| Pete Ross | |
|---|---|
.png) Pete Ross as depicted inWho's Who in the DC Universe #14 (November 1991). Art byCurt Swan. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Superboy #86 (January 1961) |
| Created by | Leo Dorfman George Papp |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Peter Joseph Ross |
| Team affiliations | Legion of Super-Heroes |
| Supporting character of | Superboy Superman |
Peter Joseph Ross is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics.
The character was created byLeo Dorfman andGeorge Papp, and first appeared inSuperboy #86 (January 1961).[1]
Pete was the childhood best friend ofClark Kent inSmallville.[2] One night when they werecamping together, Pete secretly saw Clark changing intoSuperboy to attend to an emergency. Pete kept his knowledge of thesuperhero'ssecret identity to himself, even avoiding revealing his discovery to Clark. Pete resolved to use this knowledge to help his friend, for example by creating a distraction to allow Clark to slip away from a dangerous situation without raising suspicion.[3]
TheLegion of Super-Heroes was aware of Pete's assistance to Clark and made him an honorary member during his teenage years.[4] It is stated that Pete Ross's knowledge of Superboy's secret identity will eventually save Superman's life, with the Legion allowing him to keep his knowledge.[5]
As an adult, Pete became awidower with a son named Jonathan, who also learned the secret of Superman's secret identity.[6] When Pete's son was kidnapped by an alien race, Pete revealed to Clark his knowledge of his friend's dual identity, imploring Superman's help.[7] When Clark was unable to provide this help, Pete suffered a nervous breakdown and attempted to discredit his former friend. Pete resided in a mental institution until his son was eventually saved.[8]
InAlan Moore's storyWhatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow, Pete is captured byToyman andPrankster and tortured into revealing Superman's true identity before being killed and stuffed in a toychest for Superman to find. Eventually, Superman discovered they were being manipulated byMister Mxyzptlk.[9]
FollowingCrisis on Infinite Earths, Superman did not become a superhero until he was an adult and Superboy never existed.[10] The Legion of Super-Heroes remained dependent on Superboy's existence as its primary inspiration. In an attempt to resolve the paradox, a Superman/Legion story was crafted, explaining that a version of the Silver Age Superboy and his supporting characters inhabit apocket universe created by theTime Trapper.[11] Following the pocket universe Superboy's death,Lex Luthor is tricked into releasingKryptonian criminalsGeneral Zod,Quex-Ul andZaora from thePhantom Zone. They decimate Earth and kill Pete Ross, among others.[12]
The modern version of Pete is a far more minor character in the Superman comics, who eventually marriedLana Lang, with the two having a son, Clark. Peter Ross, although the relationship is occasionally strained due to Lana's knowledge of Clark's secret and Pete feeling that he was fundamentally Lana's second choice. The two are presently divorced, even after briefly reuniting following the Ruin storyline. Pete wasVice President of the United States underLex Luthor and briefly served asPresident following Luthor's impeachment but quickly resigned.
In the modern comic book continuity, Pete was not initially aware of Clark's secret. Instead, the secret was known by the villainousManchester Black, who informed then-President Luthor of the secret, only later to wipe his memory of it. Prior to losing the knowledge of Clark's secret, Lex informed Pete that his close friend Clark Kent is in factSuperman. While Pete initially refrained from telling Clark about his knowledge, he did eventually tell him inAdventures of Superman #641.
Recently, it appeared that Ross had become a villain named "Ruin", but it was later revealed that he had instead been kidnapped by the real Ruin,Professor Emil Hamilton. Hamilton also kidnapped Pete's wife and child. Superman defeated the insane Professor Hamilton, rescued Pete, Lana, and their child, and exonerated Pete of the charges against him.
Pete has returned to Smallville without Lana to raise their son. He was seen attending the funeral ofJonathan Kent.
During the "Blackest Night" storyline, Pete works at Smallville'sgeneral store.[13]
In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe. Pete has only had minor appearances.[14]
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