Superman is the sole survivor of the planet Krypton. His father, Jor-El, discovered that a nuclear chain reaction was building inside Krypton that would soon shatter the entire world. Jor-El therefore had his unborn son Kal-El removed from the Kryptonian Gestation Chambers and affixed the life matrix containing Kal-El to an experimental vessel for travel through hyperspace. Jor-El launched the starcraft toward Earth just before Krypton exploded.
Superman was, in effect, born on Earth when the starcraft landed there. Jonathan and Martha Kent found the infant inside the vessel and brought him to their farm in Smallville, Kansas. Since he appeared entirely human, the Kents assumed that the baby was a victim of a cruel experiment. At this time the baby had no super powers. The Kents named the infant Clark and raised him as their own son.
As clark grew older his Kryptonian body began developing superhuman abilities. When Clark was eighteen, took him to the field where his starcraft still lay hidden and explained how he and Martha had found him. Clark resolved to use his powers from then on only for the good of mankind. After revealing his secret to his childhood friend, Lana Lang, Clark left Smallville to study at Metropolis University.
Clark initially used his powers covertly to help people and prevent or thwart disasters. Ultimately, he was forced to use his powers in public to prev ent the crash of a NASA space-plane. Thereafter he and his foster parents devised a new costumed secret identity he would adopt when using his abilities in public. They called his new persona "Superman," the name given him by Lois Lane, a reporter for the Metropolis Daily Planet who had been aboard the space-plane.
Shortly afterward, Clark obtained a job as a reporter for the Daily Planet by turning in his first detailed story about Superman. He currently enjoys a freelance status with the Planet.
Some time ago Superman journeyed to an otherdimensional "pocket universe" that had its own Krypton and Earth. After defeating three Kryptonians native to that universe who had murdered the entire population of its Earth, Superman executed the trio, believing there was no other way to stop them. The tremendous guilt Superman felt over this act combined by the psychic manipulation by his foe Braniac, caused him to develop a temporary split personality. Believing himself to be potentially dangerous to humanity, Superman exiled himself to space, eventually taken prisoner by the forces of the alien tyrant Mongul. During this time Superman resolved never to kill again...."
Superman lives by the traditional moral values instilled in him by his foster parents. Superman is an idealist, devoted to promoting "truth, justice, and the American way," and has proved over and over that he is a true hero, capable of whatever bravery and self-sacrifice is necessary to right a wrong or save a life.
Powers and Weapons
Since Superman is a native of Krypton, a planet that had a red sun, under a yellow sun(like that of Earth's his Kryptonian cells act as living solar batteries, absorbing solar energy and giving him superhuman powers. He possesses tremendous strength; while Superman's strength is not infinite, its full extent is so grea that it has never been accurately measured. His body is virtually indesrtuctible.
Superman's sharp senses enable him to hear souns too faint to be detected by the normal human ear. His "telescopic vision" enables him to focus his sight on distant objects far beyond the range of normal human sight. His "microscopic vision" allows him to observe an object in microscopic detail. Superman's so called "x-ray vision" enables him to see clearly through solid objects. Certain dense materials, notably lead, obstruct this ability. His power to generate heat within objects manifests itself as a red glow within his eyes, and is therefore known as "heat vision."
Superman can move, react, and think at superhuman speeds greater than that of sound. He can defy gravity and fly through force of will. Superman's irradiated cells generate a force field that extends for a fraction of an inch around his body, rendering any material within the field nearly indestructible, such as his skin tight costume. (Because his cape extends beyond the field, it is easily damaged.)
Superman is vulnerable to the radiation of Kryptonite, a substance from his native planet. Kryptonite radiation will kill Superman within minutes. He is also vulnerable to magic, and to the psionic powers of some beings, such as Braniac.
Superman must fill his lungs with air before flying through outer space. He can thus survive without breathing for several hours, but ulitmately he must replenish his oxygen supply to remain alive.
