on a honeymoon in Hawaii, where Clark was kidnapped by terrorists, and Lois had to come to his rescue.<ref>{{c|Adventures of Superman #541}}, {{c|Superman: The Man of Steel #63}}</ref> |
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Superman experienced a weird power fluctuation that rendered him in the form of pure energy. Needing a containment suit, he found that he was considerably faster, intangible, and able to interact with computers in this energy form. He also lost his vulnerability to Kryptonite. However, he found that he was weaker to energy disruption and lost his super strength. Furthermore, when he changed back into Clark Kent, he was rendered powerless.<ref>{{c|Superman Vol 2 122}}–[[Superman Vol 2 123|123]]</ref> |
Superman experienced a weird power fluctuation that rendered him in the form of pure energy. Needing a containment suit, he found that he was considerably faster, intangible, and able to interact with computers in this energy form. He also lost his vulnerability to Kryptonite. However, he found that he was weaker to energy disruption and lost his super strength. Furthermore, when he changed back into Clark Kent, he was rendered powerless.<ref>{{c|Superman Vol 2 122}}–[[Superman Vol 2 123|123]]</ref> |
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| − | At this time, Perry White returned to the Daily Planet, his cancer now in remission, and Clark returned to his position as a reporter.<ref>{{c|Superman Vol 2 124}}</ref> |
+ | At this time, Perry White returned to the ''Daily Planet'', his cancer now in remission, and Clark returned to his position as a reporter.<ref>{{c|Superman Vol 2 124}}</ref> |
{{Image|Superman Red 0001.jpg|Superman Red|left|125px}} |
{{Image|Superman Red 0001.jpg|Superman Red|left|125px}} |
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Revision as of 17:39, 14 April 2020
Superman is the most powerful being on Earth,[1][2] an alien immigrant named Kal-El from the planet Krypton who was raised in Smallville, Kansas, to become an American superhero. Raised with high moral ideals, he uses his incredible strength, speed, flight and various other superpowers to fight evil and to protect the innocent. In his civilian identity he is Clark Kent, a mild-mannered reporter working for the Daily Planet in Metropolis. He is a founding member of the Justice League of America and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th Century.
History
Origins
Post-Crisis
Main article: The Man of Steel
When the planet Krypton was on the brink of destruction, married scientists Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van built a rocket they could use to save their unborn son Kal-El in his gestation chamber. Jor-El administered a serum[3][4] that would prevent Kal from dying due to the biological link with Krypton that all Kryptonians had to an artifact called the Eradicator. Jor-El planned to send his son to a distant planet orbiting a yellow sun he had been studying for some time. Just before Krypton finally came to an end, his parents sent him to the planet — Earth.
Clark first tries on the Superman costume.
Upon landing, the child was discovered by Jonathan and Martha Kent in Smallville, Kansas. The kindly couple decided they would adopt and raise him, naming him Clark Kent. Apparently a normal child at first, [5] Clark's abilities increased steadily as he grew up, with super-strength and invulnerability manifesting at an early age and the power of flight developing during high school. When he was 18 years old, his adopted parents revealed the rocket and his foreign heritage to their son, leading Clark to the decision that he would become a hero in secret and use his powers to protect innocents.[6]
He operated this way for seven years until he was forced to save a space-plane in front of crowds of people, meeting reporter Lois Lane for the first time at age 25. He was attracted to her the moment they met and felt like a spark had developed between them, before a mob of inquisitive people descended on him — forcing him to fly away. Deciding that it was time for him to become a public figure, Clark and his father designed a symbol for him to wear while Martha created a costume. In his secret identity, he would drastically change his physical appearance and mannerisms while wearing spectacles so that nobody would suspect he led a double civilian life.[6] He was dubbed Superman by Lois Lane.[7]
During his first costumed adventures in Metropolis, he simultaneously pursued his education at Metropolis University and put himself through school by working at Balducci's restaurant for two years, where he had a brief affair with an older woman named Ruby Carson[8] He later began his new career as a reporter for the Daily Planet working for chief-editor Perry White, alongside Lois and cub reporter Jimmy Olsen. There, Clark would score the illustrious first documented interview with Superman, which Lois was forever be envious of. [9][10]
The media coverage would eventually attract the attention of corrupt business mogul Lex Luthor, who tested Superman and tried to get him on the villain's payroll to no avail. Repeated attempts to murder Superman eventually led to LexCorp developing an imperfect clone of the Kryptonian named Bizarro.
Returning to Smallville after many years, Superman encountered another Kryptonian rocket, this time with a message from his birth parents that taught him the entire history of Krypton. Superman considered his dual heritage, and decideed that no matter where he's from, his life on Earth had made him a human and an American.[11]
Post-Birthright
Main article: Superman: Birthright
After Superman concluded his adventure in a possible future timeline, he became lost amid a sea of divergent temporal possibilities. In the process of returning to the present-day reality, Superman entered a new timeline where his life played out somewhat differently than it had previously.[12]
Kal-El was born on the dying planet of Krypton as the last son of the House of El, and his parents Jor-El and Lara sent him to Earth in a rocket as a baby.[13] He grew up in Smallville, alongside his best friends Lana Lang and Lex Luthor.[14] Lex and Clark had a falling out after Luthor Manor burned down with Lex's father inside during an experiment to contact extra-terrestrials.[15]
Returning to Smallville at the age of 25 after freelancing around the world as a reporter, he decided it was time to start making a difference in the world, donning the Kryptonian symbol of hope given to him by his parents as his heritage.[16] He designed a costume after traditional Kryptonian clothing with no mask so the public could trust him and moved to Metropolis.[17]
Securing a job interview at the Daily Planet with Perry White, Clark met Jimmy Olsen for the first time and immediately fell in love with Lois Lane. He was forced to make his first public appearance as Superman, saving both of them when the city was attacked by experimental military helicopters.[18] Lex Luthor was revealed to be responsible in an act of corporate sabotage against Wayne Enterprises in their first conflict as arch-enemies.[19]
Luthor announced to the media that he believed Superman was an alien invader.[20] Testing this theory, he discovered Superman's weakness by exposing him to Green Kryptonite.[14] This fear-mongering climaxed in a staged Kryptonian invasion of Metropolis by Luthor, using real troops and holograms to discredit Superman.[21] Superman was ultimately able to end the attacks, exposing Luthor's scheme and proving himself as a hero to humanity.[22]
New Earth/Post-Infinite Crisis
Main article: Superman: Secret Origin
Later, Superman's first meeting with Lois was slightly altered by the reality-reconstructing events of Infinite Crisis. Once again, their first meeting was when Superman saved her from a failed space shuttle, but Clark was already working at the Daily Planet before they met. Clark and Lois begin to date after that, with the former hiding his identity as Superman. [23] However, this version of events was contradicted and ultimately invalidated as more information continued to be revealed.
When the climax of the Infinite Crisis event altered the makeup of reality, Superman's history was rewritten once again.
Growing up in Smallville, Clark dated a girl named Lana Lang, who was his confidante. He also became friends with Lex Luthor at a very young age. Martha Kent modeled a costume after traditional Kryptonian garb out of his baby blanket, and Clark began operating in his youth as Superboy.[24]
Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Around this time, he was visited by Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl of the Legion of Super-Heroes from the 30th Century, an organization of super-powered teens inspired by his legacy. They took him into the future and showed him a world where he wasn't very different from everyone else.
When Clark returned to the present, he discovered a second rocket had also escaped Krypton after he had and landed on Earth. This rocket contained Krypto the Superdog.[25]
Moving to Metropolis as an adult, he began work as a reporter at the economically failing Daily Planet. Clark made his debut as Superman when he caught Lois Lane falling off of the LexCorp skyscraper.[26]
Lex Luthor was quick to become an enemy of Superman when he accused the hero of being an alien threat to humanity. The Daily Planet was the only newspaper to portray him in a positive light, with his first recorded photograph being taken by Jimmy Olsen.[27] This public distrust lead to intervention by General Sam Lane of the United States Army, who created Metallo to stop him.[28] Superman regained popular approval by proving that he was only interested in saving lives, and the Daily Planet became the most popular newspaper in town because it retained Superman exclusives.[29]
Batman and the Justice League
Main article: Justice League Origins
Superman's first meeting with another modern superhero was with Batman in Gotham City. He tried to arrest the Bat at first, but realized they were on the same side, and teamed up to solve a series of murders committed by Magpie.[30]
This story was eventually changed by Mister Mxyzptlk, and Superman had now first met Batman on a cruise ship when they teamed up to fight the Crime Syndicate and Deathstroke.[31]
The Justice League of America was formed by Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter after Appellaxians attacked Earth.
The Modern Adventures
Superman and his supporting cast had their origins rewritten in the Man of Steel series written by John Byrne, following the Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1986. This was part of many sweeping changes made to continuity in the Post-Crisis DC Universe. These stories would be considered the definitive history until his origins were revised again in Superman: Birthright, written by Mark Waid in 2003.
Superman would have his first encounters with Arathaza, Bloodsport, the Circle, the Fearsome Five, Chemo, Rampage, Mister Mxyzptlk, and the Silver Banshee.
In those first early adventures, Superman often found himself pitted against Lex Luthor, who had vowed to destroy the hated "alien" and reclaim his place as the First Son of Metropolis. Luthor also dismissed the suggestion that Clark Kent and Superman were one and the same, rationalizing that no one who had the power of Superman would ever pretend to be a mere human like Clark Kent.[32] Superman also had his first encounter with the New God Darkseid, who teleported him to Apokolips.[33] Superman remained on Apokolips for some time, eventually rallying the dregs of that society in a resistance against their despotic ruler, but the revolution was unsuccessful and Superman was returned to Earth.[34]
Clark briefly dated Wonder Woman after being contacted by her publicist Myndi Mayer. He immediately kissed her after meeting her, something which shocked and amused her. Clark later apologized but admitted that, when they first met, he was smitten by her, which made Diana uncomfortable, as she was new to such things. After a crisis involving Darkseid and the Olympian gods was resolved, they decided they were not right for each other and would just remain friends. [35][36][37][38][39]
Superman voluntarily leaves Earth
Luthor accidentally released General Zod, Faora, and Quex-Ul, three Kryptonian criminals, from the Phantom Zone, and, after they had destroyed an entire pocket dimensions, were judged by Superman to deserve capital punishment and killed with Green Kryptonite.[40] The guilt of taking a life weighed heavily upon Superman. He had a psychotic break and briefly dropped the persona of Superman to become Gangbuster. Superman decided, after what he'd done, that he had to leave Earth and began a self-imposed exile in space.[41]
After several adventures in outer space, Superman was captured by the artificial gladiator planet Warworld and encountered its ruler Mongul for the first time. Superman was pitted in a gladiatorial match against Draaga in the arena, but, when he refused to kill Draaga, was forced to fight Mongul. Rallying the other fighters to his aid, Superman beat Mongul and deposed him as Warworld's leader, replacing him with Draaga. Having found peace with executing Zod and the other Kryptonian criminals, Superman returned to Earth.[42]
Clark as Krypton Man
Once he returned, Superman battled the Eradicator, a sentient artifact he encountered on the Warworld, that attempted to impose its own designs on Earth. He defeated the artifact and buried it in the Antarctic, later discovering it had then created a vast underground fortress — the Fortress of Solitude. The Eradicator, still active, began to melt some of the polar ice cap and mind controlled Superman to change into the so-called Krypton Man. Though he caused havoc in his brainwashed state, Superman broke free from the programming with the help of his adoptive parent and hurled the Eradicator and his Krypton Man costume into the sun.[43]
Superman first encountered his other greatest foe (apart from Lex Luthor) Brainiac when the alien sought to put his mind in the body of a human illusionist, Milton Fine "The Amazing Brainiac." He attacked Superman, but Fine was able to temporarily overcome Brainiac's control.[44] Brainiac was subsequently captured by Luthor and experimented on - gaining a new body and fleeing into space. [45]
Around this time, Clark proposed to Lois Lane and she accepted,[46] also finally revealing his secret identity to her.[47] After a couple weeks of keeping Clark's secret, Lois found that she was a little peeved to think that Clark had been using his role as Superman to gain an advantage over her as a reporter for all those years, and the two developed a sort of professional rivalry. [48]
A young man named Lex Luthor II, the alleged son of the late Lex Luthor, who had seemingly gotten cancer and died in a plane crash months prior, arrived in Metropolis and laid claim to his father's empire. Superman investigated the man but believed his story - never realizing the "son" was really the original Lex Luthor in a cloned new body![49]
Brainiac would eventually return to Earth at the helm of Warworld. Threatened with total invasion, Superman rallied Earth's hero and personally lead the retaliation on Warworld. In a massive battle, Brainiac was beaten and lobotomized, and Earth's heroes returned home. Superman then decided to join the newly reformed Justice League on a full time basis.[50]
Death and Return of Superman
Main article: Reign of the Supermen
The Death of Superman
One day, a monstrous alien beast called Doomsday emerged in eastern Ohio and made its way towards Metropolis.[51] The beast single-handedly defeated the Justice League when the team rallied to stop it. [52] Superman battled the creature across several states, eventually landing in Metropolis itself.[53] After a long, intense battle, Superman managed to finally put down the monster but collapsed as he did so, dying in Lois' arms.[54]
All attempts to revive Superman failed, and he was pronounced dead. Clark Kent was presumed to have been one of the hundreds killed in Doomsday's rampage.[55] Superman was buried with full honors, with hundreds of heads of state and several hundred thousand onlookers present, beneath a large statue in Centennial Park. The Justice League and other heroes marched behind the casket, following their leader (official or not) one last time. Lois, Lana Lang, and the Kents were all devastated.[56] Cadmus, a secret science operation, stole the body from the tomb, but Supergirl retrieved it and reburied him. Lex Luthor would gloat that, even though he wasn't the one to kill Superman, by providing funding for the tomb, he at least "buried him.
Jonathan Kent, after suffering from a heart attack, had a near death experience where he saw Clark in the afterlife who encouraged him to keep living. Jonathan would recover and took this as a sign that his son wasn't really dead. [57] Despite this, four new heroes arrived in Metropolis, all claiming to be Superman: "The Man of Tomorrow," "The Last Son of Krypton," "The Man of Steel," and "The Metropolis Kid." A trip to the real Superman's tomb revealed it to be empty.[58]
Cults began to spring up in Metropolis, worshiping any one of the four new Supermen as messiahs. President Bill Clinton was saved by the Cyborg Superman and officially endorsed him as the real Superman. Lois, however, endorsed Steel, believing he was the closest to the ideal of Superman.
One impostor, the artifact known as the Eradicator that had battled Superman in the past, had actually returned and went to Superman's tomb to try to use his body as a new vessel. Sensing Superman's soul was still lingering inside, the artifact fashioned a new body from concrete in Superman's image and placed Kal-El's body in a regeneration matrix that was bombarded with sunlight, in hopes of controlling him once he was revived. Despite this plan, the Eradicator accidentally convinced itself it really was Superman. [59]
Superman returns
When Superman was finally revived in the Fortress, he was weak and powerless but traveled to Metropolis anyway. When he arrived, he was met by Lex Luthor II, Lois, and others, who were shocked when a black-suited Superman emerged and announced he was the real Superman.[60] Upon learning that Coast City had just been destroyed by the Cyborg Superman, the real Superman joined with Superboy, Supergirl, and Steel to do battle with the Cyborg. In the fight, Clark learned Cyborg Superman's true identity - Hank Henshaw - and that Henshaw had planned to impersonate the hero and destroy the world, ruining Superman's legacy. With all his might returning to him, Clark defeated Cyborg Superman. [61]
Superman returned to Metropolis and had to convince the city that he was the real Superman - for real this time. Unfortunately, he had to "reacquire" the right to the name and symbol "Superman," but after helping the young Superboy come to terms with his origins as a clone of Clark and accept himself as "Superboy", the kid declared Clark once and for all the real Superman.[62]
Superman, with the help of the shapeshifting Supergirl, managed to come up with a plausible way of "resurrecting" Clark Kent, who had not been seen since Superman's death. Supergirl took Clark's form, and Superman proceeded to "find" Clark in the rubble of a destroyed building. Jimmy got a picture of Superman and Clark side-by-side, proving to the world they were different people.
