Jor-El, a scientist on the planet Krypton, has discovered that the planet will explode in a short time. He tries to persuade the Kryptonian Council to evacuate the population, but they ridicule him. In desperation, he sends his infant son away from the planet just as it explodes in a model rocket ship. The ship lands in Smallville, where the baby is adopted by the Kents. He soon begins to display superhuman powers.