A Thing About Supes and Lex
So many of you braniacs have no idea why the heck Lex hates Supes guts so much. Well it's about time you finally learned. In the Golden Age of Comics The Golden age is the beginning era of comics starting from the 1930s up through the mid-1950s, during which comic books enjoyed a surge of popularity while the debute and archetype of the superhero was created and defined. Remember, comics used to be about detective stories and mysteries and fanatasies and... space monsters abducting beautiful, bodacious women.So now... Lex Luthor's background has undergone several changes and rewrites, but let's stick to the Golden Age. When Luthor first debuted in Action Comics #23 in 1940, he was shown with a full head of red hair. Later, the following year in Superman #10, Luthor appeared totally bald in. Go figure.
In his first appearance in Action Comics #23, Luthor (hr was not known as Lex, only Luthor) is a megalomaniacal genius who makes his home in a flying city suspended by an airship kind of like... Dr. Doom meets Lando Calrisian. Luthor first tries to ignite a war between two European nations as part of a larger plan for world domination. Bwa ha ha ha.
In Superman #4, he is later found hiding out in an underwater city, where he has been terrorizing the planet with man-made earthquakes. Remember Gene Hackman and Christopher Reeve in Superman the movie? Same thing. When confronted by Superman, Luthor challenges him to a contest of strength versus science, which is about as stupid as things can get in comics. Of course Superman agreed.
Speed ahead to the Silver Age of Comics which was the period of time between the late 1950s to the early 1970s. In Adventure Comics #271 (1962), Jerry Siegel retroactively rewrote the origin story (god only knows how many times that a retroactive rewrite has been done since then) that reveals that Lex's hatred for Superman stems from a past encounter during his youth, Lex had been an aspiring scientist and a friend of Superboy. Lex was working on some experiments that had something to do with creating an artificial newo-life form along with a cure for Kryptonite poisoning.
An accidental fire breaks out in Lex's lab, as is usually the case when creating a new life form, and Superboy arrives but, unfortunately, decides to use his super-breath to extinguish the flames, inadvertently spilling chemicals all over Lex (just like with Barry Allen but diferent) which causes Luthor to go prematurely bald. The botched rescue also destroys Lex's artificial lifeform, along with the Kryptonite cure. Believing that Superboy intentionally caused the accident, Lex attributes his actions to jealousy and vows revenge to destroy Superboy.
1960s
Thor's father Odin decided his son needed to be taught humility and consequently placed Thor (without memories of godhood) into the body and memories of an existing, partially disabled human medical student, Donald Blake.[21] After becoming a doctor and on vacation in Norway, Blake witnessed the arrival of an alien scouting party. Blake fled into a cave after they heard him and began to pursue him. After discovering Thor's disguised hammer Mjolnir, and striking it against a rock, he transformed into the thunder god.[22]
Defeating the aliens, Thor shared a double life with his alter ego: treating the ill in a private practice with nurse - and eventual love - Jane Foster and defending humanity from evil. Thor's presence on Earth almost immediately attracted the attention of his stepbrother and arch-foe Loki;[23] who returned repeatedly to Earth in a bid to destroy Thor.[24] Loki was also responsible for the emergence of three of Thor's principal foes: the Absorbing Man;[25] the Wrecker,[26] and the Destroyer.[27] On one occasion, Loki's tactics were accidentally beneficial - although successful in using an illusion of the Hulk to draw Thor into battle, it resulted in the formation of the superhero team the Avengers, of which Thor was a founding and longstanding member.[28]
Thor's other early foes included the Red Army;[29] Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man;[30] the Radioactive Man;[31] the Lava Man;[32] the Cobra;[33] Mister Hyde;[34] the Enchantress and the Executioner[35] and the Grey Gargoyle.[36]
