| Superboy | |
|---|---|
.png) Superboy as depicted on the cover ofSuperboy vol. 4 #1 (February 1994). Art byTom 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 ego | Kon-El/Conner Kent |
| Species | Metahumanclone (1993–2003) Human/Kryptonian binary clone (2003–present) |
| Team affiliations | Young Justice The Ravers Legion of Super-Heroes Superman family Teen Titans |
| Partnerships | Superman Superdog (Krypto) Robin (Tim Drake) |
| Notable aliases | The Metropolis Kid The Hero of Hawaii Superman Prime Experiment 13 "Superman" The Boy of Steel K-on |
| Abilities | See list
|
Superboy (also known asKon-El orConner Kent) is asuperhero appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. A modern variation onthe original Superboy, the character first appeared asSuperboy inThe Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993), and was created by writerKarl Kesel and artistTom Grummett.[1]
From the character's debut in 1993 to 2003, Superboy was depicted as a genetically-engineeredmetahumanclone of human origin designed byPaul Westfield ofProject Cadmus as a duplicate and equivalent ofSuperman, though released before he had fully matured. The character wasretconned inTeen Titans (vol. 3) #1 (September 2003) as ahuman/Kryptonian binary clone made from the DNA of Superman andLex Luthor. This has since become the character's most enduringorigin story in later comic books and media adaptations.
Conner made his live adaptation debut in the final season ofSmallville, played byLucas Grabeel, and appeared as a regular starting in the second season in theDC Universe andHBO Max seriesTitans, played byJoshua Orpin. Additionally,Nolan North andCameron Monaghan have voiced the character in animation.
Kon-El is depicted as a modern incarnation ofthe original Superboy. WriterKarl Kesel and artistTom Grummett envisioned a contemporary take on Superboy that would appeal toGeneration 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 inThe Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993).[1] Kesel bought aslang dictionary to assist with writing the teenaged Superboy.[2]
Superboy was the first character to fully feature theHypertime concept in a storyline, beginning in Superboy #60 (April 1999). Kesel viewed this story arc as the high point of his run on Superboy.[2]
Superboy ran for 100 issues, 2 specials and 4 annuals, from 1994 to 2002. Kesel and Grummett left the series by 2002, but returned to work on the 100th issue series finale.
Superboy is originally depicted as a human clone created byProject Cadmus to replace Superman following hisdeath. Cadmus is unable to acquire Superman's DNA to be used in cloning and instead genetically engineers a human who possesses the appearance of Superman.[3][4][5] Superboy does not initially have any of Superman's abilities, instead possessing atelekinetic field around his body that gives him superhuman strength, durability, and flight.[6]
When Superboy arrives inMetropolis, he uses the name "Superman", but makes it clear that he is a clone of Superman rather than the original.[7] Three other Supermen emerge 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 operates alongside him as an independent hero for a time, refusing to give credence to the idea that he is a "sidekick".
After a few weeks of travelling, Superboy andDubbilex arrive in Hawaii, joined byRex Leech and Roxy Leech. After a battle with Sidearm on the beach, Superboy learns thatTana Moon had moved to Hawaii. Superboy decides to stay on the islands, stylizing himself as the "Hero of Hawaii". He rejoins Cadmus and begins working as a field agent with Dubbilex andGuardian.
Superboy visits theFortress of Solitude and receives theKryptonian name Kon-El, derived from one of Superman's ancestors.[8] After Cadmus is shut down, Superboy relocates to Metropolis and laterSmallville, living withJonathan and Martha Kent.[9]
Superboy is a founding member ofYoung Justice, alongsideRobin (Tim Drake),Impulse (Bart Allen), andWonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark).[10] After the events ofTitans/Young Justice: Graduation Day and the apparent death ofDonna Troy, Young Justice disbands.[11]
Now based in Smallville with a new civilian identity as Clark Kent's cousin Conner Kent, Superboy joins a new incarnation of the Teen Titans with Robin, Impulse, and Wonder Girl. Additionally, Superboy isretconned as a binary clone created from Superman andLex Luthor's DNA and he gains Kryptonian powers while retaining his telekinesis.[12][13]
Luthor mind-controls Superboy into attacking the Titans. His mind is eventually restored, and he is horrified at what he has done to his team and friends. Afterwards, Conner takes a leave of absence from the Titans and secludes himself in the Kents' home. He doubts whether he has a soul, butRaven shows him that he does.[14]
InInfinite Crisis (2005),Superboy-Prime watches Conner during his seclusion in an alternate dimension.[15][16] Along withAlexander Luthor Jr., another survivor of the previousCrisis, they wish to reconstruct the 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 theEarth-Two incarnations ofSuperman andLois Lane.[17]
InFinal 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.[18]
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In September 2011,The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Superboy is introduced with an entirely different origin story. He is a human-Kryptonian hybrid created by the mysterious organization N.O.W.H.E.R.E., which seeks to control the new generation ofmetahumans.
