# Superman was Kal-El, his Dad was Jor-El, what was his Mom's name?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [October 18, 2001, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253 "2001-10-18T17:33:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/21 "2001-10-19T01:01:14Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Other trivia – at first, Supes’s father was called Jor-L.

I believe in pre-Crisis continuity Jor-L was the name of the father of Golden Age Superman, who was Kal-L.

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/22 "2001-10-19T01:23:45Z")

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Laura Lar-Van (or Lor-Van…I can’t remember) was her maiden name, (her father being Lar (or Lor)-Van, of course). Once married in the sight of Rao on the Jewel of Truth (a billion carat diamond) she became Lara Jor-El.

Just like Supergirl is Kara Zor-El. Kryptonian women have a unique first name and the first and last name of their father until marriage, where upon they take the first and last name of their husband.

**Chuck** , a couple of quibbles:  
Kru-El is a cousin of Jor-El and Zor-El.

Sarah was Earth-2, Martha was Earth-1, I believe

I thought the Kents got youthened by a “fountain of youth” type gimmick. On the other hand, given the period, the “fountain of youth” could’ve been planted by the time travellers who wanted to improve their Q-ratings.

The Byrne “it’s all psychic” seems to have been Zero-Hour’d. It hasn’t been mentioned in nearly a decade (and huzzah for that!)

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**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/23 "2001-10-19T01:36:22Z")

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Well, the idea that Supes gets his powers from the Sun is a little strained, too. Does his body have chlorophyll? 😃 It would make more sense to just say that his body is far, far more efficient than ours at metabolizing his food and storing the energy. He’d never need to use a toilet, though he would get hungry. But while this would account for his strength and speed, I don’t know how you’d explain all his other powers.

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/24 "2001-10-19T01:38:21Z")

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Of course, **Chuck** didn’t bring up the “it’s all psychic” thing, so I’m quibbling with no one in particular. \<sigh…sorry, **Chuck** …it’s been one of those days)

And to expound on one other thing that **Chuck** said: the youthening wore off and Super-SeventeenYearOld took them on a round-the-world tour. While on a deserted island, the Kents dug up an old pirate treasure chest. The pirates had died of some disease or other and the spores lingered in the chest. Supes searched the galaxy for a cure and couldn’t find one. Ma died first, Pa followed soon afterwards, and as he died, he asked Superboy/man to use his powers to help mankind.

Superboy/man got a big send off from Smallville as everyone came out and stood in such a way as to spell out “Farewell Superboy! We’ll miss you!”. Touched, Superboy baked a giant cake and everyone got a slice (many people didn’t eat it, but kept it under glass as a momento…I don’t know why)

Later that evening,in one of the Silver-Ages most heartbreaking bits, Clark puts a “Closed” sign in the window of the general store and walks to the bus station alone and forgotten by the town.

Which is somewhat ironic, since Superboy’s first public appearance eclipsed the Luthor family moving INTO Smallville, Superboy’s final appearance ecliped Clark leaving town.

Fenris [sub]still waiting for all the chicks who dig comic-fans to come a’flockin’[/sub]

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**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/25 "2001-10-19T01:41:45Z")

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Fenris: it’s Lor-Van, not Lar-van (I had to look this up, though).

Otto: Correct the El/L thing was an invented way to distinguish between the “Golden Age” Superman and the “Current” Superman, after DC’s funky continuity forced them to be considered as coexisting on different Earths. The Earth-1 Superman was Kal-El; the Earth-2/ “Golden Age” Superman was retconnned to be Kal-L. Likewise, their “S” insignia varied (very) slightly.

Incidentally, I’m surprised that nobody’s mentioned Lex-El, of “Super Luthor vs. Criminal Kent” fame. Granted, it’s a Golden Age story with no particular continuity attached to it, but it’s one more L. L. to put on the list.

(I’m not a comics geek. I swear. No, really.)

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/26 "2001-10-19T03:08:53Z")

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You can quible with me. I can take it.

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/27 "2001-10-19T03:23:59Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Telemark \*  
> **You can quible with me. I can take it.**

Double-aargh. Sorry **Telemark**. I read your post, mixed it up with **Chuck’s** then forgot about it.

::thumps head on desk::

I’m goin’ to bed.

Fenris, obviously in the presence of a rare form of Red K that destroys brain cells. But only for 24-48 hours 😉

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**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/28 "2001-10-19T03:31:26Z")

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**Fenris** :

> [@](#):
>
> Sarah was Earth-2, Martha was Earth-1, I believe

All right, goddamnit, this bothered me enough to look it up.

The Earth-2 adoptive mother of Clark Kent was Mary Kent.

On Earth-1, she’s Martha.

In the first TV series, for whatever reason, she was Sarah. Also on the radio show.

Apparently, post-Crisis, post Zero Hour ad nauseum, an uncle and aunt have been introduced named Harry and Sarah Kent. Since I got out of the supers in favor of angsty independent comics five years ago, I can’t speak to this first-hand.

I just realized something about Clark’s 30th-century descendant, Laurel Kent: her first name can be read as Laur-El! And no, don’t tell me Laurel was really a robotic patsy of the Manhunters. I won’t believe that any more than I’ll believe Lana Lang was a mind-controlled sleeper agent for them.

Fiver [sub]Hoping to get more babes than **Fenris** because i’m also a Buffy geek.[/sub]

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/29 "2001-10-19T11:38:16Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fiver \*  
> **Fiver [sub]Hoping to get more babes than Fenris because i’m also a Buffy geek.[/sub]**

You’ll _NEVER_ get more babes than me, for I know that pre-Crisis, Jonathon has a rich brother who kept trying to “buy” Clark from the Kents (Really. Buy. As in “I’ll give you $10,000 for that kid. No? Fine. How 'bout $10,500? $11,000?”). I believe Jonathon also had a rich uncle who lived in Texas.

