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                                 SUPERMAN FAQ
               Frequently-Asked Questions about the Man of Steel
                        VERSION 1.80    September 1994


INTRODUCTION:  This FAQ gives comic-book readers an introduction to
Superman.  Though most Americans are familiar with the lead character and
his friends at the DAILY PLANET, the current comic books include many
characters and events with which new readers will be unfamiliar.  This FAQ
tries to keep new readers from wondering about the background information.
All facts are about the post-Crisis universe (see Q12) and revamped Superman
(see Q13) unless specified.

DATE:  All information is accurate as of September 1994, and some details
(notably current story line events and mailing addresses) may change.
Events from the most recent comic issues will not appear in the FAQ to
prevent spoiling the story for readers.

TERMINOLOGY:  The term "Superman" implies the character rather than the
comic book of the same name.  "Comic" means comic book.  ALL CAPS are used
in lieu of italics to indicate a title; a "title" is a series of comics
under the same published title (e.g., ACTION COMICS).

LEGAL DISCLAIMER:  Superman and all related characters are trademarks of DC
Comics.  Mention of these characters in this FAQ is without permission of DC
Comics, but said use is not intended to challenge DC's trademark rights or
copyrights.  Readers who want to learn more about Superman are encouraged to
purchase the comic books.  The author strongly suggests that this FAQ be
distributed free of charge.  While this FAQ is not "official," DC has
recognized its existence (see Q9).

AUTHORSHIP:  This FAQ was compiled and maintained by David T. Chappell.  It
is based primarily on his memory of Superman stories with the assistance of
various Superman comics and books that he possesses.  This FAQ also
incorporates suggestions by various readers.  Comments, suggestions, and
corrections may be sent via Internet e-mail to [e-mail].
     Although this FAQ is available for free, readers who wish to encourage
David to continue his comic-book contributions to Internet may donate a
dollar to P. O. Box 8285, Stanford, CA 94309-8285.

AVAILABILITY:  This FAQ is posted regularly to Internet newsgroups and ftp
sites (see Q43 and Q44).  It is also available on GEnie (see Q45) and RIME
(see Q46).  Permission is granted to distribute the FAQ in its entirety and
without modification as long as such is done without charge.  For other use
beyond that appropriate for using other resource material, please contact
the author for prior permission.  David requests that anyone posting the FAQ
to another major computer network contact him.


CONTENTS  (+ updated question; * new question since last minor version)

THE BIG ONE
 Q1:  Who is Superman?
THE COMIC
+Q2:  What Superman comics are published regularly?
 Q3:  I only want to read one Superman title rather than all four.  Which
      one should I choose?
 Q4:  On the cover of each comic there is a triangle with numbers in it.
      What do the numbers mean?
 Q5:  How do I subscribe to Superman comics?
 Q6:  How do I find old Superman comic books?
 Q7:  How much money are old Superman comics worth?
THE LETTERS PAGES
 Q8:  How do I contact the creators of Superman comics?
 Q9:  What is a Baldy?
SUPERMAN HISTORY
 Q10: Who created Superman?  When did Superman first appear?
 Q11: What are Superman's powers?  How did he get his powers?  How have his
      powers changed over the years?
 Q12: What was the Crisis?
 Q13: When and how was Superman revamped in recent years?
 Q14: How did Superman change after the Crisis and revamp?
 Q15: What happened in the Death of Superman?  What is Doomsday?
 Q16: How did Superman return to life?
 Q17: What was the Reign of the Supermen?
 Q18: In what other media has Superman appeared?
THE DAILY PLANET AND REPORTERS
 Q19: What is the DAILY PLANET?
 Q20: Who is Lois Lane?
 Q21: Who is Jimmy Olsen?
 Q22: Who is Perry White?
 Q23: Who is Catherine Grant?
SUPPORTING CAST
 Q24: Who was Lex Luthor?  Who is Lex Luthor II?
 Q25: Who is Supergirl (a.k.a. Matrix)?
 Q26: What is the Eradicator?
+Q27: Who is Superboy?
 Q28: Who is Steel (a.k.a. the Man of Steel)?
 Q29: What is Project Cadmus?
 Q30: Who is Professor Emil Hamilton?
THE STORIES
 Q31: What is Superman's origin?
 Q32: What are Superman's nicknames?
 Q33: What is the L. L. connection for Superman?
 Q34: What is Kryptonite?  Why is it dangerous?
+Q35: How old is Superman?
+Q36: Where does Superman live?
 Q37: What and where is Metropolis?
 Q38: What and where is Smallville?
 Q39: What was the Fortress of Solitude?  Where was it?
 Q40: Since he doesn't wear a mask, why doesn't anyone realize that Clark
      Kent is Superman?
 Q41: Who knows Superman's secret identity?
 Q42: Are Clark Kent and Lois Lane really engaged to be married?
COMPUTER NETWORK RESOURCES
 Q43: What Internet newsgroups cover Superman topics?
+Q44: Where can I find various Superman-related files on Internet?
 Q45: Where can I find comics-related files on GEnie?
 Q46: Where can I find comics-related files on BBSs?


