Pete Ross

A childhood friend of Clark Kent in Smallville, Pete Ross accidentally discovered Clark's secret identity as Superboy but chose to protect that secret without ever revealing he knew — a quiet act of loyalty that eventually earned him honorary membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Few characters in DC's Silver Age tapestry are woven as close to the heart of Superman mythology as Pete Ross, who stepped onto the page in Superboy #86 back in 1961, courtesy of Jerry Siegel and George Papp. As a fixture of Smallville's world, Pete shares his adventures alongside Clark Kent, Lana Lang, and the Kent family themselves — about as inner-circle as it gets in the Man of Steel's corner of the DC Universe. His staying power is remarkable: from that Silver Age debut through appearances in Superman, Action Comics, and Adventures of Superman spanning some 65 years, Pete has proven himself one of the most enduring supporting presences in comics, with four collector-recognized key issues to his name. For fans who love the human texture behind the cape — the friendships and small-town roots that ground a legend — Pete Ross is absolutely worth seeking out.