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

I

* INJUSTICE SOCIETY - An organization of criminals established primarily to oppose the super-heroic activities of the JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA.
In May-June 1977 (All-Star Comics#66 "Injustice Strikes Twice!"), Injustice Society members Icicle, Wizard, Brainwave and the Thinker successfully kidnap JSA members Hourman and Wildcat, only to be defeated by POWER GIRL and her elder allies.

* INSECT QUEEN (1) - The LANA LANG of EARTH-1 dons a ring given to her by an injured alien, and gains the ability to assume the properties of any earth insect or arachnid, though only once. When assuming these powers, Lana takes on a "centaur-like" appearance, usually keeping her head or upper-body intact, while the remainder of her takes the form of whatever insect she impersonates. In this identity, Lana is an honorary members of the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES.

* INSECT QUEEN (2) - The LANA LANG of EARTH-2 dons a scarab brooch sent to her by her archaeologist father and, in time, is overwhelmed by the persona of the "Queen of Insects" in December 1981 (Superman Family #213 "Queen of the Insect World"). Exercising her power to mutate and command the insect kingdom, she forces giant silkworms, who have the "power to spin whatever color silk I choose," to weave her a costume, and sends a swarm of giant locust to attack the Man of Steel, Earth-2's Superman.

* INTERPLANETARY ZOO - A permanent fixture of Superman's FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, a series of custom-made environments for extra-terrestrial creatures (often of near-extinct species. Traditionally, Superman only keeps these creatures temporarily while he searches for suitable environments to which he can transfer them).

* INVISIBLE KID II - JACQUES FOCCART, a native Terran and member of the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES who uses the invisibility serum of INVISIBLE KID I to simulate his powers.
In Aug.1987 (Superman #8 "Future Shock") he is one of four Legionairres who confront the Post-Crisis SUPERMAN in a search for SUPERBOY (3).

* IRONS, DR.JOHN HENRY - Real name of STEEL.

* IT! - An herbivorous, alien tornado which breaks through into Earth's dimension in May 1965 (Superman #177 "The Menace Called IT!"). Confused by its sudden change of location, IT! seeks sustenance on this new world. SInce IT!'s home world was filled to overflowing with the green vegetation which was IT!'s sole source of nutrition, IT! causes a great deal of havoc attempting to ingest anything green in its sight. Superman manages to return IT! to its peaceful existence on IT!'s homeworld.

J

* JAN ARRAH - Real name of ELEMENT LAD

* JAX-UR, GENERAL(Anim) - Native of KRYPTON and its would-be usurper. Along with his devotee MALA, Jax-Ur is sent to the PHANTOM ZONE as punishment for his rebellion.
In May 97 (Superman Advs #7 "All Creatures Great and Small part 1"), Jax-Ur and Mala escape from the cage in which they been miniaturized and rendered powerless. During a series of frantic battle with Superman, the Kryptonian criminals manage to shrink the Man of Steel, even as Jax-Ur increases his size to an excess of 50-feet.

* JENKINS, HAROLD - A resident of 344 CLINTON ST., and the man who is accidentally shot in December 1971 (Superman#246 "Danger -- Monster At Work") when the armed neighborhood watch group at the building mistake him for an intruder. Superman manages to rush the injured man to the hospital just in time.

* JES-MO - Chief Weapons Scientist of KANDOR during KRYPTON's so-called "LAST WAR"

* JOCKO - The 'secret identity' assumed by KRYPTO during the period wherein he took an identity as an 'ordinary' dog so as to get closer to his beloved CHELSEA, and to play the role of SUPER-DOG in a television series.

* JOHNSON, HENRY - An alias used by STEEL in June 1993 (SMOS#22 "Steel).

* JOR-EL I - A great KRYPTONIAN scientist, and father of JOR-EL II (who is father to Superman), NIM-EL and ZOR-EL, and brother to Kalya Var-El and Zim-El, who is father of KRU-EL.

* JOR-EL II - Biological father of KAL-EL, who is secretly Superman, greatest scientist of KRYPTON and prophet of its inevitable doom. Inventor of the PHANTOM ZONE, and husband to LARA LOR-VAN. Jor-El is the son of JOR-EL I, the twin brother of NIM-EL and older sibling of ZOR-EL.
In a dystopian hallucination mid-year 1985 (Superman Annual #11 "For The Man Who Has Everything"), Jor-El is a reclusive, right-wing outcast who becomes the chairman of the para-military organization Sword of Rao.

* JUSTICE LEAGUE (Of America, International, Europe, others...) - The "A-List" of superhero teams in the DC Universe, and the organization with which Superman has most commonly been associated. The roster has expanded and contracted repeatedly over the last several decades, and has occasionally (and retroactively) excluded Superman from the ranks. The core group is generally assumed to be DC's "Big Seven" Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern and the Martian Manhunter. At this point, the Justice League boasts over a hundred members and former members.

