Superman (Kal-L)

Superman (Kal-L)
Debut Action Comics #1 (April 1938) Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster Portrayed by see In other media
Statistics AKA Clark Kent, Kal-L Classification Kryptonian Affiliation Justice Society Relatives Jor-L (biological father) Lora (biological mother) Power Girl (cousin) Unnamed (Siegel version), John (Finger version) Kent (adoptive father) Mary Kent (adoptive mother) Lois Lane (wife) Abilities Kryptonian Powers

For other uses, see Superman (disambiguation)

Superman, also known as Kal-L, is the Earth-Two version of Superman. His life is nearly identical, with several differences in his history and personality.

Biography

Born to Jor-L and Lora ,from a race of supermen similar to humans but million years more advanced biologically and much stronger capable to jump high, run very fast and survive falling building debris without much of a harm even on their home planet Krypton with much stronger gravity pull than Earth, young Kal-L was shot in a rocket to Earth to escape doomed planet Krypton that died of its natural old age. On Earth he was either found by passing motorist who took him into an orphanage (Action Comics #1 version) or was found by an old couple of Kents (Superman #1 version) who initially took him to an orphanage, but later on decided to adopt him. From the beginning he domonstrated tremendous powers over others, to which his (unnamed, but after Superman #53 version it is accepted that father's name was John) foster father taught him to hide his powers to avoid scaring other people and Mary , his foster mother, told him to use them when time is right to assist humanity.

After both of his parents died he developed special indestructible costume from components he himself invented and became superhero also known Superman, while at the same time he went on to pursue carrier of reporter ,as a Clark Kent, and was hired by an editor after he succeeded in bringing in scoop from case that he solved as Superman. As Clark Kent he often tried to solve issues as "reasonably" and peaceful as possible, often coming off as a coward, but as Superman his initial methods very aggressive and violent, sometimes even lethal. Eventually his methods as Superman soften, but also sometimes as a "cowardly" and meek Clark Kent he "broke the character" and was shown to threaten people with guns or selflessly and recklessly saving people. As a Clark Kent he frequently tried to pursue Lois Lane, his fellow colleague from Daily Star and/or Daily Planet, but Lois is much more interested in mysterious Superman not knowing he and Clark are the same person. Eventually Lois grows cold in her affection to the Superman side of Kal and warms up to the Clark side of him, and in the end they marry.

Unused timeline from The K-Metal from Planet Krypton

In this unpublished story written by Siegel and drawn by Shuster (and Shuster Studio) Superman would be forced to reveal his secret to Lois, who was initially relived that her guesses were correct and with new much more honest chapter in their relationship, but in the end of story becomes mad at Clark for lying to her for so long and he was "back in the dog house" , but with a radical change in dynamic and complete abolishing of "love triangle" (Clark -> Lois -> Superman), in the end there was also a teaser that Lois might become Superwoman, which was pretty easy to (temporarily) accomplish for Earth-2 Superman via blood transfusion from him to her. But because story was unused, in an official "canon" version at first Lois finally loves Clark Kent, but then later on discovers herself that he Is indeed a Superman.

Powers and Abilities

The same as a normal Kryptonian (of his continuity); however, for much of his adult life, his power level was lower than the mainstream Superman. In the beginning (1938), he was unable to fly, and could only leap an eighth of a mile; he was invulnerable, but a bursting shell could pierce his skin; and he could only run at 50 miles per hour, more or less. In 1969, he was a lot more powerful, and had a power level equal to Kal-El (a fight between the two ended in double k.o.)(Justice League of America v1 #74).

Because The K-Metal from Planet Krypton was never officially published this version of Superman doesn't have Kryptonite. Although Metalo's gun shown to reduce his physical maximum to its' initial level as stated above, but without interfering with his X-ray abilities even though Kal-L gained them much later since his debut, in that story Superman regained his phyisical abilities such as flight simply by stretching his muscles using training equipment in his Secret Citadel . Same unpiblished story (K-Metal) gave explanation for why Kryptonians were super powerful even back on Krypton being able to jump incredibly high, the planet itself charged them with immense power.

Within original comics by Jerry Siegel as well as some non-Siegel Pre-Crisis works Kal-L's powers were independent of different colored suns. However in some comics he is depicted to have this relation just like his Kal-El counterpart from Earth-1. Same thing with kryptonite, which was sometimes mentioned by him like in Justice League of America #73. In Post-Crisis continuity Kal-L was "officially" killed in Infinite Crisis #7 after he flew thru Red sun and landed amidst Kryptonite shards stripping him of any healing abilities which led him to succumb to fatal blows of Superboy Prime.

