Kryptonians

Kryptonians in Superman v1 #681.

The Kryptonians are a race of humanoid beings that feature in DC Comics.

History

Pre-Crisis

Kryptonians were a humanoid species that were native to the planet Krypton.

During ancient times, their homeworld did not rotate and during this era the only habitable region was the twilight zone between the sunlight area and the dark side. In this era, there were only two tribes left that lacked enough food to support them both. To settle the matter of survival, champions were selected from the tribes to fight with the winner gaining the food for his people. During the battle, the champions learnt of two metals native to Krypton that caused a rock to rotate when they came into contact. Using this knowledge, the champions began to stockpile enough of the metals in two different locations to cause the world to rotate thus allowing both tribes to be saved. (Superman v1 #260)

In time, Kryptonians that inhabited their young world began to create villages along the sea as it proved to be the most plentiful source for food. (Superman v1 #268)

Long ago, an onrushing meteor threatened the planet Krypton where it would strike the world in ten days and had the power to destroy whole cities. A scientist by the name of Skal-Var began construction of a rocket designed to destroy the comet before it impacted his world. However, the comet's generated an electrical disturbance that disrupted the guidance system of the rockets causing each to miss. Skal-Var would not have the time needed to create a guidance system to bypass the electrical disturbance and in desperation he built the Comet-Missile 3X which he would pilot in order to ensure it hit its target. Thus, the comet was destroyed before it could bring harm to Krypton but this came at the cost of Skal-Var's life. As a result, he became regarded as a hero on his homeworld for his sacrifice and his Comet-Missile 3X became considered one of the relics of Krypton. (Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen v1 #69)

In later years, signs of war appeared to be growing on Krypton with Jor-El seeking to stop the outbreak of hostilities. To achieve that, he built a prop city on an uninhabited moon and placed a large number of old Kryptonian war machines into a ship destined for the planetoid. Once there, his robot Z-4 was tasked with directing the machines to destroying the prop city in order to show the horrors of warfare to his people. He later abandoned this project after there were reports of a mounting catastrophe that could erupt from the planet's urananium core with the ship containing the war machines leaving for deep space where they would eventually head towards Earth to continue their mission. (Action Comics v1 #216)

Post-Crisis

Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.

The ancient Kryptonian Bolmeth people credited their Golden Age to a benevolent collaboration between the deities Yla-Uth the Sun Lord and Kor-Op the Earth-Giant. (Superman: Man of Steel v1 #100)

At some point, an alien figure known as the Cleric had come to Krypton where he sought to preach the belief in the divine deity that was part of his holy commune's faith. He managed to gather a following of believers who listened to his words of non-violence and spirituality. The faith was seen as a threat to the Science Council who refused to believe in such superstitions that argued against the practice of cloning employed by Kryptonians. To combat the faith, the Science Council formed an alliance with the adherents of Rao where they claimed that he accepted the use of clones as living beings. Eventually, the Cleric's presence on Krypton was seen as being too dangerous to the Science Council who plotted his death where they had the Eradicator for the task. An apostle of Cleric came to learn of this and passed this information to the Cleric who asked his believers to not respond with violence. Instead, they met the enforcers of the Science Council where they showed that they meant no harm and to stop further hostilities the Cleric suggested that he take his adherents off-world to the home of the holy commune to practice their work in peace. One of the enforcers then struck at the Cleric who managed to miraculously survive the weapon leading to a fight between the two sides. During this time, the improper handling of the Eradicator caused it to erupt an energy blast killing many people. In the aftermath, the Cleric rounded up his followers where he determined that the Science Council would blame them for the incident so he suggested they depart Krypton on his great ark. Some of his followers decided to remain behind whilst the others escaped the persecution of the Science Council by going into space. (Action Comics Annual v1 #2)

Through the use of Sunstone, the Kryptonians established a powerful fleet that struck fear to entire civilizations and held entire galaxies in their iron grip. (Superman v1 #653)

During distant times, the inhabitants of the planet Durla were known to had been at war with Krypton. (Superman/Batman v1 #64) This conflict had started so long ago that the reason for it had long been forgotten. (Superman/Batman v1 #69) However, this ancient war was one where both sides fed on each others hate for one another. (Superman/Batman v1 #71) A group of Durlan infiltrators were dispatched to enemy space where they took control of the Kryptonian warship Grand Majesty Sevenfold where the shapeshifters killed the crew along with Admiral Mor-Ur. However, Kryptonian starships under the command of Commander Val-R were tasked with the destruction of the captured vessel. The Durlan crew, however, utilized the ships experimental drive system to escape but underwent a chronal event where they became lost in time. In reality, the ship was propelled into the 21st century where all the infiltrators were killed by the transition through time near Earth where only one crew member escaped to the Human homeworld. (Superman/Batman v1 #64)

