Jonathan Kent

Jonathan Kent is a DC Comics character and Superman's adoptive father. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, he first appeared in Superman #1 (1939) as the Kansas farmer who, along with his wife Martha, discovered and raised the infant Kal-El after his rocket landed in Smallville.

Jonathan and Martha Kent instilled in Clark the moral values that would define him as Superman. Jonathan is typically portrayed as a hardworking, principled man whose guidance shaped Clark's commitment to using his powers for good. In many versions of the story, Jonathan's death from a heart attack is a formative event that teaches Clark that even with all his power, he cannot save everyone.

The character's significance has grown over time, particularly in modern retellings that emphasize the role of Clark's upbringing in making him a hero. Jonathan Kent has appeared consistently across Superman comics, television adaptations, and films as the moral foundation of the Superman story.