Superboy-Prime

Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime in his Anti-Monitor inspired armor. Cover to Infinite Crisis #6 (2006).
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	DC Comics Presents #87 (November 1985)
Created by	Elliot S. Maggin Curt Swan
In-story information
Alter ego	Kal-El Clark Kent
Species	Kryptonian
Place of origin	Earth Prime, born on Krypton of same universe
Team affiliations	Sinestro Corps Legion of Super-Villains Legion of Doom Red Lantern Corps Star Sapphires Black Lantern Corps
Notable aliases	Superman-Prime Superman Prime Superboy Time Trapper
Abilities	See list Immense Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, reflexes, durability and senses Solar energy radiation absorption Enhanced vision Heat vision Telescopic vision X-ray vision Freezing breath and Wind breath Invulnerability Flight

Superboy-Prime (Clark Kent, born Kal-El), also known as Superman-Prime or simply Prime, is a DC Comics superhero turned supervillain and an alternate version of Superman. The character first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 (November 1985)^[1] and was created by Elliot S. Maggin and Curt Swan (based upon the original Superboy character by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster).

Superboy-Prime is from a parallel Earth called Earth-Prime, devoid of any superheroes, or even superhumans. There, Superman and the other comic superheroes were fictional characters, and when Clark Kent's Kryptonian powers emerge at age 15, Superboy-Prime becomes that Earth's only superhero. The Earth-Prime universe was erased during Crisis on Infinite Earths (April 1985-March 1986), and Superboy-Prime ended up in a "paradise" dimension where, during that time, he found himself unable to let go of his former life and destiny as Earth's greatest hero.

Over time, his convictions and morals become twisted and warped, and he came to believe that Earth-Prime was the only proper Earth and that Superboy-Prime was the only one worthy of the Superboy mantle. Prime firmly believes that being Superman is his calling despite the fact that he has become a psychotic, murderous, and even sadistic villain. His overwhelming strength, speed, unpredictability, and ruthlessness make him one of the most dangerous foes in the DC Universe.

The name "Superman-Prime" was first used by Grant Morrison in DC One Million (1998) for the mainstream Superman in the 853rd century (he is essentially the same Superman from the All-Star Superman storyline). Earth-Prime's Superboy first refers to himself as "Superboy-Prime" in Infinite Crisis #2 (January 2006).