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Superboy (Kon-El)

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Superboy
Superboy as depicted on the cover of Superboy vol. 4 #1 (February 1994). Art by Tom Grummett.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceThe Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993)
Created byKarl Kesel
Tom Grummett
In-story information
Alter egoKon-El/Conner Kent
SpeciesMetahuman clone (1993–2003)
Human/Kryptonian binary clone (2003–present)
Team affiliationsYoung Justice
The Ravers
Legion of Super-Heroes
Superman family
Teen Titans
PartnershipsSuperman
Superdog (Krypto)
Robin (Tim Drake)
Notable aliasesThe Metropolis Kid
The Hero of Hawaii
Superman Prime
Experiment 13
"Superman"
The Boy of Steel
K-on
Abilities
See list
    • Tactile telekinesis
    • Kryptonian physiology
      • Superhuman strength, stamina, endurance, speed, agility, reflexes, intelligence, longevity, and hearing
      • Invulnerability
      • Flight
      • Enhanced vision
        • X-ray vision
        • EM spectrum vision
        • Microscopic vision
        • Infra-red vision
        • Telescopic vision
      • Heat vision
      • Ice and wind breath
      • Solar radiation absorption
    • Combat experience

Superboy (also known as Kon-El or Conner Kent) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. A modern variation on the original Superboy, the character first appeared as Superboy in The Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993), and was created by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett.[1]

From the character's debut in 1993 to 2003, Superboy was depicted as a genetically-engineered metahuman clone of human origin designed by Paul Westfield of Project Cadmus as a duplicate and equivalent of Superman, though released before he had fully matured. The character was retconned in Teen Titans (vol. 3) #1 (September 2003) as a human/Kryptonian binary clone made from the DNA of Superman and Lex Luthor. This has since become the character's most enduring origin story in later comic books and media adaptations.

Conner made his live adaptation debut in the final season of Smallville, played by Lucas Grabeel, and appeared as a regular starting in the second season in the DC Universe and HBO Max series Titans, played by Joshua Orpin. Additionally, Nolan North and Cameron Monaghan have voiced the character in animation.

Publication history

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Kon-El is depicted as a modern incarnation of the original Superboy. Writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett envisioned a contemporary take on Superboy that would appeal to Generation 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 in The Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993).[1] Kesel bought a slang dictionary to assist with writing the teenaged Superboy.[2]

Superboy was the first character to fully feature the Hypertime 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.

Fictional character biography

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Origin

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Superboy is originally depicted as a human clone created by Project Cadmus to replace Superman following his death. 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 a telekinetic field around his body that gives him superhuman strength, durability, and flight.[6]

The Metropolis Kid

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When Superboy arrives in Metropolis, 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".

The Hero of Hawaii

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After a few weeks of travelling, Superboy and Dubbilex arrive in Hawaii, joined by Rex Leech and Roxy Leech. After a battle with Sidearm on the beach, Superboy learns that Tana 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 and Guardian.

Young Justice (1998–2003)

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Superboy visits the Fortress of Solitude and receives the Kryptonian name Kon-El, derived from one of Superman's ancestors.[8] After Cadmus is shut down, Superboy relocates to Metropolis and later Smallville, living with Jonathan and Martha Kent.[9]

Superboy is a founding member of Young Justice, alongside Robin (Tim Drake), Impulse (Bart Allen), and Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark).[10] After the events of Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day and the apparent death of Donna Troy, Young Justice disbands.[11]

Teen Titans (2003–2005)

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Portion of a splash page of Teen Titans (vol. 3) #20 (January 2005). Art by Grummett, Nelson, and Jeromy Cox.

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 is retconned as a binary clone created from Superman and Lex 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, but Raven shows him that he does.[14]

Infinite Crisis, death, and return (2005–2011)

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The death of Superboy. Art by Phil Jimenez from Infinite Crisis #6 (2006).

In Infinite Crisis (2005), Superboy-Prime watches Conner during his seclusion in an alternate dimension.[15][16] Along with Alexander Luthor Jr., another survivor of the previous Crisis, 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 the Earth-Two incarnations of Superman and Lois Lane.[17]

In Final 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]

The New 52 (2011)

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Main article: The New 52
The New 52 Superboy with Krypto. Art by Ken Lashley.