Falling in love with Jane Foster, Thor disobeyed his father and refused to return to Asgard, an act for which he was punished on several occasions.[37] Thor's natural affinity for Earth was eventually revealed to be due to the fact that he was the son of the Elder Goddess Gaea.[38] Although Thor initially regarded himself as a "superhero" like his teammates in the Avengers,[38] Loki's machinations drew Thor into increasingly epic adventures, such as teaming with father Odin and Asgardian ally Balder against fire demon Surtur and Skagg the Storm Giant,[39] and defeating an increasingly powerful Absorbing Man and proving his innocence in the "Trial of the Gods".[40] This necessitates an extended leave of absence from the Avengers.[41]
Thor also encountered Greek God Hercules,[42] who became a loyal friend. Thor also saved Hercules from fellow Olympian Pluto;[43] stopped the advance of Ego the Living Planet;[44] rescued Jane Foster from the High Evolutionary and defeated his flawed creation, the Man-Beast.[45] Odin finally relented and allowed Thor to love Jane Foster, on the proviso she pass a trial. Foster, however, panicked and Thor intervened. Although Foster failed the test, Odin returned her to Earth where she was given another chance at love, while a heartbroken Thor was introduced to Asgardian warrior Sif.[46] Thor battled the Asgardiantroll Ulik for the first time when he attempted to steal Mjolnir;[47] defeated Avengers foe Kang the Conqueror[48] and the alien Super-Skrull[49] and with Odin and his Asgardian allies engaged in a battle to the death with the Enchanters Three.[50]
Despite repeated attempts by Loki to destroy Thor with a series of past and new foes, Thor was victorious, and even avoids being claimed by Asgardian death goddess Hela.[51] The thunder god returned to Asgard to prevent Mangog from drawing the Odinsword and ending the universe;[52] learned the origin of the cosmic entity Galactus (and encountered Ego once again);[53] and stopped the child-like Him (who would eventually become Adam Warlock) from kidnapping Sif.[54]
[edit]1970s
Thor battled Surtur once again when the fire demon attempted to storm Asgard (with Loki temporarily seizing power courtesy of the Odin Ring);[55] encountered the entity the Stranger and his pawn the Abomination[56] and overpowered an outmatchedDoctor Doom.[57] Thor only returned to Earth sporadically, forced to deal with a constant wave of Asgardian (e.g., Mangog;[58] Ulik[59]); godly (e.g. Pluto;[60]) and cosmic threats (e.g., Infinity;[61] Xorr[62]).
Courtesy of the manipulation of the Elder of the Universe the Collector,[63] Thor was present to aid the Avengers against their greatest foes (Graviton;[64] Ultron;[65] Count Nefaria[66] and ultimately Korvac[67]). Thor prevented another attempt by Mangog — disguised as Odin — to draw the Odinsword;[68] was saved by the intervention of ally Volstagg when the "Odin Force" became a semi-sentient destructive force[69] and was rescued from death when Odin engineered a false Ragnarök (the "Twilight of the Gods") and had reporter Red Norvell die in his place battling the Midgard Serpent.[70]
[edit]1980s
Thor eventually confronted the threat of the Celestial Fourth Host, and after an extended series of encounters learned of the apparent true origin of Asgard and Odin's plans to defend Earth from the alien judges. Despite the attempt by Odin to stop the Celestials by occupying the Destroyer armour (now 2,000 feet tall as holding the life essence of every Asgardian) and wielding the Odinsword (and aided by the Uni-Mind, an entity composed of the Eternals) and Thor himself, the aliens departed when presented with an offering by Gaea on behalf of the "Skymothers" (e.g. Frigga and Hera) of twelve perfect humans. Thor also learned Gaea was his birth mother.[71]
After restoring the Asgardian gods (courtesy of a gathering of energies donated by Skyfathers from other pantheons)[72] Thor had a series of adventures on Earth, including encountering two Heralds of Galactus in swift succession;[73] stopping Mephistofrom taking human souls;[74] clearing his name when framed by Asgardian god of war Tyr;[75] aiding Drax the Destroyer;[76] with ally Iron Man defeating the Bi-Beast and Man-Beast;[77] engaging the former king of Nastrond Fafnir (transformed by Odin into a dragon) in combat when freed by Loki[78] and battling Dracula.[79] Thor also learned of the existence of the "God Eater", a creature summoned when the death gods of several pantheons temporarily merge their realms. Thor thwarted the creature - revealed to be in humanoid guise Atum, the son of Gaea, and therefore Thor's half-brother - and ensured the cosmic balance was restored.[80]
