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Clark Kent
Lana: You've been friends with Clark for a long time. Is he always so...
Pete: Clark-like?
Lana: Yeah.
Pete: Sometimes he's totally there and you think you know everything about him, and then there's this part that's...
Lana: Mysterious.
Pete: Yeah, that's it. Clark Kent, international man of mystery.
Played by Fanfare
Contents |
Personality 
Edit
Introduction Edit
This gets lengthy.
That’s what happens when there’s a character with 160+ hours of television, a dozen comics, a bunch of novels, and an assortment of other extras in just one continuity.
He’s also had 70+ years of history, consisting of thousands of comic issues, a bunch of movies, an animated series, another live action series, and a whole variety of other stuff to supplement the character outside of Smallville alone.
Needless to say, there’s always been an argument over who he is.
He isn’t just Clark Kent, the farmer’s son who has a tendency to get himself in and out of trouble, who made his way through high school without much fanfare, and will likely end up taking over his father’s farm, get married and never leave Smallville.
He isn’t just the Blur, a lonely good samaritan whose presence comforts as much as it unnerves, stopping crime and saving lives, struggling to save everyone.
He isn’t just an alien, a “superman”, practically a god amongst men, sent as a saviour to Earth and its people, with superhuman powers that transcend the realm of reality and seem to create miracles no matter where he goes.
He’s a combination of them.
So who is he, really?
Who Is Clark Kent? Edit
Clark was brought up to be humble. His adoptive parents worked extremely hard to keep his secret safe all throughout his life, and they instilled in him a strong sense of justice, fairness, and truth –– the only traits that transcend all the layers, shells and emotional walls he’s intentionally and unintentionally built himself to fit in with the world.
To a complete outsider, he’s quiet and unassuming, and some may even describe him as shy. It takes a lot of time for him to open up, and he’s often been described as a “mystery” because of it. He is mild-mannered and polite. It all forms a shell that, while not always necessarily untrue of his character, masks who he is as a whole.
To those that can see past the facade, or know he’s more than your average Kansas farmboy-turned-reporter, Clark is heroic, unselfish, and very dedicated to helping people. He’s endlessly compassionate, and he tries to see the best side of everyone, and he will trust people to a fault.
He approaches the smaller things with a good sense of humour, but takes any issue he comes across seriously. He may be considered uptight by some, but with all the power under his control, he cannot afford to be cavalier. It takes an immense amount of self control to be him, and self control is exactly what Clark Kent has.
And, still, the people who manage to crack that shell entirely will see a very different person; a Clark who is relaxed and very on-the-ball. He can be playful, witty, romantic, lovesick, and even snarky or sarcastic. Around the people he cares about and feels most comfortable around, Clark is completely at ease. They know a Clark who is habitually late, a terrible liar, and even worse at hiding his feelings. They know a Clark who loves being around children and acting like a big brother, and goofs around with his dog. They also see someone who is a workaholic to cope or avoid his problems, and who buries himself in something until he is coaxed out.
And, finally, to hide who he is, he lies almost on auto-pilot, which can be very damaging when the truth finally comes out –– and it rarely comes out by his choice.
Humanity Edit
Despite all his powers, his big life, his literally out-of-this-world origins and his destiny, Clark is human at his core. He was raised as a human, by humans, in human society. He is perfectly aware of the world he is in, because Earth has been his home far longer than Krypton ever was. While he can never be human, and a part of him will always feel isolated and different, he is closer to them than he ever could be with his “own kind”. Sometimes, this humanity can be his greatest flaw; he has been known to allow second chances to those that don’t deserve it, or refuse to terminate any problem for good.
He often seems to resent his origins, but he’s come to terms with the fact that he isn’t human and never will be. Through the Katawache caves, his encounters with other Kryptonians, and Paradisa’s library he’s explored Krypton’s history, mythology and culture, and his initial negative impression of Kryptonians has waned somewhat.
That doesn’t mean he doesn’t still put humanity on a pedestal, though.
At the end of the day, Clark is humanity’s number one fan. No one believes in the power of humanity like he does, and in his eyes, humanity is good by default. Corruption is almost always reversible, and that people are capable of turning themselves around and getting back on the right track. They just need a bit of direction sometimes –– and not necessarily by him.
Being humanity’s number one fan, however, also makes him humanity’s greatest defender.
When innocent lives are at stake, Clark is righteous and angry. He’ll go to extremes to protect people, never sacrificing his ideals, and he knows that acting in anger is the easiest route. He can come dangerously close to toeing the line, at times, but he knows that it isn’t right, because vengeance isn’t justice, and never will be.
