Superboy (Kon-El)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Superboy | |
|---|---|
 Superboy flies into action. Art by Mike McKone. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993) |
| Created by | Karl Kesel Tom Grummett |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Kon-El/Conner Kent |
| Species | Kryptonian/Human (clone) |
| Team affiliations | Legion of Super-Heroes Project Cadmus The Ravers Teen Titans Young Justice Black Lantern Corps |
| Notable aliases | Carl Krummett, Metropolis Kid, Project 13, Superman, Project Lionel |
| Abilities | Tactile-telekinesis Kryptonian powers:
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Superboy, also known by his Kryptonian name Kon-El and his human alias Conner Kent, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. He is the binary clone of Superman and his arch nemesis Lex Luthor, making him a hybrid human/Kryptonian. He is a modern update of the original Superboy, who is a younger version of Superman.
[edit] Fictional character history
Superboy's origins start with Project: Superman, which is the Superman cloning project originally intended to recreate the Man of Steel. Due to the inability to replicate and stabilize Kryptonian DNA, the clones of Superman degenerate after a short period of time.[1] Upon Superman's death,[2] the project is reinstated in secrecy in conjunction with Lex Luthor and Cadmus Labs to replace the fallen hero. After 12 documented attempts[3] at cloning a Superman, human DNA (secretly that of Project head Paul Westfield, later retconned as being from Lex Luthor[4]) is partially used to stabilize the Kryptonian DNA. The result is Superboy, the first successful clone of Superman.
[edit] The discovery of Tactile Telekinesis
When Project Cadmus obtained Superman's body, they examined it very closely and discovered that Superman had a biokinetic force-field completely surrounding his body. This force-field was what made Superman invulnerable, kept him from getting dirty and allowed him flight through a kind of "self-telekinesis". Project Cadmus used this information as the basis for genetically engineering Superboy to have a telekinetic field as the source of his powers, as seen in The Adventures of Superman #506.
[edit] Reign of the Supermen
In his first appearance,[5] the Newsboy Legion assist Superboy in escaping from Cadmus. His artificial aging process halted, Superboy leaves Cadmus as a teenage boy of about 16 with implanted knowledge corresponding to that of any boy his age.
Upon his arrival in Metropolis, Superboy calls himself "Superman" and has no other identity. He tells anyone who will listen that he is a clone of Superman.
He first reveals this to Lois Lane, but it is Tana Moon who breaks the story live on WGBS.[6] The Cyborg Superman, the Eradicator, and "Man of Steel" John Henry Irons make their first appearances[5] at this time as well, the first two also claiming themselves to be "Superman."
The Cyborg Superman is revealed as a villain and ally of Mongul.[7] Shortly thereafter the "real" Superman returns. Superboy joins him, Supergirl, Irons (who later assumes the name "Steel"), Green Lantern, and the Eradicator in a successful assault on "Engine City", built on the ruins of Coast City.[8][7][9][10]
Following the cyborg's defeat, Superboy is convinced that the returning Kal-El is the real Superman.[8][10]
After Superman's return to Metropolis, Superboy is informed that he had been created from human DNA only and was genetically engineered to both look like Superman and mimic his major powers by way of telekinesis.
Emil Hamilton, however, tells Superboy that his DNA is very similar to that of a Kryptonian, even to the extent of his telekinetic powers being fueled by solar energy. Prof. Hamilton also notes genetic markers suggesting a possible vulnerability to kryptonite, which Superboy later is shown to have.
Not long after his return, Superman is served a cease and desist order to stop using the "Superman" trademark by Superboy's manager, the name and symbol having been registered after his death to Superboy. (At one stage it is suggested that Superman change his name to "Supreme", a reference to Image Comics' Superman-like character of the same name).[citation needed]
Superboy reveals, however, that he's agreed to let Superman have the rights. Superman in turn agrees to the manager using the symbol and name in merchandising if some proceeds go to charity.
With the clone now nameless, Superman tells him his actions have earned him the name "Superboy".[11] At first reluctantly, Superboy accepts the new name and decides to go on a "Superboy World Tour". He gets as far as Hawaii before deciding to stay there.[12]
[edit] Superboy (1993-2002)
A Superboy series debuted in 1994 and lasted for 100 issues, ending in 2002. In it, Superboy settles in Hawaii with a supporting cast consisting of his sleazy agent Rex Leech, Rex's daughter Roxy, the being from the genetically engineered race at Cadmus called "DNAliens" known as Dubbilex, TV reporter Tana Moon, and Bibbo Bibbowski's white puppy named Krypto. Early in the series, it is revealed that Superboy is cloned from Cadmus' unscrupulous Senior Director Paul Westfield,[3] who had been killed by mad scientist Dabney Donovan. Karl Kesel was the writer for the majority of the first 30 issues, introducing many new villains. These include Sidearm, B.E.M., Silversword, and King Shark.
Superboy begins the series acting immature (writer Karl Kesel often compared the character to Peter Pan), however, by the end,[13] he has significantly matured. Superboy almost dies when he, along with the majority of Cadmus' clones, are infected by the Clone Virus. After that story, Superboy and the Suicide Squad team up to take out the lair of the Silicon Dragons, an infamous Pacific crime syndicate who maintain a base of operations at the bottom of the ocean.
In another storyline, Superboy is legally required to attend school because he is a minor. He attends public school, but is later expelled and Dubbilex telepathically tutors Superboy after the school is severely damaged in a battle.