After weeks of returning to business as usual saving Metropolis, Superman received a tip that the monster that killed him - Doomsday - was not dead and was being housed on Apokolips. Suffering from nightmares of the creature, Superman went to Apokolips for a rematch. Superman pursued Doomsday when he escaped Apokolips to the planet Calaton and fought the beast to a standstill. Luckily, Superman was able to teleport Doomsday into the distant future—just before the universe came to an end. This allowed him to find a little peace of mind, although he regretted the creature's apparent death.[63]
Clone Wars and the Battle for Metropolis
Superman vs. Bizarro
Lex Luthor, whose cloned body was slowly decaying, attempted to clone Superman again using Dr. Teng's procedure, resulting in a second Bizarro Superman. Thinking that he was the real Superman, this Bizarro escaped from Luthor and kidnapped Lois Lane. Lois managed to escape from "Bizarro World," a warehouse where Bizarro had attempted to recreate Metropolis in his own warped way. His memories fragmented, Bizarro flew to Smallville and tried kidnapping Lana Lang, not understanding why she resisted him. Superman arrived and drove Bizarro back to Metropolis[64] where Luthor reclaimed the clone and killed it.[65]
At the same time, Superman noticed his powers had begun to grow out of control; his was absorbing far too much energy from the sun, and his size and powers grew exponentially. After several failed attempts at controlling the situation, Superman was only cured after allowing the Parasite to purge him of the excess energy.[66]
Luthor, blaming Project Cadmus for his deteriorating clone body, orchestrated an all-out war between the Project and the Underworlders. The conflict spilled out onto the streets of Metropolis, and even Superman had trouble containing it. Luthor went even further, detonating bombs all over the city, prompting an evacuation. Luthor and his army of clones discovered too late that their war was in vain, and that the fallout from the missiles used to fight Cyborg-Superman in Engine City was really to blame. Using Guardian's DNA, Cadmus was able to create a cure, saving the lives of Superboy and the Newsboy Legion. Luthor ordered his army to try to steal the cure, nearly destroying Cadmus.[67]
The Fall of Metropolis
Luthor's schemes are revealed to the world on live TV, thanks to the efforts of Lois Lane and Dr. Gertrude Kelly. Luthor threatened to launch missiles into the heart of Metropolis, but Superman talked him down. Another soldier, however, launched them anyway, devastating most of the city, including destroying all of the major skyscrapers. At this point, Luthor was finally taken into custody.[68]
Metropolis would lay in ruins for several weeks, having to contend with several "safeguards" left in place by Lex Luthor (giant robots, hallucinogenic gases, etc.) as well as Luthor himself, having escaped the police, wielding Superman's own discarded Kryptonian war suit. Luthor was captured again, and his condition worsened to the point he was left in a vegetative state.[69][70]
Thanks to Zatanna magic and Superman's might, Metropolis was restored to its former glory.[71]
Conduit and the Mystery of the Tomb
During a fight with Conduit, a new villain who hated both Superman and Clark Kent separately, Superman's former tomb in Centennial Park was destroyed, and it was discovered that there was a dead body inside that looked just like Superman. This caused the world to wonder if the Superman protecting their city was a fraud.[72] Superman investigates who of his villains would have pulled off such a hoax but, after interrogating them, eliminates Luthor, the Eradicator, Darkseid, and Mister Mxyzptlk as suspects.
Superman's grip on reality began to break down, causing his behavior to become more erratic. All of this was because the real culprit was Brainiac, who had recovered from his being formerly lobotomized and returned to Earth.[73] When Superman finally learned the truth, he confronted Brainiac in the streets of Metropolis before the villain fled.[74]
Lois and Clark Reunited
Weeks later, Superman's life was turned upside down when Conduit learned that the two men he hated most - Superman and Clark Kent - were the same person. Conduit blew up the Kent's farmhouse, kidnapped Jimmy Olsen, attacked Lana Lang, and confronted Superman himself.[75] After Conduit apparently kills Lois and the Kents, Clark, in his rage, declared that he would no longer be Superman, violently ripping his suit off and incinerating it with his heat vision.[76]
Conduit challenged Superman to a one-on-one battle in a mock-version of Smallville, but his rage during the fight resulted in Conduit "self destructing."[77] After the fight, Superman learned that the Kents and Lois had not actually been killed, and that their deaths had been faked. Clark reunited with his parents and questioned whether he needed a secret identity if it put his loved ones in danger. However, after a conversation with Lois put things in perspective, he realized how much he would be giving up by not being Clark Kent.[78]
The Tribunal's Trial of Superman
After a battle with the Parasite leaves him near death, Superman was arrested by Brute at the behest of an intergalactic group known as the Tribunal. Superman was brought into space and put on trial for the destruction of Krypton. The Tribunal argued that it was Superman's ancestor's fault that Krypton was destroyed and, because they believed that the sins of the father should be paid by their sons, found him guilty for the planet's destruction.[79]
The Alpha Centurion rallied together a Superman Rescue Squad while Superman managed a jail break with some fellow prisoners. [80] After several adventures in space, Superman and the Rescue Squad all ended up on the Tribunal's home world, each captured by the Cyborg Superman, working for the Tribunal. When the Cyborg betrayed the Tribunal, Superman saved all its members, despite their guilty verdict, because it was the right thing to do. The Tribunal decided to "commute his sentence" and sentenced him to never give up his "never-ending battle." Superman and the team returned to Earth triumphant. [81]
Broken Engagement
A tough breakup
Even though Lex Luthor (fully recovered from his failing clone body thanks to a deal with Neron) was on the run, Superman's life was still troubled. After a number of factors, Lois broke off their longtime engagement.[82] One of the reasons that lead to Lois' decision was the fact that Superman refused to kill the Joker when her own life was threatened by the clown.
Superman reluctantly accepted that their relationship was over and went to Smallville to deal with his feelings with his parents.[83]
Superman also had to contend with the return of Brainiac, who switched his mind into Superman's and Superman's into the body of a young mental patient, Chas Cassidy, before briefly capturing all of Metropolis. He used the citizens of the city as a vast data storage unit until Superman—in Chas's body—was able to breach his fortress. Now in seperate bodies, Superman and Chas were able to put everybody back in their right bodies and save the city.[84]
Lois, frustrated that she had become so reliant on Superman, decided to take a foreign correspondent position overseas and parted with Clark on good terms.[85] Not long after, Perry White revealed to Clark that he would be taking a leave of absence because he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. In his absence, Perry promoted Clark to his position as lead editor of the Daily Planet. On the same night, Superman encountered Obsession, who went on a rampage after Superman did not return her affection, causing him to wonder if he had been smothering Lois in the same way at the end of their relationship.[86]
Tolos, an alien wizard Superman encountered while on the run from the Tribunal, arrived on Earth and attempted to collect Superman in his bottle city of Kandor.[87] Superman managed to defeat the wizard but was unable to free the Kandorians from their prison.[88] When the field around Kandor began to destabilize, Superman took the bottled city to the Fortress of Solitude (which had been rebuilt after its destruction by a single surviving Kryptonian robot), hoping to find something to save the city.[89]
Superman's powers were briefly lost when the Earth's sun was threatened by the Sun-Eater, forcing Earth's heroes to band together to reignite it. [90]
The Wedding and Beyond
The Wedding of Clark Kent and Lois Lane
After the world ending threat with the sun had been resolved, Lois returned from her time abroad and reconciled with Clark; the two decided to resume their engagement and get married right away. Lucy Lane threw Lois a bridal shower and a bachelorette party, while Clark had a bachelor party thrown at the Ace O' Clubs. Jimmy Olsen and Lucy Lane were chosen as best man and maid of honor. Perry White attended the wedding ceremony, but unfortunately didn't feel well enough to make the reception. Batman revealed that an apartment building where Lois wanted to rent was owned by Bruce Wayne, and so, as a wedding gift, allowed for Clark and Lois to move into the building.[91]
Lois and Clark went on a honeymoon in Hawaii, where Clark was kidnapped by terrorists, and Lois had to come to his rescue.[92]
In the meantime, Superman's old foes formed a Superman Revenge Squad and, when he returned, went after him but still did not probe a threat to Big Blue.[93]
After a menace from Know Man and an invasion by the White Martians, Superman was one of the seven charter members of the newly reformed JLA.[94]
Superman Red and Blue
Superman experienced a weird power fluctuation that rendered him in the form of pure energy. Needing a containment suit, he found that he was considerably faster, intangible, and able to interact with computers in this energy form. He also lost his vulnerability to Kryptonite. However, he found that he was weaker to energy disruption and lost his super strength. Furthermore, when he changed back into Clark Kent, he was rendered powerless.[95]
At this time, Perry White returned to the Daily Planet, his cancer now in remission, and Clark returned to his position as a reporter.[96]
Superman Red
Superman Blue
Morgan Edge created a new Superman Revenge Squad and sicked them on Superman. Jimmy Olsen, meanwhile, believed he had figured out his best friend Superman's secret identity and planned to announce it on television.[97] Jimmy chickened out though and falsely announced that Superman did not have a secret identity, which caused him to be fired.[98]
The Cyborg Superman and the Toyman joined forces in an attempt to destroy Superman's energy form, but instead Superman was split into a second form - the aggressive Superman Red and the calmer Superman Blue.[99]
A race of monsters known as the Millennium Giants were summoned on Earth that began to march over the world, causing havoc and destruction, obliterating the city of Thiena Na Oge and most of the nation of Markovia in their path. The JLA rallied to take up the fight, and the two Supermen were finally able to destroy the giants, risking their lives in the process.[100] Not only was the Earth saved, but Superman was restored to his original singular form with all his original powers.[101]
King of the World
Superman had another rematch with Doomsday around this time. After a battle with Superman had ruined his body, Brainiac managed to retrieve Doomsday and download his mind into the brute's body. With his new power, he easily took down the Justice League. While delivering Lana Lang's baby to a hospital after she had given birth prematurely, Superman was ambushed by Brainiac/Doomsday, who kidnapped the baby to grow a new clone for himself. Fortunately, Superman was able to stop this plan, save the baby, and eject Brainiac from Doomsday. Brainiac was forced into a new robotic body, and Doomsday was taken to the moon, broken apart into pieces, and stored away.[102]
Hard times fell on the Daily Planet, and the owners reluctantly sold the company to Lex Luthor — who promptly closed its doors and fired nearly everyone.[103] Out of work, Clark decided to resume his book-writing career but was horrified to find that the fictional situations he wrote about were actually coming true.[104] [105] Superman essentially abandoned his life as Clark Kent, patrolling the Earth 24/7, paranoid of his own prophetic thoughts. Believing even this dedication wasn't enough, Superman built an army of Superman robots to help him with his goal.
Around this time, Superman offered Superboy, his partial clone, the genuine Kryptonian name of a distant relative of his, "Kon-El," believing the two were like family. Superboy gratefully accepted.[106]
A tyrant for peace
When Superman believed that Lex Luthor had been attempting to create synthetic Kryptonite, the Man of Steel sliced LexCorp Tower in half, casting the top half into outer space. The SCU tried to arrest him, but Superman refused to allow them to. The JLA intervened and agreed that Superman crossed a line.[107] The JLA were unable to defeat his army of Superman robots to apprehend him and, during the battle, the truth of Superman's recent behavior were made clear — he has been manipulated the villain Dominus![108]
While the U.N. declared war on Superman, Lois Lane managed to break into the Fortress of Solitude and free Superman from the spell Dominus had on him.[109] Dominus regained control though, and, while a horde of Superman robots attacked the U.N. Building, Luthor caused the orbiting half of his old tower (laced with synthetic Kryptonite) to crash down on the Fortress, shattering its defenses and reducing it to ruins.[110] Superman broke his hold from Dominus and banished the supervillain to the Phantom Zone once and for all.[111]
Superman was back to normal, but the world was still uneasy. Many people no longer trusted him, some questioning if he was indeed the real Superman while others feared that he could lose control again. Superman realized that he would have to win back people's trust one day at a time.[112] When Brainiac 2.5 returned to Earth, planning on destroying the planet, Superman saved the day once again and firmly regained the public's trust.[113]
The New Millennium and Y2K
Near the end of the millennium, Lex Luthor sold the Daily Planet to Bruce Wayne for $1, but did not publicly disclose the reason for doing so. The real reason was that Lois Lane made a deal with him, promising to bury one story — no matter what it was — in exchange for him allowing the Planet to return. Lois kept this secret even from Clark. Everyone was hired back: Jimmy came back on as a photographer, Lois had her city beat back, and Clark was assigned as a foreign correspondent.
That same day, Mongul arrived on Earth seeking help from Superman to deal with a threat facing the entire galaxy — the threat of Imperiex. Superman began special training with Mongul. Concurrently, Jimmy discovered a photograph of Superman wearing a wedding band. Superman confided in Jimmy that he was actually married (though he did not say to whom) before going off into space with Mongul to battle Imperiex near Jupiter. The two succeeded in destroying the construct Imperiex was building to destroy the solar system. Predictably, Mongul then double-crossed Superman, but Superman had anticipated this and turned him over to Lobo. Unknown to Clark, the being defeated near Jupiter was not the true Imperiex but merely one of his thousands of drones.[114]
Superman battles Brainiac 13 to stop Y2K
On New Year's Eve 1999, Lex Luthor planned a spectacular party in Metropolis to usher in the New Year. Clark, Lois, and the Kents all attended. Unfortunately, Y2K actually occurred — all because of the arrival of Brainiac 2.5, who unleashed a computer virus that crippled the world's computers, leading all the world's heroes to desperately try to keep the peace as a worldwide blackout ensued. Superman and Green Lantern had to go into orbit to stop thousands of nuclear missiles launched when the blackout hit.[115]
Even though Earth's heroes managed to defeat Brain 2.5, a future version of Brainiac called Brainiac 13 came back in time to continue its earlier version's mission and forcefully "upgrade" the Earth. Brainiac 2.5, on the verge of death, downloaded its consciousness into Lex Luthor's daughter Lena Luthor.
Superman was only able to stop B13 by utilizing a Kryptonian battlesuit. However, while his plan had been to trap B13 in the suit, Lex Luthor made a deal with the supervillain to hand over his daughter (still housing Brainiac 2.5's essence) and allowed B13 to escape into space, in exchange for keeping Metropolis upgraded as the very real City of Tomorrow. Superman vowed to find Lena and rescue her — and to make Luthor pay.[116]
After the crisis, Superman worked with Steel to rebuild a brand new Fortress of Solitude in a pocket dimension. [117]
Superman briefly became deathly ill with a Kryptonite-cancer but the Atom, Steel, Superboy, and Supergirl shrank down and removed the tumor.[118]
Emperor Joker
Mister Mxyzptlk made his return shortly thereafter, causing his greatest disaster ever when he decided to visit the Joker at the Slab and was tricked into giving Joker 99.9 percent of his power. The Joker used the awesome power of Mister Mxyzptlk to remake the entire universe in his own twisted image.[119] Superman tried to rally the JLA and his other allies in a desperate struggle against the Joker, who was committed to first torturing all of creation and then hoping to destroy it. He brutally killed Superman's friends and loved ones before his eyes.
