I couldn't disagree more.

For me, reading a comic is about living in the moment and suspending disbelief.

I didn't read many Superboy comics as a kid because, quite simply, the title never appeared on my corner shop shelves. But I did read some via reprints. And there was tension.

For me, entertainment is about living in the moment. And that doesn't just apply to younger versions of characters. We could break it down in many different ways.

US wrestling is certainly one. Popular 80s star Hulk Hogan was forever battling monsters and giants. At that time, he always vanquished the big, bad wolf (e.g. Andre the Giant). Deep down, we knew the superheroic wrestler would vanquish the bad guys. But by living in the moment, I was able to suspend disbelief and say to myself, "You know, maybe this is the moment in which Hulk Hogan gets defeated."

Films are the same. Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes was locked in a crate in one 40s film. It looked hopeless. It felt hopeless. I watched this as part of the Rathbone Holmes boxset. So I knew there were further adventures to come, but at that time, it did appear grim.

And it's the same with comics. Not just with younger versions. Batman was locked in some pretty inescapable traps at time (or so it would seem). Yet I was able to suspend disbelief.

So I sort of have trouble understanding how people can feel that Superboy comics were devoid ot tension. A tense fictional world will always be hopeless if we allow it. Again, here's a film example: I watched GOLDFINGER, knowing that there were further films made, but that scene with him strapped to the table as a laser got closer to him, well...

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I appreciate the viewpoint, but couldn't we apply that to characters who aren't in prequels? 

James Bond? Batman? He-Man? There's always tension. And let's be honest, we know Bond isn't going to be killed off, but there is still tension. With suspension of disbelief, I always felt quite tense whenever Indiana Jones was in a trap. Again, I didn't see those films until the late 80s, part of a trilogy boxset. Things seemed grim in TEMPLE OF DOOM even though I know he'd survive it.

With suspension of disbelief, I feel the same can apply to a younger version of the character. 

I didn't read SUPERBOY because I wanted to be on the edge of my seat about his fate--same thing with the present GOTHAM TV show (or even YOUNG SHELDON)--no, the appeal for this kind of thing is to see how a favorite character was when he was young--how he BECAME the present-day hero.  I was amazed at how many great moments of foreshadowing SMALLVILLE was able to squeeze into practically every episode.

SUPERBOY was a special case since the Legion of Super-Heroes had pretty much taken over the series by the time I got there (though I did buy when he got his solo series again), and, while Superboy was "unkillable" (though he eventually did suffer a demise, didn't he?) and set in the past, ANYTHING could happen to any member of the Legion, and that series was set in the future, making IT the only DC series where even the Earth could be destroyed.

In fact, I cared not a whit about the "Superboy" in a leather jacket or the "Superboy" that turned out to be the love clone of Superman and Luthor!  (Were they the same character?  I don't even know.)  The ONLY reason for a Superboy to exist is for him to be the young Superman in "untold tales."

Once upon a time, SUPERBOY was in the top 5 sellers and was more popular than SPIDER-MAN.  With the trappings of Superman and the high school drama of early Spider-Man, Superboy actually had (has?) the potential to be the most popular super-hero!  I think it was a mistake to remove him from existence and to keep him out of existence all these years.

I saw the INDIANA JONES films for the first time around 1989. I know TEMPLE OF DOOM was a prequel. I quite enjoyed moments in it, although it's not my favourite film in that franchise. When Jones was trapped in an inescapable trap, it was gripping.

I think the HOW has been lost. I saw the Bond film FOR YOUR EYES ONLY at the cinema. The pre-credits scene sees Bond in a helicopter that has been taken over by Blofeld. It looked pretty bad. I know more was to come - this was the pre-credits scene, after all - but it was no less gripping as Bond hung from the helicopter and Blofeld toyed with him.

I guess, like I stated earlier, it's about living in the moment and suspending disbelief. 

To me, this is a bigger problem with DC than knowing the broad brushstrokes about a pre-determined fate.

Robbie wrote: "James Bond? Batman? He-Man? There's always tension"

I don't remember He-Man being all that tense :)

It's worth noting that there's a certain section of viewers/readers that like knowing everything will turn out fine.