Supermanica - User contributions [en]

Nightwing

2008-11-22T05:17:45Z

Super Monkey: /* Van-Zee as Nightwing */ fixed hyperlink and added more stories

== Superman as Nightwing ==

[[Image:Nightwing_and_Flamebird_1993.jpg|right|thumb|The Original Nightwing and Flamebird]]

An alternate identity employed by [[Superman]] on those occasions when he and [[Jimmy Olsen]], employing the name [[Flamebird]], participate in adventures together inside the bottle city of [[Kandor]].

The Prussian blue color of Superman's Nightwing costume is reminiscent of the plumage of the nightwing, a Kandorian bird. Superman and Jimmy Olsen first adopt their Nightwing and Flamebird identities during an adventure in Kandor in January 1963 (S No. 158: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III; "Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). They employ them again during a second adventure, in August 1964 (WF No. 143: "The Feud Between Batman and Superman!" pts. I-II -- no title; "The Manhunters from Earth!"). (TGSB)

In the course of a Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the â€œfanatic scientistâ€ [[Than Ol]], Superman and Jimmy Olsen decide to emuLate their friends Batman arid Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pairof Kandorian birds, a â€œnightwingâ€ and a â€œflamebirdâ€, owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of Nightwing and Flamebird and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

For his role as Nightwing, Superman wears black eye-mask and a Prussian-blue costume consisting of Prussian-blue tights, trunks, cape, wrist-length gloves, and ankle-length boots. Emblazoned on his chest is a highly stylized black bird emblem inscribed inside a white circle. Around his waist is a yellow utility belt equipped with â€œpersonal jet-motorsâ€ which endow him with the power of self-sustained flight.

For his role as Flamebird, Jimmy Olsen wears a black eye-mask and a bright red costume consisting of red tights, trunks, and a deeply scalloped red cape, complemented by yellow boots and yellow elbow- length gloves. Emblazoned on his chest is a highly stylized yellow sunburst, and around his waist is a yellow utility belt, almost identical to Nightwingâ€™s,
equipped with personal jet-motors for self-sustained flight.

Equipment contained in the utility belts includes â€œsmoke cylindersâ€ to enable Nightwing and Flamebird to stymie their pursuers by enveloping them in clouds of thick black smoke; â€œcutting-torchesâ€ for cutting through walls and other obstacles; and special â€œlead cloth capsâ€ designed to enable the duo to â€œshieldâ€ their thoughts fromâ€”and thereby elude, if necessaryâ€”the fearsome â€œtelepathic houndsâ€ of Kandor, â€œstrange beasts,â€ yellow in color, with tails like wolves and snouts like wild boars, â€œthat can locate people at any distance by reading their minds to learn where they are!â€ Because of their unique abilities, the creatures are employed by the Kandorian authorities as telepathic bloodhounds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a â€œsecret underground labâ€, with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside, to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With NorKanâ€™s blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the â€œnight-caveâ€, or â€œnightcaveâ€, and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting NorKanâ€™s automobile into a swift, specially equipped â€œnightmobile.â€

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird, the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor, have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city (S No. 158: â€œSuperman in Kandorâ€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€Invasion of the Mystery SuperMen!â€; â€œThe Dynamic Duo of Kandor!â€; â€œThe City of Super-People!â€).

== Van-Zee as Nightwing ==

[[Image:Nightwing.jpg|left|thumb|Van-Zee as Nightwing]]

Some time later, [[Van-Zee]], [[Superman]]'s exact double, assumes the mantle of Nightwing, Kandor's protector (SF No. 183/5, May/Jun 1977: "Death Is a Computer"; and others

In May/June 1977, Nightwing and Flamebird team up for the 1st time to stop Brainiac's plot to destroy Kandor (SF No. 183: "Death Is a Computer"). Later in July-August 1977 , Nightwing and Flamebird stop the assassin [[Zim-Ra]], who is disguise as a Kryptonian archer-hero, from assassinating [[Ner-An]], who is the president of Kandor, on behalf of The [[Separatists]], a radical faction of Kandorians who want to be able to live outside their bottle city (SF No. 184: "Comes a Revolution").

In September-October 1977, While Nightwing and Flamebird, are forced to face a threat of unlawful scientist [[Zal-Te]] again, they recall how they first became Kandor's Dynamic Duo to battle an earlier threat of the villain's (SF No. 185: "Beginnings"). Later in November-December 1977, Nightwing and Flamebird are sent by the [[Overseer]], a being of pure mind, to fight the wizard [[Blaz the Unconquerable]] and his army, in another dimensional plane (SF No. 186: "Journey To the Center of Nowhere").

==Dick Grayson as Nightwing==

[[Image:Graysonkwing.gif|right|thumb|Dick Grayson as Nightwing]]

Later still, [[Dick Grayson]], the original boy wonder [[Robin]], takes the name—but not the costume—of Nightwing as his new heroic identity (Tales of the Teen Titans No. 44, Jul 1984: "There Shall Come a Titan!").

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Aliens]]
[[Category:Kryptonians]]
[[Category:Kandorians]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Aliases]]
[[Category:Batman]]
[[Category:Superman's Aliases]]
[[Category: Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category: Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightwing Wikipedia Entry on the various Nightwings]

Main Page

2008-11-22T03:39:16Z

Super Monkey:

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a free and collaborative open-source project that '''you''' can participate in!
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'''Featured article:''' 
'''[[Kandor]]''' 
''The most amazing exhibit in Superman's Fortress!''
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A [[Supermanica:About|bit of an explanation]] about Supermanica.

Browse the [[:Category:Entries|Supermanica entries]] to date, or see the more complete listing of [[Special:Allpages|all the articles]] on this website.

Interested people are [[Supermanica:About|welcome to contribute]].

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[[Category:Supermanica]]

Kandor

2008-11-18T00:38:51Z

Super Monkey: added lots more info

[[Image:Bottle.GIF|right]]

'''Kandor'''

The capital city of the planet [[Krypton]], which survived the destruction of its native planet as the result of having been stolen sometime prior to the cataclysm by the space villain [[Brainiac]], who reduced the city to microscopic size and preserved it, people alive and buildings intact, inside a glass bottle aboard his spacecraft, where it remained for many years until it was finally recovered by [[Superman]] in July 1958 and placed for safekeeping inside his [[Fortress of Solitude]] (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others).

Inside the bottle city, life goes on much as it did prior to the destruction of Krypton (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), yet although restoration to their normal size remains the heartfelt wish of all Kandorians, Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely. He has, however, on occasion managed to reduce himself in size temporarily for the purpose of visiting the bottle city and undertaking adventures there (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others).

Nestled securely on a niche inside the Fortress of Solitude (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), the bottle city of Kandor is "the most amazing exhibit in [Superman's] Fortress" (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion") and "the prize of [his] collection" of curiosities and artifacts from throughout the universe (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!").

Although it is referred to as Krypton City in World's Finest Comics No. 100 (Mar 1959: "The Dictator of Krypton City!") and as Kandor City in Action Comics No. 261/1 (Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), it is referred to as Kandor in every other text that mentions it by name (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and many others) and remains "the only surviving city" of the lost planet Krypton (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). Its population as of July 1958 was approximately 1,000,000 (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

According to Superman No. 158, the peaceful city of Kandor, capital of Krypton, was "a place of beauty and happiness" until the dark day when Brainiac, "the evilest villain of space," appeared over the city in his saucerlike spacecraft, reduced it to "microscopic size" with his diabolical "hyper-force ray," and then soared away again into outer space with the captive city of Kandor imprisoned aboard his craft inside a large glass bottle (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

Although the texts seem agreed, however, that the theft of Kandor occurred "years before" Krypton exploded (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"), it is not possible to pinpoint the date of the theft with any real accuracy, though it appears to have occurred either shortly before (S No. 170/2, Jul 1964: pts. I-II—"If Lex Luthor Were Superman's Father!"; "The Wedding of Lara and Luthor!") or after (S No. 141, Nov 1960: "Superman's Return to Krypton!" pts. I-III—"Superman Meets Jor-El and Lara Again!"; "Superman's Kryptonian Romance!"; "The Surprise of Fate!") the wedding of [[Jor-El]] and [[Lara]]. To this day, despite the fact that, by stealing their city, Brainiac inadvertently rescued the people of Kandor from the cataclysmic doom that befell the rest of their planet, the Kandorians still regard him as "the foulest villain in the universe" for having wrenched their city from its native planet and for having doomed them, perhaps forever, to lilliputian size (S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!").

Indeed, although it is the goal of all Kandorians to see their city enlarged to normal size so that they can live out their lives outside the bottle, either on Earth or on some distant planet (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), the prospects for the successful enlargement of Kandor remain, at best, uncertain. Action Comics No. 245, for example, observes that "Some day '''Superman''' hopes to find a way to enlarge [the Kandorians] to normal size" (Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"), and indeed, this sentiment is echoed in a number of other texts (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others). In Action Comics No. 253/1, however, Superman concedes that "I know of no way the restore [the Kandorians] to their normal size" (Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"), and in Action Comics No. 243 goes one step further remarking that Kandor "can never be restored to normal size!" (Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"). By and large, however, the long term outlook seems optimistic. Although Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others), there are substantial indications that an enlarging device powerful enough to restore Kandor to normal size could be constructed if only the rare element or elements needed to power such a device could be accumulated in sufficient quantity (Act No. 280/1, Sep 1961: "Brainiac's Super-Revenge!"; ''see also'' S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!"; and others). Indeed, one text flatly states that Kandor will one day be enlarged to normal size, but only in the distant future (Act No. 300/1, May 1963: "Superman Under the Red Sun!").

The texts are also somewhat vague concerning the exact size to which Brainiac shrank the Kandorians and their city. Numerous texts describe him as having reduced the city to "microscopic size" (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"; and others), yet the city's larger buildings are plainly visible to the naked eye through the thick glass of the bottle, and one text asserts that it is possible to observe Kandorian life through the lens of an ordinary magnifying glass (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!").

Similarly, the people of Kandor are frequently referred to as "tiny" (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), but it is far more likely that, although the city's larger edifices may be visible to the naked eye, the Kandorians themselves are no larger than microbes (S No. 179/2, Aug 1965: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

The picturesque city of Kandor sits inside a large "bell-jar" in Superman's Fortress of Solitude (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). According to Superman No. 134, "...Brainiac made the walls [of the bell jar] of super-hard, unbreakable glass." (Jan 1960: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), but the accuracy of this statement is called into question by an event that occurs in October 1958, when [[Lois Lane]] inadvertently bumps into the bottle, knocking it to the floor and causing a hairline crack in the glass (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!").

The bottle containing the city is sealed by a large "cork" (S No. 156, Oct 1962: "The Last Days of Superman!" pts. I-III—"Superman's Death Sentence!"; The Super-Comrades of All Time!"; "Superman's Last Day of Life!"; and others), more accurately described as a "super-hard metal stopper" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). By August 1965 a doorway has been installed in the stopper to facilitate "easier exit from the giant bottle" for members of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] and other Kandorians (S No. 179/2: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

Safeguarding the city of Kandor and its lilliputian population is one of Superman's gravest responsibilities. "I have to check that city-in-the-bottle regularly," muses the [[Man of Steel]] in January 1960, "to see that the tiny people inside it are safe!" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")

Watching over the city consists mainly of conducting periodic checks of the air hoses and related apparatus which provide the Kandorians with a steady supply of air. "Air has to be pumped in," observes Lois Lane in October 1958, "for the tiny people are still alive and going about their daily business!" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!").

Inside the bottle city, "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated" to allow the Kandorians to live normal lives in the environment characteristic of their native planet (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). Therefore, in Superman's words, "The Kandorians must be constantly supplied with air that is of the same composition as the air on their native '''Krypton'''--so I always check to make certain the air mixture is right..." (Act No. 282, Nov 1961: "Superman's Toughest Day!").

