Kon-El

This page is for the current Superboy, Kon-El.

For the original Superboy, see Superman

For the second Superboy, see Superboy-Prime

Origin

Conner Kent or Superboy is a clone genetically created from material from Superman when he was killed by the creature known as Doomsday. A blood sample from Lex Luthor, was used as well, though it would be a long time before he became aware of his human donor’s identity. He was created by Project Cadmus to replace Superman following his death and he was artificially aged to mid-teens and implanted with the necessary knowledge of someone of his biological age (in regards to general studies, such as math, reading, etc). Before the experiment could be completed (i.e. aging him to full adulthood and implanting him with safeguards to control him) he was freed by the Newsboy Legion and escaped. One of the boys gave him a leather jacket before he set out into the city (having his first brush with being Superman when he encounters Sidearm attempting to rip off an ATM).

Superboy ends up having run-ins with the other three Supermen and meets up with Rex Leech who becomes his manager. When the real Superman comes back he relinquishes the rights to the name and symbol (which had been copyrighted by Rex during Superman’s absence and which he begrudgingly agrees to turn over to the real Man of Steel) and decided to leave Metropolis.

Creation

Conner Kent was created by Karl Kessel and Tom Grummett and first appeared in Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993).

Character Evolution

Modern Age: New Earth

Superboy finally accepts the name Superboy and his friends would affectionately refer to him as Kid. It was decided that he would go on a world tour in order to establish himself in his new identity. He also went back to Cadmus and was told more about his origins–he was not in fact a direct clone of Superman’s, but rather a human clone genetically engineered to look like Superman and mimic his major powers by way of tactile telekinesis.

Later despite the Director of Cadmus Paul Westfield’s initial protests, Cadmus agreed to stop trying to bring him back to the Project–partially because of the publicity that would come with such a move–on the terms that a “chaperon” would go with him. Dubbilex is chosen for the role, in part because Westfield was trying to hide the fact he had sent Payback D.N.Aliens against the Kid earlier that day (and Westfield also did not like having a mind-reader around). The last thing the kid takes care of before leaving is moving out of his apartment, allowing Clark Kent to move in.

Post-Flashpoint: Prime Earth

Superboy is created by a clandestine organisation known as N.O.W.H.E.R.E and is revealed to be the first-ever trans-terrestrial clone made from the fusion of Kryptonian and Human DNA. He is later revealed to be a clone made of the DNA of Superman, Lois Lane and their alternative future son Jon Lane Kent. Though it’s later revealed that his DNA contains 10% of unknown DNA. After learning speech and human functions by observing the people surrounding him, he escapes his cloning tank before being terminated. His caretaker comes to take over the operation, he is subjected to virtual reality and was subjected to power exercising procedures to monitor his telekinesis as his powers are growing everyday. Superboy was then assigned to deal with the Teen Titans, while also dealing with several aliens and teenage metahumans for N.O.W.H.E.R.E. He also comes into conflict with several members of the former Gen13 team, such as Fairchild and Grunge.

Major Story Arcs

Modern Age: New Earth

Life In Hawaii

After a few weeks of traveling, Superboy arrived in Hawaii during his world tour with Rex Leech, Roxy Leech, and Dubbilex. After a running battle with Sidearm on the beach, Superboy learned that Tana Moon had moved to Hawaii as well being a native Hawaiian. Superboy decided to stay on the islands, stylizing himself as the “Hero of Hawaii.” It wasn’t long before Superboy started building up his own Rouge’s Gallery like Knockout, Silver Sword, King Shark and the insane Scavenger. The former was an ex- Female Fury who thought of a fistfight as foreplay. The latter was a crazy old man who seemed obsessed with acquiring weapons for his arsenal. Superboy’s battle with the Scavenger involved a fight over the mystical Spear of Lona. After the battle with Scavenger, Superboy fell ill. His condition worsened and he had to be flown back to Metropolis after a brief fight with Silver Sword, a new would-be hero turned thug who thought he knew what was best for the islands. Superboy collapsed at the end of the battle and the Navy took custody of Silver Sword.

As it turned out Superboy ended up suffering from the Clone Plague that was ravaging most of the Underworlders and other Cadmus clones (including Lex Luthor II). Superboy had to leave Hawaii and was eventually cured. He was the first of the few survivors, thanks to Cadmus’s efforts. Superboy also, had to help fight off some of Luthor’s Team Luthor goons when they tried to steal the cure from the Cadmus.

Fall of Metropolis

It was at this time that the Fall of Metropolis happened and Superboy joined Superman and Supergirl trying to minimize the damage as much as possible, and together they apprehended Lex Luthor. Although by this time most of downtown Metropolis was destroyed. Cadmus had suffered major damage (and Paul Westfield had been murdered by Dabney Donovon, but most of the staff and clones survived. Superboy stuck around in Metropolis for a while, battling the Parasite and ended up getting caught in the World’s Collide crisis.

Back In Hawaii

Superboy eventually decided to go back to Hawaii but, much to his chagrin Dubbilex asked him to take in Krypto by Bibbo. Superboy and the Krypto did not care for one another at all. On his way back to Hawaii, Superboy is forced to make a pit stop in Smallville, where he meets the Kents. He also meets Superboy (Pocket Universe), who was there because of the effects of the time disruption. This is just prior to the Zero Hour Crisis, and he had to join in on that crisis.

Superboy eventually learns that the DNA donor for him was in fact the late Cadmus director, Paul Westfield…or so he thought. This revelation also came with one from Robert Packard that Superboy had been the thirteenth attempt by Cadmus to clone Superboy. The first had utilized Dr. Teng’s “Bizzaro” technique, resulting in a Bizzaro Superboy that was still being held in the lab. The Bizarro escapes but dies shortly thereafter. When he returns to Hawaii, Tana throws him a birthday party (one year old). After getting back to Hawaii, Superboy continued to battle his own rogue’s gallery including the first appearances by King Shark, B.E.M., Techno, and the Silicon Dragons. Each of these adventures typically opened with Superboy acting immature in some way and having an “adult” moment towards the end, such as when a celebrity look-a-like of him was shot and killed by the Dragons who thought the actor was the real Superboy. Superboy also clashed with Aquaman at Pearl Harbor, with the King of the Seas putting the Kid in his place with the help of a pod of blue whales.

Thanks to Dr. Emil Hamilton, Superboy also acquires a visor (X-ray glasses) that simulated Superman’s X-Ray, Heat and infra-vision powers. He met Hamilton while the scientist was vacationing in Hawaii and inadvertently assisted Superboy defeat Sidearm, who had reemerged at this time. Superboy also settled into a new residence called The Compound, in a secluded spot near the beach, with the Leeches and Dubbilex staying there as well (although on their first night, he had to fight off Copperhead, who had been hired to collect a debt from Rex).

At this time, Superboy also formally became involved with Tana Moon. A special agent named Sam Makoa decided to organize a task force to go after the Silicon Dragons. This ended up being Amanda Waller‘s Suicide Squad. Superboy forced himself onto the team, which consisted of Knockout, Sidearm, King Shark, Captain Boomerang, and Deadshot. Despite the death of Sidearm and the apparent deaths of Knockout and King Shark, the mission successfully destroyed the lair of the Silicon Dragons, even though their leader, Lady Dragon, escaped after a solo battle against the Kid. Superboy lost his visor in this adventure and saw more death than he cared to think about.

Superboy was also told by the state (especially, a man named Mack Harlin that he was required to start attending school. Superboy enrolled at a local high school where he met some new friends, including Hillary Chang and discovered that he was reaching the end of the implanted knowledge Cadmus had given him. When he wasn’t trying to impress his classmates or going out with Tana (who, again, was probably seven or eight years older than him), Superboy managed to find time for some gratuitous violence–like brawling with Loose Cannon, or rounding up Loophole. When Roxy unexpectedly left for Las Vegas, Superboy followed her, sensing there was trouble. Roxy was trying to put some things in her past to rest, since she had decided to enroll as a cop in Hawaii. This meant a confrontation with an old boyfriend, a loser who called himself Neon. After a brief battle, Neon blew himself up by detonating a gas station. Superboy and Roxy returned home.

Superboy is forced to battle against Valor, who was amnesic and fighting under the name of Champion. Knockout, alive and well, decided to join in on the fight. As Valor regains his memory, he also realizes he is dying of lead poisoning. While Knockout takes care of Mr. Gamboli, who had been manipulating Valor, Superboy helps Valor escape into the Phantom Zone to save his life. Superboy also works with Green Lantern in a rematch against Scavenger and a first encounter with the horribly new mutated Black Manta.

The Alpha Centurion recruits Superboy into the Superman Rescue Squad, after the Man of Steel is kidnapped by an alien Tribunal. Superboy joins the Centurion, Supergirl, the Eradicator, and Steel and leaves Earth to find Superman. On the trip, Superboy admits to the others he does not trust the Centurion–in fact, he thinks he is really the Cyborg Superman in disguise. His suspicions seem to be confirmed when the Centurion seemingly abandons them in the midst of a battle–and the Cyborg Superman arrives on the scene soon thereafter. The Cyborg easily defeats the entire team and turns them over to the Tribunal. While a prisoner, Superboy is put in the same cell as the Centurion, but this is not enough to convince him he is not a double agent. Only when he later escapes and sees the two actually fighting does he admit his mistake. The team frees themselves and rallies behind Superman, who confronts the Tribunal head-on. The Tribunal admits an error in their reasoning, and “exonerates” Superman for his “crime.” The team returns triumphantly to Earth.

Legion of Super-Heroes

Superboy meets the Legion of Super-Heroes who come to the past seeking to save Valor’s life. Superboy explains what happened and accompanies the Legion to the 30th Century to help Valor. Valor is freed from the Phantom Zone in his own time and takes the name M’on-El and decides to fight wearing Superman’s costume. The Legion rewards Superboy by making him an honorary Legionnaire, complete with flight ring, before sending him home.

Knockout

Upon returning to the present after helping the Legion, Superboy finds Knockout waiting for him at The Compound. She wants to join him as a partner, loving the heat of battle more than anything. Together they battle Killer Frost (part of the Underworld Unleashed saga), the Technician, and Silver Sword. Knockout teaches Superboy how to use his powers in new and creative ways, such as extending his telekinesis field to cover another person just by touching them. Superboy regains his visor (which had been recovered by the Technician) but destroys it, reasoning that he would just lose it again. Superboy and Knockout are then attacked by the Female Furies, revealing that Knockout was one of their lost “sisters”. An intense battle ensues at Superboy’s high school, with Superboy and Knockout (joined by Sam Makoa, Dan Turpin, and a contingent of police officers) severely outclassed. Thanks to Dubbilex, however, the Furies are driven off, leaving much of the high school in ruins (prompting the state to decide Superboy should be home schooled, thus ending his brief time in high school).

During the battle, Knockout killed a police officer in the fray. Dubbilex discovered what had happened and the police–in the process of forming their own Special Crimes Unit attempt to arrest Knockout. Superboy refuses to believe the evidence, however, and after a confrontation with Snare and the crimes unit at the Compound, the two briefly go on the run from the law prompting Superboy to even break up with Tana Moon. This led to a battle on the beach between Supergirl and Knockout. After Sparx helps separate the two women, Supergirl rips the S-shield off Superboy’s costume because of his lawlessness. Still, Superboy persisted that he was in the right and everyone just did not understand Knockout. Knockout’s true colors are revealed, however, during a meeting with Victor Volcaneum, who had risen an island for himself near Hawaii. Knockout first tried to get Superboy to kill him and then finished him off herself. In this act, Superboy realized then that she did not love him the way he thought he loved her, but that she merely was using him as her lapdog. Superboy apprehended Knockout, in part due to the training she had given him on how to use his powers, bringing her in as the island sinks back beneath the wave. Roxy, having recovered his S-shield, put it back on his costume.

