Encyclopedia 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

G

* GALACTIC GOLEM - Created by LEX LUTHOR, the Golem is a humanoid creature shaped from the very essential matter of the known universe. Strangely, this limitless supply of matter which ordinarily defies the boundaries of modern physics, simply gives the Golem super-strength and invulnerability.
In November 1972 (Superman#258 "Fury of the Energy-Eater"), the Golem returns to Earth thanks to the intervention of a benevolent alien race who save it from its headlong flight. Seeking revenge on Superman, the Golem is trapped near Superman's Arctic FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, encased in magnetic metals at the very point of the North Pole, immobilizing him entirely, seemingly for eternity.

* GALAXY BROADCASTING - METROPOLIS-based television station which, at different times, employs CAT GRANT, JIMMY OLSEN, LANA LANG and CLARK KENT. The station has been run by MORGAN EDGE, MORGAN EDGE SR. and Cat Grant.
In July 1978 (Superman #325, "The Super Sellout of Metropolis"), Superman engages in a high-profile smear campaign of WGBS while under the control of PETER SILVERSTONE.

* GANG, THE - Team of color-coordinated villains who have fought SUPERGIRL, beginning in February 1983 (DNAOS#4 "Hail Hail The Gang's All Here"). The team consists of the red-garbed Brains, the verdant Kong, the blue-adorned and helmeted Bulldozer and the saffron-suited Ms.Mesmer.
Under the orders of their mysterious, shadowed benefactor, the Gang set about to apprehend JOHN OSTRANDER, a friend of LINDA LEE DANVERS, and successfully turned away an assault by the MAID OF MIGHT.

* GHOST, THE (Electronic) - A being of pure energy who, in November 1971 (Superman #244 "The Electronic Ghost of Metropolis"), runs rampant through the city of METROPOLIS. The Ghost is, in fact, the "offspring" of the massive WGBS computer mainframe which has gained a sentience and will-to-live and -reproduce. In the chamber which holds the immense database, Superman destroys the host computer.

* GILBERT, GREG - The handsome writer of the soap opera SECRET HEARTS. In December 1981 (Superman Family #213 "Bad Day With Blackrock"), Gilbert is blackmailed by the criminal BLACKROCK into stealing secret blueprints for a Three-Dimensional television prototype, developed by GBS. Supergirl foils Blackrock's plans.

* GILLIS, JAMIE - Photographer for the METROPOLIS-based newspaper THE DAILY PLANET; also sometimes assistant and confidante to LOIS LANE.

* GLOBAL GUARDIANS - An international team of super-heroes, each member representing a different nation on Earth. Recruited by team leader Doctor Mist, Superman's is America's representative on a handful of outings.

* GLORIOUS GODFREY - A charismatic NEW GOD and native of APOKOLIPS, brother to AMAZING GRACE.
From November 1986 to April 1987 (Legends #1 to Legends#6), Godfrey uses the pseudonym G.GORDON GODFREY to spearhead a campaign of mistrust and hatred in America for Earth's superhuman population. Godfrey is eventually stopped by a team of heroes, including Superman, BATMAN, WONDER WOMAN, the CHANGELING and an incarnation of the JUSTICE LEAGUE

* GODFREY, G.GORDON - Pseudonym used by GLORIOUS GODFREY from November 1986 to April 1987

* GORDON, BARBARA - Daughter of GOTHAM CITY Police Commisoner James Gordon, secretly BATGIRL. In several IMAGINARY STORIES, Barbara was the wife and business partner of Bruce(SUPERMAN)Wayne.

* GOTHAM CITY - Home of BATMAN and ROBIN. In several stories, it served as the backdrop for the imaginary adventures of Bruce(SUPERMAN)Wayne.
In September 1979 (World's Finest#259 "Gotham City - Ghost City"), it is discovered that aliens from SIRIUS V have placed a stone under Gotham's foundation, forcing millions of Gothamites to abandon their native city in favor of neighboring METROPOLIS.
In Winter 1997 (Batman Chronicles#7 "Equal Justice") Superman travels to Gotham to attempt to stay the execution of MALLORY BLAIR.

* GRAHU - A KRYPTONian building material, lightweight and durable, but which dissolved after experiencing the shrinking- and enlarging-processes of KANDOR. Domiciles made of Grahu were called Grahu-Huts. Much of pre-destruction Krypton was constructed of Grahu.

* GRANT, LORETTA - The secret identity of the troublesome YELLOW PERI.

* GREEN LANTERN (1)- Actually ALAN SCOTT, former engineer and radio station broadcaster who comes into possession of an enchanted ring of power and lantern which energizes it.

* GREEN LANTERN (2) - Actually HAL JORDAN, daring test pilot who is recruited by the GUARDIANS OF THE UNIVERSE to serve a Earth's representative in the GREEN LANTERN CORPS, and who wields the mighty POWER RING of OA's technology.

* GREEN, SASHA - A former physical trainer to LEX LUTHOR who is killed by her employer in a fit of rage. In June 1994 (Act#700 "Swan Song"), LOIS LANE makes public a security camera tape of the murder, destroying the carefully-crafted reputation of Lex Luthor.

* GYROFORM - The invention of the exiled Atlantean scientist HARKON, used in April 1973 (Superboy#194 "The Super-Merman of the Sea") to transform Superboy (1) into a fish-tailed, powerless Merman.