Around this time, Superboy follows in the footsteps of the Superman/Batman: World's Finest, by assisting Robin during an incident against Poison Ivy and Metallo. Although the pair of them begin with an argumentative and antagonizing relationship similar to the one shared by their mentors, they later become close allies and best of friends.
Superboy also plays a critical role in saving the life of Legion of Super-Heroes member Lar Gand (who was called "Valor" in this story). When Lar Gand/Valor; a Daxamite, is suffering from lead poisoning, he loses his memory and is manipulated into fighting for entertainment by a corrupt businessman. Lar Gand and Superboy are drawn into a fight under false pretenses. Realizing that Lar Gand is dying, Superboy, with the aid of Knockout, brings him to S.T.A.R. Labs for treatment. But with Lar Gand close to death and no clue as to how to cure him, Superboy puts Lar Gand in a Stasis Zone. The Stasis Zone, also known by its more commonly accepted name the Phantom Zone, is where Lar Gand is kept safe for 1000 years, until he is freed and cured by The Legion of Super-Heroes. In gratitude for saving Lar Gand's life the Legion makes Superboy an honorary member and give him a Legion flight ring.
Another storyline involved Knockout, a thrill-seeking former Female Fury on the planet Apokolips, who fled while in training. After teaming up several times with Superboy, Knockout becomes his full time partner. They take down Killer Frost, the Technician, and Silversword. The Furies would later arrive to capture Knockout. As a result, a huge battle breaks out, with the local police involved. A police officer is killed in the fight, and an investigation concludes that Knockout herself had struck down the officer. At first, Superboy refuses to believe that Knockout is guilty, and goes on the run with her as an outlaw until she kills again in front of him, forcing Superboy to apprehend her.
Ron Marz's run featured an organization called the Agenda attempting to capture Superboy and use his DNA to create a clone army. The Agenda use an operative named Amanda Spence to capture Superboy and subsequently created the clone named Match. Match is an upgraded clone of Superboy who has vastly upgraded knowledge as well as a greater understanding of the abilities Superboy had. After a battle in the Agenda's headquarters, Superboy through sheer will defeats the inexperienced Match, the Agenda, and destroys its clone army. Soon after, Superboy's powers begin to fluctuate and he soon becomes ill. His cellular structure seemingly breaking down, Superboy is rushed back to Cadmus. Superman, Supergirl, and Steel come to his aid and search for the cause as well a cure. Supergirl interrogates the directors of the Agenda and through such, discovers that the process used to clone Superboy actually "unzipped" his DNA, causing his body to deteriorate. An imprisoned but sympathetic Amanda Spence, as repayment for Superboy saving her life, suggests a treatment that could potentially cure the Boy of Steel. Under this suggestion, Cadmus uses Roxy, being closest to Superboy's age, as a new genetic template for his DNA to stabilize him. Unfortunately, as a side effect, this halts his aging process at his current biological age of 17. The news devastates Superboy, since he had always dreamed of growing up to replace Superman when the latter retired.
The cast soon disbands, with Tana Moon breaking off her relationship with Superboy. She leaves Hawaii on a business trip. A humiliated Superboy disappears along the Pacific Ocean. The surrogate family, unable to find the Boy of Steel, become lost without him and go their separate ways: Dubbilex returns to Cadmus, and Roxy leaves Hawaii in search of her fugitive father. In issue #50, a lost Superboy finds his way home after months away and is crushed to find that his friends have all left Hawaii. He returns to Cadmus, and becomes a field operative, teaming up with Dubbilex and Guardian.
Superboy finally gets a real name when Superman sends him to visit a virtual reality Krypton through the technology of the Fortress of Solitude. It is after this "trip" that Superman offers him the Kryptonian name Kon-El, telling him that he considers Superboy family.[14]
[edit] Superboy in Hypertime
Superboy is one of the first DC Comics characters to explore Hypertime in the "Hypertension" story arc (Superboy #60-64, 1999). A fatally injured Superboy arrives from an alternate reality, wearing a device known as a hyperjacket. This alternate Superboy with his last breath, tells Kon-El that Black Zero is coming to take over their reality. Kon-El, with the approval of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, takes it upon himself to investigate this other Superboy's claims of murder. Kon-El then uses the hyperjacket and straps himself to a nuclear bomb to power it. He is thrown into various different realities before his hyperjacket destroys itself due to lack of a proper power source to fuel it. Superboy ends up on the pre-Crisis Earth One and reunites with the Kal-El Superboy whom he had met in Superboy #8 (1994). Kon-El spends some time with Kal-El, Krypto, and Ma and Pa Kent until the villain of the story reveals himself by capturing Krypto. The villain makes short work of both Superboys. After Kon-El himself is captured, the villain is discovered to be an alternate version of Superboy. This version of Kon-El has reached full adulthood and has named himself Black Zero after the terrorist group on Krypton that fought for clone rights. He seems to have Kryptonian powers as well as highly skilled tactile telekinesis. Black Zero, with the help of his Guardian clones, Paul Westfield and Metron, manage to capture and imprison dozens of Superboys across Hypertime. With the help of the Challengers of the Unknown, a reformed alternate version of Knockout and dozens of alternate Superboys (billed as the "Legion of Superboys" on the cover of Superboy #61), Kon-El manages to stop Black Zero. At the end of the story it is unclear if Black Zero is dead or lost in Hypertime. Superboy and The Challengers of the Unknown use a ship given to them by a Metron to travel home out of Hypertime. During Kon-El's stay with the original Superboy (Kal-El), he learns that Superman is Clark Kent. The idea that his closest "relative" had kept this from him leads to a slight resentment in Superboy, but Lois has a heart to heart with the kid that leads to understanding on his part.[15]
