Lar Gand
Lar Gand is a male comic superhero that features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Lar Gand
He was a native of the planet Daxam where years ago he made a flight to Krypton. During the journey, his vessel suffered engine failure causing him to crash on Krypton which was where he met and befriended Jor-El. Both Jor-El and Lara came to care for their guest as he was with them whilst his vessel was being repaired. By this point, Krypton was facing impending destruction with Jor-El and Lara sending the Daxamite away on his repaired ship. Thus, he was launched from the planet and sent on a course to the next inhabited world which was Earth. (Superboy v1 #89)
Mon-El remained there until the 30th century when Saturn Girl of the Legion of Super-Heroes convinced Superboy to release the Daxamite from the Phantom Zone. At first, he began to suffer from the lead poisoning until the Legionnaires gave him an antidote that cured him. He then proved instrumental in defeating a villain named Urthlo who possessed abilities that used the weaknesses of his opponents. However, Mon-El was now immune to lead poisoning allowed him to defeat his foe and reveal that he was a robot created by Lex Luthor. Saturn Girl though revealed that the cure was only temporary which meant that Mon-El had to return to the Phantom Zone until a more permanent antidote was created for him but this event now gave him hope. (Adventure Comics v1 #300) Later on, Brainiac 5 came to perfect a cure and released Mon-El from the Phantom Zone. However, they decided to keep it a secret as they wanted to make sure there were no side effects. In that time, he came to craft an alternate identity as Marvel Lad who participated in the trials for membership into the Legion of Super-Heroes. He ultimately proved himself and with 24 hours having passed it meant that the cure's effects were permanent leading to him revealing his true identity. This saw Mon-El joining the ranks of the Legion with the one sombre affair being the recent passng of [[Garth Ranzz|Lightning Lad]. (Adventure Comics v1 #305)
The Legion were set to have their annual vote to elect a new leader, and Saturn Girl was the first to arrive at the Clubhouse. A crystal capsule sent from the Trylop Council of Mernl dropped from the sky warning that their computers predicted a Legionnaire would die using their powers during an upcoming invasion of Earth by Zaryan the Conqueror, and Saturn Girl resolved to sacrifice herself to protect her fellow Legionnaires. She used her thought control to nudge the Legion into electing her leader, then used a rainbow bar from their treasury to make medallions with her face printed on them, and demanded every Legionnaire wear one. She demanded the Legionnaires demonstrate effective use of their powers, and was able to temporarily duplicate each member of the Legion’s powers using the medallions they wore, and proceeded to forbid them for using their powers or going on missions during a probation period because she declared they were not using their powers properly. When Zaryan began his invasion of Earth she responded, and warned the other Legionnaires not to follow her because they were on probation. The Legion thought she’d gone mad with power, but Mon-El had observed her actions from the Phantom Zone, and knew her motivations. Sunspots interfered with him communicating with the Legion, but when they lifted he filled in Lightning Lad on the situation, and he flew into space, determined to keep Saturn Girl from sacrificing herself. He blew up Zaryan’s ship with his powers, but was fatally shot with a freeze-ray. The Legion honored him by placing him in a glass coffin with lightning generated over it by a perpetual motion device, and his funeral was attended by Superboy, Supergirl and Lori Lemaris. The Legion placed a statue of Lightning Lad in their Clubhouse as a tribute to the first Legionnaire killed in action. (Adventure Comics v1 #304)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Superman and the Science Police freed the criminals trapped in the Phantom Zone by the Kandorians to return them to prison. Mon-El warned Superman that Zod and several other Kryptonian criminals were missing. Parasite took the opportunity to briefly pull Mon-El from the Phantom Zone to absorb some of his Daxamite power, and while Superman saved Mon-El, the Parasite liked what he'd tasted. Superman promised to visit Mon-El soon, and he morosely told Superman not to worry, he was not going anywhere. (Superman v1 #684)
After being freed from the Phantom Zone, Mon-El took sometime to consider his next course of action as he had not considered where to go or what to do if he ever left that other dimension. It was then that Superman asked him to stay in Metropolis as its new protector whilst he himself was going to New Krypton. Mon-El accepted and with the aid of James Harper, he was provided a new identity as Jonathan Kent with a cover story of being a British Interpol agent who was recruited by the Science Police. During this time, he was assigned as a partner to Billy Harper who was the great-grand niece of James Harper that was the original Guardian. (Superman v1 #686)
He was approached by Donna Troy about joining the newest incarnation of the Justice League. (Justice League of America v2 #41)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Overview
Personality and attributes
Superboy came to initially believe that the Daxamite was his brother from clues on his person after Gand suffered from amnesia. During this time, he was given the name of Mon-El based on the fact that he was found on a Monday and that El was the name of his Kryptonian family. The Kents later provided him a civilian guise to live as their adoptive child where he was given the name of Bob Cobb. (Superboy v1 #89) At one point, he hid his real identity upon joining the Legion of Super-Heroes and crafted a disguise where he went by the name Marvel Lad. (Adventure Comics v1 #305) When operating as Metropolis's superhero, he made a civilian identity of Jonathan Kent where it was claimed that he was a former British Interpol agent who began to work for the Science Police. (Superman v1 #686)
During their time together, he came to consider Superboy as his brother. (Superboy v1 #89)
Powers and abilities
As a Daxamite, he was not vulnerable to Kryptonite which had adverse effect on Kryptonians. Lead by comparison caused terrible molecular changes to his body and destroyed the use of his super-powers. (Superboy v1 #89) By the 30th century, a cure to lead poisoning existed in the form of Serum XY-4 that helped a Daxamite counter its effects though this was only temporary. (Adventure Comics v1 #300) Brainiac 5 later came to make a more permanent antidote that allowed Mon-El to survive with no side effects. (Adventure Comics v1 #305)
Notes
- Lar Gand was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp where he made his first appearance in Superboy v1 #89 (June, 1961).
- The character was based on Superboy who was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In Supergirl, Mon-El featured as a regular in the live-action television second season series where he was portrayed by actor Chris Wood. He was revealed to be a Daxamite where he served as a palace guard to the great royal family of Daxam. After Krypton's destruction, Daxam's surface was ravaged by the resulting catastrophe and during the disaster Mon-El moved to save the Prince. He found a Kryptonian pod and intended to put the wounded Prince inside but the royal tricked Mon-El into the pod where he was sent into space. A sleeping Mon-El was unaware of the fate of Daxam with his craft sent towards Earth where it was discovered by Supergirl. On Earth, Winn Schott created a civilian identity for Mon-El who had the fake name of Mike Matthews along with a fake social security number.
Films
- In Justice League vs. the Fatal Five, Mon-El made a cameo appearance in the setting of the animated film.
- In Legion of Super-Heroes, Lar Gand appeared in the setting of the 2023 animated film set in the Tommorrowverse where he was voiced by actor Yuri Lowenthal.
Appearances
- Superboy v1: (1961)
- Adventure Comics v1:
- Legion of Super-Heroes:
- Superman v1:
- Justice League of America v2:
External Links
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