War and disease later crippled their empire thus causing its collapse as they lost the hundreds of star systems that were once under their command. In time, they became a race ruled by fear and paranoia as the ruling council came to ban interstellar travel. (Superman/Batman v1 #50)

The Kandorians began to develop superhuman abilities as a result of being under a yellow sun with Zor-El believing that they should keep to themselves for now. However, the emergence of the city came to be seen as a threat by the inhabitants of Earth. (Superman: New Krypton Special v1 #1)

Post-Flashpoint

Following the Flashpoint, a new version of history was created with a different series of events.

Ten billion years ago, the first manned colonization mission was launched from Krypton. (Green Lanterns v1 #28)

In his quest to save worlds from the Multitude, Brainiac came to Krypton where he collected the city of Kandor by shrinking it for his collection. (Superman v3 #23.2)

Overview

Biology

It was believed that humans and Kryptonians were incapable of bearing a child together. (Action Comics Annual v1 #11)

Their species were vulnerable to a number of diseases that included:

• Virus Alpha : noted for being a highly infectious fever. (Action Comics v1 #314)
• Xarxas Virus : a particularly deadly virus that infected Kryptonian cells. (Superman v2 #198)
• Pythagra Fever : a fatal incurable disease that was not contagious but was the second most deadliest ailment after Virus X. (Action Comics v1 #506)
• Virus X : a contagion fatal in 30 days to any native to Krypton with there said to be no cure for it. (Superman v1 #156)

Society

Kryptonians were divided into caste-like Guilds that included:

• Labor Guild : Their existence was based on service to others and on Old Krypton they were not even allowed a seat on the governing council. Protocol dictated that they addressed members of the other Guilds with respect. (Superman: World of New Krypton v1 #1)
• Science Guild : governed most forms of science and technology where their ways made them seen as being emotionless with them decrying aesthetics but it was this ethic that had made Krypton into a mighty technological power. (Superman: Secret Files 2009 v1 #1)
• Artists Guild : handling all forms of art, design and creativity with them being involved in science. They strongly believed in all the religions of Krypton and sought to find the hand of Rao at work in all things. (Superman: Secret Files 2009 v1 #1)
• Military Guild : Its structure was the most rigidly defined and enforced with all members of the Guild beginning as 'enlisted' personnel whereupon officers were selected as well as trained from their ranks. (Superman: Secret Files 2009 v1 #1)
• Religious Guild : the priests of the guild represented all the Kryptonian gods and moved silently through their society. Each of the gods was said to represent one of the guilds with the Religious Guild honoring the ice goddess Cythonna whilst also being the priests of the fire god Rao who stood above the others and was the wellspring of all life on Krypton. (Superman: Secret Files 2009 v1 #1)

Each had varying different viewpoints and dress codes. (Superman: World of New Krypton v1 #1) One profession was that of a Kurlan that was a term given to their ecologists. (Superman v1 #367)

There was a Kryptonian rite of passage called Kanar-Onn that was made each decade. (Superman v2 #195) An old Kryptonian custom was naming a child based on the constellation in the sky that were named after Krypton's deities. (Action Comics v1 #314) Within their society, they conducted the Quelloran that were the traditional mock trials of their people. These included a defence and prosecution for the accused criminal with a judge in charge and a jury present to witness the event. (Action Comics v1 #336)

Many centuries ago, Krypton once had warriors known as the Dwalu who were 7-foot tall champions of the planet where it was said that nothing could defeat them in battle and that they wielded Xaka Swords. It as noted that they had all perished in a civil war when they turned their blades against one another. (Action Comics v1 #494) There was an elite Military Guild unit called the Red Shard tactical response unit that traditionally handled law enforcement and civic defense. (Superman: World of New Krypton v1 #2)

An area on Krypton was home to the Hill Dwellers that were primitive savages that lived isolated from the rest of their world. These were the descendants of Kryptonians and aliens that had landed on the planet with the two interbreeding. The Kryptonian language was passed onto these hybrid descendants who lived a life of superstitions and engaged in ceremonies with them being hostile to outsiders. (Superman v1 #367)

