Superboy (Kon-El)

Last updated

Superboy
Superboy (Kon-El).png
Superboy as depicted on the cover of Superboy vol. 4 #1 (February 1994). Art by Tom Grummett.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance The Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993)
Created by Karl Kesel
Tom Grummett
In-story information
Alter egoKon-El/Conner Kent
Species Metahuman clone (1993–2003)
Human/Kryptonian binary clone (2003–present)
Team affiliations Young Justice
The Ravers
Legion of Super-Heroes
Superman family
Teen Titans
Project Cadmus
Supermen of America
White Lantern Corps
Justice League
Teen Titans Academy
PartnershipsKryptonian partners:
Superman
Superdog (Krypto)
Other hero partners:
Tim Drake
Amethyst
Bart Allen
Cassie Sandsmark
Arrowette
Cassandra Cain
Naomi McDuffie
Wonder Twins
Notable aliasesThe Metropolis Kid
The Hero of Hawaii
Superman Prime
Experiment 13
"Superman"
The Boy of Steel
K-on
Abilities
See list
    • Tactile telekinesis
    • Kryptonian physiology
      • Superhuman strength, stamina, endurance, speed, agility, reflexes, intelligence, longevity, and hearing
      • Invulnerability
      • Flight
      • Enhanced vision
        • X-ray vision
        • EM spectrum vision
        • Microscopic vision
        • Infra-red vision
        • Telescopic vision
      • Heat vision
      • Ice and wind breath
      • Solar radiation absorption
    • Combat experience

Superboy (also known as Kon-El or Conner Kent) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. A modern variation on the original Superboy, the character first appeared as Superboy in The Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993), and was created by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett. [1]

Contents

From the character's debut in 1993 to 2003, Superboy was depicted as a genetically-engineered metahuman clone of human origin designed by Paul Westfield of Project Cadmus as a duplicate and equivalent of Superman, though released before he had fully matured. The character was retconned in Teen Titans (vol. 3) #1 (September 2003) as a human/Kryptonian binary clone made from the DNA of Superman and Lex Luthor. This has since become the character's most enduring origin story in later comic books, and media adaptations.

Conner made his live adaptation debut in the final season of Smallville , played by Lucas Grabeel, and appeared as a regular starting in the second season in the DC Universe and HBO Max series Titans , played by Joshua Orpin.

Publication history

Kon-El is depicted as a modern incarnation of the original Superboy. Writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett envisioned a contemporary take on Superboy that would appeal to Generation X/Millennial readers as well as a character both creators would have fun working on, which they did. [2] Kesel and Grummett pitched their idea to DC Comics and the new Superboy debuted in The Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993). [1] Kesel bought a slang dictionary to assist with writing the teenaged Superboy. [3]

Superboy was the first character to fully feature the Hypertime concept in a storyline, beginning in Superboy #60 (April, 1999). Karl Kesel viewed this story arc as the high point of his run on Superboy. [4]

Superboy ran for 100 issues, 2 specials and 4 annuals, from 1994 to 2002. Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett had left the series by 2002 but returned to work on the 100th issue series finale.

Fictional character biography

Origin

After Doomsday killed Superman, Project Cadmus director Paul Westfield wanted to create a clone replacement of Superman to safeguard people. After failed attempts to acquire Superman's DNA, [5] [6] [7] Westfield decided to genetically alter a human clone to look like Superman and made the clone to be the closest human equivalent to a Kryptonian as they could based on their research. During their research when they had Superman's body, Westfield's scientists discovered a bio-electric aura surrounding Superman's body that provided some of Superman's powers such as invulnerability, flight through a form of self-telekinesis, protection from getting dirty and protection from skin-tight clothing to be damaged. The aura was translated into a telekinetic field for a human that would give the clone the ability to simulate Superman's powers such as flight, invulnerability, and strength. This was later known as "tactile telekinesis" by the scientists. [8] After twelve failed attempts, the clone known as Experiment 13 was grown from a single cell to a teenage boy in less than a week and was a complete success. The clone was given implanted memories and underwent an artificial maturation process intended to match the age of the original Superman. This clone was released from his cloning tube too early, however, and emerged as a teenager. While at first calling himself "Superman", he would later be known as Superboy.

