6 Things You Did Not Know About Superboy
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The first time I learned of Superboy was in the HBO Max animated series, Young Justice. I was late to the DC universe of characters in general. I developed an affection for Doctor Fate and Martian Manhunter in the Justice League animated series. However, there was something very relatable about Superboy. He, much like Superman, was a “fish out of water.” He struggled to connect with the only being like him in Superman and grappled with things like leadership and friendship.
All in all, Superboy is a fantastic, thoroughly fleshed-out DC hero. One that deserves recognition, apart from Superman. He fought, experienced alienation, loved, and had to come into his own in a world he was very suddenly born into. Today, we will explore the story of Superboy. These are 6 things you did not know about Superboy!
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1. He Made His First Appearance In 1993
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Superboy’s first appearance was in Adventures of Superman #500 in June of 1993. The DC Comics Encyclopedia notes him as having super strength and the ability to fly. He shared a number of Kryptonian abilities with Superman and also has telekinetic abilities as well.
2. He Was Created In A Lab
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Superboy was created by a group of scientists as a part of the Cadmus Project. He was freed as a part of a semi-rogue operation by members of Young Justice without the permission of the Justice League.
3. He Was A Member Of Young Justice
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Superboy has been connected to a number of groups since his first appearance in 1993. However, arguably his most impactful has been what viewers have gotten to see in HBO Max’s series Young Justice. The animated series illustrates the complexities around Superboy’s identity and his struggles to connect with the group and Superman. The group’s lineup varies over time but primarily consists of a variation of Superboy, Robin (Tim Drake, Dick Grayson), Impulse, Empress, Wonder Girl, The Secret, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Miss Martian, Red Arrow, Zatanna, and Artemis Crock (eventually Tigress). The show sees several heroes come and go, some eventually joining the Justice League.
4. He Is Related To Lex Luthor
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With the assistance of Robin, Superboy learned that the human DNA inside of him was sourced from Lex Luthor. This led to a crisis of identity for Superboy, as had assumed his human DNA was sourced from the director of Project Cadmus Paul Westfield. This discovery led to complications for the hero. It is revealed that Luthor had a device implanted into Superboy’s brain that gave him control over him. This led to explosive events that resulted in him hurting other heroes (notably Wonder Girl and Robin) and then isolating himself.
5. He Had A Relationship With Wonder Girl
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According to The DC Comics Encyclopedia, Superboy’s love life is always changing with each new iteration of the character. One of the frequent connections he has is with Lana Lang (Insect Queen/Superwoman). Their relationship varies from friendship to a one-sided love affair with a stalking element, to a romantic relationship depending on the version. When he lived in Honolulu, he had a relationship with Tana Moon. However, he would have an affair with Knockout during this time (Tana called things off after this). His most consequential relationship would seem to be with Wonder Girl as he spent his last night before his death with her.
6. He Sacrificed Himself
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During the Infinite Crisis event, Superboy faced off against Superboy-Prime, who had defeated him once before. This time, with the help of Wonder Girl and Nightwing, Superboy won. The event ends with Superboy sacrificing his life to take out the evil device created by Lex Luthor.
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