it’s a bird it’s a plane it’s Superman welcome to watchmojo.com and today we
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we will explore the comic book origins of
will explore the comic book origins of
will explore the comic book origins of Clark Kent otherwise known as Superman
as with most comic book characters
as with most comic book characters they’re often reimagining and different
they’re often reimagining and different
they’re often reimagining and different versions to a character’s past we’ve
versions to a character’s past we’ve
versions to a character’s past we’ve chosen to primarily follow the original
chosen to primarily follow the original
chosen to primarily follow the original storyline which unfolded in 1938 Action
storyline which unfolded in 1938 Action
storyline which unfolded in 1938 Action Comics number one which was expanded
Comics number one which was expanded
Comics number one which was expanded upon in 1939 s Superman number one and
upon in 1939 s Superman number one and
upon in 1939 s Superman number one and 1948 Superman number 53 I know some
1948 Superman number 53 I know some
1948 Superman number 53 I know some people asking a lot of questions now
people asking a lot of questions now
people asking a lot of questions now that I’m back I think it’s only fair
that I’m back I think it’s only fair
that I’m back I think it’s only fair that I answer those people so you’re
that I answer those people so you’re
that I answer those people so you’re here for an interview in Action Comics
here for an interview in Action Comics
here for an interview in Action Comics number one Superman’s origin story was
number one Superman’s origin story was
number one Superman’s origin story was told on only one page as a distant
told on only one page as a distant
told on only one page as a distant planet was dying from old age a
planet was dying from old age a
planet was dying from old age a scientist placed his infant son on a
scientist placed his infant son on a
scientist placed his infant son on a spaceship and sent it to earth on earth
spaceship and sent it to earth on earth
spaceship and sent it to earth on earth the baby was discovered by a passing
the baby was discovered by a passing
the baby was discovered by a passing motorist who turned the child over to an
motorist who turned the child over to an
motorist who turned the child over to an orphanage because the child had come
orphanage because the child had come
orphanage because the child had come from a planet that was millions of years
from a planet that was millions of years
from a planet that was millions of years more advanced than Earth the baby
more advanced than Earth the baby
more advanced than Earth the baby possessed a quote advanced physical
possessed a quote advanced physical
possessed a quote advanced physical structure which granted him incredible
structure which granted him incredible
structure which granted him incredible strength given the name Clark Kent as an
strength given the name Clark Kent as an
strength given the name Clark Kent as an adult he discovered that he could run
adult he discovered that he could run
adult he discovered that he could run faster than a train leap an eighth of a
faster than a train leap an eighth of a
faster than a train leap an eighth of a mile and hurtle a 20-story building
deciding to use his gifts to benefit
deciding to use his gifts to benefit mankind he became Superman this
mankind he became Superman this
mankind he became Superman this extremely brief origin story was
extremely brief origin story was
extremely brief origin story was expanded upon slightly in the first
expanded upon slightly in the first
expanded upon slightly in the first edition of Superman in 1939 just like in
edition of Superman in 1939 just like in
edition of Superman in 1939 just like in the previous years issues a scientist on
the previous years issues a scientist on
the previous years issues a scientist on a dying planet named Krypton sent his
a dying planet named Krypton sent his
a dying planet named Krypton sent his child to earth the baby was then
child to earth the baby was then
child to earth the baby was then discovered by an elderly couple named
discovered by an elderly couple named
discovered by an elderly couple named the Kent’s who decided to adopt him
the Kent’s who decided to adopt him
the Kent’s who decided to adopt him themselves after first dropping him off
themselves after first dropping him off
themselves after first dropping him off at an orphanage after learning of his
at an orphanage after learning of his
at an orphanage after learning of his abilities the Kent’s told their young
abilities the Kent’s told their young
abilities the Kent’s told their young boy that people might be scared of his
boy that people might be scared of his
boy that people might be scared of his astounding powers but that he must
astounding powers but that he must
astounding powers but that he must someday use them to help humanity his
someday use them to help humanity his
someday use them to help humanity his powers were described as nearly
powers were described as nearly
powers were described as nearly identical to those outlined in Action
identical to those outlined in Action
identical to those outlined in Action Comics number 38 with the notable
Comics number 38 with the notable
Comics number 38 with the notable addition that his skin was now said to
addition that his skin was now said to
addition that his skin was now said to be nigh impenetrable this origin was
be nigh impenetrable this origin was
be nigh impenetrable this origin was expanded upon once again in Superman
expanded upon once again in Superman
expanded upon once again in Superman number 53 the 10th anniversary of
number 53 the 10th anniversary of
number 53 the 10th anniversary of Superman’s debut in this version we
Superman’s debut in this version we
Superman’s debut in this version we learned that humans of high intelligence
learned that humans of high intelligence
learned that humans of high intelligence and magnificent physical perfection
and magnificent physical perfection
and magnificent physical perfection lived on Krypton we also learned that
lived on Krypton we also learned that
lived on Krypton we also learned that the force of gravity on Krypton was much
the force of gravity on Krypton was much