When the Agenda takes over Cadmus, they use the villains Simyan and Mokkari to create a clone army and turned the lab into the "Evil Factory." With the help of some allies, Superboy manages to regain control of Cadmus, battling his doppelgänger Match along the way. When Tana Moon returns she is brutally murdered by Amanda Spence, revealed to be Paul Westfield's daughter, who instead of being grateful for Superboy saving her life, holds him responsible for Westfield's death.[16]
During the Sins of Youth[17][18] storyline, correcting the anomaly preventing Superboy from aging is attempted. The members of Young Justice are aged to adults by Klarion the Witch Boy, while the Justice League is turned into kids. At first, Superboy is the only one who did not have his age altered, and he became ill. Since he cannot age, his body fought with the magic manipulation trying to age him. Eventually, due to an unrevealed procedure, Superboy's aging process is reactivated, enabling the magic to turn him into an adult as well. During this time, Superboy confronts Amanda Spence, nearly killing her. It is Wonder Girl who seemingly talks him down from his nearly murderous rage. Then abruptly, he slams Spence towards the ground at a high rate of speed. Yet at the last moment, he prevents her impact, declaring that Spence should live with the memory of how she could have lost her life.
During this story arc, the adult Superboy tells a rejuvenated Superman (now about Kon-El's normal age) that he knows his secret identity. After Klarion is blackmailed into reversing the effects, Superboy is restored back to his teens, but he is rendered powerless.
When an alien slaver arrives, Superboy is forced to rely on his wits and some gadgets to succeed against the enemy before his powers are restored at the last minute. During the Our Worlds at War crossover, Superboy fights Amanda Spence, now an insane cyborg, for the last time, and Cadmus is destroyed. It is also during this period that it is suggested Superboy's tactile-telekinesis will develop into literal telekinesis, when in a rage-induced power spike, he accidentally disassembles every gun in Metropolis.
At the end of his series, Superboy gets an apartment in Metropolis, working as the building superintendent to make an income for himself and make a living.[13] Superboy is later taken in by Superman's parents Jonathan and Martha Kent. Superman also sets up Superboy with a civilian identity. He became "Conner Kent", cousin to Clark Kent. Feeling that Superboy might feel lonely in Smallville, Superman entrusts Krypto the Superdog into Superboy's care.[4]
[edit] Young Justice & Teen Titans
Superboy is a founding member of Peter David's Young Justice, a group of teenage heroes who intended to one day be the next Justice League of America. Although Young Justice's first mission was technically the rescuing of the metahuman ghost-girl, Secret, the group didn't officially form until an incident in which the world's adult population was kidnapped and transfers them to a copy Earth, by a pre-teen with god-like powers. Teaming up with Robin and Impulse, the three teen heroes manage to defeat Bedlam and return everything to normal. Soon after, they agreed to form an official team, dub "Young Justice" by the media. Soon after they are joined by Secret, Arrowette, Wonder Girl, and others.
Superboy later joins the most recent version of the Teen Titans, which is as much a sequel to Young Justice as it is to previous Titans books.[19] Following the apparent death of Donna Troy, the Titans reform with Superboy and former Young Justice members Robin, Impulse, and Wonder Girl joining Titans veterans Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy.[19]
Superboy and Wonder Girl's relationship is developed throughout Young Justice and Teen Titans. At first, Wonder Girl's infatuation with Superboy is unnoticed. In the final issue of Young Justice, both Wonder Girl and Superboy reveal they have feelings for each other. During Superboy's first adventures with the Teen Titans his Kryptonian powers start to manifest. In a battle with Jericho, Superboy's body gets possessed by him and Jericho was able to exhibit heat vision and other Superman-like powers. At first Conner seems to have a hard time controlling his powers but he soon adjusts. Later, during Wonder Girl and Conner's first date, Superboy is forcibly sucked through a time portal to the 31st century.[20]
[edit] Legion of Super Heroes
When Superboy reappears, he is wearing the classic Superboy outfit (with a Legion belt buckle). This was the result of 31st century minions of Darkseid stealing Earth's mightiest heroes from the past and turning them into warriors of the future Apokolips. Because Conner is a clone of Superman, he is mistakenly taken, because they thought he was actually Kal-El. When their error is realized, Conner is left drifting in 31st century space. Conner is found by Phantom Girl's mother and the United Planets and is soon formally inducted into the Leigion of Super Heroes. When Conner is seen by the people of the 31st century, he is revered as a great legend of the Superman mythos. He then helps the Legion defeat Darkseid and his corrupted heroes, which consist of Superman, Green Lantern, Orion, Wonder Woman, Lobo, Big Barda, Firestorm, White Martian, and Hawkwoman, who were abducted and manipulated into his service. After Darkseid and his minions are defeated, the Legion returns the past heroes to their proper places in time (as seen in the "Foundations" storyline in The Legion #25-30). Conner suffers from short term memory loss after his time jump and can't remember exactly when he vanished from the past. Because of this, Brainiac 5 refuses to send him back until they discover his point of departure. After months of probing Conner's mind, Saturn Girl finally discovers the point at which he left the past. With this newfound information, Superboy is sent back to the 21st century a second or two after he left.