Indeed, life in the bottle city goes on today much as it did before Brainiac stole it, with the Kandorians "going about their daily business" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!") almost as though their native planet had never exploded. Kryptonese, the language of Krypton, is still spoken (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" Pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), and Kandorian scientific progress has continued apace despite the limitations imposed by the artificial glass-walled environment. Small rocket ships (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others) and individual "jet-powered flying belts" (S No. 172, Oct 1964: pts I-III—"The New Superman!"; "Clark Kent—Former Superman!"; "The Struggle of the Two Supermen!"; and others) fly busy Kandorians about their city, and "tireless robot farmhands raise [their] crops for food" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

"Sealed in a dark, cold bottle," the Kandorians "created [their] own artificial sun...a flaming fireball crossing over the city regularly on its tracks!" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"). According to Superman No. 158, however, it is an array of ingenious devices called "sun-lamps" that provide Kandor with its warmth and sunlight, the lamps being dimmed each evening to provide the Kandorians with a nightly "sleep period" (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

In laboratories and public squares throughout the city, sophisticated "ultra scanning screens" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")—referred to also as "Earth viewers" (S No. 144/3, Apr 1961: "The Orphans of Space!"; and others) or "Earth monitor screens" (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!")—enable Kandorian observers to "pick up any scene on Earth" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), and thereby monitor Superman's actions constantly, both visually and aurally, no matter where on Earth he may be (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others), so that, in the event of an emergency, they can contact the Man of Steel via "super-sonic signal" (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!") or dispatch the Supermen Emergency Squad to his rescue. Indeed, a number of Superman's enemies, aware that his activities are continually monitored by Kandorian observers, have taken the precaution of deliberately jamming the Kandorian monitors to prevent him from being aided by his Kandorian allies (Act No. 295/1, Dec 1962: "Superman Goes Wild!"; and others).

Other achievements of Kandorian science include devices called "mental suggestion helmets," which enable psychiatrists to control and direct the fantasies of their patients and are used in treating the mentally ill (S No. 173/1, Nov 1964: "The 'Untouchable' Clark Kent!"); an ingenious apparatus known as the "psycho-locator," which, through the electronic analysis and long-distance sensing of brain-wave patterns, is capable of locating any selected individual—such as a fugitive criminal—"anywhere in space and time" (S No. 168, Apr 1964: pts. I-II—"Luthor--Super-Hero!"; "Lex Luthor, Daily Planet Editor!"); and a miraculous healing ray invented by the Kandorian scientist [[Reg-En]], which is used to heal Superman's hand in February 1962 after he is badly bitten during a battle with a Kryptonian "[[Flame Dragon|flame dragon]]" (S No. 151/3: "Superman's Greatest Secret!").

Kandor is governed by the [[Kandorian Council]], a body of distinguished citizens apparently modeled after the form of planetary government that prevailed on Krypton prior to the cataclysm.

The city proper is dominated by such institutions as the [[Museum of Kryptonian History]], a well-stocked library, the [[Kandor City Zoo]], and the majestic Hall of Justice, where, once each year, the [[Phantom Zone Parole Board]] meets to consider the pleas of [[Phantom Zone]] prisoners seeking parole. Those prisoners deemed worthy of parole are released from the Phantom Zone to begin new lives as Kandorian citizens.
[[Image:Kandorhallofjustice.jpg|left]]
Outside the city is a neatly landscaped suburban region characterized by elegant mansions and fine houses, and beyond the suburbs are "strange forests" filled with Kryptonian wildlife and "weird vegetation."

In February, the people of Kandor celebrate [[Krypton Day]], a holiday whose precise significance is never stated in the chronicles. Once each year, in either December or January, they bow their heads in silence in solemn commemoration of "the anniversary of the destruction of Krypton." In April, the Kandorians hold ceremonies marking the Day of Truth, a holiday once celebrated by all Kryptonians, in which they honor the memory of [[Val-Lor]], a valiant Kryptonian who, by courageously speaking out against the "ruthless swarm of alien invaders" who had invaded Krypton and enslaved its people, inspired his fellow Kryptonians to revolt against their alien oppressors and drive the aliens from their planet.

Kandor's "greatest hero" is Superman and there are several statues of him in and about the city. Outside the bottle city, Superman's dual identity is a closely guarded secret, but inside Kandor the fact that [[Clark Kent]] is Superman is "known to all Kandorians."

Just as the Kandorians keep a watchful eye on Superman by means of their sophisticated Earth monitors, the Man of Steel keeps in close communication with his friends in Kandor. In Superman's Fortress of Solitude, a red light on an intricate "monitoring maching" lights up in the event of a "Kandor emergency," and a special "Kandor-scope" monitor screen, sometimes used in conjunction with an operator's headphone and mouthpiece, enables him to carry on simultaneous visual and aural communication with his Kandorian allies.

In order to enter Kandor, either to visit his friends or to undertake adventures there, Superman must first reduce himself to microscopic size. He originally accomplished this through various means, but eventually settled on the "shrinking ray" confiscated from Brainiac. Later these same forces, activated, in reverse, by means of a console aboard Brainiacâ€™s spacecraft, are used to restore Superman to his normal human size (Act No. 242: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€).

By October 1958, the renegade Kandorian scientist [[Zak-Kul]] has successfully â€œisolated the rare element, [[Illium 349]], whose rays can change the size of the body,â€ and used it to create an ingenious reducing and enlarging ray which can be used to either shrink or enlarge a person to any chosen size. Superman ultimately defeats the villain and confiscates his sophisticated size-changing apparatus (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€).

By March 1959, the renegade scientist [[Lex Luthor]] has devised a set of ingenious belts capable of either reducing or enlarging people or objects. Superman, [[Batman]], and [[Robin]] ultimately apprehend Luthor and his henchmen and confiscate their size-changing belts (WF No. 100: â€œThe Dictator of Krypton City!â€).

By June 1959, the Kandorian â€œcriminal scientistâ€ [[El Gar-Kur]] has perfected an elaborate body-switching apparatus that enables him to trade places with anyone who happens to be standing outside the bottle, so that the target individual finds himself suddenly reduced in size and trapped inside Kandor, while El Gar Kur is, in the exact same instant, transported outside the bottle city and enlarged to normal human size. Superman defeats El Gar Kur with the aid of [[Jimmy Olsen]], and the villainâ€™s body-switching apparatus is apparently confiscated by the Kandorian authorities (Act No. 253: â€œThe War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!â€).

By January 1960, the Kandorian scientist [[Kull-Ex]] has devised an ingenious â€œexchange rayâ€ designed to enable him to escape the bottle city while trapping Superman inside Kandor. By beaming â€œa flash of super-energyâ€ at Superman as he stands in his Fortress of Solitude close by the bottle, Kull-Ex is able to reduce the [[Man of Steel]] instantaneously to microscopic size and transport him to his laboratory inside Kandor while simultaneously transporting himself outside the bottle and enlarging himself to normal human size. Moreover, because only human bodiesâ€”and not clothingâ€”are affected by the exchange ray, Superman finds himself stranded in Kandor clad in Kull-Exâ€™s clothing, while Kull-Ex finds himself standing in Supermanâ€™s Fortress clad in Supermanâ€™s costume Superman ultimately escapes from Kandor and resolves his differences with Kull-Ex, but because â€œ[[Zenium]],â€ the extraterrestrial element that powers the exchange ray, is exceedingly rare, it is questionable whether the apparatus can ever be used again (S No. 134: â€The Super- Menace of Metropolis!â€; â€œThe Revenge Against Jor. El!â€; â€œThe Duel of the Supermen!â€).

In February 1962, in an apparent reference either to El Gar Kurâ€™s invention or Kull-Exâ€™s, Superman muses that â€œI can only enter Kandor by having my exchange ray cause me to switch places with a similar-sized Kandorian person or creature.â€ Indeed, when Superman visits Kandor during this period, he arranges to exchange himself for his Kandorian friend [[Nim-Zee]], and then to reverse the exchange once his business in Kandor has been successfully concluded (S No. 151/3: â€œSupermanâ€™s Greatest Secret!â€).

By July 1962, however, the â€œexchange rayâ€ has been superseded by a more technologically advanced device. â€œWelcome to Kandor!â€ greets the Kandorian scientist [[Lon-Es]] enthusiastically after he has used the new invention to reduce [[Supergirl]] to microscopic size and transport her to his laboratory inside the bottle. â€œYou have been reduced in size and transported here by a new ray weâ€™ve developed which is better than the exchange-ray! Our teleport ray transports one person at a time. . . and it isnâ€™t necessary to exchange a Kandorian for an Earth person during the transference, as before!â€ (S No.154/2: â€œKryptonâ€™s First Superman!â€).

To enter Kandor in January 1963, Superman and Jimmy Olsen reduce themselves to microscopic size by means of the raygunlike â€œshrinking rayâ€ once confiscated from Brainiac. The effects of the ray are apparently gradual, allowing the Man of Steel and his pal to clamber up the side of the bottle after they have been reduced to a few inches in height and uncork the metal stopper while they are still â€œlarge enough to handle it!â€ Moments later, after the metal stopper has been removed and Brainiacâ€™s ray has reduced them to microbe size, Superman and Jimmy parachute down into the city. Sometime later, after departing Kandor, the Man of Steel and his companion use the apparatus invented by Zak-Kul, here referred to as an â€œenlargerâ€ or â€œenlarging rayâ€â€”to restore themselves to normal human size. â€œThis enlarger, once made by a Kandorian criminal, is powered by the element illium 349,â€ remarks Superman, â€œ. ... and I have a tiny few grains of illium in the pouch of my cape just for emergencies like this!â€ (S No. 158: â€œSuperman in Kandorâ€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!â€; â€œThe Dynamic Duo of Kandor!â€; â€œThe City of Super-People!â€). The enlarging ray used here is probably the same as the raygunlike â€œenlarging forceâ€ with which Superman restores himself, Lex Luthor, and Brainiac to normal human size when the three of them have emerged from Kandor after being embroiled in an adventure there in February 1964. â€œThis force enlarges us to normal size,â€ remarks Superman, â€œbut there isnâ€™t enough of the element that powers it to enlarge the people of Kandor you shrunk, Brainiac!â€ (S No. 167:
â€œThe Team of Luthor and Brainiac!â€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€The Deadly Duo!â€; â€œThe Downfall of Superman!â€; â€œThe Hour of Kandorâ€™s Vengeance!â€).

For yet another visit to Kandor, in March 1964, Superman reduces himself to microscopic size by means of an ingenious â€œshrinking ray,â€ apparently the one confiscated from Brainiac, and then parachutes, down into the city (Act No. 310: â€œSecret of Kryptonite Six!â€).

Inside Kandor, where â€œKryptonâ€™s gravity-conditions are duplicated,â€ Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and reenters the earthly environment (Act No. 242, Jul 1958: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€; and others). â€œWhere Kryptonâ€™s non-earthly gravity conditions are in force,â€ muses Superman in October 1958, â€œI have no super-powers! I... Iâ€™m just an ordinary man!â€ (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€; and others). Indeed, even [[Kryptonite]] has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there (Act No. 305, Oct 1963: â€œWhy Superman Needs a Secret Identity!â€).

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Supermanâ€™s, along with vulnerability to the various forms of kryptonite (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€; and many others). For an ordinary earthling, however, a visit to Kandor can be a trying experience, for the heavy artificial gravity, designed to duplicate the atmospheric conditions that prevailed on Krypton, make it necessary to wear special â€œanti-gravity shoesâ€ merely to walk in the alien environment (S No. 158, Jan 1963: â€œSuperman in Kandorâ€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!â€; â€œThe Dynamic Duo of Kandor!â€; â€œThe City of Super-People!â€).

When [[Metropolis]] television station [[WMET-TV]] inaugurates its new â€œOur American Heroesâ€ series with a program honoring Superman, â€œour greatest American hero,â€ the Kandorian [[Look-Alike Squad]] appears on the show along with Supermanâ€™s other friends and admirers to help pay tribute to the Man of Steel (Act No. 309, Feb 1964: â€œThe Superman Super- Spectacular!â€).