THE BIG ONE

Q1:  Who is Superman?
A1:  Superman is probably the best-known superhero in the world.  Superman
comic books have been around for over 50 years (see Q10), though his
appearances in movies and television (see Q18) have probably done more to
make him famous.
     Superman has various superhuman abilities (see Q11) that he uses to
uphold good.  He captures criminals, rescues people in danger, strives for
justice, and has a strong sense of morals.  In short, Superman fights for
Truth, Justice, and the American Way.
     Superman wears a special costume while fighting crime, but he also has
a life outside of being a superhero.  As Clark Kent, he grew up in the town
of Smallville, Kansas (see Q38), and attended Metropolis University.  Clark
is a Pulitzer prize-winning newspaper reporter for the DAILY PLANET (see
Q19), and he strives to keep his Superman identity secret.  Clark Kent is
well-known for his DAILY PLANET articles, and he has published several
books.
     Superman is 6'3" tall and weighs 225 pounds.  He has black hair and
blue eyes. (WHO'S WHO #1, Aug.90)

THE COMIC

Q2:  What Superman comics are published regularly?
A2:  SUPERMAN, ACTION COMICS, THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, and SUPERMAN: THE
MAN OF STEEL are monthly comics published by DC Comics.  With four monthly
comics, a new Superman comic book comes out roughly once a week (with the
exception of four weeks each year).  In addition, one special annual comic
is published for each title.
     Furthermore, three new Superman-related series started at the end of
1993 in what DC calls the "Reign of Tomorrow."  Superboy (see Q27) now has
his own regular title, Supergirl (see Q25) had her own four-issue mini-
series, and John Henry Irons (see Q28) stars in the new STEEL title.  In
mid-1994, a three-part mini-series, SUPERMAN/DOOMSDAY:  HUNTER/PREY,
featured the long-awaited rematch between Superman and his killer.
     THE GUARDIANS OF METROPOLIS is a four-issue limited series starring the
Guardian and the Newsboy Legion starting in October 1994.  METROPOLIS
SPECIAL CRIMES UNIT has Maggie Sawyer's S.C.U. in a four-issue limited
series later this year.  Furthermore, each issue of SHOWCASE '95 will
feature a story starring a Superman character.

Q3:  I only want to read one Superman title rather than all four.  Which one
     should I choose?
A3:  Though each comic contains a story unto itself, the story lines flow
smoothly from comic to comic across the titles.  Thus, a plot in ADVENTURES
one week will continue in ACTION the next.  At various times in the past, DC
tried to make each title distinct in some way.  This distinction was clear
during the Reign of the Supermen, for example, but apart from the creative
teams that work on them, there is generally little to distinguish the
titles.

Q4:  On the cover of each comic there is a triangle with numbers in it.
     What do the numbers mean?
A4:  These are called "triangle numbers."  The lower, boldfaced number
indicates the order in which the stories flow.  Because the story line flows
continuously from title to title each week, it is difficult to otherwise
discern in which order the comics should be read.  For example, issue
numbers do not indicate whether THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #505 precedes
ACTION COMICS #692, but triangle numbers (31 vs. 32) show that it does.  The
top number is the year; triangle numbering starts over at 1 each year.

Q5:  How do I subscribe to Superman comics?
A5:  Many comic-book stores will hold incoming comics each week for
customers in what they call a "subscription service."  In addition, you can
order a mail subscription from the publisher.  Write to DC Comics, P. O. Box
0528, Baldwin, NY 11510, or check current comics for subscription
advertisements.

Q6:  How do I find old Superman comic books?
A6:  Many comic-book dealers will sell old comics.  Comic-book conventions
feature many new and used comics for sale.  Furthermore, many current comics
will include advertisements for dealers who sell old comics by mail order.
Finally, DC reprints some collections of Superman stories in books.  Do not
try to contact the publisher for old issues of comics.  In addition to
current titles (see Q2), comics from the past that featured Superman include
SUPERBOY, DC COMICS PRESENTS, and WORLD'S FINEST.

Q7:  How much money are old Superman comics worth?
A7:  The crude answer is that they are worth whatever someone is willing to
pay for them.  In general, the value depends on the importance of the story,
the number of copies printed, the physical quality of the book, and whether
it is the first printing or a reprint.  For example, the comic in which
Superman died (SUPERMAN #75) is valuable because fans consider the story
important and the demand exceeded the supply.  Second and third printings of
that book are worth much less, and a poor-condition copy would not be worth
as much.  The OVERSTREET COMIC BOOK PRICE GUIDE is often accepted as the
best guide to comic prices.


THE LETTERS PAGES

Q8:  How do I contact the creators of Superman comics?
A8:  The address for DC Comics is 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY
10019.  To ensure that a letter gets to the desired title's creative team,
use the appropriate letters-page name:
     ACTION COMICS                 Re: Action
     SUPERMAN                      Metropolis Mailbag
     THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN    Krypto Grams
     SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL    Tempered Steel
Following the Death of Superman saga, DC has been inundated with letters
about the Man of Steel, so a personal reply or printing of your letter is
unlikely, but the team is likely to read your correspondence.

Q9:  What is a Baldy?
A9:  In the letters page of each Superman comic, the editor bestows a Baldy
award to the best printed letter.  An actual award is mailed to recipients,
and in a few cases the editors have mentioned what the prize was (e.g.,
platinum-edition SUPERMAN #75).  Even aside from the physical prize, receipt
of a Baldy is a great honor to Superman fans.
     Doug Shaw ([e-mail]) received a Baldy in 1990.  He
reports that the actual award is a personalized postcard signed by Lex
Luthor.  In 1994, editor Mike Carlin sent the author of this FAQ (David
Chappell) "an honorary Baldy for keeping such complete tabs on us!"  David's
award was also a personalized postcard.
     DC has explained that, in the comic-book world, the Baldy is a special
award established by Lex the First for journalistic achievement in
Metropolis.  The official name for the award is the Zenith Award for
Excellence in Journalism, and Metropolis journalists provided the nickname
(ACTION #693, Nov.93).