It appears to Cassie as though he was only away for a couple seconds, but Superboy has spent five months in the 31st century with the Legion of Super-Heroes fighting the Fatal Five-Hundred. He returns to enlist the help of the Titans, bringing them to the future where they help the Legion to victory.[21][22]
On the return trip home, they accidentally arrive ten years in the future instead of the present. The Teen Titans meet adult versions of themselves. Superboy finds that he is now Superman, Tim is Batman, Cassie is Wonder Woman, and Bart is the Flash. In this alternate future, Conner has greater control of his powers, Cassie chooses him over Captain Marvel Jr., Lex Luthor is his mentor/father figure, and the Titans are "freakin' bad guys".
They discuss the possibility of breaking up the team when they get back to the present, but Cyborg 2.0 tells them that the future developed the way it did because the team was not together during the "Crisis".[23]
During Teen Titans, it is revealed that Superboy's human DNA is not from Paul Westfield, as it was originally believed, but from the criminal mastermind Lex Luthor. Luthor reveals that the reason he had donated his DNA to help create Superboy is to generate a sleeper agent that he could use to destroy Superman.
He had been intimately involved with Project: Man of Tomorrow (a.k.a. Project: Lionel and Experiment 13), and he had implanted verbal commands into Superboy under Cadmus director Paul Westfield's nose.[4]
Brainiac and Luthor lead an attack against the young heroes of the Teen Titans and the Outsiders using a brainwashed Superboy and Indigo.
Under Luthor's influence, Superboy's power magnitude was at a level he rarely displayed on his own. Conner defeats his team, including tearing Cyborg apart at his mechanical pieces, breaking Robin's arm, and savagely beating his own girlfriend. He then shakes off the brainwashing.[24][25]
Afterwards, Conner takes a leave of absence from the Titans and secludes himself in the Kents' home. He is unsure as to whether or not, being a clone, he even has a soul. There, Raven shows him that he had a young soul that was stronger than his inner demons and steadily growing.[26]
[edit] Infinite Crisis: The Death of Superboy
In the DC Comics' limited series Infinite Crisis, the other-dimensional Superboy-Prime watches Conner during his seclusion in Smallville.[27][28][29] Resentful of Conner, who he claims has lower standards than his own despite a seemingly perfect life, Superboy-Prime attacks him, telling him that he should be his replacement.
Possessing an apparent strength advantage, Superboy-Prime pulverizes Conner, badly injuring him, until the Teen Titans, Doom Patrol, and Justice Society of America join the fray, leading to a climactic battle where various Flashes pull Superboy-Prime into the Speed Force.[30][31]
The battle against Superboy-Prime overtaxes Conner's body. His body begins to fall apart to the point that even JSA physician Doctor Mid-Nite cannot aid him. Knowing that Lex Luthor wants to keep Superboy alive as much as the Titans do, Robin leads Speedy, Wonder Girl, and Beast Boy to find a cure, while Raven keeps watch over him.
The Titans succeed, and they immediately administer the cure to Conner, who makes a complete recovery; however, Luthor informs Robin it will only work that one time.[32]
In the Teen Titans Annual, Wonder Girl volunteers to look after Conner as he recovers while the other Titans are called away to organize the relief effort in a decimated Blüdhaven, since her powers are slowly vanishing due to events in Wonder Woman and Infinite Crisis. Conner awakens, and he and Wonder Girl spend time alone, reminiscing and longing for "simpler times".
Thinking this may be their last night together, the two consummate their relationship in the Kent barn. The two of them are later discovered by Jonathan and Martha Kent.[33]
Luthor gives Conner the means to find Alexander Luthor, a sliver of the crystalline construct[33][34][35] that Alexander is using to monitor reality. Superboy leaves a powerless Cassie in the care of the Kents in order to respond to a distress call from Titan's Tower in San Francisco. There he meets up with Nightwing, who sent the call. Being the only two heroes available to deal with the situation, Conner and Nightwing bond as they make their way north to Alexander's fortress.[34][35] Superboy and Nightwing are later rejoined by a now repowered Wonder Girl and together they infiltrate Alexander Luthor's base and foil his plans. They free Martian Manhunter, Power Girl, Black Adam, Lady Quark, Nightshade, Breach, and The Ray, but the tide of the battle turns with the return of Superboy-Prime.
Superboy-Prime makes short work of many of the heroes and then turns his sights on Nightwing. Before Prime can touch Nightwing, an enraged Conner attacks him. Conner and Superboy-Prime battle intensely, until Prime catches one of his punches, crushing Conner's right hand in the process. Despite being vastly over-powered, Superboy fights bravely and defiantly manages to hold his own for a time. In a last ditch effort Conner rushes into him, sending both of them headlong into Alexander Luthor's multiverse tower.
The machine explodes, re-merging the worlds and apparently foiling Alexander Luthor's plans for good. Superboy, fatally injured from the explosion, lies dying in the arms of Wonder Girl. When Cassie tells him that he had saved the Earth, Conner replies, "I know, Cass. Isn't it cool?" Moments later, he dies. Batman, Wonder Woman, Kal-El, and Kal-L arrive, too late to save Conner's life.[36] Later, Superman mourns Conner's death while cradling his body.
