The Freshest Superhero: Superboy

What can I tell you about Superboy? He's one of these characters you don't really hear about. Everyone knows Batman and Robin, Superman, Wonder Woman, heck! Even a lot of people know about Super Girl. But what about Superboy? What can be said about him, and how does one go about getting into one of the freshest Superheros out there?

 "Name?" "Superboy." "Real name?" "Really Superboy."

Well let me start by telling you a little about Superboy himself. Superboy is a clone of Superman and in his original incarnation has all of Superman's powers (although not quite as developed as Superman's) and the ability of Tactile Telekinesis (TTK) which becomes somewhat of a catchphrase of his. When he first emerges from his cloning pod, he actually thinks he is Superman for a while until he sees the real Superman and realises that he's very much a clone. This leads him to grow and, with no other identity, become Superboy.

Now if you're looking into getting into Superboy here is what I recommend not doing:

1. Do not read the New 52 Superboy.

2. Do not watch the Young Justice.

Not unless you're ready to get someone a lot different from the original, fun and funky incarnation that came about in the 90s.

If you watch/read those you're going to find an angsting teenager, who is referred to literally as an abomination, has a terrible relationship with Superman and does not have his famous TTK skill, or half of the abilities he originally has. His relationship with other characters is all be destroyed, in Young Justice he isn't even with the right cast of characters!

Sorry Young Justice, you're just not cutting it with this brooding version!

However what I do recommend is going on Comixology and finding the original 90s series. Not only does it give you the story for the beginning, but you see the Superboy that has wormed his way into mine and many other readers hearts. He's a fun, loving, surfing, teenager, who becomes Hawaii's saviour.  While the earlier issues are more or less individual stories, as the comics go on you do get some more development. Issues that arise that show more of Superboy's personality, that he's not all just fun and games and does think about the consequences of his actions. As well as proper story arcs. You'll also get to see even the writers getting to poke fun at his famous catch phrase "Have you ever heard of Tactile Telekinesis?" 

Superboy is a great lighthearted character that does not get enough love. He's a great counterpart to Tim Drake's Robin (and later his Red Robin) just as much as Clark Kent is a great counterpart to Bruce Wayne. I cannot recommend his stories enough, and if you don't want to read something quite as serious as Batman, or Marvel: Civil War, I urge you to pick up Superboy. I promise you wont regret it.