SUPERMAN HISTORY

Q10: Who created Superman?  When did Superman first appear?
A10: Superman was created by Jerry Siegel (writer) and Joe Shuster (artist).
The first appearance of Superman was in ACTION COMICS #1 (cover date June
1938).

Q11: What are Superman's powers?  How did he get his powers?  How have his
     powers changed over the years?
A11: In the first stories from the 1930s, Superman relied primarily on his
superhuman strength.  Over the years, he gained more powers and greater
strength.  After the Crisis (see Q12) and revamp (see Q13), Superman's
powers were lessened to make him more mortal.
     Superman's powers include unusual strength, flight, extra-dense skin,
invulnerability, super hearing, and super-speed.  As a result of his super
strength, he also has a powerful breath.  An electro-chemical aura that
surrounds Superman's body protects him (and his costume) and seems to be
part of his flight ability.
     The Man of Tomorrow also has several forms of super-vision.  With his
x-ray vision, he can see through solid objects (with the exception of dense
materials such as lead).  Superman's heat vision has been explained as
either telekinesis or the release of excess solar energy through his eyes.
His telescopic and microscopic visions allow him to see farther and in
greater detail than normal humans.  With infrared vision, he can see heat
sources.
     Superman's ability to fly has been explained as a result of Earth's
gravity being much less than that of his home world, but it seems to be at
least partially psychokinetic in nature.  Most of his other powers are due
to Earth's yellow sun (Krypton had a red sun).
     Superman was not born with his powers, but they developed as he grew.
They began to show themselves during puberty, but he did not fully realize
his powers until he became an adult.
     Of recent note, Superman's powers greatly increased after his return
from death (see Q16).  His strength, speed, and vision powers were greater
than before.  He could also survive in space without oxygen for extended
periods of time.  Superman's powers increased because his exposure to
Kryptonite passing through the Eradicator (see Q26) changed his metabolism
(SUPERMAN #82, Oct.93).  His strength grew to the point where it was nearly
uncontrollable and he was a danger to everyone around him.  Eventually, an
encounter with the Parasite removed Superman's extra powers and reduced him
to his normal levels (ADVENTURES #512, May 94).

Q12: What was the Crisis?
A12: The Crisis on Infinite Earths was a major event in DC stories.  In
1985, the 50th anniversary of DC Comics was highlighted by a comic-book
maxi-series, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, which included all of DC's heroes
and also had cross-overs in most DC titles.
     Prior to the Crisis, DC explained the existence of many heroes in
different times by having multiple universes.  On Earth-1, for example, all
the major heroes were in their prime in modern times, whereas the Earth-2
heroes were in their prime during the 1940s.  This explained how Superman
stories from both WWII and today showed him at roughly the same age.
     In the Crisis on Infinite Earths, an evil force (the Anti-Monitor)
tried to destroy the multiverse, but a good force (the Monitor) combined a
few surviving universes into one while the major heroes battled the Anti-
Monitor.  Afterwards, everyone in the universe forgot about the events of
the Crisis and everything proceeded as though there had only ever been one
Earth.  In the modern story, the one and only Superman arrived on Earth a
few decades ago, and other heroes (mystery men) existed during WWII.  The
entire Crisis story is much more detailed than presented here, and
interested readers are encouraged to read other Internet Crisis discussions
(see Q44) or read the comic books.  The Crisis affected Superman in several
ways (see Q14).

Q13: When and how was Superman revamped in recent years?
A13: Following the Crisis (see Q12), DC decided to streamline Superman in
1986.  They hired John Byrne to return Superman to his position as DC's
paramount hero.  Marv Wolfman and other comics experts joined the team.  A
special six-part mini-series, THE MAN OF STEEL, retold Superman's origin
from the destruction of Krypton to his early years as the first modern
superhero.  THE MAN OF STEEL trade paperback reprints this recent classic
series.
     At that time, the SUPERMAN title was renamed to THE ADVENTURES OF
SUPERMAN and a new SUPERMAN title was started.  In addition, three mini-
series helped redefine more about the characters in Superman comics:  THE
WORLD OF KRYPTON (1987), THE WORLD OF SMALLVILLE (1988), and THE WORLD OF
METROPOLIS (1988).
     The revamp was done for several reasons.  DC wanted to make Superman
seem more human (i.e., a real person rather than a two-dimensional
character).  His powers were lessened (see Q11) to keep him from being god-
like.  Other changes have made Superman the ONLY survivor of Krypton.  While
Superman is still the same character, the changes made during the revamp
were substantial (see Q14).  This FAQ includes only information about the
revamped Superman.

Q14: How did Superman change after the Crisis and revamp?
A14: During the Crisis on Infinite Earths (see Q12), Supergirl saved
Superman (of Earth-1) when he was battling the Anti-Monitor, and--at the
cost of her own life--she destroyed a machine that the Anti-Monitor planned
to use to destroy the Earths.  Her death was the main effect that the Crisis
directly had on the Superman saga.
     The Byrne revamp (see Q13) was actually responsible for most changes in
Superman.  Since the revamp was done soon after the Crisis, most people
treat the Crisis as the dividing line and refer to "pre-Crisis" or "post-
Crisis" events.
     Several elements may differ from new readers' expectations because they
changed after the Crisis and revamp.  The original Supergirl (Kara Zor-El,
Superman's cousin) no longer exists, and the bottled city of Kandor never
was.  Pre-Crisis stories had a young version of Superman--Superboy; in the
post-Crisis stories, Superman developed his powers later in life (see Q11),
and he never was Superboy.  In the current continuity, Lex Luthor (see Q24)
is a brilliant but corrupt businessman and scientist and no longer a
convicted criminal.  Ma and Pa Kent are alive in the post-Crisis universe,
while they had died during Clark's teen years in the pre-Crisis version.
Krypto, Beepo, and the other super-powered animals from Krypton do not exist
in the current stories.  There are numerous other changes in elements such
as super-villains, the supporting cast of characters, and the extent of
Superman's powers (see Q11).  All of these changes are retroactively
permanent.  Thus, in the current universe, Supergirl did not die battling
the Anti-Monitor:  she simply NEVER EXISTED.
     Most Superman stories from the pre-Crisis years are no longer part of
the continuity.  This FAQ includes only information about the post-Crisis
Superman, though sufficient demand could result in a separate pre-Crisis
FAQ.

