Encyclopedia Kryptonomicon

By Jon Randall

On the following pages you will find a casually accrued compendium of the creators, characters, incidents, events, topographia and arcana of the Superman Family mythos.

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

E

* EARTH-1 - Part of DC COMICS' MULTIVERSE, Earth-1 was the home of such characters as SUPERMAN (see Silver Age entries), SUPERGIRL(1), SUPERBOY (1), the JUSTICE LEAGUE and others

* EARTH-2 - Part of DC COMICS' MULTIVERSE, Earth-2 was the home of such characters as SUPERMAN (see Golden Age entries), POWER GIRL, the JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA and others.

* EARTH-3 - Part of DC COMICS' MULTIVERSE, Earth-3 was an alternate Earth where the majority of the few superhumans existent used their powers for evil. It was the home of such characters as ULTRAMAN of the CRIME SYNDICATE, and the heroic ALEX LUTHOR and son ALEXANDER LUTHOR

* EARTH-C - Part of DC COMICS' MULTIVERSE, Earth-C was the home of the "funny animal" superheroes such as CAPTAIN CARROT and his ZOO CREW.

* EARTH-C(minus) - Part of DC COMICS' MULTIVERSE, Earth-C- was somewhat related to EARTH-C, home of DC's funny animal characters. On C-, funny animal versions of the JUSTICE LEAGUE, such as SUPER SQUIRREL, existed.

* EARTH-PRIME - Part of DC COMICS' MULTIVERSE, Earth-Prime was the alternate earth most intended to represent the "real" world. Here, no superheroes existed outside of comic books, until the brief career of ULTRAA and the emergence of SUPERBOY (2).

* EARTH-S - Part of DC COMICS' MULTIVERSE, Earth-S was the home of CAPTAIN MARVEL and others. The characters on this world were those whose rights were purchased by DC from Fawcett Publications.

* EARTH-X - Part of DC COMICS' MULTIVERSE, Earth-X was the home of the FREEDOM FIGHTERS, among others. The characters on this world were those whose publication rights were purchased by DC from Quality Comics.

* EL, HOUSE OF - The most prominent lineage of KRYPTON, the family tree of KAL-EL, who is Superman.
The generation prior to Kal-El's bore JOR-EL II, Superman's father and perhaps the greatest mind of Krypton's history. Jor's brother NIM-EL was a prominent weapons scientist and his younger brother ZOR-EL was an equally accomplished scientist, and father to SUPERGIRL (2)

Their father was JOR-EL I, a prominent scientist who set the tradition of the El family presence on the Science Council. Jor's brother Zim-El was the father of renegade terrorist KRU-EL.

Prominent members of past generations include, from the most recent to the earliest known, VAR-EL, a prominent scientist who teleported to Earth and was there accidentally killed. Var's ancestor was the prominent architect and builder of KRYPTONOPOLIS GAM-EL, brother of famous detective PYM-EL. They were the sons of TALA-EL who composed the constitution of unified Krypton.
Tala's father was the great general of the LAST WAR, PIR-EL, who was brother of the renowned holy man VU-EL.

Several generations prior came IM-EL, the noted physicist who revolutionized Krypton's use of atomic power. Before Im-El was SORN-EL, the agriculturist who made food shortages obsolete. Before Sorn-El came FIL-EL, a surgeon who advanced Kryptonian medical science by leaps and bounds. Fil's father was NOX-EL, a prominent musician whose works are integral pieces to Krypton's cultural heritage. His father was PLEN-EL, considered the greatest novelist on Krypton. His father was the jurist THAR-EL, who redefined the Kryptonian legal system and whose sister was FEDRA SHU-EL, who helped found the first SCIENCE COUNCIL.

Their father was SHU-EL, the ground-breaking mathematician, who was descended from WIR-EL, inventor of the first sophisticated recording equipment.
HATU-EL preceded them, and was the man who captured and channeled electricity, as well as led the revolution against the tyrannical VRANGS. His father was the astronomer SUL-EL, whose warnings of the impending VRANG invasion went unheeded.
Before them came VAL-EL, the explorer who sailed from URRIKA and mapped much of Krypton. His brother was the treacherous TRO-EL, who founded BOKOS. Long before them was BUR-EL, who recorded the experiments of the great KIL-GOR, and who was descended from TIO-EL and the prophet JAF-EL, who ushered Krypton's survivors through a great flood.

Their father was HYR-EL, brother of the tyrant VAD-EL, both sons of Urrika's tyrant WAB-El, descended some twenty generations prior from the second BETHGAR of Urrika, Bethgar KAL-EL, the first El to be christened with that name. His father was EROK-EL, the first Bethgar of Urrika, who finalized the practice of adopting surnames, and who also banished cannibalism and human sacrifice from the Kryptonian religions.

The members of the House of El have several other prominent ancestors and members, such as Kil-Gor, Uved and others, but lineage in Krypton is decided almost solely by patrilineage. (For instance, although related to the House of El, the prominent scientist and folk hero VAN-ZEE is not considered a member of the house)

* ELASTIC LAD - The longest lasting of JIMMY OLSEN's superhero identities, E-Lad gained his powers from an alien potion. The effects are temporary, requiring Jimmy to replenish his strength periodically. The serum was refined by DR.PHINEAS POTTER.

In an IMAGINARY STORY in September 1986, Jimmy and Lana Lang take up their long-discarded super-heroic identities to aid Superman against an assault by his greatest foes. Though successful in destroying Braniac's force-shield generator, Elastic Lad is shot in the back by the re-animated Lex Luthor, under the control of Braniac.

* ELEMENT LAD - JAN ARRAH of 30th Century TROM is a member of the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES. Like all natives of his planet, he possesses the ability to transmute matter simply by force of will.

