Becoming DC's Superboy Comes with a Truly Heartbreaking Curse

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The Superboy mantle seems to have a particular curse in the DCU for anyone who dares to take it on. It seems that those who become Superman's sidekick are destined to lose out on some crucial years of their life.

While Clark Kent might have been the first person to don the Superboy identity, the role has traditionally been reserved for younger heroes with a similar range of powers. Conner Kent was one of the most well-known bearers of the title after he burst onto the scene as a Superman replacement, and even Superman's son Jon filled the role. But Superboy experienced an age change just a short time into his superhero career, thanks to being held hostage on Earth-3 for a few years. While Jon's made his peace with the event, it was a development that left a lot of fans upset. And as it turns out, this is a fairly common occurrence for those who work alongside Superman.

Related: Superman Fan Comic Tells The Jon Kent Story That Deserves To Be Told

In Action Comics #877 by Greg Rucka and Sidney Teles, Lois Lane's foster son Christopher Kent arrives at her apartment seeking out her help. His partner, Thara Ak-Var aka Flamebird, has just been brutally attacked by Chris' birth mother, Ursa. Flamebird is dying after being stabbed by a kryptonite knife so Lois seeks out the aid of a hero that can heal her. After they ensure that Thara is safe, Lois tries to get some answers out of Chris. When she saw her son last, Chris had only been six. The young hero explains that from what he can tell, his body experiences random growth spurts as a result of his time spent in the Phantom Zone. Not only that, Chris' brain was affected by leftover Brainaic tech in the Zone, giving him a more adult mind.

Granted, Chris wasn’t around long enough