Q15: What happened in the Death of Superman?  What is Doomsday?
A15: In 1992, Superman endured an extensive battle with a monster called
Doomsday.  The Creature destroyed numerous towns and much of Metropolis
before Superman was able to stop it.  At the end of the battle (SUPERMAN
#75, Jan.93), Superman and Doomsday apparently killed each other with their
final blows.
     According to interviews with DC staff, they decided to create a new
enemy to defeat Superman rather than have one of his old enemies accomplish
the heinous deed.
     Two compiled books reprint the comics that make up the story of the
Death of Superman.  THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN includes the battle with Doomsday.
The Funeral for a Friend series is reprinted in WORLD WITHOUT A SUPERMAN.
These trade paperbacks are published by DC Comics and are available at
comic-book stores.  Furthermore, the hardback novel THE DEATH AND LIFE OF
SUPERMAN by Roger Stern retells the entire story from the battle with
Doomsday to the end of the Reign of the Supermen.
     After his return to life, Superman had a rematch with Doomsday in the
SUPERMAN/DOOMSDAY:  HUNTER/PREY mini-series.  The story revealed that
Doomsday was an artificially engineering being created millenia ago on the
planet Krypton.  At the conclusion of the mini-series, Doomsday was
apparently destroyed for good at the end of time.

Q16: How did Superman return to life?
A16: Due to a coincidental chain of circumstances, Superman was able to
return from his apparent death.  On the physical level, his dying body still
contained some residual energy, and it absorbed more energy from the Sun and
the experiments performed on it.  The Eradicator (see Q26) stole Superman's
body from its tomb and took it to the Fortress of Solitude (see Q39), where
it used the body to convert solar energy to energy it could use.  Meanwhile,
Superman's spirit was trapped between life and death, and various demons
struggled for possession of it.  With the assistance of Pa Kent's spirit,
Superman decided to return to Earth (ADVENTURES #500, May 93).
     Superman's essence returned to his physical body, but he lay dormant in
the Fortress of Solitude for many days until he was able to escape the
energy-siphoning device.  A much-weakened Superman traveled to Coast City to
battle alien invaders.  At the end of the battle, the Eradicator gave most
of its energy to Superman and restored him to full strength.

Q17: What was the Reign of the Supermen?
A17: In the weeks following Superman's death, several heroes appeared
claiming to be Superman.  These include Superboy (see Q27), Steel (see Q28),
the Eradicator (see Q26), and a Cyborg.  With the exception of Steel, all
claimed to be the original Superman (or, in the case of Superboy, his true
heir).
     After much media hype and a few encounters between the Supermen, it was
uncertain which, if any, of them was the true Superman.  Eventually, the
Cyborg was revealed to be an insane, formerly-human life force in alliance
with alien invaders.  It wanted to get revenge on Superman, but upon
learning that he had died, the Cyborg tried to conquer the Earth and destroy
the other Supermen while pretending to be the real Superman.  Superboy,
Steel, the Eradicator, Supergirl, Green Lantern, and the true, now-revived
Superman joined forces to defeat the Cyborg and the aliens.  THE RETURN OF
SUPERMAN trade paperback collects the entire Reign of the Supermen story
line into one book.

Q18: In what other media has Superman appeared?
A18: Although comic books are the first and foremost medium for Superman
stories, the Man of Steel has appeared in several others over the years.
Examples include a serialized radio program, movie serials, animated movie
cartoons, television programs, novels, feature films, and a syndicated
newspaper strip.  Moreover, several songs mention Superman.  Details are too
numerous to list here, and this FAQ deals primarily with the comic series.
For the most part, the stories in these other media do not fit into the
continuity of the regular comic books.
     The new ABC television series LOIS & CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF
SUPERMAN deserves special note because it is new and contemporary.  The
stories seem to be set during Clark's early years as Superman and roughly
follow the comic stories from the early years (after Byrne's revamping).
Thus, in the TV series, Lois and Clark are not engaged, Doomsday has not
killed Superman, and other important events have not yet happened.


THE DAILY PLANET AND REPORTERS

Q19: What is the DAILY PLANET?
A19: The DAILY PLANET is a major newspaper in the city of Metropolis (see
Q37).  The original DAILY PLANET was founded in 1775.  It seems to be of
quality comparable to the real-world NEW YORK TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES, or
LONDON TIMES.  Since Clark Kent works at the paper, the PLANET and its
reporters are major players in many plots and subplots.  The building itself
is famous for the large globe (planet) atop it.