The Metropolis Kid

When Superboy arrived in Metropolis, he used the name "Superman". While glibly asserting he was Superman, he quickly rebuked any insinuation he was the original Superman. In fact, he told anyone who'd listen that he was a clone of Superman. This revelation was first revealed to Lois Lane, but she was not interested. This prompts the Kid to turn to another reporter, Tana Moon, who breaks the story live on WGBS. Three other Supermen emerged simultaneously: "The Man of Tomorrow" (Cyborg Superman), "The Last Son of Krypton" (Eradicator), and "The Man of Steel" (Steel). After the original Superman's return, Superboy began operating alongside him as an independent hero for a time, refusing to give credence to the idea that he was a "sidekick" of Superman's.

The Hero of Hawaii

After a few weeks of travelling, Superboy and Dubbilex arrived in Hawaii, joined by Rex and Roxy Leech. After a running battle with Sidearm on the beach, Superboy learned that Tana Moon had moved to Hawaii. Superboy decided to stay on the islands, stylizing himself as the "Hero of Hawaii.”

He rejoined Cadmus and began working as a field agent with Dubbilex and Guardian. After a mission in Paris where they battled the Agenda and meet a supermodel named "Hex", who claims to be Jonah Hex, Superboy meets the new Cadmus Director (Mickey "the Mechanic" Cannon), new military liaison Col.

Adam Winterbourne (one of the men the Kid rescued from the Wild Lands), and one of the new ace scientists, Serling Roquette. Superboy is interested in Serling, as she is one of the few women at the Project and the only one close to his own age), but she is oblivious at first.

During this period, Superboy teams up with Static and Rocket to combat the cosmic being known as the Rift. [9] He also was the first superhero to face King Shark and Knockout.

Superboy was unaffected by the post-Zero Hour retcons that took place in the larger DC Universe, and instead his issue #0 featured an expanded look at his origin story, following his escape from Cadmus Labs. [10]

Kon-El, Young Justice (1998–2003)

A defining moment in Superboy's life would come when Superman asks Superboy to come with him to the Fortress of Solitude. While there, Superboy visits Krypton via virtual reality and experienced the life of a Kryptonian soldier who saved the life of Superman's ancestor Van-L during a battle against the terrorist group Black Zero. Superboy later experiences the life of Kon-El, a descendant of the same Kryptonian soldier and a member of the second House of El established by his predecessor. After the simulation and Superman asking Superboy to look out of questionable cloning practices by Cadmus, Superman tells Superboy that he considered his family and gives him the Kryptonian name of Kon-El. Superboy tearfully accepts, overjoyed with the simple joy of having a real name. After Cadmus was shut down, Superboy had no job and no place to stay. He relocates to Metropolis, becoming the "super" at a tenement building called Calvin Gardens. Eventually Superman invites him to stay with his parents in Smallville, which he gladly accepted and did for quite some time.

Superboy is a founding member of Young Justice, a group of teenage heroes who intended to one day be the next Justice League.

Superboy first encountered his future teammate Robin after the latter called Rex Leech requesting Superboy's help in defeating Metallo in Gotham City while Superboy was judging the first "Miss Kryptonite" pageant in Hawaii. While Superboy and Robin seemingly defeated Metallo, Poison Ivy takes control of Superboy. Robin follows Superboy and Poison Ivy to Kauai, where Poison Ivy released vines all over the island. Metallo shows up in Kauai as well and the team of Superboy and Robin defeated them. It was during this that Superboy discovered that he had a weakness to Kryptonite radiation that made him sick in the presence of it as guessed by Professor Hamilton. [11] He also teamed up with future Young Justice member Captain Marvel Jr. against mental projections of Knockout, Chain Lightning, Captain Nazi, Silversword, Superman, and Captain Marvel. [12]

Although Young Justice's first mission was the rescuing of Secret, the group did not 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 godlike 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, dubbed "Young Justice" by the media. Soon after they are joined by Secret, Arrowette, Wonder Girl, and others. Although Superboy and Robin begin with an argumentative relationship similar to the one shared by Superman & Batman as well as leadership struggles, they became allies and best friends. Superboy and Wonder Girl's relationship is developed throughout Young Justice. 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. After the events of Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day and the apparent death of Donna Troy, Young Justice disbands with Superboy, Robin, Impulse, and Wonder Girl going their own separate ways.