Superboy is brought by Sparx to the Event Horizon, an intergalactic rave party open to metas only. It was hosted by a being called Kindred Marx. His first night there, Superboy met Hero and got into a fight with Kaliber, which prompted the two of them to be teleported to a distant asteroid–where a police force known as I.N.T.E.R.C.E.P.T. attempted to place the two of them under arrest for being part of Event Horizon. The group was involved with the Darkstars. Superboy and Kaliber were transported back to the event before they could be arrested, and there another brawl broke out between some Khunds (and their gang, Red Shift) and Aura which spilled out onto Earth proper (the rave itself could shift between worlds).

Superboy’s Relationship

Superboy resumed his relationship with Tana, just before Roxy revealed to him during the Final Night that she had always loved him. Despite this confession, Superboy did not reciprocate, still loving Tana. Roxy nevertheless could not dismiss her feelings for Superboy so easily. While helping Dubbilex recover from an injury, an organization called the Agenda sends Amanda Spence to kidnap Superboy. Spence is successful, kidnapping Superboy after defeating him at The Compound. The Agenda uses Superboy to create a clone called Match, who had even greater power than Superboy. The Agenda plans on making an entire army of Match clones. The Kid manages to defeat Match, however, and destroy the Agenda’s lair. Match is thought to be killed, but Spence and the Directors are all taken into custody.

Unbeknown to the Kid, the Agenda infected Superboy with a virus that began to break down his DNA. It did not manifest itself at first, but lay dormant for weeks, until a rematch with Copperhead made it all too clear that he was sick. When STAR Labs cannot correct his condition, Superboy is rushed to Project Cadmus. Cadmus is able to slow the condition but not halt it. Superman, Superboy, and Steel came to his aid, each tracking down leads that might help. The Directors do not talk, however, and though Superman is able to locate Match (who might serve as a donor to Superboy) the clone is not interested in helping and flees. Amanda Spence, however, offers a solution, by explaining that he needs a DNA donor to “re-zip” the breakdown of his own DNA. Roxy Leech offers to be part of the procedure to help restructure the Kid’s DNA and cure him of the virus. The plan succeeded, although a side effect was that Superboy was locked at the age of sixteen. Superboy is crushed at the news, having always dreamed of one day assuming the roll of Superman. A heart-to-heart with Superman (who was in his Energy-phase at the time) helped make the Kid feel better, though not exactly thrilled.

Despite what Superman had to say, Superboy is still troubled by thoughts that he will not grow up. Nightmares plague him, even as he has to deal with Mo-o, and a married couple who are pursuing thrills by trying to get their picture taken with superheroes. He finds a magic atoll where there are some “lost boys” who seemingly never grow up, and despite the temptation to stay, he leaves it. Things began to break down upon returning to Hawaii. The Legion of Super-Heroes turns up, angry that Superboy had given away his Legion Flight Ring to Roxy. Superboy manages to work things out with them as they fight Silver Sword. However, his constant flirting and “devil-may-care” attitude have been wearing on Tana (who was also uncomfortable with the thought that Superboy would stay a teenager forever). Despite trying to prove how responsible he is by having another fight with Silver Sword and recovers the Spear of Lono, which had been stolen, Tana breaks up with the Kid.

Superboy decides to travel a bit to clear his head. He stops by Jersey City and asks Natasha Irons, Steel’s niece, out on a date. Nat has fun but tells him she’s not interested in a relationship because she can tell he’s still very much in love with Tana. Silver Sword is finally brought down with the help of Green Lantern. He had been serving a being known as Pele, whom he believed was a native Hawaiian goddess, but during Pele’s battle with Superboy and Green Lantern (when she threatened innocent Hawaiian bystanders), Silver Sword realized she was no benevolent goddess. He turned on her, leading to his death. Pele is defeated, but Superboy is feeling anything but heroic. More than ever he feels isolated. Superboy, after a failed publicity stunt (i.e. “Superboy: The Event”) and wavering public opinion in Hawaii and abroad, disappears without a trace while flying back to Hawaii and getting caught in a storm. Superboy’s cast largely left at this point: Rex was on the run from his past, Roxy goes to find him, Tana left the islands tracking down information on the Agenda, and Dubbilex is recalled to Cadmus. Krypto is left with Hillary Chang.

Savage Lands

Superboy awoke amnesic in the Savage Lands, an island of anthropomorphic animals called the Wild Men. They first saw Superboy as a dumb ‘animal’ but he quickly regains his memory, and briefly fears he is somehow in the distant future. After passing a test and other challenges to prove that he is the ‘Mighty One’, Superboy and some other humans stranded on the island manage to leave the Savage Land. Superboy befriends the Wild Men, who decide to explore the world at large and leave with Superboy. They quickly discover they are not in the distant future, but really only a few months have passed since Superboy’s disappearance. The islands had been created by a precursor to Project Cadmus (part of an experiment in the 1940s known as the “Moreua Project”). Superboy did have to contend with the fallout of a coup de tat that spilled out into the world at large, but managed to work it out. Back in Hawaii, Superboy learned that most of his friends were gone and decided there was nothing really left for him.

Cadmus

He rejoins Cadmus and begins working as a field agent with Dubbilex and Guardian, after leaving Krypto with his friend, Hillary Chang (perhaps for the last time). In their first assignment, they travel to Paris and battled the Agenda once again, specifically Director Alpha. They also encounter Grokk the Living Gargoyle and a supermodel named “Hex,” who claims to be Jonah Hex. They take Grokk back to Project Cadmus, where Superboy meets the new Director ( Mickey “the Mechanic” Cannon, new military liaison, Col. Adam Winterbourne (one of the men Superoby rescued from the Wild Lands), and one of the new ace scientists, Serling Roquette. Superboy is at first happy to be back at the Project, but is distraught when Mickey fires the head scientists (the original Newsboy Legion) and orders them to take their clones (the current Newsboys) with them as they leave. Superboy was a founding member of the team Young Justice, along with Robin ( Tim Drake) and Impulse. The team formed after the three boys decided to have a “camp out” in the old JLA Justice Cave, where they encountered Red Tornado (who agreed to keep an eye on them).

Superboy is interested in Serling (as she’s one of the few females at the Project and the only one close to his own age) but she is oblivious at first, harboring a crush on Guardian. Superboy has to respond when someone steals the Whiz Wagon and enters the Demolition Run, a lethal cross country race involving all manner of high tech vehicles. The thief turns out to be Roxy, who is desperate for money to help her father. Even with Superboy and Mick Cannon helping her, the Whiz Wagon is totaled and Fastbak wins the race. Superboy realizes the man who set up the race, Mr. Big, set it up knowing Fastbak would win and forfeit any prize. Rather than let Mr. Big walk away with millions, he convinces Fastbak to ask for all profits Big might have made off the deal. Big honors the deal, but promises Superboy he won’t forget. Superman drops by Cadmus and asks Superboy to come with him to the Fortress of Solitude. While there, Superboy visits Krypton via virtual reality, after Superman explains how he considers Superboy a part of his family, Superman offers him the Kryptonian name Kon-El. Superboy tearfully accepts, overjoyed with the simple joy of having a real name. He would eventually accept the nickname “Conner.”

Hypertime

Superboy was one of the first to explore Hypertime, after a Superboy from an alternate reality arrived at the Watchtower, dying shortly thereafter from injuries. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman all explained their recent experiences with Hypertime, and ask Superboy to volunteer for part of an experiment. During this journey, he met a villainous counterpart, Black Zero, from a reality where he had not been freed from Cadmus as a teenager, nor had Superman ever returned to life. Black Zero had become a cruel tyrant in his world, and then had set out to other worlds he had found via Hypertime. He did not understand the resistance he met from the other Superboys, but one by one he captured them and brought them to his lair. Superboy (Kon-El) led these other versions in an uprising that defeated Black Zero, and then returned to his proper timeline/reality. During the trip, however, he had learned that Superman is also Clark Kent. Superboy did not reveal this at first, harboring a little shock and resentment that his closest “relative” had never told him about this.

Superboy is ordered to return to the revisited the Wild Lands, taking a number of personnel from Cadmus (including Col. Winterbourne) with him via the Whiz Wagon. They land in Roam and are greeted warmly by King Tuftan (and coldly by his now bride, Nosferata. Winterbourne requests to be taken to the area where he was captured, and Tuftan leads the way to the Glowing Swamp. They find Rasputin there–and also King Shark. Tuftan and Winterbourne are almost killed by King Shark in a tough battle. Winterbourne discovers what he had come there to find–an experimental Blackbird fighter jet that he had crashed–and uses it to impale King Shark, shortly before it detonates. Tuftan returns to Roam and Superboy and the others are recalled to Cadmus.

They arrive just as the Day of Judgment event has begun. Cadmus workers had unearthed an ancient glove, Hyssa’s Fist, that Guardian put on. The power of the evil glove had impaired his perceptions and he had run off into the caverns beneath the Project after attacking some guards. The Demon Etrigan emerges, explaining he is there to help them. Etrigan and Superboy manage to defeat the possessed Guardian, but Superboy is not wild about the idea of handing the artifact over to the Demon, who attacks him for his obstinacy. Superboy puts on the glove and easily defeats Etrigan, but Dabney Donovan (whom Guardian had freed from Cadmus’s holding cells) steps out and compliments the Kid on his new look. The glove had changed Superboy’s costume to resemble Black Zero. Horrified, Superboy destroys the glove, causing a huge cave-in. Etrigan saves Donovan before leaving. Superboy decides he wants to return to Hawaii to tie up some loose ends.

Smallville

About this time, Superboy decides to visit Smallville, specifically to drop by the Kents. Clark Kent arrives there, too, and Superboy hints around that he knows Clark’s secret, but does not come out and say it. Clark is reluctant to come out with it too, not because he doesn’t trust the Kid, but because he is afraid that eventually Superman and Clark Kent may no longer be distinguishable. Still, he does hint back to Superboy that he knows the Kid knows about him (while teaching Kon-El how to milk a cow). Superboy (accompanied by Serling) take the Whiz Wagon to Hawaii. Superboy discovers that he is no longer well thought of among the locals there, and that a new hero, Kana is the local favorite. Kana, however, sites Superboy as being his inspiration for being a hero. Superboy catches up with Sam Makoa and Hillary Chang, and even visits Knockout in prison (who tries unsuccessfully to manipulate the Kid into letting her go). After one last visit to The Compound, Superboy realizes nothing will ever be like it once was. He decides to take Krypto back with him to Cadmus.