Conner was buried under his civilian name in Metropolis, alongside the bodies of Kal-L (the Earth-Two Superman) and his wife Lois Lane-Kent, for over a year.
[edit] Crisis aftermath
In 52, although Conner is dead, he is not forgotten. Wonder Girl leads a memorial broadcast over the Internet, and she and hundreds of others pay their final respects to Conner in a traditional Kryptonian way. It is revealed that the mourners are part of a resurrection cult supposedly based on Kryptonian theology, which Wonder Girl and Ralph Dibny refer to as the "Cult of Conner".[37] Dibny hypothesizes that the cult and Wonder Girl are responsible for defacing the tombstone of his wife Sue Dibny with an inverted Superman insignia, the Kryptonian symbol for hope. When placed upside down, the symbol stands for resurrection.[38] Wonder Girl later encounters the strange, enigmatic hero called Supernova.[39] Cassie introduces herself but is confused that he doesn't recognize her. When Supernova flies away, she calls him "Kon-El."
Three weeks later, surveillance footage is shown to Lex Luthor by an enthusiastic scientist who assumes that Kon-El is still alive. Luthor dismisses this belief, convinced that Supernova is not Kon-El but Superman. In week 37, it is revealed that Supernova is not Conner but in fact Booster Gold.
In Week 51, Batman and Robin return from their journey across the globe. When the heroes appear at Superboy's memorial on the first anniversary of his death, Robin is wearing a new costume using colors of black and red from Superboy's last uniform. Wonder Girl also changes her costume to honor Superboy as well, wearing a Golden Age Wonder Woman-themed t-shirt and denim jeans.[40]
Superboy memorial statues are erected in Metropolis[41] next to Superman's statue and in San Francisco outside of Titans Tower.[42] One year later, Lex Luthor still mourns Conner's death as he considers him his own son.[43] Meanwhile, unknown to his teammates or even Superman, Robin is attempting secretly to recreate Superboy using DNA from Superman and Luthor.[35] Robin has a glass case memorial to Conner, which contains Conner's last costume, the jeans and S-shield T-shirt, similar to the memorial Batman keeps for the second Robin, Jason Todd. Supergirl took another one of his other T-shirts from the Kent farm and gave it to Wonder Girl.
Robin immediately wonders if Raven may be able to resurrect Superboy, as she has done recently for Jericho. However, Raven explains that she can not since Superboy's soul has transcended into another plane of existence.
[edit] Legion of 3 Worlds: Return
As with his namesake, physical death is not the end of his story. In a gamble to stop a rampaging Superboy-Prime by recalling to life his greatest foes in the 21st century, the Legionnaire Brainiac 5 sends Starman to the past, to unearth Kon-El's corpse and put it in the same regeneration chamber the Eradicator used once on Superman to save him from his death. Because of the severity of the damage suffered at the hands of Superboy-Prime, Kon-El's body's healing process takes one thousand years to complete, ending in the thirty-first century when Brainiac 5 has Polar Boy retrieve Lex Luthor's hair in the past. With the timely intervention of Dawnstar and Wildfire, the half-human physiology of Conner is reset to full health, granting him a new lease at life and a "third round" against Superboy-Prime.[44]
While battling Prime at the end of time, Superman, Lightning Lad, Cosmic Boy and Saturn Girl battle against the Time Trapper who is revealed to be an adult Superboy-Prime. After Superboy wounds Prime in the past, the Time Trapper develops an identical injury in the future. Realizing that Prime has created a time paradox, the Legion transports Time Trapper to Superboy-Prime. The Trapper wants them to unite but Superboy-Prime refuses to believe the Trapper is his future self and punches him, setting off a massive blast that seems to erase Prime from sight.
After Prime's defeat, Superman, Conner and Bart return back to the 21st Century, where Superman assembles both the Teen Titans and the adult Titans in San Francisco. There Superman re-introduces them to the resurrected Kid Flash and Superboy.[45]
According to Geoff Johns, Kon-El and the Legion of Super-Heroes will be the main characters of the ongoing series of Adventure Comics.[46]
[edit] Headlining Adventure Comics
The revived ongoing title Adventure Comics features Conner as the headlining character. In the first story arc entitled, "Superboy: The Boy of Steel," Conner settles back into his life in Smallville, Kansas. Returning to live with Martha Kent, who is thrilled to take the young boy in after her husband's death, Conner returns to Smallville High School and begins keeping a journal of everything Superman has done as a costumed hero, going down a checklist titled, "What Did Superman Do?" He and the also recently-returned Bart Allen supposedly rejoin the Teen Titans, and Conner symbolizes the team being "stacked" again by destroying his memorial statue outside of Titans Tower West.
