Kal-El, legally named Clark Joseph Kent, is a Kryptonian survivor who works as a reporter for the Daily Planet alongside his girlfriend Lois Lane and best friend Jimmy Olsen, while fighting crime and saving lives as the kind, idealistic and protective superhero known as Superman in the bustling city of Metropolis, frequently collaborating in his crusade with his loyal pet companion Krypto the Superdog and the heroic Justice Gang.
Raised by kindly farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent on the Kent Farm in the unassuming farming town of Smallville, Kansas after arriving on Earth as a baby from the destroyed planet Krypton, sent by his birth parents Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van, Kent tried to reconcile his human upbringing with his Kryptonian heritage of the House of El, while facing foes that think he is a threat. He serves as the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way, living in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned.[3]
Superman headed into Earth's upper atmosphere to stop the ingress of space debris, which was very common, but recognized that larger meteors could sometimes pose a danger, throwing one to Krypto to play fetch. Upon returning to Earth, Superman took Krypto to Centennial Park to play with other dogs, reminding him to play cautiously and responsibly since they weren't in space. Once they landed, Superman was licked by Krypto, who wanted to continue playing with his owner, but Clark introduced him to the other dogs he could play with.
Superman then threw a stick for one of the dogs, but seeing Krypto using his flight powers to reach it, the hero reminded Krypto to let the other dogs have a chance too, before meeting Curt, another dog owner walking his dog, Otto. Superman was pleased to meet them, commenting that Krypto was a good dog, but that he needed to be reminded of his limits. However, they suddenly heard an explosion coming from S.T.A.R. Labs and saw a fire ambulance about to crash into them, so Superman stopped the vehicle and saw Krypto, whom he tried to talk to, but Curt alerted him that the dogs had fled because of the ambulance.
Superman carrying an ambulance
While carrying the ambulance, Superman asked Krypto to help him wrangle the dogs while he tended to the fire at S.T.A.R. Labs and then assist him there, bidding Otto and Curt farewell. Upon arriving at the fire area, Superman asked Chief Farrell how he could help, and she informed him that they had managed to evacuate all but the upper floor, where the fire was contained. Superman used his X-rays to see that there were two scientists trapped on the 14th floor trying to contain the experiment but it had gotten out of control, and since the firemen's ladder could not reach that floor, Superman asked them not to worry, since heights were his specialty.
Superman used his heat vision to melt the glass and rescue the scientists, whom he picked up and carried to the ground, telling them that he would later use his super breath to put out the fire. One of the scientists was worried about his dog Matty who was still trapped upstairs, but Superman reassured him by showing him that his partner Krypto was carrying her. An hour after putting out the fire, Superman and his partner Krypto took the scientist and his dog Matty to the park to hang out after a tiring afternoon.[4]
While working at the Daily Planet, Clark took a call and met with Lois Lane in his office, becoming nervous when she stared at him, before taking a selfie together. Kent helped his friend Jimmy Olsen record a social media video, but they were interrupted by Lois Lane, who bossily berated Jimmy for not doing his job. Olsen talked in his video about Clark stepping out a lot and getting nervous when Lois looked at him. When Olsen finished the video, Clark asked him about the photo in his office of him with two girls, but Olsen nervously said they were just friends before going back to work.[5]
Personality[]
"I was sent here to help the world be a better place. That is why I do what I do."
Kryptonian Physiology: As a Kryptonian at his physical peak, Superman possesses many extraordinary powers exceeding those of humans and even most metahumans when exposed to the nourishing radiant energy of Earth's yellow sun, ranking highly amongst the most powerful beings on Earth.
Solar Energy Absorption: Superman's cellular structure allows him to absorb, store and metabolize stellar radiation to fuel all of his abilities.
Accelerated Healing: Superman is capable of healing at superhuman speeds, especially in direct sunlight, in the rare instances he is hurt or injured.
Superhuman Strength: Superman possesses vast insurmountable levels of physical strength, as he is able to carry, lift, and exert billions of tons of force and overpower and match superhuman opponents, such as staggering the Kaiju with a powerful uppercut and matching Ultraman. He does tend to struggle, however, when facing opponents of similar or superior strength to his own.
Nigh-Invulnerability: Superman's body possesses a dense-molecular structure, which, in conjunction with a supercharged electromagnetic field, allows him to withstand virtually any conventional forms of harm and survive the conditions of most environments such as the frigid cold of the Arctic. He is also unaffected by flying in the vacuum of space, as well as immune to Earthly diseases and drugs. However, his invulnerability is not without limit, as the radiation emitted from Kryptonite, magic, exposure to the radiation produced by a red sun, and getting struck with extreme force by opponents who possess similar or greater strength to his, such as fellow Kryptonians and immensely powerful metahumans, can overcome his durability and risk injury or death.
