*In DC comics, [[w:c:dc:Kon-El|Kon-El]], or Conner Kent, is a superhero known as Superboy. He originally appeared during the "[[w:c:dc:Reign of the Supermen|Reign of Supermen]]" storyline in [[w:c:dc:Adventures of Superman Vol 1 500|''Adventures of Superman'' #500]]. after Superman was killed by Doomsday
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*In DC comics, [[w:c:dc:Kon-El|Kon-El]], or Conner Kent, is a superhero known as Superboy. He originally appeared during the "[[w:c:dc:Reign of the Supermen|Reign of Supermen]]" storyline in [[w:c:dc:Adventures of Superman Vol 1 500|''Adventures of Superman'' #500]].
==References==
==References==
Revision as of 14:50, 2 July 2020
"The world is a much better place with you in it."
Subject 13 (created in 2018), better known as Conner and nicknamed Superboy by Dawn Granger[1], is a clone of Superman and Lex Luthor that was created in Cadmus Laboratories.[3] He was created by Eve Watson, who eventually became his handler and mother figure. He has a genetically enhanced canine companion named Krypto.
Deviously, Lex Luthor acquired the DNA of Superman's to try and clone him. However, there was an issue with stabilizing his alien DNA. Eve Watson told him that he would have to use human DNA to do this. Therefore, Lex decided to used his own. The resulting clone was called Subject 13 and was grown in a containment pod in Cadmus Laboratories.[2]
Escape from Cadmus
Conner learns Krypto's name before choosing and identity for himself.
Subject 13 eventually broke free from his containment pod at Cadmus Laboratories and fought through numerous Cadmus scientists before freeing a helpless dog from a cage.[3] Since then, the dog decided to accompany him. Strolling around nude, he acquired the uniform of a random guard. Subject 13 read the dog's nametag, learning their name was Krypto. Reading the name "Conner" on the uniform tag, Subject 13 decided to claim the name and uniform as his own.
Conner and Krypto traveled to the city and walked the streets. Conner eventually came across a street vendor selling t-shirts, one of them being a Superman shirt. Drawn by the shirt for whatever reason, Conner took it but the owner aggressively approached, triggering some unfavorable memories of what seemed to be an abusive past. Told that all he needed was money for the shirt Conner and Krypto had no choice but to leave. Witnessing a thief holding a woman at gunpoint, Conner intervened and crushed the gun with his bare hand and saved the woman. However, when Conner learned that she was being robbed for money, he was amazed at the prospect of having some and harmlessly requested if he could have it instead. Terrified, the woman quickly gave him her purse out of the fear that she would be hurt. Conner returned to the vendor and purchased the Superman shirt. Conner then saw a truck with the picture of a wheatfield, triggering more memories of him being referred to as 'Clark' and seeing a woman with him a wheatfield.
Conner goes to Kansas and is thrown off by his memories, leading to the Luthor residence.
Inspired, Conner and Krypto traveled to Kansas and met Lionel Luthor, confusing it for another location. Referencing his memories, Lionel told Conner that it sounded like the Kent residence. The more time Conner spent in the house, the more he experienced bad memories that nearly caused him to hit Lionel. Conner and Lionel became accustomed to one another. Eventually, the conversation took a different turn when Conner addressed the way Lionel used to hit Lex. Suddenly, Cadmus soldiers swarmed Lionel's house in an attempt to capture Conner. Demonstrating a number of superhuman abilities, Conner and Krypto fought them off. He then noticed Eve Watson in a surveillance van nearby. After confronting her, Eve revealed to Conner that he was a clone of Superman and Lex Luthor.
Eve took Conner and Krypto to a diner to talk more without being discovered by Cadmus. When Conner witnessed a man threatening his girlfriend outside of the diner, he was stopped by Eve. Conner grew frustrated and shouted, setting off car alarms within proximity. With Eve at her wit's end, Conner and Krypto were taken to a former Cadmus facility to show Conner who he really was. At the facility, Conner witnessed Lex's previous failed attempts at creating a clone. Both horrified and angered, he grabbed Eve and started to choke her before realizing what he was doing. He was forgiven and told to run, but advised not to use his powers or else Cadmus would find him. Conner and Krypto escaped the facility just before Mercy Graves and other Cadmus soldiers arrived.[2]
Saving Jason and meeting the Titans
Conner saves Jason and lands on a vehicle, breaking Jason's fall.
