What will be Kal-L's final fate after INFINITE CRISIS?

[Buried Alien]

Kal-L. The Golden Age Superman. The original Man of Steel.

After CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS twenty years ago, it was thought that he would never again be seen in the DCU. He was deleted from history, not forgotten by comics readers, but forgotten by the DC Universe itself.

Then, shockingly, Kal-L returned in INFINITE CRISIS.

But what does the future hold for Kal-L after INFINITE CRISIS? Does he disappear from history once again? Does he die, but is forever remembered by the heroes of the Post-INFI-CRISIS DCU? Will he continue to live on the so-called "New Earth"? Will he serve as "Superman Emeritus," or retire from herodom (but remain on call on New Earth)?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Jason H]

I hope he sticks around, but I don't think he will.

[spiderx3]

I do not think Kal-L will survive, but I am hoping that he does. Maybe Geoff Johns could find a way to retcon him into the DCu.

[rfahey]

Maybe he becomes Superman of another planet (Rann/Thanagar - whichever was left)? I don't think they'll kill him, after all he's meant to the company.

[soda]

Here's what I don't think. I don't think Kal-L is going to die. I don't think you kill off the hero of action comics #1, you owe him the entire company, heck, the entire industry owes him everything. I think Kal-L survives, I like the idea of "superman emeritus", but I do see Kal-L sticking around in some capacity, post-IC.

[DeStefano1389]

I think they'll make Kal-El and Kal-L will somehow fuse together, making our Supes less of a whimp and still pay homage to the hero who started it all.

[EZMOHR]

Maybe Kal El, Kal L, and Superboy Prime will all merge into something.

[Buried Alien]

Originally Posted by EZMOHR

Maybe Kal El, Kal L, and Superboy Prime will all merge into something.

Super-VOLTRON?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Bored at 3:00AM]

He won't remain part of the New Earth's history obviously, but I would like him to be remembered by the current Superman, the JSA and others. I know that Superman always has to be around 33 years old, but there really needs to be recognition that this character started it all and was the inspiration for everybody that followed.

[Sabrinaset]

He'll end up retired and living in a Metropolis double-wide.

[Ian J.N.]

Originally Posted by Bored at 3:00AM

He won't remain part of the New Earth's history obviously, but I would like him to be remembered by the current Superman, the JSA and others. I know that Superman always has to be around 33 years old, but there really needs to be recognition that this character started it all and was the inspiration for everybody that followed.

I know that it would make for some awkward continuity finangling, but it would be damned cool if Kal-L did become part of New Earth's history. He'd be the first hero that inspired all the rest, eventually retiring to take the editorial reigns of the Daily Star (later renamed to the Daily Planet), marrying Lois and living a full life until both succumb to old age... or something. Most folks would assume that the current Superman is the same guy, and who knows, perhaps he is.

Ai, this is tough. Continuity experts! Make it work!

[BYC]

I don't think he'll die, since that'll take Superboy death's impact away. I think he'll fade out of existance (but people will remember him), and use his "goodness" to make sure that New Earth has "goodness" in abundance. That's one of the reasons he thought Earth-1 was flawed, so I think that makes sense. They'll probably make up some excuse that without Alex, Kal-L can't maintain his presence anymore.

[Aetherus]

Supernova!

[davids]

Start traveling the universe. :evilsmile

[PatrickG]

Well, I can say one thing.

That is that the merger almost certainly won't happen now. We have a new DCU with everything pretty much fixed, continuity-wise, and if Kal-L and Kal-El were going to merge, it would have been then.

HOWEVER...

Somebody had a neat suggestion that "Superman Prime" from DC One Million is Kal-L.

It works on a lot of levels and ties things together.

DC One Million was the celebration of a million months since Superman's 1938 debut.

It also spoke a lot about "the original Superman" who left earth after Lois Lane's death and after millenia roaming the stars and a thousand years in the sun, returns where he is celebrated by a universe of super-heroes where everyone has super-powers and reveres Superman as their inspiration. Superman Prime is reunited with Lois.

And it's not a boring old Heaven. There are villains there but the tone of everything is brighter and more energetic.

And Superman Prime's chest emblem is based on a temporary emblem Superman wore in the 40s for a few issues.

And his history tells of a Superman Secundus who fathered the lineage of Supermen that carry the name in the future.

Well, Kal-El could well be that Superman Secundus.

And in the end, Kal-L's happy ending is there. It saves DC1M and Kal-L's place in "continuity" while freeing up the monthly Superman from the certainty of a happy ending that DC1M provided.

A "Heaven" with dying wife and two kids is no send off for Kal-L. Merging seems unlikely. Death is depressing.

But if he flies off into space never to be seen again and we learn that he is the celebrated champion of universe in the distant future, with Lois at his side again, it seems like a nice kind of closure for the character.