How old should Clark be when he learns about Krypton and his birth parents?

[Jim Kelly]

The classic Superboy stories always have Clark find something else on Earth that arrives from Krypton. Which is fine, if you don't take it so seriously, but if I could clean it up I'd have it all come from the rocketship he came in, so there isn't all this other stuff that conveniently manages to survive Krypton's destruction. Thus the super-teacher would be part of the rocketship--the computing system and AI program that gives him instructions.

[manwhohaseverything]

No, the Robot Teacher appeared at least three times and the story you were discussing was the last of the three. He trained/tested Superboy early in his career, did the same to Supergirl, and then was shown having returned in between to retest Clark when Clark was on the verge of becoming Superman. If he came back on Earth 1985 we might get him testing the pre-Crisis Supergirl again.

I think if such a thing existed in Earth-Rebirth Mr. Oz eliminated him

Yeah! You are right. My mistake. I saw the Robot teacher and made the comment. Thank you for correcting me.

[superduperman]

The classic Superboy stories always have Clark find something else on Earth that arrives from Krypton. Which is fine, if you don't take it so seriously, but if I could clean it up I'd have it all come from the rocketship he came in, so there isn't all this other stuff that conveniently manages to survive Krypton's destruction. Thus the super-teacher would be part of the rocketship--the computing system and AI program that gives him instructions.

Hopefully one that doesn't brainwash a girl one town over to have sex with him though.

[Jim Kelly]

Watching SMALLVILLE, the computing intelligence from the spaceship is capable of anything. I know we're supposed to believe this is Jor-El--but unless it's all supernatural (which it could be), I don't see how Jor-El is doing it if he's dead. I just choose to believe the whacky spaceship has a corrupted computer program--it's like one of those run amok machines on original series STAR TREK that does the craziest things.

[marhawkman]

He should learn he’s from outer space as a kid, but not know the full story of what happened until he becomes an adult in my opinion.

Agreed, there's just so much for him to learn that it makes sense for him to learn it in pieces.

[KC]

I get what you mean. Its one of the things I don't care much about when it comes to the Donner movie - his entire identity and crusade as Superman is basically something Jor-El made him do. He has to be Superman on Jor-El's terms, and when he chooses not to be Superman, he has to lose his powers and the identity.

I'm a fan of the idea of his upbringing by the Kents being what gave Clark an inclination to help people, with his travels across the globe and exposure to the tragedies that humanity faces cementing his decision to become a superhero.

The Kents rasing him to want to be good and do good, seeing the world and knowing that he is a survivor from a disaster where not many people were saved and that caused him to want to save people could all be reasons for why he decided to be a superhero and all of these things could have influenced the decision to different degrees. There is room for nuance.