In March 1964 Superman visits Kandor for the annual meeting of the [[Phantom Zone Parole Board]] (Act No. 310: â€œSecret of Kryptonite Six!â€).

In July 1964, during a time-journey he makes to the planet Krypton prior to its destruction, [[Lex Luthor]] witnesses the theft of Kandor by Brainiac (S No. 170/2: pts. I-IIâ€”â€If Lex Luthor Were Supermanâ€™s Father!â€; â€œThe Wedding of Lara and Luthor!â€).

In August 1964 Superman joins forces with Batman, Robin, and Jimmy Olsen to combat a â€œmetalloidâ€ menace in the city of Kandor (WF No. 143: â€œThe Feud Between Batman and Superman!â€ pts. I-Ilâ€”no title; â€œThe Manhunters from Earth!â€).

In October 1964 Superman selects the Kandorian [[Ar-Val]] to serve as his replacement in the event of his own death or disability (S No. 172: pts. I-IIIâ€”â€The New Superman!â€; â€œClark Kentâ€”Former Superman!â€; â€œThe Struggle of the Two Supermen!â€). During this same period, the elderly Kandorian scientist [[Nor-Kan]] is struck in the brain and killed by â€œa fatal dose of radiationâ€ while experimenting with the rare radioactive element illium-349 in hopes of finding a way to use the substance to power an â€œenlarger rayâ€ with which to restore Kandor to normal size (Act No. 317, Oct 1964: â€œSupermanâ€™s Rainbow Face!â€).

Inside Kandor, where "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated," Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains use of his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and re-enters the earthly environment. Kryptonite has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there.

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Superman's, along with vulnerability to the various forms of [[kryptonite]].

In the course of an Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the "fanatic scientist" [[Than-Ol]], Superman and [[Jimmy Olsen]] decide to emulate their friends Batman and Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pair of Kandorian birds - a "nightwing" and a "flamebird" - owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of [[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]] and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a "secret under-ground lab" - with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside - to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With Nor-Kan's blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the "[[Nightcave]]" and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting Nor-Kan's automobile into a swift, specially equipped "nightmobile."

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird - the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor - have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city. (TGSB)

Kandor is the home of the Supermen Emergency Squad, the [[Look-Alike Squad]] and crime fighting defenders, Nightwing and Flamebird.

Supergirl's parents, [[Zor-El]] and [[Alura]], after being rescued from the [[Survival Zone]], reside in Kandor.

Eventually, the residents of Kandor are finally freed of the bottle city and settle on the distant planet [[Rokyn]] (S No. 338, Aug 1979: "Let My People Grow!").

Some time later, a replica of the bottle city in Superman's Fortress becomes home to the tiny yellow-skinned aliens known as the [[Sh'strians]] (S No. 370, Apr 1982: "Better Vengeance Through Chemo-stry"; S No. 371/1, May 1982: "Kandor Lives Again").

Later still, apparently unaware of this replica, [[Wonder Woman]] gives Superman a replica Kandor crafted by the [[Amazons|Amazon]] artisans of [[Paradise Island]] (SA No. 11, 1985: "For the Man Who Has Everything").

('''See also''' [[Kryptonopolis]])

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor Wikipedia Entry on Kandor]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Krypton]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

Nightwing

2008-11-16T21:32:04Z

Super Monkey: /* Dick Grayson as Nightwing */

== Superman as Nightwing ==

[[Image:Nightwing_and_Flamebird_1993.jpg|right|thumb|The Original Nightwing and Flamebird]]

An alternate identity employed by [[Superman]] on those occasions when he and [[Jimmy Olsen]], employing the name [[Flamebird]], participate in adventures together inside the bottle city of [[Kandor]].

The Prussian blue color of Superman's Nightwing costume is reminiscent of the plumage of the nightwing, a Kandorian bird. Superman and Jimmy Olsen first adopt their Nightwing and Flamebird identities during an adventure in Kandor in January 1963 (S No. 158: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III; "Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). They employ them again during a second adventure, in August 1964 (WF No. 143: "The Feud Between Batman and Superman!" pts. I-II -- no title; "The Manhunters from Earth!"). (TGSB)

In the course of a Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the â€œfanatic scientistâ€ [[Than Ol]], Superman and Jimmy Olsen decide to emuLate their friends Batman arid Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pairof Kandorian birds, a â€œnightwingâ€ and a â€œflamebirdâ€, owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of Nightwing and Flamebird and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

For his role as Nightwing, Superman wears black eye-mask and a Prussian-blue costume consisting of Prussian-blue tights, trunks, cape, wrist-length gloves, and ankle-length boots. Emblazoned on his chest is a highly stylized black bird emblem inscribed inside a white circle. Around his waist is a yellow utility belt equipped with â€œpersonal jet-motorsâ€ which endow him with the power of self-sustained flight.

For his role as Flamebird, Jimmy Olsen wears a black eye-mask and a bright red costume consisting of red tights, trunks, and a deeply scalloped red cape, complemented by yellow boots and yellow elbow- length gloves. Emblazoned on his chest is a highly stylized yellow sunburst, and around his waist is a yellow utility belt, almost identical to Nightwingâ€™s,
equipped with personal jet-motors for self-sustained flight.

Equipment contained in the utility belts includes â€œsmoke cylindersâ€ to enable Nightwing and Flamebird to stymie their pursuers by enveloping them in clouds of thick black smoke; â€œcutting-torchesâ€ for cutting through walls and other obstacles; and special â€œlead cloth capsâ€ designed to enable the duo to â€œshieldâ€ their thoughts fromâ€”and thereby elude, if necessaryâ€”the fearsome â€œtelepathic houndsâ€ of Kandor, â€œstrange beasts,â€ yellow in color, with tails like wolves and snouts like wild boars, â€œthat can locate people at any distance by reading their minds to learn where they are!â€ Because of their unique abilities, the creatures are employed by the Kandorian authorities as telepathic bloodhounds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a â€œsecret underground labâ€, with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside, to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With NorKanâ€™s blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the â€œnight-caveâ€, or â€œnightcaveâ€, and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting NorKanâ€™s automobile into a swift, specially equipped â€œnightmobile.â€

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird, the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor, have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city (S No. 158: â€œSuperman in Kandorâ€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€Invasion of the Mystery SuperMen!â€; â€œThe Dynamic Duo of Kandor!â€; â€œThe City of Super-People!â€).

== Van-Zee as Nightwing ==

[[Image:Nightwing.jpg|left|thumb|Van-Zee as Nightwing]]

Some time later, [[Van-Zee]], [[Superman]]'s exact double, assumes the mantle of Nightwing, Kandor's protector (SF No. 183/5, May/Jun 1977: "Death Is a Computer"; and others

In May/June 1977, Nightwing and Flamebird team up for the 1st time to stop Brainiac's plot to destroy Kandor (SF No. 183: "Death Is a Computer"). Later in July-August 1977 , Nightwing and Flamebird stop the assassin [[Zim-Ra]], who is disguise as a Kryptonian archer-hero, from assassinating [[Ner-An]], who is the president of Kandor, on behalf of [[The Separatists]], a radical faction of Kandorians who want to be able to live outside their bottle city (SF No. 184: "Comes a Revolution").

==Dick Grayson as Nightwing==

[[Image:Graysonkwing.gif|right|thumb|Dick Grayson as Nightwing]]

Later still, [[Dick Grayson]], the original boy wonder [[Robin]], takes the name—but not the costume—of Nightwing as his new heroic identity (Tales of the Teen Titans No. 44, Jul 1984: "There Shall Come a Titan!").

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Aliens]]
[[Category:Kryptonians]]
[[Category:Kandorians]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Aliases]]
[[Category:Batman]]
[[Category:Superman's Aliases]]
[[Category: Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category: Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightwing Wikipedia Entry on the various Nightwings]

Nightwing

2008-11-16T21:31:36Z

Super Monkey: /* Van-Zee as Nightwing */ added two story details

== Superman as Nightwing ==

[[Image:Nightwing_and_Flamebird_1993.jpg|right|thumb|The Original Nightwing and Flamebird]]

An alternate identity employed by [[Superman]] on those occasions when he and [[Jimmy Olsen]], employing the name [[Flamebird]], participate in adventures together inside the bottle city of [[Kandor]].

The Prussian blue color of Superman's Nightwing costume is reminiscent of the plumage of the nightwing, a Kandorian bird. Superman and Jimmy Olsen first adopt their Nightwing and Flamebird identities during an adventure in Kandor in January 1963 (S No. 158: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III; "Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). They employ them again during a second adventure, in August 1964 (WF No. 143: "The Feud Between Batman and Superman!" pts. I-II -- no title; "The Manhunters from Earth!"). (TGSB)

In the course of a Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the â€œfanatic scientistâ€ [[Than Ol]], Superman and Jimmy Olsen decide to emuLate their friends Batman arid Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pairof Kandorian birds, a â€œnightwingâ€ and a â€œflamebirdâ€, owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of Nightwing and Flamebird and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

For his role as Nightwing, Superman wears black eye-mask and a Prussian-blue costume consisting of Prussian-blue tights, trunks, cape, wrist-length gloves, and ankle-length boots. Emblazoned on his chest is a highly stylized black bird emblem inscribed inside a white circle. Around his waist is a yellow utility belt equipped with â€œpersonal jet-motorsâ€ which endow him with the power of self-sustained flight.

For his role as Flamebird, Jimmy Olsen wears a black eye-mask and a bright red costume consisting of red tights, trunks, and a deeply scalloped red cape, complemented by yellow boots and yellow elbow- length gloves. Emblazoned on his chest is a highly stylized yellow sunburst, and around his waist is a yellow utility belt, almost identical to Nightwingâ€™s,
equipped with personal jet-motors for self-sustained flight.

Equipment contained in the utility belts includes â€œsmoke cylindersâ€ to enable Nightwing and Flamebird to stymie their pursuers by enveloping them in clouds of thick black smoke; â€œcutting-torchesâ€ for cutting through walls and other obstacles; and special â€œlead cloth capsâ€ designed to enable the duo to â€œshieldâ€ their thoughts fromâ€”and thereby elude, if necessaryâ€”the fearsome â€œtelepathic houndsâ€ of Kandor, â€œstrange beasts,â€ yellow in color, with tails like wolves and snouts like wild boars, â€œthat can locate people at any distance by reading their minds to learn where they are!â€ Because of their unique abilities, the creatures are employed by the Kandorian authorities as telepathic bloodhounds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a â€œsecret underground labâ€, with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside, to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With NorKanâ€™s blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the â€œnight-caveâ€, or â€œnightcaveâ€, and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting NorKanâ€™s automobile into a swift, specially equipped â€œnightmobile.â€

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird, the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor, have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city (S No. 158: â€œSuperman in Kandorâ€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€Invasion of the Mystery SuperMen!â€; â€œThe Dynamic Duo of Kandor!â€; â€œThe City of Super-People!â€).

== Van-Zee as Nightwing ==

[[Image:Nightwing.jpg|left|thumb|Van-Zee as Nightwing]]

Some time later, [[Van-Zee]], [[Superman]]'s exact double, assumes the mantle of Nightwing, Kandor's protector (SF No. 183/5, May/Jun 1977: "Death Is a Computer"; and others

In May/June 1977, Nightwing and Flamebird team up for the 1st time to stop Brainiac's plot to destroy Kandor (SF No. 183: "Death Is a Computer"). Later in July-August 1977 , Nightwing and Flamebird stop the assassin [[Zim-Ra]], who is disguise as a Kryptonian archer-hero, from assassinating [[Ner-An]], who is the president of Kandor, on behalf of [[The Separatists]], a radical faction of Kandorians who want to be able to live outside their bottle city (SF No. 184: "Comes a Revolution").

==Dick Grayson as Nightwing==

[[Image:Graysonkwing.gif|left|thumb|Dick Grayson as Nightwing]]

Later still, [[Dick Grayson]], the original boy wonder [[Robin]], takes the name—but not the costume—of Nightwing as his new heroic identity (Tales of the Teen Titans No. 44, Jul 1984: "There Shall Come a Titan!").