In July 1980 (Superman#349 "The Turnabout Trap), Superman must escape and outwit a gender-bent Justice League created by his old foe MISTER MXYZPTLK. That team consists of SUPERWOMAN(1), Batwoman, a female FLASH, Black Condor (a male Black Canary) and Wonder Warrior (a male WONDER WOMAN).
In January 1997 (JLA#1 "THEM!"), Superman and a newly-reconfigured Justice League match themselves against a group of seemingly benevolent alien superhumans named the HYPERCLAN who are, secretly, a group of WHITE MARTIANS intent on dominating the planet Earth. The Hyperclan are exposed, and their plans thwarted, in April 1997 (JLA#4 "Invaders From Mars!"). Immediately following this battle, the JLA establishes their fourth headquarters upon the moon's surface - the JUSTICE LEAGUE WATCHTOWER.

* JUSTICE LEAGUE WATCHTOWER - The lunar base of the Justice League of America, established in April 1997 (JLA#4 "Invaders From Mars!").

* JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA - The first of all super-hero teams, in DC COMICS or others. Superman (specifically, the EARTH-2 version) was, for a long time, an honorary and only occasional member of the group, and later joined permanently along with his cousin POWER GIRL.
In late 1986 (The Last Days of the Justice Society of America Special #1), The JSA gathers to mourn the passing of Superman, as well as their Robin and Huntress, all of them casualties of the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. That same story finds a 1945 JSA eliminated by ADOLF HITLER's mad use of the SPEAR OF DESTINY to destroy the world. The JSA's pan-dimensional mission sets history right.

K

* KAL-EL - KRYPTONian name of Superman.

* KAMANDI - One of the last humans in a post-apocalyptic, possibly apocryphal future wherein humanoid animals rule the lands of a massive "New Continent." In May 1975 (Kamandi #29 "Mighty One") Kamandi and his companion Ben Boxer stumble upon a civilization of intelligent apes who worship the legend of Superman (known to them as MIGHTY ONE), and struggle against the ape champion ZUMA for the right to possess Superman's original, indestructible uniform (A high holy artifact to the apes). Boxer and Kamandi charge the apes with safe guarding the costume until "Mighty One" returns.

* KANDOR - One of KRYPTON's greatest cities, stolen and reduced in size by the intergalactic villain BRANIAC, and stored in Superman's FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE for many years as the so-called "BOTTLE-CITY of KANDOR." Eventually enlarged and relocated to an uninhabited planet christened NEW KANDOR, or ROKYN

* KARA ZOR-EL - KRYPTONian name of SUPERGIRL(2)

* KENT, CHARLES "CRUSTY" - Son of Jonathan Kent's cousin EZRA who, in December 1970 (Superboy#170 "Easy Rider to Doom!"), stays with the Kents while his father seeks a fortune in Alaska. A petty crook, Charles leads the older Clark on a mini-crime spree through Smallville, usually ending up the heroes thanks to Clark's quick thinking and surruptitous use of super-powers. MR.CULLIS, a thieving loan manager at a local bank (which Clark and Charles helped "save" from a robbery), forces Crusty to help him blow up the bank, in order to hide the money that is missing. Superboy saves Crusty from an explosive fate, and sends him to Alaska to be with his father, and forces a confession out of
MR.CULLIS.

* KENT, CLARK - Adopted name of KAL-EL, also known as SUPERMAN, given to him by his earth parents JONATHAN and MARTHA KENT.

* KENT, JONATHAN - Adopted father of CLARK KENT.
In June 1993 (Adv.Superman #500 "Life After Death"), having suffered a heart attack, Jonathan plumbs the afterlife searching for his recently deceased son. After passing through a tapestry of his own past, and visiting the realm of the demonic BLAZE, Jonathan is guided by KISMET to a plateau where his son's final moments are being played out. Although both Jonathan and Clark turn away from a permanent death, the two lose contact as Jonathan revives in a Smallville hospital.

* KENT, LAUREL - Member of the training academy arm of the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES and, prior to the events of MILLENNIUM, believed to be the 30th century descendant of Superman. As a supposed descendant of Superman, Laurel actually only possessed her "ancestor's" super-strength, lacking his enumerable other powers.

* KENT, MARTHA - Adopted mother of CLARK KENT.

* KING MALIS - Although believed to be an ancient Egyptian king, Malis was actually a bizarre robot stranded on Earth by some unknown alien race. In May 1971 (WF#202, "Vengeance of the Tomb-Thing"), Malis is awakened during a battle between SUPERMAN, BATMAN, the Bedouin BRAKH and a rogue SUPERMAN ROBOT taking place at the site of an archaeological expedition. Batman was able to destroy Malis nuclear power source (which emitted a radiation not unlike that of a RED SUN), enabling Superman to disable the robot permanently.

* KISMET - A spiritual, supernatural being who exists to lead individuals towards their destiny. In June 1993 (Adv.Superman #500 "Life After Death") Kismet aids JONATHAN KENT in navigating the afterlife so that he may recall the soul of his recently deceased son, Superman.

