Encyclopaedia Kryptonomicon

by Jon Randall

Created in the early 1930's by the pre-teen duo of writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, Superman has developed an epic volume of adventures unmatched by nearly any other comic-book character who followed. In sagas which reached through time, space, alternate realities and the most extreme realms of imagination, Superman has been at the center of an ever-growing, ever-complex, and ever-wondrous universe.

This volume is by no means complete, nor could possibly hope to be on the efforts of a single individual in the face of such an overwhelming apocrypha. Rather than being a comprehensive reference guide, this Encyclopedia Kryptonomicon is intended to be a brief glimpse of a legacy of wonder

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* ACCESS - Actually AXEL ASHER, a young man who embodies a fragment of the celestial being of two cosmic brothers - one being the embodiment of the DC COMICS Universe, then other the embodiment of DC's major competitor Marvel Comics. The nature of his existence allows him to teleport himself to any locale in either universe, as well as gives him the responsibility of ensuring that the two universes remain completely separate.
In December 1996 (DC/Marvel All Access#1 "The Crossing"), Access brings SPIDER-MAN to the DC Universe to help Superman defeat the Wall-Crawler's perennial foe, Venom.

* AK-VAR - A former PHANTOM ZONE villain who, having reformed, is assistant to KANDORian scientist VAN-ZEE and is secretly his crime-fighting partner FLAMEBIRD.

* ALEC - A computer-whiz and aspiring reporter, and with his classmate SHANNA is student at an unnamed METROPOLIS school, under the instruction of teacher MARGARET WILSON. In April 1981 (Superman#358 "Father Nature's Folly"), Alec is treated to a story of Superman's battle with FATHER NATURE, courtesy of a visiting CLARK KENT. (see also RADIO SHACK WHIZ KIDS)

* ALL-STAR SQUADRON - All-inclusive team of the 1940's which, presumably, possessed in its ranks every superhero active in the United States. Superman maintained membership until the effects of the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS

* ALURA IN-ZE - Wife of ZOR-EL and mother of KARA ZOR-EL.

* AMALAK - An well-armed, malicious, interstellar villain who seeks the death of all those who survived the cataclysm of KRYPTON.

* AMAZO - Robot creation of PROFESSOR IVO who possesses the ability to duplicate the powers of any member of the JUSTICE LEAGUE.

* AMBUSH BUG - Possibly IRWIN SCHWAB, a television-addicted mischief-maker who becomes a recurring nuisance to Superman on a handful of occasions. The full bodysuit which he wears gives him the capability to instantaneously teleport to any location (originally, he required mechanical "bugs" to perform this feat - currently, his teleportive capabilities are apparently limitless - but his powers are incidental compared to the volume of calamity he can create simply by pursuing his unique brand of non-linear behavior.

* APOKOLIPS - A distant planet ruled by DARKSEID, devil-figure of the NEW GODS.

* AQUAMAN - King of ATLANTIS, a member of the JUSTICE LEAGUE and occasional ally of Superman.
In September 1995 (SMOS#34 "Here Be Monsters"), Aquaman is pivotal in helping Superman defeat KOSNOR, a being mutated by and protesting the existence of ENGINE CITY

* ARGO CITY - The domed city of KRYPTON, which survived that planet's destruction thanks to the advances of its premier scientist, ZOR-EL, brother of Superman's father JOR-EL. Also the birthplace of SUPERGIRL(2), Argo was propelled away from Krypton's explosion and survived for several years floating through space.

* ARYAN BROTHERHOOD - A white supremacist group who, in August 1995 (SMOS#47 "Sins of the Father") are engaged in a plan to create "supermen," to enforce a regime of terror against other races. They are stopped by the young PERRY WHITE and one-day DAILY PLANET publisher FRANKLIN STERN.
The Brotherhood re-emerges as a prison-oriented supremacist group, violent opponents of BLACK FUTURE.

* ATLANTIS - Common name for a group of undersea city-states, often inhabited by amphibious or gill-breathing humanoids. TRITONIS, home of LORI LEMARIS, is one of the city-states. POSEIDONIS, home of Superman Justice League ally AQUAMAN.

* ATOMIC SKULL - DR.ALBERT MICHAELS who, as a member of SKULL, utilized a "neural pacemaker" to hurl blasts of destructive energy.