Teen Titans (2003–2005)

Portion of a splash page of Teen Titans (vol. 3) #20 (January 2005). Art by Grummett, Nelson, and Jeromy Cox. Conner Kent.png
Portion of a splash page of Teen Titans (vol. 3) #20 (January 2005). Art by Grummett, Nelson, and Jeromy Cox.

Now based in Smallville with a new civilian identity as Clark Kent's cousin Conner Kent, Superboy is asked by Superman to accept Cyborg's invitation to join a new incarnation of the Teen Titans with his former Young Justice teammates Robin, Impulse, and Wonder Girl. Also on the team are Teen Titans veterans Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy. Superboy is retconned as being a binary clone created from Superman and Paul Westfield's DNA. After the new team gathers at Titans Tower in San Francisco Bay, it is revealed via an email sent to Robin that Superboy's human DNA is not from Paul Westfield but from Superman's archenemy Lex Luthor. [13]

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 Superboy 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. [14]

When Superboy reappears, he is wearing the classic Superboy outfit (with a Legion belt buckle). It's revealed that he was mistaken for Clark Kent and taken to the 31st century, where he was dumped once his true identity was realized, he then fought alongside the Legion of Super-Heroes for the remainder of his time there. After enlisting other Titans to join him alongside the Legion to combat a new threat, the team attempts to return to the present. 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". [15]

After encountering dark reflections of themselves from a possible future, the Titans make it back to the present to contemplate what they've just seen. Not long afterward, Lex Luthor is able to co-opt Conner to reach his "full potential", which results in a brutal, mind-controlled attack by Superboy that levels the Titans. His mind is eventually restored, and he is horrified at what he's done to his team and friends. 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. [16]

Infinite Crisis, death and return (2005–2011)

The death of Superboy. Art by Phil Jimenez from Infinite Crisis #6 (2006). Superboydeath.PNG
The death of Superboy. Art by Phil Jimenez from Infinite Crisis #6 (2006).

In Infinite Crisis (2005), the other-dimensional Superboy-Prime watches Conner during his seclusion in an alternate dimension. [17] [18] [19] Along with Alexander Luthor Jr., another survivor of the previous Crisis, they wish to reconstruct the DC Universe in their image after determining that the heroes they have been observing did not meet their standards of heroism. Resentful of Conner, whom he claims has lower standards than his own despite a seemingly perfect life, Superboy-Prime attacks him. Superboy is killed during the battle and buried in Metropolis alongside the Earth-Two incarnations of Superman and Lois Lane. [20] [21]

In Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds (2008), Starman recovers Conner's corpse and places him in a Kryptonian healing chrysalis, enabling him to be resurrected in the 31st century. In Blackest Night , Conner briefly becomes a Black Lantern before destroying his ring.

Following the conclusion of War of the Supermen, writer Jeff Lemire and artist Pier Gallo launched a new Superboy series. The series depicted Conner attempting to resettle his life in Smallville, and it ran until September 2011.

The New 52 (2011)

The New 52 Superboy with Krypto. Art by Ken Lashley. Superboy (New 52).jpg
The New 52 Superboy with Krypto. Art by Ken Lashley.

In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Superboy is introduced with an entirely different origin story. He first appears in Teen Titans (vol. 4) #1, where he is the half-human half-Kryptonian clone creation of the mysterious organization N.O.W.H.E.R.E., which seeks to control the new generation of metahumans.

In the Superman/Supergirl/Superboy crossover storyline "H'El on Earth", he is attacked by a time traveling Kryptonian named H'El for being a clone, after which H'El delivers his body to Supergirl and Superman for execution. As clones were generally hated by Kryptonians, H'El believes this act will prove his loyalty to Krypton, but it instead triggers conflict between him and Superman, who does not want to kill Kon-El. During the fight against H'El, Superboy and Superman come to know each other better and develop a feeling of friendship and understanding. Kon-El is surprised by Superman's heroism and is touched by it.

Following the "Forever Evil" Justice League storyline, the evil speedster Johnny Quick throws the Teen Titans forward in time. After he is separated from the Titans, Kon-El encounters Jon Lane Kent, the villainous future son of Superman and Lois Lane. Kon-El is actually a clone of Jon Lane Kent, created by Harvest (founder of N.O.W.H.E.R.E.) so that a cure could be found for Jon's illness. During their battle, Jon Lane Kent is seriously injured, but then Kon-El falls through a portal and is transported to Krypton's Argo City in the past, days before the planet's destruction. This leads to the 2013 Return to Krypton storyline. During the story, Kon-El uses the last of his powers to lift Argo City off of the dying Krypton, saving it so that a young Supergirl can arrive on Earth just as history records. He then dies with the planet, accepting himself as more than a "living weapon", in Superman (vol. 3) #25.

