Martha Clark Kent and Jonathan Kent, also known as Ma and Pa Kent, are fictional characters published by DC Comics. The Kents are the adoptive parents of Superman. They live in the small town of Smallville, USA. The couple is usually portrayed agewise as either late middle age or elderly. In comic books, first appearance refers to first comic book to feature a character. ... Superman is a fictional character and comic book superhero , originally created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. ... Jerome Jerry Siegel a. ... Joseph Joe Shuster (July 10, 1914 - July 30, 1992) was a Canadian-born comic book artist best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, first published in Action Comics #1 (March 1938). ... Superman is a fictional character and comic book superhero , originally created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. ... Alice, a fictional character based on a real character from the work of Lewis Carroll. ... DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company. ... For other uses, see Adoption (disambiguation). ... Superman is a fictional character and comic book superhero , originally created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. ... Smallville is the fictional hometown of Clark Kent. ... Middle age is the period of life beyond young adulthood but before the onset of old age. ... Old age consists of ages nearing the average lifespan of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle. ...

In most versions of Superman's origin story, Jonathan and Martha Kent were the first to come across the rocket that brought the infant Kal-El to Earth, with their adopting him shortly thereafter, deciding to rename him Clark Kent---"Clark" having been Martha's maiden name. Superman, looking over Metropolis, his home, with the Daily Planet building in the background. ... For other uses, see Clark Kent (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and appeal to a wider international audience, this article may require cleanup. ...

The Kents are usually portrayed as caring parents who instill within Clark a strong sense of morals, and they encourage Clark to use his powers for the betterment of humanity. Martha is also the one who creates Clark's superhero costume.

Before writer John Byrne's 1986 reboot of the Superman series, Mr.Kent died shortly after Clark's high school graduation; in the current comics' continuity, they are alive when Clark is an adult and remain important supporting characters to this day. This article or section may contain excessive or improper use of copyrighted images and/or audio files. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see High school (disambiguation). ...

Fictional characters biography

Golden and Silver Age versions

Although a "passing motorist" is described as having found the infant Superman in the character's first appearance in 1938's Action Comics #1, 1939's Superman #1 introduces Superman's adoptive parents to the mythos, with "Mary Kent" being the only parent given a name. The Kents' first names vary in stories from the 1940s. A 1942 Superman novel, The Adventures of Superman by George Lowther, ^[1] gave the names "Eben and Sarah Kent", which were also used in the Adventures of Superman television series, but the first extensive retelling of Superman's origin in 1948's Superman #53 names them "John and Mary Kent." Pa Kent is first named Jonathan in Adventure Comics #149 (1950). Ma Kent is first named Marthe in Superboy #12 (1951) and Martha in subsequent appearances. This article is about the television series. ...

Later stories,^[2] after the early 1960s introduction of DC's multiverse system, declare that the early version of the Kents are named "John and Mary Kent" and live on the world of "Earth-Two", home of the Golden Age DC superheroes, while the more modern Jonathan and Martha Kent live on the world of "Earth-One" (home of the Silver Age DC superheroes). The Earths of the Multiverse and the different variations of the Flash inhabiting each one. ... Superman, the catalyst of the Golden Age, from Superman #14, January-February 1942. ... Showcase #4 (September-October 1956), often thought the first appearance of the first Silver Age superhero, the Barry Allen Flash. ...

Martha and Jonathan Kent, as they appear in comics from the 1970s and 1980s. From New Adventures of Superboy #1, January 1980. Art by Kurt Schaffenberger.

The Kents made few appearances in Superman stories until the introduction of the Superboy comic book series in 1949. In this series, The Kents are regular supporting characters of the teenaged superhero.The Superboy stories establish the Kents' backstory. Jonathan, a former race car driver,^{[issue # needed]} is a farmer on a farm just outside of Smallville. After he and Martha find the toddler Kal-El in his rocket, they take him to the Smallville Orphanage and later formally adopt him, naming him "Clark." They soon discover that Clark possesses a fantastic array of superpowers. Image File history File links Kents_silverage_young. ... Image File history File links Kents_silverage_young. ... Kurt Schaffenberger (December 15, 1920-January 24, 2002) was an American comic book artist. ... Superboy is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Universe, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. ... Auto racing (also known as automobile racing or autosport) is a sport involving racing automobiles. ... For other uses, see Farmer (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Farm (disambiguation). ... // The first orphanages, called orphanotrophia, were founded in the 1st century amid various alternative means of orphan support. ...