the force of gravity on Krypton was much stronger than that of Earth so that any
stronger than that of Earth so that any
stronger than that of Earth so that any Kryptonian on earth could essentially
Kryptonian on earth could essentially
Kryptonian on earth could essentially defy Earth’s gravity entirely
defy Earth’s gravity entirely
defy Earth’s gravity entirely however jor-el Krypton’s greatest
however jor-el Krypton’s greatest
however jor-el Krypton’s greatest scientist proclaimed that the planet was
scientist proclaimed that the planet was
scientist proclaimed that the planet was doomed
doomed
doomed he explained that every atom on Krypton
he explained that every atom on Krypton
he explained that every atom on Krypton would explode in one giant blast and
would explode in one giant blast and
would explode in one giant blast and that they should therefore all migrate
that they should therefore all migrate
that they should therefore all migrate to earth I have come to the conclusion
to earth I have come to the conclusion
to earth I have come to the conclusion that Krypton is about to be destroyed
that Krypton is about to be destroyed
that Krypton is about to be destroyed jor-el’s prediction was greeted with
jor-el’s prediction was greeted with
jor-el’s prediction was greeted with laughter and skepticism by other
laughter and skepticism by other
laughter and skepticism by other Kryptonian elites who claimed that he
Kryptonian elites who claimed that he
Kryptonian elites who claimed that he wanted to frighten Krypton’s leaders
wanted to frighten Krypton’s leaders
wanted to frighten Krypton’s leaders away so that he could rule the planet
away so that he could rule the planet
away so that he could rule the planet himself jor-el returned home to his wife
himself jor-el returned home to his wife
himself jor-el returned home to his wife Lara just as Krypton began to
Lara just as Krypton began to
Lara just as Krypton began to self-destruct
self-destruct
self-destruct Lara deciding to stay with her husband
Lara deciding to stay with her husband
Lara deciding to stay with her husband placed their infant son into a spaceship
placed their infant son into a spaceship
placed their infant son into a spaceship and launched it towards Earth
as Krypton exploded in the background
as Krypton exploded in the background the spaceship travel through space and
the spaceship travel through space and
the spaceship travel through space and eventually landed on earth the spaceship
eventually landed on earth the spaceship
eventually landed on earth the spaceship was discovered by passing motorists and
was discovered by passing motorists and
was discovered by passing motorists and it vanished when they recovered the
it vanished when they recovered the
it vanished when they recovered the infant Sara look
infant Sara look
infant Sara look merciful heaven they took the child to
merciful heaven they took the child to
merciful heaven they took the child to an orphanage where his super strength
an orphanage where his super strength
an orphanage where his super strength was discovered fearing that the child
was discovered fearing that the child
was discovered fearing that the child would destroy the orphanage the resident
would destroy the orphanage the resident
would destroy the orphanage the resident doctor agreed to let the couple who
doctor agreed to let the couple who
doctor agreed to let the couple who discover the child mr. and mrs. Kent
discover the child mr. and mrs. Kent
discover the child mr. and mrs. Kent adopt him they decided to name him Clark
adopt him they decided to name him Clark
adopt him they decided to name him Clark Kent as Clark grew older he discovered
Kent as Clark grew older he discovered
Kent as Clark grew older he discovered more and more of his powers including
more and more of his powers including
more and more of his powers including his speed his jumping ability his
his speed his jumping ability his
his speed his jumping ability his invincibility and his x-ray vision
invincibility and his x-ray vision
invincibility and his x-ray vision eventually
eventually
eventually mrs. Kent died and mr. Kent became
mrs. Kent died and mr. Kent became
mrs. Kent died and mr. Kent became gravely ill on his deathbed he told
gravely ill on his deathbed he told
gravely ill on his deathbed he told Clark that he needed to hide his true
Clark that he needed to hide his true
Clark that he needed to hide his true identity and use his amazing powers for
identity and use his amazing powers for
identity and use his amazing powers for the force of good when his father
the force of good when his father
the force of good when his father finally passed away Clark decided that a
finally passed away Clark decided that a
finally passed away Clark decided that a job at a big newspaper would help him
job at a big newspaper would help him
job at a big newspaper would help him keep in touch with those that he needed
keep in touch with those that he needed
keep in touch with those that he needed to help the most he resigned to wear
to help the most he resigned to wear
to help the most he resigned to wear glasses and be timid but to change into
glasses and be timid but to change into
glasses and be timid but to change into a blue and red costume and be known as
a blue and red costume and be known as
a blue and red costume and be known as Superman
Superman
Superman whatever he was needed he has resolved
whatever he was needed he has resolved
whatever he was needed he has resolved to keep secret his Superman identity and
to keep secret his Superman identity and
to keep secret his Superman identity and to adopt a pose of mild-mannered
to adopt a pose of mild-mannered
to adopt a pose of mild-mannered timidity as Kemp in order to safeguard
timidity as Kemp in order to safeguard
timidity as Kemp in order to safeguard the masquerade like all comic book
the masquerade like all comic book
the masquerade like all comic book heroes Superman has gone through
heroes Superman has gone through
heroes Superman has gone through numerous free imaginings with one of the
numerous free imaginings with one of the
numerous free imaginings with one of the most famous and long-lasting being 1986
most famous and long-lasting being 1986
most famous and long-lasting being 1986 s Man of Steel storyline this storyline