Meanwhile, in Teen Titans, the unconscious and injured Jon Lane Kent is recovered by the Beast Boy and Rose Wilson of the future timeline. Despite being Jon Lane Kent, the future Beast Boy and Rose Wilson hide this and dress him in Kon-El's costume for their own purposes. The present day Teen Titans find Jon Lane Kent in Kon-El's costume—unaware of Jon Lane Kent's existence—and take him back to the modern day era where he pretends to be their version of Superboy. The Teen Titans are unaware that Kon-El is "dead" and that they have an impostor in their midst who intends to kill all of Earth's meta-humans, although Superman and Supergirl believe Kon-El is dead and have not told the Titans. It is later revealed that Kon-El is still alive serving a being called the Oracle, patrolling past, present, and future.

Kon-El's consciousness is pulled into a pocket universe where he encounters alternate universe counterparts of himself and Jon. The younger Jon sacrifices himself to destroy the elder Jon, returning the other Jons and Kons to their respective universes. [22]

DC Rebirth

Conner as Superboy in Young Justice (vol. 3) #1 (January 2019). Art by Jorge Jimenez. Superboy (Kon-El circa 2019).jpg
Conner as Superboy in Young Justice (vol. 3) #1 (January 2019). Art by Jorge Jimenez.

Following the Convergence event which restored the original pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths (1984) multiverse, and brought back Superman and Lois from before the Flashpoint, the New 52 Conner version of Superboy is not seen or heard from again. Around this time, DC's publishing initiative DC Rebirth initiates a number of stories designed to bring back classic characters and stories from before the unpopular New 52 reboot.

In the DC Rebirth era, the mantle of Superboy is held by Jonathan Samuel "Jon" Kent, the son of Kal-El and Lois Lane. Conner Kent/Superman from the Titans Tomorrow timeline makes an appearance in Detective Comics #966, where he asks Tim Drake/Batman to return to the Titans. Tim is subsequently captured by Mr. Oz, but escapes with the younger present-day Tim Drake. Before sending the younger Tim back to the past, the older Tim asks his younger self to reconcile his friendship with Conner. The young Tim Drake responds that he doesn't know who Conner is, leading the older Tim to realize that time has been altered. Tim later mentioned that although he didn't know why, he felt Conner's name "tugging at my heart". [23] The New 52 Kon-El is also lightly referenced in Red Hood and the Outlaws when the Outlaws and the Suicide Squad explore a N.O.W.H.E.R.E. facility and Bizarro (whose brain chemistry was enhanced making him smarter) had Deadshot and Captain Boomerang accompany him to shut down the facility's main generator as he was aware that since it was designed to be protected against Kryptonians due to another clone and Bizarro knew he would die if he attempted to shut it down by himself. [24] Later in "Superman Reborn", the histories of the pre-Flashpoint and New 52 Supermen are merged. When the post-Rebirth Superman reviews his own life story, Kon-El is not mentioned as one of the "replacements" who arose following Superman's death at the hands of Doomsday. [25]

The Titans of Tomorrow version of Conner later appeared in the "Super-Sons of Tomorrow" crossover where he along with his universe's version of Wonder Woman and Flash travel back to the past to prevent their unhinged teammate Tim Drake (Batman) from killing Jon Kent. He would later help stop Jon's Solar Flare power from going out of control. Before they return to their time, Conner chooses not to disclose any information to Superman to prevent it from affecting the future.

Wonder Comics

In Young Justice (vol. 3) #1, it is revealed that Conner was a survivor of the continuity of the New Earth when Impulse runs into him while stranded in Gemworld. Conner, who was teleported to Gemworld during a confrontation with S.T.A.R Laboratories, did not experience the "rebooting" of his home dimension due to being outside of it while it occurred. [26] As a result, most inhabitants of his dimension do not remember him. During his time on Gemworld, he befriended a young widower and pretended to be her farmer husband to protect her family from soldiers, and awaited help from his dimension. Eventually, Young Justice retrieves Conner, and he returns to his Earth after a series of incidents that result in the group dimension-hopping.

