History[]
Rocketed to Earth as a baby from the doomed planet Krypton, young Kal-El was adopted by a kindly farming couple, the Kents, and raised as their natural son. Discovering that Earth's yellow sun gave him fantastic powers, he began living a double life as newspaper reporter Clark Kent and as Superman, champion of truth, justice, and the American way.
Superman is, of course, the most famous and popular comic book superhero in the world and has been internationally successful since his creation by writer Jerry Siegel (who also wrote extensively for British character The Spider) and artist Joe Shuster in Action Comics #1 in 1938. Though the Man of Steel is primarily an American icon, numerous reprint titles either starring or otherwise featuring Superman (often alongside fellow superhero Batman) have been published in Britain since Triumph in 1939 by various publishers, notably including London Editions Magazines and Titan Magazines. Listed below are some of them (please follow blue links to individual titles' pages). There have also been Superboy Annuals featuring Supes's adventures as a kid, and anthologies featuring his adventures alongside other DC Comics characters.
See also:
- DC Comics (British Reprints)
- Superboy
- Supergirl
- Justice League of America
- Justice Society of America
- Batman
- The Flash
- Green Arrow
- Green Lantern
- Wonder Woman
- Aquaman
Superman titles
Powers and abilities[]
Powers
Superhuman strength, speed and durability; flight; telescopic and x-ray vision; super-hearing; heat vision; freeze breath.
Abilities
Writing newspaper articles (a sizeable number of which consist of him essentially interviewing himself); leadership skills; inspiring others to be the best version of themselves (NB doesn't work on Luthors).
Strength level
Superhuman.
Weaknesses
Can be incapacitated by kryptonite of various hues; is vulnerable to magic; x-ray vision can't see through lead.
Paraphernalia[]
Equipment
Snazzy costume with cape, boots and trunks; belt pouch; massive Fortress of Solitude full of useful pieces of alien technology.
Transportation
He can fly.
Weapons
Doesn't need any.
Notes[]
Superman's personal continuity has been altered several times; in one version, he first became a superhero while still in school, calling himself Superboy. In most others, though, he first donned the cape upon moving to Metropolis as an adult.
Trivia[]
Clark Kent's birthday is supposedly the 29th of February, explaining why he ages so slowly; he only ages one year for every four (no, it doesn't make sense).
Links[]
- Appearances of Superman
- Character Gallery: Superman
- Images that feature Superman
- Fan-Art Gallery: Superman
- Superman quotations
Discover and Discuss[]
- Search News for: Superman · Clark Kent/Kal-El/Kal-L · Superman