Known Superman truth identity

Still frustrated that he has not been able to come out and acknowledge to Superman he knows the truth of his dual identity, Superboy heads to Metropolis. He meets up with Lois Lane and takes her to Locomotive Park, where the Man of Steel is battling a four-armed monster (but unfortunately, suffers some allergic reaction to it’s skin). The two put the creature down. Afterwards, Superboy is still unable to come out with what he knows, but he is comforted when Superman tells him that of all the people who wear the S-shield, Superboy is the one he feels closest too. After he leaves, Superboy hints to Lois that he knows, but Lois merely replies that everyone–even Superman–needs a little privacy in life. Upon arriving back at Cadmus, Superboy is quickly knocked out. The Agenda, using Simyan, and Mokkari to create an army of clones, have seized control of the Project (during an arc “The Evil Factory”). Dubbilex, manipulated through a being known as the Gene-Gnome, is helping the Agenda. Superboy and the rest of the good guys are placed in holding under the eye of Amanda Spence, now harboring a special hatred of the Kid. Superboy rallies the forces of Cadmus, along with Grokk the Living Gargoyle, Hex, and even Krypto, in a desperate struggle to win back Cadmus.

All they can do, however, is temporarily retreat, as the Gene-Gnome not only can read their minds but also coordinate the clone armies. As they flee, they run into the Wild Men (Gorr, Growler and Howler) who had escaped the Agenda’s clutches in Alaska–where they had also rescued Tana Moon, whom they have with them. Realizing the Gene-Gnome cannot read the minds of non-humans, they decide to launch a counter-attack on the Project, leaving Serling, Tana, and Krypto behind. After they leave, Dubbilex and the Gene Gnome emerge on the three, but Dubbilex manages to break the Gnome’s control and knock him out. The strike force (Superboy, Guardian, Mick Cannon, Hex, Grokk the Living Gargoyle, Angry Charlie and the Wild Men trio) put the Agenda’s army to rout, wrestling control back from Amanda Spence. A holographic message from the Agenda’s Director Beta (the Contessa Erica Alexandra del Portenza) alerts them to a contingency plan in Washington, D.C. While suspecting a trap, Superboy takes off to investigate anyway.

Match in the Young Justice

A public outcry over Young Justice’s actions at Mount Rushmore prompts a calling of the superhero community to come to D.C. The heroes are all shocked at how Superboy (standing with Young Justice) seems to be betraying his friends and comrades to the media, until they realize that this Superboy is in fact Match, who had infiltrated Young Justice after the real Superboy had been captured and locked up in Cadmus. The real Superboy arrives on scene, slugging it out with his clone. As the tension mounts, the Contessa and her partner, Klarion the Witch-Boy, enact their plan. Klarion’s sorcery alters the ages of everyone present: the adults become kids (with the oldest heroes becoming the youngest) and the younger heroes all become adults–all except Superboy, who is still stuck at sixteen.

The Death Superboy girlfriend Tana

The spell that changed everyone’s age is frustrated by Superboy’s stunted aging process–and as a result, his body begins to tear apart at a molecular level, at “war” with itself. Wonder Girl helps Superboy back to Cadmus, arriving just after Match (again in the guise of Superboy) and he is able to hold his own against Wonder Girl and the weakened Superboy. Guardian and Mic prepare to make another stand against the Agenda clones who had rallied and were coming back, but Dabney Donovan surprises everyone. Having escaped Simyan and Mokkari, he unleashes a gas that contains a virus lethal only to the newly cloned Agenda soldiers. All the evil clones disintegrate, though Match escapes by activating a teleporter. Superboy is taken to the medical bay with Tana at his side, still very much in love with him. Serling is able to cure his aging condition, and by doing so the spell ages him to a full adult. Emerging from the lab, Superboy embraces Tana. Amanda Spence, looking on, activates a device around Tana’s neck that kills Tana. She gloats about how now Superboy knows the pain she knew when her father, Paul Westfield, died. Before Superboy can strike Spence down, she teleports away.

Superboy is devastated over the death of Tana. He barely has time to mourn, however, as he is called in by Superman (still a teen) to help him defeat Klarion and reverse the spell. Superman finally divulges straight up about his dual identity, asking Superboy to contact Lois to assure her everything is alright. As an adult, it appears as though Superboy may have even greater power than Superman. Klarion is eventually defeated and everyone is restored to their natural ages. When he was restored to youth, Superboy lost his powers as well. Guardian encourages him to take some time to grieve and see the world as a “normal” kid. He tries to do just that, though everything keeps changing around him: Tana’s death, his powers gone, and Dubbilex decides to leave the Project on sabbatical. The Wild Men depart for places unknown, Hex decides to take Grokk the Living Gargoyle and become a bounty hunter, and Heat Wave is now working for Guardian. Superboy decides he still wants to continue the good fight, so he turns to the Gadget Guru to help him be Superboy once again.

A New Superboy

He still had his Legionnaire flight ring and had some special training with Guardian. Gadget Guru fashions a shield for him to use: the shield is nearly indestructible, but can shrink in size. He barely has begun his new training when Superboy (along with Mick Cannon and Gadget Guru) are kidnapped and taken into orbit by Kossak the Slaver. Superboy and his friends manage to rally the slaves in a successful uprising against their hated master. After battling all over Kossak’s slave ship, the rebellion is successful. Kossak flees on a shuttle heading straight for Earth. Superboy pursues him back to the Project, where he learns Kossak’s true intent for coming to Earth is to retrieve an escaped slave–one that has fused with Roxy Leech! The alien has solar/heat-based powers and restores Superboy to full power, allowing the Kid to take down Kossak. Superboy gives Guardian a new shield–one that can shrink the way his could.

Roxy is still bound by the alien life form. Using her body, it breaks free from Cadmus and arrives in the nearby town of Kurtzberg. The newly reformed Titans arrive on scene to contain the situation, but Superboy puts himself between them and Roxy. When Guardian and Heat Wave arrive, a brief battle breaks out. When the heroes all manage to cool off, the alien (identified as Pyra) breaks free of Roxy’s body and flies off into space. Kon tells Roxy how he thinks of her as family, and she tells him the same. She and her dad are going off for a while to really get to know one another, but she promises to come back some day. After the battle, Guardian realized that the man he was cloned from (Jim Harper) was related to Roy Harper, the Titan now known as Arsenal. Superboy later takes Guardian to New York City to meet with Roy and Liam Harper at Warrior’s. While they have their “family” reunion, Superboy takes down a villain named Negative G. After being teased by some teenage girls and feeling despondent, Superboy feels like he is in a rut. A talk with Superman helps him realize he just needs to shake things up a bit. He decides to adopt a new uniform, abandoning the leather jacket and streamlining the look.

Project Cadmus shut down

Lex Luthor, recently elected President of the United States, has appointed Amanda Waller Secretary of Meta-Human Affairs and tasked her to keep an eye on the Project. After some more training with Guardian, Superboy and Serling head to Los Angeles per Waller’s orders to size up a situation involving alien activity. Superboy meets up with Lobo there and deals with an alien named Scizmore that feeds off rage. Kon has to deal with some rage issues himself–when a gang war refuses to die down in front of him, he releases his powers in an incredible burst that destroys nearly every gun in L.A.

Exhausted from a recent adventure with Batman and Batgirl, Superboy asks Guardian to go to Detroit to fight Shrapnel in his place. Superboy heads to a Florida bayou where he encounters Gorgeous Gilly (and is nearly forced to marry her). Fleeing the scene, he returns to Cadmus and receives startling news–Guardian was killed in the battle with Shrapnel. Superboy arranges a team to take down Shrapnel. During the battle, he is contacted by Deadman, who tells him that the soul of Guardian cannot move on. Guardian has been re-cloned to life (but is a baby) as part of a plot to create a whole army of clones based on him. The D.N.Angels are sent to recover the baby, but Superboy fights them off at a supermarket and takes the baby to a friend’s house. The next day, he finds that Project Cadmus has been closed down per the President’s orders. The site is empty–save for the rest of Young Justice, who insist Superboy give them some answers.

Our Worlds at War

After straightening things out with his teammates, Superboy is called to Metropolis by Lois Lane to join Supergirl and Steel (really Kelex) to head to Pokolikstan, after Superman insisted on heading there alone to confront a mysterious general. The team meets up with Superman and battle Faora, Ignition, and Kancer until the general arrives and sucker punches Superman hard enough to break his jaw! The team quickly retreats from the scene. All is a prelude to Our Worlds at War.

Superboy learns that President Luthor is up to something involving Strange Visitor at LexCorp Towers in the newly upgraded Metropolis. Catching up with Serling and Heat Wave (and “baby” Guardian, now a boy about the age of nine or ten), Superboy leads the team on an infiltration of LexCorp. Towers. They free Strange Visitor from a machine, but she angrily chides them that she is no prisoner, but came there willingly. Talia Head, now the head of LexCorp, enters and tells them they have broken U.S. law and stolen government property (namely, Guardian). A man named General Good arrives with the D.N.Angels and places them under military arrest.

Superboy and the others are taken as prisoners to a huge spaceship in orbit. General Good explains that he plans to create an entire army of clones based on Guardian to be used as soldiers in an upcoming war–not a war between the U.S. and Pokolikstan, as many had feared was coming, but a war on a much bigger scale. Working for Good is Amanda Spence, now heavily modified into a cyborg. Superboy frees himself and battles the D.N.Angels and Spence, until the Angels decide they are on the wrong side. Spence, who boasts she no longer needs to eat or breathe, is knocked into the void by Superboy. He frees Guardian (now almost fully grown), Heat Wave, and Serling. Guardian–psychically linked to the other clones still in their pods–knows their wishes are the same as his. He did not want to be brought back, but that choice was stolen from him, but it will not be from them. The clones are destroyed. Viewing out into space, everyone notices a vast armada of alien ships–and Apokolips itself–in orbit around Earth. General Frank Rock arrives, places Good under arrest, and tells Superboy to consider himself drafted.

He then got fully involved with the events of Our Worlds at War, first helping to aid injured heroes and then being recruited by President Luthor (with the rest of Young Justice) for a special assignment that takes the team to Apokolips. Things go badly and the team is briefly captured by Granny Goodness. Impulse is traumatized when one of his “scouts” is killed right in front of him. The team is eventually able to make it back to Earth, one of the last groups to be accounted for. The war deeply impacted Superboy, having witnessed much death and destruction, as well as some scarring to some of his closest friends. (See the Young Justice entry for more information regarding Superboy’s exploits in the war.) Superboy decides to go to the Kent’s to rest, but is troubled by nightmares for some time. With Cadmus shut down, Superboy has no job and no place to stay.

Superboy moves to Metropolis

After Wonder Girl insists he has to find a place of his own, Superboy relocates to Metropolis, becoming the “super” at a tenement building called Calvin Gardens where a local gang called the Run Riot Boys keeps harassing the neighborhood. He also meets a young woman named Trixie. Superboy decides to throw a housewarming party. Wonder Girl shows up, but Superboy is enamored with Trixie, not realizing her boyfriend, Wipeout, leads the Run Riot Boys. Wipeout instructs one of the new gang members, Cooper, to kill Superboy. Cooper befriends Superboy, initially intending to betray him, but cannot go through with it when the gang attacks the building.

When Superboy learned that Cooper was a member of the gang when some of the building’s kids went in his room and stole his armor, he loses all trust in Cooper, until he learned Cooper helped the building’s residence before it was destroyed by explosives set by the gang. Unfortunately Cooper dies, and Superboy had the mournful duty of carrying his body out of the wreckage. Scavenger also resurfaces, and after a brief fight, Superboy convinces him to call a truce. Superboy agrees to meet up with him at the Ace O’ Club, but the fight with Run Riot makes him miss the meeting. which actually involved the tenement block being destroyed. With so called ‘new life’ gone, Superboy was taken by Superman to stay with his parents in Smallville, which he did for some time. Few other loose ends were tied up–Dubbilex was still on sabbatical, though Superboy managed to finally convince Scavenger that he was not working for his enemy.