A surreal battle ensued before Superman managed to discover the "rule" that allowed him to finally defeat the Joker — the Joker could not exist without Batman. Everything was put back as it was, with no one remembering what had happened except for Superman. Batman, who had been horribly tortured by Joker over and over, also still remembered every minute of it, but Superman asked the Spectre to transfer the memories ... into the Joker.[120]
President Luthor and Krypto the Super-Dog
Luthor wins the Presidency
Lex Luthor, regarded as a national hero for his perceived role in the past several world-threatening crises, was elected President of the United States, with Pete Ross as his Vice President. With his arch-nemesis in the White House, Superman was understandably very upset. [121]
Superman encountered a rocket ship from his father Jor-El in the field near his parents' house in Smallville. The rocket contained a message detailing a different history of Krypton than the one he had learned when he was younger. Jor-El admitted in his message that he had lied about Krypton's history before so that he could more easily embrace his heritage growing up. Superman had trouble reconciling this new information, and, learning he could use the Phantom Zone to go back in time to Krypton, embarked on a journey to learn the truth.
Superman encountered a very different Krypton than the one he ever imagined but got along wonderfully with his parents and their pet, Krypto, until they were attacked by the fanatical General Zod. Superman and Lois fled back to Earth, accompanied by Krypto, who developed superpowers under Earth's sun.[122] Krypto proved a little too much for life in Metropolis however, and after a fight with Mongul in which the dog almost killed the villain, Superman decided to take Krypto to the Fortress and have a Super-Robot look after him.[123]
Our Worlds at War
Signs began to appear of an impending intergalactic war with Imperiex in which Earth was bound to get dragged into. The Justice League rallied in space, taking on Imperiex's scout drones, but were taken out one by one. Superman watched several of his friends fall and the apparent destruction of Atlantis.[124]
Every major superhero team on Earth began taking up arms against Imperiex. Even Superman fought side-by-side with Doomsday, the monster having been revived by Steel and the Suicide Squad on orders from President Luthor, with each destroying dozens of probes before the real Imperiex Prime arrived.[125] With battles against Impreiex drones taking place worldwide, Superman was distracted and missed his wife's call when her father General Sam Lane had been attacked at the White House. With Superman too busy protecting the Earth, Lois' father died. [126]
President Luthor suggested a desperate plan to stop the invasion: Superman would merge with the Strange Visitor and assault Imperiex Prime himself. Following through, the plan was successful, and Imperiex was seemingly destroyed.
New costume
However, the Warworld — under the command of Brainiac 13 — arrived and absorbed the energy of Imperiex, continuing the invasion. Brainiac 13 also convinced Apokolips that Earth had betrayed their peace treaty, causing Darkseid to start a second invasion of Earth as well.[127] Superman, distraught over all the death and destruction, flew into the sun and became super-charged. Using a plan that Superman himself came up with, Superman and Earth's allies boom tubed Warworld to the beginning of time, ending the war.[128]
Superman attempted to be sensitive to his wife, who was in a great amount of pain over the loss of her father, but was commonly distracted by the never-ending call of justice.
Superman would have to fight Jokerized versions of his enemies in a worldwide endgame plot organized by the Joker. [129]
Lois and her mother traveled extensively throughout Europe, including Rome and Venice. This prompted more than one person back home to wonder if there was trouble between Lois and Clark. Clark told Perry that Lois had asked for space following her father's death and that he was trying to honor that, though he grew anxious during their time apart.[130]
As Lois and her mother prepared to head back home, Lois stated that she didn't want to and wondered if she and Clark hated each other. Ella stated that she stuck by Sam because they could solve any problem together, and real marriages could last through any difficulty. Upon returning, Lois admitted to Clark that she held him responsible for her father's death but that she wanted to work through it with him and needed him, promising to not leave again.[131]
Never Ending Battle
Around this time, Superman helped his parents open up a new general store in downtown Smallville, and President Luthor deduced that Clark Kent was Superman.[132]
Lois Lane uncovered proof that Luthor knew about the Imperiex invasion long before it actually happened (meaning he could have called for evacuations and saved more lives) but Luthor, per their prior deal for the Daily Planet, ordered her to bury the story. Double crossing Luthor, Lois gave the story to Clark to write, thereby subverting their agreement. When the story came out, Luthor denied the allegations, and a mind scan by Martian Manhunter seemed to prove his innocence. Clark was publicly fired over the incident, but Perry secretly kept him on staff in order to further investigate Luthor.[133]
Manchester Black returned, and used his vast mind powers to orchestrate an all-out attack on Superman. Black mind-controlled an entire legion of super-villains to attack all of Superman's loved ones. Superman was forced to face all of his rogues to protect his family. Manchester Black apparently murdered Lois in an attempt to force Superman to kill him (and thereby prove Superman was no better than he was). However, for even in his grief, Superman refused. Black's ruse fell apart, and he revealed that Lois was still alive. Having given up on his fight against the Man of Steel, Black used his mind powers to remove the knowledge that Clark Kent was Superman from Luthor's mind, and then Black killed himself.[134]
Months after the incident, Lois discovered that Clark was still working for the Daily Planet in secret without telling her. Perry openly hired Clark back, but Lois used the opportunity to announce she was quitting to work for Channel 3 News.[135]
The Return of General Zod
Superman and President Luthor on the same side
Tracing a lead to a supervillain who had been organizing a plot against him for months, Superman confronted a man calling himself 'The General' before realizing this man was General Zod. Superman, having flashbacks to when he executed Zod years earlier, refused to believe that this man was actually him.
On the advice of the Martian Manhunter, Superman began to have therapy sessions with Dr. Claire Foster. With his therapist, he explored his fear of Zod and the danger he posed to his loved ones. Though he avoided confronting his enemy, nevertheless, he was called to action when he discovered Zod using Bizarro as a punching bag. [136]
General Zod finally initiated his ultimate plan against Superman - revealing that he somehow looked just like Clark. Zod transformed Earth's yellow sun into a red sun and specifically depowered the rest of Earth's heroes as well. Zod took over the US government, deposing President Luthor. With a common enemy, depowered Superman and President Luthor, as well as a slew of other depowered super villains, teamed up to defeat Zod.
While Superman battled Zod, Luthor and Metallo managed to return the sun to its proper color. Zod tried to get Superman to kill him again, but Superman refused. Zod was reckless in the fight and, as the sun turned yellow, accidentally killed himself in the fight, leaving Superman the victor. [137]
Superman later went to the future and battled a woman who pretended to be his daughter named Cir-El, who was actually an agent of Brainiac 12. When Superman returned to the present, he had realized he had landed in an altered timeline. [138]
The Vanishing
 Superman and his supporting cast had their origins revised in the Superman: Birthright series written by Mark Waid in 2003. This rewrote the previous definitive origin story, John Byrne's 1986 mini-series The Man of Steel, to include more elements from the Silver Age character. It would remain in continuity until Infinite Crisis in 2006 established Geoff Johns' Superman: Secret Origin. |
One day, after being called out into space to help Green Lantern, Superman returned to find one million people missing from Earth — including Lois. Superman referred to this event as the "Vanishing". Tracing the catalyst to the Middle East, Superman found a city in the midst of a civil war, antagonized by a man named General Nox. Nox owned the machine responsible for the Vanishing and activated it again, causing himself and 3,000 more people to vanish.
A man claiming to work for the government, Mr. Orr, demanded that Superman turn over the device, but Superman refused. The Man of Steel had realized that the Vanishing was caused by a device he originally created should anything ever happen to Earth — it created a "perfect" city inside a pocket of the Phantom Zone and would teleport a portion of Earth's population there (including Lois). Superman discovered Earth's missing people safe and sound, besides the entire plot being a trap set by General Zod. Superman escaped Zod's attack and returned everyone back to Earth.
After this, Superman built a new Fortress of Solitude in the Amazon Jungle.[139]
Clark resumed his normal job at the Daily Planet — but suffered a demotion, with Jack Ryder as his replacement. Clark was angry at Lois, for she had known about it beforehand and did not tell him. Clark's new position involved him tracking Metropolis' special crimes unit, and Lois was assigned to do international reporting overseas.
Ruin
Lois, caught in the crossfire
While abroad covering the dangerous war in Umec, Lois and the squad she was with took fire from enemy combatants. In the crossfire, Lois was shot in the chest by an enemy sniper. Superman was there a moment later—to catch her as she fell and immediately flew her to the nearest medical encampment, where he waited while she underwent hours of surgery. Once Lois was stabilized, the JLA teleported her to the Watchtower where Doctor Mid-Nite worked on her further. Clark stayed at his wife's side the entire duration. Lois survived and recovered at home for a couple of months, surrounded by friends and family.
The villain Ruin, in a grand scheme against Clark, transformed a brother and sister into new versions of the Parasite. The twins attacked Lois at home, and Superman borrowed a suit of armor from Steel to confront the pair. Once the Parasites were dealt with, Superman learned Ruin's location and flew off alone to face him. Ruin managed to best Superman using red sunlight lamps to weaken him and escaped for a meeting with Lex Luthor, who told him to move to the next step of their plan.[140]
Relationship drama developed between Clark and Lois and Lana Lang, when Lana admitted to Clark that she had decided to divorce their childhood friend Pete Ross. Lana used the opportunity and tried to make Clark reconsider his own marriage because she was jealous of Lois. A feud between the two women broke out in the Kent residence in Smallville, and Ma Kent settled it by telling Lois not to take Clark for granted, and for Lana to back off. [141]
While simultaneously investigating who Ruin was with Batman and Wonder Woman, Superman was contacted by his friend and Vice President of the United States Pete Ross, unaware that his wife wanted to divorce him. Pete requested Clark to speak to Lana due to her strange behavior. In the same series of messages, Lois contacted Clark and said they should consider having a baby.
Clark talked to Lana again about stopping her divorce, but she had made up her mind. When Superman finally captured Ruin, he unmasked the villain to discover it was none other than - Pete Ross! Pete was taken to prison and beat up by other prisoners.
Clark went to talk to his friend alone and learned that Pete knew he was Superman (having learned the secret from Lex before it was wiped from his mind). Pete swore he was not the real Ruin and that he had been set up. Superman vowed to prove Pete's innocence, but, when the prison suddenly suffered a power outage, Pete Ross disappeared. [142]
The Supergirl From Krypton
Superman finds a long-lost family member
Another Kryptonian rocket fell to Earth similar to Clark's and was discovered by Batman and Superman. The pod's passenger was none other than Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin.[143] Despite Batman's suspicions, Clark was thrilled to meet Kara and was determined to take her in. Nonetheless, Wonder Woman, after listening to Harbinger's troubling prophecies, took Kara to Themyscira to keep her safe and train her.[144]
Diana's fears proved to be justified when Darkseid's troops invaded Paradise Island and kidnapped Kara.[145] Outraged, the trinity traveled to Apokolips where Darkseid has brainwashed Kara into becoming his newest Female Fury.[146] Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman forced Darkseid to give Kara back.[147] After a tough battle, Superman pinned Darkseid to the Source Wall to protect his cousin, and Kara officially took on the mantle of Supergirl. [148]
Infinite Crisis
Main article: Infinite Crisis
Mind-controlled Superman fights Wonder Woman
Superman discovered that Brainiac was mind controlling Lois — or so he thought. After a battle with Brainiac in the Fortress of Solitude, Superman was surprised to find human blood on his hands. The JLA and the JSA turned up, ordering Superman to surrender himself for what he had done.[149] Something was obviously wrong, because Superman tried to remember what happened but misremembered his battle with Brainiac as being with Darkseid. The JLA concluded that Superman was being manipulated by someone, because the person he had actually beaten in the Fortress of Solitude was Batman, now clinging to life. [150]
The League determined that Maxwell Lord was responsible for manipulating Superman using mind control. Just then, Lord controlled Superman to attack Wonder Woman, forcing Diana to fight for her life. Wonder Woman held her own, even stunning Superman at certain points, but even if she managed to win, Max Lord swore he would control Superman again, never stopping. In a quick decision, Diana snapped Max's neck — an event recorded by the Brother Eye satellite and broadcasted around the world. Superman was freed — but at a terrible price.[151]
In Metropolis, the world was unsure of how to react to the tape of Wonder Woman killing Lord; even Superman had mixed emotions, becoming cold towards Diana. Lois supported Wonder Woman's decision, having deduced that when she was accidentally shot in Umec was probably actually an intentional hit placed on her by Lord. [152]
Superman discovered that the Justice League Watchtower had been destroyed, and the Justice League was in disarray. The League was on edge with each other after the events with Lord, with Batman saying the last time Superman inspired anything was when he died. With hurt feelings all around, the heroes parted ways indefinitely.
When Superman returned to Metropolis, he found Mister Mxyzptlk in the form of an old man lying in the gutter. Mxyzptlk's magic was not working right, and the two teamed up to capture the real Ruin, who had reappeared in Metropolis and whose identity was still unknown. Using all the clues, Clark finally realized that Ruin was in fact his good friend and science expert Emil Hamilton. Having solved the mystery, Superman battled Ruin once again, seemingly for the final time, as Hamilton held Pete Ross and Lana Lang captive. Though Hamilton prepared to sacrifice himself to destroy half of Metropolis with a bomb in his suit, Superman stopped him, brought him to justice, and fulfilled his promise to Pete Ross to find the man who framed him. [153]
New Earth Superman vs. Earth-Two Superman.
As the ongoing crisis continued, Superman heard a scream from Earth-Two, and, flying there, found that Earth's Kal-L, standing over the body of Earth-Two Lois Lane, who had just died. Kal-L blamed Kal-El for her death and attacked her, leading to a brutal fight across the Earth-Two Metropolis. The fight was finally stopped when Wonder Woman arrived, grabbing Kal-L in her Lasso. She and Kal-El helped him see the truth—that Alexander Luthor was really pulling the strings.[154]
Alexander Luthor, whose goal was to create the "perfect universe", had his plan halted because of a battle between Superboy and the evil Superboy-Prime. Superboy ultimately died from the fight before Superman could arrive, and the loss affected Clark deeply. Alexander's universe meddling disrupted history, causing some changes to Superman's past.
Superboy-Prime, driven totally insane by this point, decided the only solution was to destroy this universe completely by flying straight through Oa at lightspeed. In deep space, Guy Gardner and a coalition of Green Lanterns managed to stop him long enough for Kal-El and Kal-L to grab him. The two Supermen flew him to Krypton's solar system—and straight through its red sun. Prime's powers were failing, but he still managed to beat Kal-L, fatally injuring him. Kal-El tore the S-shield off Prime's chest and knocked him out before collapsing. The Green Lanterns took the unconscious Superboy-Prime and arrested him. Kal-L died in Power Girl's arms, and Kal-El was taken back to Earth, at least hopeful that they had once again saved the universe.[155]
One Year Later
After living a normal human life as Clark Kent for a year, Superman's powers suddenly came back. When he returned to action as the Man of Steel, there was much public speculation as to whether or not he was an impostor. However, his daring actions, broadcast across the globe, while driving the Auctioneer from Earth, convinced the world that he was the real deal.[156]
The sorcerer Arion came to Metropolis to implore Superman to stop fighting for the benefit of mankind, saying that he was disrupting the proper course of human history by pushing back an inevitable devastating event, and in the process, causing that event to be much worse, resulting in the end of civilization. This revelation troubled the Man of Steel, and caused him to consider his place in the world.[157]
Arion gave Superman two weeks to consider stop being a Superman, and prevent that disaster from occurring. In those two weeks, Superman helped Lightray and Fastbak to control a group of teenage New Gods during a field trip on Earth. The teenage gods had begun causing trouble in Metropolis, and Superman discovered that Arion was the one who set the teenage gods in a rampage in the first place.[158]
After the two-week period ended, Superman informed Arion of his choice to continue being a Superman. However, Arion cast a mind-control spell on Superman, planning to use him as a weapon against other alien heroes. But Superman managed to resist the spell, and went after Arion, who began unleashing a massive disaster on the world. Phantom Stranger told Superman that Arion had unleashed the very disaster he was trying to prevent.[159]
Superman and Phantom Stranger went to the future, where they saw the disaster had wiped out humanity. Phantom Stranger told Superman that if he were to accept Arion's suggestion, humanity would survive the disaster, but at the cost of a significant amount of wisdom. So, Phantom Stranger told Superman that he had to find another way. Superman and Phantom Stranger returned to the present, and Phantom Stranger gave Superman a magic shield to protect himself from Arion's attacks. Superman found Arion's lair in the Atlantic Ocean. After a lengthy fight, Superman defeated Arion and handed him to the authorities.[160]
Last Son
Main article: Superman: Last Son
A young boy, seemingly from Krypton, landed in Metropolis in a ship. Although initially the government worked with Superman on studying him, they later moved the boy without informing the Man of Steel. Angered, Clark hijacked the truck transporting the child and took him.[161] Lois and Clark decided to take the boy in as their son, naming him Christopher.[162][citation needed]
When General Zod and numerous other Kryptonian criminals broke free from the Phantom Zone, he sent Superman there.[163]
Zod was defeated when Superman was able to break free of the Zone. Zod was stunned to find that his own biological son Lor-Zod rejected him, preferring Kal-El and his wife as his parents. Confronted with this betrayal, Kal-El decided to accept the boy as his own and along with his wife Lois are raising the boy on Earth as their own. Later, Chris sealed himself in the Phantom Zone to prevent Zod from conquering Earth.
Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes
Main article: Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes
Superman was reunited with some of the members of the Legion of Super-Heroes when they travelled back in time to bring Wally West back. Sometime later, Superman battled a Brainiac robot, until it proved to contain a message from Brainiac 5 of the Legion. The message read that Superman should go to the 31st century again.[164] While Superman was there, he discovered that the sun had turned red, thus he lost his powers. Earth had also become a place that did not welcome aliens at all, due to the fact that a warped version of Superman's origin was spread (in which Superman was not from Krypton, but from Earth) and the origin's messengers, the Justice League of Earth, led by Earth-Man.
Brainiac
Superman finally uncovers the truth about Brainiac.
Main article: Superman: Brainiac
The Daily Planet is having a meeting, introducing the new members of the Daily Planet, including Cat Grant, Steve Lombard and Ron Troupe. Clark hears a mysterious noise with his super hearing and goes to investigate as Superman. He discovers the noise was a Brainiac drone, sent to try to locate Superman. Superman promptly defeats the drone and takes it back to the Fortress of Solitude.[165] With help from Supergirl, it is revealed that Superman has never truly fought Brainiac before, and all earlier encounters Superman has ever had with Brainiac has been with one of his probes. It is also revealed that Kara was on Krypton when Brainiac stole Kandor, and because of this, she is terrified of Brainiac.
After visiting the Kents, Superman goes flying all through the galaxy in an attempt to track down Brainiac. He discovers his probes on one planet, and witnesses Brainiac capture a city as he did with Kandor. Brainiac also fires a missile into that planet's sun, causing the sun to explode and destroy the planet. The explosion knocks Superman unconscious and he is brought upon Brainiac's ship.[166]
When Superman awakens, he escapes and makes his way around Brainiac's ship. There, he discovers a room full of thousands of bottled cities, including Kandor. At this point, the true Brainiac reveals himself. It is revealed that Brainiac has been collecting information of all the planets he has been destroying and the next planet he decides to attack is Earth, including capturing Superman and Supergirl as the last remnants of Krypton. The Brainiac ship arrives over Metropolis and sends out probes to attack Metropolis, while everyone, including Supergirl, does their best to fend them off.[167] Meanwhile Superman fights with Brainiac. After knocking him out, Superman hears a voice that sounds distinctly like his father; it turns out it is the voice of Zor-El, Supergirl's father, who is alive inside the bottled city of Kandor.
As Superman and Zor-El talk, Brainiac attacks Superman from behind. Supergirl is also caught at this point and brought upon Brainiac's ship just as Metropolis is encased in a bottle and a solar-aggressor missile is fired toward the sun.[168] Superman is unconscious and held captive by the ship, being hooked up to all the bottled cities, hearing their cry for help. Superman escapes and attacks Brainiac, before taking the bottled Metropolis and Kandor, he then frees Supergirl and convinces her to stop the solar-aggressor from hitting the sun, which would cause it to go supernova. Superman then attacks Brainiac and knocks him out of the ship, forcing Brainiac to land on Earth.
Brainiac is overwhelmed by Earth bacteria and micro-organisms. As a result, he cannot control anything on Earth and is promptly defeated by Superman. However, Brainiac reveals that the cities cannot be sustained outside of the ship, and Superman flies off and returns Metropolis before flying to the Arctic and releasing Kandor to its normal size. Supergirl also manages to stop the Sun from being destroyed. However, Brainiac has one final trick left. After reading Superman's mind while he was kidnapped, he knows where Superman's parents live, and he promptly fires a missile that explodes on the Kent farm. Although no one is hurt by the explosion itself, Jonathan Kent suffers a fatal heart attack and dies, just as Clark arrives.[169]
During Jonathan Kent's funeral, Clark looks over and sees Bruce Wayne and Alfred are standing under a tree nearby.
Final Crisis
Main article: Final Crisis
Superman plays a major role during the Final Crisis.
As Libra, the prophet of Darkseid, makes his bid to take over the Secret Society of Super-Villains, Luthor says that the only way Libra could get his respect is to take Superman out of commission. Shortly afterwards, Clayface, disguised as Jimmy Olsen, bombs the Daily Planet, severely injuring and killing several staff members and leaving Lois in critical condition.[170] As Lois is taken to the hospital, Clark manages to keep her heart beating with his heat vision. As Clark whispers that he would do anything to save his wife, he is suddenly confronted by Monitor Zillo Valla, who insists that Superman must depart Earth immediately if he is to save his wife's life.[171]
Zillo stops time around Lois, allowing Superman to leave her side for a while, but warning him that while they should have all the time they need, after time returns to normal Lois' heart will beat only once without Superman's help. She promises a drop of Bleed, the extradimensional substance in which the Multiverse grows, to heal Lois should their mission succeed. Exiting reality, Superman finds himself aboard the Carrier Ultima Thule, instinctively discovering his capability to access 4-D vision to perceive the situation. Fighting off a corrupted Monitor nanotech probe - titanic by moral scale - and leaving it in the remains of Earth-51, he is introduced to his allies, fellow Supermen Captain Marvel of Earth-5, the "Quantum Superman" of Earth-4 Captain Allen Adam, guilt-ridden Overman of the Nazi-dominated Earth-10, and his antimatter twin Ultraman. Eventually finding themselves in Limbo, where Merryman takes them to the Library of Limbo, its sole book containing infinite pages. Together, Superman and Captain Marvel are able to lift the infinite weight, allowing them to learn of the story of the Overmonitor, the all-encompassing megabeing in which the Multiverse grew, into which it sent the Monitors; its initial incursion into reality left a mark on creation in the form of a silent, titanic sentinel in the shape of Superman himself. As they learn of the original Monitor, Dax Novu, and his attempt to chain the destroyer Mandrakk, feedback knocks both of them out of the story, returning Captain Marvel to Billy Batson. Before he has time to react, Superman learns that Zillo Valla has drained Overman of blood to sustain herself, and Ultraman, holding the Infinite Book, declares himself Mandrakk's prophet as the sky shatters.[172]
As Limbo rises up to fight back against its attackers, Ultraman confronts Superman, threatening that if their matter/antimatter particles mix it will destroy them both, but Captain Marvel returns to break them up. As the drugs designed to dampen Captain Adam's quantum senses wear off, he realizes what must be done, combining the essences of Superman and Ultraman, the energy generated enough to 'broadcast' the resultant being to the higher dimension of Nil, home of the Monitors. Possessing the Superman Giant left by the Overmonitors' contact with reality, Superman discovers that the Monitors are a race of cosmic vampires feeding on the Bleed to sustain themselves, with Dax Novu having in the process become Mandrakk. After facing off against the Dark Monitor and casting it out of creation to the realm of the Overvoid, Superman is informed by the Monitors that he has been tricked; it is impossible to contain or bottle Bleed. Splintering back into Superman and Ultraman upon the return to material reality, Superman, Overman and Captain Marvel destroy the last of Mandrakk's ships. Returning to his Earth Superman has in fact managed to bring a distilled drop of The Bleed, and administered it through a kiss to Lois, restoring her to full health, as the Monitors, saying nothing could do it, were wrong: Superman can.[173]
After saving Lois, Superman is transported to the 31st century by the Legion of Super-Heroes. As he arrives in the Legion clubhouse, the Legionnaires show him an image of Takron-Galtos with an S-shield burning in its surface, explaining that a riot caused every prisoner to be released. Cosmic Boy tells Superman that a similar incident happened in Smallville. Then, Phantom Girl shows him an image of the culprit, and Superman realizes that it is Superboy-Prime. Superman explains to the Legion about Prime's origins, saying that he is from a parallel universe.
To combat this new threat, Brainiac 5 suggests contacting the Legions from two parallel worlds. Mon-El supports the plan, but Superman believes that the only way to stop Prime is by redeeming him.[174]
Some of the Legionnaires, including Lightning Lad, disagree with this idea. Lightning Lad suggests breaking the Legion code and killing Prime, but Cosmic Boy disagrees. The discussion between the two then becomes a fight, until Cosmic Boy says that the reason he became the leader of the Legion is because he wanted everyone but him to have a life outside the team.
Then, White Witch, Blok, Wildfire and Dawnstar appear right before everyone's eyes. Blok and Dawnstar explain that White Witch teleported them from Sorcerer's World, except for Rond Vidar, who is fighting Prime and the Legion of Super-Villains.
Mon-El suggests going to Sorcerer's World but Lightning Lad replies that they won't make it in time if they use their ship. Cosmic Boy asks White Witch if she can teleport them, and she says she can. Suddenly, White Witch feels the death of Vidar. Dawnstar then senses that the Legion of Super-Villains, along with Earth-Man and the Justice League, are headed for Earth. Brainiac takes a team to find an artifact in the Justice League's headquarters in Happy Harbor, Rhode Island, while Superman and the rest of the Legion faces off against the Legion of Super-Villains.[175]
As the fight continues, Superman tries to reason with Prime, reminding him of his life in Earth-Prime before the First Crisis, but Prime burns a hole in his hand with his heat vision and continues attacking him. Suddenly, Brainiac 5 appears with the Post-Zero Hour Legion and the Earth-Prime Legion, turning the tide. M'Onel and Andromeda help Superman in the fight against Prime. However, Prime escapes them.[176]
Superman wraps the injury in his hand with a piece of his cape. With Prime's temporary retreat from the battle, Superman fights Mordru. Suddenly, Superman sees an explosion coming from the clubhouse and goes to help. Then, he realizes that Brainiac 5 brought Kid Flash back to life. Suddenly, a portal opens behind Superman and a giant hand grabs him along with Lighting Lad, Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl, taking them to the end of time.
There, they encounter the Time Trapper, who reveals that since the First Crisis, he wanted to destroy Superman, and although he attempted to erase any true memory of Superboy from the Legion, he still could not erase him. So he decided to replace him, and he has brought the three founders of the Legion to witness the end of the Superman dynasty. Suddenly, the Time Trapper blasts them with an energy burst.
Superman then witnesses Superboy's return to life and encourages the Legionnaires to fight the Time Trapper. After the four attack the Time Trapper, Superman rips his hood and the four heroes discover that the Trapper is in fact an aged Superboy-Prime.[177]
Superman and the Time Trapper fight, and Superman tells him that he won't gain anything by holding onto hate. In the 31st century, Superboy blasts Prime in the chest, causing a burn to appear in the Time Trapper's chest. Lightning Lad and Cosmic Boy bring the three Legions to the end of time, and they all knock the Time Trapper out. Superman and the founding Legionnaires then return to the 31st century with the Time Trapper. As soon as he sees the Time Trapper, Prime becomes repulsed by what he will become, so he punches the Trapper, causing both to cease to exist. Superman and Superboy reunite and the two Legions return to their respective universes.[178]
Superman destroys Darkseid's essence.
Before returning to his own time, as the reality-shattering impact of the current Crisis begins to affect the future, Superman is given a brief glimpse of the reality-altering Miracle Machine by Brainiac 5. Lois and Jimmy use a signal watch in hopes Seprman will notcie upon returning. When he does return to the present wrecked by Darkseid, he flies into a rage and easily smashes away the Female Furies, before attacking Darkseid's bunker finding Batman's charred corpse within.[179] Darkseid informs how he will take control of the whole world and mocks that he will make him the enemy of all existence. Superman nearly kills him, but hesitates when he realizes that Darkseid is possessing Dan Turpin, allowing the Anti-Life slaves to surround him. Superman then witnesses Darkseid fire the Radion bullet that earlier killed Orion through time, and also Darkseid's defeat when Barry Allen and Wally West led the Black Racer to him. As reality breaks down around him and the universe slowly dies, Superman, with the help of the rest of the remaining superheroes and humanity, completes construction of a copy of the Miracle Machine.
Darkseid's essence attempts to claim the Miracle Machine in a last ditch effort to defeat Superman. However, Superman sings a note at a frequency that counters Darkseid's own vibrational frequency, shattering his essence. At this point, Mandrakk, now in the form of Monitor Rox Ogama, arrives alongside a now vampiric Ultraman to consume Superman, the last and greatest Protector of Life, at his weakest, explaining that Darkseid's fall, return and ultimate demise have worn the fabric of creation enough for him to invade it. He taunts Superman with reminders of his father Jor-El's own inability to save his world, saying he has nothing to start the Miracle Machine with, so Superman should come to Mandrakk and embrace the death of everything. Superman replies that he's had better offers, and uses the remaining solar energy in his body to power the Miracle Machine, making a single wish. Then, exiled Monitor Nix Uotan arrives, bringing the forces of the Zoo Crew of Earth-26, the Super Young Team become Forever People of the 5th World, and the angels of the Pax Dei, while Captain Marvel brings the collective Supermen of the Multiverse. The Supermen vaporize Ultraman, while the rest battle Mandrakk's shadow demons, weakening Mandrakk enough for the Green Lanterns to break through and kill Mandrakk with a spike created from their rings. As the heroes present repair the Multiverse and restore Earth to its proper position, ending the Final Crisis, Nix Uotan reveals to his love Weeja Dell in the last moments of Nil's existence that Superman's wish was for a happy ending.[180]
New Krypton
Main article: Superman: New Krypton
The entire city of Kandor now resides near the Fortress of Solitude in the North Pole, populated by 100,000 Kryptonians. Although distracted by the recent death of his adoptive father, Jonathan Kent, Superman attempts to aid the Kryptonians in their assimilation with the rest of the Earth—something very few Kryptonians seem interested in, including the city's leaders, Zor-El and Alura, Supergirl's parents. After the first televised meeting between the President of the United States and a delegation from Kandor is interrupted by a rampaging Doomsday, Zor-El and Alura form a task force determined to preemptively end any future threat to Kandor by capturing Superman's worst villains and trapping them in the Phantom Zone. However, several human police officers are killed when they refuse to hand over the Parasite, enraging Superman.