As an older civilisation, Krypton at its zenith had experienced its periods of enlightenment, industrial era and wars for fossil fuels long ago. By this point, their society had become a marriage between the science an the arts. They no longer differentiated music from mathematics or language or event other fields. It was the search for beauty and meaning in every act which defined Kryptonian culture at its best. (Action Comics v1 #1030)

The Krytoniad was an epic told to Kryptonian children that told the tale of how their ancestors made their planet into a civilized world. It began with the words, "Great Krypton lay in savage night-". (World's Finest v1 #146) On the Day of Truth, Kryptonians honoured Val-Or's sacrifice to speak the truth during the Vrangish invasion that they spoke the truth no matter how blunt or brash. (Supergirl v7 #8) There was an annual festival that honoured Zor who was a famous explorer who discovered the continent of Rabu. (Action Comics v1 #299) Other legendary heroes on Krypton included Zim-Ra the archer, Val-Kon the winged man and Dru-Mar the monster slayer. (Action Comics v1 #336)

Figures within their pantheon and beliefs included:

• Rao :
• Cythonna : Goddess of Ice who ruled Krypton in its earliest era where she pursued Rao until he rejected her whereupon she waged the Wars of Ice and Fire against him until he imprisoned here in the void where she was to remain until the destruction of Krypton. (Superman: The Last God of Krypton v1 #1)
• Lorra : a goddess of beauty in the pantheon of ancient Krypton. (Action Comics v1 #299)
• Mordo : six-armed god of strength in the pantheon of ancient Krypton. (Action Comics v1 #299)
• Telle : a god of wisdom in the pantheon of ancient Krypton. (Action Comics v1 #299)
• Kara : an ancient goddess of beauty who had her own constellation in the sky of Krypton. (Action Comics v1 #314)
• Kor-Op : a deity known as the Earth-Giant who was the forge of the gods that drew strength from the planet itself who collaborated with Yla-Uth. (Superman: Man of Steel v1 #100)
• Yla-Uth : a deity known as the Sun Lord who was master of the sky and bringer of life from the heavens who collaborated with Kor-Op. (Superman: Man of Steel v1 #100)
• Yuda : the Mistress of the Moons who was the goddess called upon for love and marriage whose worship diminished following the beliefs in Rao. (Krypton Chronicles v1 #3)
• Trolius : the mythical lord of Krypton's red skies. (Superman v1 #243)
• Flamebird : she was stated to be a necessary part of life as she destroyed in order to prevent stagnation and to allow new life to grow in the aftermath. (Action Comics v1 #886)
• Vohc : the Builder and also known as He-Who-Builds who was responsible for crafting the world, he desired the Flamebird and went mad after she rejected him for the Nightwing causing him to turn against them causing him to be known as Vohc the Breaker. (Action Comics v1 #886)
• Nightwing : in Rao-orthodox doctrine was called "Rao-the-Father's watchful eyes in the darkness". (Action Comics v1 #886)

According to the book of Rao, the Kryptonian pantheon contained 14 major deities, 211 demigods and 1402 titans. (Action Comics v1 #886) On Krypton, the trickster figure in mythology was associated with the terrifying energies of the electromagnetic field itself who imitated the familiar whereby melding with the trusted in order to be guaranteed a welcome in hearth and home. (Superman: Man of Steel v1 #100) A legend told on Krypton by teachers was that the progenitors of their race were two space explorers that landed on their world during ancient times. These two were a pair known as Kryp and Tonn who were the parents of the Kryptonian race. (Superman v1 #238) A creature of fiction was the legendary Eorx Necroli that was a brown skinned monstrous humanoid with many mouths over its body. (JLA v1 #49) Hell in Krypton was populated by numerous demons that included the Glass-Lords, Seven Courtiers, Flame Brethren, the Corpse Mother and those of the Eret-Ha who all died when the planet exploded. Only a single red skinned minor demon named Rakkar the Nothing managed to survive the destruction of the planet. (Superman v1 #666) Another figure was the demon-god Kvorg who was revered by the Torgs that were a prehistoric demon worshipping clan. (Action Comics v1 #400) A space succubus feared by Kryptonians was a demoness called Zazura that she dwelled in space beyond the planet's atmosphere with the people fearful of her to the point that they seeded Fire Crystals in the sky which prevented her from coming to Krypton's surface. (DC Comics Presents v1 #82) A mythical demon known to their kind was the Shedu that was said to possess children. (Superman v1 #286)