Joining the Teen Titans

Now based in Smallville with a new civilian identity as Clark Kent’s cousin “Conner Kent”, Superboy is asked by Superman to accept Cyborg’s invitation to join a new incarnation of the Teen Titans with his former Young Justice teammates Robin, Impulse, and Wonder Girl. It was then revealed that Superboy is a hybrid clone created from 50% Kryptonian and 50% human DNA; Westfield’s DNA, however, had been replaced with that of Lex Luthor.

During his time with the Teen Titans his Kryptonian powers started to manifest one by one and at first he struggled to control them but eventually got the hang of it. During Conner’s and Cassie’s first date, he was sucked in a time portal to the 31st century. There he was mistaken for a young Clark Kent and was made a member of the Legion of Superheroes. After five months working with the Legion, Superboy returns home to the 21 century to enlist the help of the Teen Titans back in the future in the fight against the Fatal Five-Hundred.

Unfortunately, on their trip back to the present they landed ten years in the future and had a tussle with the adult version of themselves. In this timeline, Kon-El possesses all of Superman’s powers and has an advanced and complete control of his telekinetic abilities. Luthor reveals that the reason he had donated his DNA to help create Superboy was to create a sleeper agent that he could use to destroy Superman. He revealed that he was involved with “Project: Superman” (a.k.a. “Project: Lionel”), and he had implanted verbal commands into Superboy under Westfield’s nose. This eventually led to near disaster, under Luthor’s influence, Superboy’s power magnitude was at a level he rarely displayed on his own and went on to devastate the Teen Titans, injuring all the members including his best friend Robin and girlfriend Wonder Girl. Superboy eventually became free of Luthor’s control. Luthor, however, continued to at least claim that he viewed Kon-El as his son. After freeing himself from Luthor’s control, Conner stepped down from being a superhero and went to isolate himself on the Kent Farm. Raven visited him in Smallville and told him that he has a soul. He had asked her that before but she didn´t know how to reply to him. Superboy went on a soul-searching journey into his past and possible future with her.

The Death of Superboy

When the events of the Infinite Crisis began to unfold and the heroes of the world being pushed to their limits, instead of coming to help Conner sat at home and watched, still fearful that Luthor might once again take control of him and ashamed at how he felt the Titans viewed him. All these events unfolded before Superboy-Prime, who came to the Kent’s doorstep to retake his place as the Superboy of earth. He forced Superboy into a fight, demolishing Smallville. Already quickly beaten and clearly out powered, he sent a distress signal that was received by current and auxiliary members of the Teen Titans along with their allies in the Justice Society and the Doom Patrol. Despite the death of Pantha and numerous injuries, the Flashes Wally West, Jay Garrick and Bart Allen were able to push Superboy-Prime into another dimension.

Conner was put into a rapid-healing tube immediately after the fight. Meanwhile, Superboy-Prime was able to free himself from the alternate dimension, having been imprisoned for years yet returning just days later. Now fully healed, Conner answered a signal from Nightwing at the Titans Tower. The two then went to Alexander Luthor‘s base hidden away in Superman’s original Fortress of Solitude in Antarctica. At the center of this base was the corpse of the Anti-Monitor, converted into a tower able to tap into the vibrational frequency of any dimension. The tower, imprisoned with members of various Earths alongside Alexander Luthor’s own reality-altering powers was the source of Alexander’s plan to reshape reality. There Superboy and Superboy-Prime had their rematch. Despite still being overpowered, Superboy was able to defeat Superboy-Prime, hurling him into the Anti-Monitor tower and single-handedly putting a stop to Alexander Luthor’s grand scheme. This valiant effort cost him his life.

One Year Later there have been attempts by both Wonder Girl and Robin to bring Conner back from the dead, to no avail. A statue of him was erected outside of Titans Tower and one in Metropolis next to Superman.

The Return of the Boy of Steel

In order to stop Superboy-Prime’s rampage, Brainiac 5 sends Starman to the past, to unearth Kon-El’s corpse and put it in the same regeneration chamber that resurrected Superman. Because of the severity of the damage suffered at the hands of Superboy-Prime, Kon-El’s healing process takes one thousand years to complete, reaching the thirty-first century. Polar Boy was also sent in the past by Brainy to retrieve a strand of Luthor’s hair and with the help of Wildfire and Dawnstar, Kon-El’s half-human physiology was restored to full health thus completing the resurrection process. Superboy then went after Superboy-Prime for a third-round all psyched up. After Prime’s defeat, Conner returned to the 21st Century.

Origins and Omens

Lex Luthor escapes from prison was goaded by Brainiac to work with him. All the while they were watched by the corrupted Scar as she sets her plans into motion with Superboy included.

Back in Smallville

Conner settles back into his life in Smallville. Returning to live with Martha Kent, who is thrilled to take the young boy in after her husband’s death. Conner returns to Smallville Highschool and begins keeping a journal of everything Superman has done in his career as a superhero, going down a checklist titled, “What Did Superman Do?” He and the also recently-returned Bart Allen supposedly rejoin the Teen Titans, symbolizing the team being stacked again by destroying his memorial statue outside of Titans Tower. After visiting Lex Luthor’s childhood home in Smallville, Superman arrives and talks to Conner about his desire to understand his “other father.” Clark tells Conner not to worry about Luthor, saying that the madman is a problem for the Man of Steel. Conner remarks that the next time he sees Lex Luthor will be, “too soon.” Soon after, Conner returns home and under a similar checklist in his notebook entitled, “What Does Lex Luthor Do?,” Conner checks off: Lies to Superman.

In his attempt to confront his shared legacy, he goes on a date with Wonder Girl. Conflicted between opening his heart to his girlfriend (thus “Telling the truth” as Superman always did in his life), and deliberately lying to avoid touching delicate subjects with Cassie (thus “Lying” as Luthor would do), ultimately Conner chooses to share with Cassie his fears and desires, and his desire to find himself by exploring both his legacies, but only to find his real self. Cassie is touched, and despite her initial doubts, mostly out of fear that in his desire to be more like the Man of Steel eventually Conner could discard her as Clark Kent did with Lana Lang, feels compelled to admit her brief bond with Tim Drake. Conner quickly forgives her, arguing that, since he was dead and Cassie had no means to know about his future resurrection, her liaison with Robin can’t be considered an affair. As they share a kiss, Martha Kent stares at them, remembering about her past with Johnathan and when Clark was Conner’s age.

Kryptyo almost cost Conner’s secret identity by delivering him the unconscious Scavenger and King Shark. Later he tried to use Krypto to sniff out Lex’s location but to no avail. So he then decided to ask Tim’s help. Red Robin was in Paris at the time searching for clues to locate Bruce. After a brief talk about the über stressing year that they had, Conner tells Tim that he believes Bruce is alive. Meanwhile the recently escaped Luthor learned of Superboy’s comeback and decided to “get his property back” and headed to Smallville.

On his way back from France, Conner encounters a girl named Lori, whom he and Kyrpto earlier saved, in the middle of vandalising a local Doctor’s clinic. He takes her home only to learn that she is Lex’s niece when he shows up in her house, incapacitating him with Kryptonite. Conner challenges Luthor to cure his sister Lena, Lori’s mother. Luthor agrees, but demands his help, threatening Lori’s life. Conner collects the ingredients needed and a cure was made that restored Lena to full health. Unfortunately, Lex then undoes his cure, vowing that it will stay with him until Superman is dead. In a rage, Conner attacks Luthor, but is staved off by Brainiac and escapes. Conner realizes that there is no good in Luthor after all and decides to not be like Luthor or Clark but pursues his own path in life, burning his checklist in a fire.

Blackest Night

Conner is standing behind Ma and Clark at the tomb of her husband, the late Jonathan “Pa” Kent. Clutching his fist, Conner begins to blame himself for not being there for Jonathan but Ma consoles him and advises Conner that Jonathan would have wanted him and Clark to stand up straight. Unbeknownst to the Kent’s, the Black Lantern Corps are targeting Conner and Clark along with other resurrected characters.

The Corps sends the Kal-L and Lois Lane [who have been resurrected as Black Lantern’s] of Earth-Two to attack the Kent family after they’ve reanimated them, and stated to the modern version of Superman, Conner, and Martha that they wish for the family to be reunited with Jonathan Kent in death. While Superman battles, Kal-L, Conner encounters the Black Lantern Psycho-Pirate, who manipulates him into attacking Superman. However, Conner manages to come to his senses when Kal-L is on the verge of ripping out Superman’s heart. Using his tactile telekinesis for the first time since his resurrection, Conner pushes Kal-L away from Superman. Conner then goes after Psycho-Pirate, stealing the medusa mask and using its emotional powers to attract the black rings, causing them to leave their hosts, reducing them to lifeless corpses once more.

Conner is turned into a Black Lantern after Nekron sends black power rings after resurrected heroes. Conner is shown fighting the black ring’s control as it forced him to attack his girlfriend, Cassie. After help from Krypto and Cassie, Conner is able to remove the ring in the Fortress of Solitude by tricking it into going after his dead body in the regeneration chamber. After using his freeze breath, for the first time, Conner threw the ring into space and headed back to Coast City. There, he manages to rejoin the fight with Sinestro taking control of the Entity, having the power of life. After a long struggle, the White Light managed to create to rings which then to all the Nekron’s agents, making them live again with the power of the White Light.

Return to the Teen Titans

After the Blackest night series ended, Superboy and Kid Flash are called back to the Teen Titans in order to help them do battle with Holocaust in Dakota. Once Holocaust was defeated, Superboy and the Teen Titans are heading home on the T-Jet. On the T-Jet Superboy is trying to get his relationship back with Wonder Girl but she is avoiding him. After Raven is kidnapped, Superboy attempts to rekindle his romance with Cassie to no avail. He is shown to begin to have a connection with fellow Titan Aquagirl. Superboy will also be teaming up with the help of Batman’s son Damian as the new Robin helping the Teen Titans find a League of Shadows hunter before it is too late.

Last Stand of New Krypton

After hiding out on the Kent Farm for some time, Conner received an unexpected visit from his chemistry teacher, who turns out to be Element Lad, who is there to recruit Superboy for the fight for New Krypton against Brainiac’s invasion with the other Legion agents in the past along with Mon-El.

War of the Supermen

With the war against humans and Kryptonians in an all-out scale, Superboy helped expose and stop General Lane’s plans to wipe out the Kryptonians. In addition, he saved the Justice League of America and Supergirl by imposing Non and Ursa in the Phantom Zone. He and Krypto then backed Superman up in his final showdown with Zod and his remaining soldiers.

Superboy Series

The series begins with Superboy still staying in Smallville, finally making peace with himself knowing that he is partly Lex Luthor’s clone. Then the Phantom Stranger warned him of a new evil coming. Conner’s life got more complicated as he tried to live a normal life with the townspeople. He defeats Parasite and Poison Ivy after huge mutant plants attacked the town. Then two mysterious men are seen talking to each other stating that all is going as planned.

Lori discovers Conner’s secret as Psionic Lad arrives from a dystopian future. He traveled back in time to be tutored by Superboy on how to be a better hero but in truth his real plan was to kill him. Around this time Cassie had broken up with Conner. Superboy then organized the very first “Superboy and Kid Flash” race in order to raise money to help the people of Smallville that were affected by Parasite’s and the mutant plant attacks. In the end, Krypto won.