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 of metahumans.

Following the "Forever Evil" storyline, Johnny Quick throws the Teen Titans forward in time. After he is separated from the Titans, Kon-El encounters Jon 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 to Krypton, days before the planet's destruction. Kon-El sacrifices himself to lift Argo City off Krypton and ensure that Supergirl can arrive on Earth.[19]

Meanwhile, Jon is recovered by Beast Boy and Rose 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]

DC Rebirth

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Main article: DC Rebirth
Conner as Superboy in Young Justice (vol. 3) #1 (January 2019). Art by Jorge Jimenez.

Following the Convergence event, which restores the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths multiverse, the New 52 version of Superboy does not appear. The mantle of Superboy is held by Jonathan Samuel Kent, the son of Superman and Lois Lane. Conner Kent is not reintroduced until Young Justice (vol. 3), where he is revealed to have been transported to Gemworld. 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 against Leviathan operatives, Conner decides to remain at the Kent farm in Smallville, as the Kents and Krypto are among the few who remember him.[24]

Powers and abilities

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Originally, Superboy's only superpower is "tactile telekinesis", 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.

During Teen 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]

[edit]

A March 23, 2006, court decision returned rights to the Superboy character to Jerry Siegel's heirs. The decision, issued six days before Superboy's death in Infinite 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]

Collected editions

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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 from Superman: 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 and Convergence: Justice League International #1-2, Convergence: Catwoman #1-2, Convergence: Green Arrow #1-2, Convergence: Suicide Squad #1-2 October 13, 2015 978-1401258399

In other media

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Television

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Live-action

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Lucas Grabeel as Alexander Luthor / Conner Kent as depicted in Smallville
Joshua Orpin as Conner / Subject 13 as depicted in Titans.
  • Conner Kent appears in the final season of Smallville, portrayed by Lucas Grabeel. This version is a hybrid clone of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. He is initially known as "Alexander Luthor" (portrayed by Jakob Davies and Connor Stanhope) as he tries to form a bond with Tess Mercer while corrupted by Lex's memories. As Conner, his powers manifest while mentored by Clark yet Lionel Luthor tries to corrupt him which Conner refuses before he gets enrolled at Smallville High and receives the Kent surname.
  • Conner appears in Titans, portrayed primarily by Joshua Orpin and by body double Brooker Muir in the post-credits scene for the episode "Dick Grayson".[32] This version is also known as Subject 13.

Animation

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Superboy as he appeared in Young Justice.

Film

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Video games

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Miscellaneous

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  • Superboy appears in Superman Lives!, voiced by Kerry Shale.
  • The Smallville incarnation of Superboy appears in Smallville Titans as a member of Jay Garrick's Teen Titans and boyfriend of Miss Martian.[44]
  • The Injustice incarnation of Superboy appears in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comics as a member of the Teen Titans who survived the Joker's destruction of Metropolis. Upon learning Superman killed the Joker in retaliation, Superboy loses faith in the former and attempts to find a Phantom Zone projector, only to be defeated by Superman and sent to the Phantom Zone along with his fellow Titans.
  • The Injustice incarnation of Superboy appears in the Injustice 2 prequel comic. While his fellow Titans are rescued from the Phantom Zone, Superboy opts to stay behind due to his injuries. Following General Zod's death, Batman, Doctor Mid-Nite, and Harley Quinn perform a heart transplant on Superboy using Zod's heart so he can leave the Phantom Zone and reunite with Jonathan and Martha Kent, who give him a Superman-inspired suit in the hopes that he will restore Superman's legacy. Superboy joins Batman's Insurgency in fighting Atrocitus and Starro, but he and Wonder Girl are captured and tortured by Brainiac before he leaves them to die in the vacuum of space, though Booster Gold rescues the pair so they can help the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Reception

