Superman of Earth-One has had a variety of love interests throughout the years. As a lad in Smallville, his childhood sweetheart was Lana Lang, while college his romantic interest was Lori Lemaris, and as an adult his steady girlfriend was Lois Lane. Other women also captured his attention, and as both Superman and Clark Kent, Kal-El of Krypton had a several candidates for true love. Among these was Barbara Gordon.
Although having met Batgirl when he and his best friend worked together as the World's Finest Team alongside the heroine and Superman's cousin Supergirl, it was later when that friend Batman encouraged him to ask out Batgirl's alter ego. And so, Clark accompanied Barbara to a diplomat dinner date, when he inadvertently blurted out confidential information (while under the influence of an alien device). This ended a stale first date between the two. although after their costumed alter egos teamed up to battle the evil organization known as M.A.Z.E., they parted as friends.
Soon after, the two met once more as Clark and Barbara, then later as Superman and Batgirl, to stop a criminal scheme to steal oil. They would pair up again to tackle the demented Doctor Horus. Still, no sparks flew between the two.
Interestingly, neither recalled their first meeting, when Clark as Superboy rescues a young Barbara from near drowning, and due to another alien artifact found his powers being transferred to her while she was Mighty Girl.
In a parallel reality, Kal-El's rocket ship landed outside Gotham City instead of Smallville, and was found by patrolman James Gordon. Leaving the infant in the care of Doctor Thomas Wayne and his wife Martha, the couple adopted the lad and named him Bruce, training him in the use of his superhuman abilities.
In his new identity, Superman had numerous adventures, including one occasion where he took down terrorists. His civilian career was as a librarian, working alongside Gordon's daughter Barbara. The pair strike up a budding romance, which blossoms into engagement and finally marriage. Learning of her husband's dual identity, Barbara convinces Clark to use his super-intelligent mind coupled with his father's training to become a research scientist. Clark retires his Superman costume, and works full time seeking to cure the various illness that plague humanity.
Sometime later, Lew Moxon escapes prison and guns down James Gordon. Seeking vengeance, Barbara adopts the alter ego of Batwoman, and finally brings Moxon to justice... ending in his inadvertent death. The World's Finest Team Superman and Batwoman was created!
Interestingly, these tales show that while Kal-El as Clark did not attract Barbara, Kal-El as Bruce would. And Bruce would gladly retire as Superman, while Clark would resist this urge to have a normal life. Meanwhile, on yet a third world, Kal-L aka the Superman of Earth-Two as Clark Kent would serve more as an honorary uncle to Barbara's counterpart Helena, daughter of his best friend Bruce aka Batman. As members of the Justice Society of America, this Superman and Helena as the Huntress would work side-by-side on various cases.
No comments:
Post a Comment