Following the "Forever Evil" storyline,Johnny Quick throws the Teen Titans forward in time. After he is separated from the Titans, Kon-El encountersJon Lane Kent, the villainous future son of Superman and Lois Lane. Kon-El is revealed to be a clone of Jon created by N.O.W.H.E.R.E. founder Harvest so that a cure could be found for Jon's unstable body. During their battle, Jon is seriously injured and Kon-El is transported toKrypton, days before the planet's destruction. Kon-El sacrifices himself to liftArgo City off Krypton and ensure thatSupergirl can arrive on Earth.[19]
Meanwhile, Jon is recovered byBeast Boy andRose Wilson's future selves and given Kon-El's costume. The present day Teen Titans find Jon, who joins the group and pretends to be Superboy. It is later revealed that Kon-El survived and is serving a being called the Oracle, patrolling past, present, and future.[20]
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Following theConvergence event, which restores the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earthsmultiverse, the New 52 version of Superboy does not appear. The mantle of Superboy is held byJonathan Samuel Kent, the son of Superman and Lois Lane. Conner Kent is not reintroduced untilYoung Justice (vol. 3), where he is revealed to have been transported toGemworld. He is unaffected by the universe's reboot due to being outside the main universe at the time.[21][22]
After being rescued by Young Justice, Conner returns to his universe, where Superman and Lex Luthor do not recognize him.[23] After aiding Superman and his family againstLeviathan operatives, Conner decides to remain at the Kent farm in Smallville, as the Kents andKrypto are among the few who remember him.[24]
Originally, Superboy's only superpower is "tactiletelekinesis", a force field that surrounds his body and enables him to telekinetically manipulate objects via touch. This enables him to generate telekinetic shockwaves and survive in space by creating an air bubble around himself.
DuringTeen Titans, Superboy developed Kryptonian powers including superhuman strength, durability, speed,[25] heat vision,[26] x-ray vision,[27][28] super-hearing, and ice breath.[29]
A March 23, 2006, court decision returned rights to the Superboy character toJerry Siegel's heirs. The decision, issued six days before Superboy's death inInfinite Crisis #6 hit the shelves, states that the Siegel family have owned Superboy since November 17, 2004. As a result, Superboy was not referred to by that name for some time.[30][31]
| Title | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superboy Book One: Trouble in Paradise | Superboy (vol. 4) #0-10 | January 3, 2018 | 978-1401275136 |
| Superboy: The Boy of Steel | Adventure Comics (vol. 2) #0-3, 5–6, and material fromSuperman: Secret Files and Origins 2009 | May 17, 2011 | 978-1401227739 |
| Superboy: Smallville Attacks | Superboy (vol. 5) #1-11 | December 13, 2011 | 978-1401232511 |
| Superboy Vol. 1: Incubation | Superboy (vol. 6) #1-7 | August 7, 2012 | 978-1401234850 |
| Superboy Vol. 2: Extraction | Superboy (vol. 6) #0, 8-12,Teen Titans (vol. 4) #10 | May 29, 2013 | 978-1401240493 |
| Superboy Vol. 3: Lost | Superboy (vol. 6) #13–19, Annual #1 | December 31, 2013 | 978-1401243173 |
| Superboy Vol. 4: Blood and Steel | Superboy (vol. 6) #20–25 | July 2, 2014 | 978-1401246853 |
| Superboy Vol. 5: Paradox | Superboy (vol. 6) #26–34,Superboy: Future's End #1 | January 7, 2015 | 978-1401250928 |
| Convergence: Zero Hour Book One | Convergence: Superboy #1-2 andConvergence:Justice League International #1-2,Convergence: Catwoman #1-2,Convergence: Green Arrow #1-2,Convergence: Suicide Squad #1-2 | October 13, 2015 | 978-1401258399 |
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The Kon-El incarnation of Superboy has been ranked as the 196th greatest comic book character of all time byWizard Magazine.[45]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."[46] In 2013,ComicsAlliance ranked Superboy as #35 on their list of the "50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics".[47]
The issue also featured four teaser comics that introduced a group of contenders all vying for the Superman name...A cloned Superboy escaped captivity in a yarn by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett.
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