Q20: Who is Lois Lane?
A20: Lois Lane is a well-known journalist for the DAILY PLANET (see Q19).
Lois started working for the PLANET when she was sixteen years old, and she
is now one of the paper's best reporters.  Her investigative reporting often
gets Lois into trouble, but it also gets her good stories.  When she wrote
the first article about a mysterious new superhero, she created the name
"Superman."  Despite a long-standing rivalry, Lois and Clark are now engaged
(see Q42).  In Metropolis, Lois is known as "Superman's Girlfriend" due to
her friendship with the Man of Steel.  Lois's younger sister, Lucy Lane, is
a minor character.

Q21: Who is Jimmy Olsen?
A21: James Bartholomew Olsen is a red-haired, freckle-faced, young
photographer for the DAILY PLANET (see Q19).  He started work at the PLANET
as a gopher and has worked to earn respect from the staff.  Jimmy endures
the hardships of becoming an adult yet often bumbles.  Due to his occasional
association with Superman and the signal watch he once made, Jimmy has
earned the nickname of "Superman's Pal."

Q22: Who is Perry White?
A22: Perry Jerome White is the managing editor of the DAILY PLANET (see
Q19), and the newspaper staff respects him.  Perry started at the paper as a
copy boy at age ten and earned his way up.  He served 18 months in southeast
Asia (probably Vietnam), and on his return, he learned of Lex Luthor's (see
Q24) plans to dump the paper.  Although they grew up as friends, Perry and
Lex thereafter became bitter enemies.  Perry's love for the paper drove him
to find someone to buy the PLANET, and the new owner insisted that he take
the position of editor.  Perry acknowledges the position of importance the
PLANET holds in Metropolis, and he cares for the city and its people.

Q23: Who is Catherine Grant?
A23: Catherine Jane Grant used to work for the DAILY PLANET (see Q19) as
gossip columnist.  Ms. Grant is divorced from Joseph Morgan, and she and
Clark dated for a brief time.  Cat now works for WGBS television as a news
reporter and talk-show host.  Her only child, Adam Morgan, was about 12
years old when the Toyman (Winslow Schott) murdered him (SUPERMAN #84,
Dec.93).


SUPPORTING CAST

Q24: Who was Lex Luthor?  Who is Lex Luthor II?
A24: Alexander "Lex" Luthor was one of the most powerful humans on Earth,
but Lex derived his power from money and influence rather than super powers.
At age thirteen, he arranged for his parents' death to gain the life-
insurance money, and it was not long before he took over his first company.
>From there, he used his intellect to rise to ownership of many other
companies and found LexCorp International.  Despite his selfish motives, Lex
maintained the facade of being a philanthropist, and most people in
Metropolis loved him for the many gifts and jobs he provided for the city.
His intelligence led him to such a prominent position, and it allowed it to
make the most of his power.  Lex Luthor was clearly the richest man in
Metropolis, and his scheming made him the most powerful--before Superman
arrived.  Lex was jealous of Superman's power and became his enemy when he
was unable to buy the Man of Steel.  Superman saw through Lex's deceit, but
after several encounters, Lex was able to keep Superman at bay when he had a
ring fashioned from a chunk of Kryptonite (see Q34) he obtained.
Ironically, this same Kryptonite eventually led to loss of his hand and
induced cancer.  Shortly before his inevitable death, Lex Luthor died in a
plane crash.
     After LexCorp--and thus all of Metropolis--floundered for a while in
the aftermath of Lex Luthor's death, his son and heir was eventually found.
Lex Luthor II had been raised in Australia, and his existence was kept
secret to protect him.  Luthor Junior came to Metropolis, took control of
his father's corporation, and brought Metropolis out of its economic slump.
He still controls LexCorp, and many citizens agree that he is kinder and
gentler than his father yet just as generous.
     In truth, the original Lex Luthor lives on in a new body while
pretending to be his own son.  Luthor arranged to fake his own death--even
fooling Superman--while he actually hired Dabney Donovan, an expert genetic
engineer, to clone a new body for him and transplant his brain.  Only a very
small number of people know the truth about Lex:  two trusted assistants and
Donovan, who has remained outside Luthor's control.

Q25: Who is Supergirl (a.k.a. Matrix)?
A25: The Supergirl of today's comics has no family relationship to Superman.
A pocket universe with a duplicate Earth was attacked by three supervillains
from that universe's Krypton.  That universe, however, had no Superman nor
other superheroes because its sole protector--Superboy (see Q27)--had died
years ago.  The Lex Luthor of that universe was a good-natured heroic
genius, however, and he not only led the resistance forces but also
developed a special weapon.  Lex Luthor invented a substance called
protomatter and used it to fashion an artificial life-form (known as Matrix
or Supergirl) to fight the villains.  Lex eventually sent Supergirl across
dimensional boundaries to enlist the aid of Superman, and the two
superheroes returned to her universe.  The two heroes stopped the villains
only after the evil Kryptonians had destroyed all other life in the pocket
universe.  Supergirl then returned with Superman to his Earth, and Clark
left her with his foster parents.  After some psychological problems, Matrix
left Earth for a while but later returned.  When she eventually met Lex
Luthor II, she identified him with the Lex of her world, and she has been
with him ever since as his super-powered helper and girlfriend.
     Supergirl's powers are somewhat different from Superman's.  Though
strong, she is not as strong as Superman.  Supergirl can levitate and fly.
She also wields powerful psychokinetic energies and can turn invisible.
Finally, with her chameleon ability, she is able to mold her protomatter to
change her appearance.

