The short answer
The short answer
Conner Kent, also called Kon-El, is the Superboy who is a clone of Superman. He first appeared in The Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993) during Reign of the Supermen, and since Teen Titans (vol. 3) #1 (September 2003) he has been made from the DNA of both Superman and Lex Luthor. He died in 2006 and returned in 2009.
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Trivia and firsts
Superman on TV
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Read more: Superman on TVHow it has changed
Every era, a different story.
Post-Crisis (1986–2011)
Post-Crisis (1986–2011)
Conner debuts in 1993 during Reign of the Supermen, after Superman's death. Superman gives him the Kryptonian name Kon-El in Superboy (vol. 4) #59 (February 1999). Teen Titans (vol. 3) #1 (2003) reveals Lex Luthor as his second DNA donor. He dies in Infinite Crisis #6 (May 2006) and returns in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds (2009).
TV and animation
TV and animation
Lucas Grabeel plays him in Smallville, Joshua Orpin in Titans, and Nolan North voices him in Young Justice.
In depth
The full story.
Superboy has been several different people, but the best known in modern comics is Conner Kent, the clone who stepped into the gap when Superman died.
Who is Conner Kent?
Conner Kent (Kryptonian name Kon-El) is a clone of Superman, created by the secret Cadmus project. He first appeared in The Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993), by Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett, during the Reign of the Supermen story, which followed Superman’s death at the hands of Doomsday.
Conner Kent’s story at a glance
| Year | What happened | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | First appearance, in Reign of the Supermen | The Adventures of Superman #500 |
| 1999 | Superman names him Kon-El | Superboy (vol. 4) #59 |
| 2003 | Revealed to share Lex Luthor’s DNA too | Teen Titans (vol. 3) #1 |
| 2006 | Dies | Infinite Crisis #6 |
| 2009 | Returns | Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds |
In short, Conner went from a 1990s stand-in for Superman to a full member of the House of El, with Lex Luthor’s DNA as a twist.
Superman and Lex Luthor’s son?
Since Teen Titans (vol. 3) #1 (September 2003), Conner’s DNA has come from Superman and Lex Luthor, Superman’s archenemy. That makes him a mix of Superman and his greatest enemy. For Luthor, see our Lex Luthor guide.
Conner Kent’s powers
At first Conner didn’t have Superman’s powers at all. He had tactile telekinesis. Later stories gave him the full Kryptonian set. See the full list of Superman’s powers.
Conner Kent on screen
Lucas Grabeel played Conner in Smallville, Joshua Orpin in Titans, and Nolan North voices him in Young Justice.
Conner is one of the branches on the Superman family tree. Superman’s actual son is Jon Kent, who also used the name Superboy, and his cousin is Supergirl.
Questions
Fans ask.
Who is Superboy (Conner Kent)?
Conner Kent, also called Kon-El, is a clone. He first appeared in The Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993). Since 2003 he's been made from Superman's and Lex Luthor's DNA. He's not the same as the earlier 'Superboy', which meant young Clark.
Who are Superboy's parents?
Conner Kent has no parents in the usual sense: he's a clone made by the Cadmus project. Since 2003 his DNA has come from two donors, Superman and Lex Luthor, which makes Superman something between a father and a brother to him.
Why are there so many Superboys?
Because the name has passed between characters. Superboy was first the young Clark Kent in Smallville. In 1993 Conner Kent, a clone, took the name, and from 2016 Superman's son Jon Kent was Superboy in Rebirth comics. Each is a different character with a different relationship to Superman.
What powers does Conner Kent have?
Conner Kent first had a power called tactile telekinesis rather than Superman's full abilities. Later stories gave him the full set of Kryptonian powers, fuelled like Superman's by Earth's yellow sun.
Next in family
Power Girl.
Kara Zor-L, the Supergirl of Earth-Two.
Family treeBorn on Krypton. Raised in Kansas.