Editing Superman (section)

===Personality===
In the original Siegel and Shuster stories, Superman's personality is rough and aggressive. He often uses excessive force and terror against criminals, on some occasions even killing them. This came to an end in late 1940 when new editor [[Whitney Ellsworth]] instituted a code of conduct for his characters to follow, banning Superman from ever killing.<ref name="TCS42">{{harvp|Daniels|1998}}. ''Superman: The Complete History'', p. 42</ref> The character was softened and given a sense of [[humanitarianism]]. Ellsworth's code, however, is not to be confused with "[[Comics Code Authority|the Comics Code]]", which was created in 1954 by the [[Comics Code Authority]] and ultimately abandoned by every major comic book publisher by the early 21st century.

In his first appearances, Superman was considered a vigilante by the authorities, being fired upon by the National Guard as he razed a slum so that the government would create better housing conditions for the poor. By 1942, however, Superman was working side-by-side with the police.<ref name="Weldon33"/><ref>{{harvp|Weldon|2013}}. ''Superman the Unauthorized Biography'', p. 55</ref> Today, Superman is commonly seen as a brave and kind-hearted hero with a strong sense of justice, morality, and righteousness. He adheres to an unwavering moral code instilled in him by his adoptive parents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/Superman.html |title=The religion of Superman (Clark Kent / Kal-El) |work=Adherents.com |date=August 14, 2007 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828014317/http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/Superman.html |archive-date=August 28, 2012 }}</ref> His commitment to operating within the law has been an example to many citizens and other heroes, but has stirred resentment and criticism among others, who refer to him as the "big blue boy scout". Superman can be rather rigid in this trait, causing tensions in the superhero community.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite comic |Writer = [[Greg Rucka|Rucka, Greg]] |Penciller = [[David Lopez (artist)|Lopez, David]] |Title = [[Wonder Woman]] |Volume =2 |Story = Affirmative Defense |Issue = 220 |date = Oct. 2005 |Publisher=DC Comics }}</ref> This was most notable with [[Wonder Woman]], one of his closest friends, after she killed [[Maxwell Lord]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/> [[Booster Gold]] initially had an icy relationship with the Man of Steel but grew to respect him.<ref>''Action Comics'' #594 (1987)</ref>

Having lost his home world of Krypton, Superman is very protective of Earth,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.academia.edu/8360363 |title=Why They Won't Save Us: Political Dispositions in the Conflicts of Superheroes |first=Woody |last=Evans |author-link=Woody Evans |date=2014}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and especially of Clark Kent's family and friends. This same loss, combined with the pressure of using his powers responsibly, has caused Superman to feel [[loneliness|lonely]] on Earth, despite having his friends and parents. Previous encounters with people he thought to be fellow Kryptonians, [[Power Girl]]<ref>{{cite comic |Writer = [[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]] |Penciller = [[Amanda Conner|Conner, Amanda]] |Inker = [[Jimmy Palmiotti|Palmiotti, Jimmy]] |Title = JSA: Classified |Volume =1 |Story = Power Trip |Issue = 1 |date = September 2005 |Publisher=DC Comics }}</ref> and [[Mon-El]],<ref>{{cite comic |Writer = [[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]] [[Richard Donner|Donner, Richard]] |Penciller = [[Eric Wight|Wight, Eric]] |Inker = [[Eric Wight|Wight, Eric]] |Title = Action Comics Annual |Volume =1 |Story = Who is Clark Kent's Big Brother? |Issue = 10 |date = March 2007 |Publisher=DC Comics }}</ref> have led to disappointment. The arrival of [[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Supergirl]], who has been confirmed to be his cousin from Krypton, relieved this loneliness somewhat.<ref>{{cite comic |Writer = [[Kurt Busiek|Buskiek, Kurt]], [[Fabian Nicieza|Nicieza, Fabian]], [[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]] |Penciller = Guedes, Renato |Inker = Magalhaes, Jose Wilson |Title = Action Comics |Volume =1 |Story = Superman: Family |Issue = 850 |date = July 2007 |Publisher=DC Comics }}</ref> Superman's [[Fortress of Solitude]] acts as a place of [[solace]] for him in times of loneliness and despair.<ref name="dc-ency">{{Cite book |last=Wallace |first=Dan |contribution=Alternate Earths |editor-last=Dougall |editor-first=Alastair |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia |pages=20–21 |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |location=[[London]] |date=2008 |isbn=978-0-7566-4119-1}}</ref>