Name: Superman
Universe: Post-Crisis
Alter Ego: Clark Kent
Occupation: Adventurer, Reporter, Novelist
Marital Status: Married
Group Affiliation: Justice League of America
Base of Operations: Metropolis
Known Relatives: Jor-El (father, deceased), Lara (mother, deceased), Jonathan Kent (adoptive father), Martha Clark Kent (adoptive mother), Harry Kent (adoptive uncle, deceased)
Height: 6 ft. 3 in.
Weight: 225 lbs.
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Blue
First Appearance: Man of Steel #1

History:
Superman, Earth's greatest and most famous hero, is the sole survivor of the destruction of his home planet Krypton. His father, Jor-El, discovered that a nuclear chain reaction with Krypton's core was responsible for the planet's severe earthquakes. Pressures within Krypton's crust had fused metals into a new element, Kryptonite, whose radiations were killing Kryptonians. Realizing that pressures from the chain reaction would shatter the planet, Jor-El had his unborn son removed from the Kryptonian Gestation Chambers and had his son's life-matrix attached to an experimental star-drive unit. Jor-El then launched his son towards the distatn planet Earth, just before Krypton exploded.

Superman was, in effect, born on Earth. A young couple, Jonathan and Martha Kent, found the infant and the starcraft and brough him to their farm in Smallville. Since he appeared entirely human, the Kents did not believe the baby to be extraterrestrial, but suspected he might be the victim of a cruel experiment. He had no super-powers at this time. Months later, the Kents revealed the child's existence, asserting he was their natural offspring. They named him Clark, after Martha's maiden name.

As Clark grew older, his Kryptonian body continually absorbed solar energy from Earth's yellow sun and he began developing super-human powers. At first Clark used his evolving powers to become a sports champion in high school. When Clark was eighteen, Jonathan took him to the field where his starcraft still lay hidden and explained how he and Martha had found him. Clark was astonished by this revelation, but on approaching the craft, fell victim to weakness. Unknown to Clark or Jonathan, this weakness was caused by a piece of Kryptonite embedded in the rocket – the only specimen of that element on Earth.

Clark resolved to use his powers from then on only for the good of mankind. For five years Clark used his powers to secretly help people and to prevent disasters, but finally was forced to act publicly to save a NASA space-plane that was struck by a small aircraft while on a landing approach to a Metropolis airport, and threatened to crash. After rescuing the plane, Clark was mobbed by people, and he fled back to Smallville.

There his adoptive parents helped him design a costumed secret identity which he would use when using his powers in public. They called this identity "Superman" after the name given him in an article by the Metropolis Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane, a passenger on the space-plane. From then on he used glasses and other means as Clark to make himself look different than Superman.

Superman has since operated worldwide as a champion of truth and justice, ever ready to help those in need. As Clark Kent he won a job at the Daily Planet by being the first person to turn in a detailed story about Superman. He is now a feature reporter for the Planet and a successful novelist. Billionaire Lex Luthor, a leading Metropolis citixen, has become Superman's archfoe. Superman is a member of the Justice League of America. Sometime after his public debut, Superman learned he is a native of the planet Krypton.

Powers:
Superman is from Krypton, which had a red sun, but under Earth's yellow sun, his Kryptonian cells act as living solar batteries, absorbing solar energy and giving him superhuman powers. These powers have steadily developed and increase as he grows older.

Superman possesses vast superhuman strength. It has been theorized that he could easily lift the weight of the Great Pyramid of Egypt, were it possible to do so without destroying the structure.

Superman's body is so nearly indestructible that, although he can be knocked over by cannon fire, no conventional artillery can harm him. He can even survive a nuclear blast unharmed, but he can nonetheless be injured by a sufficiently great force.

Superman can see and hear over vast distances, and is limited in this only by the speeds of light and sound. He can also see in microscopic detail, and can see well beyond the range of visible light. His so-called X-ray vision, which does not actually involve X-rays, enables him to see through objects. His power to generate heat within objects manifests itself as a red glow within his eyes, and has therefore been dubbed heat vision.

Superman can move at superhuman speed. Be force of will he can defy gravity and fly. He must fill his lungs with air before flying through outer space.

His irradiated cells generate a force field that renders nearly indestructible any material in close physical contact with him, such as his skin-tight costume.

Like all creatures, Superman is vulnerable to magic. Kryptonite radiation reduces Superman's powers and is almost immediately lethal to him. (Prolonged exposure will kill any living being.) Kryptonite radiation's effect on Superman is not cumulative, and he will regain full health and power on being separated from the radiation source.