While on the streets, Conner had to hopelessly walk past a man who was being assaulted. However, Conner's attention was grabbed the moment he saw Jason Todd falling from a building. Doing what was best, he leaped into the air and caught Jason, who thanked Conner for saving his life. Conner said that he was glad to have helped but was suddenly shot by Kryptonite bullets just as Dick Grayson and Kory Anders arrived at the scene.[2]
Following his injury, Conner was taken to Titans Tower and placed in the medical room to safely recover, but his impenetrable skin would not allow him to be injected with the IV. Suddenly, Conner jumped awake and clenched Kory's wrist, speaking to her in Kryptonian. As she responded in the same language, Conner released her and fell back into unconsciousness, whispering Eve's name which Dawn Granger noticed. Unaware of what occurred beforehand, Conner awoke in Kory's arms after she went supernova to heal him and was very happy to see both Eve and Krypto in his presence. Following this, Conner was put back in the bed where he apologized to Eve for using his abilities and was told he had nothing to apologize for. Appreciating this, Conner referred to Eve as "mom," which she smiled at. Although Eve told him that she would be in hiding from Cadmus and LexCorp from now own, Krypto jumped on Conner's bed and began licking his face to comfort him.[4]
A few days later, Conner finally regained consciousness. Naked, he searched the tower and found Gar Logan, who was thrilled Conner had woken up. After being given some clothes, Conner began eating a large bowl of cereal before Gar could even pour in the milk. As he continued eating, Gar left for a moment, having to call someone. Gar and Conner later played a video game. After Gar's character died, Conner used his super-speed on his controller, allowing his character to beat the boss. Gar then took Conner outside, comparing the world to an interactive video game where the goal was to stop people from getting hurt. Conner asked Gar where the rest of the Titans were, to which Gar replied that they were taking a break. They would return, however, once they found out about Conner and what he could do. Conner inquired what Gar's power was, and Gar told him that he could turn into a tiger. Conner was amazed, but then asked what a tiger was. Gar then manipulated his face into that of a tiger, amazing Conner. Suddenly, Conner heard someone yelling for help. The yell had come from a man who was being arrested by the police. Unaware that the police were the good guys, Conner attacked the two officers. As more cars arrived, Conner fought each of them off as people recorded the fight on their phones. After the fight, the news station reported on the incident, claiming that Conner's location was unknown.[5]
On the Run and Return to Cadmus
Conner and Krypto kept to the streets, with Conner wearing a long jacket to disguise his identity. When Conner found a newspaper detailing his attack on the police, he realized that he was a wanted person. He told Krypto to leave, but he refused. Conner yelled at Krypto, and he eventually left. Krypto later returned with Gar, who took Conner back to Titans Tower. They were soon ambushed by Cadmus soldiers led by Mercy Graves. Krypto was soon put in a Kryptonite net, and Gar was shot with tranquilizers. Mercy told Conner she was a friend of Eve's, getting Conner to pause. Conner eventually agreed to go back to Cadmus.[6]
Brainwashed by Cadmus and fighting the Titans
Conner was eventually brainwashed by Mercy Graves. Eventually, Mercy decided to auction off Conner. She had several individuals watch through a video that Conner could do whatever the programmer asked of him. Mercy gave Conner a gun. Conner fired the gun at Mercy but quickly ran in front of her to catch it. Then, at Mercy's request, Conner threw the bullet through Walter Hawn's forehead. Later, Mercy sent Conner to deal with a brainwashed Gar. Conner easily beat Gar, but suddenly Kory, Dawn, and Donna Troy arrived. Donna confronted Conner, trying to appeal to his Superman side. Mercy quickly intervened and told Conner to eliminate the Titans. Conner and Donna engaged in a fight, which Conner eventually won. Kory then told Konner not to make her regret saving him. Kory punched Conner, but he was not fazed. Kory immediately stated that she regretted it. Conner grabbed Kory and put her in a chokehold. Suddenly, Hank Hall arrived and attempted to fight Conner, but Conner just grabbed Hank with his other hand and prepared to fire his heat vision. Dawn, however, got his attention. He fired his heat vision at her, but she held up a mirror and his heat vision hit him. While he was stunned, Dick threw a flash grenade at Conner. Donna then wrapped her lasso around Conner, with Rachel Roth using her own powers to further hold him. Rachel then sent Dick into Conner's mind, where Conner told Dick that he couldn't find the light. Dick punched through a wall in Conner's mind, revealing light. Conner embraced the light, then found both himself and Dick in a field not unlike the one he'd remembered through both Clark's and Lex's memories. There, he told Dick to stand back, as he jumped high into the air. Back in the real world, Conner asked to be released