* ELLIOT, JORDAN - The name Superman takes in an IMAGINARY STORY in September 1986 (Superman#423 "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow"), following his deliberate depowering after taking the life of MISTER MXYZPTLK. In this tale, he is married to LOIS LANE and is father to JONATHAN ELLIOT. JORdan ELliot is likely a tribute to Superman's biological father, JOR-EL.

* EMERALD EMPRESS - SARYVA, a would-be conqueror on the 30th Century, wields the EMERALD EYE OF EKRON and all its fantastic powers. She is a member of the FATAL FIVE.

* EMERALD EYE OF EKRON - The powerful tool of the EMERALD EMPRESS

* ENGINE CITY - The modified remains of Coast City, destroyed by the CYBORG and MONGUL and used by the two as one of two locations where enormous rocket-type engines would be placed on the Earth, part of a process which would turn Earth into a new WARWORLD.

In September 1995 (SMOS#34 "Here Be Monsters"), it is revealed that the remains of Engine City are leaking dangerous chemicals into the Pacific Ocean, even spawning a villain by the name of KOSNOR. AQUAMAN and Superman combine forces to defeat him.

* ERKOL - KRYPTON's oldest city, once demolished in a war with XAN but successfully rebuilt afterwards. The city existed up until Krypton's destruction.

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* FARR, DOCTOR - A S.T.A.R.LABS scientist who, in December 1971 (Superman#246 "Danger -- Monster at Work") accidentally creates a giant, pollution-eating plant-life which runs rampant through METROPOLIS. Superman uses the creature to quickly clean the congested sewers of the city, then wraps it up and returns it to S.T.A.R. for better safekeeping.

* FATAL FIVE, THE - 30th-Century gang of criminals usually consisting of EMERALD EMPRESS, MANO, PERSUADER, THAROK and VALIDUS. Other members have included the DARK MAN. The Fatal Five were present during the mission against the SUN-EATER during which FERRO LAD gave his life.

* FATHER NATURE - A powerful alien being who assaults Earth's life-forms in April 1981 (Superman#358 "Father Nature's Folly"). One of a pair of beings who perceived Earth's potential to bring forth life from its state of churning magma, Cron lost a struggle with his equal and opposite MOTHER NATURE to guide developing life in his own manner. Returning to Earth billions of years later, Cron attempts to remake Earth in his image, flooding its atmosphere with Argon and Methane, and changing native plant life.

Superman turns away Cron by threatening to demolish the Earth rather than let it be so drastically altered. Treasuring the potential of life on this planet, Cron chooses to retreat, never to return.

* FERRIS, CAROL - Secret identity of STAR SAPPHIRE.

* FERRO LAD - Legionairre ANDREW NOLAN, twin brother of DOUGLAS NOLAN, born hideously disfigured to a popular media celebrity in the 30th century. Along with his deformity, which requires Douglas and Andrew to both wear iron masks with only eyeholes apparent, the brothers possess the ability to transform their entire body into a form of "living metal," providing them with great strength and invulnerability.

* FIFTH DIMENSION - Also known as the land of ZRRRF.

* FIREFALLS - One of KRYPTON's greatest natural wonders, a "waterfall" of flame located in the SCARLET JUNGLE.

* FIRESTORM - A composite being of high schooler RONNIE RAYMOND and Nuclear scientist MARTIN STEIN, Firestorm possesses complete control of all atomic structure. Superman sponsors Firestorm for membership in the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA.

* FLAMEBIRD - Also called the ROBIN of KANDOR, the partner of NIGHTWING and secretly reformed PHANTOM ZONE prisoner AK-VAR.
In February 1978 (Superman Family#187 "The Battle With the Bizarro Brain"), Nightwing and Flamebird fight their way into a berserk weather control center whose central processing tape had been tragically modified by a stray bolt of energy from the MATTER DUPLICATOR RAY, the same device which created BIZARRO.
In February 1978 (Superman Family#187 "The Battle With the Bizarro Brain"), Nightwing and Flamebird fight their way into a berserk weather control center whose central processing tape had been tragically modified by a stray bolt of energy from the MATTER DUPLICATOR RAY, the same device which created BIZARRO.

* FORGOTTEN HEROES - A loose-knit organization of DC's fourth-string line-up, made of Dale Dorrance (of the Sea Devils), Dolphin, Immortal Man, Rick Flag (of the Suicide Squad) and Rip HUNTER (Time Master). The Heroes team up with Superman on two occasions, once to fight the FORGOTTEN VILLAINS.

* FORGOTTEN VILLAINS - A malevolent society of DC's bargain basement enemies. The team consists of the matter re-arranging Atom Master, the sorceress Enchantress, he bizarre Faceless Hunter From Saturn, 18th century Polish warlock Kraklow, the size-changing Mr.Poseidon and the monstrous computer Ultivac.

* FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE - Superman's arctic sanctum, hidden in a secret location at the top of the Earth. Among other things, the Fortress has been home to slew of Kryptonian technology, the BOTTLE CITY of KANDOR, the PHANTOM ZONE PROJECTOR, the INTERPLANETARY ZOO, an armory of alien weapons, Superman's trophy room, titanium-paged diary, laboratory and fully equipped apartments for guests, including one in a permanent wing for his cousin Supergirl.

* FREELANCE - A space pirate, captain of the SHE-DEVIL, and owner of the MERKABA STONE, an artifact which gives him great powers (including, but not limited to, the ability to turn intangible, or to increase his density and therefore his strength and resistance to damage.)
In December 1995 (SMOS#51 "Wanted"), Freelance helps Superman and two other refugees from the TRIBUNAL escape an ambush by the interplanetary judiciary.

* FREEMAN, DR. TORVAL - A STAR LABS doctor who is merged with the PARASITE, in order to become DOC PARASITE.