H

* HAL-VU - A leading KRYPTONian statesman at the time of the KRYPTONIAN FEDERATION.

* HAMILTON, COL. EDWARD - Real name of COLONEL FUTURE.

* HAMILTON, PROF.EMIL - Brilliant independent scientist and inventor, and close friend of Superman. In February 1989 (Adventures of Superman #451 "Dangerous Ground"), Hamilton successfully survives an assassination attempt engineered by LEX LUTHOR. Hamilton not only frees JOSE DELGADO from the cybernetic suit which controlled his actions and turned him into a would-be assassin, but cannily checkmates Luthor by engineering a city-wide broadcast embarrassing Luthor into dropping all operations against him and Delgado.

* HAPPERSON, DR.SYDNEY - Assistant to LEX LUTHOR and high-ranking scientist at LEXCORP.
In June 1994 (Act#700 "Swan Song"), it is Sydney Happersen who launches several of Lex Luthor's highly-destructive missiles from their hidden locations throughout METROPOLIS, effectively destroying several portions of the city, rendering literally thousands dead, injured or homeless.

* HARKON - An exiled Atlantean scientist who captures Superboy(1) in April 1973 (Superboy#194 "The Super-Merman of the Sea") and transforms him into a fish-tailed "mer-man" via his invention, the GYROFORM. Harkon's niece YORELL helps free the powerless Superboy by means of a potent formula which not only returns Superboy to his bipedal, super-powered state, but erases his memory of the event.

* HAWKMAN - Actually Carter Hall, secretly Katar Hol, police officer from THANAGAR, Superman's ally in the JUSTICE LEAGUE and partner of HAWKWOMAN.
In May 1979, Superman visits the Thanagarian pair in an attempt to lighten their spirits in the face of a forced exile from their homeworld.

* HAWKWOMAN - Actually Shayera Thal, secretly Shiera Hall, police officer from THANAGAR, Superman's ally in the JUSTICE LEAGUE and partner of HAWKMAN.
In May 1979, Superman visits the Thanagarian pair in an attempt to lighten their spirits in the face of a forced exile from their homeworld.

* HENDERSON, WILLIAM "BILL"(Inspector/Commissioner) - A staple of the METROPOLIS scene, "Bill" Henderson has been the city's Top Cop for most of Superman's career.
In December 1981 (Superman Family #213 "Watson Watson Everywhere and Not A Holmes In Sight"), Henderson is publicly embarrassed by LOIS LANE, when she prints a front page article revealing the theft of an award he had received the night previous - for being a top detective. Operating independently, the pair retrieve Henderson's stolen HOLMES AWARD.

* HIAZ - A KRYPTONIAN standard of measurement, somewhere between one pint and one half-liter.

* HITLER, ADOLF - Reichchancellor and dictator of Germany whose fictional self was often pitted against many comics' superheroes, not the least of whom was Superman himself.
In late 1986 (The Last Days of the Justice Society of America Special #1), facing the immenence of his defeat, Hitler uses his coveted SPEAR OF DESTINY to spread a wave of destruction over the entire world of 1945, destroying a helpless Man of Steel and his allies. An epic time- and dimension-travelling mission on the part of the JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA sets history right again.

* HORU-KANU - A deadly form of Kryptonian martial arts, most similar in structure to Karate or Tae Kwon Do, although infinitely more deadly. It is practiced by FAORA HU-UL

* HTRAE - See BIZARRO WORLD.

* HOLCRAFT, MAJOR - . In March 1991 (Superman #53 "Truth, Justice and the American Way"), Holcraft is the USAF officer, secretly a member of the covert organization SONS OF LIBERTY, who engineers the assassination attempt against PRESIDENT MARLO of QURAC.

* HOLMES AWARD - A METROPOLIS award, named for fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, given each year by the DETECTION LEAGUE (The "hangout for the nation's top cops, private detectives and amateur sleuths). In December 1981 (Superman Family #213 "Watson Watson Everywhere and Not A Holmes In Sight"), Inspector BILL HENDERSON receives the award, only to have it promptly stolen from him.

* HUD - One of three hapless criminals who, in November 1971 (WF#207 "A Matter of Light and Death"), are hired by DR.LIGHT to assassinate SUPERMAN with the powerful SATANSTAFF. Despite their apparent success, Dr.Light murders the trio when they attempt to steal the Satanstaff.

* HUNTER - A member of the LINEAR MEN, and the scientist formerly known as Rip Hunter, Time Master, member of the FORGOTTEN HEROES.

* HYPERCLAN - A group of "WHITE MARTIANS" who come to Earth in January 1997 (JLA#1 "THEM!") under the guise of benevolent aliens come to bring Earth into a Golden Age. In reality, they are the same creatures who, millennia prior, had broken Martian law to visit the primordial Earth for the purpose of genetically experimenting with the fledgling human race. Their experiments, by the Martians' own admission, "crippled" the human race, keeping them from being the superhuman race which they were destined to be.
In April 1997 (JLA#4 "Invaders From Mars!"), the JUSTICE LEAGUE successfully defeats and incarcerates the invading Martians.
The Hyperclan consisted of the leader PROTEX, speedster ZUM, the monstrous ARMEK, albino amazon PRIMAID, the shield-bearing ZENTURION, skull-faced A-MORTAL, energy-wielder TRONIX and the shape-changer FLUXUS. Although they each specialized in particular super-power (or small group thereof), they each possessed powers on par with MARTIAN MANHUNTER