Superman

Superman, nicknamed The Man of Steel, is a fictional character and superhero who first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938 and eventually became one of the most popular and well-known comic book icons of all time.

Super-man was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1934, in their high school class (at least this is what is said). Almost everyone knows the story of the man of steel. He was born in the planet Krypton with birth name Kal-El. He was sent to earth in a spaceship by his scientist father Jor-El moments before Krypton exploded. Kal-El landed in the border line of a small farm in Smallville where he was discovered and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent. Coincidentally Jonathan and Martha Kent wanted a child but could not have one of there own. Kal-El was given the name Clark Kent by his earthly parents. Clark is a guy with glasses that attempts to act totally opposite of Superman, I guess this is done to avoid connections or links made to his superhero identity (yeah, like that really works). Clark never seems to have any personal conflicts with who he is and his powers. Although in his teenage years while more and more of his powers were surfacing Clark struggled with who he was. I recall that even in one version of his teenage life story he refers to himself as a freak. He quickly gets over this feeling when he realizes how much good he can do in the world which he now calls his home.

POWERS/ABILITIES

Flight, invulnerability, super-strength, super-speed, super-breath, vision powers including x-ray vision, heat vision, telescopic vision. He has been seen doing more, but these are his notable abilities.

POPULARITY FACTOR

Super-man has been a character that abides by the laws. Superman is one of the most powerful comic book figure ever created, but at the same time has morals, integrity and remains humble. He is never seen wrongfully using his powers intentionally. This indeed is a very honorable characteristic that many people respect and like. People also like to know that there is someone they can call if they need help and he comes in a flash. A hero created to resemble that of a savior. People love things like this, which is part of superman’s characteristic that makes him a likable and popular superhero.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Super-man is sometimes also referred to as the father of all comic book superheroes because he is like the first actual superhero. There were other comic figures before Superman, but he is the one that started the trend of comic book superhero figures. Clark/Superman was originally born in 1934, he is decades old, thus Superman has been modified like many other comic book figures so as to fit modern storylines. Editors and writers used the process of retroactive continuity, or retcon, adjusting to changes in popular culture, eliminating restrictive segments of the mythos, permitting contemporary storylines. Of course the facts of the figure (in this case Super-man) remain the same.

More on Superman from Wikipedia