In original canon Kal-L never had any direct weaknesses, however often times he got knocked out by various forces, from high electricity to Luthor's special paralysis gun. In the first issues Superman potrayed to dodge explosion with narrator claiming that if he did not, that explosion would be fatal to him, later on he went through all kinds of punishments without any registered damage to his physical structure. His advanced (Kryptonian) human biology wasn't affected by poision gas. In Superman newspaper comic strips it was stated that baby Kal made a bruise when he punched Kryptonian doctor in the eye, therefore even though original Kryptonians could run at tremendous speed and jump as high as their skyscrapers as well as survive crash of their structures unharmed back on their home planet with much stronger gravitational pull than Earth, one Kryptonian could damage another Kryptonian, somehow.

Under Jerry Siegel's writing all common powers, including time travel on his own, were demonstrated by this Superman, except heat vision (which at that time was just more intense X-ray vision and would be officially established year after Siegel's departure from the title following legal battle with DC Comics) and freeze breath. There are also uncommon powers that were demonstrated by that Superman, such as ability to change color of his hair, grow or remove facial hair or even completely shapeshift including by growing a little in height, along with his costume completely changing its design and color somehow. Also Kal-L demonstrated mind ability of telepathically influence alien from another dimension to do his bidding if he concentrated enough (mirroring Bill Dunn, first ever Siegel's Superman's abilities).

Behind the Scenes

This is intended to be the Golden Age version of the character. That is, this character comes from a direct continuation of the continuity from the golden age Superman comics.

The New 52 Superman of Earth-2

Trivia

• Name "Superman" was first ever pronounced by George Taylor, editor of Daily Star, precursor for Perry White and Daily Planet (which will appear within Siegel written stories), it is unclear whether hero himself called himself that or it was simply a name given to him by witnesses of his deeds. Interestingly enough Kryptonians (within Siegel's writing) are called "race of supermen", so it could as well be name that Clark chose for himself to honor his people, that is if he knew about them at the point of Action Comics #1 events.
• Unlike Superman of Earth-1 which was a toddler when Krypton started collapsing and later on regained all of his memories via Mind-Probbing machine as well as via frequent time travels into the past, Earth-2 or original Superman never acknowledged Krypton in the issues written by Siegel, at least not initially, which was an inspiration for John Byrne's The Man of Steel reboot where Clark also didn't know where exactly he came from or name of his real parents. So it is unclear whether he knew about his upgringing at the time of Action Comics #1 (1938). However, later on, in unpblished The K-Metal story (which would come out in 1942 if it was published) Superman himself says name "Krypton" , as well as gives reasoning for his powers and for K-Metal's effect of depowering him (and powering Earth-born humans).
• Red Son version of Superman is also called Kal-L, also just like originally (in unpublished 1934 version) he was sent back in time from Earth in a distant future.
• While foster parents Kents are abscent in Action Comics #1 version of his origin, 1934 concept reveals they were supposed to be part of his child. Back then father was named Sam and mother was named Molly. In revised version in Superman #1 the father is nameless, while mother was named Mary, later on Batman's co-creator Bill Finger will make another revision (Superman #53) and father will be named John which was accepted as Earth-2's names of foster parents John and Mary (opposed to Jonathan and Martha from much more popular and well-known versions of Superman origin). In Secret Origins Vol. 2 #1 (1986) by Roy Thomas which is one of the last instances of Earth-2 Kal-L Superman's origin his father named Jor-L (and wearing Boring-esque costume with trunks over pants) while mother named Lara, Kents are named John and Mary.
• Unlike most depictions of Superman, the original never had any problems with killing his enemies or leaving them to die even when he could easily saved them. Eventually character softened (because in real life in 1941 - Whitney Ellsworth instituted the "DC Comics Editorial Advisory Board and an imprint wide editorial policy" that prohibits certain depictions of Sex, Language, Bloodshed, Torture, Kidnapping, Crime, and importantly Killing: "Heroes should never kill a villain, regardless of the depth of the villainy. The villain, If he is to die, should do so as the result of his own evil machinations. A specific exception may be made in the case of duly constituted officers of the law. The use of lethal weapons by women ─ even villainous women ─ is discouraged."). While having no remorse about killing even ordinary human opponents original Superman was never depicted to be particularly murderous.
• It is necessary to acknowledge whether writing of these stories of original Superman was done by Siegel, Superman's co-creator, or by someone else. As certain original ideas and canon of the character were complitely discarded or radically changed as soon as both Siegel and Shuster left DC Superman comics (1946-1947) following their lawsuit trials over rights on the character. From name change of Jor-L into Jor-El to Kryptonians being as powerful, at least physically, on Krypton as Earthlings are on Earth.
• As of this year (2023) Superman Kal-L has 666 appearances in total.