Kal-El (Superman Smashes the Klan)

When his father realized that his planet was doomed, he and his wife sent Kal to Earth, where he would be found by Jonathan and Martha Kent he was given the name Clark Kent. Using his powers he defends the good people of Metropolis from threats like criminals as the superhero known as Superman.

Because of an accident when he was a child, Clark suffers a deep-seated fear of his alien nature. He is afraid of being rejected as a monster—or that he might actually be one.

In 1926, Clark was called one day by Jonathan, who had fixed a strange radio emitting an alien language, which was with him when the Kents found him. After the accident, curious of his true heritage, Clark sought out the radio, but didn't know how to turn it on. He then overheard Jonathan and Martha talking about his alien heritage. Clark then accidentally turned the radio on and in fear threw it into the river.

In 1936, when visiting the circus with his friend Lana Lang, Clark saw that the circus strongman The Mighty Samson was actually the man who took their tickets wearing just a wig. When a fire started, a lion tried to attack the strongman, Clark saved him. Afterwards, Samson gave Clark advice on showing what he could do in front of people by wearing a costume, which was sewn by Martha.

After defeating the Atom Man, Superman opened Atom Man's device on his chest and was exposed to Kryptonite for a brief moment. Superman would later hallucinate himself and his Kryptonian parents as green aliens, and kept seeing them wherever he would go.

When Tommy Lee was kidnapped by the Klan of the Fiery Cross, his sister Roberta Lee went to the Daily Planet to seek help from Jimmy Olsen. Clark overheard their conversation and followed them after changing into Superman. Superman later arrived at their location and saved Tommy by using his X-Ray vision and pulling him out of the river. After Tommy was safe, Superman gave his cape to Roberta for comfort.

The next morning, Clark was called into Perry White's office, where Perry expressed his shock that the Klan was active in Metropolis. When Clark stated that Superman did something, Perry stated that was exactly his point, then revealed his plans to put a $1000 reward for turning in Klan members in the Daily Planet.

When conversing with Lois at the cafe regarding what she found at the Metropolis Health Department, Clark stared at the hallucinations of his Kryptonian parents, which Lois mistook for him staring at another woman in the cafe, which caused her to storm off in anger. Confronting the figures on a rooftop, Clark angrily denied their pleas for him to fully embrace his Kryptonian heritage, not wanting to be seen as a freak.

While at the Daily Planet trying to apologize, Clark then overheard Tommy calling to inform the Planet about the Klan's attack on the Unity House, prompting him to head over as Superman. He could not find the bomb planted in time, only being able to save Rabbi Stone, Father Shain, Reverend Leeds, and the Klansman he had brought to try and figure out where the bomb was. He then ran over to the Daily Planet, which has also been assaulted by the Klan, finding out that Lois, Perry, and Inspector Henderson had been abducted by the Klan. Using a hint found by Roberta, he managed to find the Klan and stop them from killing the three and brought the Klansmen and Grand Scorpion Matthew Riggs to a police station, though unfortunately one officer was secretly a Klansman.

Roberta then talked to Superman, stating how she determined that he was much more powerful than he presented himself, and that limiting himself could allow people to get hurt. Clark then ran to Smallville where he found that the radio had turned itself into a crystalline structure where he found his birth parents, who now resembled humans instead of freakish aliens, who explained to him his history.

Now accepting of his nature, Superman flew into the baseball field to save Roberta and the kids from Riggs. When revealing his extraterrestrial origin, Superman is met with fear from the crowd except Lois and the kids. Riggs then proceeded to attack Superman with a Kryptonite laser gun, but Roberta saved him by throwing a lead ball into the gun, jamming it, and allowing Superman to smash the gun. Superman then foiled Riggs's attempt at suicide bombing, and when Riggs slashed him with a Kryptonite knife to make him fall, he managed to wake up at Lois's voice and saved Riggs.