When facing the final threshold of death, Kryptonians faced the Ytrrym Effect key events of their future life flashed in their minds in those last few moments. (Action Comics v1 #492) One funeral practice among scientists was that when they died their brains were kept into within spheres so that they could continue to provide counsel to the living and did so to their custodian. (Adventure Comics v1 #323)

The native language of the Kryptonians was known as Kryptonese. (Superman v1 #205) A dead language that was once spoken on Krypton was Falkiri. (Action Comics v1 #1031) Ghadal was the Kryptonian word for fate. (Justice League of America v2 #50)

Technology

They made use of Dormigen that was an anaesthetic gas used by proteo-surgeons on Krypton that used plastimold for plastic surgery. (Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane v1 #90)

Kryptonian plastoid were noted for being unbreakable and used to make windows on-board their starships. (Adventure Comics v1 #304)

On Krypton, every member of their kind were provided small crystalline spherical machines. When calibrated to the users life-signs, it periodically monitored their cellular structure for flaws. If anything developed, it built the offending cells in packets of condensed quantum strings thus effectively rewriting the genetic code within moments. When translated from Kryptonian, the name of the machine could mean 'sourcedoc' or 'reset button'. (Supergirl v5 #9)

They had constructed small crystals to serve as books that established neural links with their user and mentally educated them on certain subjects. These computer systems were highly interactive and answered queries whilst placing the user in the system lobby before generating representations of the subject matter such as that in the Book of Rao. (Action Comics v1 #886) Thought-Writers were used to type material with the user simply thinking and the words being written for them. Entertainment was made through helmets that beamed mental movies into the minds of the wearer. (Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane v1 #21) Kryptonian processors were noted for being hyperprocessors that were able to sort through immense data flows. (Superman/Batman v1 #43)

Many of ancient crimes were solved by the use of an ingenious machine known as the Computer Detective. (World's Finest v1 #143) They made use of a Robot Factory in the construction of robots. (Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane v1 #21)

One handheld armament was the Archer-class infantry assault long arm with its firing sequence being user enabled allowing it to fire in a variety of different modes. (Superman: World of New Krypton v1 #2)

Transportation across their cities were achieved through flying cars that were known as bubble-ships. (Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane v1 #21)

Through it, they constructed the deadliest interstellar fleet ever conceived with single battleships able to devastate entire worlds. (Superman v1 #653)

