Kal-El

This article is about Clark Kent's Kryptonian persona. For Clark's persona under red kryptonite, see Kal.

"I am Kal-El of Krypton. It is time to fulfill my destiny." – Kal-El, declaring his purpose to Martha Kent, Crusade

Kal-El is the native Kryptonian name of Clark Kent, the son of Jor-El and Lara, and he is Clark's Kryptonian persona following Jor-El reprogramming.

Physical Appearance

Kal-El has the appearance of his father. He has black hair and navy blue eyes, and his voice pitch is between a high voice and a deep voice. His hair is wider and longer than Clark's.

Kal-El's basic clothing is with the color black; he wears a black buttoned t-shirt with a black belt, black jeans and black farmer boots.

Personality

Crusadews 283 — Kal-El in the Kawatche Caves.

Despite his articulate and fluent speech, Kal-El is cold, unfeeling and void of any emotions and attachments, as he has no memories or recollections of Clark's family and friends because of his reprogramming by Jor-El. He sees humanity as a weakness.

Kal-El is strongly driven to pursue his Kryptonian calling and hone the Stones of Power. He has some of Clark's latest memories before his assimilation into the wall, as he was able to remember both Jonathan Kent and his time in the wall, which he claimed "felt like home." He is curious and observing, and was able to tell that Lois talked too much.

It is also worth mentioning that Kal-El is more confident with his powers than Clark, which is possibly why he can fly and Clark couldn't at the time.

Season Three

Jor-El captured a human female named Lindsey Harrison and re-programmed her as a Kryptonian named "Kara" whose mission was to lure Clark to the Kawatche Caves so he could re-program him in order to force him to embrace his destiny. When Clark still defiantly refused, Jor-El threatened to kill Jonathan Kent if he didn't comply. Clark agreed to go with Jor-El in order to save Jonathan, leaving Jonathan in a coma.

Season Four

Three months later, Clark returned, re-programmed as Kal-El of Krypton, a more obedient version of Clark who fully embraced his destiny. He was found in a cornfield by Lois Lane, where she took him to Smallville Medical Center. It was here that Martha Kent discovered Clark and volunteered to help him find a sign he was waiting for. Kal-El agreed to follow her, and the two returned to the Kent Farm.

After becoming aware of his whereabouts and mission, Kal-El set out to find the Stones of Power. Accepting his destiny, he used his powers to find the Crystal of Fire, but his quest was interrupted when Martha used black kryptonite to free Clark from Kal-El.

Powers and Abilities

Being, biologically, Clark Kent, Kal-El possessed all of his Kryptonian powers and even manifested some abilities Clark had yet to manifest, such as telekinetic manipulation of Kryptonian technology (evidenced by his calling the Crystal of Fire to his hand). In addition, he displayed adept control of flight, an ability that, whilst manifested, Clark had yet to exert control over.

Kal-El's powers were superior in several ways to his counterpart Clark. He exhibited the following list of abilities in Crusade:

Solar battery: Kal-El's abilities are nourished by the yellow sun. ^{[citation needed]}

Super strength: Kal-El is extremely strong, able to rip a plane door off its hinges with one hand. He appeared to be more powerful than Clark when he overpowered him with only a choke.
Super speed: Kal-El can fly at supersonic speeds and was able to catch on with Lex's jet.
Flight: Kal-El can easily defy the laws of gravity, enabling him to hover or soar through the air and reach altitudes that far exceed 20,000 feet.
Telekinesis: Kal-El was able to call the Crystal of Fire to his hand.
Super stamina: Kal-El was able to fly for long periods of time without tiring.
Super breathing: Kal-El could breathe far above Earth's atmosphere for prolonged periods of time.

As Kal-El, he didn't demonstrate heat vision, X-ray vision, super hearing, super breath, Arctic breath, telescopic vision or micro vision, but it's likely that he was fully capable of using them.

Vulnerabilities

Kal-El is most likely to have the same vulnerabilities as Clark and other Kryptonians, though he didn't display any.

