| Superboy | |
|---|---|
 Cover to Superboy vol. 4 #61 (1999) by Tom Grummett, showing Kon-El (in jacket), Kal-El (beneath Kon's right arm), and other Superboys from the DC Multiverse | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | More Fun Comics #101 (January–February 1945) |
| Created by | Jerry Siegel (writer) Joe Shuster (art) |
| Characters | |
Superboy is the name of several fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. These characters have been featured in several eponymous comic series, in addition to Adventure Comics and other series featuring teenage superhero groups.
From the character's first published story in 1944 until 1992, the title Superboy was applied to versions of the adventures of Superman (Kal-El) as a boy, teenager or young adult. The primary settings for the stories were the fictional town of Smallville, the 30th Century (where Superboy featured in time travel adventures with the Legion of Super-Heroes) and universities attended by Clark Kent. In 1993, a second Superboy was introduced, a young clone of Superman who was eventually given both the name Kon-El and the secret identity of Conner Kent. In 2016, DC Comics introduced another Superboy, Jon Kent, the son of the contemporary Superman and his wife Lois Lane.
Superboy was the first superhero to star in a successful solo title after World War II. During the Silver Age of Comic Books, Superboy was frequently the #2 best-selling superhero, with monthly issues of Superboy and Adventure Comics regularly selling over a million combined copies.[1] Superboy and its subsequent adaptations have been credited with popularizing the prequel as a form of entertainment.[2]
Versions of the characters have appeared in television shows, animated series and films since 1960, including a syndicated TV series from 1988 to 1992. Smallville, a popular WB/CW show aired from 2001 to 2011, was based on the classic Superboy characters, superheroic adventures of a pre-Superman Clark Kent, and guest appearances by an alternative version of Kon-El.
- ^ "Comic Book Sales Figures for 1962". www.comichron.com. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ DAVID BARNETT. (2020, September 27). From ‘Ratched’ to ‘Morse’: Why we all love a prequel. Independent (UK).