Whilst exploring an approaching space vessel at the request of Nick Fury, Thor encountered Beta Ray Bill, who after a brief battle proved himself worthy of lifting Thor's hammer Mjolnir. After initial misunderstandings, Bill formed an alliance with the Asgardian gods, and was empowered by Odin to aid Thor and his allies in a war with an approaching army of demons[81] which was revealed to be led by fire demon Surtur, now wielding "Twilight", the gigantic "Sword of Doom". After a series of extended battles - including a battle to the death with Fafnir and thwarting the Dark Elf Malekith — the gods were finally triumphant, although during combat Odin and Surtur disappeared through a rift and were presumed dead.[82]
Thor remained in Asgard to deal with the vacuum left by Odin's apparent death, and drove off Hela;[83] met Tiwaz, his great-grandfather;[84][85] forced Loki to cure him from the effects of a love potion;[86] with allies entered Hela's realm and rescued lost mortal souls.[87] Returning to Earth, Thor and Beta Ray Bill defeated the transformed Dark Elf Kurse,[88] although Loki also used the power of Surtur's discarded sword to change Thor into a frog. After an adventure in Central Park, Thor managed to partially restore himself and then forced Loki to reverse the spell.[89] While rescuing X-Factor member Angel from torture by the mercenary team the Marauders, Thor was cursed by Hela, who made his bones as brittle as glass and unable to heal if damaged; and rendered him truly immortal and unable to die no matter how severe his injuries.[90] Thor was injured again during a battle with the Absorbing Man (engineered by Loki),[91] and was ultimately saved by Loki during a battle with the Dark Elves.[92]
Eventually forced to wear armour to protect his broken body, Thor and Loki defeated a group of Ice Giants, who sought revenge by trying to locate the Midgard Serpent, hoping it would kill the thunder god. The Giants instead found the dragon Fin Fang Foom, who was revealed to be the Midgard Serpent in disguise. Time slowed as the pair - mortal enemies due to prophecy that stated they would kill each other during Ragnarök — battle to the death. Thor killed the Serpent, although his body was completely pulverized. Loki restored the Destroyer, and after killing the Ice Giants found Thor's now liquid form. The Destroyer attempted to disintegrate the thunder god but could not do so due to Hela's curse. Thor assumed mental control of the Destroyer, and forced Hela on pain of death to restore his true form. The thunder god then broke Loki's arm as punishment for his actions.[93]
[edit]1990s
After another encounter with the Celestials on an alien world;[94] Thor found Odin — a captive of Seth — and used the Odinpower to fend off a returning Surtur;[95] defeated Annihilus while Asgard was in the Negative Zone[96] and on Earth battled X-Menfoe the Juggernaut[97] and many other opponents. When Thor killed Loki in single combat, he was banished by the Asgardian Heimdall (acting as temporary ruler of Asgard while Odin entered the Odinsleep) and replaced by the mortal Eric Masterson, who became the hero Thunderstrike. When Odin awoke, Thor was forgiven and returned.[98] During a battle Thor was driven into a "warrior's madness" by a Valkyrie. After overpowering everyone who attempted to stop his rampage, Thor was brought by theEternal Thanos before Odin, who cured his son of the madness.[99]
Thor, together with Avengers; Fantastic Four and other heroes, became trapped in alternate universe after defeating the villain Onslaught. The heroes lived alternate lives for a year in what was revealed to be an artificial creation until returning to their own universe.[100] Thor rejoined the Avengers;[101] and with several members of the team battled the Destroyer. Thor was saved by an enigmatic being called "Marnot", who bound the life-force of a mortal called Jake Olson to the thunder god.[102] Thor entered into a war with the Dark Gods (with Marnot revealed to be Hescamer, one of Odin's ravens);[103] battled the returning Enchanters Three[104] and entered into a prolonged struggle against Thanos when he sought to remake the universe.[105]