s Man of Steel storyline this storyline
s Man of Steel storyline this storyline maintains most of the aspects of the
maintains most of the aspects of the
maintains most of the aspects of the original story lines with an added
original story lines with an added
original story lines with an added emphasis on Clark’s teenage years and
emphasis on Clark’s teenage years and
emphasis on Clark’s teenage years and his experiences in the town of
his experiences in the town of
his experiences in the town of Smallville just like his origin story
Smallville just like his origin story
Smallville just like his origin story Superman’s abilities have been revised
Superman’s abilities have been revised
Superman’s abilities have been revised and modified throughout the years
and modified throughout the years
and modified throughout the years abilities that have been added to his
abilities that have been added to his
abilities that have been added to his roster over the years include but are
roster over the years include but are
roster over the years include but are not limited to heat vision super hearing
not limited to heat vision super hearing
not limited to heat vision super hearing super breath and super intelligence
however the most notable change to the
however the most notable change to the character was in his ability to fly
character was in his ability to fly
character was in his ability to fly early issues only describe Superman’s
early issues only describe Superman’s
early issues only describe Superman’s ability to leap great distances but the
ability to leap great distances but the
ability to leap great distances but the creators of the 1940s cartoon show found
creators of the 1940s cartoon show found
creators of the 1940s cartoon show found it wasteful and difficult to animate
it wasteful and difficult to animate
it wasteful and difficult to animate having him jump from place to place
having him jump from place to place
having him jump from place to place thus Superman was given the ability to
thus Superman was given the ability to
thus Superman was given the ability to fly
this would not be the last time
this would not be the last time Superman’s medium would change his
Superman’s medium would change his
Superman’s medium would change his character his greatest weakness was
character his greatest weakness was
character his greatest weakness was revealed to be green kryptonite
revealed to be green kryptonite
revealed to be green kryptonite irradiated pieces of his former planet
irradiated pieces of his former planet
irradiated pieces of his former planet kryptonite was actually introduced as a
kryptonite was actually introduced as a
kryptonite was actually introduced as a plot device for the 1940s radio show in
plot device for the 1940s radio show in
plot device for the 1940s radio show in order to give the voice actor who played
order to give the voice actor who played
order to give the voice actor who played Superman a bit of time off
Superman a bit of time off
Superman a bit of time off I don’t you it’s kryptonite Superman
I don’t you it’s kryptonite Superman
I don’t you it’s kryptonite Superman little souvenir for the old hometown
little souvenir for the old hometown
little souvenir for the old hometown although green kryptonite is the most
although green kryptonite is the most
although green kryptonite is the most common and deadly foil to Superman
common and deadly foil to Superman
common and deadly foil to Superman other colors of kryptonite have been
other colors of kryptonite have been
other colors of kryptonite have been known to appear and have had various
known to appear and have had various
known to appear and have had various effects on the Man of Steel
effects on the Man of Steel
effects on the Man of Steel finally later issues would change the
finally later issues would change the
finally later issues would change the source of Kryptonian strength to be
source of Kryptonian strength to be
source of Kryptonian strength to be Earth’s Yellow Sun meaning Kryptonians
Earth’s Yellow Sun meaning Kryptonians
Earth’s Yellow Sun meaning Kryptonians on Krypton would not have extraordinary
on Krypton would not have extraordinary
on Krypton would not have extraordinary powers due to their own native red Sun
powers due to their own native red Sun
powers due to their own native red Sun only in the presence of a Yellow Sun
only in the presence of a Yellow Sun
only in the presence of a Yellow Sun with their true strength emerge like on
with their true strength emerge like on
with their true strength emerge like on earth as one of the most famous comic
earth as one of the most famous comic
earth as one of the most famous comic book heroes in history
book heroes in history
book heroes in history Superman has appeared in various media
Superman has appeared in various media
Superman has appeared in various media including everything from radio shows to
including everything from radio shows to
including everything from radio shows to animated series to big budget
animated series to big budget
animated series to big budget blockbusters George Reeves and
blockbusters George Reeves and
blockbusters George Reeves and Christopher Reeve have provided two of
Christopher Reeve have provided two of
Christopher Reeve have provided two of the most famous representations of
the most famous representations of
the most famous representations of Superman on the small screen and big
Superman on the small screen and big
Superman on the small screen and big screen respectively recently Henry
screen respectively recently Henry
screen respectively recently Henry Cavill starred as Superman in 2013’s Man
Cavill starred as Superman in 2013’s Man
Cavill starred as Superman in 2013’s Man of Steel and will reprise the role in
of Steel and will reprise the role in
of Steel and will reprise the role in 2016’s Batman vs Superman dawn of
2016’s Batman vs Superman dawn of
2016’s Batman vs Superman dawn of Justice
are you a fan of Superman for more comic
are you a fan of Superman for more comic book origins be sure to subscribe to
book origins be sure to subscribe to
book origins be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com I’m here to help but it
watchmojo.com I’m here to help but it
watchmojo.com I’m here to help but it has to be on my own terms
”
Be First to Comment