When it comes to Superman lore, some things are constant. The planet Krypton explodes, baby Kal-El is adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, Clark grows up to become a reporter and Lois Lane is Superman’s OTP. However, some pieces of Superman lore have been discarded over the years. For example, did you know the future Man of Steel didn’t always grow up on a farm? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Here are five pieces of Superman lore that have largely been forgotten…until now.
 

Clark and His Parents Closed Their Farm to Run a General Store

Everyone knowns that the Man of Steel grew up on a farm, but for many years that wasn’t the case. Most of Superboy’s Silver Age stories had Jonathan, Martha and Clark running the Kent General Store in downtown Smallville. The store was introduced in 1950’s Superboy #6 and many stories featured Clark working there after school.

Later comics, such as 1961’s Superman #146, explained the absence of the farm by stating that the Kents had sold it to move to the heart of Smallville. Many stories from that period had the Kents living in a typical home surrounded by other houses in a more suburban setting.

The Kent’s suburban home and the general store never took root in the public consciousness the same way the farm did. The 1978 Superman film and John Byrne’s The Man of Steel retool kept the Kents at their farm, so that’s what people think of when they remember Superman’s upbringing.
 

Superman Dated a Mermaid in College

Whether you’re unsure if you’re reading that right likely depends on how big a DC Comics fan you are because this is one piece of lore most comic book devotees know about, but most casual fans do not.

1959’s Superman #129 features a flashback to Clark Kent’s college years, where the farm boy falls in love with a girl in a wheelchair named Lori Lemaris. By the end of the story, he learns that the blanket over her wheelchair is a ruse to hide her mermaid tail. In the end, Lori returns to the sea and her merpeople, breaking Clark’s heart. 

(By the way, this story was written by Batman co-creator Bill Finger.)

Lori continued to be a regular character throughout the Silver Age—her character even survived the continuity retooling after Crisis on Infinite Earths. Not only was Lori a regular supporting character well into the 1990s, but she was also a bridesmaid at Lois and Clark’s wedding. However, notably, she has not featured in a substantial way in any Superman TV series or movie, either live action or animated, so most non-comics readers have never heard of her. Even some more recent comic book fans may be unfamiliar with Lori since the character has mostly disappeared from Superman comics. However, after a long absence she’s recently made appearances in a few other DC titles, like Aquaman and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest.
 

There’s a Whole Superman Theme Park in Metropolis

Did you know that Metropolis has an entire theme park devoted to Superman? If you didn’t, it’s because Superman Land only appears in 1955’s Action Comics #210, after which it’s never seen or mentioned again. The theme park features a motion simulator ride that takes visitors from Earth to Krypton, a Superman-themed merry-go-round, a fireworks show that simulates the destruction of Krypton (?!??!) and wax figures of the Daily Planet reporters.

One of the more questionable attractions is an exhibit that gives children weapons to fire at a fake Superman to demonstrate his invulnerability. Action Comics #210 was published shortly after the opening of Disneyland and it’s clear the theme park was an inspiration for Superman Land. The fact that it hasn’t been mentioned since then is wild, but there’s no reason to assume it’s no longer operating.  Unless it got shut down shortly after opening because of the whole “giving guns to kids” thing. I can’t really see Superman approving of that.
 

Lana Lang is a Former First Lady

When Lex Luthor ran for President of the United States, he selected Pete Ross to be his running mate. At the time, Lana and Pete were married, and Lex’s victory made Lana the Second Lady of the United States. Lex’s Presidency ended in disaster during the Superman/Batman: Public Enemies storyline and the 25^th Amendment was invoked, making Pete Ross the President and Lana the First Lady.

Lana and Pete’s marriage was already circling the drain by that point and the two eventually split up for good. Subsequent appearances would play down Lana’s former First Lady status, which was always wild to me. Every time she makes an appearance, there should technically be Secret Service agents accompanying her. And just think, when kids in the DC Universe open up their history books, Lana Lang is in there alongside other First Ladies like Mary Todd Lincoln, Nancy Reagan and Michelle Obama.
 

Ron Troupe is Lois and Superman’s Brother-In-Law (and the Father of Their Nephew)

Whenever I see Ron Troupe in a scene with Clark Kent or Lois Lane, I want to say, “Lois and Clark, that’s your brother-in-law! Give him a hug or something.” Ron married Lois’s sister Lucy back in Adventures of Superman #584, and their son Samuel was born in Adventures of Superman #587. The marriage later fell apart and Lucy went off to do some questionable things as Superwoman.

Samuel Troupe hasn’t been seen since 2005’s Adventures of Superman #636, which means Lois and Clark haven’t checked in on their nephew in twenty years! Of course, there have been a few reality altering events like Flashpoint since then, so there’s no telling if Ron and Lucy’s marriage still happened. It’s also possible Ron doesn’t mention the whole brother-in-law thing because Lois is now the Daily Planet’s editor-in-chief and he doesn’t want people to think he just got his job through nepotism.
 

In fairness, Superman has a lot going on in his life, so it’s understandable why some of these pieces of lore have been forgotten. Clark is happily married to Lois, so bringing up his mermaid ex is probably a no go. Theme parks are crowded and expensive, so I can understand why Clark and his immediate supporting cast don’t visit Superman Land. And Lana’s Secret Service detail is probably still around, we just don’t see them because they do a good job of blending in.

That being said, I really hope James Gunn includes Lori Lemaris in a future DC Studios project. What’s more punk rock than a little college experimentation?
 

Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.