Around the time Clark started school, the Kents sell their farm, and the family moves into Smallville, where they open a general store.^{[issue # needed]} During Clark's early grade school years, Jonathan trains young Clark in the use of his superpowers to the best of his knowledge while urging him to keep the use of his powers a secret. At the age of eight,^{[citation needed]} Clark begins a superhero career as Superboy. Martha creates Superboy's costume out of the blankets inside the rocket that brought him to Earth, and Jonathan helps him to create a means of making Superboy and Clark appear to be different people by developing Clark's secret identity as a mild-mannered, reserved individual. The Kents assist their adopted son on many adventures as Superboy. A general store is usually a retailer located in a small town or in a rural area with a broad selection of merchandise crammed into a relatively small space. ... For other uses of this term, please see Secret identity (disambiguation). ...

In Superboy volume 1 #145 (March 1968), Jonathan and Martha Kent are rejuvenated physically and appear younger due to the influence of an alien serum. After this, Jonathan and Martha were drawn by artists as late middle-aged — as opposed to elderly — in appearance until Superman's 1986 reboot.

After Clark graduated from high school, Jonathan and Martha take a vacation to the Caribbean Islands, where they contract a fatal and rare tropical disease after handling materials from a pirate's treasure chest they had exhumed; despite Superboy's best efforts, Martha dies, with Jonathan dying soon thereafter. Before dying, Jonathan reminds Clark that he must always use his powers for the benefit of humanity. Clark mourns his parents and moves to Metropolis to attend college. This is a list of inhabited islands in the Caribbean. ... Look up pirate and piracy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Metropolis Skyline, as seen in Smallville. ...

Modern Age versions

The Man of Steel

Martha Kent, Superman, and Jonathan Kent. Art by Jim Lee.

After comics writer John Byrne rewrote Superman's origin in the 1986 The Man of Steel limited series, one of the changes he made was keeping Jonathan and Martha Kent alive into Clark's adulthood. The Kents have the same role as in the earlier stories, instilling within Clark the morals needed to become a strong figure. Image File history File links Ma_PaKent01. ... Image File history File links Ma_PaKent01. ... Martha Kent, née Martha Clark, also known as Ma Kent, is a fictional character published by DC Comics. ... Superman is a fictional character and comic book superhero , originally created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section may contain excessive or improper use of copyrighted images and/or audio files. ... The Man of Steel was a six-issue comic book limited series released in 1986 by DC Comics, several months after the 12-issue limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths completed. ... The limited series is a term referring to a comic book series with a set finite number of issues. ...

In this version of events, after a Kryptonian "birthing matrix" lands on Earth, Jonathan and Martha find a newborn infant inside. Taking the infant in just before a major snowstorm strikes (that buried Smallville in snow for a number of months and cut off outsiders' access to the Kent family farm), the couple decides to pass the infant off as their own natural child, naming him "Clark." Clark's powers slowly develop, with his powers fully emerging once he reaches his late teens. After Clark's high school graduation, the Kents tell Clark about his extraterrestrial origins, and Clark leaves Smallville to explore the outside world. After Clark moves to Metropolis, Jonathan and Martha help Clark to create a superhero identity. Krypton is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

In the Man of Steel version, the Kents remain farmers through Clark's adult years, although a storyline^{[issue # needed]} features them having opened a general store in Smallville. Although Jonathan is still alive in the comics, he suffers a heart-attack after The Death of Superman storyline, and he meets Clark in the afterlife and encourages him to return to life with him. The Kents' post-Crisis history is more fully fleshed out in the late 1980s limited series The World of Smallville, with Jonathan's ancestors' history more fully explored in the 1990s limited series The Kents. Superman #75 (Jan. ... Crisis on Infinite Earths was a 12-issue comic book limited series (identified as a 12-part maxi-series) and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 in order to simplify their fifty-year-old continuity. ... The Kents is the title of a comic book limited series published by DC Comics. ...