so he could finish the fight. As he approached Mercy's van, Cadmus soldiers fired at him. When the bullets bounced off of him, they quickly ran away. Conner opened the door to the van, but did not find Mercy inside. He quickly found her, however, and Kory knocked her out. Due to the Titans' success, Conner was applauded by the citizens they'd saved. However, a structure with electrical wiring began to fall, so Donna used her powers to grab it before it hit the ground. Even though she saved everyone, she sacrificed her own life in the process. Conner joined the other Titans in a remembrance ceremony for Donna, then returned to the tower with all of them, except Rachel, who had chosen to go to Themyscira with Donna. Later, after a report of a bomb threat, Conner joined the Titans, along with Rose, Jericho, and Krypto, in heading to deal with the threat.[1]
Personality
"Our predictions have him at the emotional age of a two-year-old, so he's feeling fear, curiosity, anger... confusion, wonder, everything that he is experiencing is for the very first time. Mentally, emotionally, psychologically, he's a child. He's absorbing the world like a sponge, sights, smells, sounds... even the people he meets will have an effect on his future behavior."
Technically a toddler, Conner is still learning and experiencing a lot of things for the first time in his life. For instance, he did not understand concepts such as traffic lights and money, and although he may learn these things for the first time, he is certainly capable of quickly picking up on them. Like an average toddler, Conner is also very curious, which has led him to be quite inquisitive about his own origins.
Conner also possesses a strong instinct to act on what he believes is right, possibly due to the subconscious memories instilled in him from either Lex and Superman. He has displayed enough self-reliance to prevent robberies, assaults, and defend those who he believes are mistreated. He even defends those who, arguably, might not be worthy of protection. Despite being told to not be a hero at one point, Conner found it irresistible to save someone who was in grave danger. He also dislikes seeing others be detrimental to themselves, repulsed by Eve's binge-drinking. Conner is also extremely empathetic—more so to someone like Lex Luthor. Although it may be more related to having his memories, he defended Lex's behavior as a child by standing up to Lionel Luthor for all the abuse Lex sustained.
However, when provoked or angry, Conner can become violent, putting his enemies in critical condition or even harming those who might not necessarily mean him harm. As seen before, he can become regretful when losing his temper.
Powers and abilities
Powers
"I don't know if you can hear me... but you're one of the strongest people I've ever seen. And I know, because I'm pretty strong, too."
Human-Kryptonian hybrid physiology: As a partial genetic clone of Superman, he has most of the physical abilities of a Kryptonian who has absorbed the solar energy of a yellow sun. However, due to the human DNA supplied by Lex Luthor, he lacks the more advanced powers like flight.[2]
Solar energy absorption: After escaping Cadmus and exposing himself directly to sunlight, Conner felt a sense of happiness, which could possibly suggest that he can absorb yellow sun radiation like the Kryptonians.[2] Later, he was able to recover after absorbing the solar energy that Kory provided him.
Conner has a superhuman level of strength; for example, he is capable of lifting a scientist from Cadmus Laboratories with one hand and tear open Krypto's containment cell.[3] He is strong enough to lift easily and throw normal humans into the air without much effort. He was also able to send a Cadmus soldier through a wall, push a garage door off its hinges, bend the barrel of a mugger's pistol, and break a photo frame by squeezing it out of anger. When Cadmus soldiers infiltrated Lionel Luthor's home, Conner easily flipped a table onto them as they shot at him, and pushed another one through a wall like it was made of paper. He also tore off a vault door with his bare hands.[2] His strength allowed him to momentarily restrain Kory Anders' arm with one hand, even after he was weakened by Kryptonite bullets. Kory even called him one of the strongest people she has ever seen.[4] After resting from being healed, Conner punched straight through the heavy bag in the Titans Tower training room. When Gar took him out to San Francisco, he put a police officer's head through a window and threw him far away with one hand. When more police officers arrived on the scene and began to shoot at him, he ripped off a car door and hurled it into another car's windshield.[5] He later overpowered several Cadmus soldiers invading the tower just as easily as he did the police officers. Under the control of Mercy Graves, Conner was able to flick a bullet with the same force of a pistol and penetrated Walter Hawn's forehead, killing him. He also easily fought off Gar Logan in his tiger form, and contended with the half-AmazonDonna Troy, eventually managing to defeat her with his superior strength. He easily pushed away a police car with one hand, and pried open the doors and throw it into Cadmus van.
