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

L

* LACY, ED (Det.) - Associate of KRYPTO's during the brief period during which Krypto assumed the secret identity of "JOCKO"

* LANE (-KENT), LOIS - Perennial love interest of SUPERMAN and high-profile, award-winning reporter for the DAILY PLANET. Sometimes called "Superman's Girlfriend."
Lois Lane is such an integral part of the Superman myths, and has been so pivotal to several hundred Superman Family stories, that a total account of her career and appearances is almost impossible.

I. PERSONAL MILESTONES
II.MRS.SUPERMAN - Lois is so often involved in tales, both real and imaginary, which pivot around her (possible) marriage to Superman, that it accounts for a large portion of her story appearances.
In an IMAGINARY STORY in September 1986 (Superman#423 "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow"), Lois is married to JORDAN ELLIOT, actually Superman after exposing himself to GOLD KRYPTONITE. She is the mother of Jonathan Elliot, their super-powered offspring. As Mrs.Elliot, Lois recounts the story of Superman's final battle.

In December 1996 (Superman:The Wedding Album "Wedding Daze"), the inevitable finally came into being. Returning from her self-imposed exile from Metropolis, and the emotional conflicts there, Lois marches into the Planet offices. After a brief reconciliation with Clark Kent, Lois finally re-accepts his proposal, and the pair are married soon after. For the first time, the canonical Lois Lane and Superman were truly wed.

III.THE LOISES OF OTHER WORLDS - Whenever there is a Superman of another reality, there is almost always another Lois.
In April 1985 (Crisis On Infinite Earths#1 "The Summoning"), LOIS LANE of EARTH-3, wife of ALEX LUTHOR and mother to their only child ALEXANDER LUTHOR, perishes along with her husband when the ominous wall of anti-matter consumes their universe.

In a 1995 Elseworlds (Superman:Kal#1 "Kal"), Lady Loisse is the betrothed of medieval blacksmith Kal, and victim of the murderous rage of the wicked BARON LUTHOR.

IV.SUPER-LOISES...
On several occasions, Lois Lane has been gifted with powers and abilities beyond mortal men.

* LANE, LOUIS - In July 1980 (Superman#349 "The Turnabout Trap), Louis Lane is the gender-reversed analog to LOIS LANE in a world created by MISTER MXYZPTLK's magic. That same story introduces us to the "real" Louis Lane, Lois' cousin from Pittsdale.

* LANE, LUCY - Sister of LOIS LANE and occasional girlfriend of JIMMY OLSEN.

* LANG, LANA - One of the perennial love interests for both CLARK KENT and SUPERMAN, employee of the GALAXY BROADCAST SYSTEM and native of SMALLVILLE. In later stories she is the wife of PETE ROSS.
In December 1981 (Superman Family #213 "Queen of the Insect World"), the Lana of EARTH-2 comes into possession of an enchanted scarab brooch, and assumes the villainous identity of INSECT QUEEN (2).

In an IMAGINARY STORY in September 1986 (Superman#423 "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow"), Lang and Jimmy Olsen adopt formerly discarded super-human powers in order to help Superman against an assault by his greatest foes. Though successful in destroying Braniac's force-shield generator, and killing the enslaved body of Lex Luthor, Lana is herself killed by Lightning Lord of the Legion of Super-Villains.
In June 1994 (Act#700 "Swan Song), she and Pete Ross are married in the home of JONATHAN and MARTHA KENT.

* LAR-ON - A former scientist from the planet KRYPTON who, because of his unfortunate and uncontrollable curse of Lycanthropy (A disease which transforms humans into werewolves), is sentenced to the PHANTOM ZONE following his unintentional murder of his newlywed wife. In May 1979 (WF#256 "The Werewolf of Krypton"), Lar-On is released from the Phantom Zone during a failed experiment by the Earth scientist PROF.JEREMIAH TERRY. Rampaging through METROPOLIS, Lar is engaged in battle by Superman, who leads the Super-powered werewolf on a flight to the sunny side of the planet, returning him to his human form. Lar-On is returned to the Zone.