At the same time, Lex Luthor, who has been recruited by General Sam Lane to halt the Kryptonian "invasion," gains control of Brainiac and unleashes his robot army from within the depths of the alien's spaceship, currently being held in Kandor. During the fight, Metallo and Reactron, who are working for Luthor and General Lane, are brought into Kandor as Trojan horses containing Kryptonite. Reactron manages to kill Supergirl's father, Zor-El. Alura's anger causes her to denounce humanity. Members of the Justice League and Justice Society arrive in Kandor, led by the Guardian, demanding the city turn over those who murdered the police officers, and a large-scale battle erupts, with Superman in the middle. It only ends when Kryptonian scientists manage to use Brainiac's technology to lift Kandor off the Earth and grow an entirely new planet underneath it, called "New Krypton," on the other side of the solar system, directly opposite the Earth, and therefore hidden by the sun. Alura tells Superman that he is not welcome on New Krypton, although Supergirl takes up residence there with her mother. In the end, Alura frees General Zod from the Phantom Zone to help her lead their people.
Kryptonian Military Guild
Commander El with Ursa and Non
Main article: Superman: World of New Krypton
Superman accepts his aunt Alura In-Ze's offer to begin a new life on New Krypton in exchange for renouncing his life on Earth, and places a Labor Guild member named Tyr-Van as his guide. Because of his superior mastery over their special abilities, he is drafted into the Kryptonian Military Guild as a Commander working directly underneath General Zod.[181] Kal is placed in charge of the Red Shard tactical response unit, and Asha Del-Nar is appointed as his XO. Placed under his command are Jeq-Vay, Kir-Ta, Non and Sem-Re.[182]
Following his successful handling of a hostage situation involving the Labor Guild demanding equality led by Tam-Or, he is forced to duel his fellow officer Commander Gor over a tactical humiliation and wins through superior technique.[183] The Green Lantern Corps is sent to New Krypton on a fact-finding mission; Hal Jordan, John Stewart and Sodam Yat assist the Red Shard in taking down Kryptonian serial killer Greyline who has escaped from the Phantom Zone. Kal and Asha are charged with treason for refusing to put the man to death and ceding him to the Lanterns' authority.[184] Dyn-Xe of the Artists Guild is appointed their defense counsel, and they are sentenced to death. Zod convinces the Religious Guild to grant him a pardon when he realizes that Kal is more than willing to die for his ideals if it will make the army stronger. Zod is shot through the chest during an assassination attempt.[185]
The shooter is identified as a patriotic soldier named Ral-Dar, although he escapes custody and travels to Earth; this forces Kal to become Superman again so he can pursue him with Supergirl during Codename: Patriot.[186] Superman and Mon-El meet Guardian and the Science Police to explain Ral-Dar's plot and the attempted assassination of Zod. Lois explains to Clark that Chris Kent has returned to Earth.[187] Superman and the Guardian brief the Science Police about Ral-Dar.[188] Superman pursues Ral-Dar all the way to Markovia, where the U.S. President is meeting with the Markovian president. Superman stops Ral-Dar, only to be confronted by General Lane with members of Squad K and his own troops, with kryptonite-infused weapons and Kryptonian battle-suits. Lane orders them to open fire, and the hail of bullets kills Ral-Dar. Superman demands answers, but is called away by Alura. Superman takes Ral-Dar's body and returns to New Krypton.[189]
Kal-El is temporarily promoted to General with Zod out of commission, and the council discusses going to war based on revelations that Ral-Dar's weapon was Earth-made. There is a massive military conflict involving a Thanagarian attack during a Kryptonian operation to take one of Jupiter's moons for their terra-forming.[190] General El mediates the conflict by opening diplomatic channels with wing-master Vetalla Dae, personally leading the Red Shard on a mission to save her ship.[191] Jemm, Son of Saturn is outraged at their rearrangement of the solar system, and is barely convinced not to declare war on Krypton.
Adam Strange is found in the home of a murdered councilor.[192] Strange explains that he arrived via Zeta Beam to protest New Krypton's charter with Thanagar on behalf of Rann, but he agrees to help General El solve the murder to prove his innocence.[193] Tam-Or is their main suspect, although Kal and Strange believe him to be framed. Zod recovers and returns to active duty; Gor charges them with aiding and abetting a fugitive, and attempts to execute them as traitors on the spot.[194] They escape death using another Zeta Beam, although Tam-Or is killed in the shooting. Zod demotes Gor and allows Strange to leave, initiating a deeper internal investigation.
Commander El discovers that the murders were caused by Wri-Qin, part of a cabal attempting to weaken Krypton internally on behalf of General Lane and Superwoman; they were led to believe that this would end the inevitable war sooner, and ultimately preserve Kryptonian lives. They had been promised power in the new order, and Qin had begun eliminating the other conspirators to secure more of it for himself. Kal's efforts to institute governmental change from within Kryptonian society finally have a positive effect, with Tyr-Van elected to become the first Labor Guild council representative.[195]
Blackest Night
Main article: Blackest Night
Clark temporarily leaves New Krypton to spend Thanksgiving with Martha, Conner and Krypto in Smallville. While Clark, Conner and Martha talk at the table, Krypto hears something outside. Superman and Superboy go to investigate, telling Krypto to stay in the farm and protect Martha. The two heroes go to the graveyard and find Kal-L, who has been transformed into a Black Lantern, taking Jonathan Kent's coffin out of the grave. Kal-L attacks them, but Superman and Superboy fight back.[196]
As Superman and Superboy fight Kal-L, Martha is held hostage by Earth-Two Lois Lane, who is also a Black Lantern. Superman tells Superboy to save Martha while he fights Kal-L. Superman tries to reason with Kal-L, but he refuses to listen. Suddenly, Psycho-Pirate, also a Black Lantern, appears and brainwashes Superboy, telling him to attack Superman.[197]
Superman is forced to fight Conner while defending himself from Kal-L. Superman tries to reason with Conner, but he simply keeps fighting. However, just when Kal-L is about to kill Superman, Superboy breaks free of Psycho-Pirate's control and attacks Kal-L with his tactile-telekinesis. Then, Krypto meets up with Superman and Superboy, after having defeated Earth-Two Lois. Superman and Krypto fight Kal-L while Superboy takes Psycho-Pirate's mask and uses it to disintegrate Kal-L. Although Kal-L is destroyed, the mask is destroyed as well. Superman believes that what happened in Smallville is happening across the world, so he, Superboy and Krypto decide to investigate.[198]
Things, however, take a turn for the worse for Superman and Superboy when Nekron, the leader of the Black Lantern Corps, arrives at Earth. Nekron reveals himself as the one behind all resurrections across the universe, including Superman's return to life after his death at the hands of Doomsday. Then, Nekron transforms Superman into a Black Lantern, inducting him into his Corps.[199]
Hal Jordan finds the White Entity of Life and merges with it, gaining the necessary power to defeat Nekron. Hal resurrects Superman and inducts him into the new White Lantern Corps. With their combined power, the White Lanterns resurrect Black Hand, Nekron's link to the world of the living. Having lost his herald, Nekron is banished from the world of the living and the Blackest Night ends. The White Entity then disappears and Superman is returned to normal.[200]
Last Stand of New Krypton
Main article: Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton
Brainiac's invasion on Kandor begins, forcing civilians to fight for their home. Kal-El rescues a boy called Lan-Drom from Brainiac's robots, before being informed Zod has activated the global defense cannons to fire on Brainiac's ship. Unfortunately, the blast does not even scratch the ship, but several Kryptonians are killed as collateral damage. Outraged, Kal-El calls out Zod on his recklessness and lack of preparation, motivating him to quit the Military Guild and become Superman again. Superman deduces how the shield around Brainiac's ship works and is able to bypass it, infiltrating the ship. Once inside, Superman attempts to confront Brainiac directly, only to be hit by a Kryptonite laser fired by none other than Luthor, who is working with Brainiac.[201]
The laser's impact knocks Superman unconscious and he is carried away by Brainiac's robots.[202] Upon awakening, the Man of Steel finds himself strapped to a torture machine before Lex and Brainiac. Superman demands to know what exactly Luthor gains by working with Brainiac, but the villains are resolute in maintaining their objectives secret. Even when he is tortured, Superman frees himself. Luthor attempts to get Superman to stand down by aiming a gun at one of the bottled city under Brainiac's capture; a situation quickly solved when Mon-El snatches the city away before Luthor pulls the trigger. Together, Superman and Mon-El take on Brainiac's robot army.[203][204]
Superman keeps Brainiac from recapturing one of the cities, but becomes separated from Mon-El. Fortunately, Superman stumbles upon the Legion of Super-Heroes, who has come to New Krypton's aid. The Legionnaires explain the bottled cities must be returned to their rightful places so that the future the Legion comes from is preserved. Suddenly, Brainiac bottles and shrinks Kandor again. Superman attempts to intervene, but is then blasted by one of Brainiac's red sunlight weapons, causing him to fall to New Krypton's surface.[205] Fortunately, Superman is saved by Legionnaire Quislet, who had taken control of one of Brainiac's robots. With his powers replenish, Superman rejoins the battle[206] and enters Brainiac's ship once more.[207]
Upon entering the ship, Superman comes across Zod and his soldiers battling Brainiac' army. While Zod fights Brainiac by himself, Superman searches for the captured Kandor. The Man of Steel finds Kandor and asks Supergirl and Brainiac 5 to return Kandor to New Krypton and restore it to its original size while he faces Brainiac. Brainiac 5 warns Superman he will die if he fights Brainiac, but Superman assures him he will survive the day. Supergirl and Brainiac 5 succeed in restoring Kandor to its original size, while Superman confronts Brainiac. But in all of a sudden, one of Brainiac's stolen cities is enlarged while inside Brainiac's ship.[208]
The damage causes the ship to go on a collision course towards Kandor. Superman asks Mon-El and the Legionnaires to save the bottled cities while he, Superboy and Supergirl stop the ship from crashing. The heroes are successful, but Superman is left mortally wounded, much like Brainiac 5 said. With a blood transfusion from Superboy and a dose of synthesized, concentrated yellow sunlight from the 31st century, Brainiac 5 saves Superman's life. When Zod attempts to kill Brainiac, Superman intervenes, arguing that Brainiac should stand trial for his crimes; but in that moment, Brainiac 5 grabs Braniac and teleports away. Shortly afterwards, Superman and Supergirl discover Lex was never present at Kandor; instead it was one of his robots.[209]
War of the Supermen
Superman fights Zod during the Hundred Minute War.
Shortly after Brainiac's invasion has been stopped, Superman receives news that General Zod had declared war on Earth. Outraged, Superman attempts to stop him but is held down by Ursa and Non. Zod reveals from the very beginning he planned to invade Earth and allowed Superman to join the Military Guild so that his soldiers would be properly trained in the use of their powers, therefore facilitating an invasion. Also, Zod never let go of his vendetta against the House of El. Superman argues that a war will mean the end of both Earth and New Krypton, but Zod has already started the attack.[210]
Superman frees himself from Ursa and Non's hands and flies into space to fight them and Zod. Their fight is brief, however, as they all tragically bear witness New Krypton's complete destroyed. Superman searches in the debris of New Krypton, managing to find a sad Supergirl. She silently reveals Alura died in the explosion. An enraged Supergirl then grabs the Kryptonian flag and flies to war, followed by a worried Superman.[211]
Superman and Supergirl engage in a brief fight, but they are able to talk things over. Supergirl blames herself for New Krypton's destruction, as she brought Reactron to Kandor by Alura's order. Superman comforts her and they resolve to end the war. The cousins intercept the Kryptonian army fighting the human forces stationed on Mars. As Superman and Supergirl attempt to stop the battle, Zod sends a second wave of Kryptonians to attack Earth. Meanwhile, Luthor and General Lane uses reverse-engineered Kryptonian technology to turn the sun red. With their powers gone, Superman, Supergirl and thousands of Kryptonians begin to suffocate in space.[212]
To save the Kryptonians, Thara Ak-Var fully unleashes the power of the Flamebird and turns the sun back to yellow, sacrificing her life in the process. Superman and Supergirl recover their powers just in time to survive, but thousands of Kryptonians have already suffocated to death, including Lieutenant Nar. More determined than ever, Superman flies to Metropolis to personally confront Zod and his forces.[213]
As Superman and Zod clash, Superman refuses to allow Zod to destroy humanity while Zod has resolved to turn Earth into a new Krypton and also plans to kill Lois Lane, just to make Superman suffer. Just as Zod is about to kill Superman with a Kryptonite knife, Superboy uses a Phantom Zone projector to trap Zod's soldiers in the Phantom Zone while Krypto pulls Superman away from Zod. Angrily, Zod stabs Krypto with the knife, forcing Superboy to take the dog away from the battle. Superman takes the projector, intending to trap both Zod and himself within the Zone in order to make sure Zod can never escape. However, Nightwing chooses to return to the Phantom Zone and keep Zod trapped. Saying goodbye to Superman, Nightwing throws his adoptive father back to Earth so that he can continue protecting it. In the aftermath, Superman and Lois reflect sadly on how New Krypton's appearance resulted in such a pointless war, Superman expressing his uncertainty about whether any Kryptonians are left in hiding on Earth, while Lois promises to write the truth about her father's actions despite the media portraying him as a hero for his 'defensive action,' hoping that someday humanity will be ready for interaction with other alien races.[214]
Grounded
Main article: Superman: Grounded
Following the Hundred Minute War, Superman feels he has lost touch with humanity.[215] In an effort to get back to his roots as a hero and help people with their problems, he decides to walk across the entire country on foot starting in Philadelphia.[216] Passing through Detroit, he uses alien technology to solve the employment crisis and reopen factories.[217] Batman tracks him down and asks him to stop, believing that he's in the middle of an emotional breakdown, but Superman insists it's something he needs to do. He meets with further criticism in Ohio when a super-villain fight ravages a small town, raising the question of whether he holds responsibility.[218]
People in Chicago ask him to leave a public park because his presence might be a danger to children, and he begins having prophetic apocalyptic dreams about sacrifice. Rescuing a young boy from an abusive father, he tries to reinforce that powers are not required to be a hero.[219] His morals are challenged again in Iowa, when Lois Lane tries to shut down a factory that the local community depends upon; despite their environmentally unsafe practices, Superman concludes that a Daily Planet expose would destroy people's lives and asks her not to publish the article.[220]
Representatives of the Superman Squad are sent from the future to help him deal with his depression, believing that seeing his many descendants in action throughout space-time will remove his doubt and restore his faith in his own legacy. In her new rebooted incarnation following the changes made to history in Odyssey, Superman meets Wonder Woman for the first time and inspires the warrior towards more heroic actions.[221] The Flash stops to have lunch with him in Colorado and discuss the idea of moral absolutes and heroic legacy, leaving Superman with a brighter outlook toward his own future.[222] Batman helps him further come to terms with his grief in Utah, while they reminisce about an encounter with Vandal Savage they once shared before developing alter-egos.[223]
Livewire attacks Las Vegas, and Superman regulates the mental illness caused by her electrical powers using Strange Visitor's costume. Following a meeting with his childhood idol Iron Munro, Superman does his best to get Livewire off lightly on her sentence; he explains to Jimmy Olsen that America is the land of second chances, even for super-villains.[224] Clark decides that Superman is unnecessary, and believes he can do more good without causing harm if he begins operating in secret again the way he did as a young man. In the middle of Clark writing an article officially condemning himself, an Oregon man obsessed with Superman takes him on a tour of the city to show him his value as a symbol by asking people on the streets.[225]
The villain of the story is revealed to be Lisa Jennings, a woman who became the physical embodiment of Superman's depression and self-doubt through exposure to a Kryptonian Sunstone, also receiving his powers. Superman disarms her using his hope, having beaten depression and decided to embrace his legacy. Giving signal watches to his closest allies, he forms the Supermen of America with Iron Munro, Livewire, Steel, Superboy, Super-Chief and Supergirl. This team that embodies the values of "Truth, Justice and the American way" will eventually preserve them into the future as the Superman Squad.[226]
Reign of Doomsday
Main article: Reign of Doomsday
Superman's final encounter with Lex Luthor.