Superhuman jumping: To compensate for his inability to fly like Superman, Conner uses the super-strong muscles in his legs to jump several feet off the ground and leap several stories in a single bound.[2]
Superhuman durability: Conner is immune to conventional weapons, such as bullets, that would kill ordinary humans. When shot at by Cadmus soldiers, the bullets bounced off of him. He is also highly resistant to blunt force trauma, as he was unfazed when a soldier hit him in the head with a rifle stock.[2] Conner's skin is completely impenetrable, as even the superhumanly strong Kory could not put an IV in him,[4] and Gar Logan (in his tiger form) could not pierce through his skin with his bite. He was also unfazed when Hawk struck him across the head with a mallet.
Accelerated healing factor: After being subjected to Kryptonite poisoning, Conner was able to heal after being exposed to enough solar radiation. Even before this though, the bullet wounds he has sustained seem to heal reather quickly, even while he was still weakened by the Kryptonite poisoning. Apparently, his healing factor has to do with how much solar radiation he is exposed to, as when he was shot at night, he wasn't able to recover on his own.
Superhuman speed: Conner can move at superhuman speeds; for example, he was able to get in front of Lionel Luthor before several bullets hit him. He is also able to use his immense speed to evade his enemies.[2] He applied his superhuman speed to defeat a boss level in a video game, which Gar Logan previously deemed to be "impossible." He also quickly defeated a group of police officers, appearing as a blur of motion.[5] Under the control of Mercy Graves, he was able to catch a bullet he fired from across the room. He also quickly caught a smoke bomb thrown at him by Nightwing.
Superhuman stamina: Conner's advanced muscles produce much less fatigue toxins during physical activity compared to humans. As a result, he can exercise at maximum capacity for long periods of time without getting tired at all.
Superhuman hearing: Conner can hear sounds from far distances, so much so that when car horns were blowing right in front of him he was able to tune them out and focus on a song that was playing as if there was no other sound going on but that one.
Heat vision: Conner has the ability to fire red beams from his eyes that can burn whatever they come into contact to.[2] He used it to set fire to an incoming police cruiser.[5]
X-ray vision: Conner is able to see through solid objects. When he use this power, his irises shine light blue.[2]
Telescopic vision: Conner can enhance his eyesight and zoom in on certain objects, allowing him to see distant objects perfectly clear. While standing on the street, Conner was able to magnify his vision and see Jason Todd hanging out the window of a skyscraper.[2]
Super breath: Conner can both inhale and exhale large amounts of gases. When Cadmus soldiers threw smoke bombs at him, Conner inhaled the smoke and exhaled a cold burst of air back at them.[2]
Sound manipulation: When he was sufficiently angered, Conner's voice became powerful enough to set off car alarms and hurt Eve Watson's ears.[2]
Skilled Combatant: Despite not having any formal training, Conner is skilled in using his superhuman attributes in hand-to-hand combat. He was able to easily subdue three police officers with his superhuman strength and speed,[5] as well as several Cadmus soldiers invading Titans Tower. He was able to fend off Gar Logan in his tiger form, as well as contend with the highly skilled Donna Troy.
Genius-level intellect: Conner has the combined epigenetic knowledge of Superman and Lex Luthor.
Bilingualism: Conner is capable of fluently speaking English[2] and Kryptonian, despite the latter being a dead language.[4]
Weaknesses
Epigenetic memories: Conner is able to experience memories from both Superman and Lex Luthor. For example, he experienced one of Lex's memories of his father beating him when a shop owner got mad at Conner for taking a shirt without paying for it, and one of Superman's memories of a field in Kansas when he saw a picture of a field on a truck.[2]
Kryptonite: Due to his Kryptonian DNA, Conner is vulnerable to the effects of Kryptonite, and Kryptonite-laced bullets were able to pierce his otherwise invulnerable skin.[2]
