Pete Ross#Smallville

The character was created by Leo Dorfman and George Papp, and first appeared in Superboy #86 (January 1961).{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=254}}

File:pete ross teen.jpg.]]

Pete was the childhood best friend of Clark Kent in Smallville.{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |author-link=Robert Greenberger |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |author-link2=Martin Pasko |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |pages=340–342}} One night when they were camping together, Pete secretly saw Clark changing into Superboy to attend to an emergency. Pete kept his knowledge of the superhero's secret identity to himself, even avoiding revealing his discovery to Clark. Pete resolved to use this knowledge to help his friend, for example by creating a distraction to allow Clark to slip away from a dangerous situation without raising suspicion.Superboy #90 (July 1961). DC Comics.

The Legion of Super-Heroes was aware of Pete's assistance to Clark and made him an honorary member during his teenage years.Superboy #98. DC Comics. It is stated that Pete Ross's knowledge of Superboy's secret identity will eventually save Superman's life, with the Legion allowing him to keep his knowledge.Adventure Comics #370. DC Comics.

As an adult, Pete became a widower with a son named Jonathan, who also learned the secret of Superman's secret identity.Action Comics #457. DC Comics. When Pete's son was kidnapped by an alien race, Pete revealed to Clark his knowledge of his friend's dual identity, imploring Superman's help.DC Comics Presents #13. DC Comics. When Clark was unable to provide this help, Pete suffered a nervous breakdown and attempted to discredit his former friend. Pete resided in a mental institution until his son was eventually saved.DC Comics Presents #25 (September 1980). DC Comics.

In Alan Moore's story Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow, Pete is captured by Toyman and Prankster and tortured into revealing Superman's true identity before being killed and stuffed in a toychest for Superman to find. Eventually, Superman discovered they were being manipulated by Mister Mxyzptlk.Superman #423. DC Comics.

Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman did not become a superhero until he was an adult and Superboy never existed.The Man of Steel #1 (July 1986). DC Comics. The Legion of Super-Heroes remained dependent on Superboy's existence as its primary inspiration. In an attempt to resolve the paradox, a Superman/Legion story was crafted, explaining that a version of the Silver Age Superboy and his supporting characters inhabit a pocket universe created by the Time Trapper."The Greatest Hero of Them All", presented in Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 3) #37, Superman (vol. 2) #8, Action Comics #591 and Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 3) #38 (August–September 1987). DC Comics. Following the pocket universe Superboy's death, Lex Luthor is tricked into releasing Kryptonian criminals General Zod, Quex-Ul and Zaora from the Phantom Zone. They decimate Earth and kill Pete Ross, among others.Superman (vol. 2) #21-22 and Adventures of Superman #444 (September–October 1988). DC Comics.

The modern version of Pete is a far more minor character in the Superman comics, who eventually married Lana Lang, with the two having a son, Clark. Peter Ross, although the relationship is occasionally strained due to Lana's knowledge of Clark's secret and Pete feeling that he was fundamentally Lana's second choice. The two are presently divorced, even after briefly reuniting following the Ruin storyline. Pete was Vice President of the United States under Lex Luthor and briefly served as President following Luthor's impeachment but quickly resigned.

In the modern comic book continuity, Pete was not initially aware of Clark's secret. Instead, the secret was known by the villainous Manchester Black, who informed then-President Luthor of the secret, only later to wipe his memory of it. Prior to losing the knowledge of Clark's secret, Lex informed Pete that his close friend Clark Kent is in fact Superman. While Pete initially refrained from telling Clark about his knowledge, he did eventually tell him in Adventures of Superman #641.

Recently, it appeared that Ross had become a villain named "Ruin", but it was later revealed that he had instead been kidnapped by the real Ruin, Professor Emil Hamilton. Hamilton also kidnapped Pete's wife and child. Superman defeated the insane Professor Hamilton, rescued Pete, Lana, and their child, and exonerated Pete of the charges against him.

Pete has returned to Smallville without Lana to raise their son. He was seen attending the funeral of Jonathan Kent.

During the "Blackest Night" storyline, Pete works at Smallville's general store.Blackest Night: Superman #1. DC Comics.

In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe. Pete has only had minor appearances.Action Comics (vol. 2) #6. DC Comics.

• An alternate universe variant of Pete Ross appears in Amalgam Comics as an alias of Spider-Boy.Spider-Boy #1
• An alternate universe variant of Pete Ross, Pyotr Roslov, appears in Superman: Red Son. This version is an illegitimate son of Joseph Stalin and head of the KGB who is later killed by Superman.Superman: Red Son #1-2. DC Comics.

• Pete Ross makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series pilot episode "The Last Son of Krypton".
• Pete Ross appears in Smallville, portrayed by Sam Jones III. This version resents the Luthor family for their perceived theft of his family's creamed corn business and is aware of Clark Kent's secret identity. In the third season, the FBI interrogates Ross for information about Clark, causing him to move to Wichita to live with his mother for his own safety. By the seventh season episode "Hero", he found work as a roadie for OneRepublic.

• Pete Ross appears in films set in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), portrayed by Jack Foley as a child and Joseph Cranford as an adult.{{Cite web |date= 23 June 2013|title=# 107 Joseph Cranford 06/23 by Arts Talk {{!}} Entertainment |url=https://www.blogtalkradio.com/artstalk/2013/06/23/107-joseph-cranford |access-date=July 29, 2024 |website=Blog Talk Radio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227013939/https://www.blogtalkradio.com/artstalk/2013/06/23/107-joseph-cranford |archive-date=2019-12-27 }}{{Cite web |last=McGloin |first=Matt |date=January 25, 2012 |title=Superman: The Man of Steel (2013): Jack Foley Cast as Young Pete Ross |url=https://cosmicbook.news/content/superman-man-steel-2013-jack-foley-cast-young-pete-ross |access-date=July 29, 2024 |website=Cosmic Book News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227013137/https://cosmicbook.news/content/superman-man-steel-2013-jack-foley-cast-young-pete-ross |archive-date=2019-12-27 }}
• First appearing in Man of Steel, this version is initially a bully to Clark Kent before befriending him after he saves him and a group of children from a bus crash. He later grows up to become the manager of an IHOP.
• Ross makes a cameo appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as an attendee of Superman's funeral.
• An alternate universe variant of Pete Ross appears in Justice League: Gods and Monsters, voiced by Larry Cedar.{{cite web |title=Pete Ross Voices (Superman) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Pete-Ross/ |access-date=July 29, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
• A young Pete Ross appears in Superman: Man of Tomorrow, voiced by Cristina Milizia.

• Pete Ross appears in DC Universe Online, voiced by Mike Smith.
• Pete Ross appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=July 29, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://majorspoilers.com/2008/10/08/hero-history-the-honorary-legionnaires/ Pete Ross: Honorary Legionnaires - Hero History]

{{Superman characters}}

{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Pete}}

Category:DC Comics sidekicks

Category:Superman characters

Category:Fictional characters from Kansas

Category:Fictional presidents of the United States

Category:Fictional vice presidents of the United States

Category:Fictional United States senators

Category:Characters created by George Papp

Category:Comics characters introduced in 1961