Superman could be seen flying, following Roberta, Lois, and Jimmy as they head into a new tomorrow.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Kryptonian Physiology: Under the effects of a "yellow" sun, Superman possesses the same potential powers as an average Kryptonian. These include:
- Solar Energy Absorption: Under optimal conditions, this is the main source of Superman's super powers as they are contingent upon exposure to solar radiation from a yellow sun star system. His biological make up includes a number of organs which lack analogues in humans and whose functions are unknown. It is believed that between one or more of these and his bio-cellular matrix, "yellow" solar energy is stored for later use. This allows for the use of these powers to fade when yellow solar radiation is not available instead of immediate failure.
- Heat Vision: Superman can, as a conscious act, fire beams of intense heat at a target by looking at it. He can vary the heat and area affected.
- Super-Hearing: Superman's hearing is sensitive enough to hear any sound at any volume or pitch. With skill and concentration, he can block out ambient sounds to focus on a specific source or frequency.
- Enhanced Vision: Superman's vision processes the entire electromagnetic spectrum as well as allowing vast control over selective perception and focus.
  This umbrella ability includes the following:
  - Electromagnetic Spectrum Vision: Superman can see well into most of the electromagnetic spectrum. He can see and identify radio and television signals as well as all other broadcast or transmitted frequencies. Using this ability, he can avoid detection by radar or satellite monitoring methods. This also allows him to see the aura generated by living thing.
  - Telescopic Vision: This is the ability to see something at a great distance, without violating the laws of physics. Though limited, the exact extent of the ability is undetermined. In function, it is similar to the zoom lens on a camera.
  - X-Ray Vision: This is the ability to see through any volume of matter except lead. Supermans can see things behind a solid, opaque object as if it were not there. He can focus this ability to "peel back" layers of an object, allowing hidden image or inner workings to be observed. The exact type of energy perceived—such as x-rays, cosmic rays, or some other energy invisible to normal humans—is unclear. This ability perceives an ambient energy source though, it does not involve the eye projecting a concentrated, possibly toxic, beam to be reflected back from objects.
  - Microscopic Vision: This is the ability to see extremely small objects and images down to the atomic level.
  - Infrared Vision: Superman can see with better acuity in darkness, and to a degree in total darkness.
- Flight: Superman is able to manipulate graviton particles to defy the forces of gravity and achieve flight. This ranges from hovering to moving in any posture, in any direction.
- Invulnerability: Due to the interaction of his dense molecular structure and supercharged bio-electric aura, Superman is nigh-invulnerable to extreme energy forces. In addition, his extends this protection against toxins and diseases.
  - Enhanced Immunity
- Superhuman Stamina: Superman is able to maintain continuous strenuous physical action for an indefinite period of time. This based on his body converting yellow solar radiation directly to energy but is limited by physiological and psychological needs to eat, drink, and sleep.
- Superhuman Strength: Superman's strength is augmented by yellow solar radiation interacting with the greater than human density, resilience and biological efficiency of his musculature. His strength is more an act of conscious will on energy fields than actual physical strength. It is this act of conscious will that enables him to perform physical feats that are beyond the mere application force, such as moving a mountain top without said rock crumbling under its own mass.
- Superhuman Speed: Superman is able to move at incredible speed by sheer force of will. This extends to his perceptions and allows for feats such as catching bullets in mid-flight as well as covering vast distances in little or no time.
  This also confers:
  - Superhuman Agility
  - Superhuman Reflexes
- Super-Breath: Superman is able to create hurricane force winds by exhaling air from his lungs. He can chill the air as it leaves his lungs to freeze targets. He can also reverse the process to pull large volumes of air or vapor into his lungs.
- Longevity: Superman can live longer than regular humans, remaining at his prime as long as he was under the exposure of the "yellow" sun.

Abilities

Weaknesses

Kryptonian Physiology: Under the effects of a "yellow" sun, Superman possesses the same potential weaknesses as an average Kryptonian. These include:
- Vulnerability to Kryptonite
- Vulnerability to Magic

Notes

Superman first appeared in Earth-Two continuity in Action Comics #1 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. He first appeared in Superman Smashes the Klan continuity in Superman Smashes the Klan #1 by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru.

Trivia

Superman's powers at this time are limited to those of his earliest appearances in the Golden Age of Comics. However, he is developing his more exotic powers (such as flight and heat vision).

Kal-El (Superman Smashes the Klan)

Contents

History