In September 1979 (WF#258 "The Curse of Krypton") it is revealed that scratches which SANDY TERRY received from Lar-On have infected her with the very same disease.

* LAST SON OF KRYPTON - Common descriptive title for SUPERMAN

* LEECH-LIZARD - A gigantic Kryptonian beast who survived by sucking the life-energy of its victims. In November 1971 (WF#207 "A Matter of Light and Death"), a two-dimensional reproduction of the Leech-Lizard is brought to life by a trio of criminals utilizing the SATANSTAFF.

* LEESBURG - Adopted home of SUPERGIRL(3), the hometown of her human alter-ego LINDA DANVERS.

* LEEYA - Powerful warrior woman from the planet BARTOKT, a matriarchal world. Leeya is one of Superman's fellow escapees from the TRIBUNAL, where Leeya had been held as criminally representative of her planet's cannibalistic traditions.

* LEGION OF DOOM(Anim) - A group of villains dedicated to the destruction of the SUPER FRIENDS and domination of the known world. Among its thirteen members were Superman nemeses BRANIAC, LEX LUTHOR, BIZARRO, TOYMAN (2) and SOLOMON GRUNDY. (All Anim)

* LEGION OF STUPOR-HEROES - A BIZARRO version of the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, created by Bizarro Superboy in February 1965 (Adventure Comics #329 "The Bizarro-Legion") to compensate for being denied admission to the real Legion. The Bizarro Legion commits atrocities and create disasters, an imperfect version of the Legion's code to do only good. Superboy outsmarts the Bizarro Legion, convincing them to disband.

* LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES - A 30th Century team of super-powered teenagers, inspired by the legend of SUPERBOY (1) to form a force for good throughout the inhabited galaxies. Headquartered in METROPOLIS, funded by R.J.BRANDE, SUPERBOY(1) is made a member by LSH core member Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy and Lightning Lad.

In September 1963 (Adventure Comics#312 "The Super-Sacrifice of the LEgionnaires" and "The Bravest Legionnaire"), SUPERBOY(1) is one of several Legionnaires searching for a method to resurrect LIGHTNING LAD, who earlier perished in battle. Although Superboy offers his own life to be sacrificed in order to bring Lightning Lad back, it is the Protean pet of CHAMELEON BOY, PROTY, who gives up his existence.

In an IMAGINARY STORY in September 1986 (Superman#423 "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow"), the Legion visits Superman on the eve of his final battle, giving him a gift of a statuette which contains an important clue for his victory.

* LEGION OF SUPER-PETS - A 30th Century team of superheroic animal mascots. As well as including the full roster of the traditional SUPER-PETS, the team also includes Proty, the protoplasmic pet of CHAMELEON BOY.

* LEGION OF SUPER-VILLAINS - A 30th Century collection of rogues and criminals who pit themselves against the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES.
In an IMAGINARY STORY in September 1986 (Superman#423 "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow"), assured of victory by their own history books, the Legion of Super-Villains travels into the past to join Braniac on his final assault on Superman. The trio is responsible for the death of Lana Lang.

* LESLA-LAR - A KANDORian villainess and identical twin of SUPERGIRL(2).

* LIGHTNING LAD - Actually GARTH RANZZ of WINATH, a founding member of the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES.
In September 1963 (Adventure Comics#312 "The Super-Sacrifice of the Legionnaires" and "The Bravest Legionnaire"), SUPERBOY(1) is one of several Legionnaires searching for a method to resurrect LIGHTNING LAD, who earlier perished in battle. Although Superboy offers his own life to be sacrificed in order to bring Lightning Lad back, it is the Protean pet of CHAMELEON BOY, PROTY, who gives up his existence.

