Superboy's origins start with Project: Man of Tomorrow, which is the Superman cloning project originally intended to recreate the Man of Steel. Due to the inability to replicate Kryptonian DNA, the clones' bodies degenerate after a short period of time. Upon Superman's death,the project is reinstated in secrecy in conjunction with Lex Luthor and Cadmus Labs to replace the fallen hero. After 12 documented attempts at recreating a Superman, human DNA, secretly that of Lex Luthor (originally it was that of corrupt Project head Paul Westfield, later retconned as Lex's DNA), is partially used to stabilize the Kryptonian DNA and the result: Superboy, the first successful clone of Superman. His initial abilities were based on a form of telekinesis (known as "tactile telekinesis") by which he could fly and simulate Superman's strength and invulnerability. He was spun off to his own series, which ran for 100 issues until it was cancelled following a drop in sales after a change in story direction by DC writer Joe Kelly. "The Kid" was created by Project Cadmus; most of the series had him living in Hawaii. Prior to Kelly's run, the character lived at Cadmus with reintroduced concepts originally created by Jack Kirby.

Superboy found himself inadvertently forming Young Justice alongside Bart Allen (Impulse, Kid Flash II, Flash IV) and Tim Drake (Robin III). He then transitioned along with other Young Justice members to Teen Titans, and in an attempt to live a regular life was adopted with the help of Clark Kent by Jonathan and Martha Kent. He took the name Connor Kent, and began to have a relationship with Wonder Girl.

Like it or not he is Superboy!

Initially it had been thought Kon-El was created only from the genetically engineered human DNA of Cadmus Project director Paul Westfield. Later it was revealed that Superboy had been created from both Superman's and the human DNA. Westfield's DNA, however, had been replaced with that of Lex Luthor, and the developing clone brainwashed so that Luthor could have a sleeper agent among the superhero community. This eventually led to near disaster, as Luthor was able to "unlock" the potential of Kon-El, including his heat vision. This powered Superboy went on to devastate the Teen Titans, injuring all the members including his best friend Robin and girlfriend Wonder Girl. Superboy eventually became free of Luthor's control. Luthor, however, continued to at least claim that he viewed Kon-El as his son.

After freeing himself from Luthor's control, Connor stepped down from superheroing and went to isolate himself on the Kent Farm. When the events of the Infinite Crisis began to unfold and the heroes of the world being pushed to their limits, instead of coming to help Connor sat at home and watched, still fearful that Luthor might once again take control of him and ashamed at how he felt the Titans viewed him. All these events unfolded before Superboy Prime, who came to the Kent's doorstep to retake his place as the Superboy of earth. He forced Connor Kent into a fight, demolishing Smallville. Already quickly beaten and clearly out powered, Connor sent a distress signal that was received by current and auxiliary members of the Teen Titans along with their allies in the Justice Society and the Doom Patrol. Despite the death of Pantha and numerous injuries, the Flashes Wally West, Jay Garrick and Bart Allen were able to push Superboy Prime into another dimension.

Connor was put into a rapid-healing tube to immediately after the fight. When he was healthy enough to rejoin the battle, he made peace with his origin and rekindled his romance with Wonder Girl.

Meanwhile, Superboy Prime was able to free himself from the alternate dimension, having been imprisoned for years yet returning just days later.

Soon after Connor answered a signal from Nightwing at the Titans Tower. Deaths, injuries and the sheer number of other catastrophes left all other Titans unavailable to respond to the call.

Nightwing and Superboy alone went to Alexander Luthor's base hidden away in Superman's original Fortress of Solitude in Antarctica. At the center of this base was the corpse of the Anti-Monitor, converted into a tower able to tap into the vibrational frequency of any dimension. The tower, imprisoned with members of various Earths alongside Alexander Luthor's own reality altering powers was the source of Alexander's plan to reshape reality. There Superboy and Superboy Prime had their rematch. Despite still being overpowered, Superboy was able to defeat Superboy Prime, hurling him into the Anti-Monitor tower and single-handedly putting a stop to Alexander Luthor's grand scheme. This valiant effort cost him his life though.

One Year Later there have been attempts by both Wonder Girl and Robin to bring Connor back from the dead, to no avail. Currently there is a statue of him outside of Titans Tower.