Action Comics

Upon returning, Conner reacquaints himself with Superman, who does not recognize him and is perplexed by his existence. [27] Superman takes Conner to be examined by members of the Justice League, who warn him that his powers may eventually disappear in his lifetime. After aiding Superman and his family against Leviathan operatives in Metropolis, Conner decides to remain at the Kent family farm in Smallville as the elderly Kents and Krypto receive him warmly and are mysteriously able to recall memories of him. [28]

In the Infinite Frontier era, Superboy appears as a main character in the books Suicide Squad and Titans United, as well as guest appearance in Teen Titans Academy, where various characters opine something is wrong with him and his powers appear to be malfunctioning. He appears in his 2000s-era T-shirt costume. The Superboy forced to work for Amanda Waller as part of her Suicide Squad was later revealed, unknowingly, to be Match, Conner's defective clone, when the real Superboy confronts him. [29]

Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow

Now living in a universe that doesn't remember him, the fully restored Superboy sees no place for himself on Earth and heads into outer space, following a galactic distress call. [30]

Powers, abilities, and equipment

Tactile telekinesis

Originally, Superboy's only superpower is "tactile telekinesis", a force field that surrounds his body and enables him to telekinetically manipulate objects via touch. Under Knockout's training, Superboy learned new ways to use his tactile telekinesis such as projecting telekinetic force waves to blast pieces of ground and extending his field to another person. Superboy can also manipulate solid masses such as volumes of sand or dust, causing the individual particles to fly apart in an explosive manner. He can also create an air pocket around himself, enabling him to breathe in outer space. In addition, he demonstrated the ability to extend his telekinetic field around other people that he touches to make them invulnerable. He also learned a trick from his older and more experienced alternate self, Black Zero, that allowed him to freeze people where they stood if he was touching the same surface that they were standing on.

The main disadvantage of Superboy's tactile-telekinetic ability is that while his field could withstand physical force, the field is less effective in blocking radiant or conductive energ. [31] [32] [33] Additionally, it does not use solar energy as quickly and enables him to operate at full strength even without the sun present. [34]

It was theorized that there was a possibility for Conner to gain superpowers that did not derive from tactile telekinesis when he matured. As explained by his alternate timeline counterpart Black Zero and shown when Superboy was aged to an adult by Klarion the Witch Boy, Superboy gained new powers such as heat vision and super hearing when he matured to full age as well as gaining an enhanced degree of telekinesis, strength, and invulnerability. [35]

In the New 52 era, Kon-El was portrayed as a clone of Jon Lane Kent. He had superhuman strength, tactile, telekinesis, and a healing factor, but not the full suite of Kryptonian abilities. This version of the character was later discarded and erased from continuity.

Kryptonian powers

During Teen Titans, Superboy developed Kryptonian powers including heat vision, [36] x-ray vision, [37] and super-hearing. [38] He also developed Kryptonian invulnerability. He also has developed Kryptonian level super strength, as shown when he battled the hugely powerful Superboy-Prime and even managed to damage him with some of his blows, when some characters such as Black Adam could not. When the Titans encountered their future selves, he found his future self had greater telekinetic abilities (no longer limited to tactile telekinesis), was stronger, more durable, and faster. [15] Superboy later states that he has developed telescopic vision [39] and eventually figures out how to use his freeze breath. [40] 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. [41] Superboy, like Superman, derives his Kryptonian powers from the absorption of solar energy from the Earth's yellow sun, and he is as vulnerable to Kryptonite and magic as is the Man of Steel. [13]

In the Titans Tomorrow story arc, 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. [15]

A recent issue of Adventure Comics explained that since his return to life, he had been trained in the use of heightened mental blocks to defend against mind control and influences, such as the brainwashing Luthor used on him. It was with this training that he was able to briefly pierce the control of the Black Lantern ring, using his heat vision to give Wonder Girl the clue needed to free him from it. [40]

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 Superman 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. [42]

Other powers

During The New 52, Superboy seemed to possess telepathy, enabling him to sense and detect the thoughts of others. Additionally, he had a high resistance to psionic attacks, allowing him to defend against mind controlling psychics. [43]