The Reign of Doomsday

Superboy was then attacked by Doomsday. Superboy fought hard but was beaten into submission and was taken as a prisoner. After the Reign of Doomsday arc, Superboy went to investigate a downed ship on Earth’s orbit only to fall prey to the Red Mercy’s hallucinogenic thrall. After escaping its clutches, Superboy realized that the ship carrying the Red Mercy was also loaded with caches of intergalactic weapons and was headed to Smallville.

Who is The Hollow Man?

Superboy finally learns the origins of the Hollow Men. The Phantom Stranger then informs him of three things when the evil he had warned him about comes. Lori has been taken and Superboy along with Simon, Psionic Lad and the Stanger traverse the broken silo to rescue her only to discover a village underneath Smallville itself. Finally with the help of the REAL Phantom Stranger, Kon and the rest of the group were able to put a stop to Eben Took’s evil plan.

New 52

In the New 52 Universe, Superboy is a clone, created using the DNA of Superman, Lois Lane and Jon Lane Kent. Though it’s later revealed that his DNA contains 10% of unknown DNA which might explain why Kon’s DNA is stable even though that Jon’s isn’t. He is created by a project called N.O.W.H.E.R.E, an organization attempting to control the new generation of metahumans.

His first mission involves killing Wonder Girl, or Cassandra Sandsmark, but instead incurs the wrath of the entire Teen Titans. Superboy fights them and defeats them all, but not before he is convinced N.O.W.H.E.R.E. is using him solely as a weapon to hurt others. Superboy takes revenge on N.O.W.H.E.R.E., but is captured by them and prepared to be terminated, until the Teen Titans return and rescue him. Superboy is now part of the Teen Titans and after the events that happened at N.O.W.H.E.R.E and meeting the Legion of Superheros that helped the Teen Titans. Superboy left N.O.W.H.E.R.E and is living in New York City near the base of the Teen Titans and his friends and help out Wonder Girl and Red Robin and the team. Superboy has now a new costume like the old version he wore a black shirt and a jacket and glasses. He still has his powers. Superboy will meet Superman his cousin for the first time in the war with Kryptonian. Supergirl his other cousin has met him back in a battle and fought and the Superman Family will be together for the first time in the war battle series crossover. Superboy and the Teen Titans are now living on a private boat on the water to take care of crime and stop stuff from happening in the city in Los Angeles. Superboy told the Titans when he came back after helping his unknown cousins Superman and Supergirl fight the Heli. Superboy told the Teen Titans that he sold his apartment and that he wanted to be near his best friends and help them out to save the world. Superboy will find out where his DNA is from the last part of it soon. After all the events with the Teen Titans and Dr. Psycho powers helping him. Conner Kent went to high school for the first time and was a new student and got beaten up and pushed to the ground by a bully and he took his powers and attacked a student and his pants fell off with Conner Kent’s superpowers. The students at the school were upset at him about what he did and all of a sudden a girl showed him around the school and Conner Kent interrupted a class and was sent to the principal office and Dean’s office of his behavior at school and life. Conner Kent went back into the classroom and after school, the girl showed him what was happening to all the students outside of class and they turned into monsters and attacked Superboy and Krypto was there too and was also infected by the virus. Superboy fought his way in this battle for his life and new friends at the school and his dog Krypto to save. Superboy saved all the school students and fought off one of the girls that was doing all this to all the students. Superboy saw Krypto well and better and he fought his way into the school and fought off all the monsters and he saw a version of him and it was him fighting himself in a hologram of a glass minor and one of the girls he told that he need her cellphone to find out what was happening and it was Dr. Psycho boss and that he has to now fight him off in a battle on school grounds or not.

Psycho-Pirate, took Superboy and himself into Dr. Psycho‘s mind and showed him Dr. Psycho’s origin and his true motivation as to why he was Superboy. Superboy was then manipulated into going into a rage by Psycho-Pirate to fight Dr. Psycho. Dr. Psycho surprised Superboy with his power. Dr. Psycho then revealed that he has every psionic power cataloged by H.I.V.E but was too weak to use them but due to the time he spent around him, he now had enough power from Superboy to do so. However, during his fight with Superboy, Psycho-Pirate removed Dr. Psycho’s memories of Superboy’s origins, which unfocused him giving Superboy the opportunity to defeat him. However, in doing so he lost all of his telekinesis powers.

Sacrifice and Dead Again

After being pulled along with the Teen Titans in the time current by Johnny Quick (of the Crime Syndicate), Superboy encountered Jon Kent the actual son of Lois Lane and Clark Kent after a furious battle, Superboy was transported through a portal where he found himself, Superman and Supergirl in a new Krypton built by H’el. This Krypton was destroying the continuous-time of the universe. Superboy was directed in a mission by Faora to successfully send the rocket of Supergirl to earth. With his TTK he was able to levitate the city to give Kara enough time to escape of Krypton. However doing this exerted all of his energy and he wasn’t able to escape. His corpse then vanished in a cloud of kryptonite.

Herald of the Oracle and Return

It was revealed that Kon is still alive, and now he works for the Oracle, patrolling past, present and future. Later he was brought back accidentally by Jon Lane Kent when he traveled in time and landed to the present day. After the demise of Jon, he returned as a Superboy.

Powers and Abilities (Post-Flashpoint, New 52/Prime Earth)

In the New 52 Superboy is a unique combination of Kryptonian (45%), human (45%) and yet unknown race (10%). His unique physiology provides him both physical powers and also powerful psionic powers. It’s mentioned that given time, his body and mind will be without limit and that he’s only as powerful as his force of will at any given moment suggesting that his potential might be limitless.

Psionics

Telekinesis

In the New 52 Superboy is a full telekinetic. He does also have some weak Kryptonian abilities like strength and durability, but he is able to use his TK to mimic more of them and reinforce the rest. His telekinesis is highly advanced and he has been able to amazing feats with it among other things:

• Telekinesis: Superboy’s telekinesis gives him the ability to move things with his mind and is so powerful that with concentration he’s been able to levitate the whole Kryptonian city. His telekinesis is so advanced that it can also affect matter at a molecular level.
• Telekinetic Blast: He has shown to be able to shoot powerful blasts of telekinetic energy capable of hurting a full-blooded Kryptonian.
• Telekinetic Force-Field: In addition to that his personal TK-shield that provides him invulnerability he has also shown to be able to create force-fields from telekinetic energy to protect himself and others.

Tactile Telekinesis

Superboy’s most common form of using his telekinesis is called tactile telekinesis. By using his TK he has shown to be able to use his mental abilities to supplement his physical ones.

• Superhuman Strength: Superboy can lift heavy objects by using his TK. He is also able to charge his physical attacks with his TK to simulate super strength. The upper limit of this ability isn’t known.
• Simulated Invulnerability: The force-field that surrounds Kon-El’s body provides him with invulnerability. However in the New 52, Conner has to concentrate to keep his TK shield up. The loss of his concentration can weaken his TK shield considerably. In one scene he was hit with a metal pipe by a normal human and it caused him pain because he was unaware of the coming attack. Superboy’s TK shield is always up unless he consciously takes it down so in theory, Superboy could keep up his TK shield forever.
• Flight: Superboy can use his telekinesis to mimic the ability of flight and has already been seen flying at hypersonic speeds with this ability.
• Simulated Heat Vision: Superboy is able to simulate heat vision by moving the molecules of objects in front of him so fast that they catch fire.
• Spatial Sense: Superboy’s psionic powers gives him the ability to perceive the world differently than normal humans do. He is able to see, smell or taste things that normal humans can’t. Also by using his telekinesis Superboy is able to ”scan” things and people and learn everything there is to know about that scanned target.

Telepathy

The full extent of his telepathy isn’t known, but he does seemingly own some kind of psychic defense and is able to see memories. He was also able to wipe Kara’s memories of him.

Cloned Kryptonian Physiology

Even without using his TK Superboy still possess some weak level Kryptonian abilities which will probably later advance due to his young age. Superboy has said his powers don’t come from the yellow sun.

• Superhuman Intelligence: Superboy is able to absorb vasts amounts of information in a small amount of time. When he was cloned he was already imbued with a high level of intelligence.
• Superhuman Strength: Superboy can bench at least 3 tons without TK, but the upper limits of this ability aren’t fully known. Superboy was also strong enough to lift a Kryptonian City without TK.
• Healing Factor: Due to his unique metabolism he heals faster than a human and is able to heal several broken bones in less than an hour.
• Invulnerability: Superboy has been shown to possess at least some kind of natural invulnerability. He was able to survive in lava without using his TK shield.
• Self-Sustenance: Superboy doesn’t need to drink or eat anything and he can survive in the vacuum of space. However when Superboy and Supergirl fought for the first time Connor had problems breathing in space. This can be explained as Connor’s powers only being as strong as his mind. When he believed that he would suffocate in space he actually did suffocate and so he was later seen in space without any problems.

Powers and Abilities (Pre-Flashpoint, New Earth)

Tactile Telekinesis

At first Superboy only possessed a form of telekinesis called tactile telekinesis what manifested as an invisible telekinetic force-field that surrounded his body. It was able to copy some of the Kryptonian abilities and also give him some unique ones:

• Superhuman Strength: Even that bounds of this ability were never fully showed he was once able to lift the world’s largest yacht (weight at least 500 tons) only using his telekinetic strength.
• Flight: Using his tactile telekinesis Superboy was able to fly at high supersonic speeds.
• Simulated Invulnerability: A force-field that surrounded Superboy’s body provides invulnerability. Superboy was also able to break free from an opponent’s grip by momentarily expanding this force-field, as well as protect others the same way. This force-field seemingly was less effective against energy-attacks.
• Telekinetic Blasts: Superboy was able to shoot powerful blasts of raw psionic energy.
• Telekinetic Super Hearing: Superboy was also able to use his telekinesis and hear things from far away.
• Telekinetic Disassemble: By touching something Superboy was able to cause the object he was touching to fall to pieces.
• Subconscious Telekinetic Recall: Superboy keeps a subconscious blueprint of every object he’s affected with his telekinesis, though he is oblivious to it. A sufficiently-powerful telepath (such as Saturn Girl) can delve into his mind and collect stunningly accurate information and transfer it to another mind to make use of.