[edit]2000s
When Odin died in battle against Surtur, Thor became ruler of Asgard. The thunder god extended his rule to Earth, with major repercussions. Thor and the Asgardians slayed or imprisoned those who opposed them, including a young religious mutant called Davis; Zarrko the Tomorrow Man; Perrikus of the Dark Gods; the U.S. Government, and even his fellow Avengers. Thor married Amora (the Enchantress), and had a son, Magni, who upon reaching adulthood doubted his father's judgment. Wracked with guilt, Thor was drawn into battle with his former ally Tarene and the Destroyer (occupied by former foe Desak), and undid the timeline via time travel.[106]
When the timeline was reset, Loki revived Surtur, who forged new uru hammers for Loki's Storm Giant followers and began Ragnarök. Thor learned that Ragnarok was the result of the self-styled "gods to the gods" known as Those Who Sit Above in Shadow, who feed on the cycle. Thor confronted the Norns (Fates), and severed the tapestry of Asgard's existence. After breaking the Ragnarok cycle and being advised by the Odinforce that this was his father's plan, Thor entered into hibernation. With his fate unknown to the Avengers, he was believed to be missing in action.[107]
Thor's hammer Mjolnir was eventually found on Earth and put under U.S. Army protection. When the supervillain Doctor Doom escaped from Hell, Mjolnir fell through the dimensional plane, and Doom tried unsuccessfully to lift the hammer. Mjolnir then came into the possession of a man carrying a bag with the initials "D.B".[108] Donald Blake, upon touching the hammer Mjolnir, was transported to the void of non-existence in which Thor resided. Blake explained that when Odin originally removed the Blake persona from Thor,[109] Blake was consigned to the void that Thor now inhabited. With Odin's death, however, Blake was suddenly restored into being in New York City. Blake convinced Thor to wield Mjolnir once more, return to Earth, and renew the dual identity with Blake. Blake also revealed that Thor's fellow Asgardians still lived in the minds and hearts of mortals and only needed to be found and released.[110]
Thor rebuilt Asgard over the state of Oklahoma,[111][112] learned of the events of the Civil War[113] and was angered that Tony Stark and others used his DNA to create a Thor clone in a battle between pro and anti-registration heroes.[113] He battled Stark, easily defeating him. Thor accepted an offer by Stark for Asgard to be considered a foreign embassy with diplomatic immunity granted to its inhabitants. Thor searched for his fellow Asgardians,[114] and restored each with the exception of Sif, who had been trapped in the body of an old woman dying of cancer, her real form stolen by Loki. The thunder god eventually searched for his father, and located Odin in part of the afterlife, waging constant battle with the fire demon Surtur. Odin advised his son that Thor must lead the Asgardians.[115][116]
During the events of the Secret Invasion, Thor rescued and healed ally Beta Ray Bill, who after being temporarily given Mjolnir, aided Thor in a battle against an invading force of alien Skrulls.[117][118] Thor also participated in the final battle against the Skrull forces, and was forced to sacrifice Avenger ally the Wasp.[119] Due to a deception by Loki, Thor battled and killed his grandfather Bor, and was banished from Asgard.[120][121] With Thor's hammer Mjolnir damaged in that battle, Thor sought out Doctor Strange, who was only able to repair the hammer by transferring the Odinforce from Thor to Mjolnir, binding the two in a symbiotic relationship. With the repaired hammer, Thor was able to draw out the imprisoned Sif, and return her to her own body, thereby restoring Loki to his male body in the process.[122][123]
[edit]2010s