After visiting Lex Luthor's childhood home in Smallville, Superman arrives and talks to Conner about his desire to understand his "other father." Superman tells Conner not to worry about Luthor, saying that the madman is a problem for the Man of Steel. Conner remarks that the next time he sees Lex Luthor will be, "too soon." Soon after, Conner returns home and under a similar checklist in his notebook entitled, "What Does Lex Luthor Do?," Conner checks off, "Lies to Superman."[47]
In his attempt to confront his shared legacy, he accepts a date with Wonder Girl. Conflicted between opening his heart to his girlfriend (thus "Telling the truth" as Superman always did in his life), and deliberately lying to avoid touching delicate subjects with Cassie (thus "Lying" as Luthor would do), ultimately Conner chooses to share with Cassie his fears and desires, and his desire to find himself by exploring both his legacies, but only to find his real self. Cassie is obviously touched, and despite her initial doubts, mostly out fear that in his desire to be more like the Man of Steel eventually Conner could discard her as Clark Kent did with Lana Lang, feels compelled to admit her brief bond with Tim Drake. Conner quickly forgives her, arguing that, since he was dead and Cassie had no means to know about his future resurrection, her liason with Robin can't be considered a true affair. As they share a reconciliation kiss, Martha Kent stares at them, remembering about her past with Johnathan and Clark[48]
Soon after his date, Conner returns to his search for Lex Luthor, with the aid of Krypto. Unfortunately, neither Conner nor Krypto can find Luthor on their own, so they instead track down a detective to help him: Tim Drake. Now going by the identity of Red Robin (The Robin identity was taken away from Tim by Dick Grayson and turned over to Damian Wayne), Superboy finds him in Paris, where Tim is continuing his search for Bruce Wayne, who is believed to be dead following the events of the Final Crisis. Agreeing to help, Tim and Conner rekindle their friendship, as Tim admits to all the pain he has suffer over the last two years, and both boys discuss their private mission. Conner offers Tim the first bit of true support, by replying "I believe you," when Tim states firmly that Bruce is still alive. [48]
[edit] The Blackest Night
In the Origins and Omens back-up story in Adventure Comics #0, the former Guardian of the Universe, Scar, who now works for Nekron, discusses Lex Luthor and his place in the forthcoming Blackest Night crossover. The Guardian also makes mention of "another" that Luthor will have control over. The character to which she is referring is revealed using a picture of Conner flying over Smallville. The only elaboration following the image of Conner is, "...But he is dead. And we control the dead. For once I bear witness to the book of the black, and I question what it shows me, the dead will save you, Luthor. From Brainiac. From Superman. And from yourself."[49]
In the Blackest Night storylines, Conner Kent has returned to the present. He is dressed in a red Smallville high sweater and is standing behind Martha Kent and Clark Kent at the tomb of her husband, the late Jonathan "Pa" Kent. Clutching his fist, Conner declares, "I ... I should've been here. It should've been me instead of ..." Martha Kent consoles him and advises Conner that Jonathan would have wanted him and Clark to "stand up straight." Unbeknownst to the Kents, the Black Lantern Corps is targeting Conner and Clark along with other resurrected characters.[50]
The Corps sends the Kal-L and Lois Lane of Earth-Two to attack the Kent family after they've reanimated them, and stated to the modern version of the Man of Steel, Conner, and Martha, that they wish for the family to be reunited with Jonathan Kent in death.[51] While Superman battles, Kal-L, Conner encounters the Black Lantern Psycho-Pirate, who manipulates him into attacking Superman.[52] However, Conner manages to come to his senses when Kal-L is on the verge of ripping out Superman's heart. Using his tactile telekinesis for the first time since he was reanimated, Conner pushes Kal-L away from Superman. Conner then goes after Psycho-Pirate, stealing the medusa mask and using it's emotional powers to attract the black rings, causing them to leave their hosts, reducing them to lifeless corpses once more.[53]
Superboy, along with the few available members of the Teen Titans and Justice League, arrive at Coast City to battle Nekron, the black personification of Death and the being responsible for the Black Lanterns. Despite being resurrected, Connor's previous status as a deceased still allows one of Nekron's black rings to transform him into a Black Lantern.[54]
[edit] Powers, abilities, and equipment
[edit] Tactile-telekinesis
At first, Superboy's only superpower is "tactile telekinesis", a telekinetic force field that surrounds his body as a protective shield and allows him strength, flight and invulnerability. Tactile telekinesis also allows Superboy to disassemble machines and other complex constructions by pushing the field between the individual parts; alternately, he can, for short periods of time, hold such constructs together if they are coming apart. He can also manipulate aggregate solid masses such as volumes of sand or dust in the same way, causing the individual particles to fly apart in an explosive manner to create particle clouds or a forceful attack; he can also perform the same stunt with solid masses that are splintered, such as a cracked slab of concrete or fractured pane of glass. The tactile TK field also lets Superboy break free of an opponent's grip by pushing the field outward to force the opponent away. Other creative uses include rendering an opponent immobile by extending the TK field as long as they are both standing on the same ground; a variation on this is to extend the protection of his field to another person by touching them.
The main disadvantage of tactile telekinesis is that it is less effective in blocking energy (including fire and the resulting heat) than it is against solids, leaving Superboy slightly more susceptible to energy-based attacks. It is also less effective against gaseous materials and liquids. However, he was shown to be able to manipulate water to create a current he could fire from himself while under water as well as deflect lava and prevent himself from being burned. Near the end of his series he was able to create an air pocket around himself enabling him to breathe in outer space. With only Tactile Telekinesis as his powers, at first, Superboy was only able to fly up to the speed of 500 mph or so.[citation needed], although it has been shown that Superboy can fly up to speeds approaching mach 3.[55] He even displayed the ability to launch objects at high velocities in excess of mach 5[citation needed]. He was equipped with goggles that gave him heat and X-ray vision but were destroyed after only a short time in his possession. Before his Kryptonian powers manifested, Kon-El couldn't run or move at superhuman speeds like Superman could[citation needed]. Another plus to Superboy's Tactile Telekinesis is that it doesn't use up his solar energy as quickly as Superman's powers do his. In "The Final Night", Earth's sun was being eaten by a Sun-Eater which severely weakened Superman but Superboy's power level remained the same.[11][56]
With only his tactile telekinesis, Superboy was still quite powerful in his own right. He was able to lift the world's largest yacht without much strain, take multiple blows from the Pre-Crisis Earth-One Superboy, and survive a near point blank explosion from a missile that would have completely destroyed Metropolis.