Kryptonian Abilities

As Conner’s physiology matures, his Kryptonian abilities began to manifest themselves thus gaining most of Kal-El’s powers. Now under the Earth’s yellow Sun Superboy possesses:

• Energy Absorption – As a Kryptonian, Conner possesses the ability to absorb the light and radiation of stars, specifically those in the yellow spectrum. His Kryptonian body is constantly absorbing and storing energy from Earth’s yellow sun, which in turn grants him incredible powers, such as superhuman strength, enhanced senses, impenetrable skin, and even the ability to defy gravity. His body is also able to absorb the radiation of a blue sun, this grants him increased strength and various other powers.
• Superhuman Strength – Conner has the ability to lift over 100 tons with minimal effort. When Conner is appearing to hold a great weight he is actually pushing against it with the bio-electric force field that encompasses his body.
• Superhuman Speed – Due to Conner’s Kryptonian physiology Conner has an enhanced metabolism, muscular speed, and nervous system he has been granted a speed that is much greater compared to that of a human. He recently was shown in a race with Kid Flash. It was stated Superboy and Bart could have crossed the globe in a few minutes. He is able to see and avoid objects moving at incredible speeds and is also able to move faster than the human eye can perceive. When his body is charged with solar energy he is able to avoid laser fire at point-blank range. Conner is also able to see other beings moving at superhuman speeds and can constantly move at a superhuman rate but this drains his solar reserves very fast if he is not under a yellow star at the time.
• Superhuman Vision (Telescopic, X-Ray, Heat) – Conner is able to see over great distances and perceive even the smallest of objects. This vision also allows Conner to see through the atomic structure of an object. Though he is unable to see through lead, Conner’s Heat vision has yet to be calculated but it could be comparable to that of Kryptonians which is almost as hot as the core of the Sun.
• Super Hearing – Conner has the superhuman ability to hear all sounds at any volume or pitch.
• Superhuman Stamina – Conner’s Kryptonians physiology allows him to exert himself to physical peak for an undetermined amount of time. When Conner is under a star with a yellow spectrum he is constantly replenishing his solar reserves. When Conner is under a G-Type dwarf star with a yellow spectrum his solar energies are constantly being replenished. Although he will not lose his abilities due to being under this star at one point he still will require rest.
• Invulnerability – Due to his Kryptonian physiology Conner has a bioelectric forcefield that protects his body from harm. His muscular tissue is much denser than that of a normal human. He has been able to withstand a 1 mega-ton nuclear explosion and also a fight with Superboy-Prime.
• Flight – While Conners body is charged with solar energy he is able to emit a gravitational field that enables him to defy gravity. Conner has extreme mobility while he is in flight allowing him to fight, change course and also carry great weights. While in Earth’s atmosphere Conner is able to move at high Mach Speed and while in space he can move at near-light speeds. Conner tends to avoid moving at FTL speeds while in a planet’s atmosphere so that he does not harm the area around him. Conner has been seen flying from the Earth to the moon in mere seconds.
• Super Breath – Conner has the ability to suck in a large amount of air into his lungs and either hold it within him for a long period of time or create strong forces of wind with it.
  • Freeze Breath – Conner has the ability to freeze his enemies using his breath. He is able to control the temperature with which he expels this power. This was the last of his abilities that he displayed and he showed it during Blackest Night.
• Longevity – Conners Kryptonian physiology allows him to live much longer than that of a normal human.
• Total Recall – Conner has the ability to instantly recall events that he pays specific attention to or that hold great emotional significance to him. When he has absorbed solar energy he has the ability to solve problems with superhuman speeds.

The cloning process that created Superboy was done in such detail that he was a living solar battery like Superman, although he is not able to process solar energy as fast as a normal Kryptonian. He is susceptible to Kryptonite radiation as well.

Character Profile

• Height: Pre-Flashpoint 5’7″; Post-FlashPoint – 5’11”
• Weight: Pre-Flashpoint -150 lbs; Post-Flashpoint – 190lbs
• Eye Color: Blue
• Hair Color: Black
• Race: Human/Kryptonian hybrid clone
• Citizenship: American
• Marital Status: Single
• Occupation: Adventurer
• Known Relatives: Clark Kent (partial genetic template); Lois Lane (partial genetic template); Jon Kent (genetic brother); Kara Zor-El (genetic cousin)

Character Appearances

• 1993-2011: Action Comics Vol. 1 #688-692, 700, 716, 717, 744, 753, 760, 767, 769, 779, 781, 803, 805, 811, 815-818, 822-827,837, 851, 853, 854, 879, 890, 892, 894, 895 900-904
• 1998-2003: Young Justice Vol. 1 #1-16, 20-33, 35-41, 43, 45-55, 1,000,000
• 2003-2011: Teen Titans Vol. 3 #1/2, 1-26, 29-33, 50-54, 68, 72, 74, 78, 81-100
• 2011-2014: Superboy Vol. 2 #0-26, 30, 33, 34

Alternate Versions

Original Continuity: Earth-One

This refers to the Silver Age and Bronze Age Superman of Earth-One prior to the Crisis on Infinite Earths. The original idea for Superboy was to present the stories of Superman as a youth in his hometown of Smallville. The first appearance of Superboy was in More Fun Comics #101 (1945). The early years of Superman were published in popular titles such as Adventure Comics, Superboy vol 1 (later Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes), The Superman Family and Superboy vol 2. While growing up in Smallville, Clark Kent had his super-humanoid powers as a baby (See Superbaby) and learned to control his abilities as a young boy. Clark convinced his foster mother, Martha Kent, to design a uniform for him and Clark began a super-hero career in his youth under the name Superboy. In Smallville, Lana Lang and Pete Ross were best friends with Clark Kent since childhood as well as being friends with his Superboy identity. Lana usually suspected Clark of being Superboy while Pete knew the truth when he saw Clark change into Superboy but never told Clark about it.

Superboy also had a pet dog he named Krypto, the Superdog who originally came from Krypton that resulted in Krypto having super-powers identical to his owner. The adventures of Superboy centered around his hometown of Smallville and frequent visits to the 30th Century as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Superboy was involved in temporal adventures that teamed him up with other heroes from his future such as Batman and even his future self, Superman (See The Brave and The Bold #192, DC Comics Presents #14, Superman vol 1 #380, #381, #382 and Superboy #38). After the death of his parents and upon graduating high school, Clark Kent moved to Metropolis and attended Metropolis University. He continued being Superboy while going to college and later became Superman upon graduation. Superboy’s college years were published as an extra added feature called Superman: The In-Between Years in Superman’s other books (See Superman vol 1 #359, #362, #365, #366 and #370). Superboy #51 detailed the transition of Superboy and Clark Kent from Smallville to Metropolis University. Superman: The Secret Years was a mini-series that continued this same storyline. This 4 issue mini-series ended with Superboy becoming Superman, Clark Kent graduating from Metropolis U and meeting his new boss, Editor-in-Chief, Perry White at the Daily Planet.

Earth-Prime

The first appearance of Superboy-Prime was in DC Comics Presents #87 (1985) during the Crisis on Infinite Earths. Superboy-Prime met the Bronze Age Superman of Earth-One first then joined the battle against the Anti-Monitor. In Crisis on Infinite Earths #12, the Anti-Monitor was defeated and Superboy-Prime left the reality of the DC Universe with Alexander Luthor of Earth-Three and the Golden Age Superman and Lois Lane of Earth-Two. Alexander Luthor opened a portal to another dimension that seemed to be a paradise that the four of them entered as their new home. Superboy-Prime, along with the other three, returned in Infinite Crisis to challenge the heroes of the post Crisis Earth. Superboy-Prime later became known as Superman-Prime.

Pocket Dimension

In 1986, DC Comics published the Man of Steel mini-series which retconned Superman’s origin and history. In this version of Superman, he never started his career in his youth. The history of Superboy and his growing up to be Superman was erased from DC Comics’ history. The Post-Crisis Superman from the Man of Steel mini series replaced the previous version of Superman. Legion of Super-Heroes #37, Superman #8, Action Comics #591 and Legion of Super-Heroes #38 explained how Superboy was able to exist in the history of the DC Universe. The Time Trapper had altered the timeline to create a pocket dimension that contained the Superboy of an alternate Earth. Apparently, the Time Trapper diverted any travel by the Legion to Superman’s early years to the Earth in this pocket dimension. Thus, the Legion invited the Superboy from this pocket dimension to be a Legionnaire. The Time Trapper created Superboy as part of a trap to destroy the Legion. Superboy died to save his Earth from destruction and to save the Legion from the Time Trapper.

Other Media

Television

The original Silver Age Superboy ( Kal-El) has starred in three TV series to date.

The Adventures of Superboy (1961)

The first, The Adventures of Superboy was a TV pilot made by the creators of the George Reeves TV series, following that series’ cancellation. It starred Johnny Rockwell as Superboy. The series, however, was not picked up for regular broadcast.

Superboy / The Adventures of Superboy (1988-1992)

The second attempt at a Superboy series ran for more than three seasons in the 1980s and 1990s. Produced by the Salkinds, creators of the popular Christopher Reeve Superman franchise, it originally starred John Haymes Newton as Superboy. Newton was replaced in subsequent seasons by Gerard Christopher. In the third season, the show’s title was changed from Superboy to The Adventures of Superboy. The series ended during the fourth season when Warner Brothers sued to reclaim rights to the character.

Smallville (2001-2011)

Conner Kent was introduced in the tenth and final season of Smallville. He started out as a clone of Lex, called Alex by Tess, who raised him in order to make “Lex” a better person, but Alex had Lex’s original memories of Clark and Tess and saw them as enemies, leading him to plot to kill the newly return Lionel Luthor, as well as Martha Kent. He was about to kill Clark and Tess until he was talked out of it. Seeing how dangerous Alex is, Tess attempted to kill him with a cyanide-injection, only to find that needle broke on Alex’s skin. Shortly after that, Alex experiences a ‘reboot’ where he loses his memories from Lex and his time around, and becomes “Conner” (from CNR on his medical files), showing that he has Clark’s DNA as well as Lex’s. Conner was also shown having similar powers to Clark since he has his DNA. He also has a weakness for being exposed to green and red kryptonite.

The Earth-2 Lionel forced Connor to wear the red kryptonite ring that unleashes his Lex side. The green kryptonite was used against Connor when Lionel tries to take him away from Clark. Connor used his heat vision to blow up the green kryptonite that is affecting Clark while Lionel ran away. Later, Connor decides to become a superhero and start a new life in Smallville as he’s going to attend Smallville High. Conner is played by Lucas Grabeel.

Young Justice

Superboy appears in the new Young Justice animated series, voiced by Nolan North and is described as ‘the breakout character’ of the show, and will later take on the civilian identity ‘Conner Kent’. His origin story portrays him as a sixteen-week-old clone of Superman grown by Cadmus Labs with the ultimate goal of replacing Superman or defeating him should he turn rogue. Freed by Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad, Superboy has a rocky introduction with Superman and joins together with his new friends to form a covert operations team under the direct command of Batman, later joined by Miss Martian. Superboy aspires to be like Superman and tries on at least two occasions to establish some kind of relationship with him, but Superman’s shock and possible disgust about having a clone causes him to rebuff Superboy on both occasions, causing a great deal of frustration and rejection for Superboy.

So far, Superboy has demonstrated the powers of super-strength, invulnerability, super hearing and the ability to see in the infrared spectrum but does not yet possess heat vision or flight, forcing him to leap large distances or rely on other means of transport. His uniform closely resembles his current Teen Titans uniform with a black t-shirt with a red S-shield, blue jeans and combat boots, and due to a current lack of a civilian identity he continues to wear his Superboy t-shirt even when off-duty. Also he has recently started dating fellow young justice member Miss Martian.

In the Cave, Superboy and his friends were attacked by Red Torpedo and Red Inferno. Conner and Wally were trapped in molten metal, up to their faces in water. Only Robin and Artemis could save them, and they did, by creating an EMP generator that knocked out the Reds. When Red Tornado returned from monitor duty on the Watchtower, he examined the androids. Because the EMP had worn off, the robots reactivated and seemingly reprogrammed Red Tornado. The Team was knocked out and by the time they were woken up by the Justice League, the Reds were already gone.

The League carried out repairs to the Cave, and upgraded its security. Superboy listened in on a conversation between Aqualad and Batman about a possible mole in the Team. Conner became furious, as did everyone else when he told them. Batman stopped them from arguing, and assigned Captain Marvel as their first rotating supervisor. Tracking Red Tornado would be a League responsibility, so he assigned the Team to investigate animal attacks in India.

