Kal-El

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Classic


Kal-El
Aliases:	Clark Kent; Superboy^[1]Gangbuster; Commander El; The Man of Steel; The Man of Tomorrow; The Last Son of Krypton Wayne Jordan ^[2]
Continuity:	DC Universe
Notability:	Main character
Type:	Superhero
Gender:	Male
Race:	Kryptonian
Location:	Metropolis; formerly Smallville, Kansas
Relatives:	House of El; Kent family; Lane family
Status:	Alive
Died:	1993 (He got better!)
First:	Action Comics #1 (Classic) More Fun Comics #101 (As Superboy) Man of Steel #1 (Post-Crisis)
Actor:	Kirk Alyn George Reeves Christopher Reeve Tim Daly Tom Welling Brandon Routh Henry Cavill

Overview[]

Biography[]

Exodus from Krypton[]

Smallville[]

Arrival in Metropolis[]

The Death of Superman[]

Reign of the Supermen[]

Battle for Metropolis[]

Our Worlds at War[]

Adventures with the Justice League[]

Adventures with Batman[]

"Hush": The supervillain known as Poison Ivy sought to protect herself from the likes of Catwoman and Batman. To this end, she used her pheromone control in combination with Kryptonite-laced lipstick to bring Superman under her control. Superman fought up against Batman and Catwoman in Ivy's Metropolis penthouse, but they found a way to break her control. They staged in incident that placed Lois Lane in mortal danger, knowing that such a thing would cause Superman to shake off Ivy's mental control. The plan succeeded and Ivy was arrested. (Batman 611) (Batman 612)

Abilities[]

Powers[]

Kryptonian physiology: Kryptonians are an alien race that hail from the planet Krypton. In their natural environment, they are physiologically no different than a normal human. This is because Krypton revolves around a red sun. If a Kryptonian is on a world that revolves around a yellow sun, such as Earth, they will develop fantastic superhuman abilities.

Solar energy absorption: Under optimal conditions, this is the main source of Kal-El's super powers. They are contingent upon exposure to solar radiation from a yellow sun star system. Kal-El's biological make up includes a number of organs which lack analogues in humans and whose functions are unknown. Yellow solar energy is stored for later use, which also allows for the use of these powers to fade when yellow solar radiation is not available rather than immediate failure.
Energy projection: Kal-El can project beams of intense thermal energy from the eyes. This is also known as "heat vision", and operates in similar function to that of an amplified laser beam. It is destructive enough to kill lesser beings, and cause significant damage to large structures and landmarks, including mountains.
Enhanced vision: Kal-El's visual acuity is significantly greater than that of a normal human being and encompasses several sub-abilities or applications. This includes perception of different levels of the electromagnetic spectrum with varying degrees of range and focus.

Telescopic vision: This is the ability to perceive something visually at a great distance, without external resources or violating the laws of physics. Though limited, the exact extent of the ability is undetermined. In function, it is similar to that of the zoom lens on a camera.
X-ray vision: This is the ability to see through any volume of matter except lead. Kal-El can see things behind a solid, opaque object as if it were not there. Kal-El can focus this ability to "peel back" layers of an object, allowing hidden images or inner workings to be observed. The exact type of energy perceived including x-rays, cosmic rays, or some other energy invisible to normal humans may vary.

Flight: Kal-El can defy the gravity of any environment for the purposes of levitation, and directional flying. This also includes flight capability in a zero-gravity environment such as outer space. Kal-El can fly at great speeds, crossing oceans in the matter of minutes.
Invulnerability: Under a yellow sun, Kal-El is impervious to nearly all forms of conventional injury. Kal-El's skin cannot be scratched, scarred, penetrated for burned. Muscle tissue and ligaments will not tear or strain. Bones will not break. However, Kal-El's invulnerability, as well as the rest of the Kryptonian powers, diminish while in the presence of green Kryptonite. Kryptonite produces radiation which effectively burns out the absorbed solar power from a Kryptonian's cells. A Kryptonian will find him or herself drastically weakened while in its presence. Prolonged exposure to Kryptonite is fatal. Once the presence of Kryptonite is removed, their natural abilities will return to them.
Self-sustenance: Kal-El's physiology does not process oxygen the same way that a human does. An application of invulnerability, Kal-El cannot starve or drown, and can also survive in the vacuum of space. Kal-El is also immune to most forms of poison and toxins.
Super-hearing: Kal-El's hearing is sensitive enough to perceive nearly any sound at any volume or pitch. With skill and concentration, one can block out ambient sounds to focus on a specific localized source or frequency.
Super-breath: Kal-El can expel volumes of breath with great force over a sustained period of time. This is an effective long-range attack strategy as the breath can exert enough force comparable to that of a gale-force wind. Super-breath enables Kal-El to blow people back several yards, overturn vehicles, and generate excessive damage to property and other sedentary objects.
Super-speed: Kal-El is able to move at incredible speed by sheer force of will. This trait extends to Kal-El's perceptions and allows for other feats such as catching bullets in mid flight, as well as covering vast distances in little or no time. Super-speed is also an application of the ability to fly.
Superhuman stamina: Kal-El does not suffer from fatigue and can function physically for extended periods of time without tiring. As an application of this, it is likely that Kal-El does not require the same amount of REM sleep that a normal human would in order to function at full capacity.
Superhuman strength: Kal-El's strength is augmented by yellow solar radiation being absorbed into the body. Kal-El can conduct fantastic feats of strength such as lifting large objects such as satellites or ocean liners, and combating opponents of equal strength value. Kal-El's strength level will diminish to that of a standard human level while in the presence of green Kryptonite.

Weaknesses[]

Magic vulnerability
Substance vulnerability

Notes & Trivia[]

The character of Kal-El was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster. The Post-Crisis revamp of Superman was developed by writer/artist John Byrne.
Although a native of the planet Krypton, Kal-El is considered a legalized American citizen.
Height: 6'3"; Weight: 225 lbs. (Pre and Post-Crisis)