Superxeno
Interesting (if nerdy) query: imagine that everything else up to where the Kents find him is exactly the same, only Kal-El--better known as Clark Kent or Superman--is not so human-looking. Let's suppose that, instead, he looks more like, say, Wak from Explorers:
How much does this change the story?
I mean, Supes still has all his powers, so if they try to keep him in Area 51 against his will, they pretty much can't unless they figure out the whole kryptonite thing. Similarly, they couldn't do an alien autopsy on him without a kyrptonite scalpel. So if the government got their hands on him, what they'd have is a squidgy green alien with uber-powers who can fly and cannot be contained...either they'd treat him like the Hulk and try to hunt him down, or they'd be forced to make friends with him; I'm better on the former, frankly.
But what if the Kents kept him? He'd have to be raised in secret...and they'd have to figure out that he's sentient before they can raise him, really. But then what happens when he reaches adulthood? A secret identity's out of the question...
It would change the story a lot. I'd be interested to see/read that version...
How much does this change the story?
I mean, Supes still has all his powers, so if they try to keep him in Area 51 against his will, they pretty much can't unless they figure out the whole kryptonite thing. Similarly, they couldn't do an alien autopsy on him without a kyrptonite scalpel. So if the government got their hands on him, what they'd have is a squidgy green alien with uber-powers who can fly and cannot be contained...either they'd treat him like the Hulk and try to hunt him down, or they'd be forced to make friends with him; I'm better on the former, frankly.
But what if the Kents kept him? He'd have to be raised in secret...and they'd have to figure out that he's sentient before they can raise him, really. But then what happens when he reaches adulthood? A secret identity's out of the question...
It would change the story a lot. I'd be interested to see/read that version...