The Team was still angry at Aqualad, and separated before he could organize them. They are soon attacked by a number of wild, mutated animals. Superboy had to fight off a pack of wolves. He engaged the leader of the pack, a large white wolf, in single combat. Superboy managed to remove the pack’s inhibitor collars, and headed for the Brain‘s laboratory with the pack’s wolf. The Brain escaped, and Superboy decided to keep the wolf—which he named “Wolf”—as a pet.

October 2010

Batman assigned the Team to go after the Injustice League while they dealt with their mutated plants.

Superboy and the Team arrived at the Injustice League’s headquarters in the Bio-Ship. Count Vertigo brought it down forcing the Team to abandon it in the swamp. Superboy fought against Ultra-Humanite, before the Justice League came in and forced the villains to surrender.

The Team was having a private psychic conversation discussing Red Tornado. Zatanna noticed that they were speaking telepathically and Superboy took the opportunity to demand information about what the League knew about Red Tornado—which was nothing. The Team decided to go looking for him themselves, and they took Zatanna with them.

The Team interrogated Professor Ivo at Belle Reve for the location of T.O. Morrow’s base. Zatanna used her magic to force him to blurt out the address.

The Team headed for Teton County. They were met by Red Tornado, who tried to warn the Team of his younger brother Red Volcano but the latter caught on immediately. Red Volcano had all of Tornado’s memories and was able to trounce the Team. The other Reds arrived on the scene and defeated Volcano at the cost of their “lives”, though Superboy managed to save Red Tornado from melting in lava.

The Team took part in a psychic training exercise meant to simulate an unwinnable attack on Earth. However Miss Martian’s telepathic powers caused things to spiral out of control after Artemis “died”. Superboy himself “died” later when he allowed the Team to enter the mothership. Because of Miss Martian’s hold over her teammates, Superboy slipped into a coma rather than waking up. Martian Manhunter ended the simulation by “killing” Miss Martian.

Once the simulation was over Superboy was the first to defend Miss Martian from the statement that she was the cause of the failure of the simulation.

Still reeling from the training exercise that had nearly killed him and the others, Superboy walked out on his psychology session with Black Canary and went joyriding with Wolf and Sphere, with Sphere transforming into a motorcycle-like vehicle.

Over the eastern seaboard, the trio ran into the Forever People who accused Superboy of kidnapping Sphere from New Genesis. Sphere cleared up the misunderstanding and they decided to work together to find the rest of their stolen technology. Mother Box tracked it to Metropolis where it was being used by Intergang to break into the Metropolis Federal Reserve.

The group forced Intergang back to their base where the Forever People’s secret weapon, Infinity-Man was taken over by a Father Box. Sphere took back control of Infinity-Man and allowed it to be piloted by Superboy. After Desaad damaged Sphere and forced her back to Apokolips the Forever People used their Mother Box to begin repairing her and intended to bring her back to New Genesis to finish the repairs.

Superboy however stated that he and Sphere bonded and that she should stay on earth with him. Once back at Mount Justice, Superboy resumed his psychology session with Black Canary. There, he admitted that he felt at peace inside the simulation, as he finally knew what it was like to be Superman, and that he was now feeling guilty about it.

Miss Martian, rather intimately, helped Superboy into his mummy costume for their Halloween dance at Happy Harbor High.

At the dance, Conner noticed that Marvin was playing a prank on the others by creating the impression of a Martian invasion. With the help of Wally and Megan they made it look like the town was being invaded by Martians to get Marvin to confess to the prank.

November 2010

In light of Klarion’s spell splitting the world in two, one containing only adults, and the other containing children, Superboy and his teammates were left to quell the ensuing chaos.

Superboy rescued a child from an abandoned vehicle. He later saved a few more and brought them to an emergency shelter in Happy Harbor High School.

Later on, at the cave, Billy Batson arrived and convinced the Team he was Captain Marvel. After that, a plan was formed to merge the two worlds back together.

The Team attempted a surprise attack on Klarion while he was casting his spell. Shortly into the battle, Klarion morphed Teekl into a larger and feral creature. Superboy took it on and was subdued by the familiar until Klarion was defeated and called for it to escape.

Superboy joined the others in celebrating Wally’s birthday. The celebration would be short as Batman called the Team for a mission to destroy a number of Ice Fortresses that were causing extreme winter weather.

Superboy, alongside Wolf, Black Canary and Red Tornado, destroyed the second Ice Fortress.

In response to the suspicious alliance between Rumaan Harjavti and Queen Bee, Batman assigned the Team a mission to find out what was causing this unusual alliance.

After they made it to the border of Qurac, they noticed a stampede caused by Bialyan tanks entering the border. With a cautionary approval from Robin, Superboy diverted the stampede away from Marie Logan and Garfield Logan while the rest of the Team dealt with the army. After they exchanged pleasantries, they decided to head to the clinic for the wounded oryx while Miss Martian helped Marie Logan.

At the sanctuary, Garfield wanted to show the boys an episode of Hello, Megan!, as Miss Martian looked like his mother when she was an actress. Before they could watch it, Superboy heard planes approaching the sanctuary. Outside, Superboy leaped to one of the drones and destroyed it. Garfield, however, was injured by an earlier attack.

While Miss Martian was donating her blood to the wounded Garfield, Superboy and the other boys watched Hello, Megan! after Kid Flash failed to properly turn the television on. They were surprised by the similarities between Miss Martian and the star and the fact that her love interest shared his name with Conner.

After Miss Martian returned from the clinic, the channel was changed to the news, which showed Harjavti speaking well about Queen Bee. Superboy noticed Psimon behind him, which prompted the Team to head for Dhabar.

The Team snuck into Harjavti’s office but were ambushed by soldiers who were using weapons from Apokolips. Miss Martian went ahead to face Psimon. When the Team finished offed the men and saved Harjavti, they headed for Miss Martian but were knocked unconscious by a mental blast. Superboy and the others were later woken up by Miss Martian, after she defeated Psimon. She claimed it was Psimon who knocked them out.

Back at the sanctuary, M’gann had to reveal her “true form” after being confronted with a videotape of Hello, Megan!. Her “true form” was simply her own without hair. Superboy accepted her regardless, because he knew she wasn’t ready to reveal her actual secret.

Superboy received an ultrasonic message from a voice. The voice told him to head to East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. Superboy does so, under the auspices of taking Wolf for a walk.

After making it to the capital, Superboy was confronted by Lex Luthor, who gained SUperboy’s attention by revealing the existence of a new Super-clone. Superboy headed to Cadmus demanding information on this new clone, though everyone at the facility denied having any knowledge of one. Guardian gave Superboy a tour of Cadmus and the new life of the genomorphs. After being left alone by Guardian, Superboy did his own digging and eventually found a hidden lab containing the new clone, Match. Superboy released it, but was immediately attacked by the clone. Using its full Kryptonian powers, Match easily knocked Superboy unconscious.

Superboy awoke in a pod, which enraged him enough to smash it in an attempt to free himself. Dr. Spence reasoned that it was the best way to heal his injuries. Superboy accused her of creating Match, but she neither denied nor affirmed it and left. Guardian told him Match left after the battle. Luthor contacted Superboy and told him that he was a second attempt at cloning Superman after the first experiment, Match, ended in failure due to the difficulty of cloning Kryptonian DNA. Superboy was a success because they filled any gap in his DNA sequence with human DNA, though it prevented him from ever having full Kryptonian powers. Luthor gave Superboy Shields, which suppressed his human DNA for an hour, in order to fight against Match. Superboy initially declined but kept them in the end.

Superboy contacted Dubbilex telepathically, informing the G-Goblin that his heightened physiological reactions to Superboy’s accusation against Dr. Spence proved he knew something. Dubbilex decided to reveal everything to Superboy. He had discovered Match was an older project, from the early days of Cadmus. He mentally guided him far below Project Cadmus. They were unaware he was being observed by Lex Luthor.

Superboy was welcomed to Genomorph City, an underground city carved from bedrock and inhabited by the missing genomorphs. Dubbilex told him he freed the genomorphs to create the city, in the hopes of eventually gaining surface world acceptance by letting the city be an example. He had also abducted Match, restrained him in chains, and had him kept docile by three G-Gnomes.

Superboy protested against this treatment, but Match forced the issue when he broke through the G-Gnomes’ sedation and attacked Superboy. Again, Superboy could not match the superior strength, speed, and additional powers that Match had, making him decide to try on a Shield. Once the Shield was on, Superboy fought evenly against Match, and started to dominate him once he flew into a berserker rage.

The battle ended with Superboy triumphant, but his location was tracked by Cadmus officials, who flooded into Genomorph City. Dubbilex’s treachery had been exposed. Later, Superboy confronted Luthor about being made to do Lex’s dirty work. Luthor admitted it, and revealed that he was the source of Superboy’s human DNA. Calling him his “son”, Luthor tried to persuade Superboy that he was a much better father than Superman because he doesn’t see the world in absolutes.

Superboy tried to return the Shields, but Lex would have none of it. A gift, from a father to a son, he insisted. Angry at being manipulated, Superboy grabbed Lex by his tie, but the man said a simple phrase—Red Sun—which made Superboy blackout. When he regained full leave of his senses, Lex was nowhere to be seen, and time had clearly passed. He thought to discard the Shields, but thought better of it and placed them in his pants.

The troubled boy mused that Luthor shut him down with a simple phrase, and wondered what other trigger phrases were embedded into him.

December 2010

Zatanna, M’gann, and Conner did not go on a mission with the others, thinking it would be better to get some rest. It wasn’t long before they were bored, and asked Red Tornado if he had any other missions for them. He turned them down, telling them to amuse themselves, before flying into his apartment. Zatanna questioned what Red Tornado actually does in his apartment since he does not require it for basic human needs.

When Tornado left shortly after, the trio broke into his apartment. They were shocked to find an android. Red Tornado suddenly arrived and demanded an explanation as to why they were there, and when he got one, he told them he built the “John Smith” android in the hopes of mingling with humanity better. Zatanna remarked that the android was good-looking, but needed pants.

When the rest of the Team returned from their mission, Superboy witnessed a falling out between Red Arrow, Kid Flash and Artemis about the failed mission.

After Robin discovered a string of robberies at the Haly International Traveling Circus, the Team went undercover as “the Daring Dangers”. Superboy adopted the alias “Dean Danger”.

Robin tracked down possible locations for the next heist, and they posted outside one. Superboy took a Shield, and with his temporary X-ray vision, was able to spot the culprit. They confronted the thief, but the warehouse exploded after the thief used fire-breathing skills. Still suffering from his shield-induced rage, Superboy wanted to go after him, completely oblivious that Miss Martian was severely weakened by the fire.

They went back to their cabin to discuss the heist. Red Arrow, who had come along to search for the mole, got on everyone’s nerves. Superboy confronted him about his accusations, and still fueled by the Shield, threatened to crush his head. M’gann calmed him down.

On the train to the next tour stop, Miss Martian fell ill with a flu that went around. She recalled being touched by Ray the roustabout, so the Team set out to look for him. They found his wagon, and indications that he was the thief. But no sign of him. Robin ordered them to search the entire train. Superboy encountered a clown in the dining wagon, and with the powers of another shield, saw that he was carrying the stolen technology. He chased him, eventually ending up on the roof. The thief telekinetically pushed him off, but Superboy could fly now. He circled around behind him. By now, Robin and the others had joined them, and the thief as revealed to be Parasite. He pulled Superboy towards him, and drained him of his powers. Superboy slumped together on the roof, and Parasite got away.

