Jonathan and Martha Kent facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jonathan and Martha Kent
Jonathan and Martha Kent with a young Clark on the cover of Superman: Secret Origin #1 Art by Gary Frank
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Superman #1 (Summer 1939)
Created by	Jerry Siegel Joe Shuster
In-story information
Full name	Jonathan Kent Martha Kent
Supporting character of	Superman Superboy (Kal-El)

Jonathan Kent and Martha Kent, often referred to as "Pa" and "Ma" Kent (respectively), are the fictional adoptive parents of Superman. They live in the rural town of Smallville, Kansas. In most versions of Superman's origin story, Jonathan and Martha were the first to come across the rocket that brought the infant Kal-El, with their adopting him shortly thereafter, renaming him Clark Kent, "Clark" being Martha's maiden name.

The Kents are usually portrayed as caring parents who instill within Clark a strong sense of morals, and they encourage Clark to use his powers for the betterment of humanity. In a few continuities, Martha is also the one who creates Clark's superhero costume.

In DC Comics continuity before John Byrne's 1986 reboot of the Superman story, the Kents die shortly after Clark's high school graduation. In post-Crisis continuity, they both remain alive even after Clark becomes an adult, with the Kents as supporting characters until Pa Kent's death during an attack by the supervillain Brainiac. Ma Kent remains a supporting character in Superman comics until 2011's The New 52 continuity reboot.

Other media

• Ed Cassidy played Pa Kent in the 1948 Superman movie serial.

• Tom Fadden played Pa Kent in the pilot for the 1950s Adventures of Superman television series (as Eben Kent).

• Jonathan also appeared in the Superboy segments of the 1966 New Adventures of Superman cartoon.

• Glenn Ford portrayed Jonathan in 1978's Superman: The Movie. In the movie, the character died of a heart attack on the farm as young Clark approached manhood.

• Stuart Whitman played Jonathan on the 1980s television series Superboy.

• On the 1988 Ruby-Spears produced Superman animated series, Alan Oppenheimer provided Jonathan's voice.

• On the 1990s television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Jonathan was played by Eddie Jones. Consistent with the post-Crisis comics' version of his story, the character was still alive and active in the grown Clark's life.

• Pa Kent made occasional appearances in the 1990s cartoon Superman: The Animated Series. He was voiced by Mike Farrell.

• On the 2000s television series Smallville, Jonathan was played by John Schneider.

• In the 2006 movie Superman Returns, Jonathan Kent was portrayed by Hugh Jackman.

Images for kids

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  Martha and Jonathan Kent, as they appear in comics from the 1970s and 1980s. From New Adventures of Superboy #1 (January 1980). Art by Kurt Schaffenberger.

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  Jonathan and Martha Kent in Action Comics #597 (February 1988). Art by John Byrne.

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  The younger version of the Kents as depicted in Superman: Birthright. Art by Leinil Francis Yu.

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  Jonathan and Martha Kent with Clark Kent on the cover of Superman: Secret Origin #1 (Nov. 2009) art by Gary Frank.

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  Glenn Ford as Jonathan Kent with Phyllis Thaxter as Martha in Superman (1978).