* LIVEWIRE(Anim) - A female antagonist of Superman, apparently a being made entirely out of electric energy and capable of performing feats related to such power.

In March 1997 (Sup.Adv#5 "Balance Of Power") Livewire awakens from a coma and infests the broadcast network of Metropolis, blocking all transmissions except those which feature female actors, spokespersons, reporters, or other personages. She is defeated by Superman, with unwelcome assistance from LEX LUTHOR.

* LORAX - A KRYPTONian "month," equalling 73 planetary revolutions, six of which filled a Kryptonian year.

* LUORNO DURGO - Real name of TRIPLICATE GIRL, later called DUO DAMSEL, and following the events of ZERO HOUR, called TRIAD.

* LUTHOR, ALEX- Sole Superhero of EARTH-THREE, father of ALEXANDER LUTHOR. In April 1985 (Crisis On Infinite Earths#1 "The Summoning"), Alex Luthor and his bride LOIS LANE meet their end as the ominous wall of anti-matter consumes Earth-3. In his last moments, Luthor successfully teleports his son across dimensions towards EARTH-1, where Luthor hoped the native heroes of that world would provide for him.

* LUTHOR, ALEXANDER - Son of LEX LUTHOR(3) and native of EARTH-3, he plays a pivotal role in the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS

* LUTHOR, LEX (Also ALEXEI) - In all canon, the historical arch-nemesis of Superman. His exploits and crimes against Superman fill almost as great a volume as those of Superman himself. In all canon, a brilliant man (if not the most brilliant upon the planet), cold and calculating, manipulative and possessed of an almost-obsessive hatred of Superman. In some canon, he is the brother of LENA THORUL-COLBY and uncle to her son VAL COLBY; scion, savior and defender of the destroyed planet LEXOR, husband to ARDORA and father of Lex Luthor Jr; and native of SMALLVILLE, Kansas. In other canon, he is a native of SUICIDE SLUM in METROPOLIS, married several times, and the father of LENA LUTHOR and PERRY(JERRY)WHITE JR. In further canon still, native to an unnamed area of Eurasia and charismatic leader of a political movement. One-time possessor of the POWERSTONE, occasional ally of BRANIAC and former member of many teams, including the SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS and the INJUSTICE GANG.
In April 1940 (Action Comics #23), Superman first encounters Luthor (as Alexei Luthor) when the evil scientist and his followers attempt to sabotage a peace conference between the warring nations of GALONIA and TORAN, thereby bringing all of Europe into a massive conflict (Apparently the inevitable conflict brewing in Eurasia at the time would have been insufficient for Luthor's needs). Needless to say, Superman delays the beginning of what would eventually become World War II

In an IMAGINARY STORY in September 1986 (Superman#423 "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow"), Luthor discovers the carapace of Braniac, and becomes a living host-slave to the alien computer. The combined pair begin a near-fatal assault on Superman.

* LUTHOR, LEX (Anim) - Even as there have been many representations of Superman in animation, so has his greatest enemy always played a role opposing him. In the SUPER FRIENDS series of cartoons, Luthor is the de facto leader of the LEGION OF DOOM.

* LUTHOR, BARON - In a 1995 ELSEWORLDS (Superman:Kal#1 "Kal"), Luthor is the local reagent of the medieval village Lexford. Wicked and corrupt, Luthor steals away and, in a fit of rage, murders LADY LOISSE, the betrothed of humble blacksmith Kal. The two engage in a battle which costs both their lives.

* LURVAN - One of KRYPTON's two major continents, on which KANDOR and KRYPTONOPOLIS were located, as was ARGO CITY, FORT ROZZ, the SCARLET JUNGLE and the FIRE-FALLS, the GOLD VOLCANO and the RED OCEAN.

