Previous Post > I never took any of that away from Superman stories, really. He's always been more human than Kryptonian to me (except for maybe the movies). His advice is always, always, ALWAYS human based. Practically every issue we see him talking to Lois, or pa, or Bruce. He doesn't really spend a lot of time science-ing it up. > > I always percieved his interest in Krypton sort of similar as your intrest in your dead great-grandparents - you want to know where you're from, but it doesn't HAVE to influence where you're going. I agree. I think the crucial aspect of Clark's psyche is the fact that he was raised by loving, stable, wise parents. If instead he had been raised in an orphanage, his outlook might have been different. He might have grasped at his Kryptonian heritage as a way to have a sense of identity. I will say this also, however. I think if some villian had seriously threatened or actually harmed Kara or Chris, even before Clark had gotten to know either one to any depth, that villain might possibly have died at Clark's hand.

> I agree. I think the crucial aspect of Clark's psyche is the fact that he was raised by loving, stable, wise parents. If instead he had been raised in an orphanage, his outlook might have been different. He might have grasped at his Kryptonian heritage as a way to have a sense of identity.
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While I do think that is part of how he turned out, his sense of loss is still a part of his character. Weisinger created very interesting stories about Superman and Krypton, with a sense of loss that can never quite be fullfilled...despite traveling back through time or retrieving old memories. While Jon and Martha gave him a stable home and loving parents, I think a part of him will always wonder and at least try to live up to the standards of his father and mother. Consider that, in his fortress of solitude, his statues aren't of Jon or Martha, but of Jor-el and Lara.

Without that sense of loss or need to connect, I think you lose alot of what makes Superman an interesting character. Jon and Martha taught superman to love humanity but Lara and Jor-el gave him the culture and heritage of an entire planet to show him that he is different from humanity.

- l.k.