His idealism and his devotion to humanity can also be very intimidating, and sometimes misinterpreted by others. Clark’s ideals can seem so untouchable that it seems impossible to measure up, and as a result, people tend to see him as very narrow-minded, or naive. It isn’t in his nature to preach, preferring to lead by example, so he often allows bad impressions to run rampant, and he will rarely jump to his own defense.
At times, Clark can also be impulsive and act before thinking things through, often without considering the real-world repercussions, despite his good intentions. Unsurprisingly, Clark has a hero complex, often trying to save lives at any and all cost. He has willingly risked his own life to save his loved ones and has, on many occasions, offered the Kents' home to individuals seeking refuge.
He’s not without his temper, either, which usually comes out when the people he loves are put into danger. He often bottles up his emotions until they get the better of him, and this sometimes leads to emotional outbursts that hurt those around him, and himself.
Isolation Edit
Clark was fairly isolated as a child and a teenager. He could have sauntered through high school with all his gifts, but he held back, to protect others, himself, and his secret. Even when he was bold enough to play football, he quit the team whenever the temptation to use his abilities became too difficult to handle, or someone got hurt by accident. Fearing that something might go wrong drove him away from any offered glory, and as a result, he was very much an outsider at school. He knew people, but seldom did he get close.
Much of his time in high school was spent watching from afar and keeping to himself. His best friend (and the first person he confided to about his secret) moved away because Clark’s secret was too dangerous to him and his family. He struggled to keep a friendship with Lana, especially when she was upset about his reluctance (or even complete inability) to open up and confide in her. His relationship with Chloe struggled to stay afloat for the longest time, until she discovered his secret via a third party, and even then, it appears to him that their friendship will end because of his powers.
This is who Clark is, to protect himself and his loved ones: someone who will push away friends and hide the truth so that people can’t get too close to him. While he is friendly, earnest, and seems to know a lot of people, it is rare that people get beyond his surface. In Paradisa, where his “secret” isn’t kept so tightly wrapped, he tries to be more honest about who he really is, but it backfires on him when people act as though he’s infallible or as though he has no excuse for making mistakes. His initial belief that he could be “normal” in Paradisa was wrong.
The Justice League Edit
His experiences meeting the cobbled-together Paradisa incarnation of the Justice League has left an impression on him, too. All the huge expectations foisted on him and being looked up to makes him uncomfortable, but the bigger issue is the feeling that he can’t be honest with them, either. He sees the clear divide between them, the people who put on costumes to do good and then resume their normal lives, fitting in as usual, and himself, who pretends to be normal to fit in. While he may not wear identities quite like they do, Clark has recognized the gap between them and himself with a growing feeling of emptiness, like he doesn’t really belong there, either. Initial beliefs that he would have an instant circle of friends who understood him were proven wrong, as well.
But that isn't to say he's without friends there after all: he's grown very close to a number of them, and while he's still working on being a team player and fitting in with the motley group, he has managed to adapt quite well. It isn't to say he's completely isolated from them, either: while their version of the universe and his life still seems so jarringly different at times, knowing they're all there is a great comfort, and he's on good terms with the vast majority of them.
AbilitiesEdit
Strengths Edit
- Superstrength
- Superspeed
- Superdexterity
- Invulnerability
- Healing Factor
- X-Ray Vision
- Heat Vision
- Superhearing
- Superbreath
- Speed Reading/Memory
- Flight
- Ice breath
Weaknesses Edit
Kryptonite: Radioactive pieces of his home world. Usually green and lethal, but it comes in a lot of different flavours, and each has a different effect. It emits a radiation that is extremely toxic to super powered Kryptonians. The radiation itself first causes symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, pain, and weakness that eventually grow more severe until loss of consciousness occurs. Prolonged exposure or large amounts of green kryptonite will ultimately lead to death. When green or blue (see below) Kryptonite are involved, all his strengths are off the table.
On the other hand, red Kryptonite strips him of his inhibitions and social conscience. It’s a bit like the Kryptonian edition of an angry, horny drunk. He is disrespectful, uncaring of others' feelings, and can become violently dangerous, and he swears.
Blue Kryptonite strips Clark of his powers, but not painfully-so like green K; simply coming in contact with it appears to merely shut his powers down until he is no longer touching it.
Silver kryptonite makes Clark extremely paranoid and suspicious of those around him. Silver K's effects on Clark are similar to those of hallucinogenic drugs. His behavior becomes erratic and he sees and hears things that are not there, such as perceiving balance sheets as bills. In addition, Clark manifests physical symptoms such as sweating, labored breathing, and puffy, dilated eyes, although his powers are unaffected.
Mental Invulnerability: He can be hypnotised by magic items. Attempting to wipe his memory, even just for a short period of time, can result in complete and total memory loss, right down to his name. He can be possessed, and you can invade his mind to control him, though you can’t read his mind.
