In one version of the story in an early comic, the rocket was (barely) big enough for both Lara and baby Kal-El, but she decided her place was by her husband’s side. Michael L. Fleisher, in “The Great Superman Book”, theorized that Clark retained some memory that Mom would rather die with Dad than live with him, and that explains some aspects of his personality. It’s an interesting notion, but the incident it’s based on was dropped from later tellings of Kal-El’s escape from Krypton. The rocket (or “birthing chamber”) reverted to its original one-baby capacity.
It was explained in the comics that adult Kryptonians had some biological quirk that prevented them from leaving the planet. For some reason, infant Kal El was immune or resistant to the quirk and any ill effects would be counteracted by Earth’s environment.Didn’t stop other Kryptonians from leaving, though. Jor El didn’t think of everything.
In the comic books, there have been various explanations:
1930s – ‘40s: For the first ten years in the comic books, Superman didn’t know that he was an alien, so the question never came up.
1950s – ‘60s: Jor-El built a small model ship to demonstrate his evacuation plan to the Council. But Krypton’s destruction came sooner than he had predicted, and there was no time to build a larger ship.
1960s – ’80s: Space travel was outlawed on Krypton after a rocket experiment caused an inhabited moon to blow up. Jor-El could only build a small rocket without attracting the attention of the authorities.
1980s – ‘90s: Due to extreme xenophobia, newborns on Krypton were given a genetic treatment that would cause them to die if they ever left the planet. Jor-El sent his son’s “birth matrix” to Earth before it had been treated, so Kal-El was technically “born” on Earth, not Krypton.
I stopped following Superman comics shortly around then, so I don’t know what the “official” story is these days.
edclectic almost 11 years ago
I wonder if he’s allergic to pooptynite.
CaptBullock almost 11 years ago
In one version of the story in an early comic, the rocket was (barely) big enough for both Lara and baby Kal-El, but she decided her place was by her husband’s side. Michael L. Fleisher, in “The Great Superman Book”, theorized that Clark retained some memory that Mom would rather die with Dad than live with him, and that explains some aspects of his personality. It’s an interesting notion, but the incident it’s based on was dropped from later tellings of Kal-El’s escape from Krypton. The rocket (or “birthing chamber”) reverted to its original one-baby capacity.
Packratjohn Premium Member almost 11 years ago
I get the impression that “The Dinette Set” also came from Krypton.
GoodQuestion Premium Member almost 11 years ago
The family resemblence is jest canny . . . Cliff looks like his dad but obviously got his super power from his mom . . . ☻
Stephen Gilberg almost 11 years ago
And why didn’t I realize before how stupid that backstory was?
Coyoty Premium Member almost 11 years ago
It was explained in the comics that adult Kryptonians had some biological quirk that prevented them from leaving the planet. For some reason, infant Kal El was immune or resistant to the quirk and any ill effects would be counteracted by Earth’s environment.Didn’t stop other Kryptonians from leaving, though. Jor El didn’t think of everything.
Cartoonacy almost 11 years ago
In the comic books, there have been various explanations:
1930s – ‘40s: For the first ten years in the comic books, Superman didn’t know that he was an alien, so the question never came up.
1950s – ‘60s: Jor-El built a small model ship to demonstrate his evacuation plan to the Council. But Krypton’s destruction came sooner than he had predicted, and there was no time to build a larger ship.
1960s – ’80s: Space travel was outlawed on Krypton after a rocket experiment caused an inhabited moon to blow up. Jor-El could only build a small rocket without attracting the attention of the authorities.
1980s – ‘90s: Due to extreme xenophobia, newborns on Krypton were given a genetic treatment that would cause them to die if they ever left the planet. Jor-El sent his son’s “birth matrix” to Earth before it had been treated, so Kal-El was technically “born” on Earth, not Krypton.
I stopped following Superman comics shortly around then, so I don’t know what the “official” story is these days.
tegm over 10 years ago
bahhahaha! I love how his family looks!