Q26: What is the Eradicator?
A26: The Eradicator is a Kryptonian artifact that is about 200,000 years
old.  Superman gained possession of the device many light-years from Earth
when an alien cleric gave it to him.  When Superman returned to Earth, the
Eradicator's artificial intelligence tried to mold Superman's mind and turn
him into the perfect Kryptonian, which is far from human.  Though Superman
hurled the artifact into the Sun, it survived, assumed humanoid form as the
Krypton Man, and tried to reshape the Earth to form a second Krypton.
Superman barely survived this second battle with the Eradicator and
dissipated its energies.
     Following the Death of Superman (see Q15), the device's energies
reformed into an immaterial body, which then tried to take Superman's
deceased body.  Though it could not take control of his body, the Eradicator
was able to use Superman's body as an energy source.  The Eradicator lost
its memory, and thinking that it was Superman, it fought crime as a strong
but unnecessarily brutal enforcer of the law.  Eventually, the Eradicator
was defeated by the Cyborg Superman (see Q17), Superman escaped from his
imprisonment, and the Eradicator joined Superman in the final battle against
the Cyborg.
     Though horribly wounded in the final battle, the Eradicator survived.
It seemed to be good-natured, as its old personality merged with Superman's.
S.T.A.R. Labs examined its body, and when last seen (ACTION #693, Nov.93)
the body was apparently inhabited by the mind of xenobiologist Dr. David
Connor.  The Eradicator was last seen with the Outsiders.

Q27: Who is Superboy?
A27: Superboy, also known as the Metropolis Kid, appears to be an imperfect
clone of Superman.  After Superman's death, the Cadmus Project (see Q29)
obtained a partial sample of his DNA, which they combined with other DNA to
form a clone.  The clone has an equivalent age of approximately 16 years,
and he has various super-powers--some similar to Superman's and some unique
powers as well.  Though he dislikes the name Superboy, he has begrudgingly
accepted it upon the return of the original Superman.  While it originally
seemed that Superboy was a Superman clone, it remains to be seen who the
actual DNA donor was.  As part of his world tour, Superboy has now
temporarily settled in Hawaii.  The Boy of Steel also has his own title now
(see Q2).
     In addition, Superman once met a Superboy who was the younger
equivalent of Superman in a Pocket Universe (see Q25).  That Superboy,
however, sacrificed his life to save the Earth at the conclusion of the
story.  Also, a similar Superboy appeared during Zero Hour (SUPERBOY #8).

Q28: Who is Steel (a.k.a. the Man of Steel)?
A28: John Henry Irons was an engineer who designed guns that were used as
horrible weapons of war.  Out of shame for the way his constructions were
misused, he decided to give up his engineering job and become a construction
worker.  Superman saved his life while Henry was on a construction job, and
when the worker thanked Superman, the hero just asked that he make his life
count for something.
     After Superman's death, John Henry Irons decided what to do with the
extended lease on life that Superman gave him.  He donned a metal costume he
had built and set out to fight the crime that grew rampant in the aftermath
of Superman's death.  The news media called him the Man of Steel, and he
helped bring down the criminals that used his guns.
     When Superman returned, the true Superman began calling him Steel, and
the two of them joined with other heroes to defeat Mongol and the Cyborg
Superman (see Q17).  Steel barely survived the battles, but he decided to
continue his crime-fighting career.  He has now returned to his family in
Washington, D.C., where he is trying to keep guns off the street.  Steel
also has his own title now (see Q2).
     In his guise as Steel, John Henry Iron's strength is boosted by devices
built into his armor.  The armor provides good protection, and it has a
rivet shooter and rocket boots.  Henry is a good man with strong morals, and
Superman's friends claimed that, among the false Supermen, his personality
seemed the most like the original.

Q29: What is Project Cadmus?
A29: The Cadmus Project is a semi-secret organization that studies genetic
engineering.  The three original founders were Doctors Reginald Augustine,
Dabney Donovan, and Thomas Tompkins.
     The primary research at Cadmus has resulted in various clones and new
life forms.  The current Guardian, for example, is a clone of Jim Harper's
first body but contains his original mind.  The modern Newsboy Legion are
also clones:  one of the founders, Tompkins, had been part of the original
Newsboy Legion and known the Guardian.  Other products of work at Cadmus
include the D. N. Aliens, a group of genetically advanced beings.  Many of
the failed experiments and outcasts from Cadmus have made their way in
secret to live in the caves under Metropolis where they call themselves
Underworlders.
     Some of the experiments at Cadmus have been ethically questionable.
While some employees have high morals, others have low standards.  Several
of these controversial projects were led by Dr. Donovan, who faked his death
and left the Project.  Donovan went on to create Lex Luthor's second body
(see Q24) and is still alive in hiding.
     After Superman's death (see Q15), Project Cadmus stole the Man of
Steel's body from the grave in an attempt to clone him.  They were unable to
get a good sample of his DNA, but did succeed in making Superboy (see Q27).
     The Project is located in the hills outside of Metropolis.  For years,
its existence was kept secret from the general populace.  Recently, however,
Superboy publicly denounced Project Cadmus on television, and the Project is
now trying to project a positive image.  (Project Cadmus was created by Jack
Kirby.)  [Historical Note:  In Greek mythology, Cadmus was a Phoenician
prince who planted dragon's teeth to grow soldiers.]

Q30:  Who is Professor Emil Hamilton?
A30:  Emil Hamilton is a brilliant scientist and inventor.  Though he was
once a criminal, he has reformed and now aids Superman when necessary.  The
Professor is friends with several PLANET reporters, including Lois and
Jimmy.  His residence and lab are in Hobs Bay, Metropolis.  Professor
Hamilton has performed more experiments on Superman than anyone else, and he
has also studied Kryptonian technology (including the Eradicator--see Q26)
and visited the Fortress of Solitude (see Q39).