During the events of the Siege storyline, Thor rushed to the defense of Asgard against Norman Osborn and his invading Dark Avengers. Although the invading forces were ultimately defeated, Asgard itself was toppled and Loki killed by the Sentry who in turn was killed by Thor. As a result of the victory, the Superhuman Registration Act was dissolved and Thor joined the rebranded Avengers, who had come to his aid during the battle.[124][125][126][127][128] The next day Balder lifted Thor's exile and appointed Thor as his adviser.[129] Thor aided Amadeus Cho in a quest to find the necessary ingredients to bring back their mutual friend Hercules from a parallel universe.[130] During the events of the Chaos War, Thor joined Hercules' God Squad to battle the Chaos King, who was set on destroying all of existence.[131]With Asgard in ruins on Earth, the nine worlds were left undefended and are invaded by a force known as "The World Eaters". Seeking counsel on the matter, Thor restored his father Odin. Thor also restored his brother Loki, whom Thor had missed since his death.[132]
[edit]Powers and abilities
Like all Asgardians, Thor is not truly immortal but relies upon periodic consumption of the Golden Apples of Idunn to sustain his extended lifespan, which to date has lasted many millennia. Being the son of Odin and the elder goddess Gaea, Thor is physically the strongest of the Asgardians.[38][133][134][135][136][137] If pressed in battle, Thor is also capable of entering into a state known as the "Warrior's Madness" ("berserkergang" in Norwegian), which will temporarily increase his strength and stamina tenfold, although in this state he attacks friend and foe alike.[138]
Thor possesses a very high resistance to physical injury that approaches invulnerability.[139][140][141][142] Thor also possesses keen senses [23] that allows him to track objects traveling faster than light,[143] hear cries from the other side of the planet[144] and ventriloquism.[145] Thor has the ability to travel through time.[146][147] His stamina allowed him to battle the entire Frost Giant army for nine months without any sustenance or rest;[148] Thor has also shown the ability to regenerate wounded portions of his body,[149] including entire limbs or organs, with the aid of magical forces like Mjolnir,[150]Thor has superhuman speed, agility, and reflexes, enabling him to deflect bullets with his hammer.[151] Like all Asgardians he has immunity to all Earthly diseases and some resistance to magic. However, exceptionally powerful magic can overwhelm Odin's enchantment that transforms him between Asgardian and mortal forms.[152]
As the Norse god of Thunder, Thor can summon the elements of the storm (lightning; rain; wind; snow) and uses Mjolnir as a tool to focus this ability, although the hammer cannot command artificial weather, only natural. He can cause these weather effects all over the world and destroy entire buildings; by whirling his hammer he can also lift entire buildings with the wind.[136] As the son of the Earth goddess Gaea, Thor has shown some control over the Earth.[153]
Thor is a superb hand-to-hand combatant, and also skilled in armed combat, excelling in the use of the war hammer, sword and mace. Thor possesses two items which assist him in combat: the enchanted Belt of Strength, and his mystical hammer Mjolnir. The first item doubles Thor's strength and endurance[154] while the second is used to control his weather abilities; flight; energy projection and absorption; dimensional travel; matter manipulation and the most powerful of his offensives, the God Blast (which taps into Thor's life force),[155] the Thermo-blast,[156] and the Anti-Force (which counteracts another force).[157] Using Mjolnir by throwing in the desired direction and then holding on to the handle's leather loop, Thor can also fly at supersonic speeds in Earth's atmosphere and travel faster than light in space. When Thor has to transport companions and/or objects to a destination by himself, he has a chariot drawn by two huge mystical goats called Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder that can fly nearly anywhere he desires almost as easily as with Mjolnir.[89] He can throw an object out of Earth's atmosphere using his strength,[158] and throw his hammer to Asgard from where it will return.[159]
When Mjolnir was damaged, Doctor Strange bound Thor's soul into Mjolnir, meaning that if the hammer were to be broken again, Thor may also die.[122]
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That is easy. Superman would. He is indestructible.
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