Superman might be the greatest hero of the DC Universe, but Superboy has admitted that he respects two people far more than the Man of Steel. With Superboy’s sometimes contentious relationship with Superman, it comes as no surprise that despite a healthy dose of hero worship for his clone brother, Conner Kent has other people he sees as even more impressive.
In,Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow #1 by Kenny Porter, Jahnoy Lindsay, and Lucas Gattoni, Conner is picking up coffee in Metropolis when he tries to swoop in and save some citizens from an imminent threat. His efforts aren’t needed, though, as Metropolis has Supergirl and two Supermen – Clark and Jon Kent – as its protectors. Dejected, Superboy flies back to Smallville with his coffees in tow. Despite being surrounded by some of the greatest heroes in the DCU, including the original Superman himself, Conner calls Ma and Pa Kent “the two greatest people in the world.”
Superboy Respects Jonathan and Martha Kent More Than Superman
Before Flashpoint rebooted the DC Universe, Superboy Conner Kent’s status quo involved living in Smallville with the Kents, where he was essentially treated as Clark’s brother and a true member of the Kent family by Martha and Jonathan. But that version of Conner was erased from continuity and only returned during the Rebirth era, at which point only a small number of people – including his friends in Young Justice – remembered his existence. Though Superman wasn’t among that numbers, Ma and Pa remembered Superboy immediately and welcomed him home with open arms. Now, during the new Dawn of DC era, Conner is more firmly a member of the Super-Family than ever, but that doesn’t mean he still doesn’t feel left out from time to time.
Superman’s Parents Are Heroes Across the Multiverse
Beyond his personal connection, though, Martha and Jonathan are universally beloved by the DCU and fans alike. If Superman is the world’s strongest and kindest hero, then Ma and Pa are doubly heroic for having raised Clark Kent to be so. Even in alternate universes, like Justice League: The Nail and Dark Knights of Steel, the Kents are true heroes, always standing up for others, even when it means risking their own lives. The Kents aren’t just beloved by select Kryptonians – they’re genuine heroes who have spoken truth to power, shielded the innocent, and shaped an alien god into a hero in countless worlds.
The Kents have been standing up for Superboy as long as they’ve known him. It’s not a shock that Conner sees them as the “greatest people in the world,” even when he knows the likes of Superman and Supergirl. Superboy respects Ma and Pa because they have always respected him, showing why the people who raised Superman will always be the DC Universe’s greatest heroes.
