History Comicbook / Superboy

Several alternate versions of Superboy were also seen over the years (including the aforementioned "Pocket Universe" version). The most prominent one is SelfDemonstrating/SuperboyPrime, a formerly heroic alternate-Earth Superboy seen in ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' who reappeared in modern continuity as an EvilTwin of Superman/Superboy.

Several alternate versions of Superboy were also seen over the years (including the aforementioned "Pocket Universe" version). The most prominent one is Superboy-Prime, a formerly heroic alternate-Earth Superboy seen in ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' who reappeared in modern continuity as an EvilTwin of Superman/Superboy.

Then came ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' and the subsequent ComicBook/PostCrisis Byrne revamp in 1986, which after 40+ years of existence [[RetGone retconned Superboy out of existence]]. Under Byrne's origin, ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel'', Superman was once again shown as having started his career as an adult. This caused a ContinuitySnarl with the ''Legion'' comics, which was fixed by stating that a separate Superboy character was created in a "[[AlternateUniverse pocket universe]]" by the Legion villain known as the Time Trapper [[CosmicRetcon just to preserve the Legion's history]]; the Legion was redirected there everytime they traveled to what they thought was Superboy's time. The Pocket Universe became a major recurring storyline for both the Legion and for the Post-Crisis Superman. Pocket Superboy sacrificed himself to save both his universe and the Legion from the Time Trapper. Superman eventually violated ThouShaltNotKill to execute the Pocket Universe equivalents of General Zod [[TerribleTrio and his henchmen]] for killing ''[[ApocalypseHow everyone]]'' on their Earth except for the "Matrix" Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}. Eventually, the editors decreed that the Pocket Universe and its Superboy be written out of continuity altogether (in yet another CosmicRetcon).

Several alternate versions of Superboy were also seen over the years (including the aforementioned "Pocket Universe" version). The most prominent one is ComicBook/SuperboyPrime, a formerly heroic alternate-Earth Superboy seen in ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' who reappeared in modern continuity as an EvilTwin of Superman/Superboy.

* ArchEnemy: ComicBook/SuperboyPrime. He hates Conner calling him a fake Superboy.

* {{Hypocrite}}: In ''Teen Titans'' #100, he came to the conclusion that the only way to deal with the three clones of himself created by ComicBook/SuperboyPrime was to murder them with kryptonite he'd been keeping in his room as a fail safe, despite all the heartache and angst he'd been going through ever since he learned he was cloned from Lex Luthor and fearing that he may have been evil all along.

See the [[ComicBook/JonathanSamuelKent Jonathan Samuel Kent page]] for more details.

Originally, when Franchise/{{Superman}} was created in 1938 by Creator/Jerry SiegelAndJoeShuster, he was shown as having made his superhero debut as a full-grown adult. Eventually, after rejecting a few proposals for such from Siegel and Shuster, someone at DC decided to create the character of Superboy, [[RetCon Superman's adventures as a youth before becoming Superman]]. This came without input or approval from Siegel (which helped strain the relations between DC and Siegel and Shuster even further). Superboy's first appearance was in ''More Fun Comics'' #101 (January-February, 1945).

Originally, when Franchise/{{Superman}} was created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, he was shown as having made his superhero debut as a full-grown adult. Eventually, after rejecting a few proposals for such from Siegel and Shuster, someone at DC decided to create the character of Superboy, [[RetCon Superman's adventures as a youth before becoming Superman]]. This came without input or approval from Siegel (which helped strain the relations between DC and Siegel and Shuster even further). Superboy's first appearance was in ''More Fun Comics'' #101 (January-February, 1945).

* AmazonChaser: His love interests include Knockout, [[ComicBook/SuperboyAndTheRavers Sparx]], [[ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}} Triad/Triplicate Girl]], [[ComicBook/Batgirl2000 Cassandra Cain]] and ComicBook/WonderGirl.

** ''Adventure Comics'' (1946-1962) (the lead feature), 1962-1969 (part of the Legion of Super-Heroes feature)
** ''Superboy'' (1949-1973), becomes ''Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' in 1973; Superboy leaves the Legion in 1979

** ''Action Comics'' (2020-present), supporting character

* ReverseMole: Umber, who is a spy for Lois Lane.

[[quoteright:250:[[ComicBook/Superboy1994 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/superboys_zero_hour.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:250:Don't worry, the two [[LetsYouAndHimFight become friends later.]][[note]]Left: Kon-El[=/=]Conner Kent. Right: Kal-El[=/=]Clark Kent]][[/note]]

** The 1960s {{Creator/Filmation}} animated Superman series featured Superboy cartoon segments.

** ''Superboy: The Comic Book'' (1990-1992), based on the live-action ''Superboy'' series

** ''[[ComicBook/SuperboyNew52 Superboy (vol. 6)]]'': (2011-2014)
** ''Teen Titans (vol. 4)'': (2011-2014), as antagonist turned team member
** ''Ravagers'': (2012-2013), as team member for one story arc
** ''Teen Titans (vol. 5)'': (2015), guest reappearance for one story arc

** ''Superman: Lois and Clark'': (2015-2016), supporting character
** ''Action Comics'': (2016-present), supporting character
** ''[[ComicBook/SupermanRebirth Superman (vol. 4)]]'': (2016-2018), co-lead with Superman
** ''ComicBook/SuperSons'': (2017-2018), co-lead with Robin
** ''Superman (vol. 5)'': (2018-present), supporting character
** ''[[ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes2020 Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 8)]]'': (2019-present), as team member

** ''Superboy: The Comic Book'' (based on the live-action Superboy series)

** ''The Adventures of Superman'' (1993-1994, during ''Reign of the Supermen'')

** ''ComicBook/SuperboyAndTheRavers'' (1996-1998)
** ''[=WF3=]: World's Finest Three'' (1996)
** ''ComicBook/YoungJustice'' (1998-2003)
** ''Teen Titans (vol. 3)'' (2003-2006, 2010-2011)
** ''The Legion'' (2003-2004)