Quickly speeding towards Metropolis, Superman arrives and attempts to find Doomsday, until he is dragged into outer space by Lex, who has acquired godlike power and wants to destroy Superman once and for all. He forces Superman to relieve each and every one of his personal tragedies, believing that as an alien, Superman cannot truly feel emotion. Superman forces Lex to witness Jonathan Kent's death and Lex realizes Superman is Clark Kent. Enraged that Superman got to experience happiness with a normal life while he only felt misery, Lex attempts to kill Superman, until he realizes his new power cannot be used to kill Superman, who tricks Luthor into relinquishing his new power. As Lex becomes human again, he angrily reveals he was the one behind Doomsday's recent attacks. Superman can only watch as Lex loses memory of who he is and falls into the Phantom Zone, ending their conflict forever.
Taking Luthor's ship, Superman makes it to the ship where his friends are captured. He reunites with Kara, Conner, Steel and the Cyborg Superman. The group comes to the realization that they were not attack by one, but by multiple Doomsdays created by Luthor, starting the "Reign of the Doomsdays."[227]
Cyborg Superman wants to fight the Doomsdays, but Superman, knowing that they would not survive a confrontation with them, rips his node off. The heroes then fly across the ship in an attempt to escape the Doomsdays. They also take the original Doomsday with them. Reaching an observation area, the heroes begin rearranging the internal structure to reach Earth. However, they encounter a new foe, the Doomslayer. The Eradicator, against Superman's suggestion, tries to fight the Doomslayer, but the Doomslayer destroys him.[228]
Superman and his allies are shocked by the Eradicator's murder, and the Doomslayer expresses remorse for what he did. He explains that his mission is to erase Doomsdays and all knowledge of them from the universe, and attacks the original Doomsday with his laser vision. However, Superman defends him, saying that while Doomsday may be a mass murderer, the fact that the Doomslayer achieved sentience proves that Doomsday has the potential for redemption. The Doomslayer refuses to listen and continues his plan to crash the ship into Earth and destroy it, considering it "ground zero" for Doomsday's infection.
Superman and his allies escape from the ship and attempt to slow its fall. The Doomslayer reverses the ship's engines to merely destroy North America instead of the entire planet, by aiming for Metropolis. Superman orders Superboy, Supergirl and Steel to return to Metropolis and help in the relief effort when the ship leaves. He manages to angle the station to land in the bay, creating a tidal wave. Steel's gravitron source, Supergirl's super breath, and Superboy's tactile-telekinesis dissipate the tidal wave, while Superman returns to Metropolis. Suddenly, the Doomslayer attacks the city with the four Doomsday clones.[229]
The Superman Family is helped by the Eradicator, who takes control of Doomsday's body.
The Doomsday clones spread across the world, wreaking havoc. Supergirl fights attacks Cyborg Doomsday in a nuclear lab, Steel fights Superboy Doomsday in Moscow, and Superboy fights Steel Doomsday in Haiti.
In S.T.A.R. Labs, Superman, Lois and Dr. Kimiyo Hoshi use the original Doomsday's body to try and find a way to stop the Doomsday clones. Suddenly, Doomsday awakens, but the Eradicator speaks through him. The Eradicator says that, as a being of pure information, he leaped into the technology Luthor used to clone Doomsday so that he could control the original Doomsday. Also, the Eradicator says that he can help Superman against the Doomsdays.
The Eradicator, controlling Doomsday's body, helps Earth's heroes fighting the Doomsday while Superman an accelerator to reach the Doomslayer's tower before its defenses detect him. Meanwhile, Earth's heroes begin fighting the Doomsdays. Reaching the Doomslayer's tower, Superman flies through a tunnel that leads to the ship's core. To stop him from foiling his plan, the Doomslayers powers up the ship's informational engines.
As Superman reaches the ship's core, Superman finds information about the Doomsday Supergirl threw into a tunnel. The Doomsday spent years trapped inside the tunnel, conscious and fueled by rage. Suddenly, the Doomslayer blasts Superman with the ship's informational engines.[230]
Superman vs. the Doomslayer.
The blast from the ship's informational engines does not destroy Superman, instead it converts him into data and transfers him into the ship's informational engines, where he meets the ship's artificial intelligence. The AI reveals that the ship is actually a sentient creature from another universe that got injured during a journey. When it was healing itself, Luthor attacked it and modified it to suit his needs. When Supergirl threw the Doomsday clone through the creature's tunnels, it was infused with the creature's knowledge, becoming the Doomslayer. Superman tells the creature that it can help, so the creature shows its internal schematics, teaching Superman how to repair it. When Superman learns everything he needs, the creature returns him to solid form.
The Eradicator, meanwhile, defeats Superboy Doomsday in Moscow, and Zatanna teleports him to the ship and the heroes to Kansas, where they help Supergirl defeat Cyborg Doomsday. With the clones defeated, the heroes throw them way down into the pit the tower is located in, because the tower will also teleport things that are close to it.
Reaching the tower's bridge, Superman manages to activate a sequence that will teleport the tower to its home before it reaches Earth's core. Suddenly, the Doomslayer attacks him, but the Eradicator appears to help Superman. The Eradicator, telling Superman that it was an honor fighting alongside him, throws Superman out of the tower, seconds before it teleports away. With the battle over, Superman and Supergirl return to Metropolis.
Later, Clark and Lois eat dinner in a restaurant. There, Clark admits to Lois the Eradicator's sacrifice and that Luthor found out about his double life. He also says maybe he should reveal his secret identity, but Lois says that it is not necessary, because the people will always trust Superman no matter what happens. Lois tells Clark that it was Jonathan and Martha Kent, not his coming from Krypton, that made him Superman. Clark and Lois then return home.[231]
Convergence
This section of the history takes place during Convergence, a massive crossover event revisiting characters from past eras and realities. The villains Brainiac and Telos plucked them from their own timeline and stored them together, causing them to cross over into each others' reality. Its precise chronological placement and canonicity may be unclear.
Main article: Convergence
Superman and Lois finally have a son.
At some point after the Reign of the Doomsdays, Clark and Lois traveled to Gotham City. Unfortunately, the villain Brainiac stole Gotham City and put it under the custody of Telos, controller of the Blood Moon. The city was surrounded by a dome that trapped everyone inside and caused all superhumans to lose their powers, including Clark. Three months after the dome's imprisonment Clark impregnated Lois with his child, and during the next nine months Clark fought crime in Gotham as a masked vigilante with Lois' help until the dome around Gotham disappeared and Clark regained his powers, enabling him to be Superman again. Superman explores the land beyond the city's outskirts and discovers the city has been taken to another planet. Suddenly, he is attacked by Captain Thunder, Cyborg and Abin Sur, inhabitants from a parallel universe. Superman's attempts to make peace are foiled when Jimmy, wanting to help Superman, attacks the alternate heroes with an aircraft.[232]
With Jimmy's help, Superman takes his opponents down until he hears Lois is in trouble. He flies back to their apartment, finding it empty; but Abin Sur had been swayed by Superman's arguments and explains Lois was kidnapped by Superman's own alternate counterpart. Superman quickly incapacitates his alternate self and rescues Lois in time to deliver their son, who they decide to name Jonathan Samuel Kent.[233] Unfortunately, Deimos seizes control of the Blood Moon and forces the inhabitants to accept his dominance.[234] Superman later makes an alliance with other superheroes on the Blood Moon and they all confront Deimos, who has already gathered his own superhuman army to fight the heroes.[235]
After a superhuman brawl, Telos, having been convinced to protect the heroes he once imprisoned, captures Deimos' lackeys, but Deimos overwhelms his enemies with his magic power before being killed by a version of Hal Jordan still merged with the entity Parallax. With Deimos dead, the power he once controlled is released into the universe and starts breaking reality apart.[236] Booster Gold and his allies release the only person who can stabilize the multiverse: Brainiac. Coming to regret his evil deeds, Brainiac attempts to save reality but he cannot do that unless a group of heroes travels to the past and prevents the First Crisis from happening in the first place. Supergirl, the Flash and Hal accept that mission, and Superman and his family come along to help them.
The actions of Superman and his friends are unknown, but their efforts in averting the First Crisis are successful and ensure the rebirth of the infinite multiverse,[237] after which he, Lois and Jonathan ultimately found themselves on Prime Earth 9 years in the past, where Lois and Clark raised their child in anonymity.[238]
Brave New World
Superman and his family living on Prime Earth.
Even so, Superman never stopped working to protect the world, even if he had to maintain a low profile. He even witnesses the Justice League's first battle with Darkseid.[239] To further his activities, he constructed his own Fortress of Solitude. Eventually, he came across the villainous psychic Blanque, and for the first time Superman was forced out in the open to fight him. After defeating Blanque, Superman imprisoned him inside his Fortress.[240]
Later, Superman saves Excalibur, a space shuttle that carried Hank Henshaw, the man who became the Cyborg Superman in his old world.[239] Concerned for his safety, Superman takes Henshaw to the Fortress to give him medical attention, but Blanque manipulates Henshaw to release him from his prison.[240] Superman manages to release Henshaw from Blanque's control and re-imprison Blanque. While returning home, Clark and Lois discuss the possibility of telling Jon about his nascent powers and that his father is a superhero.[241]
Upon finding out Lois and Jon are being threatened by Intergang agents, Superman flies off to save them, only to discover they have already beaten their attackers. Superman and Lois come clean to Jon, but cannot say much before Superman finds out Henshaw is under attack.[242] He flies to the island where Henshaw is being held and finds him under attack by the alien conqueror Hyathis. After a short fight, Hyathis vanishes and Superman returns to his family and teaches Jon how to fly.[243]
Final Days of Superman
Main article: Superman: The Final Days of Superman
Superman later meets his younger Prime Earth counterpart, who is dying from radiation poisoning. Their encounter does not last long, as they are attacked by Denny Swan, an ex-con who had acquired solar powers after being in contact with the younger Superman's solar radiation and now wanted to be the world's only Superman.[244] After taking his family to his Fortress to keep them safe.[245], Superman helps his alternate self in taking Swan out of Earth's orbit to defeat him. Although the day is won, the younger Clark dies and Superman mourns his death alongside the new world's heroes.[246]
Rebirth
Main article: DC Rebirth
Superman returns to action.
Sometime later, Clark receives a warning from the mysterious Mr. Oz that he, his family and the fallen Superman are not who they think they are.[247] Superman visits his younger self's memorial at Metropolis, where he meets Lana Lang. Both are grieving the younger Superman's death, but Superman tells her about his own death and resurrection, so perhaps they can bring him back using the Regeneration Matrix. Superman takes Lana and his alternate self's body to the Fortress of Solitude, but unfortunately, the Regeneration Matrix does not exist in Prime Earth, meaning the younger Superman cannot be resurrected. Accepting the younger Clark is gone, Superman brings his alternate self's remains to Smallville so Lana can bury them next to his parents and makes the decision to be the Prime Earth's new Superman.[248]
Superman makes his first public appearance confronting Lex Luthor, who had assumed the "Superman" identity as his own way to honor the fallen hero. Their fight doesn't last long until Doomsday shows up in Metropolis, forcing Superman and Luthor to work together in taking the beast down.[249] During that time, Superman encounters a completely human Clark Kent, who claims to be real Clark Kent and the younger Superman merely assumed his identity in an attempt to protect him from assailtants. As the human Clark proved harmless, Superman decides to leave him to his own devices.[250]
Rebirth of the true Superman.
Things take a turn for the worse, however, when the human Clark professes his love for Lois, who rejects him.[251] Angry, the human Clark burns down the Smith Farm, kidnaps Jon[252] and reveals his real identity: Mr. Mxyzptlk. All this time, Mxyzptlk had brainwashed himself into thinking he was Clark Kent to escape from Mr. Oz and now wants revenge because Superman didn't even try to save him.[253] Mxyzptlk also reveals that both the New Earth and Prime Earth Supermen are actually two halves of the true, complete Superman; who was split into two separate people during the Flashpoint incident.[254] The two Supermen save Jon and become a single, complete version of Superman of Prime Earth; fixing their conflicting histories and bringing the world back to normal.[255]
The DC Universe was rebooted in 2011 as part of the Flashpoint event. This was an attempt to simplify continuity, and make DC Comics more accessible to new readers. Prior to this, mainstream comics took place in New Earth continuity since the Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985. The continuity established following Flashpoint is Prime Earth.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Kryptonian Physiology: Superman's cellular structure is much more dense, resilient, and biologically more effective than human tissue. He does not possess superhuman strength levels despite his enhanced cellular ability without his cellular structure charged with yellow solar energy. Without such charging, his physical capabilities are identical to a human of his height and weight who engages in regular physical activity. As an alien, he possesses several organs whose functions are not yet disclosed or understood, but are believed to be part of or the source of his bio-matrix force field and reclamation aura. Superman's body also stores energy actively within his bio-cellular matrix as an energy pattern that is linked to his body's electromagnetic field. This energy powers most of his electromagnetic capabilities such as flight, heat vision and other "sight"-based abilities while supplementing his physical abilities to superhuman levels. Superman has been shown to repel Darkseid's Omega Beams with his heat vision and has been shown to handle extreme heat from the Earth's Core.
- Solar Radiation Absorption: As a Kryptonian, his cells function like a super battery, hyper metabolizing specific wavelengths of radiation as fuel to enable living functions and/or superhuman abilities. Different wavelengths of radiation have different effects on Superman's physiology and well being, but his cells cannot absorb or utilize all types of radiation. The wavelength of his home solar system's red sun enables his body to function on an identical level of a healthy human while the Earth's solar radiation in both its raw and filtered state through the Earth's atmosphere acts as fuel to enable all of his powers. Every time Superman uses any of his superhuman abilities, his body expends absorbed sunlight and he is capable utilizing any of them to various degrees through controlled circumstances. The solar-based radiation of a foreign blue star proved to increase his known abilities under a yellow sun to a higher degree and enabled additional powers. The existence and constant exposure to proven "healthy" radiation sources is not required for him to live and utilize his powers, but prolonged periods without exposure to them and/or utilizing his powers will require Kal-El to recharge in order to live and continue using his powers. His emotional state correlates to fluctuations in his solar storage. The more stress he is under, the more energy he retains from the sun.[256]
- Superhuman Strength: Superman possesses near limitless strength, though the exact limits of Superman's strength is unknown. He is capable of lifting far in excess of one billion tons. Even being strong enough to break out of full Chrono-Suspension with just his strength.[257] Different periods and intensities of exposure to Earth's solar radiation can cause his strength to fluctuate over time. Superman's known feats of strength include lifting an enormous pyramid and flying it to Mars without any strain,[258] physically overpowering Darkseid in combat,[259][260] moving Earth away from the Sun with aid of Green Lantern while Starbreaker was pushing it toward the Sun (a feat that would require quintillions tons of force),[261] and having the strength necessary to shatter a small planet with numerous blows.[262] Unhealthy levels of high exposure to solar radiation can exceed Superman's "normal" strength level.
- Superhuman Speed: He is capable of moving, reacting, running and flying at superhuman speeds. While not as fast as the Flash, Superman can still fly at speeds faster than speed of sound. He can use this power to disarm opponents, catch bullets or shrapnel and cross vast distances in seconds. Thanks to his training with the Flash. Superman has been able to use his speed very creatively when in combat and travel vast distances faster than he normally could.[263][264][265] Superman's speed is so great that even time manipulation has little effect on him.[266][267][268] He can even run and catch the Flash going at the speed of light, and capable of having a causal conversation with the Flash in attoseconds.[269]
- Molecular Acceleration: Superman can vibrate his molecular structure at various levels to achieve various effects.[270] If he chooses, Superman can excite the molecules of whatever substance he vibrates through to critical mass causing it to explode.[271] He even casually caught Captain Marvel, Jr just by simply vibrating at hyper sonic speed, thus matching the speed of Mercury.[272] By matching the vibratory frequency, Superman exorcised a phantom planet from reality, thus saving the universe.[273]
- Intangibility: Superman can vibrate his molecules to achieve an intangible state. While in an intangible state, Superman is immune to all attacks.[274][275] He can also vibrate so fast that light does not reflect off him, rendering him invisible.[276]
- Phasing: Superman possesses the ability to control his speed and angular momentum at the molecular level, and control his molecular interactions to allow his body to pass through any substance.[277][278]
- Superhuman Agility
- Superhuman Reflexes: Although Superman relies mostly on his invulnerability, his reaction speed is beyond faster than the finest human athlete.