As M’gann came to check up on him, Robin remarked that Parasite showed powers Superboy didn’t have, like flight and heat vision. Superboy, not wanting to reveal his reliance on Shields, shrugged it off as a genetic potential for those powers.

Robin had stolen a flash drive with Parasite’s plans, and Red Arrow suggested that the two of them would go alone. Superboy objected, and showed his powers had returned by slamming a hole in the wall.

Parasite was going to use the stolen technology to create a black hole with the Large Boson Collider. The Team tracked him, but Superboy broke the plan by attacking headfirst, again using a Shield. Parasite easily defeated him, absorbed his powers again, and remarked that even Superman did not recover that fast. Superboy was taken out of the fight, but the others defeated him because he had absorbed Miss Martian’s weakness to fire.

The Team watched the induction of five new Justice Leaguers, including Red Arrow. They had to explain a lot to their newest member, Rocket, who was unfamiliar with everything that had happened the past weeks. In the middle of his explanation, Robin was interrupted by his computer. Cheshire was sighted boarding a plane in Asheville.

They traced the plane to the Smokeys, but discovered it had crashed. They investigated, but it was a trap. Riddler had planned to get rid of them once and for all. Inside a force field, everyone picked an opponent. Superboy took a Shield and focused on destroying the pylons that powered the forcefield. Mammoth interrupted him, and the two fought. This time, Superboy showed no hesitation to showcase his powers. He first flew Mammoth against the top of the forcefield, and then blasted him with heat vision. His final attack, an enraged flurry of punches, caused the mountain to slide, and almost land on Artemis and Cheshire.

Riddler, Mammoth and Shimmer were arrested, and the case of Starro-tech that had previously eluded them in New Orleans, was secured.

The Team brought the case to Batman, who was going to study it. But as soon as he and the other Leaguers left, the Team discussed the trap. They explained “te mole thing” to Rocket, and prepared their investigation.

Lex Luthor ultrasonically contacted Superboy. He had surmised Superboy had run out of Shields, and could give some more if he were to meet them on Santa Prisca. Before leaving, Superboy confessed his pedigree, his powers, and his reliance on Shields to the Team. They were shocked about hearing about Luthor, but it did cause others to open up. Artemis revealed her family secrets, and Miss Martian finally came clean about being White Martian, and that she was being blackmailed by Queen Bee. She feared rejection, but Superboy told her he had known since their adventure in Bialya. He just thought she would tell him when she was ready for it.

Since all three of them were being lured to Santa Prisca, the Team decided to set up an ambush.

All three pretended to comply with their opponent’s wishes, though Luthor saw through his “son”‘s lies easily. He shut him down with the “Red Sun” code phrase, and ordered Blockbuster to take care of him. Artemis and Miss Martian broke their cover, and Miss Martian wiped “Red Sun” from his mind. However, without Shields, he was no match for Blockbuster. Only with the others’ help did he defeat his creator.

The Team returned to the Cave, where Batman and Red Tornado waited for them. They told them Red Arrow was the mole, a clone of the original Speedy created by Cadmus. The Team, especially the more experienced members, could not believe it. When Batman left, Red Tornado powered down. Aqualad split up the Team: he, Artemis, Superboy and Miss Martian would look for Red Arrow, whilst the others would try to get Red Tornado running again.

They found Red Arrow in Washington, D.C.. After Superboy explained to Red Arrow he was a Cadmus clone like him, it all made sense to Red Arrow: he was a sleeper agent fed with code phrases. He also told them the entire Justice League was under the Light’s mind control.

The Team regrouped and formed a plan; they contacted scientists they knew to come up with to stop the mind control, and Red Tornado would infiltrate the Watchtower to shut down security.

The Bio-Ship docked at the base of the station, and they gained access by making a hole in the side. They quickly set out to tag Leaguers with the cure-tech. Superboy and Robin took care of Hawkman before heading to the observation deck.

There, Superboy was pitted against Superman and Martian Manhunter, and they were far superior. Wold and Sphere tried to help, to no avail. Miss Martian eventually did take her uncle out of the fight, though she was attacked by Superman directly after. Seeing his girlfriend knocked against the wall enraged Superboy, but even with this rage he could not defeat his “father”. With Robin, who had similar trouble with Batman, they decided to team up on their mentors. Superboy threw Robin at Batman, giving him enough momentum to take down his mentor. Superboy then pinned Superman against the wall, and Robin exposed them both to kryptonite. The effects weren’t as severe on Superboy as they were on Superman, but it still hurt.

Vandal Savage and Klarion got away before and Robin and Superboy could regroup with the others.

January 2011

As the clock struck New Year, Miss Martian and Superboy kissed.

Later, they were locked in a passionate hug when Superman arrived to talk to him. The Man of Steel congratulated him, and tried, uncomfortably, to create another conversation. He inquired about Superboy’s real name, Conner Kent, and revealed his own secret identity, Clark Kent, to him. Conner was surprised and apologized for the similarity, but Superman was proud of the connection. Superboy was happy with the acceptance.

2011-2015

Superboy’s relationship with M’gann ended after he broke it off for reasons unknown. He did not like to see her kissing her new boyfriend, Lagoon Boy and thought he was a jerk.

At some point, Superboy, Nightwing and Miss Martian were invited to join the Justice League, but turned it down, stating they were happier with the Team for now.

Young Justice: Invasion

Superboy was on a mission with Delta Squad to track down Clayface in the sewers below the city, and was ambushed by the villain. Conner’s physical strength was no match for the malleable form of Clayface, and the shape-shifter quickly engulfed him, trying to suffocate him. Thanks to quick help from Miss Martian and Robin, Conner got free and was able to toss a capsule into Clayface’s mouth, solidifying the villain from within. He was transported back to Arkham Asylum.

Returning to the Cave, Superboy frowned seeing M’gann and La’gaan kiss and headed to the showers to wash the remaining Clayface and sewage residue off.

Superboy, Nightwing and Miss Martian were summoned to a League briefing about an attack on the UN. Superboy was surprised to see a civilian, Adam Strange, aboard the Watchtower, but his information proved useful. The alien, a Krolotean, had some connection to technology theft on Rann. Captain Atom and Nightwing decided to send a detachment of the Team to investigate, because six Justice League members were wanted criminals. Adam Strange advised Superboy not to wear the S-Shield if he planned on going.

After the meeting, Justice Leaguers Zatanna and Rocket reminded their former teammates that they were still welcome in the League and had an open invitation, but the three replied they were happy with the Team.

Zeta Squad, consisting of Superboy, Miss Martian, Beast Boy and Adam Strange, arrived on Rann.

In Ranagar, Zeta Squad was introduced to Sardath and Alanna. Inside Sardath’s lab, Superboy wondered why the earthlings were hated on Rann, at which Sardath explained the criminal activities of the Justice League and the Kroloteans. Sardath told Alanna to guide them to the jungle and mentioned that the Earthlings should disguise themselves, which annoyed Superboy since he does not see himself as an Earthling, but was corrected by Sardath.

They boarded the magrail train to the jungle. Adam left them to distract Science Patrol, who had come for an ID check. During the trip, Beast Boy reminded Superboy of his past relationship with Miss Martian, but he shrugged off the comments.

At Alanna’s call, they disembarked the moving train and found the secret base of the Kroloteans. They broke in and Miss Martian and Beast Boy planted bombs on the Zeta platforms. When the Kroloteans from Earth arrived, the bombs went off and they escaped the base. In the jungle, Superboy noticed that they were chased by Mechs.

When they ran away from the Mechs, Superboy saved Alanna from a fall. They hid away from the Mechs in a cave. Superboy was contacted by Miss Martian and reported they were safe. They discussed their plan, and the worried Superboy told Miss Martian to be careful. Alanna noticed their relationship and they talked about his love life and why he broke it off. When the ship of the Kroloteans was leaving, Alanna suddenly reverted to her own language, which made Superboy suspect something had happened to Miss Martian.

They sought out the Mechs and destroyed them, saving Miss Martian and Beast Boy. While Miss Martian was unconscious, Superboy offered to go after the ship with Beast Boy. They destroyed the Mechs that were inside and they left before the ship took off. Down below, Superboy was shocked seeing the method of Miss Martian to get the info of a captured Krolotean.

After Zeta Squad arrived back on Earth, Superboy left the debriefing to Miss Martian and Adam Strange.

Superboy joined Miss Martian at the Hall of Justice, after she had been asked to help in the interrogation of a captured Krolotean. Superboy watched in anger as she repeated her intense mindreading on the alien, leaving him in a comatose state.

For the League’s attack on the last Krolotean base, Superman, Superboy, Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl were Delta Squad, the reserves. They were called in by Nightwing when the Kroloteans ordered their Mechs into battle. Superboy came in the base while being carried by Superman. With Superman’s help, Superboy destroyed several Mechs in a combo attack.

When Kaldur’ahm revealed his identity to Lagoon Boy and Aquaman and berated them for not wanting to accept the truth, Superboy angrily asked how he could betray them. They tried to argue with him, but Kaldur’ahm ran off with a missile as a distraction. Superboy chased after him along with Nightwing, ready to fight, but discovered a bomb was located in their vicinity. Superboy attacked Kaldur’ahm, but to no avail, as he was knocked down and tased.

When Nightwing tried to disarm the bomb, Superboy suggested that he could take it out, but Nightwing stopped him since it could be equipped with pressure or motion sensors. Nightwing ordered the evacuation of the caves and a retreat to the Bio-Ship. In the ship, Superboy noticed the absence of Superman, who was in the base trying to persuade the Kroloteans to evacuate.

After the bomb went off, the Bio-Ship escaped the range of the explosion, but Superman was caught in the think of it. Aquaman found Superman lying in the ocean, he lifted Superman to Superboy, who carried him in the ship. Wonder Woman nursed him, stating that Superman would be all right. Superboy doubted the last part, as he would never be all right with being unable to save the Kroloteans.

Superman said his goodbyes to his big “brother”. Superman and the other accused Leaguers left for Rimbor to stand trial for their actions under the Light’s mind control.

Superman and the Legion of Superheroes

The second season of the Legion of Super-Heroes television series featured a future version of Superman alongside the Clark Kent versions. This second Superman, called Kell-El or Superman-X, is a clone of the original Superman from the 41st century who was bred for fighting. The character is based on the Kon-El Superboy and Lar Gand, and wears a costume that is similar to the one worn by Conner before Young Justice was disbanded.

Video Games and Board games and HeroClix

Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes:

Conner is a playable character in the 3DS version of Lego Batman 2.,

Conner will be a playable character in Young Justice: Legacy.

In the game parts of a game called HeroClixs that started in 2002 to present we see Superboy made in the set or booster packs called DC 75th 2010. He has a black shirt with the Superman Symbol and a card with his powers and comic book appearance. In 2011 a pack called SupermanFlashpoint we see Superboy made as to when he was younger when he started out as a superhero from the Reign of Superman events in 1993. In 2013 we see Superboy now from the DC New 52 series called Teen Titans pack. It is based on the past and present Teen Titans from 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s, 2000’s and 2011 to the relaunch of the DC comics New 52 series. Superboy was made as part of the New 52 Superboy from the Superboy series and Teen Titans series. Superboy can use lies and truth if he wants to use any side of the family from Superman he can help a team member or Superman Family member. If he chose lies Lex Luther powers he takes less damage. The new Teen Titans pack 2013 Superboy has power tacknacls, super strength, range of attack, and movement to attack.