You think you’re _sooooo_ smart, **Fiver**? Fine. Pre-Crisis, what was Lana Lang’s dad’s job? And given that, why the heck was he living in a cow-town like Smallville? Hmmmmm?

Fenris, [sub]sure that this kind of macho challenge will make the chicks flock to him[/sub]

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**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/30 "2001-10-19T13:27:37Z")

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Sigh. **Fenris** , if you _really_ care about such minutiae, Lana’s father, Lewis Lang was an archaeologist / professor. Not that it’s so important. Whatever.

Fiver [sub]hoping his casual nonchalance will win the day[/sub]

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/31 "2001-10-19T13:57:18Z")

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Oops. I don’t know why I forgot Martha. Sarah was the name in the TV show, though.

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**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/32 "2001-10-19T14:02:39Z")

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…and then there was his cousin, Kate-El, who made a lot of money selling albums during the 70’s…

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/33 "2001-10-19T14:07:34Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fiver \*  
> **Sigh. Fenris, if you _really_ care about such minutiae, Lana’s father, Lewis Lang was an archaeologist / professor. Not that it’s so important. Whatever.  
> Fiver [sub]hoping his casual nonchalance will win the day[/sub]**

HA! BUT YOU DIDN"T EXPLAIN WHY THEY WERE LIVING IN SMALLVILLE DID YOU??? SO YOU FAILED!!!

[sub]I’ve got it on the best authority that chicks also dig guys who HOLD DOWN THE CAP KEY![/sub]

And, Mr. **Fiver** (if that IS your real name), what does “Kal-El” mean in ancient Kryptonian? HmmmmMMMMmm?

Fenris

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/34 "2001-10-19T14:15:27Z")

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On second thought, leave me out of this.

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**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/35 "2001-10-19T14:25:48Z")

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**Fenris** :

> [@](#):
>
> And, Mr. **Fiver** (if that IS your real name), what does “Kal-El” mean in ancient Kryptonian? HmmmmMMMMmm?

\*\*STAR CHILD! IT MEANS “STAR CHILD,” YOU FARTY BABOOTCH!

AND WHAT WAS JAX-UR’S CRIME? HUH? DO YOU KNOW IT, PUNK?\*\*  
[SUB]Caps Lock AND bolding should have them eating out of the palm of my hand.[/sub]

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/36 "2001-10-19T17:06:10Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fiver \*  
> \*\ ***Fenris** :
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > And, Mr. **Fiver** (if that IS your real name), what does “Kal-El” mean in ancient Kryptonian? HmmmmMMMMmm?
> 
> \*\*STAR CHILD! IT MEANS “STAR CHILD,” YOU FARTY BABOOTCH!
> 
> AND WHAT WAS JAX-UR’S CRIME? HUH? DO YOU KNOW IT, PUNK?  
> [SUB]Caps Lock AND bolding should have them eating out of the palm of my hand.[/sub]\*\*

I noticed that you _still_ haven’t answered about _WHY_ Professor Lang moved to Smallville. HmmmmMMMmmM? Stuck are we?

And about your question, “Piffle” I say. Assuming you mean pre-Crisis (and why would it be anything else), Jax-Ur blew up an inhabited moon.

_ **WHAT WAS THAT MOON’S NAME?** _

Fenris [sub]all caps, bold, italics and underlined. How cool is that?[/sub]

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**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/37 "2001-10-19T17:33:57Z")

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It’s Wegthor. Naturally.

And I don’t see why I should answer your trivial Lewis Lang question, when you still haven’t named the would-be Flash assassin from that other thread.

Fiver[sub]as much as admitting he’ll probably never get laid again, but he’s gotta be who he is[/sub]

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/38 "2001-10-19T17:53:06Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fiver \*  
> \*\*It’s Wegthor. Naturally.
> 
> And I don’t see why I should answer your trivial Lewis Lang question, when you still haven’t named the would-be Flash assassin from that other thread.  
> Fiver[sub]as much as admitting he’ll probably never get laid again, but he’s gotta be who he is[/sub] \*\*

I don’t recall the Flash assassin question from the other thread. Lemme look. Ah yes. That’s because it was beneath me, since you _got the question **wrong** _!!!

You said:  
\*\*

> [@](#):
>
> Who was Dexter Giles, and who was the assassin who impersonated Giles in an attempt to kill the super-hero Giles was most closely associated with\*\*

There was no Dexter “Giles”!! Dexter **MILES** was an ex-Shakespearian actor who was curator of the Flash Museum and the assassin Sabretooth (no relation) impersonated him in the #230s.

But nonetheless, that was a general comics question. We’re dealing with SUPERMAN trivia here, mister.

So fess up with reason the the Langs moved to Smallville or admit you don’t KNOW!

And while we’re at it: What did the Kandorians name of the planet that they were de-shrunk on and _what did the name MEAN?_ Hm, Mr “What about my Flash question”? HMMMMmm?

**::So where are all the chicks?::**  
\<crickets chirping\>

Fenris

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/39 "2001-10-19T19:12:54Z")

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My response is both simple and brilliant.

The Langs lived in Smallville, and I misreported Dexter’s last name, for the common reason that

**Oh my God! Fenris, look behind you, then run! Run for your life!**

[Hightails it.]

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2001, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-was-kal-el-his-dad-was-jor-el-what-was-his-moms-name/88253/40 "2001-10-19T20:16:22Z")

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**::Looks behind::**

What?

I don’t see anything.

**::Looks around::**

Hello?

**Fiver**?

Comic book trivia groupie chicks?

Anyone?

Hello?

Fenris (who knows the name of Supergirl’s Super Parrot from an imaginary story)

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