The story of Superman is well known. The baby Kal-El, the Last Son of Krypton, was rocketed away from the doomed planet by his father Jor-El just moments before it exploded. Kal-El's rocket landed in Smallville, Kansas, where he was found and raised by the kindly Kents to be Clark Kent, a good and decent man. Powered by the radiation of a yellow sun, Clark became Superman, the Man of Tomorrow.
But that is the story of the Superman of Earth-Prime. In the DC Multiverse, there are countless Supermen, each with their own tales to tell. One such Superman is Calvin Ellis, the Superman of Earth-23. Along with being the greatest hero of his world, Calvin Ellis is also the President of the United States, but that just scratches the surface of this relatively new character.
10 Born Kalel Of Krypton
Before he was known as Calvin Ellis, the Superman of Earth-23 was named Kalel of Krypton. While the Superman of Earth-Prime was born in Kryptonopolis, Kalel came from Vathlo Island, a nation separate from the rest Krypton's planetary federation. While Krypton was far more scientifically advanced than Earth, Vathlo Island was even further ahead than the other Kryptonian cities. Kalel was a baby when his Krypton exploded and he was rocketed off to Earth, which is one of the many similarities he has with the other Supermans across the multiverse.
9 Discovered By The Ellis Family
Instead of being found by the Kents, Earth-23's Kalel was discovered by the Ellis family and named Calvin. While much of his past remains unknown to readers, it appears that Calvin did not grow up on a farm as Clark Kent did; in Infinite Frontier #1, Calvin's adopted parents discover a new crashed rocket and mention that they moved out of the city to get away from such craziness.
Growing up in a city likely gives Calvin a different viewpoint on humanity than Clark Kent's. Where Clark learned about responsibility and a hard day's work on the farm, Calvin learned the same lessons on the streets of a major metropolitan city. Perhaps this difference is why Calvin is more willing to get involved in politics.
8 Battled An Evil Superman From Another Earth
When three refugees from Earth-45 arrived on his Earth, Calvin learned that there was an evil Superman, called Superdoom. Superdoom began to travel the multiverse, killing other versions of Superman, leading to President Superman teaming up with his Earth's version of Lex Luthor to stop the beast. Calvin and Lex Luthor, along with the help of one of the Earth-45 refugees, were able to teleport Superdoom out of their universe, believing that they had killed him in the process. It was only then that the Earth-23 Superman learned that the refugee from Earth-45 was named Lois Lane.
7 The World Doesn't Know America's President Is Superman
It's unclear what path Calvin Ellis took to the White House, but what is known is that his rise was quick, and he has proven to be a popular President. What makes it all the more impressive is that the people of Earth-23 don't know that the Leader of the Free World is also the Man of Steel. Calvin has been able to keep his dual life a secret despite living a life that is under constant watch, thanks to the help of his overworked assistant Courtney and a very special piece of equipment.
6 Brainiac Keeps His Secret Safe
One way Calvin Ellis is able to keep his dual life a secret is with the help of his personal computer, Brainiac. Once a deadly rival, Calvin Ellis was able to defeat his universe's Brainiac once and for all and reprogrammed the alien intelligence to serve him. As seen in Final Crisis, Brainiac has become President Ellis' personal computer and has, on occasion, covered for him when he suddenly leaves the White House to deal with an emergency that only Superman can handle.
Still, living in a comic book world, there is only so much time before President Ellis' Brainiac becomes its old evil self again and causes some serious havoc. When that will be is anyone's guess, but the clock is ticking.
5 Pulled A Superman IV On Bialya
In the ill-fated Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, the Man of Steel takes it upon himself to end the threat of nuclear war on Earth by taking every nuclear bomb on the planet and throwing them into the sun. In the comics the Earth-Prime Superman prefers to keep out of problems that can be solved by humans, believing that if he used his powers to change the course of nations, he would be taking a step towards fascism.
That apparently isn't as big of a problem for Calvin Ellis. As the Superman of Earth-23, Calvin traveled to the nation of Bialya and destroyed their nuclear facilities before inviting them to join the international community.
4 Founding Member Of Justice Incarnate
When the multiverse was being invaded by a race of cosmic parasites known as the Gentry, heroes from different Earths came together to save all that existed, and the Justice Incarnate was formed. Running their operations out of the House of Heroes located in the Bleed - the space between realities - the Justice Incarnate keeps the multiverse sade from major disasters. After the events of Dark Knights: Death Metal, the Earth-Prime version of Flash, Barry Allen joined the team. Not only is Calvin Ellis a founding member of the Justice Incarnate, but he is also the team's leader.
3 He Has Skills The Prime Earth Superman Lacks
While the Earth-Prime Superman has no shortage of powers and skills, even he can't do everything. Luckily, the other Supermans across the multiverse can fill in those gaps when needed, including Calvin Ellis and his special skills. One skill Calvin has that Clark Kent probably would have wanted when he was forced to fight Muhamad Ali without his powers is actual training in boxing. Calvin is a skilled boxer, taught by his father before his powers kicked in. Calvin is also quite skilled at the guitar. While Clark Kent knows chords and a few songs, Calvin is a professional level guitar player.
2 He Wasn't The First Black Superman Grant Morrison Created
Calvin Ellis was created by Grant Morrison, Doug Mahnke, and Gene Ha for Multiversity, and the character - one of three known Black Supermans - has quickly become a fan favorite. Now that Calvin is playing a major role in the Infinite Frontier event series, it looks like he will become even more popular.
But Calvin isn't the first Black Superman Grant Morrison created. Back when Morrison was writing Animal Man, they introduced the world to Sunshine Superman, one of the many heroes from an alternate Earth that was destroyed in Crisis on Infinite Earths. Sunshine Superman, named after the famous Donovan song, returned and joined the other Supermen during Final Crisis.
1 His Creation Was Inspired By Barack Obama
Grant Morrison has said that they created Calvin Ellis to be a play on Barack Obama, who had just been sworn in as President 8 days before Ellis made his debut in Final Crisis #7. Just a month before Obama won the 2008 election, he spoke at the 63rd annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner and, discussing his own fast rise to prominence and popularity, joked, "Contrary to the rumors you have heard, I was not born in a manger. I was actually born on Krypton and sent here by my father, Jor-el, to save the planet Earth." Apparently, on Earth-23, that is exactly what happened.
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