Members

• Jor-El :
• Kal-El :
• Garf-Og : male scientist who when he died had his brain placed within a sphere with Jor-El being his custodian and him providing scientific advice. (Adventure Comics v1 #323)
• Va-Kox :
• Zo-Mar :
• Gra-Mo :
• Zar-Al : male teenager who was the son of Zol-Zu, his father sent him into a time ship to the future to Earth to find Zeelium to save Krypton. On Earth, he began calling himself the Krypton Kid but after failing to find the substance he distracts Superboy in order to go back in time to Krypton to perish alongside his father. (Adventure Comics v1 #242)
• Roz-Em : (Adventure Comics v1 #304)
• Than-Ol : (Superman v1 #158)
• Jo-Mon :
• Ar-Ual : (Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane v1 #93)
• Bar-Nes : (Superman v1 #360)
• Val-Mer : (Superman v1 #360)
• Ta-Tem : (Superman v1 #360)
• Zinn-Zal : a male who as a great hero who ended war and taught Krypton that the greatest glory was peace with a statue made in his likeness. (World's Finest v1 #146)
• Dru-Zod I : a male who served as an Admiral in the stellar navy many generations ago during the height of the Kryptonian empire. (Superman v1 #669)
• Karsta Wor-Ul : female from the Ansomlands who was a sub-command third in Admiral Zod's forces who did peacekeeping duties on the Possession Worlds. (Superman v1 #669)
• Har-Zod : a figure during the height of the Kryptonian empire who believed he had won the election but the military council lost Bav Sor-El's Science Council. (Superman v1 #669)
• Zan Zoll : a scientist from Krypton who created the Evolution Cabinet that changed those using it in strange ways without a means of reverting the process leading to him being branded a criminal and sentenced to 20 Decatrons to the Phantom Zone with the device launched into deep space. (Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen v1 #66)
• Asha Del-Nar : a female Kandorian Kryptonian who was ninth generation in the Military Guild and had risen to the rank of lieutenant where she was assigned as Commander Kal-El's XO. (Superman: World of New Krypton v1 #2)
• Van-Varo : a great male detective on Krypton who was a scientific sleuth that used an ingenious x-ray telescope to spot criminals. (World's Finest v1 #143)
• Tec-Aben : a great male biologist detective who pursued the criminal Lars-Eden who had stolen a sacred Winged One. (World's Finest v1 #143)
• Ab-Zorna : a male detective who conquered the great menace of the Metalloids. (World's Finest v1 #143)
• Tron-Et : male who became a secret crime boss and managed to get himself onto the Science Council until his true nature was revealed by Jor-El. (Superman v1 #234)
• Vanaria : a swordswoman of ancient Krypton who was tricked into falling in love with a warrior who stole her enchanted sword. (Superman v1 #271)
• Reena : a princess of Krypton who was saved from a thought-beast by the glassman El-Kin. (Superman v1 #275)
• Ca-Rox : a stage magician from old Krypton who actually had magical powers. (Superman v1 #279)
• Maz-Ma : male who served as an apprentice to Ca-Rox where he secretly helped in his masters deception. (Superman v1 #279)
• Kar-Lu : a male Kandorian who lived prior to the unification of Krypton where on his 12 birthday he refused further education or citizenship with him becoming a surveyor where he along with his friend Jan-De were attacked by Urrikans with the pair fleeing into the forest. Kar-Lu's lack of knowledge caused him to be nearly killed but he was saved by Jan-De with the experience teaching him to continue his citizenship training in Kandor. (Superman v1 #352)
• Sen-Tal : male leader of the council that ruled Erkhol many planet turns ago. (Superman v1 #356)
• Lok-Nor : male member of the Nor family that sat on Erkhol's ruling council many planet turns ago who wanted to depose Sen-Tal but lost the vote among his comrades. He later encountered an alien ship that claimed they came in peace and would install Lok-Nor as council leader. In reality, the aliens had placed a mind control helmet on him to cause him to enslave his comrades. He managed to free himself and led a rebellion against the invaders thus defeating them but feeling he had betrayed his people - Lok-Nor had entered into exile where he left Krypton on the alien ship. The ships travels had extended Lok-Nors life and he used the vessel to stop a Yion-Cloud from hitting his homeworld when he returned generations later where he was greeted as a hero by his great-grandchildren. (Superman v1 #356)
• Kro-Na : a male Kurlan scientist who was married to fellow ecologist Zara who lived in an era when drought affected Krypton that was caused by the Hill-Dwellers burning of an alien fungus that sapped moisture from the soil. (Superman v1 #367)
• Jor-Ne : a story spoke of this Drom of the mythic Zal City who during the Wars of Ice and Fire who was given the choice by the goddess Cythonna to either spare his son or spare his city with Jor-Ne choosing his people leading to the death of his son. (Supergirl v7 #6)
• Rem-Ul : a scientist that authored Rem-Ul's Almanac of Old Krypton that had details of various lifeforms on the planet including the Bloodmorel from the Scarlet Jungle. (DC Comics Presents v1 #85)
• Zor : a famous explorer that discovered the continent of Rabu in the Sea of Flames. (Action Comics v1 #299)
• Jan-Al : female from 10 billion years ago whose family named meant 'Faith' that they held towards Rao and who was part of the first colonization mission from Krypton whose arc was damaged by a purple sun with the crew stranded on an inhospitable world with her being chosen by one of the first seven Green Lantern Power Rings to be recruited to defeat Volthoom. (Green Lanterns v1 #28)