Superhuman Stamina: Superman tires much slower than humans and can regularly exert himself without experiencing fatigue if he is continuously powered by the yellow sun of Earth.
Superman swiftly saves a little girl
Superhuman Speed: Superman can run and fly at supersonic speeds. Likewise his reflexes are incredibly quick.
Superhuman Senses: Superman's senses are much sharper and more sensitive than an ordinary human.
Superhuman Hearing: Superman's hearing is enhanced to the point where he can hear things and even people from all over the world. He can also focus in on specific people as well.
Superhuman Vision: Superman's vision is enhanced to the point where he can see objects from distances that humans would need either binoculars or telescopes to see, as well as objects smaller than the naked eye can see.
Heat Vision: Superman, like all Kryptonians, can dispense beams of intense heat from his eyes into powerful blasts.
X-Ray Vision: Superman is able to see through virtually any object and even into the human body with great ease. The only thing he cannot see through is lead.
Advanced Longevity: Superman and every other Kryptonian under a yellow sun, possesses the ability to live far longer than a human being, and he ages much slower once he reaches his physical maturity.
Superhuman Breath: Superman can intake large amounts of air and expel it with hurricane-like force. He can also manipulate the temperature of the wind, allowing him to freeze objects in place.
Flight: Superman can fly, hover, and levitate though the skies under his own volition by manipulating his own gravitational field, exploiting Earth's weaker gravity and dense atmosphere to propel himself through the skies and even beyond the planet's atmosphere, capable of traveling between distant locations in seconds at tremendous speeds unimpeded.
Interstellar Travel: Superman is immune to the conditions of space, is not affected by the absence of gravity, and does not rely on Earth's oxygen to survive. He can travel through regions where no human could survive without technology or protection. On one occasion, he flew to Earth's upper atmosphere with Krypto to intercept incoming space debris a routine task for them.[4]
Abilities[]
Gifted Intellect: Superman is exceptionally intelligent, as with other Kryptonians, which he uses constantly in both his crimefighting career and his career as a reporter.
Skilled Reporter: Clark, working as a reporter for the Daily Planet, is an exceptionally skilled investigative reporter, displaying remarkable insight, investigative and writing skills, writing several articles on his own.
Skilled Combatant: Superman is a capable combatant, utilizing his varied array of powers despite lacking any formal combat experience, combining his diverse powerset with his sharp intelligence and usually proving more than a match for most opponents, with only the strongest and most skillful of opponents being able to rival or outclass him, such as Ultraman, the Engineer and the Hammer of Boravia.
Supersuits: Superman wears a blue suit when operating publicly as a superhero, composed of Kryptonian cloth, which is durable enough to withstand various forms of wear and tear. It comes complete with a pair of red boots, as well as a yellow belt, red briefs, the House of El family crest in red and yellow upon his chest, complete with a long red cape with his family crest on the back, but in yellow.
Daily Planet Building: Clark's place of employment in Metropolis, where he also gets news of recent events that happen. This allows him to intervene as Superman if necessary.
Fortress of Solitude: Superman's main base of operations located somewhere in the Arctic, where he travels to reconnect with his Kryptonian heritage.
In the comics, Superman is the mantle of Kal-El, born to scientists Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van, which he uses while fighting crime with his Kryptonian powers after being sent to Earth. He was given the name Clark Kent by two farmers: Jonathan and Martha Kent.
Superman director James Gunn commented on Threads that Clark in the movie is "a thirty-year-old full-on reporter".[8]
Superman producer Peter Safran proclaimed that the film portrays Superman as "the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way." He further added that "he's kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned."[3]
Before David Corenswet's casting, James Gunn looked for an actor who possessed the character's humanity, kindness, and compassion, and was "somebody who you want to give a hug."[10]
Jacob Elordi turned down the role, saying it was "too dark".[16]
James Gunn intentionally chose not to focus on Superman's origin due to it being commonly known.[17]
To portray Clark Kent, Corenswet drew on the comics and on Christopher Reeve’s performance, particularly the iconic scene where Clark changes his posture after Lois Lane leaves the room. He also took inspiration from his brother-in-law, who is 6'4", weighs 260 pounds, has a deep voice, and is a quiet and wonderful man who always tries not to get in the way. That’s where Corenswet found the spirit of Clark: someone with an imposing presence who always strives to remain as discreet and silent as possible.[18]
