The short answer
The short answer
Three main characters have been Superboy. The first was Clark Kent himself as a teenager, from More Fun Comics #101 (1945). Conner Kent, a clone of Superman and (since 2003) Lex Luthor, debuted in 1993. Jon Kent, Clark and Lois's son, was born in 2015 and later became Superboy. Superboy also inspired the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Meet the family
The rest of the family.
How it has changed
Every era, a different story.
Golden and Silver Age (1945–1986)
Golden and Silver Age (1945–1986)
Superboy is young Clark Kent in Smallville. In Adventure Comics #247 (April 1958) he joins the 30th-century Legion of Super-Heroes.
Post-Crisis (1993–2011)
Post-Crisis (1993–2011)
Conner Kent, a clone, appears after Superman's death in Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993). He's named Kon-El in Superboy (vol. 4) #59 (1999).
Convergence and Rebirth (2015–)
Convergence and Rebirth (2015–)
Jon Kent is born in Convergence: Superman #2 (July 2015) and becomes Superboy. He's later aged up and wears the cape as Superman.
In depth
The full story.
There have been so many Superboys that even long-time fans mix them up. Here are the three main ones, and the one who went bad.
The three Superboys
| Superboy | First appearance | Who he is | Powers | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark Kent | More Fun Comics #101 (1945) | Superman as a teenager in Smallville | Superman’s powers as a teenager | Confirmed |
| Conner Kent (Kon-El) | Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993); named Kon-El in Superboy (vol. 4) #59 (February 1999) | A clone of Superman and, since 2003, Lex Luthor | First tactile telekinesis, later full Kryptonian powers | Confirmed |
| Jon Kent | Convergence: Superman #2 (July 2015) | Clark and Lois’s son | Half-human; his powers grew with age | Confirmed (debut) |
Jon was later aged up and has worn the cape as Superman himself (Likely).
Superboy and the Legion
The Legion of Super-Heroes began because of Superboy. In Adventure Comics #247 (April 1958), by Otto Binder and Al Plastino, three teenagers from the 30th century travel back in time and recruit him after a series of tests. Superboy inspired the team in the first place, and Supergirl later joined too.
Superboy-Prime: the Superboy who went bad
Superboy-Prime debuted in DC Comics Presents #87 (November 1985), by Elliot S! Maggin and Curt Swan. He has Superman-level power, and he later became a villain in Infinite Crisis (2005–06). See evil Supermen.
The wider Super-family
The Superboys are only part of it. There are at least five Supergirls, the Earth-Two cousin Power Girl, the armoured hero Steel, and the super-pets led by Krypto. See the whole Superman family tree.
Questions
Fans ask.
Who is Superboy?
It depends on the era. The first Superboy was Clark Kent himself as a teenager in Smallville, from More Fun Comics #101 (1945). Conner Kent, a clone, took the name in 1993, and Clark and Lois's son, Jon Kent, has also been Superboy since his birth in 2015.
Is Superboy Superman's son?
Jon Kent is: he's Clark and Lois's son, born in Convergence: Superman #2 (July 2015). Conner Kent isn't a son but a clone, made from Superman's DNA and, since 2003, Lex Luthor's too. The original Superboy was Clark himself.
Who is Superboy-Prime?
Superboy-Prime is a different Superboy, introduced in DC Comics Presents #87 (November 1985) by Elliot S! Maggin and Curt Swan. He has Superman-level power and later became a villain, most famously in Infinite Crisis (2005–06).
Next: allies and friends
Allies.
Lois, Jimmy, Perry, Lana and the friends who keep him human.
Family treeBorn on Krypton. Raised in Kansas.
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