On the doomed planet Krypton, scientist Jor-El had his unborn son Kal-El (still within his birthing matrix) placed on a hyperlight drive rocket. With his wife Lara, Jor-El watched the ship depart as a nuclear chain reaction destroyed the planet Krypton. Jor-El targeted his son's rocket to reach planet Earth, where he hoped his son would find a good life.

Superman was in fact born on Earth. The tiny rocket was found by a Kansas farming couple, Jonathan and Martha Kent. They found the infant within the rocket and, being childless, Martha persuaded Jonathan that they should adopt him. Named Clark Kent, the child grew up in Smallville, Kansas, never knowing how his parents found him. The Kents began realizing Clark's special abilities at age 8 when he was unhurt after being trampled by a bull. As Clark grew older, his Kryptonian body began developing superhuman abilities. Among them are the ability to fly, heat vision, super hearing, x-ray vision, and many others.

One year, after Clark used his abilities to excel in a football game, Jonathan Kent revealed the remains of the rocket and how his adoptive parents had found him. Clark now understood his special powers came with responsibilities. That night, Clark revealed his secret to his closest friend, Lana Lang. He also told her he would be leaving Smallville the following day. Thus at age 18, Clark Kent began to travel around the world to learn about his powers, become better educated, and secretly help people.

Seven years after leaving Smallville, Clark arrived at Metropolis where he witnessed an experimental NASA space plane about to crash. He saved the plane and there first met Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane. It was Lois' newspaper account of the rescue that gave Clark the superhero name of Superman. Although Clark managed to hide his identity during that incident, he realized he must adopt a superhero identity if he was to continue a public career of superheroics. With his parents' help Clark developed a superhero costume with a distinctive chest emblem. He also practiced mannerisms and began wearing glasses to distinguish Clark Kent's appearance from that of Superman.

Clark then obtained a job at The Daily Planet by turning in the first detailed story about Superman. At age 28, Clark learned about his Kryptonian heritage from an electro-psionic recording created by Jor-El and stored in Clark's birthing matrix. Learning of Krypton's fate, Clark was further determined to protect Earth. Competing head to head with Lois on many stories the two ended up falling in love and eventually getting married.

Superman has had many adventures over the years, some time ago Superman journeyed to an othersimensional "pocket universe" that had its own Krypton and Earth. After defeated three Kryptonian criminals native to that universe who had murdered the entire population of Earth, Superman executed the trio believing there was no other way to stop them. Superman, unable to cope with the guilt, exiled himself into space. During this time he vowed never to kill again.

The creature known only as Doomsday was able to kill Superman after a long battle. But Superman's body was able to be revived by the Eradicator, and the robots at the Fortress of Solitude. He returned better than ever and was able to stop the combined threat of Mongul and the Cyborg Superman. After his return Superman, he has lost his secret identity, been put on trial for the destruction of Krypton, gotten married, and for a brief period of time had his powers change completely.

During this time, Superman's new powers included the ability to alter his density, to create an electromagnetic field, infrared sight, lightning air travel, magnetism, and optical electric bolts. The major difference between the old and the new character was that when Superman became Clark Kent, he was as normal and vulnerable as anyone else. Superman had no idea how to control his new powers, and was only able to maintain a physical form by wearing a special containment suit created by S.T.A.R. Labs, Prof. Emil Hamilton, and Lexcorp. He also had to consult The Ray on how to control his light based powers.

Now, no longer a being of pure energy, Superman has returned to his old form and regained all the powers he once had. His marriage to Lois Lane has most recently become somewhat shakey but yet continues to thrive. It is hard to say what the future will hold for the Man of Steel but one thing is for certain. As long as there is a world that loves and admires him, he will always be there.