• Roz-Em : a male criminal who used a facial surgeon to appear as Nim-El the keeper of the Armory of Forbidden Weapons in order to steal from it but the real one returned with him and his brother Jor-El apprehending him after which he was placed in suspended animation and launched into orbit. He survived the destruction of Krypton and escape from his capsule where he gained superpowers from the yellow sun and later targeted Jor-El's son Kal-El on Earth. (Adventure Comics v1 #304)
• Zar-Al : young son of Zol-Eu who was sent on a time-ship to recover Zeelium to stabilise Krypton's core from destruction where he came upon Earth and met Superboy with Zar-Al taking the guise of the Krypton Kid. He came to be a good friend of the young Kal-El but returned to his time with him dying with Krypton upon its destruction. (Adventure Comics v1 #242)
• Zol-Zu : a male scientist who was the father of Zar-Al and listened to the warnings from Jor-El about the impending destruction of his world. After checking the calculations, he knew them to be true and constructed a time ship tasking his son to recover the rare element Zeelium so that it could be used to stabilise the core of Krypton but failed to accomplish this goal. (Adventure Comics v1 #242)
• Raf Arlo : one of the planets greatest scientists before its destruction who developed a retro-light viewer which proved that most crimes were perpetrated by an unknown race of invisible people. (Superman v1 #170)
• Lon Gorg : one of the planets greatest scientists before its destruction who developed supra-psyche treatments which transformed morons into geniuses. (Superman v1 #170)
• King Krypton : dark haired male who was a scientist that along with his comrade were making a machine to speed up evolution but it instead devolved him into a giant gorilla that was launched into space. This meant he survived the destruction of Krypton and landed in Africa on Earth where he rampaged with his super-human abilities leading to him being given the name of King Krypton. Superman defeated him and exposed him to Kryptonite where he reverted to his Kryptonian form and revealed his past before dying. (Action Comics v1 #238)
• Mat-Al : an adult male who was a marriage counsellor but his profession ended when Kryptonians began to use of the Matricomp artificial intelligence to match couples. (Superman v1 #246)
• Tok-Ra II : male scientist who a century ago had created the Matricomp project thus instituting a time when pairings between couples on Krypton were arranged by machines. (Superman v1 #246)
• Dahr-Nel : a brown haired male son of a scientist who himself became a proteo-surgeons where his father was suffering from an incurable disease but had developed a time scanner along with time travel spheres. The Science Council dismissed the scanners findings that said Krypton would be destroyed with Dahr-Nel using it to see Lois Lane of Earth. He fell in love with her and his father sent his son through the time travel sphere to Earth where he attempted to woo Lane. (Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane v1 #90)
• Catar-Ol : a past incarnation of Carter Hall who lived long ago on Krypton. (Hawkman v5 #1)
• Pag-Ra : a female Kryptonian ensign who lived millennia ago where she served under Captain Val-R. (Superman/Batman v1 #64)
• Val-R : a male Captain who lived millennia ago. (Superman/Batman v1 #64)
• Mox-Ur : a male naval officer who lived millennia ago who commanded the Grand Majesty Sevenfold which was taken over by infiltrators that killed him. (Superman/Batman v1 #64)
• Magus : the greatest dollmaker on Krypton who lived in Argo City and crafted Living Doll androids for people as companions. One such doll was created as a playmate for Kara Zor-El but when Krypton was destroyed a separate synthetic man was created to keep the adulthood Supergirl company where he took the identity of Al Mintor till he died from injuries in a fire on Earth. (Action Comics v1 #326)
• Py-Ron : a male who performed forbidden experiments on Krypton that turned people into weird bird-like monsters leading to his banishment to the Phantom Zone. A corrupted Supergirl freed him in order to test a Kryptonite poison on him. Though appearing to had died, he actually survived and crafted a super-suit where he briefly operated as Evil-Man who attacked the Sisterhood of Evil who used Supergirl to create the Kryptonite poison. (Action Comics v1 #323)
• Zhan-Zar : an older bearded male Kryptonian scientist and friend of Jor-El who developed a computer forecaster that could create simulations of future events. (Action Comics v1 #314)
• Dar-Lin : a female Kryptonian orphan from the Kandor City Orphanage who resembled Kara Zor-El. (Action Comics v1 #314)
• Tor-An : a male Kryptonian noted for being smart and handsome who long ago performed forbidden experiments that put the minds of a Kryptonian family into the bodies of monsters where after his arrest he was banished to the Phantom Zone. After escaping, he took the human identity of Michael Barnes a teacher at Midvale as part of a plot against Supergirl. (Action Comics v1 #307)
• Thalkis : a female scientist born long ago on Krypton where she was executed for her devotion to what she saw as the truth with her being regarded as her world's Socrates or Galileo. (Action Comics v1 #1031)
• Ner-Gal : a male Kryptonian prisoner who was sentenced to suspended animation where he was to serve rehabilitation for several years before he was allowed to return. In his anger, his mental essence came to be capable of possessing others where he tried to get his revenge by murdering Jor-El but was killed when his astral form was sent into the Phantom Zone. (Superman v1 #286)