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Aliens]]
[[Category:Kryptonians]]
[[Category:Kandorians]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Aliases]]
[[Category:Batman]]
[[Category:Superman's Aliases]]
[[Category: Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category: Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightwing Wikipedia Entry on the various Nightwings]

File:Nightwing.jpg

2008-11-16T21:21:29Z

Super Monkey: uploaded a new version of "Image:Nightwing.jpg"

File:Graysonkwing.gif

2008-11-16T21:19:26Z

Super Monkey: uploaded a new version of "Image:Graysonkwing.gif"

Nightwing

2008-11-16T21:17:03Z

Super Monkey:

== Superman as Nightwing ==

[[Image:Nightwing_and_Flamebird_1993.jpg|right|thumb|The Original Nightwing and Flamebird]]

An alternate identity employed by [[Superman]] on those occasions when he and [[Jimmy Olsen]], employing the name [[Flamebird]], participate in adventures together inside the bottle city of [[Kandor]].

The Prussian blue color of Superman's Nightwing costume is reminiscent of the plumage of the nightwing, a Kandorian bird. Superman and Jimmy Olsen first adopt their Nightwing and Flamebird identities during an adventure in Kandor in January 1963 (S No. 158: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III; "Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). They employ them again during a second adventure, in August 1964 (WF No. 143: "The Feud Between Batman and Superman!" pts. I-II -- no title; "The Manhunters from Earth!"). (TGSB)

In the course of a Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the â€œfanatic scientistâ€ [[Than Ol]], Superman and Jimmy Olsen decide to emuLate their friends Batman arid Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pairof Kandorian birds, a â€œnightwingâ€ and a â€œflamebirdâ€, owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of Nightwing and Flamebird and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

For his role as Nightwing, Superman wears black eye-mask and a Prussian-blue costume consisting of Prussian-blue tights, trunks, cape, wrist-length gloves, and ankle-length boots. Emblazoned on his chest is a highly stylized black bird emblem inscribed inside a white circle. Around his waist is a yellow utility belt equipped with â€œpersonal jet-motorsâ€ which endow him with the power of self-sustained flight.

For his role as Flamebird, Jimmy Olsen wears a black eye-mask and a bright red costume consisting of red tights, trunks, and a deeply scalloped red cape, complemented by yellow boots and yellow elbow- length gloves. Emblazoned on his chest is a highly stylized yellow sunburst, and around his waist is a yellow utility belt, almost identical to Nightwingâ€™s,
equipped with personal jet-motors for self-sustained flight.

Equipment contained in the utility belts includes â€œsmoke cylindersâ€ to enable Nightwing and Flamebird to stymie their pursuers by enveloping them in clouds of thick black smoke; â€œcutting-torchesâ€ for cutting through walls and other obstacles; and special â€œlead cloth capsâ€ designed to enable the duo to â€œshieldâ€ their thoughts fromâ€”and thereby elude, if necessaryâ€”the fearsome â€œtelepathic houndsâ€ of Kandor, â€œstrange beasts,â€ yellow in color, with tails like wolves and snouts like wild boars, â€œthat can locate people at any distance by reading their minds to learn where they are!â€ Because of their unique abilities, the creatures are employed by the Kandorian authorities as telepathic bloodhounds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a â€œsecret underground labâ€, with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside, to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With NorKanâ€™s blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the â€œnight-caveâ€, or â€œnightcaveâ€, and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting NorKanâ€™s automobile into a swift, specially equipped â€œnightmobile.â€

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird, the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor, have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city (S No. 158: â€œSuperman in Kandorâ€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€Invasion of the Mystery SuperMen!â€; â€œThe Dynamic Duo of Kandor!â€; â€œThe City of Super-People!â€).

== Van-Zee as Nightwing ==

[[Image:Nightwing.jpg|left|thumb|Van-Zee as Nightwing]]

Some time later, [[Van-Zee]], [[Superman]]'s exact double, assumes the mantle of Nightwing, Kandor's protector (SF No. 183/5, May/Jun 1977: "Death Is a Computer"; and others).

==Dick Grayson as Nightwing==

[[Image:Graysonkwing.gif|left|thumb|Dick Grayson as Nightwing]]

Later still, [[Dick Grayson]], the original boy wonder [[Robin]], takes the name—but not the costume—of Nightwing as his new heroic identity (Tales of the Teen Titans No. 44, Jul 1984: "There Shall Come a Titan!").

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Aliens]]
[[Category:Kryptonians]]
[[Category:Kandorians]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Aliases]]
[[Category:Batman]]
[[Category:Superman's Aliases]]
[[Category: Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category: Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightwing Wikipedia Entry on the various Nightwings]

Nightwing

2008-11-16T16:51:53Z

Super Monkey: /* Superman as Nightwing */ added tons of new info

== Superman as Nightwing ==

[[Image:Nightwing_and_Flamebird_1993.jpg|right|thumb|The Original Nightwing and Flamebird]]

An alternate identity employed by [[Superman]] on those occasions when he and [[Jimmy Olsen]], employing the name [[Flamebird]], participate in adventures together inside the bottle city of [[Kandor]].

The Prussian blue color of Superman's Nightwing costume is reminiscent of the plumage of the nightwing, a Kandorian bird. Superman and Jimmy Olsen first adopt their Nightwing and Flamebird identities during an adventure in Kandor in January 1963 (S No. 158: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III; "Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). They employ them again during a second adventure, in August 1964 (WF No. 143: "The Feud Between Batman and Superman!" pts. I-II -- no title; "The Manhunters from Earth!"). (TGSB)

In the course of a Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the â€œfanatic scientistâ€ [[Than Ol]], Superman and Jimmy Olsen decide to emuLate their friends Batman arid Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pairof Kandorian birds, a â€œnightwingâ€ and a â€œflamebirdâ€, owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of Nightwing and Flamebird and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

For his role as Nightwing, Superman wears black eye-mask and a Prussian-blue costume consisting of Prussian-blue tights, trunks, cape, wrist-length gloves, and ankle-length boots. Emblazoned on his chest is a highly stylized black bird emblem inscribed inside a white circle. Around his waist is a yellow utility belt equipped with â€œpersonal jet-motorsâ€ which endow him with the power of self-sustained flight.

For his role as Flamebird, Jimmy Olsen wears a black eye-mask and a bright red costume consisting of red tights, trunks, and a deeply scalloped red cape, complemented by yellow boots and yellow elbow- length gloves. Emblazoned on his chest is a highly stylized yellow sunburst, and around his waist is a yellow utility belt, almost identical to Nightwingâ€™s,
equipped with personal jet-motors for self-sustained flight.

Equipment contained in the utility belts includes â€œsmoke cylindersâ€ to enable Nightwing and Flamebird to stymie their pursuers by enveloping them in clouds of thick black smoke; â€œcutting-torchesâ€ for cutting through walls and other obstacles; and special â€œlead cloth capsâ€ designed to enable the duo to â€œshieldâ€ their thoughts fromâ€”and thereby elude, if necessaryâ€”the fearsome â€œtelepathic houndsâ€ of Kandor, â€œstrange beasts,â€ yellow in color, with tails like wolves and snouts like wild boars, â€œthat can locate people at any distance by reading their minds to learn where they are!â€ Because of their unique abilities, the creatures are employed by the Kandorian authorities as telepathic bloodhounds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a â€œsecret underground labâ€, with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside, to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With NorKanâ€™s blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the â€œnight-caveâ€, or â€œnightcaveâ€, and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting NorKanâ€™s automobile into a swift, specially equipped â€œnightmobile.â€

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird, the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor, have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city (S No. 158: â€œSuperman in Kandorâ€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€Invasion of the Mystery SuperMen!â€; â€œThe Dynamic Duo of Kandor!â€; â€œThe City of Super-People!â€).

== Van-Zee as Nightwing ==

[[Image:Nightwing.jpg|left|thumb|Van-Zee as Nightwing]]

Some time later, [[Van-Zee]], [[Superman]]'s exact double, assumes the mantle of Nightwing, Kandor's protector (SF No. 183/5, May/Jun 1977: "Death Is a Computer"; and others).

==Dick Grayson as Nightwing==

[[Image:Graysonkwing.gif|thumb|Dick Grayson as Nightwing]]

Later still, [[Dick Grayson]], the original boy wonder [[Robin]], takes the name—but not the costume—of Nightwing as his new heroic identity (Tales of the Teen Titans No. 44, Jul 1984: "There Shall Come a Titan!").

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Aliens]]
[[Category:Kryptonians]]
[[Category:Kandorians]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Aliases]]
[[Category:Batman]]
[[Category:Superman's Aliases]]
[[Category: Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category: Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightwing Wikipedia Entry on the various Nightwings]

Kandor

2008-11-16T16:46:27Z

Super Monkey: added superpowers info

[[Image:Bottle.GIF|right]]

'''Kandor'''

The capital city of the planet [[Krypton]], which survived the destruction of its native planet as the result of having been stolen sometime prior to the cataclysm by the space villain [[Brainiac]], who reduced the city to microscopic size and preserved it, people alive and buildings intact, inside a glass bottle aboard his spacecraft, where it remained for many years until it was finally recovered by [[Superman]] in July 1958 and placed for safekeeping inside his [[Fortress of Solitude]] (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others).

Inside the bottle city, life goes on much as it did prior to the destruction of Krypton (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), yet although restoration to their normal size remains the heartfelt wish of all Kandorians, Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely. He has, however, on occasion managed to reduce himself in size temporarily for the purpose of visiting the bottle city and undertaking adventures there (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others).

Nestled securely on a niche inside the Fortress of Solitude (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), the bottle city of Kandor is "the most amazing exhibit in [Superman's] Fortress" (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion") and "the prize of [his] collection" of curiosities and artifacts from throughout the universe (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!").

Although it is referred to as Krypton City in World's Finest Comics No. 100 (Mar 1959: "The Dictator of Krypton City!") and as Kandor City in Action Comics No. 261/1 (Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), it is referred to as Kandor in every other text that mentions it by name (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and many others) and remains "the only surviving city" of the lost planet Krypton (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). Its population as of July 1958 was approximately 1,000,000 (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

According to Superman No. 158, the peaceful city of Kandor, capital of Krypton, was "a place of beauty and happiness" until the dark day when Brainiac, "the evilest villain of space," appeared over the city in his saucerlike spacecraft, reduced it to "microscopic size" with his diabolical "hyper-force ray," and then soared away again into outer space with the captive city of Kandor imprisoned aboard his craft inside a large glass bottle (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

Although the texts seem agreed, however, that the theft of Kandor occurred "years before" Krypton exploded (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"), it is not possible to pinpoint the date of the theft with any real accuracy, though it appears to have occurred either shortly before (S No. 170/2, Jul 1964: pts. I-II—"If Lex Luthor Were Superman's Father!"; "The Wedding of Lara and Luthor!") or after (S No. 141, Nov 1960: "Superman's Return to Krypton!" pts. I-III—"Superman Meets Jor-El and Lara Again!"; "Superman's Kryptonian Romance!"; "The Surprise of Fate!") the wedding of [[Jor-El]] and [[Lara]]. To this day, despite the fact that, by stealing their city, Brainiac inadvertently rescued the people of Kandor from the cataclysmic doom that befell the rest of their planet, the Kandorians still regard him as "the foulest villain in the universe" for having wrenched their city from its native planet and for having doomed them, perhaps forever, to lilliputian size (S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!").

