The Great Jor-El
Superman talking to the AI of Jor-El at the great Ice Fortress of Solitude
from Geekshow
Just about everyone loves Superman and could tell you pretty much every single one of his awesome abilities along with his one weakness, rock from his home planet, Kryptonite. While Superman is great and all, I think Jor-El deserves a little more attention as the father of Cal-El - the real Superman. Without the help of Jor-El, Cal-El would be little more than a bit of space dust after the planet Krypton blew up. Earth has only this man's incredible foresight and intelligence as the leader of the Kryptonians to thank for the existence of Superman as the protector of man kind.
Back on Krypton
The house of El contained various well established individuals throughout time, coming al the way back to the original exploration of the planet, all the way up to modern scientific achievements. On his home planet of Krypton, he invented the hover car, discovered an alternate plane of existence, known as the Phantom Zone, and created a way to connect both planes of existence. After these discoveries, he also found that the core of Krypton was unstable and was likely to explode everywhere and make all the people on Krypton dead and then some.
While on Krypton, Jor-El and Lara prepare to send their son on his journey to earth.
from Robert X Gillis
After taking these findings to the science counsel, he somehow wasn't able to convince them that he was right, despite perfect use of the scientific method, which also existed on Krypton. So they decided the plant wasn't going to explode, eliminating the need for a big 'ole space ship to get them all off the planet.
An up close and personal shot of Jor-El in his prime at Krypton.
from Lycos
Deciding that he couldn't let his family die, Jor-El went and made his own 'effin space ship. Unfortunately, the only thing he could put on the space ship he made was an infant. Fortunately, he happened to have an infant. This infant was Cal-El. He sent that lucky guy, the one survivor from the planet Krypton to Earth so that he would have super hero powers. Something about the yellow sun and low gravity.
Jor-El's Legacy
By sending baby Cal-El to the Kent farm in Smallville, Kansas, Jor-El ensured that his name would live on, and he ensure that in one of the best ways possible. A super hero son. I can think of no better solution to this. To find out about Jor-El's son and the only living Kyrptonian, we simply need to watch the moderately popular television series Smallville. Staring Tom Welling as the incredibly attractive, powerful, yet humorously innocent Clark Kent / Cal-El / soon-to-be-superman, it follows the growing process and development of this legacy, and somewhat inexplicable interactions with his deceased father in the fortress of solitude.
Jor-El On Earth
A picture of the planet Krypton near its sun before the explosion.
from CW via Imageshack
Through the actions of Cal-El the fortress of solitude is created with a awesome crystal that is activated all the way up at the North Pole. Because of the super human thing the cold does not seem to matter to Superman and he just toughs it out. Even though this fortress is likely supposed to be a secret, it seems that a lot of people find out about it and Jor-El throughout the process of Clark telling people. Though none of them get to see Jor-El in Smallville like they do in the comic books. Maybe the casting people just didn't want to try to find an older looking Tom Welling because it's impossible to find another man that attractive. Either way, many people find out about Jor-El, including Dr. Swan, Lex Luthor (bad idea Clark), Chloe Sullivan, and Brainiac (another bad idea). Oliver Queen might also know.
Where Jor-El is Now
While he definitely died when all of Krypton exploded, completely disintegrating just about every Kryptonian that existed in the universe, Jor-El created some sort of artificial intelligence program that was able to be exactly like his brain. That guy was really smart. This is what Cal-El talked to when he went to the fortress of solitude. However, since the Brainiac went up there and made the place very dark and scary using Chloe as his host, Jor-El hasn't done much talking. As in none at all. This may mean that we are destined to never hear from the great Jor-El ever again leaving Clark as our only remaining connection to the house of El.
A picture of Clark Kent during the early years of his adult life on earth.
from Monika via Imageshack
Now that I don't really have anything else to say about the great Jor-El, I'm going to tell you to watch the show Smallville because it is a great way to spend your Thurdsay. In conclusion, Jor-El was one of the greatest Kryptonian people to have ever lived and tried to lead his people to safety, but failed. Using is incredible intellect he was able to save his son with a baller space ship.