* KLAX-AR - A Kryptonian refugee and exiled citizen who seeks to steal the super-powers of surviving Kryptonians in order to replace his own absent powers.
In February 1978 (Superman Family#187 "Birthright of Power") Klax-Ar returns from the exile to which SUperboy had sent him, and ambushes Supergirl(2) while she visits the prison planet Kronis. Having modified a Superboy robot to act as a vehicle and primary weapon, his MENTOMATRON helmet, Klax-Ar is defeated when Supergirl leads him into Earth's polluted atmosphere, effectively destroying the robot's delicate circuits.

* KLTPZYXM - The word which, historically, MISTER MXYZPTLK must spell, speak or write in order to return his FIFTH-DIMENSIONal home, ZRRRF.

* KLURKOR - A "soft" form of Kryptonian martial art, similar in structure to Jiu-Jitsu and possessing a sub-discipline in the area of nerve-pinches. It is practiced by SUPERMAN, VAN-ZEE and dozens of other Kryptonians. Of Earth's populace, only LOIS LANE is familiar with the forms.

* KOSNOR - A mutated sea-creature who, In September 1995 (SMOS#34 "Here Be Monsters"), unleashes great destruction on the Pacific Coast of the United States as a protest against the dangerous, leaking chemical residue of ENGINE CITY. He is defeated by AQUAMAN and Superman's combined force. He vanishes and has yet to reappear.
Kosnor possessed powers not dissimilar to Aquaman's, including his water-breathing, incredible strength, and mental command of sea life. However, Kosnor could additionally enforce mental commands on any living creature.

* KROGG - A giant creature of destruction who, in February 1978 (Superman Family#187 "A Phoenix of Steel"), breaks through from his home dimension into that of EARTH-1. Having defeated both the native Superman and the Superman of EARTH-2, Krogg is finally put down when the two Men of Steel combine their physical essences into one single, massively-powerful being.

* KRUSH - A distant planet of high-gravity which, much like KRYPTON, gives its natives tremendous powers under the lighter gravity of Earth. In May 1972 (WF#211 "Fugitive From The Stars") two Krush police officers come to Earth to seek a political fugitive from their homeworld.

* KRYPTO - Superman's super-powered pet dog, a member of the LEGION OF SUPER-PETS and the SPACE CANINE PATROL AGENCY.
For a brief period, Krypto went by the secret identity of JOCKO, accompanying former detective ED LACY and trying to lead a "normal" life as a plain Terran dog.
In an IMAGINARY STORY in September 1986 (Action Comics #583 "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow"), Krypto perishes while defending the Fortress of Solitude from an attack by the now-adult Kryptonite Kid.

* KRYPTON - Home planet of Superman, Supergirl (2), the SUPER-PETS, the citizens of KANDOR, the PHANTOM ZONE VILLAINS and more.

* KRYPTONESE - The world-wide native language of the KRYPTONian race. Evidently, the Kryptonian language consisted of 118 characters, each representing a particular sound, and their numerical system possessed 11 interchangeable characters, which like Arabic or Roman numerals, represented different amounts based on their arrangement.

* KRYPTONITE - The radioactive remnants of the planet KRYPTON, historically fatal, or at least strangely potent, to natives of that world. There are a variety of Kryptonite variants, though the traditional Green Kryptonite is the most common, and the type usually known simply by the basic name.

* KRYPTONITE, BLUE - An imperfect duplicate of Green Kryptonite, fatal to BIZARROS.

* KRYPTONITE, GOLD - A variant of Kryptonite which permanently removes the powers KRYPTONians traditionally receive under the light of a yellow sun.
In an IMAGINARY STORY in September 1986 (Action Comics#583 "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?") Superman deliberately exposes himself to Gold K, as punishment for willingly taking the life of the berserk MISTER MXYZPTLK.

* KRYPTONITE KID - An intergalactic teenage thug who, passing through a cloud of KRYPTONITE, finds his body imbued with the deadly radiations of that selfsame mineral.

In an IMAGINARY STORY in September 1986 (Superman#423 "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow"), the adult Kid is recruited by BRANIAC for his final assault against the Man of Steel.

* KRYPTONITE, KRIMSON - A variant of KRYPTONITE created by the mischevious MISTER MXYZPTLK. Unlike normal Kryptonite, which is fatal to Superman, Krimson K merely robbed the Man of Steel of his super-powers.

* KRYPTONITE, RED - A variant of Kryptonite which causes unpredictable, and historically bizarre, changes to super-powered KRYPTONians.

* KRYPTONITE, WHITE - A variant of Kryptonite which is fatal to all plant life.

* KRYPTONITE-X - A synthetic form of non-harmful KRYPTONITE created by SUPERGIRL(2) in an effort to find a permanent cure to the Kryptonite poisoning which is fatal to all super-powered KRYPTONians. Kryptonite X inadvertently granted super-powers to LINDA LEE DANVERS' pet cat, STREAKY.

* KRYPTONOPOLIS - City of Superman's birth. Not actually the city's true name, the English translation commonly used combines the name of Superman's home planet KRYPTON with the Greek suffix "polis," for "city." The Kryptonian translation apparently is inappropriate for human pronunciation. Kryptonopolis was founded by the mutated exiles from the city of EKROL following the Ekrol-XAN war, whose telekinetic abilities were not passed on to the next generation of Ekrol-Kryptonopolitans.