Indeed, although it is the goal of all Kandorians to see their city enlarged to normal size so that they can live out their lives outside the bottle, either on Earth or on some distant planet (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), the prospects for the successful enlargement of Kandor remain, at best, uncertain. Action Comics No. 245, for example, observes that "Some day '''Superman''' hopes to find a way to enlarge [the Kandorians] to normal size" (Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"), and indeed, this sentiment is echoed in a number of other texts (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others). In Action Comics No. 253/1, however, Superman concedes that "I know of no way the restore [the Kandorians] to their normal size" (Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"), and in Action Comics No. 243 goes one step further remarking that Kandor "can never be restored to normal size!" (Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"). By and large, however, the long term outlook seems optimistic. Although Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others), there are substantial indications that an enlarging device powerful enough to restore Kandor to normal size could be constructed if only the rare element or elements needed to power such a device could be accumulated in sufficient quantity (Act No. 280/1, Sep 1961: "Brainiac's Super-Revenge!"; ''see also'' S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!"; and others). Indeed, one text flatly states that Kandor will one day be enlarged to normal size, but only in the distant future (Act No. 300/1, May 1963: "Superman Under the Red Sun!").

The texts are also somewhat vague concerning the exact size to which Brainiac shrank the Kandorians and their city. Numerous texts describe him as having reduced the city to "microscopic size" (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"; and others), yet the city's larger buildings are plainly visible to the naked eye through the thick glass of the bottle, and one text asserts that it is possible to observe Kandorian life through the lens of an ordinary magnifying glass (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!").

Similarly, the people of Kandor are frequently referred to as "tiny" (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), but it is far more likely that, although the city's larger edifices may be visible to the naked eye, the Kandorians themselves are no larger than microbes (S No. 179/2, Aug 1965: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

The picturesque city of Kandor sits inside a large "bell-jar" in Superman's Fortress of Solitude (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). According to Superman No. 134, "...Brainiac made the walls [of the bell jar] of super-hard, unbreakable glass." (Jan 1960: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), but the accuracy of this statement is called into question by an event that occurs in October 1958, when [[Lois Lane]] inadvertently bumps into the bottle, knocking it to the floor and causing a hairline crack in the glass (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!").

The bottle containing the city is sealed by a large "cork" (S No. 156, Oct 1962: "The Last Days of Superman!" pts. I-III—"Superman's Death Sentence!"; The Super-Comrades of All Time!"; "Superman's Last Day of Life!"; and others), more accurately described as a "super-hard metal stopper" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). By August 1965 a doorway has been installed in the stopper to facilitate "easier exit from the giant bottle" for members of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] and other Kandorians (S No. 179/2: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

Safeguarding the city of Kandor and its lilliputian population is one of Superman's gravest responsibilities. "I have to check that city-in-the-bottle regularly," muses the [[Man of Steel]] in January 1960, "to see that the tiny people inside it are safe!" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")

Watching over the city consists mainly of conducting periodic checks of the air hoses and related apparatus which provide the Kandorians with a steady supply of air. "Air has to be pumped in," observes Lois Lane in October 1958, "for the tiny people are still alive and going about their daily business!" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!").

Inside the bottle city, "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated" to allow the Kandorians to live normal lives in the environment characteristic of their native planet (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). Therefore, in Superman's words, "The Kandorians must be constantly supplied with air that is of the same composition as the air on their native '''Krypton'''--so I always check to make certain the air mixture is right..." (Act No. 282, Nov 1961: "Superman's Toughest Day!").

Indeed, life in the bottle city goes on today much as it did before Brainiac stole it, with the Kandorians "going about their daily business" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!") almost as though their native planet had never exploded. Kryptonese, the language of Krypton, is still spoken (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" Pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), and Kandorian scientific progress has continued apace despite the limitations imposed by the artificial glass-walled environment. Small rocket ships (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others) and individual "jet-powered flying belts" (S No. 172, Oct 1964: pts I-III—"The New Superman!"; "Clark Kent—Former Superman!"; "The Struggle of the Two Supermen!"; and others) fly busy Kandorians about their city, and "tireless robot farmhands raise [their] crops for food" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

"Sealed in a dark, cold bottle," the Kandorians "created [their] own artificial sun...a flaming fireball crossing over the city regularly on its tracks!" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"). According to Superman No. 158, however, it is an array of ingenious devices called "sun-lamps" that provide Kandor with its warmth and sunlight, the lamps being dimmed each evening to provide the Kandorians with a nightly "sleep period" (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

In laboratories and public squares throughout the city, sophisticated "ultra scanning screens" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")—referred to also as "Earth viewers" (S No. 144/3, Apr 1961: "The Orphans of Space!"; and others) or "Earth monitor screens" (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!")—enable Kandorian observers to "pick up any scene on Earth" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), and thereby monitor Superman's actions constantly, both visually and aurally, no matter where on Earth he may be (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others), so that, in the event of an emergency, they can contact the Man of Steel via "super-sonic signal" (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!") or dispatch the Supermen Emergency Squad to his rescue. Indeed, a number of Superman's enemies, aware that his activities are continually monitored by Kandorian observers, have taken the precaution of deliberately jamming the Kandorian monitors to prevent him from being aided by his Kandorian allies (Act No. 295/1, Dec 1962: "Superman Goes Wild!"; and others).

Other achievements of Kandorian science include devices called "mental suggestion helmets," which enable psychiatrists to control and direct the fantasies of their patients and are used in treating the mentally ill (S No. 173/1, Nov 1964: "The 'Untouchable' Clark Kent!"); an ingenious apparatus known as the "psycho-locator," which, through the electronic analysis and long-distance sensing of brain-wave patterns, is capable of locating any selected individual—such as a fugitive criminal—"anywhere in space and time" (S No. 168, Apr 1964: pts. I-II—"Luthor--Super-Hero!"; "Lex Luthor, Daily Planet Editor!"); and a miraculous healing ray invented by the Kandorian scientist [[Reg-En]], which is used to heal Superman's hand in February 1962 after he is badly bitten during a battle with a Kryptonian "[[Flame Dragon|flame dragon]]" (S No. 151/3: "Superman's Greatest Secret!").

Kandor is governed by the [[Kandorian Council]], a body of distinguished citizens apparently modeled after the form of planetary government that prevailed on Krypton prior to the cataclysm.

The city proper is dominated by such institutions as the [[Museum of Kryptonian History]], a well-stocked library, the [[Kandor City Zoo]], and the majestic Hall of Justice, where, once each year, the [[Phantom Zone Parole Board]] meets to consider the pleas of [[Phantom Zone]] prisoners seeking parole. Those prisoners deemed worthy of parole are released from the Phantom Zone to begin new lives as Kandorian citizens.
[[Image:Kandorhallofjustice.jpg|left]]
Outside the city is a neatly landscaped suburban region characterized by elegant mansions and fine houses, and beyond the suburbs are "strange forests" filled with Kryptonian wildlife and "weird vegetation."

In February, the people of Kandor celebrate [[Krypton Day]], a holiday whose precise significance is never stated in the chronicles. Once each year, in either December or January, they bow their heads in silence in solemn commemoration of "the anniversary of the destruction of Krypton." In April, the Kandorians hold ceremonies marking the Day of Truth, a holiday once celebrated by all Kryptonians, in which they honor the memory of [[Val-Lor]], a valiant Kryptonian who, by courageously speaking out against the "ruthless swarm of alien invaders" who had invaded Krypton and enslaved its people, inspired his fellow Kryptonians to revolt against their alien oppressors and drive the aliens from their planet.

Kandor's "greatest hero" is Superman and there are several statues of him in and about the city. Outside the bottle city, Superman's dual identity is a closely guarded secret, but inside Kandor the fact that [[Clark Kent]] is Superman is "known to all Kandorians."

Just as the Kandorians keep a watchful eye on Superman by means of their sophisticated Earth monitors, the Man of Steel keeps in close communication with his friends in Kandor. In Superman's Fortress of Solitude, a red light on an intricate "monitoring maching" lights up in the event of a "Kandor emergency," and a special "Kandor-scope" monitor screen, sometimes used in conjunction with an operator's headphone and mouthpiece, enables him to carry on simultaneous visual and aural communication with his Kandorian allies.

In order to enter Kandor, either to visit his friends or to undertake adventures there, Superman must first reduce himself to microscopic size. He originally accomplished this through various means, but eventually settled on the "shrinking ray" confiscated from Brainiac. Later these same forces, activated, in reverse, by means of a console aboard Brainiacâ€™s spacecraft, are used to restore Superman to his normal human size (Act No. 242: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€).

By October 1958, the renegade Kandorian scientist [[Zak-Kul]] has successfully â€œisolated the rare element, [[Illium 349]], whose rays can change the size of the body,â€ and used it to create an ingenious reducing and enlarging ray which can be used to either shrink or enlarge a person to any chosen size. Superman ultimately defeats the villain and confiscates his sophisticated size-changing apparatus (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€).

By March 1959, the renegade scientist [[Lex Luthor]] has devised a set of ingenious belts capable of either reducing or enlarging people or objects. Superman, [[Batman]], and [[Robin]] ultimately apprehend Luthor and his henchmen and confiscate their size-changing belts (WF No. 100: â€œThe Dictator of Krypton City!â€).

By June 1959, the Kandorian â€œcriminal scientistâ€ [[El Gar-Kur]] has perfected an elaborate body-switching apparatus that enables him to trade places with anyone who happens to be standing outside the bottle, so that the target individual finds himself suddenly reduced in size and trapped inside Kandor, while El Gar Kur is, in the exact same instant, transported outside the bottle city and enlarged to normal human size. Superman defeats El Gar Kur with the aid of [[Jimmy Olsen]], and the villainâ€™s body-switching apparatus is apparently confiscated by the Kandorian authorities (Act No. 253: â€œThe War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!â€).

By January 1960, the Kandorian scientist [[Kull-Ex]] has devised an ingenious â€œexchange rayâ€ designed to enable him to escape the bottle city while trapping Superman inside Kandor. By beaming â€œa flash of super-energyâ€ at Superman as he stands in his Fortress of Solitude close by the bottle, Kull-Ex is able to reduce the [[Man of Steel]] instantaneously to microscopic size and transport him to his laboratory inside Kandor while simultaneously transporting himself outside the bottle and enlarging himself to normal human size. Moreover, because only human bodiesâ€”and not clothingâ€”are affected by the exchange ray, Superman finds himself stranded in Kandor clad in Kull-Exâ€™s clothing, while Kull-Ex finds himself standing in Supermanâ€™s Fortress clad in Supermanâ€™s costume Superman ultimately escapes from Kandor and resolves his differences with Kull-Ex, but because â€œ[[Zenium]],â€ the extraterrestrial element that powers the exchange ray, is exceedingly rare, it is questionable whether the apparatus can ever be used again (S No. 134: â€The Super- Menace of Metropolis!â€; â€œThe Revenge Against Jor. El!â€; â€œThe Duel of the Supermen!â€).

In February 1962, in an apparent reference either to El Gar Kurâ€™s invention or Kull-Exâ€™s, Superman muses that â€œI can only enter Kandor by having my exchange ray cause me to switch places with a similar-sized Kandorian person or creature.â€ Indeed, when Superman visits Kandor during this period, he arranges to exchange himself for his Kandorian friend [[Nim-Zee]], and then to reverse the exchange once his business in Kandor has been successfully concluded (S No. 151/3: â€œSupermanâ€™s Greatest Secret!â€).

By July 1962, however, the â€œexchange rayâ€ has been superseded by a more technologically advanced device. â€œWelcome to Kandor!â€ greets the Kandorian scientist [[Lon-Es]] enthusiastically after he has used the new invention to reduce [[Supergirl]] to microscopic size and transport her to his laboratory inside the bottle. â€œYou have been reduced in size and transported here by a new ray weâ€™ve developed which is better than the exchange-ray! Our teleport ray transports one person at a time. . . and it isnâ€™t necessary to exchange a Kandorian for an Earth person during the transference, as before!â€ (S No.154/2: â€œKryptonâ€™s First Superman!â€).

