Professor Potter

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Professor Potter
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceSuperman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #22 (August 1957)
Created byOtto Binder
Curt Swan
In-story information
Full namePhineas Potter
Supporting character ofSuperman
Jimmy Olsen

Professor Phineas Potter is a supporting character in stories published by DC Comics featuring Superman and several related characters, most notably Jimmy Olsen.

Publication history[edit]

Phineas Potter first appeared in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #22 (August 1957) and was created by Otto Binder and Curt Swan.

Fictional character biography[edit]


The original incarnation of Professor Potter was the maternal uncle of Lana Lang and first encountered the Man of Steel during his teenage years as Superboy.[1] An eccentric scientist, Potter often invented odd or fantastical devices which he intended to use for the betterment of humanity. However, he rarely considered the potential downsides of his inventions. While several of his devices were harmless, many others were not, and chaos often ensued when they were activated.

Potter befriended three newspaper reporters from the Daily Planet: Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Clark Kent. Olsen, in particular, was often the intended victim of Potter's inventions gone awry. Thanks to the professor, Olsen was briefly evolved into a super-intelligent being from one million A.D.,[2] given an elongated nose like the character Pinocchio,[3] stricken with "flame-breath",[4] and cursed with an evil twin,[5] among other calamities. However, Potter was able to recreate a serum which had once given Olsen stretchability powers.[6] Thus, Olsen was able to occasionally use those powers as Elastic Lad.


Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths limited series, Superman's history was revised, such that Clark Kent did not begin his public superhero career until adulthood, and thus never operated as Superboy. In the revised continuity, Phineas Potter's role in the Superman mythos has been largely replaced by a seemingly more competent professor Emil Hamilton. Potter eventually appears as a scientist working at the Hawaiian branch of S.T.A.R. Labs. The Superboy he encounters is Conner Kent, the hybrid clone of Superman and Lex Luthor.[7] There is no apparent relationship to Lana Lang.

In other media[edit]



  1. ^ Adventure Comics #291 (December 1961)
  2. ^ Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #22 (August 1957)
  3. ^ Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #32 (October 1958)
  4. ^ Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #33 (December 1958)
  5. ^ Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #27 (March 1958)
  6. ^ Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #89 (December 1965)
  7. ^ Superboy (vol. 3) #19 (September 1995)

External links[edit]