Superman's History

Character History

Clark grows up with an ordinary childhood on the Kent family farm, slowly discovering that he possesses various superpowers, but unaware of his Kryptonian origins. After the deaths of his parents, Clark decides to use his powers for the benefit of humanity, constructing a stylized costume and moving to the nearby city of Metropolis. Obtaining employment at the newspaper The Daily Star, Clark soon makes his debut as the world's first superhero, Superman. Superman's powers increase during the 1940s, including vast increases in his strength and gaining the ability to fly — the earliest comics depict Superman able only to leap about an eighth of a mile at a time). In Superman Vol. 1 #61 (1949), Superman finally learns of the existence of Krypton. During the 1940s, Superman also becomes an honorary member of the Justice Society of America, although he is only shown participating in two cases in the original Golden Age stories (All-Star Comics #8 and #36). The comic books only gradually flesh out Superman's life as a boy. The first Superboy story apprears in More Fun Comics #101 (February 1945). In the story, the Kents still do not have names, and the locale is still not clearly spelled out, although it appears to be a Metropolis neighborhood. Superboy isn't established as living in Smallville until Superboy Vol. 1 #2 (May 1949), that and his parents names aren't given as Jonathan and Martha Kent until Superboy Vol. 1 #12 (January 1951). Other developments in the Superman mythos appear because of the character's appearances in other media, including radio and the newspaper strips. The Daily Star quickly becomes The Daily Planet (possibly because newspapers called The Daily Star already existed). Perry White replaces original editor George Taylor in the first episode of the radio serial, and an office boy named Jimmy Olsen joins the cast soon afterward.

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Superman's History