To enter Kandor in January 1963, Superman and Jimmy Olsen reduce themselves to microscopic size by means of the raygunlike â€œshrinking rayâ€ once confiscated from Brainiac. The effects of the ray are apparently gradual, allowing the Man of Steel and his pal to clamber up the side of the bottle after they have been reduced to a few inches in height and uncork the metal stopper while they are still â€œlarge enough to handle it!â€ Moments later, after the metal stopper has been removed and Brainiacâ€™s ray has reduced them to microbe size, Superman and Jimmy parachute down into the city. Sometime later, after departing Kandor, the Man of Steel and his companion use the apparatus invented by Zak-Kul, here referred to as an â€œenlargerâ€ or â€œenlarging rayâ€â€”to restore themselves to normal human size. â€œThis enlarger, once made by a Kandorian criminal, is powered by the element illium 349,â€ remarks Superman, â€œ. ... and I have a tiny few grains of illium in the pouch of my cape just for emergencies like this!â€ (S No. 158: â€œSuperman in Kandorâ€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!â€; â€œThe Dynamic Duo of Kandor!â€; â€œThe City of Super-People!â€). The enlarging ray used here is probably the same as the raygunlike â€œenlarging forceâ€ with which Superman restores himself, Lex Luthor, and Brainiac to normal human size when the three of them have emerged from Kandor after being embroiled in an adventure there in February 1964. â€œThis force enlarges us to normal size,â€ remarks Superman, â€œbut there isnâ€™t enough of the element that powers it to enlarge the people of Kandor you shrunk, Brainiac!â€ (S No. 167:
â€œThe Team of Luthor and Brainiac!â€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€The Deadly Duo!â€; â€œThe Downfall of Superman!â€; â€œThe Hour of Kandorâ€™s Vengeance!â€).

For yet another visit to Kandor, in March 1964, Superman reduces himself to microscopic size by means of an ingenious â€œshrinking ray,â€ apparently the one confiscated from Brainiac, and then parachutes, down into the city (Act No. 310: â€œSecret of Kryptonite Six!â€).

Inside Kandor, where â€œKryptonâ€™s gravity-conditions are duplicated,â€ Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and reenters the earthly environment (Act No. 242, Jul 1958: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€; and others). â€œWhere Kryptonâ€™s non-earthly gravity conditions are in force,â€ muses Superman in October 1958, â€œI have no super-powers! I... Iâ€™m just an ordinary man!â€ (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€; and others). Indeed, even [[Kryptonite]] has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there (Act No. 305, Oct 1963: â€œWhy Superman Needs a Secret Identity!â€).

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Supermanâ€™s, along with vulnerability to the various forms of kryptonite (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€; and many others). For an ordinary earthling, however, a visit to Kandor can be a trying experience, for the heavy artificial gravity, designed to duplicate the atmospheric conditions that prevailed on Krypton, make it necessary to wear special â€œanti-gravity shoesâ€ merely to walk in the alien environment (S No. 158, Jan 1963: â€œSuperman in Kandorâ€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!â€; â€œThe Dynamic Duo of Kandor!â€; â€œThe City of Super-People!â€).

Inside Kandor, where "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated," Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains use of his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and re-enters the earthly environment. Kryptonite has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there.

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Superman's, along with vulnerability to the various forms of [[kryptonite]].

In the course of an Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the "fanatic scientist" [[Than-Ol]], Superman and [[Jimmy Olsen]] decide to emulate their friends Batman and Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pair of Kandorian birds - a "nightwing" and a "flamebird" - owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of [[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]] and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a "secret under-ground lab" - with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside - to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With Nor-Kan's blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the "[[Nightcave]]" and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting Nor-Kan's automobile into a swift, specially equipped "nightmobile."

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird - the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor - have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city. (TGSB)

Kandor is the home of the Supermen Emergency Squad, the [[Look-Alike Squad]] and crime fighting defenders, Nightwing and Flamebird.

Supergirl's parents, [[Zor-El]] and [[Alura]], after being rescued from the [[Survival Zone]], reside in Kandor.

Eventually, the residents of Kandor are finally freed of the bottle city and settle on the distant planet [[Rokyn]] (S No. 338, Aug 1979: "Let My People Grow!").

Some time later, a replica of the bottle city in Superman's Fortress becomes home to the tiny yellow-skinned aliens known as the [[Sh'strians]] (S No. 370, Apr 1982: "Better Vengeance Through Chemo-stry"; S No. 371/1, May 1982: "Kandor Lives Again").

Later still, apparently unaware of this replica, [[Wonder Woman]] gives Superman a replica Kandor crafted by the [[Amazons|Amazon]] artisans of [[Paradise Island]] (SA No. 11, 1985: "For the Man Who Has Everything").

('''See also''' [[Kryptonopolis]])

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor Wikipedia Entry on Kandor]

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Kandor

2008-11-15T23:14:47Z

Super Monkey: added lots more info

[[Image:Bottle.GIF|right]]

'''Kandor'''

The capital city of the planet [[Krypton]], which survived the destruction of its native planet as the result of having been stolen sometime prior to the cataclysm by the space villain [[Brainiac]], who reduced the city to microscopic size and preserved it, people alive and buildings intact, inside a glass bottle aboard his spacecraft, where it remained for many years until it was finally recovered by [[Superman]] in July 1958 and placed for safekeeping inside his [[Fortress of Solitude]] (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others).

Inside the bottle city, life goes on much as it did prior to the destruction of Krypton (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), yet although restoration to their normal size remains the heartfelt wish of all Kandorians, Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely. He has, however, on occasion managed to reduce himself in size temporarily for the purpose of visiting the bottle city and undertaking adventures there (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others).

Nestled securely on a niche inside the Fortress of Solitude (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), the bottle city of Kandor is "the most amazing exhibit in [Superman's] Fortress" (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion") and "the prize of [his] collection" of curiosities and artifacts from throughout the universe (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!").

Although it is referred to as Krypton City in World's Finest Comics No. 100 (Mar 1959: "The Dictator of Krypton City!") and as Kandor City in Action Comics No. 261/1 (Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), it is referred to as Kandor in every other text that mentions it by name (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and many others) and remains "the only surviving city" of the lost planet Krypton (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). Its population as of July 1958 was approximately 1,000,000 (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

According to Superman No. 158, the peaceful city of Kandor, capital of Krypton, was "a place of beauty and happiness" until the dark day when Brainiac, "the evilest villain of space," appeared over the city in his saucerlike spacecraft, reduced it to "microscopic size" with his diabolical "hyper-force ray," and then soared away again into outer space with the captive city of Kandor imprisoned aboard his craft inside a large glass bottle (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

Although the texts seem agreed, however, that the theft of Kandor occurred "years before" Krypton exploded (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"), it is not possible to pinpoint the date of the theft with any real accuracy, though it appears to have occurred either shortly before (S No. 170/2, Jul 1964: pts. I-II—"If Lex Luthor Were Superman's Father!"; "The Wedding of Lara and Luthor!") or after (S No. 141, Nov 1960: "Superman's Return to Krypton!" pts. I-III—"Superman Meets Jor-El and Lara Again!"; "Superman's Kryptonian Romance!"; "The Surprise of Fate!") the wedding of [[Jor-El]] and [[Lara]]. To this day, despite the fact that, by stealing their city, Brainiac inadvertently rescued the people of Kandor from the cataclysmic doom that befell the rest of their planet, the Kandorians still regard him as "the foulest villain in the universe" for having wrenched their city from its native planet and for having doomed them, perhaps forever, to lilliputian size (S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!").

Indeed, although it is the goal of all Kandorians to see their city enlarged to normal size so that they can live out their lives outside the bottle, either on Earth or on some distant planet (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), the prospects for the successful enlargement of Kandor remain, at best, uncertain. Action Comics No. 245, for example, observes that "Some day '''Superman''' hopes to find a way to enlarge [the Kandorians] to normal size" (Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"), and indeed, this sentiment is echoed in a number of other texts (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others). In Action Comics No. 253/1, however, Superman concedes that "I know of no way the restore [the Kandorians] to their normal size" (Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"), and in Action Comics No. 243 goes one step further remarking that Kandor "can never be restored to normal size!" (Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"). By and large, however, the long term outlook seems optimistic. Although Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others), there are substantial indications that an enlarging device powerful enough to restore Kandor to normal size could be constructed if only the rare element or elements needed to power such a device could be accumulated in sufficient quantity (Act No. 280/1, Sep 1961: "Brainiac's Super-Revenge!"; ''see also'' S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!"; and others). Indeed, one text flatly states that Kandor will one day be enlarged to normal size, but only in the distant future (Act No. 300/1, May 1963: "Superman Under the Red Sun!").

The texts are also somewhat vague concerning the exact size to which Brainiac shrank the Kandorians and their city. Numerous texts describe him as having reduced the city to "microscopic size" (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"; and others), yet the city's larger buildings are plainly visible to the naked eye through the thick glass of the bottle, and one text asserts that it is possible to observe Kandorian life through the lens of an ordinary magnifying glass (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!").

Similarly, the people of Kandor are frequently referred to as "tiny" (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), but it is far more likely that, although the city's larger edifices may be visible to the naked eye, the Kandorians themselves are no larger than microbes (S No. 179/2, Aug 1965: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

The picturesque city of Kandor sits inside a large "bell-jar" in Superman's Fortress of Solitude (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). According to Superman No. 134, "...Brainiac made the walls [of the bell jar] of super-hard, unbreakable glass." (Jan 1960: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), but the accuracy of this statement is called into question by an event that occurs in October 1958, when [[Lois Lane]] inadvertently bumps into the bottle, knocking it to the floor and causing a hairline crack in the glass (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!").

The bottle containing the city is sealed by a large "cork" (S No. 156, Oct 1962: "The Last Days of Superman!" pts. I-III—"Superman's Death Sentence!"; The Super-Comrades of All Time!"; "Superman's Last Day of Life!"; and others), more accurately described as a "super-hard metal stopper" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). By August 1965 a doorway has been installed in the stopper to facilitate "easier exit from the giant bottle" for members of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] and other Kandorians (S No. 179/2: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

Safeguarding the city of Kandor and its lilliputian population is one of Superman's gravest responsibilities. "I have to check that city-in-the-bottle regularly," muses the [[Man of Steel]] in January 1960, "to see that the tiny people inside it are safe!" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")

Watching over the city consists mainly of conducting periodic checks of the air hoses and related apparatus which provide the Kandorians with a steady supply of air. "Air has to be pumped in," observes Lois Lane in October 1958, "for the tiny people are still alive and going about their daily business!" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!").

Inside the bottle city, "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated" to allow the Kandorians to live normal lives in the environment characteristic of their native planet (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). Therefore, in Superman's words, "The Kandorians must be constantly supplied with air that is of the same composition as the air on their native '''Krypton'''--so I always check to make certain the air mixture is right..." (Act No. 282, Nov 1961: "Superman's Toughest Day!").

Indeed, life in the bottle city goes on today much as it did before Brainiac stole it, with the Kandorians "going about their daily business" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!") almost as though their native planet had never exploded. Kryptonese, the language of Krypton, is still spoken (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" Pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), and Kandorian scientific progress has continued apace despite the limitations imposed by the artificial glass-walled environment. Small rocket ships (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others) and individual "jet-powered flying belts" (S No. 172, Oct 1964: pts I-III—"The New Superman!"; "Clark Kent—Former Superman!"; "The Struggle of the Two Supermen!"; and others) fly busy Kandorians about their city, and "tireless robot farmhands raise [their] crops for food" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

"Sealed in a dark, cold bottle," the Kandorians "created [their] own artificial sun...a flaming fireball crossing over the city regularly on its tracks!" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"). According to Superman No. 158, however, it is an array of ingenious devices called "sun-lamps" that provide Kandor with its warmth and sunlight, the lamps being dimmed each evening to provide the Kandorians with a nightly "sleep period" (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

In laboratories and public squares throughout the city, sophisticated "ultra scanning screens" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")—referred to also as "Earth viewers" (S No. 144/3, Apr 1961: "The Orphans of Space!"; and others) or "Earth monitor screens" (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!")—enable Kandorian observers to "pick up any scene on Earth" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), and thereby monitor Superman's actions constantly, both visually and aurally, no matter where on Earth he may be (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others), so that, in the event of an emergency, they can contact the Man of Steel via "super-sonic signal" (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!") or dispatch the Supermen Emergency Squad to his rescue. Indeed, a number of Superman's enemies, aware that his activities are continually monitored by Kandorian observers, have taken the precaution of deliberately jamming the Kandorian monitors to prevent him from being aided by his Kandorian allies (Act No. 295/1, Dec 1962: "Superman Goes Wild!"; and others).