THE STORIES

Q31: What is Superman's origin?
A31: The planet Krypton, inhabited by an emotionless race of advanced
humanoids, was doomed to explode.  A humane scientist named Jor-El sent his
unborn son Kal-El in a rocket ship to Earth with the knowledge that Kal-El
would gain fabulous powers there.  Martha and Jonathan Kent found the rocket
on Earth and recovered the child.  They took the baby as their own and named
him Clark (after Martha's maiden name).  Over the years, Clark's powers
developed slowly (see Q11).
     Clark was 18 years old before his adoptive parents told him of his
extraterrestrial origin.  For the next seven years, Clark worked in secret
to prevent disasters and fight crime.  He had to show himself in public,
however, when saving a space plane from crashing into Metropolis.
Thereafter, he adopted a costumed identity and took the name "Superman"
given to him by report Lois Lane.  At age 28, Clark learned the history of
Krypton through a device Jor-El had left in the spacecraft that brought
young Kor-El to Earth.

Q32: What are Superman's nicknames?
A32: At various times, Superman is also known as the Man of Steel, the Man
of Tomorrow, and the Last Son of Krypton.  Other, less dignified names by
which he is called include the Kryptonian, Supes, and the Big Blue Cheese.
During the Reign of the Supermen (see Q17), some of these nicknames were
applied to individual false Supermen, but they all apply to the real
Superman.

Q33: What is the L. L. connection for Superman?
A33: A remarkably large number of characters in the comics have the initials
L. L.  Most notable are Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Lana Lang, and Lori Lemaris.
A rumor says that these names were chosen because Joe Shuster's (see Q10)
first girlfriend had the initials L. L.

Q34: What is Kryptonite?  Why is it dangerous?
A34: Surviving fragments of Superman's home world of Krypton are known as
Kryptonite.  In the last days of Krypton, a chain reaction with the planet's
core caused a build-up of enormous pressures.  These pressures fused the
minerals inside Krypton into a new, radioactive metal.  Furthermore, the
pressure grew to be too much for the planet's mantle to contain, and Krypton
exploded in a violent eruption.  The green color of the resulting Kryptonite
is its best-known feature.  Even if the planet Krypton had not exploded, the
radiation from the Kryptonite would have eventually killed all the
inhabitants in what the Kryptonians called the Green Death.
     Though the radiation from Kryptonite is harmful to all life, it is
especially harmful to Kryptonians (notably Superman).  Prolonged exposure to
Kryptonite would be fatal to Superman.  There is no relationship between
Kryptonite and the chemical element krypton, though Superman's home world
was probably named after the element.
     The main source of Kryptonite on Earth is a rock that was attached to
the rocket ship that brought Superman to Earth.  This one rock has been
fashioned into at least two forms.  Superman gave Batman a Kryptonite ring
(formerly belonging to Lex Luthor--see also Q24) in case someone ever needed
to use it against the Man of Steel.  Some Kryptonite bullets were stored in
a lead container in the Fortress of Solitude (see Q39).

Q35: How old is Superman?
A35: The character has existed for over 50 years (see Q10).  Clark was 25
when he became Superman, and the post-Crisis (see Q12, Q13, Q14) stories
recount his adventures beginning at age 28 (SUPERMAN #1, Jan 87).  Though
flashbacks and stories of his early years may show a younger Clark/Superman,
current stories show him at the age of 34 (NEWSTIME, May 1993; ZERO HOUR #0,
Sept 1994).  Due to his alien heritage, it is unknown whether Superman will
continue to age and grow old at the rate humans do, but his rate of maturity
has till now matched that of humans.

Q36: Where does Superman live?
A36: Though he was conceived on the planet Krypton, Superman has adopted
Earth as his home.  Superman lives in the city of Metropolis (see Q37) and
does not normally dwell in the Fortress of Solitude (see Q39).  Clark Kent
lived in the Clinton Apartments 3-D at 344 Clinton Street.  After Clark
disappeared in Doomsday's attack, Superboy (see Q27) decided--through an
apparent coincidence--that it would be neat to move into Clark's old
apartment.  When Superboy left Metropolis, the destruction caused by
Doomsday had raised the rent enough to discourage Clark from moving back in.
Clark temporarily moved in with Jimmy Olsen (see Q21), but he has now
returned to 344 Clinton.

Q37: What and where is Metropolis?
A37: Metropolis is Superman's adopted city.  Clark Kent lives in Metropolis,
where he works for the DAILY PLANET newspaper (see Q19), and Superman
patrols the city more than he does any other.  In the real world, there is a
city named Metropolis, Illinois--and that city exists in the DC Universe as
well--but Superman's Metropolis is located on the Atlantic Coast of the
United States near Gotham City.  See also the WELCOME TO REC.ARTS.COMICS
posting for a discussion of where various DC cities are in the real world.

Q38: What and where is Smallville?
A38: Clark Kent grew up in Smallville, a small town in Small County, Kansas,
near the Lowell County border.  Ma and Pa Kent's farm is near Smallville.
Clark still has a few friends, notably Lana Lang and Pete Ross, from his
childhood in Smallville.