Birthright

The Kents are again altered in 2003's Superman: Birthright limited series by Mark Waid, which revises Superman's origins.[1] Jonathan is portrayed as having a more strained relationship with his son, and he and Martha are depicted as far younger at the time of Clark adopting his Superman identity than in past portrayals, appearing here to be scarcely middle-aged. The limited series is a term referring to a comic book series with a set finite number of issues. ... Mark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. ...

The younger, modern version of the Kents as depicted in Superman: Birthright.

The Kents' appearances were altered to resemble slightly older versions of actor John Schneider and actress Annette O'Toole, who portray the Kents in the Smallville television series.^{[citation needed]} Although now shown wearing glasses, Jonathan has a full head of blonde hair, and Martha has long red tresses. This younger portrayal of the Kents has persisted in the regular DC Universe since Birthright was published; it has not been explained, but is thought to be one of many consequences of the events of Infinite Crisis. Image File history File links KentsInBirthright. ... Image File history File links KentsInBirthright. ... John Richard Schneider (Born April 8, 1960 in Mount Kisco, New York) is an American actor who shot to fame during the 1980s as Bo Duke in the American television series The Dukes of Hazzard. ... Annette OToole (born Annette Toole on April 1, 1952[1] in Houston, Texas) is an American dancer and actress. ... Smallville is an American television series set in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas. ... Infinite Crisis was a seven-issue limited series of comic books published by DC Comics, beginning in October of 2005. ...

One of the major subplots of Birthright is a rift between Jonathan and Clark. Although not unprecedented — the post-Crisis Jonathan was critical of Clark for "showing off" by playing football with his human peers, and the Smallville Jonathan is often in disgreement with Clark over the protection of his son's secret — the strain in their relationship is such that the father and son are barely speaking to each other at the opening of the series. Jonathan has conflicting feelings regarding Clark's power and decision to use it for the benefit of humanity; he seems to feel that he has lost the affections of his newly-adult son, partly due to Clark's fascination with his Kryptonian origins. Unlike most previous incarnations of Jonathan Kent, the Birthright Jonathan is not particularly encouraging or instrumental in the formation of Clark's Superman identity or mission, although over the course of the series father and son are eventually reconciled.

In Birthright, Martha Kent is sassier and more at odds with her husband over how Clark should live than in previous comic incarnations. Because Jonathan has little to do with the creation of the Superman identity, Martha plays a more prominent role in this regard. She is also far more technologically savvy than ever before, communicating with Clark via encrypted e-mail as he travels around the world.

In other media

Glenn Ford as Jonathan Kent with Phyllis Thaxter as Martha in Superman: The Movie (1978)

• Ed Cassidy and Virginia Carroll play Eben and Martha Kent in the 1948 Superman movie serial starring Kirk Alyn.
• Tom Fadden and Frances Morris play Eben and Sarah Kent in the pilot for the 1950s Adventures of Superman television series.
• Jonathan appears in the Superboy segments of the 1966 New Adventures of Superman cartoon.
• Glenn Ford and Phyllis Thaxter portray Jonathan and Martha in 1978's Superman. In the movie, Jonathan dies of a heart attack on the farm as young Clark approaches manhood. In 1983's Superman III, it is mentioned by Lana Lang that Martha has passed away.
• Stuart Whitman and Salome Jens play Jonathan and Martha in the television series Superboy, which aired from 1988 - 1992 in syndication.
• In the 1988 Ruby-Spears-produced Superman animated series, Alan Oppenheimer provides Jonathan's voice.
• In the 1990s television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Eddie Jones and K Callan play Jonathan and Martha Kent. Consistent with the post-Crisis comics' version of his story, Jonathan is alive and active in the grown Clark's life, and remains dedicated to running his farm. The series portrayed Martha as a lively sixty-something, interested in creative and self-improving pursuits. The activities this version of Martha pursues include taking classes at the local university extension, trying yoga, and posing for a nude study by an artist friend, leading Jonathan to think she is having an affair.
• In Hercules (1997 film), a Disney animated film, the Kents role in the Superman mythos is recognizably integrated into the myth of Hercules, with Alcmene and her husband, Amphitryon, finding a "super strong" infant Hercules by the side of the road, adopting the child as their own, and helping him to find his way in the world.
• Ma and Pa Kent makes occasional appearances in the animated series Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Shelley Fabares and Mike Farrell. Fabares and Farrell also portray the characters in the 2006 animated film Superman: Brainiac Attacks.
• In the 2001 television series Smallville , Annette O'Toole and John Schneider portray Martha and Jonathan Kent respectively. In this version, Jonathan is alive in the first five seasons before he dies of a heart attack after a fight with Lionel Luthor.
• In the 2006 film Superman Returns, Eva Marie Saint portrays Martha Kent. Because the film is a semi-sequel to the 1978 film, this version could be considered similar to Phyllis Thaxter's portrayal but with differences included. In this film, when Superman comes back after five years, she has already been dating Ben Hubbard.
• In the Legion of Super Heroes animated series, Martha is voiced by Jennifer Hale.

