The character of Superman was first created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1932 and first appeared in DC's Action Comics #1 in June 1938. What Jerry and Joe did not know at the time was that they had created a character that would become the signature icon of DC Comics and the most universally recognized hero in human history.Since 1938, the character of Superman/Clark Kent has appeared in every imaginable media form including television, film, novelizations, and even a Broadway show.Superman's origin, as well as much of his life, has taken on many versions over the years, but the most recognized story line goes something like this: Kal-El was born to Jor-El and Lara of the doomed planet Krypton. Fearing for the safety of their son, the two loving parents sent Kal-El into space to Earth, where he would be safe and so he could later use his abilities gained from the yellow sun to help others.Crash landing outside the town of Smallville, KS, the child was found and taken in by a farming couple. Jonathan and Martha Kent, who would adopt him and raise him to the best of their ability. They named him Clark and that name would become not only the link to his humanity, but an alter ego that would help keep his loved ones from danger. As Clark grew into his teens, he found out more and more about his abilities and as an adult, he decided to use the costume his adoptive mother made from his baby blanket to fight evil as Superman.As Superman, he took on the mantra to stand for Truth, Justice and the American Way and he continues to uphold that statement in all he does. In his duty to uphold that honor, he has fought a multitude of villains including Brainiac, Darkseid, Bizarro, Metallo, Parasite, and his arch nemesis Lex Luthor. Although Superman seems nearly immortal with all his amazing abilities, he can be killed and has even technically died at the hands of one of his most perilous enemies, Doomsday.Due to his Kryptonian biology, Superman's cells are effectively a solar battery, absorbing radiation from the Earth's yellow sun. It is this, and the difference in Earth's gravity compared to that of Krypton that grants 'The Man of Steel' his remarkable powers and abilities, such as invulnerability, strength, flight, speed, vastly superior senses, x-ray vision and heat vision. These powers may vary over the publication history of the character For instance when he first appeared in 1938, the character didn't fly, but rather jumped from place to place- Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound and later versions of the character show him able to preform a nova-burst of the solar energy stored in his body.Other than the rare occurrence of Doomsday-esque monstrosities, one of the only thing that can truly weaken Superman is an element from his home planet called Kryptonite. These Kryptonian fragments have appeared and affected Superman in many ways since its first inception in the Adventures of Superman radio show in the 1940s, but is most generally known in its green form. Green Kryptonite has the effect of weakening Superman, temporarily canceling his powers and slowly killing him. Magic can also affect the Man or Steel, making him susceptible to defeat at the hands of heroes such as DC's magician Zatanna or even villains such as long-time enemy/nuisance Mr. Mxyzptlk, an imp from the 5th dimension.Superman is an important part of the DC Universe not only as Earth's protector, but also as a member or super group Justice League of America, whose members include Green Lantern, the Flash, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman and his closest, most trusted friend in the heroic community, Batman. The Man of Steel has a strong supporting cast that includes not only his adoptive parents, but also his cousin Kara Zor-El , known as Supergirl, boss Perry White, Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Planet) and pal Jimmy Olsen, photographer. But the most important part of Superman's supporting cast is none other than the love of his life, ace reporter Lois Lane. He even stayed in touch with his childhood classmate, Lana Lang.In the 1978 film Superman the Movie, Superman/Clark Kent is played by Christopher Reeve. Show less «