Evolution of Superman’s Home World: From Kansas to Krypton and the Positive Changes Over Time

Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Superman #3

Reimagining Superman: A New Kansas in the Absolute Universe

The narrative of Superman has been deeply entwined with his Smallville upbringing, a cornerstone of his identity and values for generations. Yet, the emergence of DC’s Absolute Universe offers a radical reinterpretation of his origins—replacing Smallville with Krypton as Kal-El’s first home. This pivotal shift invites a nuanced analysis of how each childhood environment shapes these different iterations of Superman, reflecting profound contrasts and connections.

Superman’s New Kryptonian Identity

In a recent interview with CBR, writer Jason Aaron discusses this transformative journey in the Absolute Superman series. He elucidates how elements typically associated with Clark Kent’s Smallville upbringing have been integrated into his Kryptonian past:

Part of it is that we’ve clearly taken away things you normally associate with Clark’s upbringing in Smallville and Kansas and supplanted that to Krypton, so that when he comes to Earth, he has an identity. He has a very Kryptonian identity.

Contrasting with the traditional portrayal of Superman as a Kansas native, this new version fully embraces a Kryptonian identity. While this narrative shift may perplex longtime readers, it ultimately enriches Superman’s history, granting Krypton layers of depth once reserved for Smallville.

The Impact of Krypton’s Heritage on Superman

Under this revamped lore, the destruction of Krypton is delayed until Kal-El’s childhood, allowing him to experience formative moments on his home planet. This new timeline establishes a more profound relationship with his biological parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van, who offer guidance and nurture his development:

He knows his planet and his history, and he knows his parents. We saw him fall in love with writing there. We see him as this kind of awkward, clumsy, shy kid who still, as you saw in #3, when he realizes this kind of mystery of what’s happening to his planet, he goes out and does something about it, to figure it out, and breaks the story to the rest of the world of what’s really going on. So I love all that stuff being established before he ever comes to Earth. And then it’s the question of, well, what, what happens to him here? How is he treated as an immigrant to this planet?

This development links Kal-El’s identity to Krypton more than ever before. His experiences and aspirations originate from Krypton’s soil rather than Earth. Moreover, with his move to Earth following Krypton’s disaster, Superman navigates the challenges of being an outsider, now more than ever an alien seeking belonging.

Smallville’s Influence on Superman’s Identity in the Original Continuity

In contrast, the traditional Superman’s narrative roots him firmly within Kansas, illustrating a starkly different childhood. Within the original storyline, his arrival on Earth sets the stage for a quintessentially American upbringing under the care of Jonathan and Martha Kent. This upbringing shapes Clark Kent’s persona, even as he conceals his extraordinary abilities:

Despite being raised in a wholesome American setting, the original Superman often grapples with an outsider status. His hidden powers create a barrier to full acceptance, feeding a longing for connection with those who share his unique experiences. In this sense, both iterations of Superman wrestle with questions of identity and belonging.

Krypton Mirrors Smallville in Complex Ways

In this new narrative landscape, Krypton is crafted with the intricacies that characterize Smallville, reflecting the complexity of human (and alien) experiences. Aaron’s insights reveal that Superman’s childhood home is depicted as idyllic yet flawed, much like the Southern upbringing he himself experienced:

Krypton, in some sense, for Kal-El, was a happy place. He loved the rural environment he grew up in. He loved his parents, but there were bigger parts of what was going on on the planet that he did not like… It’s a complicated place, as most places are where people come from.

This portrayal emphasizes Krypton’s harsh societal structures, thus enriching Superman’s heritage and challenging the typical idealization of such cultures. Through this lens, both Colombus and Kryptonian tales become informed narratives about class struggles, identity, and the effects of external pressures.

A Broader Worldview through Exploration

In the Absolute Universe, Superman’s journey on Earth transforms dramatically. Instead of being rooted in a single locale, he embarks on global adventures. In Absolute Superman #1, for instance, he begins his story in Brazil, defending workers against the oppressive Lazarus Corporation:

This absence of a fixed Kansas location allows Superman to experience diverse cultures across the globe. As he interacts with communities worldwide, he learns new languages and customs, enriching his identity further.

The departure from his established Kansas roots allows for a more fluid character who engages with the world on multifaceted levels. Not being tied to a singular home illustrates both a unique strength in embracing diversity and a potential vulnerability in lacking a consistent sanctuary. With Krypton’s history forever imprinted on his identity, Superman navigates his role as a global hero without a specific Earthly hometown, reshaping his legacy in the process.

Absolute Superman #1-4 are currently available from DC Comics!

Source: CBR

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