Image File history File links Jonathan (Glenn Ford) and Martha Kent (Phyllis Thaxter) in Superman: The Movie (1978) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... Image File history File links Jonathan (Glenn Ford) and Martha Kent (Phyllis Thaxter) in Superman: The Movie (1978) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... Ed Cass Cassidy (born May 4, 1931) is the drummer and was one of the founders of the rock group Spirit in 1967. ... DVD front cover for The Adventures of Captain Marvel, one of the most celebrated serials for both Republic Pictures and of the sound era in general. ... Kirk Alyn as Superman Kirk Alyn (October 8, 1910 - March 14, 1999) was an American actor, best known for being the first actor to play Superman on screen, in the 1948 film serial Superman, and its 1950 sequel Atom Man Vs. ... This article is about the television series. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For the band, see Cartoons (band). ... Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Glenn Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006) was an acclaimed Canadian-born actor from Hollywoods Golden Era with a career that spanned seven decades. ... Jonathan (Glenn Ford) and Martha Kent (Phyllis Thaxter) in Superman: The Movie (1978) Phyllis Thaxter (born Phyllis St. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Superman III (originally titled Superman vs. ... Lana Lang is a supporting character in DC Comics Superman series. ... Stuart Whitman Stuart Whitman (born February 1, 1926 or, according to other sources 1928 or 1929) is an American actor arguably best known for playing Marshal Jim Crown in the western television series Cimarron Strip in 1967, co-starring with John Wayne in the western movie The Comancheros in 1961... as the Female Changeling from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Salome Jens (born May 8, 1935 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American actress. ... Superboy is a half-hour live-action television series based on the fictional DC Comics character Superboy. ... Ruby-Spears Productions is a California based entertainment production company that specializes in animation. ... Alan Oppenheimer (born April 23, 1930 in New York City, New York) is an American voice-actor who has had an active career in cartoons since the 1940s. ... Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a live-action television series based on the Superman comic books. ... Eddie Jones is an American actor. ... K Callan (born Katherine Borman January 9, 1942 in Dallas, Texas, USA) is an actor best known for starring in the films The Unborn (1991) and Joe (1970). ... For other uses, see Yoga (disambiguation). ... Hercules is a 1997 animated feature produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures on June 14, 1997. ... Disney may refer to: The Walt Disney Company and its divisions, including Walt Disney Pictures. ... In Greek mythology Alcmene, or Alkmênê (might of the moon) was the mother of Heracles. ... Amphitryon, or Amphitrion, in Greek mythology, was a son of Alcaeus, king of Tiryns in Argolis. ... Superman: The Animated Series is the unofficial title given to Warner Bros. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Justice League Unlimited (or JLU) was the name of an American animated television series that was produced by and aired on Cartoon Network. ... Shelley Fabares (born January 19, 1944) is an American actress and singer. ... Mike Farrell (born February 6, 1939) is an American actor, best known for his role as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the popular television series M*A*S*H (1975-83). ... Smallville is an American television series set in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas. ... Annette OToole (born Annette Toole on April 1, 1952[1] in Houston, Texas) is an American dancer and actress. ... John Schneider is the name of the following unrelated people: John Schneider is an actor best known for his television roles, particularly The Dukes of Hazzard. ... For the video game of the same name, see Superman Returns (video game). ... Eva Marie Saint (born July 4, 1924) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. ... Jonathan (Glenn Ford) and Martha Kent (Phyllis Thaxter) in Superman: The Movie (1978) Phyllis Thaxter (born Phyllis St. ... Ben Hubbard is a minor fictitional character from the Superman films. ... Legion of Super Heroes is the title of an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. ... Jennifer Hale is a Canadian-born actress who has been doing voices for video games, animation, commercials, radio promotions, anime, and movies since 1993. ...

