Martha Clark (Earth-One)

Martha Kent
Mainstream Universe‎, 1950s-1986
Gallery
Real Name	Martha Hudson Clark
Main Alias	Martha Kent
Other Aliases	Ma Kent
Relatives	Henry Clark (father) · Willa Clark (mother) · Jonathan Kent (husband) · Kendall Clark (brother) · Kendall Kent (brother-in-law) · Burt Kent (brother-in-law) · Clark Kent (Superman, adopted son) · Jillian Kent (niece)
Affiliation	Kent Family
Base Of Operations	Smallville
Status
Alignment	Good
Identity	Public Identity
Citizenship	American
Marital Status	Married
Occupation	Housewife, farmer, store manager
Characteristics
Gender	Female
Hair	Brown · Grey
Origin
Universe	Earth-One
Creators	Jerry Siegel · Joe Shuster
First Appearance	More Fun Comics #101 (January, 1945)
Appearance of Death	Superman #363 (September, 1981)

No one can ever know how hard it is raising a super-tot! Any bit of childish mischief can end in disaster!

— Martha Kent

Martha Kent was the wife of Jonathan Kent and the adoptive mother of Clark Kent, aka, Superboy (later Superman).

History

She helped her husband run the Kent Farm, then later the Kent General Store. Her maiden name was Martha Clark, and Clark Kent's first name is taken from this. Her parents' names were Henry and Willa Clark.

When Clark Kent was eighteen years old, Martha and Jonathan went on a vacation in the Caribbean where they discovered a buried treasure chest. Opening the chest released a virulent alien micro-organism that infected both of them. Young Clark tried to save them, but failed. Both Martha and Jonathan passed away at the same time.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

None.

Abilities

• Sewing

Notes

• Ma Kent was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, first appearing in Superman #1. However, the Earth-One version of Ma Kent first appeared in More Fun Comics #101 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
• This version of Martha Kent, including all history and corresponding appearances, was erased from existence following the collapse of the original Multiverse in the 1985–86 Crisis on Infinite Earths event and later restored following the rebirth of the infinite Multiverse during the Dark Crisis of 2022-2023. Even though other versions of the character may have appeared, this information does not apply to those versions.
• Martha Kent's maiden name was originally said to be Hudson, in Superman #141. However, in Superman #146 it was Clark. When readers asked which was correct, the letters column in Superman #148 said Clark was her maiden name, but Hudson was her middle name, meaning her full name before marriage was Martha Hudson Clark.

Related

• 460 Appearances of Martha Clark (Earth-One)
• 8 Images featuring Martha Clark (Earth-One)
• 5 Quotations by or about Martha Clark (Earth-One)
• Character Gallery: Martha Clark (Earth-One)

Footnotes

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