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 are the loving adoptive parents of Superman. People often call them "Pa" and "Ma" Kent. They live in the quiet, country town of Smallville, Kansas.

In most stories, Jonathan and Martha found a rocket that crashed on their farm. Inside was a baby alien, Kal-El, from the planet Krypton. They decided to adopt him and named him Clark Kent. "Clark" was Martha's family name before she got married.

The Kents are always shown as caring parents. They teach Clark strong morals and good values. They encourage him to use his amazing powers to help everyone. In some stories, Martha even helps create Clark's famous superhero costume!

The Kents in Superman's Story

The story of Jonathan and Martha Kent has changed a bit over the years in the DC Comics universe.

Early Comic Stories

In the older comic books, the Kents usually died when Clark was still young. This often happened soon after he finished high school. This meant Clark had to become Superman and face the world on his own.

Modern Comic Stories

After a big change to the Superman comics in 1986, the Kents stayed alive much longer. They were important supporting characters even after Clark became an adult. Pa Kent later died during an attack by the supervillain Brainiac. Ma Kent continued to be a part of Clark's life until another big comic book change in 2011.

The Kents in Movies and TV Shows

Jonathan and Martha Kent have appeared in many movies and TV shows about Superman. They are always important figures in Clark's life.

Early Appearances

• In the 1948 Superman movie series, Ed Cassidy played Pa Kent.
• Tom Fadden played Pa Kent in the first episode of the 1950s Adventures of Superman TV show.
• Jonathan also appeared in the New Adventures of Superman cartoon in 1966.

Notable Portrayals

• In the 1978 movie Superman: The Movie, Glenn Ford played Jonathan Kent. In this film, Jonathan passed away from a heart attack as young Clark was growing up.
• John Schneider played Jonathan Kent in the 2000s TV series Smallville. This show focused on Clark's life before he became Superman.
• In the 2006 movie Superman Returns, Hugh Jackman played Jonathan Kent.

Other TV Series and Cartoons

• Stuart Whitman played Jonathan in the 1980s TV series Superboy.
• Alan Oppenheimer voiced Jonathan in the 1988 Superman animated series.
• On the 1990s TV show Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Eddie Jones played Jonathan. In this version, he was still alive and active in Clark's adult life.
• Mike Farrell voiced Pa Kent in the 1990s cartoon Superman: The Animated Series.

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).