Alias: Kal-El / Clark Joseph Kent
Debut: Action Comics #1 (1938)
Affiliation: Hero
It is really difficult to overstate Superman’s importance for the whole superhero genre; the guy is practically a synonym for a Superhero. Superman paved the way for modern American superhero comics and his Golden Age iteration was what actually attracted readers towards superhero comics back during the 1940s. Still, Superman has undergone an evolution just like all the characters from that period, with his origins becoming deeper and darker, and his character more layered and more complex. Today, Superman is much more than just a caped pretty boy with powers, he is a symbol and a character that merits a very detailed analysis, which is not something we’re going to do here. Superman is a truly brilliant and important character, a character that embodies the right values and embodies the whole concept of superheroism in a certain way. His pivotal role in the evolution of the genre is unprecedented in the history of superhero comic books and that is why we have him – although it was expected in a way – a spot in our top three. Why the second one? Well, because there is a guy who’s just a bit more awesome than Superman and you can probably guess who it is.
Welcome to discuss the world of these superheroes!
