10 SUPERMAN SECRET (10-6)

10.Superman and Clark Kent have different birthdays

There have been a few different accounts concerning Superman's Birthday. Some stories have said that Superman's rocket landed on Earth on February 29th and that Clark celebrated this as his birthday. In one comic, writer Geoff Johns said this date was actually December 1st.

The TV series Smallville placed the birthday in early May.

But when the Silver Age of comics began in the late 1950s and DC did its first superhero relaunch, a different account was provided that many fans have enjoyed and accepted.

According to Action Comics #241 in 1958, the Last Son of Krypton actually recognized two birthdays: as Superman, he celebrated the day he landed on Earth (June 10th); as Clark, he celebrated the day he was adopted by the Kent family (later said to be June 18th). These are fitting birth dates since the Man of Steel's very first comic was published in June of 1938 and because June 18 was also the birthday of Bud Collyer, the very first actor to portray Superman, bringing him to life in cartoon and radio.

9.He wasn't born Super
Superman's power isn't limitless or unstoppable. In most versions of Superman's origin, the people of Krypton were powerless while walking around their planet, which orbited a red sun. But under Earth's yellow sun, a Kryptonian's cells absorb and convert the solar rays into incredible power.

As young Clark Kent grew older, he grew more powerful as his body was able to store more solar energy and convert it more effectively. As an adult, this makes him incredibly formidable and invulnerable to most Earth weaponry, either because the solar energy toughens up his skin and muscles or because it creates a skin-tight force field (the explanation has changed a couple of times).

But none of this makes him invincible. If he goes to another planet where there is no yellow sun, he'll slowly run out of juice. And if he's on Earth but fighting at full force without rest, he might start using up energy faster than his body can replace it, meaning his powers get progressively weaker and his body becomes more vulnerable to physical harm.

8.He didn't always date Lois Lane

For many years, Clark pursued reporter Lois Lane and in the 1990s they finally tied the knot. In DC's relaunch, they will no longer be married or even dating. But whether they still end up together or not, it's worth noting that even before now, Lois was never said to be the first one who captured Superman' attention and heart.

In high school, Clark had deep feelings for his best friend Lana Lang, a character who was a major focus in the TV series Smallville. As a teen, Clark also had a crush on Saturn Girl, a time traveling teenage superhero from the future.

In college, he seriously dated a girl named Lori Lemaris who turned out to be a mermaid from Atlantis.

During a time travel adventure to Krypton's past, Superman became involved with Lyla Lerrol, a famous Kryptonian actress.

And for a while, the Last Son of Krypton had a crush on Wonder Woman (hey, who wouldn't?).

7.Superman's a time traveler

As a kid in high school, Clark was visited by the Legion of Super-Heroes, a team of super-powered teenagers from the 30th century who had been inspired by legends of his life. Seeing he was desperate for a chance to hang out with kids who were more like him, the Legion regularly brought Clark into the far future to join them in adventures.

Whenever Clark returned home, part of his memories were clouded so he couldn't alter his own future. These trips with the LSH helped Superman learn to become a hero and are part of the reason he developed an optimistic view of the human race. He knew Earth was worth protecting and fighting for because he'd seen what it would achieve 1,000 years down the line.

6.It wasn't always the "American way."

Originally, Superman's catchphrases called him the "champion of the oppressed" and said he was dedicated to "truth and justice." And that was it. The phrase "and the American Way" wasn't added until around the time when the U.S. started entering World War II. "Truth, justice and the American way" began in radio broadcasts of the era.

The phrase later became an iconic piece of Superman's identity in the 1950s when it was spoken during the introduction of the popular TV series starring George Reeves.


..................tobe continued