[edit] Kryptonian powers
As his Kryptonian physiology matures, Superboy gains superpowers that don't derive from tactile telekinesis, including heat vision,[57] x-ray vision,[58] and super-hearing.[59] He also developed kryptonian invulnerability. When the Titans encountered their future selves, he found he has greater telekinetic abilities (no longer limited to tactile telekinesis), he is stronger, more durable, and faster.[23] Superboy later states that he has developed telescopic vision.[33] It has also been shown in Teen Titans that he is much faster, traveling from San Francisco to the Arctic in less than an hour whilst carrying Nightwing.[60] Superboy, like Superman, derives his Kryptonian powers from the absorption of solar energy from the Earth's yellow sun. Like Superman, Superboy is also vulnerable to Kryptonite and magic.[4]
In the Titans Tomorrow storyarc, the Kon-El Superman exhibits full Kryptonian abilities and full telekinesis with greater control of his telekinetic fields. In a fight with the future Captain Marvel, he shields himself from a magic attack, an advantage the modern Superman has never had.[23]
Cadmus designed Superboy to have at least the same powers Superman had at his age. Because both Superboy and Superman as a boy absorbed less solar energy than Superman as an adult, Superboy is also less able to process the appropriate amount of solar energy as fast as a Supeman could: as a result, overtaxing his powers to the point of physical depletion would spell his death, as his body would literally begin to feed on itself, unable to absorb solar energy fast enough to restore itself [32]
[edit] Costumes and equipment
In Superboy's first appearance, he has a fade haircut, a modified Superman costume, two belts, an earring, gloves, and a leather jacket. His look was designed to be a pastiche of 1990s superhero costumes. His second costume is a slightly modified version of the first, with a new haircut and jacket. His third outfit is a more civilian look featuring jeans and a black S-shield T-shirt, much like the time he lost his powers, but sans the special gadgets and gloves. He sports a contemporary short haircut. In the "Superboy and the Legion" storyline, he dons the classic Superman costume, but with a Legion belt buckle. During the five months he spends in the future, he grows his hair to match Superman's.
Early in his series, Superboy acquires "super-goggles" from Professor Hamilton after helping him. The goggles mimic most of Superman's vision powers, including heat vision, x-ray vision, and telescopic vision.[56] The goggles are briefly lost and then used against Superboy by a technology-stealing criminal; after re-acquiring the goggles, Superboy decides to rely on his natural abilities, and destroys the goggles rather than risk them falling into the wrong hands again. During "Hyper-Tension", Superboy obtains a new jacket which lets him travel to various hyper-time lines. It destroyed itself due to the jacket not being powered properly in the very next issue of the series.[15]
[edit] Identities
Initially, Superboy is a nameless experiment, and is only referred to as "Project 13", also known as "Project: Superman" and "Project: Lionel", after Lex Luthor's father. When he escapes from Cadmus he used the name "Superman". Those who wouldn't accept him as Superman would refer to him as the Kid and "Superboy", a name he hated. After Superman's return, he let him use the name "Superboy" and continue to wear the S-shield. Later, Superman tells Superboy he considers him family and gives him his first real name: Kon-El. His first attempt at a human alias name is Karl Krummett (a play on the names of Kon-El's creators), but he eventually drops the name. Superman brings Kon-El to the care of his adoptive parents the Kents and he is given a civilian identity: Conner Kent, cousin to Clark.
[edit] Legal dispute
A March 23, 2006 court decision returned rights to the Superboy character to Jerry Siegel's heirs. The decision, issued six days before Superboy's death in Infinite Crisis #6 hit the shelves, states that the Siegels have owned 'Superboy' since November 17, 2004.[61]
Even though DC Comics does not own the rights to the "Superboy" name, Geoff Johns and Dan DiDio have stated that the decision to kill off the character had nothing to do with the court case, and that they could have just renamed the character.[citation needed] Following the conclusion of Infinite Crisis, Didio compared Superboy's death to Spock's death in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (who was subsequently resurrected), and also stated that he was "as dead as Blue Beetle".[62]
In the Teen Titans' Secret Origins, a back-up story in the weekly 52 series, an illustration of Superboy had to be changed to one of Wonder Girl because of the legal dispute.[63]
On the cover of Teen Titans #46, Match's insignia (a reverse version of Conner's) is obscured, and in Supergirl #18 (2007), Conner's "S" on his statue is covered. Almost all references to the character refer to him as "Conner".
Recently, it has appeared the legal status has been near dropped,[citation needed] as the Superboy name has been used as normal in several books such as Teen Titans since his return in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds, with his 'S' shield no longer obscured.