** ''ComicBook/YoungJustice2019'' (2019-present)

** ''Teen Titans (vol. 4)'': (2011-2014)
** ''Ravagers'': (2012-2013)
** ''Teen Titans (vol. 5)'': (2015)

** ''Superman: Lois and Clark'': (2015-2016)
** ''Action Comics'': (2016-present)
** ''[[ComicBook/SupermanRebirth Superman (vol. 4)]]'': (2016-2018)
** ''ComicBook/SuperSons'': (2017-2018)
** ''Superman (vol. 5)'': (2018-present)
** ''[[ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes2020 Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 8)]]'': (2019-present)

* CharacterDevelopment: Over the years, he grows from an immature, egotistical teen into a mature and responsible young man, particularly after he learned of having Lex Luthor's DNA.

** ''Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 8)'': (2019-present)

** ''Superboy (vol. 6)'': (2011-2014)

* {{Expy}}: While not technically an expy, this version of Superboy has attitudes more in line and a temperament much closer to the Conner Kent shown in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice,'' especially in his willingness to use overwhelming force and temper control issues, though his tendency to kill and torture is unique (and in any case it goes away fairly quickly).
** Being a HotBlooded clone/ArtificialHuman and a LivingWeapon (actually, he was [[spoiler: a guinea pig]]) with enormous PsychicPowers, occasional initial vagueness on morals when it came to things like stealing, NinetiesAntiHero morality that eventually developed into that of an AllLovingHero and a tempestuous relationship with his counterpart that mellowed out over time, he comes across as a version of [[ComicBook/XMan Nate Grey]].

* RetGone: ComicBook/DCRebirth has made it clear that Conner has been wiped from history, though both Superman and Tim's current iterations have realized someone is missing and Tim and Steph are trying to figure out what happened to the timeline to erase someone named Conner, and Bart--whose memory was not altered with the timeline--remembers him and wants to find him. His old Young Justice pals manage to track him down in Gemworld where he'd been trapped when the timeling got mangled, and he's back as part of the reformed ComicBook/{{Young Justice|2019}}.

* AntiHero: Of the NominalHero kind. This version of Superboy has no interest in heroics beyond what it takes to survive/gain his freedom. Between the first and second issues, he kills many of his captors by reflex and feels no remorse or guilt, tortures a group of soldiers who hold him at gunpoint, and flat out threatens to kill anyone who stands in his way.
** Issue #4 seems to be steering him towards being a KnightInSourArmor.
** While he still has his issues, he quickly becomes a full blown hero.

* LackOfEmpathy: At first. Although in issue #6, he suspects that he's starting to feel a spark of it. By the time his series gets into the twenties, he's got it.

* MindScrew: the series is perfectly straight forward at first, but the introduction of [[spoiler: Jon Lane Kent, the two Superboys switching costumes and being mistaken for one another and a considerable amount of time travel]] has led to even other characters being confused.
* MixAndMatchMan: It's implied that ''this'' version of Superboy isn't just Kryptonian and human, but a ''mix'' of other alien species.
** [[spoiler:He's eventually revealed to be a clone of Superman and Lois Lane's future child, Jon.]]

* KidANova: Girls whom he's dated or have been attracted to him include: Tana Moon, Roxy Leech, Knockout, Sparxx, [[TwinThreesomeFantasy all THREE of]] [[ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}} Triad/Triplicate Girl]]'s [[MesACrowd split selves]], [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2000}} Cassandra Cain]], Dr. Sterling Roquette, ComicBook/WonderGirl, [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara-Zor-El]] (Pre-Crisis), Lori Luthor, and [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGallery Poison Ivy]]. Especially when you consider that he's, ''[[CloningBlues born few years ago.]]''

* KidANova: Girls whom he's dated or have been attracted to him include: Tana Moon, Roxy Leech, Knockout, Sparxx, [[TwinThreesomeFantasy all THREE of]] [[ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}} Triad/Triplicate Girl]]'s [[MesACrowd split selves]], [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2000}} Cassandra Cain]], Dr. Sterling Roquette, ComicBook/WonderGirl, [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara-Zor-El]] (Pre-Crisis), Lori Luthor. Especially when you consider that he's, ''[[CloningBlues born few years ago.]]''

* {{Telekinesis}}: In this version, it seems that his tactile telekinesis is far more powerful than in previous incarnations. It now operates like regular telekinesis letting him levitate objects at a distance and also providing greater awareness of his environment akin to a type of sonar. He also uses this to simulate some Kryptonian powers.

* KidANova: Girls whom he's dated or have been attracted to him include: Tana Moon, Roxy Leech, Knockout, Sparxx, [[TwinThreesomeFantasy all THREE of]] [[ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}} Triad/Triplicate Girl]]'s [[MesACrowd split selves]], [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2000}} Cassandra Cain]], Dr. Sterling Roquette, ComicBook/WonderGirl, [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara-Zor-El]] (Pre-Crisis), Lori Luthor, and [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGallery Poison Ivy]]. Especially when you consider that he's, ''[[CloningBlues born few years ago.]]''

* ComicBookTime: One story during ''[[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman Reign of the Supermen]]'' specifically references UsefulNotes/BillClinton as POTUS. Furthermore, in the time since he was created, babies born within the same month have grown up and become ''legal''.

* {{Telekinesis}}: In this version, it seems that his tactile telekinesis is far more powerful than in previous incarnations. It now operates like regular telekinesis letting him levitate objects at a distance and also providing greater awareness of his environment akin to a type of sonar. He also uses this to simulate some Kyptonyan powers.