* LYLA LERROL - One of Superman's perennial love interests, a famous holo-vid actress from the long-dead planet of KRYPTON.
In mid-year 1985 (Superman Annual #11 "For The Man Who Has Everything"), Superman is involved in a dystopic hallucination wherein he is husband to Lyla, and father of their two children Van-El and Orna Kal-El.

M

* MALA(Anim) - The female devotee of GENERAL JAX-UR, his companion in the PHANTOM ZONE.
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.

* MANHUNTERS - A race/religion centered on the android beings created some three billion years ago by the GUARDIANS OF THE UNIVERSE as a precursor to their GREEN LANTERN CORPS. Still a prominent force in the universe, the Manhunters kept a close eye of the development of the infant Kal-El into the hero Superman.
From November 1987 to January 1988 (Millennium #1-8), Superman is a part of a veritable army of superheroes who battle the Manhunters for the sake of the "Chosen," a handful of normal humans selected by the GUARDIANS OF THE UNIVERSE and their estranged mates to represent the next stage of super-evolved humanity.

* MAN OF STEEL - Common descriptive title for SUPERMAN

* MAN OF TOMORROW - Common descriptive title for SUPERMAN

* MARLO, PRESIDENT - Dictator of the Middle-Eastern nation of QURAC and sponsor of many terrorist attacks on the United States. In March 1991 (Superman #53 "Truth, Justice and the American Way"), believing he is escorting the despot to trial, Superman helps prevent an assassination attempt on the part of the SONS OF LIBERTY.

* MATTER DUPLICATOR RAY - The device, also known as the BIZARRO-RAY, which creates the 'imperfect duplicates' known as BIZARROS.

* MEACH, JOSEPH - Real name of the COMPOSITE SUPERMAN

* MERKABA STONE - An artifact in the possession of FREELANCE. The stone gives its wearer a control over gravity, to such a degree that Freelance was capable of becoming intangible, or becoming super-dense, thereby giving him super-strength and near-invulnerability. The stone also created a "Merkaba Field" which protected the ship SHE-DEVIL from the rigors of outer space.

* METALLO - John Corben is a cyborg with a kryptonite power source, who seeks vengeance against his repeated foe Superman.
In an IMAGINARY STORY in September 1986 (Superman#423 "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow"), Metallo leads a small army of similar cyborgs on an assault of the DAILY PLANET building, and is defeated when Superman magnetizes the Planet globe, thereby gathering up the metal creatures.

* METROPOLIS - The city which is home to Superman.

* METROPOLIS MARVEL - Common descriptive title for SUPERMAN

* MIDVALE - Hometown of SUPERGIRL(2), also known as LINDA LEE DANVERS.

* MIGHTY ONE - The name by which Superman is known, May 1975 (Kamandi #29 "Mighty One"), in the legends maintained by a tribe of intelligent gorillas in the post-apocalyptic future of KAMANDI.

* MILLENNIUM - An event in which much of DC COMICS' super-powered contingent took part from November 1987 to January 1988. Superman and literally dozens of other prominent heroes acted to protect from the android MANHUNTERS a group called the "Chosen," a handful of humans selected by Herupa Hando Hu, a GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE, and the Zamaron Nadia Safir, to be the first of a "super-evolved" human race.

* MOLIOM - KRYPTONESE. Proper noun, refers to any member of the SCIENCE COUNCIL.

* MON-EL - The classic super-heroic identity of LAR GAND, a native of DAXAM who possesses powers and abilities practically identical to those of SUPERBOY(1) and (3). Member of the LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, former inhabitant of the PHANTOM ZONE, and once believed to be the big brother of SUPERBOY(1) or (3).Later known as the hero VALOR.

In February 1963 (Adventure Comics#305 "The Secret of the Mystery Legionnaire"), Mon-El finally escapes permanently from the PHANTOM ZONE (in the non-canonical year of 2963 ad). To celebrate his escape, made possible by the advances made by BRANIAC 5 upon an anti-lead serum, he tries out for Legion membership as "The Lemon Legionnaire," also known as "Marvel Lad."