Notes

• Kryptonians were created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster where they made their first appearance in Action Comics v1 #1 (June, 1938).

Alternate Versions

• In DC Comics Presents v1 #87 (1985), an alternate versions of Kryptonians appeared in a world in the former Multiverse that was once designated as Earth-Prime. Similar to other realities, the Science Council of Krypton failed to heed the warnings of the scientist Jor-El who developed a teleportation device with his wife Lara where they came to transport their son Kal-El to Earth where he became the last known Kryptonian.
• In Adventures of Superman v1 #444 (1988), an alternate versions of Kryptonians appeared in a pocket dimension created by the Time Trapper. He had looked to see the inspiration of the Legion of Super-Heroes whereby he took a moment of time and placed it within a pocket universe. In this reality, there was only Earth and Krypton with the latter suffering through a similar chain of events as the main reality Earth. This included it sentencing criminals to the Phantom Zone and the world exploding where its last surviving inhabitant being Kal-El who was sent to Earth and became its only superhero called Superboy. He later died and in a study of his hideout Lex Luthor came to uncover the Phantom Zone Projector where one of its inhabitants tricked him into freeing the inhabitants within. Though claiming to be Superboy's uncle, this was actually the criminal General Zod who along with Zaora and Quex-Ul they came to be freed on this pocket universe Earth where they conquered it as they were not opposed by any superhero.

In other media

Television

• In Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, the Kryptonians were seen in the 1990s live-action television series. Superman was believed to had been the only survivor of Krypton until the shows fourth season. It was revealed then that a previously unknown colony of Kryptonians had survived on a world orbiting a red sun that they called New Krypton.
• In Superman: The Animated Series, Kryptonians were shown in the DC Animated Universe where it made its first appearance in "The Last Son of Krypton". They were shown to had developed a highly advanced civilization who were ruled by a planetary council and sought guidance from the artificial intelligence named Brainiac. At some point, they had banished their worst criminals to the Phantom Zone. The scientist Jor-El determined that their world faced impending destruction and tried to warn his people but they refused to believe him as Brainiac dismissed his claims. Jor-El later discovered that Brainiac had hid the truth of Krypton's destruction as the artificial intelligence uploaded himself onto a satellite to save himself. It was then that Krypton exploded but not before sending his newborn son Kal-El on a rocket to safety that headed towards Earth.
• In Legion of Super-Heroes, Kryptonians were shown in the animated series primarily with Superman but further members of the race were shown in the episode "Message in the Bottle". Their backstory was shown whereby their world faced geological destruction and it's salvation in Jor-El's device known as the Messenger was lost when the Terror known as Brainiac stole the city of Kandor. The loss of Kandor saw the Messenger lost as well whereupon Krypton exploded thus killing the vast majority of Kryptonians. Beyond Superman, the only other survivors were in the Bottle City of Kandor until the 31st century when they were restored to their original size on the reformed Krypton.
• In Smallville, Kryptonians featured in a number of episodes in the live-action television series. They were shown as an advanced human appearing race native to the planet Krypton that came to dominate their homeworld. Their race was once a fierce people of savage warriors but became peaceful after many centuries as they devoted themselves towards science as they came to be governed by the Ruling Council. Their language was noted to consist of hex code. Kryptonians were demonstrated to hold a religion with them believing in the dictates set in the Book of Rao.
• In Supergirl, Kryptonians appeared as part of the background in the live-action television series. The episode "Blood Bonds" stated that long ago Kryptonians were split into warring warrior tribes on the wastelands of their world before they developed into a highly advanced society. An ancient proverb of their people was, "Blood bonds us all" with family seen as important in their culture. On Krypton, it was said that it was a point of strength for one to acknowledge their weakness. In "The Faithful", it was said that the Kryptonians were a deeply religious people that believed in their peaceful god Rao. Another deity that was worshipped by their people was Yuda Kal who was the goddess of life. Kryptonians made use of a special heavy metal known as the Rock of Yuda Kal that had mutagenic effects and could be used to create super-powered Worldkillers. They built probes that transmitted knowledge of Kryptonian society and belief with these transmitters being powered by a Betahedron. A priestess named Jindah Kol Rozz spoke of a dark prophecy leading to her imprisonment within Fort Rozz and the prison being named after her. An unknown group on Krypton later genetically engineered and bred a group of women that became the World Killers that were launched away towards Earth.
• In Krypton, Kryptonians featured in the live-action television series that was set on the planet Krypton around two generations before its destruction. It was shown as an advanced society that did not know contact with alien life and had fallen under the religious control of a figure known as the Voice of Rao who was referred to as His Eminence and was tended to by clerics called the Word of Rao that wore white garments with Kryptonian writing. Rao was their chief deity who ruled a pantheon of five other gods though the goddess Cythonna had her own underground cult of followers that were referred to as Cythonnites. Their civilisation was dominated by the caste-like guilds such as the military guild, lawmaker guild, science guild and others with families falling into houses that were identified by their crests. Crests were shown to be important as they determined status among their society and those stripped of it had effectively no status. Genetic pairing and cloning in Genesis Chambers was shown as a means of procreation that was deemed as efficient. Defence of their society was achieved by the military guild who trained the elite Sagitari soldiers. Members of the House of Zod served a long tradition as loyal warriors where they conducted the Trial of Ice as a coming of age ritual with only the strong and fittest surviving. Outside their domed cities resided the cold outlands and their world was plagued by a terrorist threat known as Black Zero. Their people took part in a festival known as the Nova Cycle that was a celebration of birth and rebirth whereby individuals celebrated Rao as they began anew with them being absolved of sins from their prior cycle.
• In Superman & Lois, Kryptonians appeared in the setting of the live-action television series set in the Arrowerse. Kal-El came to be the last Kryptonian when he was sent to Earth as a child where he married Lois Lane with the couple having half-Kryptonian children named Jon Kent and Jordan Kent. It was later revealed that another survivor of Krypton was Tal-Rho who was the son son of Zeta-Rho and Lara Lor-Van from her previous pairing. This made him the half-brother of Kal-El who had been sent to Earth years before where he was tasked with conquering the planet and bringing about the resurrection of the Kryptonian race by using the Eradicator along with X-Kryptonite. He came to land in the United Kingdom where he was captured and experimented on until he managed to escape where he established his own fortress in the desert that was inhabited by the mind of his father. Taking the guise of Morgan Edge, he looked to use X-Kryptonite on the people of Smallville where their bodies would be host to Kryptonian intellects thus allowing their people to be reborn.

