Superman (Kal-El) was rocketed to Earth as an infant when his home planet of Krypton exploded. (Action Comics #1) The Kents found and raised him as their own son, renaming him Clark Kent. Contrary to past rumors, Clark did not fully develop his super-powers until the later teenage years.

When Clark moved to Metropolis, it was only then that he showed his super-powers to the world. During an experimental test flight, a supersonic aircraft lost control and headed for a crash in downtown Metropolis. Clark saved the aircraft but was swarmed by people who had never such abilities. Barely escaping the crowd, Clark realized he needed a costume. Donning a red, blue, and yellow outfit, Clark used the name given by the newspapers- "Superman". (Man of Steel #1)

(Much of Superman's 50 year history had been "erased" by the events in Crisis on Infinite Earths, including all of the Superboy stories.)

As Superman became more accepted by Metropolis, he became more hated by the now-second powerful person- Lex Luthor. As a multi-millionaire who owned much of the city, Luthor was determined to destroy Superman.

Superman has always vowed never to kill another being, but when he was transported to another dimension, he was forced to kill two Kryptonian criminals. As a result, Superman developed a split personality-he believed he was the crime-fighter named Gangbuster. Unable to cope with what happened, Superman exiled himself to outer space.

While in space, he was captured by Mongul and forced to fight on Warworld. Superman defeated the other gladiators, but never killed them. At the same time, Superman discovered a cleric from Krypton who had saved an artifact called the Eradicator. After Superman defeated Mongul and freed the people on Warworld, the cleric gave him the relic to take to Earth. (Action Comics Annual #2)

The relic had other ideas, though. After it was in contact with Superman, the relic started transforming him back into a Kryptonian-cold and without feeling. Superman managed to break free of the relic's influence and buried in the ice. The relic however bonded with genetic material found within the Superman's baby-rocket and formed a body. This "Krypton Man" would later fight Superman, but was defeated and trapped within Superman's Fortress of Solitude. (Superman: The Man of Steel #25)

At time went by, Clark and Lois were becoming closer. Clark decided to propose marriage, but know he had to tell her the secret. After much decision, Clark told Lois that he is Superman! (Action Comics #662) She accepted his proposal and they started making plans to be married.

While taping an interview for a talk show, reports started to come in that the Justice League America was fighting a "monster". Superman flew to help, but found the League all but destroyed. (Justice League America #69) There was only one description for it: Doomsday! The monster had cut a path of destruction across the country before Superman caught up with it. They battled and eventually arrived in Metropolis. In a last ditch effort to stop the monster from further destruction, Superman hit the monster as hard as he could. The monster fell, but so did Superman. It was then that Superman died. (Superman (2) #75)

In the weeks that followed, a memorial statue was built and a funeral held for Superman. His body was laid to rest in the statue, but was discovered missing. Luthor finally recovered the body and gloated over the death of his biggest foe. At the Kent's home, both parents took the news extremely hard. In fact, Pa Kent suffered a heart attack.

In a near-death dream state, Pa Kent believed he helped bring Clark back from the dead- rescuing him from the edge of death. It was then that Superman returned to Metropolis, all four of them! There was the violent, yellow-visored Superman, the "kid" Superman, the half-machine Cyborg Superman, and the armored Man of Steel (who never actually claimed to be Superman). (Adventures of Superman #500) After leaving clues that each was the real Superman, each one started to reveal who he really was, except that none of them was the real Superman! The violent Superman was really the Eradictor who had taken energy from Clark's dead body. The kid was reported to be Superman's clone. The Man of Steel was a construction worker whose life had been saved by Superman. And the cyborg was an old enemy of Superman and who had Mongul as a partner. It was also revealed that the two of them were planning to rebuild Warworld on Earth-starting with the destruction of Coast City! (Superman (2) #78)

In the midst of this, a fifth Superman appeared, also claiming to be the real thing. (Superman: The Man of Steel #25). With the help of Supergirl and Green Lantern, the group of Supermen led an attack on Mongul and the Cyborg. After a long battle, the Supermen won and the real Superman was back!

Now that he was back, Clark and Lois started to once again plan their wedding. Once again, events around them had other plans. Superman's old villain Brainiac had returned, this time with a "Sun-Eater". In an attempt to destroy the Earth, the Sun-Eater was released on the sun. (Final Night #1) It would take the sacrifice of Hal Jordan to relight the sun. (Final Night #4) Since Superman's powers were solar-based, he lost his super-powers.

His loss didn't affect his upcoming wedding and honeymoon, however. (Superman: The Wedding Album) Almost as soon as the couple returned to Metropolis, Superman was once again involved in danger. This time, though, Superman would gain electrical powers and have his skin turn blue! (Superman (2) #123)

Superman's powers were once based on the sun's energy and included the following: flight, near indestructibility, super-strength, heat-vision, telescopic vision, x-ray vision, and survival in space. His new electrical energy abilities include: flight, super-strength, becoming intangible, and other electrical-based abilities.

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