Q39: What was the Fortress of Solitude?  Where was it?
A39: When the Eradicator (see Q26), first tried to create a new Krypton on
Earth, Superman defeated it in a mental battle.  In the aftermath, the
Eradicator built a structure in Antarctica that contained various elements
from Krypton's past (ADVENTURES #461, Dec.89).  Superman used the base as a
peaceful retreat from the world, and he called it the Fortress of Solitude.
The Fortress contained advanced Kryptonian machinery, several robots,
Kryptonian battle suits, and holograms and statues commemorating the
deceased planet Krypton.
     The Fortress was severely damaged at the end of the Reign of the
Supermen.  The Eradicator left it in shambles when he absorbed all of the
Fortress' energy (ACTION #691, Sep.93), and Superman later cleaned up the
remains and buried the debris under the Antarctic (ACTION #693, Nov.93).
There is now nothing left of the original Fortress.

Q40: Since he doesn't wear a mask, why doesn't anyone realize that Clark
     Kent is Superman?
A40: The prime reason is that when in his Superman identity, our hero always
vibrates his face slightly so that photographs will only show his features
as a blur.  The physical distinctions between the Superman and Clark Kent
persona are a curl of hair, the glasses, and a deepening of his voice.
Another major factor is that the lack of a mask keeps people from even
suspecting that Superman has a secret identity.  For example, Lex Luthor was
once told the truth, but he dismissed the idea because he could not believe
that someone so powerful would want another identity.  Also in the modern
stories, Lois Lane never suspected the dual identity.
     Furthermore, there have been several occasions where Clark and Superman
have been seen together.  In the first case, "Superman" was really a robot
(ADVENTURES #439).  Soon after Superman's return from his self-exile in
space, Jimmy snapped a photo of Superman and Clark (a confused Matrix)
(SUPERMAN #34).  Finally, after Superman's return from death, the Man of
Steel publicly rescued Clark Kent (secretly Matrix) from an old Civil
Defence Shelter (ACTION #692).

Q41: Who knows Superman's secret identity?
A41: Several people know Superman's real identity.  His parents, Martha and
Jonathan Kent, clearly know the truth.  In his senior year of high school,
Clark Kent revealed his powers to his girlfriend, Lana Lang, just before he
left Smallville.  Amanda McCoy, a scientist in Luthor's employ, figured out
about his secret identity (SUPERMAN #2, Feb.87), but no one believed her;
however, Ms. McCoy is now dead and thus unable to share her knowledge.
Supergirl also knows the truth, and Batman discovered the secret (ADVENTURES
#440, May 88).  Wonder Woman also knows about his secret identity (ACTION
#600, May 88).  Clark revealed his identity to Lois Lane after they became
engaged (ACTION #662, Feb.91).

Q42: Are Clark Kent and Lois Lane really engaged to be married?
A42: Yes.  Though in the past there have been multiple make-believe stories
about Lois marrying either Clark or Superman, they are actually now engaged
(SUPERMAN #50, Dec.90).  Some time after they were engaged, Clark revealed
to Lois that he is Superman (see Q41).  No date has been set for the
wedding.


COMPUTER NETWORK RESOURCES

Q43: What Internet newsgroups cover Superman topics?
A43: Further discussion of the Superman comics can be found in the Internet
newsgroups rec.arts.comics.misc and alt.comics.superman.  The LOIS & CLARK
television series is covered in rec.arts.sf.tv, rec.arts.tv,
alt.comics.superman, and alt.tv.lois-n-clark.
     The Superman FAQ is regularly posted to alt.comics.superman and
rec.arts.comics.info.

Q44: Where can I find various Superman-related on Internet?
A44: This Superman FAQ is available via anonymous ftp at the following
sites:

       Site Name               # Address             File
    ftp.catt.ncsu.edu         152.1.43.6     /pub/misc/Superman.FAQ
    ftp.dhhalden.no           158.36.33.3    /pub/Comics/FAQ/Superman.FAQ

Mosaic users can access the above sites via the following WWW pages:
ftp://ftp.catt.ncsu.edu/pub/misc and ftp://ftp.dhhalden.no/pub/Comics.  In
addition, the Superman FAQ can be accessed via gopher:  gopher.dhhalden.no
port 70.
     Both sites have Jeffery Sykes' LOIS & CLARK episode guide, and catt
also has a detailed summary of the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS.  The dhhalden
site is the primary rec.arts.comics site, and it has many other comics-
related files.  The Legion of Super-Heroes FAQ (available at dhhalden)
contains more details about the Pocket Universe (see Q25, Q27), though it
concentrates on the Legion rather than Superman.
     Another file, written by the author of this FAQ, is the Superman
Stories list.  It contains a list of all major Superman stories in the
current (post-Crisis) continuity.  This file is also available on catt as
/pub/misc/Superman.ComicList.
     The Kryptonian Cybernet is a monthly electronic magazine dedicated to
the Superman family of characters regularly appearing in DC Comics.  The
magazine focuses on reviews and previews of what's happening in the current
comics, but we also have columns which review older issues, the Fleischer
Superman cartoons, appearances by Superman in other media, and the numerous
villains faced by Superman.  Contact Editor-in Chief Jeff Sykes
([e-mail]) for more information or copies of the e-zine.

Q45: Where can I find comics-related files on GEnie?
A45: This Superman FAQ and other comic book data can be found on the Comics
RoundTable library.  The GEnie address is page 1320.

Q46: Where can I find comics-related files on BBSs?
A46: This Superman FAQ and other comic book discussion can be found on the
comic book conference on the Relaynet International Message (RIME) Network.
Note that not all bulletin boards are part of the RIME system, and not all
RIME boards carry the comics conference..

(end)
--
  **   DAVID T. CHAPPELL   ** Team OS/2 **   Keeper of the Superman FAQ   **
   Stanford University           --  North Carolina State University
   Electrical Engineering Dept.  --       Stanford Comics Coop
   [e-mail]    --       [e-mail]