Films

• In Superman, Kryptonians appeared in the 1978 live-action film where they were shown primarily through flashbacks. It was shown that long ago they were an advanced civilization on Krypton ruled by the Council who punished Zod along with his fellow insurrectionists by sending them to the Phantom Zone. The scientist Jor-El discovered that their world was going to be destroyed and warned the Council who refused to heed his warnings. This led to Jor-El sending his new born child Kal-El away from Krypton towards the planet Earth so that he would be the sole survivor of Krypton after it exploded.
• In the DC Extended Universe, Kryptonians were seen in the shared continuity setting.
  • In Man of Steel, Kryptonians made their first appearance in the live-action film. They were a highly advanced civilization from the planet Krypton who once colonized many worlds before retreating back to their homeworld. Those colonies declined and collapsed into ruin where they were abandoned. On Krypton itself, the inhabitants had done away with natural forms of birth and instead used cloning that used genesis chambers with a pure sample of their DNA being known as the Codex that guarded safely.

Video games

• In DC Universe Online, Kryptonians were referenced in the setting of the MMORPG video game.
• In Injustice: Gods Among Us, Kryptonians were referenced in the setting of the fighting video game.
• In Injustice 2, Kryptonians were referenced in the setting of the fighting video game. It was shown that many years ago their world came under attack from Brainiac who stole the city of Kandor with the intention that it would be the last survivors of that world after its destruction. However, he was unaware that Kal-El and Kara Zor-El were secretly sent to Earth making them the sole survivors of their species.
• In DC: Unchained, Kryptonians were referenced in the setting of the mobile video game. Superman was referred to as the last survivor of the species and maintained their technology at his Fortress of Solitude.

Novels

• In Man of Steel, Kryptonians featured in the setting of the 2013 Greg Cox novelisation of the live-action film. It was revealed that the revolutionary resistance movement formed by General Zod that sought to take over Krypton was known as the Sword of Rao.

Appearances

• Action Comics v1: (1938)
• Superman v1:
• Action Comics v1:
• Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane v1:
• Superman/Batman v1:
• Action Comics v2:
• Superman v2:
• Batman/Superman v1:
• Superman:
• Action Comics v1:

External Link

• Wikipedia Entry
• Comicvine Entry
• DC Database Entry

This article is a stub. You can help Multiversal Omnipedia by expanding it.