- Superhuman Stamina: He has the ability to maintain continuous physical actions for an undefined period. Clark has unlimited stamina if he is consistently exposed to Earth sunlight.[279]
- Flight: Superman is capable of flying at supersonic speeds (over two thousand miles per second[280]) in a planetary atmosphere and at faster-than-light speeds while in space.[281] He once traveled from the Vega star to Earth - a distance of over 25 light years - in minutes if not seconds, meaning he is capable of flying over one million times the speed of light.[282]
- Heat Vision: Superman can fire beams of intense heat from his eyes. These beams can be made invisible, allowing him to work undetected, and can be adjusted to affect matter on a microscopic level. Feats include powering up the giant ion planet moving engines, annihilating an army of Doomsday clones in one blast,[283] potentially rivaling the heat of a Star and bypassing a target's outer shell, avoiding damage to a person's skull for surgical purposes.[284]
- Invulnerability: His body is nigh-invulnerable due to his superhumanly dense cellular and anatomical structure as well as his radiating bio-electrical aura. Superman is under some circumstances resistant or immune to different forms and levels of lacerations, blunt force trauma, energy-based assaults, falls from great heights, explosions, the cold void of space, toxins and all known diseases on Earth. His supercharged bio-electric "aura" acts as an invisible "force field" radiating within a few millimeters from his skin. He can willfully utilize his aura strengthening it's power to a greater degree to provide an additional defense against certain levels of physical and energy attacks for a considerably short period of time, but doing so can endanger him should the attempted feat prove inefficient for any reason. Superman utilizes his aura by expanding it around a person(s) or object(s) to enable their structural stability when lifting or traveling with them. Superman's invulnerability has been in constant flux over the years. He could surviving the blast of nuclear warheads,[285] entering the Earth's sun and emerging unharmed,[286] withstanding the impact of an exploding star,[287] and surviving being in the vicinity of an explosion equal to 50 supernovas while already significantly weakened by red sunlight.[288]
- Longevity: Superman can potentially live indefinitely with little to no ageing to his being, so long as he continuously retains enough yellow solar radiation in his body.
- Self-Sustenance: He does not need to eat or sleep so long he has enough yellow solar energy (but is still capable of doing so), and doesn't require oxygen to breathe enabling him to travel in space and underwater unprotected.[183]
- Super-Breath: Superman can generate hurricane force winds by blowing, and also chill his breath to freeze a target. He can also breathe in large amounts of air to dispel clouds of gas by exhaling it.
- Superhuman Senses: All of Superman's senses are heightened to superhuman levels.
- Superhuman Hearing: Superman has the ability to expand his hearing range, giving him the ability to hear sounds before the sound waves actually reaches him. This also gives him incredible hearing at extreme variances of sound and pitch frequency, allowing him to pick up noises from across the globe. He has shown enough control to block out ambient sounds to focus on a specific source/frequency.
- Super Smell: On various occasions, Superman has demonstrated that his sense of smell is significantly enhanced to the point he can smell odors across the entire planet.
Heat Vision
- Super Vision: Superman also possesses a superior sensory arrangement of visual capabilities.
- Electromagnetic Spectrum Vision: He can see into all of the EM Spectrum. Superman can see and identify radio/television and any and all broadcast/transmitted frequencies, allowing him to avoid detection through radar or satellite monitoring methods.
- Telescopic Vision: The ability to focus his vision to see something at a great distance, without violating the laws of physics.
- Microscopic Vision: The ability to see extremely small objects and images down to the sub atomic level.
- X-Ray Vision: The ability to see through anything except lead. Since it is passive, this ability would not generate harmful radiation in the same manner as a focused projection of hard X-rays.
- Thermal Vision: The ability of see through the heat tracks left by a living being or object.[289]
- Solar Radiation Absorption: As a Kryptonian, his cells function like a super battery, hyper metabolizing specific wavelengths of radiation as fuel to enable living functions and/or superhuman abilities. Different wavelengths of radiation have different effects on Superman's physiology and well being, but his cells cannot absorb or utilize all types of radiation. The wavelength of his home solar system's red sun enables his body to function on an identical level of a healthy human while the Earth's solar radiation in both its raw and filtered state through the Earth's atmosphere acts as fuel to enable all of his powers. Every time Superman uses any of his superhuman abilities, his body expends absorbed sunlight and he is capable utilizing any of them to various degrees through controlled circumstances. The solar-based radiation of a foreign blue star proved to increase his known abilities under a yellow sun to a higher degree and enabled additional powers. The existence and constant exposure to proven "healthy" radiation sources is not required for him to live and utilize his powers, but prolonged periods without exposure to them and/or utilizing his powers will require Kal-El to recharge in order to live and continue using his powers. His emotional state correlates to fluctuations in his solar storage. The more stress he is under, the more energy he retains from the sun.[256]
Abilities
- Expert Combatant: Due to having superpowers all his life and constantly engaging in battle with various foes, Superman has been able to fully master them.[290] He has over time become an excellent hand-to-hand fighter utilizing a fighting style that directly complements his superpowers.[291][292][293][294] Superman's combat versatility allows him to adapt to any foe and beat them. Additionally, he was taught by his father Pa Kent how to defend himself by teaching him how to throw a punch,[295] has been trained in boxing by Wildcat,[296] back in High School he was trained in wrestling and became an expert at it,[297][298][299][300] Granny Goodness in Apokoliptian warrior training,[301] Mongul in Warworld gladiator combative methods,[302][303][304][305] Wonder Woman in Amazonian combat,[306][307][308][309][310] the Karate Kid in armed and unarmed combat[311][312][313] and even learned some advanced martial arts techniques from Batman.[314][315][316][317]
- Genius Level Intellect: He has shown incredible intelligence and computational abilities; his mind works sharply and with extreme speed relative to earth-humans. Superman's analytical powers enable him to read information directly from machines (and, with careful usage of his heat vision, he can even reprogram machines).
- Mental Resistance: After an attack by the The Key involving telepathy, mind control, and illusions. Batman suggested that the League should they should train with Martian Manhunter to combat this vulnerability, for future attacks. Thus Superman built up his mental defenses with the aid of Martian Manhunter, to make his mind more resistant against such threats.[318]
- Indomitable Will: Superman has shown to have a powerful spirit, free of corruption and temptation. Having been raised by a kindly Kansas farmer and his wife, he was taught to protect life and help others. He is very optimistic and never gives up, even when things look bad. Superman has learned how to place mental inhibitors on his own power so that he doesn't accidentally "flex and cause the tectonic plates to shift." To him, they are the barriers that allow him to feel human enough to live a healthy life, and he only ever releases one of them when fighting a particularly powerful opponent or performing a difficult task.
- Torquasm Vo: Torquasm Vo is a Kryptonian discipline that Superman uses sometimes. It's a means of entering the Theta State, where the user has full control of the realm, which the user can alter the surroundings however he or she fits, with the use of either their memories or use of their thoughts.[319] Superman first used this martial art against Dominus after escaping the Phantom Zone.[320]It is basically a means of focusing ones mental discipline to help fight adverse effects such as mental domination.[321][322] It can be used to manipulate someone's mind, as when using this technique he's capable of dragging his opponent into the Theta State, with him.[323][324] Superman used that ability during his fight against the Eradicator. It was used to create an illusion to let Superman enter inside the Eradicator.[325] Superman can even run this technique through his consciousness, to find the difference between two memories of the same event, to discover which one of them is the real one; basically Superman's utilizing a lie detector when this technique is active. He can even share his findings with someone else.[326]
- Torquasm Rao: Allows him to tap into his instincts and separate himself from his body.[327][328]Makes him able to prevent others from manipulating his mind and allows him to fight on the astral plane.[329][330] This discipline not only empowers Superman, but also allows him to heal both his body and spirit from any harmful threats.[331] When entering the astral plane also known as the Rao State,[332] Superman can enter different dimensions when using this technique like Lois Lane did, regarding the use of his astral form, if he so chooses to.[333][334]
- Horu-Kanu: The deadliest form of physical combat on Krypton.[335] A martial art that involves taking advantage the body's pressure points. Superman learned this martial art in private and utilized it when fighting Batman who was filled with Green Kryptonite energy,[336]Maxima,[337]Tempest,[338] Mongul II[339] and Ultraman.[340]
- Meditation: During his 20s, Superman traveled around to see the world and learn more about his powers. After first meeting with his "then" lover Terri Chung, they traveled to Bhutran. There, Superman learned of their customs and the secrets they had to offer, which involved meditation and yoga techniques; taught to him by Terri's father the former Rhana Bhutra.[341][342] Superman even learned some mediation techniques that allows him to slow his heart rate down to mimic death and one to slow his metabolism down to allow him into a meditative state; all of which he learned while studying in Bhutran and from Batman.[343][344]His training in Bhutran was most effective when his powers went out of control, due to excessive amounts of energy coursing through his body, at the time.[345]He even resorted to meditation when creating the world of Metropia.[346]His meditation practice was definitely useful when he first used Torquasm Vo to enter the Theta State, when fighting against Dominus.[347]
- Acrobatics: There have been times when Superman has lost his powers and had render to rely on his own nimbleness, agility, balance, and body coordination to help him get by and survive.[348][349][350][351][352]
- Chi Manipulation: Superman learned the art of Bagua under the instruction of I-Ching. He learned how to manipulate his Chi or Qi to help him gain a better maintenance of his powers. Superman recommended to Supergirl that she should train with I-Ching to help her regain proper control over her powers.[353]
- Swordsmanship: Considering Superman's reputation in hand-to-hand combat and his use of his powers. Superman is actually quite the skilled swordsman, capable of fighting on par with the Space Pirate Captain Freelance in duel.[354] Fighting alongside a magic based Justice League from a parallel future and even fighting Doomsday for a period of time.[355][356][357] He fought on par with Hon-Ur when he briefly clashed blades with him, when he was powerless.[358] He even slayed a Troll when protecting Jimmy Oslen, when he realized it wasn't even alive due to it not breathing and having no pulse.[359]
- Firearms: Despite all of Superman's great power and fighting skill, he has at times utilized guns. Whether weakened in power, in acts of desperation or training purposes. Kal, if he needs to, will resort to the use of a firearm.[360][361][362][363][364][365]
- Investigation: Both as a superhero and as a journalist, Superman is an expert at gathering evidence from all kinds of sources. Even Batman has given Superman props for his deductive reasoning skills.[366]Green Arrow also refers to both him and Batman as the Hardy Boys.[367]
- Journalism: Clark is one of the best reporters on the Daily Planet, rivaled only by his wife Lois Lane. He gained a Pulitzer Prize at least in one occasion.
- Leadership: Superman has proven many times over his ability to command respect and inspire others with his charisma, ardor, and idealism. He often serves as the primus inter pares of the Justice League.
- Ventriloquism: Used to practice in high school.[368]
- Multilingualism: English, Kryptonian, and Spanish.[369]Superman also speaks Japanese.[370][371]
Weaknesses
- Vulnerability to Kryptonite: Since the destruction of Krypton, its remains (rendered radioactive by the explosion) have been spreading throughout the universe as Kryptonite, a crystalline substance whose specific radioactive wavelength is lethal to Kryptonians native to this reality. The most common form of Kryptonite is Green Kryptonite, and its effect is directly poisonous to him. Kryptonite from other realities do not necessarily have the same effects on all Kryptonians.
- Vulnerability to Magic: Superman's biomatrix is his most powerful asset, but the strength of this field is also its greatest weakness. Its permeability to certain wavelengths makes him vulnerable to certain radiations, particularly magical energies whose chaotic electromagnetic or extra dimensional signatures disrupt this force field. Superman's vulnerability to magic varies depending upon the special effects of the magic. He can be injured and worn down by magical entities. Magic can have powerful and unpredictable effects on Superman and his magical enemies have often proven to be the most dangerous.
- The Black Tide: If Superman's chi flow is disrupted by being overwhelmed by this disturbed substance, he'll suffer from fatigue and pain; until he surcomes to unconsciousness. Eventually he will die, unless acupuncture is administered in time.[372][373]
- Lead: Superman cannot see through lead with his x-ray vision powers.
- Solar Energy Dependency: His abilities will eventually weaken without replenishing his energy reserves with normal (yellow) sun radiation, especially if he doesn't have any direct contact with yellow sunlight. When exposed to the same red solar radiation as Krypton's red sun Rao, it causes Superman to lose his powers within a large amount of exposure until the exposure to yellow sunlight will reverse this effect.
- High-Pitched Noises: Because of his super hearing, Superman's ears are extra-sensitive to extreme noises. This gives individuals like Black Canary and Silver Banshee who use sonic screeches, a particular advantage in combat against him.
- Psionics
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Legion Flight Ring and Time Bubble: As a former or reserved member of the Legion of Super-Heroes Superman keeps a Legion Flight Ring (though he does not use it unless he cannot use his powers) and Time Bubble, the ring either cloaked on his hand, or like the Bubble, kept in the Fortress of Solitude.
- Archer rifle: As Commander El of the New Kryptonian Military Guild and leading Commander of the Red Shard faction, Superman kept a standard issue Archer rifle, though he only uses to disarm or hurt, never to kill.
- All items in the Fortress of Solitude
Notes
- Superman first appeared in Earth-Two continuity in Action Comics #1 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. His history was rebooted for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity beginning in The Man of Steel #1 by John Byrne.
- Superman's origin story has been rewritten many times over the years, each time heavily changing which stories may be considered in continuity based on the interpretation. John Byrne wrote his definitive mini-series The Man of Steel in 1986 following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, part of sweeping changes in the Post-Crisis DC Universe to make stories more accessible. It was later updated and retold again by Mark Waid in his 2003 mini-series Superman: Birthright, which brought back many older plot points that had been non-canon during the Byrne-era. Geoff Johns rebooted the DCU during Infinite Crisis in 2006, although Superman's new origins wouldn't be completely explored until his 2009 mini-series Superman: Secret Origin.
- Thanks to various reality altering events such as Zero Hour, JLA/Avengers, and Infinite Crisis as well as hypertime Superman's history changed. For example, originally he had no career as Superboy nor was he a member of the Legion of Superheroes.[374] But shortly after Infinite Crisis he related how he first met the Legion of Superheroes and his time as Superboy with them.[375][376] In the aftermath of Convergence the New Earth Superman, Lois, and their son Jon were all transported to Prime Earth and lived under the name "Smith".[377] As a result of the New Earth and Prime Earth Supermen being merged his history changed again and no reference to either a Superboy career or the Legion of Superheroes was made and events of Prime Earth history changed.[378] That was until when Superman, The World Forger, and the some of the members of the Justice League traveled to Nil, and he started to recollect somethings that happened; like where the Monitors used to live before the event of Final Crisis. The World Forger even enforces that the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Infinite Crisis, Final Crisis & the Dark Multiverse rising, did in fact happen.[379]
- Kellel is the name given Superman when he acquired the powers of a god and oversaw Proto-Earth-1 with Batman and Wonder Woman.[380]
- Superman appears as Superman (Prime) a playable character in the Infinite Crisis video game.