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The Kon-El incarnation of Superboy has been ranked as the 196th greatest comic book character of all time by Wizard 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]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Manning, Matthew K. (2010). "1990s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kinderley. p. 259. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. 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.
  2. ^ a b c The Comics Cube with Duy Tano (August 13, 2020). Karl Kesel Interview: The Reign of the Supermen, Superboy, Section Zero, Impossible Jones, and More!. Retrieved November 19, 2024 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ Action Comics #685 (January 1993)
  4. ^ Superman (vol. 2) #7 (February 1993)
  5. ^ Legacy of Superman one-shot (March 1993)
  6. ^ Adventures of Superman #506 (November 1993)
  7. ^ Adventures of Superman #501 (June 1993)
  8. ^ Superboy (vol. 4) #59 (February 1999)
  9. ^ Superboy (vol. 4) #94 (January 2002)
  10. ^ Young Justice #1 (September 1998)
  11. ^ Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1 (July 2003)
  12. ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #1 (September 2003)
  13. ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #15 (November 2004)
  14. ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #26 (September 2005)
  15. ^ Infinite Crisis #2 (January 2006)
  16. ^ Infinite Crisis #3 (February 2006)
  17. ^ Infinite Crisis #6 (May 2006)
  18. ^ Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #4 (June 2009)
  19. ^ Superman (vol. 3) #25 (January 2014)
  20. ^ Teen Titans Annual #3 (July 2014)
  21. ^ Young Justice (vol. 3) #3 (May 2019)
  22. ^ Action Comics #1022 (August 2020)
  23. ^ Superman (vol. 4) #18 (May 2017)
  24. ^ Action Comics #1028 (February 2021)
  25. ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #33 (April 2006)
  26. ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #9 (May 2004)
  27. ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) #16 (November 2004)
  28. ^ Teen Titans (vol. 3) Annual #1 (April 2006)
  29. ^ Adventure Comics (vol. 2) #7 (February 2010)
  30. ^ Cronin, Brian (April 6, 2006). "Judge Says Siegels Own Superboy. Will It Affect "Smallville?"". CBR. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  31. ^ Cronin, Brian (June 23, 2005). "Comic Book Legends Revealed History". CBR. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  32. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (February 27, 2019). "Superboy Cast for Titans Season 2". TV Line. Archived from the original on February 27, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  33. ^ Journey Into Comics Archived September 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  34. ^ "Toonzone at the Cartoon Network 2010 Upfront (UPDATED 11:45 AM)- Anim…". Archived from the original on August 8, 2011.
  35. ^ Fitzpatrick, Kevin (July 23, 2010). "Comic-Con 2010: Young Justice Goes Under Cover". UGO Networks. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  36. ^ a b c d e f "Superboy Voices (Superman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 27, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  37. ^ Matadeen, Renaldo (April 2, 2022). "Young Justice: Phantoms Revealed Superboy's Fate Is Worse Than Death". CBR. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  38. ^ Dandeneau, Jim (June 10, 2022). "Young Justice Phantoms Finale Ending Explained". Den of Geek. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  39. ^ "Superboy will appear in 'MY ADVENTURES WITH SUPERMAN' Season 3". X. July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  40. ^ Carter, Justin (August 3, 2018). "Gotham Actor to Voice Superboy in Animated Reign of the Supermen". CBR. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  41. ^ Ayala, Nicolas (May 27, 2020). "Justice League Dark: All 32 Brutal Deaths In Apokolips War". Screen Rant. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  42. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  43. ^ Greg Miller [@GameOverGreggy] (January 11, 2016). "It's literally a dream come true to tell you that I've been cast as Superboy in @DCUO. 😁" (Tweet). Retrieved November 21, 2016 – via Twitter.
  44. ^ "Bryan Q. Miller Brings The Teen Titans To Smallville". Newsarama. October 3, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  45. ^ "Wizard's top 200 characters. External link consists of a forum site summing up the top 200 characters of Wizard Magazine since the real site that contains the list is broken". Wizard magazine. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  46. ^ "Superboy is number 83". IGN. Archived from the original on May 5, 2011. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
  47. ^ Wheeler, Andrew (February 14, 2013). "ComicsAlliance Presents The 50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
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