Green kryptonite: Even though it was not shown, Kal-El was vulnerable to green kryptonite.
Black kryptonite was able to restore the balance between Kal-El and Clark Kent.

Name

Kal means "child" and El means "star" in the Kryptonian language.^[1] In Kryptonian dialect, the family name is spoken first and the given name next when the meaning of the name is expressed. Hence, Kal-El means "star child." The name was suggested to Lara by Kara while they were visiting the Kent Farm before the first meteor shower.

With the help of Dr. Virgil Swann, Clark learned that his birth name was "Kal-El." He has been referred to as "Kal-El" by Dr. Swann, Lionel Luthor, Jonathan Kent, Jor-El, Zor-El, Lara, Kara, the Disciples of Zod, Brainiac, General Zod, Raya, Bizarro, Baern, Titan, Martian Manhunter, Chloe Sullivan, Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Faora, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Tess Mercer, Alia, Major Zod, Carter Hall and Lois Lane.

Clark has introduced himself as "Kal-El" to the Disciples of Zod, Lara, Martha Kent, Dax-Ur and Linda Danvers (the alternate universe version of his cousin Kara).

Quotes

Dr. Swann: (reads the Kryptonian transmission) "This is Kal-El of Krypton, our infant son, our last hope. Please protect him and deliver him from evil."

Season Two, Rosetta

Jor-El: Fear not, Kal-El... I am Jor-El, your father... I am his memory, his will. I am to fulfill his promise and guide you all the days of your life. You are the last son of Krypton. When you traveled through the cosmos, you carried the hopes and dreams of your people. They now live through you, Kal-El... It is time for you to accept your destiny... By the setting of the star Sol, you will return to me. Your destiny will be fulfilled. Your thoughts are not a mystery to me, Kal-El. But these people have served their purpose. It is time to leave them... You must let go of your past. I will guide you to your future... You have no choice, Kal-El.

Season Two, Exodus

Kal-El: "I am Kal-El of Krypton. It is time to fufill my destiny."

Clark: You don't know anything about this race. Yeah, they can be petty and dishonest and betray each other over nothing. But they can also be honest and loyal. And they would give up everything to protect someone they love...even if they were from another planet.

Professor Fine: Kal-El...

Clark: My name is Clark. And I'll always believe in my friends and my family.

Season Five, Splinter

Lex/Zod: You have your father's eyes. Hello, Kal-El.

Season Five, Vessel

Raya: Where are you from?! Where?!

Clark: I was born on Krypton and raised on Earth.

Raya: Earth? Kal-El?

Clark: How do you know my Kryptonian name?

Season Six, Zod

Clark: I know who I am!

Dr. Hudson: I'm not sure you do. Your name is Clark Kent, not Kal-El. And Jor-El isn't your father.

Season Six, Labyrinth

Lara-El: Jor-El? Is that you?

Clark: I'm Kal-El.

Lara-El: Kal-El? My son? My beautiful boy.

Season Seven, Blue

Clark: I'm looking for someone.

Dax-Ur: Well... If they live all the way out here, I probably know him.

Clark: Dax-Ur?

Dax-Ur: Dexter? No... no... nobody around here on that name.

Clark: Actually he's not from around here. He is from Krypton. So am I. (he tosses the beacon to Dax-Ur) I'm Kal-El.

Dax-Ur: The House of El. You always were survivors.

Season Seven, Persona

Clark: Kara, listen to me.

Kara: How do you know that name?

Clark: Because I'm from Krypton. I'm your cousin. I'm Kal-El.

Season Seven, Apocalypse

Orb: Is Kal-El ready to fulfill the prophecy?

Tess: I did as you asked. The crystal has been destroyed.

Orb: Then you shall be the savior of Kandor.

Season Eight, Injustice

Clark: I understand you've been looking for me.

Zod: (to his soldiers) My brother and sister Kandorians, he has come. Kneel before Kal-El.

Season Nine, Pandora

Notes

Clark Kent is the first person on the show to be split by black kryptonite.

References

↑ Told by Kara in Lara

[1] Told by Kara in Lara

[1]