Other achievements of Kandorian science include devices called "mental suggestion helmets," which enable psychiatrists to control and direct the fantasies of their patients and are used in treating the mentally ill (S No. 173/1, Nov 1964: "The 'Untouchable' Clark Kent!"); an ingenious apparatus known as the "psycho-locator," which, through the electronic analysis and long-distance sensing of brain-wave patterns, is capable of locating any selected individual—such as a fugitive criminal—"anywhere in space and time" (S No. 168, Apr 1964: pts. I-II—"Luthor--Super-Hero!"; "Lex Luthor, Daily Planet Editor!"); and a miraculous healing ray invented by the Kandorian scientist [[Reg-En]], which is used to heal Superman's hand in February 1962 after he is badly bitten during a battle with a Kryptonian "[[Flame Dragon|flame dragon]]" (S No. 151/3: "Superman's Greatest Secret!").

Kandor is governed by the [[Kandorian Council]], a body of distinguished citizens apparently modeled after the form of planetary government that prevailed on Krypton prior to the cataclysm.

The city proper is dominated by such institutions as the [[Museum of Kryptonian History]], a well-stocked library, the [[Kandor City Zoo]], and the majestic Hall of Justice, where, once each year, the [[Phantom Zone Parole Board]] meets to consider the pleas of [[Phantom Zone]] prisoners seeking parole. Those prisoners deemed worthy of parole are released from the Phantom Zone to begin new lives as Kandorian citizens.
[[Image:Kandorhallofjustice.jpg|left]]
Outside the city is a neatly landscaped suburban region characterized by elegant mansions and fine houses, and beyond the suburbs are "strange forests" filled with Kryptonian wildlife and "weird vegetation."

In February, the people of Kandor celebrate [[Krypton Day]], a holiday whose precise significance is never stated in the chronicles. Once each year, in either December or January, they bow their heads in silence in solemn commemoration of "the anniversary of the destruction of Krypton." In April, the Kandorians hold ceremonies marking the Day of Truth, a holiday once celebrated by all Kryptonians, in which they honor the memory of [[Val-Lor]], a valiant Kryptonian who, by courageously speaking out against the "ruthless swarm of alien invaders" who had invaded Krypton and enslaved its people, inspired his fellow Kryptonians to revolt against their alien oppressors and drive the aliens from their planet.

Kandor's "greatest hero" is Superman and there are several statues of him in and about the city. Outside the bottle city, Superman's dual identity is a closely guarded secret, but inside Kandor the fact that [[Clark Kent]] is Superman is "known to all Kandorians."

Just as the Kandorians keep a watchful eye on Superman by means of their sophisticated Earth monitors, the Man of Steel keeps in close communication with his friends in Kandor. In Superman's Fortress of Solitude, a red light on an intricate "monitoring maching" lights up in the event of a "Kandor emergency," and a special "Kandor-scope" monitor screen, sometimes used in conjunction with an operator's headphone and mouthpiece, enables him to carry on simultaneous visual and aural communication with his Kandorian allies.

In order to enter Kandor, either to visit his friends or to undertake adventures there, Superman must first reduce himself to microscopic size. He originally accomplished this through various means, but eventually settled on the "shrinking ray" confiscated from Brainiac. Later these same forces, activated, in reverse, by means of a console aboard Brainiacâ€™s spacecraft, are used to restore Superman to his normal human size (Act No. 242: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€).

By October 1958, the renegade Kandorian scientist [[Zak-Kul]] has successfully â€œisolated the rare element, [[Illium 349]], whose rays can change the size of the body,â€ and used it to create an ingenious reducing and enlarging ray which can be used to either shrink or enlarge a person to any chosen size. Superman ultimately defeats the villain and confiscates his sophisticated size-changing apparatus (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€).

By March 1959, the renegade scientist [[Lex Luthor]] has devised a set of ingenious belts capable of either reducing or enlarging people or objects. Superman, [[Batman]], and [[Robin]] ultimately apprehend Luthor and his henchmen and confiscate their size-changing belts (WF No. 100: â€œThe Dictator of Krypton City!â€).

By June 1959, the Kandorian â€œcriminal scientistâ€ [[El Gar-Kur]] has perfected an elaborate body-switching apparatus that enables him to trade places with anyone who happens to be standing outside the bottle, so that the target individual finds himself suddenly reduced in size and trapped inside Kandor, while El Gar Kur is, in the exact same instant, transported outside the bottle city and enlarged to normal human size. Superman defeats El Gar Kur with the aid of [[Jimmy Olsen]], and the villainâ€™s body-switching apparatus is apparently confiscated by the Kandorian authorities (Act No. 253: â€œThe War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!â€).

By January 1960, the Kandorian scientist [[Kull-Ex]] has devised an ingenious â€œexchange rayâ€ designed to enable him to escape the bottle city while trapping Superman inside Kandor. By beaming â€œa flash of super-energyâ€ at Superman as he stands in his Fortress of Solitude close by the bottle, Kull-Ex is able to reduce the [[Man of Steel]] instantaneously to microscopic size and transport him to his laboratory inside Kandor while simultaneously transporting himself outside the bottle and enlarging himself to normal human size. Moreover, because only human bodiesâ€”and not clothingâ€”are affected by the exchange ray, Superman finds himself stranded in Kandor clad in Kull-Exâ€™s clothing, while Kull-Ex finds himself standing in Supermanâ€™s Fortress clad in Supermanâ€™s costume Superman ultimately escapes from Kandor and resolves his differences with Kull-Ex, but because â€œ[[Zenium]],â€ the extraterrestrial element that powers the exchange ray, is exceedingly rare, it is questionable whether the apparatus can ever be used again (S No. 134: â€The Super- Menace of Metropolis!â€; â€œThe Revenge Against Jor. El!â€; â€œThe Duel of the Supermen!â€).

In February 1962, in an apparent reference either to El Gar Kurâ€™s invention or Kull-Exâ€™s, Superman muses that â€œI can only enter Kandor by having my exchange ray cause me to switch places with a similar-sized Kandorian person or creature.â€ Indeed, when Superman visits Kandor during this period, he arranges to exchange himself for his Kandorian friend [[Nim-Zee]], and then to reverse the exchange once his business in Kandor has been successfully concluded (S No. 151/3: â€œSupermanâ€™s Greatest Secret!â€).

By July 1962, however, the â€œexchange rayâ€ has been superseded by a more technologically advanced device. â€œWelcome to Kandor!â€ greets the Kandorian scientist [[Lon-Es]] enthusiastically after he has used the new invention to reduce [[Supergirl]] to microscopic size and transport her to his laboratory inside the bottle. â€œYou have been reduced in size and transported here by a new ray weâ€™ve developed which is better than the exchange-ray! Our teleport ray transports one person at a time. . . and it isnâ€™t necessary to exchange a Kandorian for an Earth person during the transference, as before!â€ (S No.154/2: â€œKryptonâ€™s First Superman!â€).

To enter Kandor in January 1963, Superman and Jimmy Olsen reduce themselves to microscopic size by means of the raygunlike â€œshrinking rayâ€ once confiscated from Brainiac. The effects of the ray are apparently gradual, allowing the Man of Steel and his pal to clamber up the side of the bottle after they have been reduced to a few inches in height and uncork the metal stopper while they are still â€œlarge enough to handle it!â€ Moments later, after the metal stopper has been removed and Brainiacâ€™s ray has reduced them to microbe size, Superman and Jimmy parachute down into the city. Sometime later, after departing Kandor, the Man of Steel and his companion use the apparatus invented by Zak-Kul, here referred to as an â€œenlargerâ€ or â€œenlarging rayâ€â€”to restore themselves to normal human size. â€œThis enlarger, once made by a Kandorian criminal, is powered by the element illium 349,â€ remarks Superman, â€œ. ... and I have a tiny few grains of illium in the pouch of my cape just for emergencies like this!â€ (S No. 158: â€œSuperman in Kandorâ€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!â€; â€œThe Dynamic Duo of Kandor!â€; â€œThe City of Super-People!â€). The enlarging ray used here is probably the same as the raygunlike â€œenlarging forceâ€ with which Superman restores himself, Lex Luthor, and Brainiac to normal human size when the three of them have emerged from Kandor after being embroiled in an adventure there in February 1964. â€œThis force enlarges us to normal size,â€ remarks Superman, â€œbut there isnâ€™t enough of the element that powers it to enlarge the people of Kandor you shrunk, Brainiac!â€ (S No. 167:
â€œThe Team of Luthor and Brainiac!â€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€The Deadly Duo!â€; â€œThe Downfall of Superman!â€; â€œThe Hour of Kandorâ€™s Vengeance!â€).

For yet another visit to Kandor, in March 1964, Superman reduces himself to microscopic size by means of an ingenious â€œshrinking ray,â€ apparently the one confiscated from Brainiac, and then parachutes, down into the city (Act No. 310: â€œSecret of Kryptonite Six!â€).

Inside Kandor, where â€œKryptonâ€™s gravity-conditions are duplicated,â€ Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and reenters the earthly environment (Act No. 242, Jul 1958: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€; and others). â€œWhere Kryptonâ€™s non-earthly gravity conditions are in force,â€ muses Superman in October 1958, â€œI have no super-powers! I... Iâ€™m just an ordinary man!â€ (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€; and others). Indeed, even [[Kryptonite]] has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there (Act No. 305, Oct 1963: â€œWhy Superman Needs a Secret Identity!â€).

Inside Kandor, where "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated," Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains use of his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and re-enters the earthly environment. Kryptonite has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there.

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Superman's, along with vulnerability to the various forms of [[kryptonite]].

In the course of an Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the "fanatic scientist" [[Than-Ol]], Superman and [[Jimmy Olsen]] decide to emulate their friends Batman and Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pair of Kandorian birds - a "nightwing" and a "flamebird" - owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of [[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]] and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a "secret under-ground lab" - with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside - to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With Nor-Kan's blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the "[[Nightcave]]" and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting Nor-Kan's automobile into a swift, specially equipped "nightmobile."

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird - the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor - have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city. (TGSB)

Kandor is the home of the Supermen Emergency Squad, the [[Look-Alike Squad]] and crime fighting defenders, Nightwing and Flamebird.

Supergirl's parents, [[Zor-El]] and [[Alura]], after being rescued from the [[Survival Zone]], reside in Kandor.

Eventually, the residents of Kandor are finally freed of the bottle city and settle on the distant planet [[Rokyn]] (S No. 338, Aug 1979: "Let My People Grow!").

Some time later, a replica of the bottle city in Superman's Fortress becomes home to the tiny yellow-skinned aliens known as the [[Sh'strians]] (S No. 370, Apr 1982: "Better Vengeance Through Chemo-stry"; S No. 371/1, May 1982: "Kandor Lives Again").

Later still, apparently unaware of this replica, [[Wonder Woman]] gives Superman a replica Kandor crafted by the [[Amazons|Amazon]] artisans of [[Paradise Island]] (SA No. 11, 1985: "For the Man Who Has Everything").

('''See also''' [[Kryptonopolis]])

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor Wikipedia Entry on Kandor]

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Kandor

2008-11-15T15:10:54Z

Super Monkey:

[[Image:Bottle.GIF|right]]

'''Kandor'''

The capital city of the planet [[Krypton]], which survived the destruction of its native planet as the result of having been stolen sometime prior to the cataclysm by the space villain [[Brainiac]], who reduced the city to microscopic size and preserved it, people alive and buildings intact, inside a glass bottle aboard his spacecraft, where it remained for many years until it was finally recovered by [[Superman]] in July 1958 and placed for safekeeping inside his [[Fortress of Solitude]] (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others).

