Biography

Life after the revelation was different. Clark wanted to join the football team, but Jonathan refused, fearing his abilities might accidentally hurt someone. Still, Clark continued to grow and mature until tragedy struck during his junior year.

After returning home from school one afternoon, Clark was chatting with Martha before heading out to help Jonathan with chores. Suddenly, he could no longer hear his father’s heartbeat. Clark rushed outside, only to find Jonathan collapsed. Despite his powers, Clark couldn’t save him. Jonathan had died of a heart attack and Clark was overwhelmed with guilt. He believed that with all his abilities, he should have been able to do something. Martha comforted him and helped him come to terms with the loss.

In the months that followed, Martha encouraged Clark to apply for a foreign exchange program run by the journalism department at Metropolis University. The program would send him to France, where he could study and gain experience in the field. Believing he needed to get away from the grief of the farm and find his own path, Clark accepted. At the beginning of his senior year, he left Smallville to start the next chapter of his life, one that would set him on the path to becoming something more than human.

Overseas Journaling

The year Clark spent in France passed quickly. Immersed in the art of journalism, he found himself thriving in the fast-paced world of reporting and investigation. His natural curiosity, strong moral compass, and drive to uncover the truth helped him excel. Recognizing his talent, Metropolis University offered him a scholarship. Choosing to complete his degree online, Clark saw an opportunity to travel the world and work as a freelance journalist, earning credits while experiencing life far beyond Smallville.

Clark quickly discovered that his Kryptonian physiology gave him an incredible gift: the ability to absorb and master languages in mere hours. Wherever he went, he became fluent, blending in and gaining trust as if he were a native speaker. Through it all, he kept in close contact with Martha, emailing her regularly to share stories of his travels and reassure her that he was staying safe.

As he moved from country to country, Clark could never ignore suffering. In the war-torn nation of Bialya, he saved a family from a bombing. In Asia, he pushed a man out of the path of a falling building. In London, he darted into traffic to save a jaywalker from being hit by a speeding bus. Each time, he acted at super speed, his presence unnoticed, only a blur in the corner of someone’s eye. These quiet rescues became routine as he crisscrossed the globe, helping wherever he could without drawing attention to himself.

After completing his degree at Metropolis University, Clark received a high-stakes assignment: write an exposé on a radical figure in Zimbabwe who was causing unrest, according to government officials. Interviewing numerous leaders, Clark quickly became frustrated with their dismissive tone. To them, the so-called “radical” was a temporary nuisance, something they believed would pass with time. But Clark needed to hear more than empty words from those in power. So he turned to the people.

Among the citizens, Clark learned the truth. The “radical” wasn’t inciting violence, he was fighting corruption. The government had begun erasing parts of the nation’s history and censoring what children were taught, replacing it with state-approved propaganda. The radical’s movement was built around preserving the culture and identity of his people. Gaining the trust of the locals, Clark was granted an exclusive interview. The man spoke passionately of his homeland, its heritage, and the dangers of losing the truth to those rewriting it.

That night, Clark attended a cultural festival and saw firsthand the beauty of the traditions being threatened. He saw dancing, music, food, and stories passed down from generation to generation. For the first time, Clark truly began to understand the weight of cultural identity, and the deep pain that comes when it’s stolen.

The following day, Clark joined the radical at a government-arranged peace talk. But the moment they arrived, Clark sensed something was wrong. It was an ambush. Acting on instinct, he unleashed his heat vision to melt the soldiers’ weapons and used his super breath to knock attackers off their feet. He shielded the man who had trusted him. But even with all his power, Clark wasn’t fast enough. A knife-wielding soldier emerged from the chaos and stabbed the radical.

Clark caught him as he collapsed, trying desperately to stop the bleeding. The man, his breath fading, smiled. He told Clark that he was at peace, and that his message would now spread even farther, and then he was gone.

Clark returned to his hotel and wrote the article, not an exposé on a dangerous radical, but a blistering indictment of the government’s corruption, deception, and campaign to erase its people’s heritage. The story gained international attention.

But that night, Clark sat alone, thinking not only about the man he had lost but the culture he had seen nearly taken. He realized how much he still didn’t know about his own past. He had learned the stories of countless others, but not yet his own. With that in mind, Clark packed his bags and began the journey home to Kansas, ready to finally discover where he came from.

The Birth of Superman

Upon returning to Smallville, Clark was greeted warmly by his mother, Martha Kent. He confided in her his desire to learn more about his origins. For the first time since childhood, Clark ventured into the old barn and accessed the hidden storage area beneath it, where his Kryptonian pod had been kept. Activating the sunstone once more, he allowed the full message to play uninterrupted.

Through the message, Clark learned his true name. Kal-El of the House of El along with the identities of his parents, Jor-El and Lara Zor-El. They revealed the history of Krypton, a world of scientific marvels and advanced society. However, Krypton’s greatest achievements also led to its downfall, as the planet’s core was recklessly mined for energy, rendering it unstable. Jor-El discovered the imminent threat and warned the Kryptonian council, but his warnings were dismissed, and he was labeled a heretic. Secretly, Jor-El constructed a small pod to save his son. As Krypton crumbled, baby Kal-El was sent across the stars to a distant planet bathed in the light of a yellow sun.

Stunned but resolute, Clark returned to the house determined to embrace his legacy. With Martha’s help, he crafted a suit inspired by Krypton’s colors and symbols. They fashioned the first Superman suit using fabrics from within the pod, including Clark’s Kryptonian baby blanket, which became the signature red cape.

Clark knew he wanted to do more than just remain in Smallville. Martha encouraged him to apply for a position at the Daily Planet newspaper in Metropolis. Taking her advice, Clark submitted his application and was soon offered a reporting job. Saying farewell to Martha, Clark departed for Metropolis, where he was captivated by the towering skyscrapers and bustling energy of the city.

At the Daily Planet, Clark met editor-in-chief Perry White, sports reporter Steve Lombard, lifestyle columnist Cat Grant, political writer Ron Troupe, and the renowned city beat reporter, Lois Lane. Perry paired Clark with Lois as his mentor, assigning them to investigate a series of mysterious disappearances around the city. While working on the case, Clark began secretly using his powers to protect Metropolis, earning a reputation as a mysterious city guardian.

The next evening, Lois invited Superman to her balcony and requested a live television interview. Superman accepted and later appeared on-air, answering questions about his origins and mission. He assured the public that he was there to help and inspire hope. During a break in filming, Clark overheard Jimmy suggesting that Lois flirt with Superman. To Clark’s surprise and joy, Lois admitted that while Superman was impressive, she found herself in love with Clark Kent. Clark struggled to contain his happiness as filming resumed.

Suddenly, chaos erupted outside. Clark heard screams and rushed to the scene to find a colossal robot resembling a Rock-Em Sock-Em toy wreaking havoc in the streets. Superman engaged the robot in battle, trading powerful blows before ultimately defeating it. Before shutting down, the robot delivered a cryptic message, this was only the beginning, courtesy of the villain known as the Toyman.