I've always been enamored with Superman; I mean, who isn't thrilled at the idea of a man who can lift buildings? A man who is bulletproof? A man with heat vision, x-ray vision, and super-speed? A man who can fly. From an early age, an iconic figure like Superman has always been something to strive for; the impossibility of what he does is something to gawk at, but it's the selfless pursuit of justice and truth that keeps him firmly rooted in our hearts over 75 years after his conception. There are many ultra-powerful beings depicted in the comics, but none can truly claim the fame and influence of Clark Kent's superhero persona.
However, Superman's heroism and infallible inner moral compass did not develop on their own; the values he cherishes were instilled in him by his adoptive parents, the Kents. While it is easy to ignore the origins of a superhero and focus on his daring exploits, we often forget that our moral code is established by our parents and society itself. Clark Kent only became the man he is because he was molded into that man; what if he had been raised by an incensed Lex Luthor? Or a power hungry Lionel Luther? Imagine how different his attitude would be if his feelings of anguish and rage—which surface quite often when you're forced to portray a bumbling, clumsy fool throughout your childhood to protect yourself—had been nurtured and not repressed or coached through. All it takes is someone guiding them in a different direction.
I'm not interested in Superman's daring exploits in Metropolis, and this story—however long it may be, although I will admit that I will try my best to deliver chapters of decent length and superior quality (you're always free to review my work, I appreciate constructive criticism immensely)—most likely will not address them for a long time, if it does at all.
I'm interested in Superman's upbringing, and the consequences of a simple change in guidance. I posed the question before: What if Clark Kent wasn't raised from his discovery in the Kent Farm until adulthood by the Kents? What if something interrupted this path at a crucial stage in Clark's life?
This will be an unorthodox tale, and will take a vastly different path than traditional Superman stories. I don't know whether there will be suggestive adult themes—I've never been particularly good at that riffraff—but I do know that there will be occasional swear words, some OCs, and a different take on your favorite childhood hero. I'm mostly taking MoS events, coupling it with some Smallville elements (perhaps characters), then adding in my special stuff.
Summary: Clark Kent loses his adoptive parents at a young age. Confused, scared, and unsure of himself, he must survive life without proper parental guidance while discovering his own moral code and figuring out how to deal with whatever obstacles are thrown at him. (the summary sucks, deal with it).
Disclaimer: I do not own Superman, or any version of him, whether it be movie, comic, or random sketch on a subway; likewise, I do not own Smallville or any of its characters. Seriously. This is fanfiction. Lighten up a bit.
Legend:
"blah" – speech
'blah' – thoughts
oOo – flashback
-x- – scene change
(A/N) – author's note
Update: First chapter will be out soon! Hang tight with me, my brother and his friend are in town for a couple of weeks and I rarely see them, so I'll be dividing my time between him and working on the story. I'm hoping for at least a weekly update, but in all honesty I'll probably just update when I find the inspiration and the time to do so. Enjoy your friends and family while you can!
-DJ