Costumes and equipment

Identities

Initially, Superboy is known as "Experiment 13". When he escaped from Cadmus, he used the name "Superman". Those who would not accept him as Superman would refer to him as "The Kid", "Superkid", and "Superboy", a name he hated. After Superman's return, Superman let him use the name "Superboy" and continue to wear the S-shield. During the time, he had no other identity, with Tana Moon calling him "Kid" and Roxy Leech calling him "S.B.". During his stay in Honolulu, he is occasionally referred to as the "Hero of Hawaii". Later, Superman gives him his first real name "Kon-El" (after a descendant of the second House of El and Superman's cousin in spirit). While undercover at Montridge High, Superboy's first attempt at a human alias name is Carl Krummet, a play on the names of Kon-El's real-life creators. The character retains this name after relocating to Smallville. At the beginning of Teen Titans, he was given another civilian identity by Superman: Conner Kent, cousin to Clark.

In The New 52, "Kon" is the Kryptonian word for "abomination", with Supergirl giving Conner the name as an insult or slur. [45] This version of the character was later removed from continuity and the previous incarnation was restored.

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. As a result, Superboy was not referred to by that name for some time. [46] [47] [48]

Collected editions

TitleMaterial collectedPublished dateISBN
Superboy Book One: Trouble in ParadiseSuperboy (vol. 4) #0-10January 3, 2018 978-1401275136
Superboy: The Boy of SteelAdventure Comics (vol. 2) #0-3, 5–6, and material from Superman: Secret Files and Origins 2009May 17, 2011 978-1401227739
Superboy: Smallville AttacksSuperboy (vol. 5) #1-11December 13, 2011 978-1401232511
Superboy Vol. 1: IncubationSuperboy (vol. 6) #1-7August 7, 2012 978-1401234850
Superboy Vol. 2: ExtractionSuperboy (vol. 6) #0, 8-12, Teen Titans (vol. 4) #10May 29, 2013 978-1401240493
Superboy Vol. 3: LostSuperboy (vol. 6) #13–19, Annual #1December 31, 2013 978-1401243173
Superboy Vol. 4: Blood and SteelSuperboy (vol. 6) #20–25July 2, 2014 978-1401246853
Superboy Vol. 5: ParadoxSuperboy (vol. 6) #26–34, Superboy: Future's End #1January 7, 2015 978-1401250928
Convergence: Zero Hour Book OneConvergence: Superboy #1-2 and Convergence:Justice League International #1-2, Convergence: Catwoman #1-2, Convergence: Green Arrow #1-2, Convergence: Suicide Squad #1-2October 13, 2015 978-1401258399

In other media

Television

Live-action

Lucas Grabeel as Alexander Luthor / Conner Kent as depicted in Smallville Superboy (Kon-El) (Smallville).jpg
Lucas Grabeel as Alexander Luthor / Conner Kent as depicted in Smallville
Joshua Orpin as Conner / Subject 13 as depicted in Titans. ConnerTitans.jpg
Joshua Orpin as Conner / Subject 13 as depicted in Titans.
  • Conner Kent appears in the final season of Smallville , portrayed by Lucas Grabeel. This version is a hybrid clone of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. He's initially known as " Alexander Luthor " (portrayed by Jakob Davies and Connor Stanhope) as he tries to form a bond with Tess Mercer while corrupted by Lex's memories. As Conner, his powers manifest while mentored by Clark yet Lionel Luthor tries to corrupt him which Conner refuses before he gets enrolled at Smallville High and receives the Kent surname.
  • Conner appears in Titans , portrayed primarily by Joshua Orpin and by body double Brooker Muir in the post-credits scene for the episode "Dick Grayson". [49] This version is also known as Subject 13.

Animation

Superboy as he appeared in Young Justice. Superboy YJ.png
Superboy as he appeared in Young Justice .

Film

Video games

Miscellaneous

Reception

The Kon-El incarnation of Superboy has been ranked as the 196th greatest comic book character of all time by Wizard Magazine. [62] IGN also ranked Superboy as the 83rd greatest comic book hero of all time, stating, "This genetic clone of Superman and Lex Luthor often bears the weight of the world on his burly shoulders. But over the years he's managed to carve his own legacy and win a large legion of fans." [63] In 2013, ComicsAlliance ranked Superboy as #35 on their list of the "50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics". [64]

See also

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Doomsday is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Dan Jurgens, the character first made a cameo appearance in Superman: The Man of Steel #17 before being fully introduced in Superman: The Man of Steel #18. He has become one of Superman's most enduring enemies belonging to the collective of adversaries that make up his rogues gallery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan and Martha Kent</span> Fictional adoptive parents of Superman

