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Young Kal-El was just over a year old, when his father, Jor-El (Great
Kryptonian scientist) discovered that Krypton was no longer a stable
planet, as evidenced by the planet-wide earthquakes. In typical
science fiction fashion, the elders on the planet laughed him off.
Jor-El's plan was to revive the old Kryptonian
Space Program, and move to another planet, most likely Earth. Apparently,
his hobby was small-rocket-building, and he had just enough time
to build one big enough to send Lara, his wife, and Kal, his son
off to Earth. She declined, of course, because she felt without
her extra weight, the rocket would have had a better chance to reach
Earth. With a simple "Goodbye" and wish of "Good
Luck", the small rocket took off for Earth as Krypton crumbled.
| Editor's
note: Every mother I've asked has said that she would have gone
off with the only child! |
Baby Kal-El was in the rocket ship for about a year, and was just
under three years old when the ship crashed near a roadside in Kansas,
USA. Jonathan and Martha Kent happened to be diving by, and saw
the crash. Bring the good hearted American souls they were,
they went to see if they could help. Being an avid sci-fi reader,
Jonathon even guessed that the craft was extra-terrestrial.
They rescued the small child inside, and put
the rocket on the back of their truck. They left the child at the
orphanage, and indicated that they wanted to keep him. They passed
the requirements, and named the baby Clark, after Martha's Maiden
name. His full name is Clark Jerome Kent.
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Another
Editor's note: There have been rumors that the baby performed
all kinds of super-stunts, but most accounts state that Clark's
super-powers didn't appear until in his teens.
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Editor's
note, part III: At this point there is a clear difference
in the "Modern Era" story and the "Golden Era
Story", although both end in a similar fashion....
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The "Golden Age Story"....
Martha passed away from an undisclosed disease when Clark was
a young teenager. His powers were really developing at this time,
and he became Superboy shortly before her death. Krypto was his
super-powered pet. Schoolmate (and girlfriend) Lana Lang saw that
Clark was Superboy, but kept his secret safe.
Jonathan Kent passed away from the same
disease as Martha, still undisclosed, and called upon Clark to use
his powers for the whole world. Clark then went off to The Big Apricot,
Metropolis, and ended his career as Superboy.
Thus, Superman was born.
| Editor's
note: There is also a version where both had passed away soon
after he went to Metropolis. This is one reason why the various
stories of Superman were later explained in DC's Crisis On
Infinite Earths. It turns out that there were many Supermen,
from different timelines. Today, the modern early history is
defined by the John Byrne mini-series, Superman: The Man
of Steel. |
The "Modern Age Story"..
Kal arrived on Earth in the same way,
but as an infant. He displayed no unusual powers or abilities. As
he grew, young Clark Kent was an extraordinary athlete. When he
started showing the extra-ordinary powers, his parents told him
the whole story. Shortly afterwards, he went to Metropolis.
Without a costume, or secret identity,
he saved a "Space Plane", and was called a "Mysterious
Superman" by Lois Lane in his first press story. In his confusion
over the incident, he went home to the Kents, and came up with the
whole secret identity and costume, which is made from some handy
items from his Kryptonian rocket.
Upon his return to Metropolis, he gets a job
at a great metropolitan newspaper, The Daily Planet, and begins
his successful careers as both Clark Kent and Superman.
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