Magic: I don’t know how to describe this, other than the kind of magic where you’re saying latinesque incantations. Similarily enchanted weapons are a pain, too. He isn't really really weak to magic so much as he is "not invulnerable" to magic. Magically conjured fireballs won't hurt him more than normal fireballs and a magic hammer won't take him out of commission just like that either. A vorpal sword that magically always-beheads-its-target could work. You could turn him into a flower, that'd be good. You could turn the air in his lungs into acid though and you're not going to get anywhere far with it. It really, really depends on the situation.
Kryptonite-induced Powers: If you got your power from Kryptonite, you MAY be able to harm Clark. Otherwise, talk to me.
Sonic Noises: Makes his ears bleed.
Relationships Edit
Canon Universe Edit
This shit is like 1.5 years old, you don't even KNOW, man.
Alicia Baker: Former girlfriend with teleporting abilities, who Clark quickly bonded with after they discovered each others' powers. They had some serious bumps in their relationship: Determined to make sure Clark was hers and hers alone, Alicia tried to kill Lana, and was put in Belle Reeve, a mental facility. She was released a year later, and convinced she had turned over a new leaf, Clark took her back. Things weren't perfect, and even after being drugged with red Kryptonite, Clark forgave her and stuck by her. However, when Alicia was accused of more attempted murders when Lana and Jason Teague were attacked from inside locked rooms, Clark believed it... until the murderer killed Alicia. He has no idea what to make of her being in Paradisa, but he still feels guilty over what happened to her, and he wants to make it up to her.
Bart Allen: Clark’s speedster friend, and a member of Oliver Queen's Justice team. They met when Bart saved Clark's father from a driving accident, stealing Jonathan's wallet in the process. Apparently Bart is a generation behind him in every other universe, but Clark shrugs that off.
Chloe Sullivan: Clark’s best friend in the whole world. Currently absent from Paradisa, and Clark misses her dearly.
Lana Lang: The love of his life. Lana and Clark have had a very tumultuous relationship on Earth, and it's no different in Paradisa. When she first arrived there was a six year gap between them, which later changed to three years, which later changed to three months, and then to nine months. They've broken up and gotten back together again several times, though Clark's feelings for her have never changed. Unfortunately, their current break-up seems to be for good: Lana came back to Paradisa with a Kryptonite-laced power suit of nanites in her skin, meaning he can't get close to her without suffering. She wants to put distance between them because she feels she doesn't have the strength to be there without being able to be close to him, and it breaks Clark's heart.
Lex Luthor: Former best friend, current enemy. Currently absent from Paradisa. Lana's tale of how the power suit came to be has filled Clark with a lot of unexpressed rage towards Lex, and he hopes that Lex stays away from Paradisa, because he isn't sure what he would do if Lex showed up.
Lois Lane: The iconic Lois Lane is Clark's coworker at the Daily Planet, currently absent from Paradisa. They have a strange relationship. They lean on each other when they need each other, but they bicker often and are often torn between acting like an old married couple and the odd bit of sexual tension. Clark cares for her a lot, and he misses her, but he's a bit afraid of her returning to Paradisa, both because he'll have to come clean about his secret, and because a certain someone and company have told him that Clark Kents and Lois Lanes tend to get hitched.
DC Universe Edit
Clark and his friends haven't exactly found a way to determine which universe some people are from, but they've been able to make some guesses, based on memories and identities. Clark's been recognized to be from a different universe than most, but a lot of the others seem to have adopted him as their own anyway, and vice versa.
Bruce Wayne: Batman, and apparently, going to be Clark's best friend someday. Somehow they've managed to have a weird first meeting that involved Bruce pulling Lana off of a dying Clark, and a few other weird meetings, but Clark recognizes that someone who's going to be "World's Finest" with him obviously is someone he can trust. Unknown universe, but has been adopted by Cassie C. and Tim.
Cassie C.: Batgirl, Batman's apprentice. Very quiet and withdrawn, but she knows who he is (or, at least, who he's supposed to be.)
Cassie S.: Wonder Girl, the apprentice of a future friend and coworker, and a Teen Titan. They haven't spoken over the journals, but the odd time they've bumped into each other, she's been friendly and upbeat.
Guy Gardner: Clark's not really impressed. He's been helpful with information, but his attitude and language leaves much to be desired.
Jaime Reyes: a Blue Beetle, Ted Kord's replacement, and a Teen Titan. Clark doesn't know the kid very well, but he knows he's trustworthy and a good kid.
John Stewart: Also from Shayera’s world. Clark hasn’t talked to John as much as he’s talked to Shayera, but he still has a great first impression of John, and he trusts him. They worked together to stop the T-Rex on the Park Drive.