Smallville

In the 2000s television show Smallville, Annette O'Toole and John Schneider play Martha and Jonathan Kent respectively. They were at first depicted as just Clark's parents, raising him and helping him cope with his powers but soon became more fleshed out as they shared a history with Lionel Luthor, whom Jonathan greatly despised since he had to tell the uncles of Pete Ross to "sell" their cream corn factory in exchange for Clark's adoption. Martha began to develop feelings for Lionel as she worked for him leading to some tensions in their pairing. Martha and Jonathan also almost had a son when Martha was cured by Clark's vessel but she miscarried after one of Smallville's various apocalypses, leading Clark to run away although he later came back. The 2000s are the current decade, spanning from 2000 to 2009. ... Smallville is an American television series set in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas. ... Annette OToole (born Annette Toole on April 1, 1952[1] in Houston, Texas) is an American dancer and actress. ... John Schneider is the name of the following unrelated people: John Schneider is an actor best known for his television roles, particularly The Dukes of Hazzard. ... Lionel Luthor, primary villain of seasons 1-3. ...

They stayed a strong couple up until Jonathan beat Lex Luthor and became a state senator. He then met with Lionel who told him he knew Clark's secret and Jonathan had a heart attack. Martha took over his role as a senator but grew close to Lionel. Later, Martha's role slowly winds down, until the season 6 finale, "Phantom" when she becomes the United States Junior Senator from Kansas, effectively leaving the show. Senior Senator and Junior Senator are terms commonly used in the media to describe U.S. Senators. ... Official language(s) English[2] Capital Topeka Largest city Wichita Area  Ranked 15th  - Total 82,277 sq mi (213,096 km²)  - Width 211 miles (340 km)  - Length 417 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ...

The Kents in the series are portrayed as largely conservative, always reacting strongly when it appears that their son is engaged in sex. In the fourth season episode 'Unsafe' Jonathan is heartbroken when he finds out that Clark had rushed into a marriage with his krypto-mutant girlfriend Alicia and Martha is particularly outraged despite Clark being under the influence of red Kryptonite and therefore not entirely responsible for his actions. Nevertheless, they are the good, caring, loving parents in contrast to Lex Luthor's cruel, distant and manipulative father for much of the early series, although Jonathan's major personality flaw is his bad temper (Which has sometimes led to severe consequences, e.g. Jonathan lashing out at Clark in the season two finale, blaming him for the freak accident that he and Martha were caught in, played a major part in Clark's decision to leave Smallville). He also appears to be something of a speciest, believing in strongly that such virtues like compassion are synominous with the human race (as seen through his rhetoric of being 'human,' and one's 'humanity') unlike with non-human races and is quick to conclude that the Kryptonians are an 'evil' race. He thinks that his son only escaped this apparent evil nature because he was raised with 'human values.' Martha is in these ways the opposite of her husband, being far more temperamental and less inclined to conclude that all Kryptonians are evil just because they've seen 'the actions of a few.' It seems that Jonathan's beliefs about humanity had been successfully installed in his adopted son, which although gives him a positive view of humanity has also led to a self-loathing of not being human and perhaps a too quick a jump to the conclusion that his race are evil.

As well as compassion and a sense of responsibility, the Kents have also tried to teach their son about free will, such as in the episode 'Exodus' when Jonathan assures his son that he makes his own destiny (although hypocritically the Kents had tried to stop Clark from following the path that Jor-EL had set for him even when he chooses it).

References

External links

• A biography of pre-Crisis Ma and Pa Kent
• Supermanica: Jonathan and Martha Kent