Jonathan Kent and Martha Kent are fictional characters in American comic books published by DC Comics. They are the adoptive parents of Superman, and live in the rural town of Smallville, Kansas. In most versions of Superman's origin story, Jonathan and Martha find Kal-El as an infant after he crash-lands on Earth following the destruction of his home planet, Krypton. They adopt him shortly thereafter, renaming him Clark Kent, "Clark" being Martha's maiden name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark)</span> Superhero

Cassandra "Cassie" Sandsmark, also known as Wonder Girl, is a superheroine appearing in DC Comics. She was created by John Byrne and first appeared in Wonder Woman #105. The second Wonder Girl, Cassie is a sidekick of the superheroine Wonder Woman and has been featured as a member of the Teen Titans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superboy-Prime</span> Fictional DC comics character, created 1985

Superboy-Prime, also known as Superman-Prime or simply Prime, is a DC Comics superhero turned supervillain and an alternate version of Superman. The character first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 and was created by Elliot S. Maggin and Curt Swan.

The Superman dynasty, an extension of the House of El, is a lineage of DC Comics superheroes. The term is used for the descendants of Kal-El, the original Superman, who continue to uphold his legacy of heroism well into the 853rd century, as depicted in the DC One Million crossover. Repeated references to members of the Superman dynasty, as Superman's "descendants" and at least one reference to them as the "blood of his blood" would seem to indicate that they are, in fact, the biological descendants of Superman in some fashion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alternative versions of Superman</span> Various incarnations of comic book superhero

The character of Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and has been continually published in a variety of DC Comics book titles since its premiere in 1938. There have been several versions of Superman over the years, both as the main hero in the stories as well as several alternative versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titans Tomorrow</span> 2005 DC comic book story arc

"Titans Tomorrow" is a storyline of a possible alternate future in the DC Comics Universe, from Teen Titans vol. 3 #17–19 (2005), by Geoff Johns and Mike McKone. The story arc has been collected as part of the Teen Titans: The Future is Now trade paperback. The concept was revisited in the Teen Titans monthly title by writer Sean McKeever and artist Alé Garza in the "Titans of Tomorrow... Today!" storyline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Match (DC Comics)</span> Comics character

Match is a fictional character in the DC Comics Universe. He is a clone of Superboy. Match appeared in the Superboy title, issues of Young Justice and the Sins of Youth and Joker's Last Laugh crossover events. Currently, he is a member of the Suicide Squad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman logo</span> Emblem of comic book superhero

The Superman shield, also known as the Superman logo or the Superman symbol, is the iconic emblem for the fictional DC Comics superhero Superman. As a representation of one of the first superheroes, it served as a template for character design decades after Superman's first appearance. The tradition of wearing a representative symbol on the chest was followed by many subsequent superheroes, including Batman, Spider-Man, Green Lantern, the Flash, Wonder Woman, Hawkman, and many others.

<i>Superboy</i> (comic book) Comic book published by DC Comics

Superboy is the name of several American comic book series published by DC Comics, featuring characters of the same name. The first three Superboy titles feature the original Superboy, the underaged version of the legendary hero Superman. Later series feature the second Superboy, who is a partial clone of Superman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Kent (character)</span> Fictional superhero in DC Comics

Christopher Kent (Lor-Zod) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #844 and was created by Richard Donner, Geoff Johns, and Adam Kubert.

Paul Westfield is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Superman #58 and was created by Dan Jurgens.

"H'El on Earth" is a Superman crossover story arc published by DC Comics. Written primarily by Scott Lobdell, it details the appearance of H'El, a mysterious Kryptonian. The plot of "H'El on Earth" follows H'El's plan to restore Krypton and the Superman family's attempts to stop him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Kent (DC Comics)</span> Comic book superhero

Jon Kent is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Dan Jurgens, the son of Superman / Clark Kent and Lois Lane, he first appeared in Convergence: Superman #2. Jon is the newest character in the DC Universe to assume the superhero persona of Superboy, and later Superman. As Superboy and Robin, Jon and Damian Wayne, son of Batman / Bruce Wayne, have appeared in several Super Sons comic book series featuring their shared adventures. Jon later takes on the Superman mantle and stars in the comic series Superman: Son of Kal-El.

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