Trivia
- Superman's familiar with the teachings of Sun Tzu, when it comes to the Art of War.[381]
- Superman knows the teachings of William Shakespeare.[382]
- Superman hates magic.[383][384][385]
- Superman does not drink alcohol.[9]
- Clark was a vegetarian at one point in his life.[16]
- Clark's favorite movie is To Kill a Mockingbird.[386][387]
- Clark was a part of the Webelos Cub Scouting (Boy Scouts of America) Association.[388][389]
- Superman has been credited for being a highly skilled fighter/warrior and student, by the likes of Batman,[390]Wonder Woman,[391]The Flash,[392]Maxima,[393][394]Mongul,[395]Kru-El,[396]Mr. Miracle,[397]Himon,[398]Orion,[399]Granny Goodness,[400] Darkseid[401][402] and Lex Luthor of Prime Earth.[403]
- Lex Luthor's theory about Superman's power was proven to be true, by Ruin. Clark's emotional state correlates to fluctuations in his solar storage. The more stress Kal is under, the more energy he retains from the sun.[404]
- The aura that Superman's body generates, the same that protects his body from damage, prevents grime and dirt from clinging long to his flesh to keep him perpetually clean.[405]
- Superman had Martian Manhunter as his high school civics teacher, even though he did it to keep an eye on Superman.[406][407][408]
- Kal-El once had sex with Silver Banshee after undergoing a personality change, becoming more aggressive due to the magic unleashed by Tullus in order to help him fight Blaze. Though he did become attracted to her, he was still in love with Lois. Banshee used a spell that made her younger and caused Clark to forget her.[409]
- Superman's trip to the country of Bhutran, during his travels, is one of his most favorite countries that he ever enjoyed traveling to. He often mentions his trip to Bhutran in presence of friends and often recollects his training in times of crisis or states of calm.[410][411][412][413][414][415]
Recommended Reading
- Superman Recommended Reading
- Action Comics (Volume 1)
- Action Comics (Volume 2)
- Adventures of Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 1)
- Batman/Superman (Volume 2)
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest (Volume 1)
- DC Comics Presents (Volume 1)
- Superman (Volume 1)
- Superman (Volume 2)
- Superman (Volume 3)
- Superman (Volume 4)
- Superman (Volume 5)
- Superman (Volume 6)
- Superman/Batman (Volume 1)
- Superman Confidential (Volume 1)
- Superman: Son of Kal-El (Volume 1)
- Superman: The Man of Steel (Volume 1)
- Superman: The Man of Tomorrow (Volume 1)
- Superman/Wonder Woman (Volume 1)
- World's Finest (Volume 1)
Related
- 3,035 Appearances of Kal-El (New Earth)
- 1,468 Images featuring Kal-El (New Earth)
- 242 Quotations by or about Kal-El (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Kal-El (New Earth)
External Links
Template:Superman Links
Footnotes
- ↑ Superman/Batman #13
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #642
- ↑ Action Comics #600
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel Annual #4
- ↑ Action Comics #655
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Man of Steel #1
- ↑ Action Comics #597
- ↑ World of Metropolis #3
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Man of Steel #2
- ↑ The Man of Steel #4
- ↑ The Man of Steel #6
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #200
- ↑ Superman: Birthright #1
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Superman: Birthright #7
- ↑ Superman: Birthright #8
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Superman: Birthright #2
- ↑ Superman: Birthright #3
- ↑ Superman: Birthright #4
- ↑ Superman: Birthright #5
- ↑ Superman: Birthright #6
- ↑ Superman: Birthright #10
- ↑ Superman: Birthright #12
- ↑ Action Comics #850
- ↑ Superman: Secret Origin #1
- ↑ Superman: Secret Origin #2
- ↑ Superman: Secret Origin #3
- ↑ Superman: Secret Origin #4
- ↑ Superman: Secret Origin #5
- ↑ Superman: Secret Origin #6
- ↑ The Man of Steel #3
- ↑ Superman/Batman Annual #1
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #2
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #3
- ↑ Action Comics #586
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #17
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #440
- ↑ Action Comics #598
- ↑ Action Comics #600
- ↑ Wonder Woman Annual (Volume 2) #2
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #21–22, Adventures of Superman #444
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #450, 453
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #32–33, Adventures of Superman #454–456, Action Comics Annual #2
- ↑ Action Comics #652
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #438
- ↑ Action Comics #647–649
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #49–50
- ↑ Action Comics #662
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #4, 7
- ↑ Action Comics #670–672
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #489
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #18
- ↑ Justice League America #69, Superman (Volume 2) #74
- ↑ Action Comics #684, Superman: The Man of Steel #19
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #75
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #498
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #20
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #76–77
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #500
- ↑ Action Comics #687, 690
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #25
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #82
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #505–506
- ↑ Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey #1-3
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #87, Adventures of Superman #510, Action Comics #697
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #32, Superman (Volume 2) #88
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #511–512
- ↑ Action Comics #698–699, Adventures of Superman #512–513, Superman #90, Superman: The Man of Steel #31, 34
- ↑ Action Comics #700
- ↑ Action Comics #701, Superman: The Man of Steel #35, Superman (Volume 2) #91, Adventures of Superman #514
- ↑ Action Comics #702–703, Adventures of Superman #515–516; Superman #92–93, Superman: The Man of Steel #36–37
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #522
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #38
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #95–96, Superman: The Man of Steel #39–40, Action Comics #704–705
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #519
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #100
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #45
- ↑ Action Comics #711
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #525
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #50
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #529
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #531
- ↑ Action Comics #719–720
- ↑ Action Comics #722, Superman: The Man of Steel #57
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #536, Action Comics #723, Superman: The Man of Steel #58, Superman (Volume 2) #114
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #59, Superman #115
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #538
- ↑ Action Comics #725
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #116
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #61
- ↑ The Final Night #1-4
- ↑ Superman: The Wedding Album #1
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #541, Superman: The Man of Steel #63
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #542–544
- ↑ Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare (Volume 1), JLA #1–4
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #122–123
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #124
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #127
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #550
- ↑ Superman Red/Superman Blue #1
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #79
- ↑ Superman Forever #1
- ↑ Superman: The Doomsday Wars (Volume 1)
- ↑ Superman: Save the Planet #1
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #564
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #86–87
- ↑ Superboy (Volume 4) #59
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #566
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #13
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #88
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #144
- ↑ Superman: King of the World #1
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #145
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #150
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #151–153
- ↑ Superman: Y2K #1
- ↑ Action Comics #763
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #100
- ↑ Action Comics #767
- ↑ Emperor Joker #1
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #160–161, Adventures of Superman #582–583, Superman: The Man of Steel #104–105, Action Comics #769–770
- ↑ Superman: Lex 2000 #1
- ↑ Action Comics #776
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #170
- ↑ JLA: Our Worlds at War #1
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #594
- ↑ Action Comics #781
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #173
- ↑ Action Comics #782
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #175
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #176
- ↑ Action Comics #787-788
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #178
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #182–183
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #186–187, Adventures of Superman #608–609, Superman: The Man of Steel #130–131, Action Comics #795–796
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #192–194
- ↑ Action Comics #797
- ↑ Action Comics #801–805
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #195–201
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #204–215
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #627–636
- ↑ Action Comics #823
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #633–641
- ↑ Superman/Batman #8
- ↑ Superman/Batman #9
- ↑ Superman/Batman #10
- ↑ Superman/Batman #11
- ↑ Superman/Batman #12
- ↑ Superman/Batman #13
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #219
- ↑ Action Comics #829
- ↑ Wonder Woman (Volume 2) #219
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #643–645
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #646–647
- ↑ Infinite Crisis #5, Adventures of Superman #649
- ↑ Infinite Crisis #7
- ↑ Action Comics #843
- ↑ Superman #658
- ↑ Superman #663
- ↑ Superman #667
- ↑ Superman Annual #13
- ↑ Action Comics #844
- ↑ Action Comics #
- ↑ Action Comics #846
- ↑ Action Comics #858
- ↑ Action Comics #866
- ↑ Action Comics #867
- ↑ Action Comics #868
- ↑ Action Comics #869
- ↑ Action Comics #870
- ↑ Final Crisis #2
- ↑ Final Crisis #3
- ↑ Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1
- ↑ Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #2
- ↑ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1
- ↑ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #2
- ↑ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #3
- ↑ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #4
- ↑ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5
- ↑ Final Crisis #6
- ↑ Final Crisis #7
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #1
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #2
- ↑ 183.0 183.1 Superman: World of New Krypton #3
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #4
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #5
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #6
- ↑ Action Comics #880
- ↑ Supergirl (Volume 5) #44
- ↑ Superman #691
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #7
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #8
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #9
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #10
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #11
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #12
- ↑ Blackest Night: Superman #1
- ↑ Blackest Night: Superman #2
- ↑ Blackest Night: Superman #3
- ↑ Blackest Night #5
- ↑ Blackest Night #8
- ↑ Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #1
- ↑ Supergirl (Volume 5) #51
- ↑ Superman #698
- ↑ Adventure Comics (Volume 2) #9
- ↑ Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #2
- ↑ Adventure Comics (Volume 2) #10
- ↑ Supergirl (Volume 5) #52
- ↑ Superman #699
- ↑ Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton #3
- ↑ Superman: War of the Supermen #0
- ↑ Superman: War of the Supermen #1
- ↑ Superman: War of the Supermen #2
- ↑ Superman: War of the Supermen #3
- ↑ Superman: War of the Supermen #4
- ↑ Superman #700
- ↑ Superman #701
- ↑ Superman #702
- ↑ Superman #703
- ↑ Superman #705
- ↑ Superman #707
- ↑ Superman #708
- ↑ Superman #709
- ↑ Superman #710
- ↑ Superman #711
- ↑ Superman #713
- ↑ Superman #714
- ↑ Action Comics #900
- ↑ Action Comics #901
- ↑ Action Comics #902
- ↑ Action Comics #903
- ↑ Action Comics #904
- ↑ Convergence: Superman #1
- ↑ Convergence: Superman #2
- ↑ Convergence #5
- ↑ Convergence #6
- ↑ Convergence #7
- ↑ Convergence #8
- ↑ https://comicbook.com/2015/07/12/dan-jurgens-compares-jonathan-kent-to-damian-wayne-clarifies-the/
- ↑ 239.0 239.1 Superman: Lois and Clark #1
- ↑ 240.0 240.1 Superman: Lois and Clark #3
- ↑ Superman: Lois and Clark #5
- ↑ Superman: Lois and Clark #7
- ↑ Superman: Lois and Clark #8
- ↑ Action Comics (Volume 2) #52
- ↑ Superman/Wonder Woman #29
- ↑ Superman (Volume 3) #52
- ↑ DCU: Rebirth #1
- ↑ Superman: Rebirth #1
- ↑ Action Comics #957
- ↑ Action Comics #964
- ↑ Action Comics #974
- ↑ Superman (Volume 4) #18
- ↑ Action Comics #975
- ↑ Superman (Volume 4) #19
- ↑ Action Comics #976
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #636
- ↑ Superman #663
- ↑ Final Crisis: Requiem #1
- ↑ Superman Versus Darkseid: Apokolips Now #1
- ↑ Superman/Batman #13
- ↑ Justice League of America (Volume 2) #29
- ↑ Trinity #5
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #191
- ↑ JLA Secret Files and Origins #1
- ↑ Action Comics #960
- ↑ Action Comics #642
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #29
- ↑ Superman: Where Is Thy Sting? #1
- ↑ Superman #709
- ↑ Superman/Batman Annual #1
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #82
- ↑ Action Comics #768
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #617
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #175
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #170
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #110
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #170
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #175
- ↑ Superman #685
- ↑ The Flash (Volume 2) #109
- ↑ Justice League of America (Volume 2) #30
- ↑ Countdown #48
- ↑ Superman/Batman #10
- ↑ Action Comics #774
- ↑ Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey
- ↑ Action Comics #782
- ↑ Action Comics #867
- ↑ Action Comics #847
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #4
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #1
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #152
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #609
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #131
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #170
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #152
- ↑ 52 #23
- ↑ Starman #14
- ↑ Action Comics #711
- ↑ JLA #7
- ↑ Superman: Birthright #2
- ↑ Action Comics #586
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #152
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #153
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #96
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #131
- ↑ Trinity #13
- ↑ Wonder Woman (Volume 2) #162
- ↑ Justice League of America (Volume 2) #31
- ↑ JLA Secret Files and Origins #1
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #215
- ↑ Adventure Comics #368
- ↑ Justice Society of America (Volume 3) #5
- ↑ Justice League of America (Volume 2) #8
- ↑ Superman Annual (Volume 2) #9
- ↑ Superman: World of New Krypton #3
- ↑ Superman/Batman Annual #2
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #215
- ↑ JLA #9
- ↑ Superman: King of the World #1
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #89
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #96
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #586
- ↑ Superman: King of the World #1
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #114
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #114
- ↑ Spectre (Volume 4) #3
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #585
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #107
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #585
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #586
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #581
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #107
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #107
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #588
- ↑ Action Comics #472
- ↑ Superman/Batman #23
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #159
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #163
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #153
- ↑ Trinity #13
- ↑ Superman: The Odyssey #1
- ↑ Action Comics #728
- ↑ Action Comics #728
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #567
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #545
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #214
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #89
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #426
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #27
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #51
- ↑ JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice
- ↑ Action Comics #972
- ↑ Supergirl (Volume 7) #14
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #51
- ↑ Superman/Batman #84
- ↑ Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey #3
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #9
- ↑ Action Comics #793
- ↑ Action Comics #833
- ↑ Action Comics #691
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #82
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #504
- ↑ Superman/Batman #2
- ↑ Wonder Woman (Volume 2) #212
- ↑ Action Comics Annual #11
- ↑ Superman/Batman #1
- ↑ Superman/Batman #18
- ↑ Superman/Batman Annual #1
- ↑ Superman Annual (Volume 2) #12
- ↑ Action Comics #787
- ↑ Action Comics #788
- ↑ Action Comics #787
- ↑ Action Comics #788
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #8
- ↑ Justice Society of America (Volume 3) #5
- ↑ Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #34
- ↑ Superman: Lois and Clark (Volume 1)
- ↑ Action Comics #978
- ↑ Justice League (Volume 4) #27
- ↑ Trinity #29
- ↑ Superman (Volume 4) #5
- ↑ Action Comics #600
- ↑ JLA #47
- ↑ JLA #48
- ↑ Action Comics #833
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #67
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #81
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #0
- ↑ Superman: The Odyssey #1
- ↑ Superman/Batman Annual #2
- ↑ Trinity #13
- ↑ JLA #7
- ↑ Action Comics #650
- ↑ Action Comics #651
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #153
- ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #111
- ↑ Death of the New Gods #2
- ↑ Death of the New Gods #2
- ↑ Death of the New Gods #2
- ↑ Action Comics #586
- ↑ Action Comics #586
- ↑ Death of the New Gods #5
- ↑ Action Comics #972
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #636
- ↑ Superman (Volume 2) #3
- ↑ Martian Manhunter (Volume 2) #20
- ↑ DC Comics Encyclopedia
- ↑ DC Comics Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded
- ↑ Legends of the World's Finest #1-Legends of the World's Finest Vol 1 2
- ↑ Superman: The Odyssey #1
- ↑ Action Comics #728
- ↑ Adventures of Superman #545
- ↑ Superman #710
- ↑ Action Comics #850
- ↑ Superman Annual (Volume 2) #9
 Superman Family member |
 Daily Planet Staff member |
 This character has been a member of the Justice League of America, or the Justice League in any of its various incarnations, sworn by a duty to act as guardians of America and the world by using their skills and/or superpowers to protect Earth from the clutches of both interstellar and domestic threats. |
 Legion of Super-Heroes member |
 Black Lantern Corps member |
 This character is or was a member of the White Lantern Corps, guided by the Life Entity to wield the White Light of Life. |
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