[edit] Alternate versions
In "Titans Tomorrow", a possible future version of Conner Kent was introduced. This version has grown up and grown more powerful: his tactile telekinesis has increased to the point where he is able to create shields in addition to his fully developed Kryptonian powers. He has set up the Fortress of Paradise near Smallville, where Lex Luthor, his "Pa", now resides. At some point, he and Captain Marvel Jr. fought for the affection of Cassie Sandsmark, the new Wonder Woman, who chose Conner. His costume is very similar to the costume worn by Superman in the Kingdom Come miniseries and Fleischer Studios' version of the character. After the reappearance of the future Titans, a second alternate version is introduced as a clone created by Tim Drake, who was created after Conner died battling Superboy-Prime. He and the other future Titans were sent by Luthor to make sure that their future still comes to pass as well as defeat an invading army of Starros. This future clone is later shot and killed by the future Batman (Tim Drake), eliminating that version of Conner from existing. However, another alternate future is shown where Tim decides he will take the mantle of Batman from Bruce Wayne by force and joins forces with Lex Luthor and Miss Martian. Seen behind the group are clones of Conner Kent and Bart Allen as well.
[edit] Appearances in other media
Superboy was a playable character in the SNES & Genesis video game The Death and Return of Superman video game in 1994, as well as the other Supermen included.
The second season of the Legion of Super-Heroes television series features a future version of Superman alongside the Clark Kent version. This second Superman, called Kell-El, is a clone of the original Superman; he's from the 41st century and was created to oppose the villainous being Imperiex. Kell-El has a different variety of powers than Superman and is immune to kryptonite. The character's concept is based on the Kon-El Superboy and Lar Gand, wearing a costume that is similar to Kon-El's second costume, worn towards the end of his series and before Young Justice was disbanded.[64]
Although the Superboy character doesn’t appear in the Superman: Doomsday direct-to-DVD movie, elements from his history are used as a second Superman, a clone of the original, appears towards the end of the movie. Additionally, one of Lex Luthor's partially-grown Superman clones resembles Kon-El in appearance.[65]
In the 9th season of Smallville, Clark starts wearing a black "S" Shield T-shirt. It is possible that this is an homage to Superboy, who's third costume is nothing but a black T-Shirt and Jeans.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The Man of Steel (5) ((1986))
- ^ Superman (vol. 2) #75 (1992)
- ^ a b Superboy Annual #2 (1995)
- ^ a b c d Teen Titans (vol. 3) #1 (2003)
- ^ a b Adventures of Superman #500 (1993)
- ^ Adventures of Superman #501 (1993)
- ^ a b Adventures of Superman #504 (1993)
- ^ a b Superman (vol. 2) #81 (1993)
- ^ Superman (vol. 2) #82 (1993)
- ^ a b Superman: The Man of Steel #24 (1993)
- ^ a b Adventures of Superman #506 (1993)
- ^ Superboy #1 (1993)
- ^ a b Superboy #100 (1999)
- ^ Superboy #59 (1997)
- ^ a b Superboy #62 (1999)
- ^ Superboy #70-75: The Evil Factory (2000)
- ^ Sins of Youth #1-2 (2000)
- ^ Sins of Youth: Superman Jr & Superboy Sr." (2000)
- ^ a b Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #15 (2004)
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #16 (2004)
- ^ Teen Titans/The Legion Special (2004)
- ^ a b c "Titans Tomorrow:" Teen Titans (vol. 3) #17-19 (2004)
- ^ "The Insiders": Teen Titans (vol. 3) #24-25 (2005)
- ^ "The Insiders": Outsiders (vol. 3) #24-25 (2005)
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #26 (2005)
- ^ Infinite Crisis Secret Files & Origins 2006
- ^ Infinite Crisis #2 (2006)
- ^ Infinite Crisis #3 (2006)
- ^ Infinite Crisis #4 (2006)
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #32 (2006)
- ^ a b Robin #147 (2006)
- ^ a b c Teen Titans Annual #1 (2006)
- ^ a b Infinite Crisis #5 (2006)
- ^ a b c Teen Titans (vol. 3) #33 (2006)
- ^ Infinite Crisis #6 (2006)
- ^ 52: Week Thirty-One (2006)
- ^ 52: Week Two
- ^ 52: Week Nineteen
- ^ 52: Week Fifty-One (2006)
- ^ 52: Week One (2006)
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #34 (2006)
- ^ Superman #650 (2006)
- ^ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #4
- ^ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5 (July 2009)
- ^ Geoff Johns: On Returns and Rebirths, Newsarama, May 12, 2009
- ^ Adventure Comics (vol. 2) #1 (August 2009)
- ^ a b Adventure Comics (vol. 2) #2 (September 2009)
- ^ Adventure Comics (vol. 2) #0 (February 2009)
- ^ Blackest Night #1 (July 2009)
- ^ Blackest Night: Superman #1 (August 2009)
- ^ Blackest Night: Superman #2 (September 2009)
- ^ Blackest Night: Superman #3 (October 2009)
- ^ Blackest Night #5 (November 2009)
- ^ [1]
- ^ a b Superboy #0 (1994)
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #9 (2003)
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #16
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #17 (2004)
- ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #33
- ^ Judge Awards 'Superboy' to Siegels, Smallville in Question[dead link]
- ^ DC Nation One Year Later
- ^ Karl Kerschel's weblog[dead link]
- ^ Journey Into Comics
- ^ Superman Doomsday DVD Official Site (DC Universe)
[edit] External links
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