Kara In-Ze: His cousin from another dimension. Kara's used to a much older Clark, but Clark doesn't see too much difference; he's very glad to have her around. She helped him work on the flying thing. As with his Kara, he DOES wish she would wear more clothes, thanks!
Kon: A teenaged clone, with DNA from both Clark and Lex Luthor. Clark took an instant liking to the kid, and although he hasn't exactly decided what his relationship with Kon is supposed to be, brother or cousin or father or what, he cares a lot and KNOWS Kon is family, even if he hasn't gotten to know him too well yet. Kon has told Clark a number of things about his future, both good and bad, and Clark isn't sure whether he feels good about knowing the "future" or not. Lana often reminds him that they're from different universes, but Clark's wary; his universe just seems to move at a faster pace than everyone else's.
Booster: Booster Gold, Justice League member from the future, and part of the "infamous" Blue and Gold duo. Clark hasn't exactly gotten the best first impression, and he's not a big fan of Booster's attitude.
Shayera Hol: Clark was surprised to discover that his destiny -- or at least one of them -- had him becoming Superman, working alongside Shayera and John in the Justice League. Knowing she was on his side, he took an instant liking to her. He trusts her, and though sometimes he feels awkward talking to her, he has very quickly come to consider her a friend.
Superboy-Prime: The last person Clark expected to meet in Paradisa was himself, albeit from another universe. While his first impression was somewhat mixed, sensing hostility but not much else wrong, Clark’s opinion of Prime quickly deteriorated when he heard from the Tenth Doctor about Prime’s murderous exploits in Paradisa. Overall, Clark is wary, and feels pressured to counterbalance Prime’s impact on the place, and is alarmed that someone with the same upbringing as him could turn out so violent and psychopathic. He won’t admit it, but it makes him nervous about his own destiny. Clark feels Prime can change, and has the capacity for change; he hasn't exactly made PLANS for it, but if he can make an impression, he'll do it.
Tim Drake: Robin, Batman's apprentice, and a Teen Titan. Clark thinks the boy is extremely intelligent and helpful, and likes the kid. Like Kon, Clark cares about Robin, even if he hasn't gotten to know him too well yet. He's concerned about Robin's moral compass at times.
Ted Kord: Blue Beetle, Justice League member from the future, and part of the "infamous" Blue and Gold duo. Clark hasn't spoken to him much, but other than the goofy stuff, he thinks Ted is a pretty nice guy.
Paradisa Edit
SO NOT UP TO DATE; IN PROGRESS
Nine:
Zelman Clock: Zelman bothers him, but Clark doesn’t want it turn into a rivalry, so he tries to maintain some level of normalcy between them. Despite that, he really wouldn’t mind if Zelman just... disappeared.
Claire Bennet: Claire was his unexpected first encounter with superpowered people. He found an instant liking to her simply because of it, knowing she understood the hiding-yourself deal well, and he trusts her.
Peter Petrelli: Claire’s friend, very smart. Clark’s not sure if the healing factor and ability to fly are public knowledge, so he’s hesitant to ask about it.
Sylar: A very dangerous man from Claire and Peter’s world. Clark doesn’t really like him, but after a long conversation with him, he’s decided that Sylar could be worse, and could easily be stopped, if needed.
Lelouch Lamperouge: A rather nice guy, friends with Shirley. Clark doesn’t know him too well.
Shirley Fennette: A really sweet girl, friends with Lelouch. Clark and Claire saved her from bleeding out.
Travis Touchdown: the rough-around-the-edges owner of the Death Match. Clark damaged the Death Match while on red Kryptonite and helped repair it, but they definitely didn't get to a good start regardless. Clark really does not like him or his approach to things, and as he understands it, the feeling is mutual.
Dante: Dante picked a fight with Clark while Clark was on red Kryptonite. Clark had a considerable advantage and managed to mess up Dante’s arm, even with Dante’s healing factor. Luckily, the two managed to make good on the affair, and both promised to keep the other’s secret.
Trivia Edit
- Clark is a nerd who got picked on in school. The idea isn't all that hard to swallow once you get past the fact that Tom Welling was an underwear model.
- Clark does not actually wear plaid all that often anymore. He usually wears dress shirts and solid t-shirts.
- Clark is practically colour coded. Most of his clothing is red or blue. Likewise with his bed-sheets, his jackets, his pillows, his decor, his toothbrush, whatever.
- Clark is not a huge fan of spandex and capes. To say the least, he doesn't "get it" yet.
- Clark isn't a fan of the "Superman" name yet, regardless of how much he loves the concept of being able to protect the world without hiding. The name has yet to grow on him.
- His favourite food is his mom's beef bourguignon.
- His favourite movie/book is To Kill A Mockingbird.