* MONGUL - Powerful and persistent foe of Superman, lord of WARWORLD and co-creator of ENGINE CITY.
In mid-year 1985 (Superman Annual #11 "For The Man Who Has Everything") Mongul traps Superman with the BLACK MERCY, a symbiotic plant-life which feeds its host a telepathic dream-come-true of their fondest wishes. In the end, it is ROBIN(2) who traps Mongul by turning the Black Mercy on him. Comatose, Mongul is deposited by Superman into a "very large" black hole in the western arm of this galaxy.

* MOPE - The diminutive "milk-brother" of the powerful BRUTE, and one of Superman's fellow escapees from the TRIBUNAL. The creatures of Mope's race have developed the ability to inflate themselves dramatically, to appear larger and more intimidating to natural predators and other enemies.

* MOTHER NATURE - One of a pair of powerful alien beings who sought to guide the great potential for life Earth showed some billions of years in prehistory, during its molten state. Triumphing in a struggle with her equal and opposite CRON, NUTRA stays on Earth and becomes its lifeforms' guiding spirit. In April 1981 (Superman#358 "Father Nature's Folly"), FATHER NATURE returns and threatens Nutra's status, only to be turned away by Superman.

* MOUNT CURTISS - The mountain under which resides the secret genetics research laboratory PROJECT CADMUS

* MOUNT MUNDRU - A facet of the KRYPTONian landscape, its highest peak.

* MUMBLES - 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.

* MXYZPTLK, MISTER - An "imp from the FIFTH DIMENSION," or land of ZRRRF, a name historically pronounced Mix-Yez-Pittel-Ick.
In July 1980 (Superman#349 "The Turnabout Trap), his marriage to Ms.Bgbznz a tragic disappointment (Ms.Bgbznz revealed her beauty to be an illusion, and displayed for Mxy her true appearance - a freckled, buck-toothed, long-nosed impish body. The marriage was soon annulled), Mxy takes his frustrations out on Superman by magically creating a gender-bent reality in which Superman would be without his lady-love, LOIS LANE (replaced by the manly LOUIS LANE). Other sexually-transposed members of Superman's supporting cast included Penny White, Jenny Olsen, Clara Kent (who was not secretly a super-hero). the Toywoman, Leslie Luthor, Bizarress and, most importantly to Superman, SUPERWOMAN(1) and her teen cousin SUPERBOY(5) who, along with their version of the JUSTICE LEAGUE, believed Superman to be an infamous criminal. Using the golden lasso of the male WONDER WOMAN, Superman captured Mxyzptlk and forced him to return Earth to normal, before sending him back to his home.

In an IMAGINARY STORY in September 1986 (Action Comics#583 "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?"), Mxyzptlk is revealed to be the mastermind behind a vicious assault by all of Superman's enemies. Declaring that the next two milennia of his eternal life will be spent committing acts of evil, Mxyzptlk is killed by Superman when the Man of Steel turns the Phantom Zone Projector ray on the sorcerer, simultaneous to Mxyzptlk uttering the phrase which returns him to Zrrrf. He is fatally split between dimensions.
In November 87 (Superman vol.2 #11 "The Name Game"), Mxyzptlk is reintroduced to the revised, post-CRISIS universe. Adopting the pseudonym BEN DEROY, "Mxy" sweeps LOIS LANE off her feet, only to humiliate her later by transferring his affections to an animated store mannequin. His mischief continues in the form of a toy-gorilla-turned-giant-menace, a bucking tractor trailer and a Daily Planet building come to impetuous and temper-prone life. Mxyzptlk creates his vowel-less name by randomly pressing the keys of a billboard illustration of a typewriter, and is sent back to his home dimension when Superman wins his "bet," (to make Mxyzptlk spell, say or write his adopted name backwards) by rigging that same typewriter to produce the reversed name when Mxyzptlk strikes the keys.