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Superman is Kal-El, son of Jor-El and Lara of the planet Krypton. He was rocketed to Earth as a baby when Krypton was obliterated in a cataclysmic explosion that Jor-El had predicted. Kal-El landed on Earth to be found and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, who named him Clark and, fortunately for us, raised him to be a good citizen and a heck of a nice guy.
Still, he is an alien, and a god-like one at that. Even though his friends are mortal, his family is mortal, he was raised as a mortal and spends most of his time living a mortal's life, Superman has been and always will be an outsider.
Superman realizes he is out of place in this world, but he also realizes he can help it. Rather than use his powers to impose his will on others, he has chosen to be Earth's gentle guardian, pledging never to kill anyone, or interfere in the free will of nations. Sometimes it's difficult for him to remain detached, especially when he sees the effects that bad policies have on the planet. Even as Superman there's not much he can do about that, though as reporter Clark Kent he can champion the fight of the little guy through his writing for the Daily Planet. In some ways the good Clark does in print is just as meaningful as any of Superman's heroic feats. Superman's not out to make a name for himself, he's there to help people. He rarely stays around for a "thank you", he simply does his job and splits. Naturally, some people treat Superman with suspicion, as if believing that a man this selfless and good must have an awful lot to hide. Some people even fear him, dreading the day that Superman will decide that humans are not fit to govern themselves, but he is. Of course, it would never be in Superman's nature to do that, but, being a rather elusive hero, some paranoid souls are inclined to think the worst.
HIS POWERS AND LIMITATIONS
Superman can fly (very fast), has super strength, x-ray, telescopic and heat vision, acute hearing, a computer-like mind (he can speak all Earth languages and most alien ones) and near invulnerability. The power of flight is the 'most visually dynamic of Superman's abilities. When he takes off, he usually gives himself a boost with a running leap. Once airborne, he can maneuver around skyscrapers with the agility of a slalom racer and the speed of an SST. As great as these powers are, however, he is not so god-like to be an unstoppable force. No turning back time, breathing in space, or hyperactivating his molecules for a fast jaunt between dimensions. When he does superhuman feats, he has to put some sweat into it. Superman is not totally invulnerable, either. He can bruise. He can bleed. He can conceivably die. it would take something akin to a megaton bomb going off in his face, but it could happen. Even a blast from a heavy artillery shell might knock him out temporarily or place him in a comatose state.
There are also two other things that can give Superman a really bad time. One of course is Kryptonite, a radioactive substance cast off by the exploding planet Krypton. Usually seen in the form of a glowing green crystalline rock, Kryptonite has a lethal effect on anyone from Krypton. If exposed to it, Superman will instantly weaken, and prolonged exposure to it will kill him. Needless to say, every hood on earth would like to get their hands on a chunk of this stuff. Lead can shield Superman from Kryptonite's effects, though this is somewhat of a mixed blessing as lead is the one element that can also impair Superman's x-ray vision.
The other big thing Superman has no power over is magic. In the Superman universe magic is a real force and the Man of Steel is just as susceptible to mystic spells and curses as a normal human. This makes a magic-working adversary like Mr.Mxyzptlk a potentially deadly threat to our hero.
For jobs too dangerous for Superman to handle, he's constructed a series of special exoskeleton supersuits which allow him to operate in otherwise hazardous situations. Among them are a Spacesuit, which allows him to breathe in space and fly at faster than light speed and an Underwater Suit for prolonged periods on the ocean floor.
HIS ALTER EGO, CLARK KENT
Clark is a gutsy, hard-boiled crime reporter who openly competes with Lois Lane for the Daily Planet's plum assignments. Clark's tough -- he has to be to survive in the cutthroat world of print journalism. When pursuing a lead, he's relentless, never taking no for an answer and digging far beneath the surface in his quest for the truth. When it comes to getting a jump on a story, nothing stands in his way, especially Lois. Clark Kent and Lois Lane are not always friendly rivals whose intense professional relationship sends sparks flying around the Planet offices.
Lois looks upon reporting as a thrilling career whereas Clark looks on it as another extension of his duties as Superman. As a reporter, Clark specializes in stories that expose the sins of society and champion the cause of the common man. By contrast, Lois Lane specializes in more sensational stories. Whereas Clark would check the record of a political candidate, Lois would open his closet for skeletons. Clark's stories get people thinking. Naturally that infuriates Lex Luthor, who feels if anyone will tell the people of his city how to think it will be him.
Despite being one of the Planet's best-known reporters, Clark takes pains to stay out of the spotlight. As Superman and as Clark, he is modest by nature, plus he doesn't want anyone making any sort of connection between Clark and Superman. He can't help it if Superman is publicly known to millions, but he does what he can to give Clark a low profile. In fact, apart from Perry, Lois and Jimmy, many of the other Planet staffers only know Clark Kent as a byline on an article. Asked to pick him out of a crowd, a number of them couldn't, which is just what Clark wants. In order to function as Superman, our hero needs Clark to be his invisible eyes and ears.
Unfortunately the aggressive but elusive Clark doesn't rate very highly with Lois Lane. Before Clark showed up, Lois was the Planet's undisputed ace reporter. Now Lois finds herself frequently butting heads with Kent for the prize stories. it's not that Lois minds a little competition now and then. In fact, most times she finds men who can keep up with her to be intriguing. That's not the case with Kent, though. In Lois' mind, she's seen his type a hundred times before. Talented, yes. A go-getter, absolutely, A decent guy and respectable co-worker, sure. Exciting, no. No way.
Lois has always been attracted to dangerous, mysterious men, and while she thinks Clark will make a great catch for some lucky girl, he's not for her, The irony of this is not lost on Clark. He's the most powerful, mysterious man on the face of the planet and yet because of his responsibility as Superman to the people of Earth, he's not ready to share that secret with anyone, although with Lois it's awfully tempting. The fact is he's crazy about her. Beyond the physical attraction, she's quick-witted, imaginative and courageous, one of the few people who can always surprise him. In short, Lois makes Superman feel human. And he likes it.
Clark lives in a modest one bedroom bachelor's apartment a few minutes walk from the Planet. To all appearances it's nothing fancy, but inside his closet is a hidden room which contains his Superman uniforms. His special Supersuits and various Superman-related mementos are kept at his Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic.
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