Superman's origin (as well as much of his life) has taken on many permeations over the years, but the most recognized storyline goes something like this: Kal-El was born to Jor-El and Lara of the planet Krypton. Fearing for the safety of their son, the two loving parents sent Kal-El into space to Earth, where he would be safe and so he could later use his abilities gained from the yellow sun to aid innocent life. Crash landing outside the town of Smallville, KS, the child was found and taken in by a farming couple. Jonathan and Martha Kent would become Kal's foster parents and raise him to the best of their ability. They named him Clark and that name would become not only the link to his humanity, but an alter ego that would help keep his loved ones from danger. As Clark grew into his teens, he found out more and more about his abilities and as a young man, he officially took on the guise of Superman thanks to a costume made by Martha from his swaddling clothes sent with him from Krypton.