My son.............

Clark can only stare in wonder at the apparition.

You will not remember me, he continues. I am Jor-el. I am your father. By now, you will have reached your 18th year as it is measured on Earth. By that reckoning, I shall have been dead for many thousands of your years. The knowledge that I have of matters physical and historic I have given you fully on your voyage to your new home. These are important matters, to be sure, but still matters of mere fact.

There are questions that must be asked, and the time has come for you to do so. Here, in this ...... this Fortress of Solitude, ..... you and I shall try to find the answers together. How does a good man live? What is virtue? When does a man's obligations to those around him outweigh his own obligations toward himself? These are not easy questions. Even on Krypton, there is no precise science that can provide you with the answers. I can only tell you that which I myself believe, and to this end, I have tried to anticipate your questions in the order of their importance to you.

So, my son ...... speak.

Clark begins with the most important question of them all: "Who am I?"

Your name is Kal-el, the spirit of Jor-el responds. You are the only survivor of the Planet Krypton. Even though you have been raised as a human being, you are not one of them. You have great powers, only some of which you have as yet discovered.

And as we venture into the spirit's eye, we find ourselves experiencing the vastness of the unending cosmos .... as Jor-el's voice continues the lessons .....

Come with me now, my son, as we break through the bonds of your Earthly confinement, travelling through time and space ...... Your powers will far exceed those of Mortal men ...... It is forbidden for you to interfere with human history. Rather, let your leadership stir others to you ..... In this next year, we shall examine the human heart. It is more fragile than your own.... For the past two years, ......

As we pass through the flaming turmoil which is the edge of your own galaxy, we will enter the realm of the red Krypton sun, source of your strength and nourishment, and cause of our eventual destruction. ..... The Planet Krypton, my son ---- your home, as it was ...... This year, we will examine the various concepts of immortality, and their basis in actual fact. The total accumulation of all knowledge spanning the 28 Known Galaxies is imbedded in the crystals that I have sent along with with you. Study them well, my son, and learn from them. ...... Over the last 10 years, we have reasoned out logical judgements ......

By the time we return to the confines of your galaxy, 12 of your years will have passed. For this reason, among others, I have chosen Earth for you. It is now time for you to rejoin your new world, and to serve its collective humanity. Live as one of them, my son, that you may discover where your strength and your power are needed. But always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage.

They can be a great people, Kal-el, if they wish to be. They only lack a light to show them the way. For this reason above all ..... their capacity for good ..... I have sent them you, ......

..... MY ONLY SON .......

And then, as the face of Jor-el crystallizes one last time, we find ourselves back in the Fortress. From our distance, we now see Clark Kent, aged 30. But now he wears a remarkable costume, consisting of a blue bodysuit on which is emblazoned a red-and-yellow version of the El Dynasty's crest (the same "S" shield we spoke of earlier), red boots, and a bold crimson cape. This, then, is the uniform by which the world will eventually come to know Kal-el, son of Jor-el. In other words:

And then, remarkably, he takes flight straight toward us! Not even he himself may know his immediate destination, but he has nonetheless taken his first steps into the greater forging of the Legend that he is destined to become!