Superboy
Superboy is an identity used by several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. These characters have been featured in several eponymous comic series, in addition to Adventure Comics and other series featuring teenage superhero groups.
From the character's first published story in 1944 until 1992, the title Superboy was applied to versions of the adventures of Clark Kent as a boy, teenager or young adult. The primary settings for the stories were the fictional town of Smallville, the 30th century, and Clark's university. In 1993, a second Superboy was introduced, a young clone of Superman who was eventually given both the secret identity Conner Kent and the Kryptonian name Kon-El. In 2016, DC Comics introduced another Superboy, Jon Kent, the son of Superman and his wife Lois Lane.
Superboy was the first superhero to star in a successful solo title after World War II. During the Silver Age of Comic Books, Superboy was frequently the #2 best-selling superhero, with monthly issues of Superboy and Adventure Comics regularly selling over a million combined copies. Superboy and its subsequent adaptations have been credited with popularizing the prequel as a form of entertainment.
Versions of the characters have appeared in animation, films and television series, including Superboy and Smallville.
Publication history
Creation (1938–1944)
In November 1938, Jerry Siegel proposed to Detective Comics, Inc. that he do stories of Superman's childhood adventures, with the character calling himself "Superboy". Detective rejected Siegel's pitch. In December 1940, Siegel pitched the idea again with a complete script for the first story, but Detective did not respond within the contractual six weeks. An ashcan comic was produced in 1942 in order to secure the Superboy trademark.After the appeal of kid superheroes had been demonstrated by the success of Robin, the Boy Wonder and similar characters, Detective Comics reversed itself in late 1944 and started publishing a Superboy feature, in an effort to expand the Superman franchise by presenting a version of the character to whom younger readers could easily relate. Though Joe Shuster supplied the art, the Superboy feature was published without the input or approval of Siegel, who was serving in the US Army in World War II. In 1944, while Siegel was stationed in Hawaii, Detective Comics published a Superboy story in More Fun Comics #101. The story was partially based on the script Siegel submitted in 1940, and was illustrated by Shuster. Detective Comics had done this without informing Siegel; he learned about it in a letter from Shuster.
''More Fun Comics'' (1944–1945)
The first Superboy stories were published as bi-monthly features in More Fun Comics issues #101–107. Except for the origin story by Siegel, the issues were written by Don Cameron. Art was provided primarily by Joe Shuster and inked by Ira Yarbrough, Marvin Stein, and John Sikela.''Adventure Comics'' (1946–1969)
In early 1946, Superboy moved to Adventure Comics, where he debuted in issue #103 as the lead feature for the anthology comic, and he remained the headlining feature for over 200 issues. Notable stories appearing in Adventure Comics included the introduction of Krypto the Super-Dog; the story of how his friend, the teenage scientist Lex Luthor, became his most bitter foe; and the debut of the 30th-century superhero team the Legion of Super-Heroes, who were inspired by Superboy.The popular Legion spun off from Superboy into its own feature, which debuted in Adventure Comics #300. The feature soon dominated the comic, with the last standalone Superboy story appearing in #315. Superboy continued to appear in reprinted stories and as a member of the Legion until the Legion's final issue, Adventure Comics #380. Throughout the 1960s, issues of Adventure Comics sold over 400,000 copies each, with a peak of over 480,000 in 1966.
''Legion of Super-Heroes'' (Volume 1)
In 1973, DC Comics published Legion of Super-Heroes, a series that reprinted earlier Superboy and Legion stories from Adventure Comics. The series was published from February–August of that year, and ended after four issues.''Superboy'' (1949–1976)
Four years after his debut, Superboy became only the sixth DC superhero to receive his own comic book when Superboy #1 was published. The series became the first new DC superhero title to succeed since World War II. Superboy saw the debuts of the first Superbaby story,, and of Clark's two closest friends: Lana Lang, who also serves as a romantic interest for Superboy; and Pete Ross, who later discovers and helps protect Clark's secret identity. Other notable stories to appear in Superboy include the story of the first Bizarro and the first appearances of Legion of Super-Heroes members Mon-El and Ultra Boy.Beginning with issue #197, magazine covers carried the subtitle "Starring the Legion of Super-Heroes." Beginning with issue #222, the indicia changed to Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, with the change becoming the official title in issue #231''.''
''Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' (1976–1979)
The series was renamed and ran as a Superboy and Legion team-up title until issue #258. In issue #259, a villain named Psycho-Warrior revealed details to Clark Kent about his parents' deaths when he caused him to crash into the Metropolis Superman Museum. With Saturn Girl's prompting, Clark decided not to return to the 30th century again until adulthood. Beginning with issue #259, whose cover showed a tearful Superboy leaving the rest of the Legion, the series was retitled Legion of Super-Heroes and remained a Legion comic until its final issue, #354.''Secrets of the Legion of Super-Heroes''
In 1981, DC Comics published a three-part miniseries retelling the early origins of the Legion of Super-Heroes and its benefactor R. J. Brande. The limited series was written by E. Nelson Bridwell and Paul Kupperberg.''The New Adventures of Superboy'' (1980–1984)
In 1980, DC Comics published Superboy Spectacular, a one-shot that was the first comic to be distributed only to comic book stores through the direct market. The issue contained reprints and one new story by E. Nelson Bridwell and Curt Swan.Also in 1980, DC began publication of The New Adventures of Superboy. It ran for 54 issues.
''Superman: The Secret Years'' (1985)
Written by Bob Rozakis with art by Curt Swan, Kurt Schaffenberger, and cover art by Frank Miller, the four-issue miniseries explored Clark Kent's transition from Superboy to Superman during his college years at Metropolis University. Rozakis had begun a backup feature called "The Inbetween Years" in Superman #359, but the feature was cancelled after six installments following issue #374. Originally pitched as a 12-issue series that was cut short by the publication of Crisis on Infinite Earths, the series retold the story of the day that Clark Kent left Smallville, his first meeting with Lori Lemaris, and introduced Clark's college roommates "Ducky" and Billy, who ultimately met with tragedy.''Legion of Super-Heroes'' Volume 3 (1986–1987)
Following the erasure of Superboy's history in Crisis on Infinite Earths, another version of Clark Kent was created in order to salvage the Legion's timeline. This version was created by the villain Time Trapper in a "pocket universe" that contained only a version of the planets Earth and Krypton. Whenever the Legionnaires traveled back in time, they were re-routed and traveled to the 20th century of the pocket universe; from birth until Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superboy's life was similar to the life of the original Clark Kent. When the universe-destroying Crisis struck, Superboy lacked the power to save his Earth, but the Time Trapper agreed to do so, provided that Kal-El helped him capture the Legion, and Superboy reluctantly agreed. After a battle with the New Earth Superman, Superboy realized he could not turn on his friends and instead helped the Legionnaires defeat the Trapper. Ultimately, Superboy saved his Earth at the cost of his life. His dying act was to return the Legion to their century, where he was buried.This Superboy first appeared in issue #23 and died in issue #38. After his death, his grieving parents revealed to the world that their son had been Superboy.