Inside the bottle city, life goes on much as it did prior to the destruction of Krypton (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), yet although restoration to their normal size remains the heartfelt wish of all Kandorians, Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely. He has, however, on occasion managed to reduce himself in size temporarily for the purpose of visiting the bottle city and undertaking adventures there (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others).

Nestled securely on a niche inside the Fortress of Solitude (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), the bottle city of Kandor is "the most amazing exhibit in [Superman's] Fortress" (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion") and "the prize of [his] collection" of curiosities and artifacts from throughout the universe (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!").

Although it is referred to as Krypton City in World's Finest Comics No. 100 (Mar 1959: "The Dictator of Krypton City!") and as Kandor City in Action Comics No. 261/1 (Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), it is referred to as Kandor in every other text that mentions it by name (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and many others) and remains "the only surviving city" of the lost planet Krypton (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). Its population as of July 1958 was approximately 1,000,000 (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

According to Superman No. 158, the peaceful city of Kandor, capital of Krypton, was "a place of beauty and happiness" until the dark day when Brainiac, "the evilest villain of space," appeared over the city in his saucerlike spacecraft, reduced it to "microscopic size" with his diabolical "hyper-force ray," and then soared away again into outer space with the captive city of Kandor imprisoned aboard his craft inside a large glass bottle (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

Although the texts seem agreed, however, that the theft of Kandor occurred "years before" Krypton exploded (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"), it is not possible to pinpoint the date of the theft with any real accuracy, though it appears to have occurred either shortly before (S No. 170/2, Jul 1964: pts. I-II—"If Lex Luthor Were Superman's Father!"; "The Wedding of Lara and Luthor!") or after (S No. 141, Nov 1960: "Superman's Return to Krypton!" pts. I-III—"Superman Meets Jor-El and Lara Again!"; "Superman's Kryptonian Romance!"; "The Surprise of Fate!") the wedding of [[Jor-El]] and [[Lara]]. To this day, despite the fact that, by stealing their city, Brainiac inadvertently rescued the people of Kandor from the cataclysmic doom that befell the rest of their planet, the Kandorians still regard him as "the foulest villain in the universe" for having wrenched their city from its native planet and for having doomed them, perhaps forever, to lilliputian size (S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!").

Indeed, although it is the goal of all Kandorians to see their city enlarged to normal size so that they can live out their lives outside the bottle, either on Earth or on some distant planet (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), the prospects for the successful enlargement of Kandor remain, at best, uncertain. Action Comics No. 245, for example, observes that "Some day '''Superman''' hopes to find a way to enlarge [the Kandorians] to normal size" (Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"), and indeed, this sentiment is echoed in a number of other texts (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others). In Action Comics No. 253/1, however, Superman concedes that "I know of no way the restore [the Kandorians] to their normal size" (Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"), and in Action Comics No. 243 goes one step further remarking that Kandor "can never be restored to normal size!" (Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"). By and large, however, the long term outlook seems optimistic. Although Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others), there are substantial indications that an enlarging device powerful enough to restore Kandor to normal size could be constructed if only the rare element or elements needed to power such a device could be accumulated in sufficient quantity (Act No. 280/1, Sep 1961: "Brainiac's Super-Revenge!"; ''see also'' S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!"; and others). Indeed, one text flatly states that Kandor will one day be enlarged to normal size, but only in the distant future (Act No. 300/1, May 1963: "Superman Under the Red Sun!").

The texts are also somewhat vague concerning the exact size to which Brainiac shrank the Kandorians and their city. Numerous texts describe him as having reduced the city to "microscopic size" (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"; and others), yet the city's larger buildings are plainly visible to the naked eye through the thick glass of the bottle, and one text asserts that it is possible to observe Kandorian life through the lens of an ordinary magnifying glass (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!").

Similarly, the people of Kandor are frequently referred to as "tiny" (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), but it is far more likely that, although the city's larger edifices may be visible to the naked eye, the Kandorians themselves are no larger than microbes (S No. 179/2, Aug 1965: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

The picturesque city of Kandor sits inside a large "bell-jar" in Superman's Fortress of Solitude (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). According to Superman No. 134, "...Brainiac made the walls [of the bell jar] of super-hard, unbreakable glass." (Jan 1960: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), but the accuracy of this statement is called into question by an event that occurs in October 1958, when [[Lois Lane]] inadvertently bumps into the bottle, knocking it to the floor and causing a hairline crack in the glass (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!").

The bottle containing the city is sealed by a large "cork" (S No. 156, Oct 1962: "The Last Days of Superman!" pts. I-III—"Superman's Death Sentence!"; The Super-Comrades of All Time!"; "Superman's Last Day of Life!"; and others), more accurately described as a "super-hard metal stopper" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). By August 1965 a doorway has been installed in the stopper to facilitate "easier exit from the giant bottle" for members of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] and other Kandorians (S No. 179/2: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

Safeguarding the city of Kandor and its lilliputian population is one of Superman's gravest responsibilities. "I have to check that city-in-the-bottle regularly," muses the [[Man of Steel]] in January 1960, "to see that the tiny people inside it are safe!" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")

Watching over the city consists mainly of conducting periodic checks of the air hoses and related apparatus which provide the Kandorians with a steady supply of air. "Air has to be pumped in," observes Lois Lane in October 1958, "for the tiny people are still alive and going about their daily business!" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!").

Inside the bottle city, "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated" to allow the Kandorians to live normal lives in the environment characteristic of their native planet (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). Therefore, in Superman's words, "The Kandorians must be constantly supplied with air that is of the same composition as the air on their native '''Krypton'''--so I always check to make certain the air mixture is right..." (Act No. 282, Nov 1961: "Superman's Toughest Day!").

Indeed, life in the bottle city goes on today much as it did before Brainiac stole it, with the Kandorians "going about their daily business" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!") almost as though their native planet had never exploded. Kryptonese, the language of Krypton, is still spoken (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" Pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), and Kandorian scientific progress has continued apace despite the limitations imposed by the artificial glass-walled environment. Small rocket ships (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others) and individual "jet-powered flying belts" (S No. 172, Oct 1964: pts I-III—"The New Superman!"; "Clark Kent—Former Superman!"; "The Struggle of the Two Supermen!"; and others) fly busy Kandorians about their city, and "tireless robot farmhands raise [their] crops for food" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

"Sealed in a dark, cold bottle," the Kandorians "created [their] own artificial sun...a flaming fireball crossing over the city regularly on its tracks!" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"). According to Superman No. 158, however, it is an array of ingenious devices called "sun-lamps" that provide Kandor with its warmth and sunlight, the lamps being dimmed each evening to provide the Kandorians with a nightly "sleep period" (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

In laboratories and public squares throughout the city, sophisticated "ultra scanning screens" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")—referred to also as "Earth viewers" (S No. 144/3, Apr 1961: "The Orphans of Space!"; and others) or "Earth monitor screens" (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!")—enable Kandorian observers to "pick up any scene on Earth" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), and thereby monitor Superman's actions constantly, both visually and aurally, no matter where on Earth he may be (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others), so that, in the event of an emergency, they can contact the Man of Steel via "super-sonic signal" (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!") or dispatch the Supermen Emergency Squad to his rescue. Indeed, a number of Superman's enemies, aware that his activities are continually monitored by Kandorian observers, have taken the precaution of deliberately jamming the Kandorian monitors to prevent him from being aided by his Kandorian allies (Act No. 295/1, Dec 1962: "Superman Goes Wild!"; and others).

Other achievements of Kandorian science include devices called "mental suggestion helmets," which enable psychiatrists to control and direct the fantasies of their patients and are used in treating the mentally ill (S No. 173/1, Nov 1964: "The 'Untouchable' Clark Kent!"); an ingenious apparatus known as the "psycho-locator," which, through the electronic analysis and long-distance sensing of brain-wave patterns, is capable of locating any selected individual—such as a fugitive criminal—"anywhere in space and time" (S No. 168, Apr 1964: pts. I-II—"Luthor--Super-Hero!"; "Lex Luthor, Daily Planet Editor!"); and a miraculous healing ray invented by the Kandorian scientist [[Reg-En]], which is used to heal Superman's hand in February 1962 after he is badly bitten during a battle with a Kryptonian "[[Flame Dragon|flame dragon]]" (S No. 151/3: "Superman's Greatest Secret!").

Kandor is governed by the [[Kandorian Council]], a body of distinguished citizens apparently modeled after the form of planetary government that prevailed on Krypton prior to the cataclysm.

The city proper is dominated by such institutions as the [[Museum of Kryptonian History]], a well-stocked library, the [[Kandor City Zoo]], and the majestic Hall of Justice, where, once each year, the [[Phantom Zone Parole Board]] meets to consider the pleas of [[Phantom Zone]] prisoners seeking parole. Those prisoners deemed worthy of parole are released from the Phantom Zone to begin new lives as Kandorian citizens.
[[Image:Kandorhallofjustice.jpg|left]]
Outside the city is a neatly landscaped suburban region characterized by elegant mansions and fine houses, and beyond the suburbs are "strange forests" filled with Kryptonian wildlife and "weird vegetation."

In February, the people of Kandor celebrate [[Krypton Day]], a holiday whose precise significance is never stated in the chronicles. Once each year, in either December or January, they bow their heads in silence in solemn commemoration of "the anniversary of the destruction of Krypton." In April, the Kandorians hold ceremonies marking the Day of Truth, a holiday once celebrated by all Kryptonians, in which they honor the memory of [[Val-Lor]], a valiant Kryptonian who, by courageously speaking out against the "ruthless swarm of alien invaders" who had invaded Krypton and enslaved its people, inspired his fellow Kryptonians to revolt against their alien oppressors and drive the aliens from their planet.

Kandor's "greatest hero" is Superman and there are several statues of him in and about the city. Outside the bottle city, Superman's dual identity is a closely guarded secret, but inside Kandor the fact that [[Clark Kent]] is Superman is "known to all Kandorians."

Just as the Kandorians keep a watchful eye on Superman by means of their sophisticated Earth monitors, the Man of Steel keeps in close communication with his friends in Kandor. In Superman's Fortress of Solitude, a red light on an intricate "monitoring maching" lights up in the event of a "Kandor emergency," and a special "Kandor-scope" monitor screen, sometimes used in conjunction with an operator's headphone and mouthpiece, enables him to carry on simultaneous visual and aural communication with his Kandorian allies.

In order to enter Kandor, either to visit his friends or to undertake adventures there, Superman must first reduce himself to microscopic size. He originally accomplished this through various means, but eventually settled on the "shrinking ray" confiscated from Brainiac. Later these same forces, activated, in reverse, by means of a console aboard Brainiacâ€™s spacecraft, are used to restore Superman to his normal human size (Act No. 242: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€).

By October 1958, the renegade Kandorian scientist [[Zak-Kul]] has successfully â€œisolated the rare element, [[Illium 349]], whose rays can change the size of the body,â€ and used it to create an ingenious reducing and enlarging ray which can be used to either shrink or enlarge a person to any chosen size. Superman ultimately defeats the villain and confiscates his sophisticated size-changing apparatus (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€).

By March 1959, the renegade scientist [[Lex Luthor]] has devised a set of ingenious belts capable of either reducing or enlarging people or objects. Superman, [[Batman]], and [[Robin]] ultimately apprehend Luthor and his henchmen and confiscate their size-changing belts (WF No. 100: â€œThe Dictator of Krypton City!â€).

By June 1959, the Kandorian â€œcriminal scientistâ€ [[El Gar-Kur]] has perfected an elaborate body-switching apparatus that enables him to trade places with anyone who happens to be standing outside the bottle, so that the target individual finds himself suddenly reduced in size and trapped inside Kandor, while El Gar Kur is, in the exact same instant, transported outside the bottle city and enlarged to normal human size. Superman defeats El Gar Kur with the aid of [[Jimmy Olsen]], and the villainâ€™s body-switching apparatus is apparently confiscated by the Kandorian authorities (Act No. 253: â€œThe War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!â€).

By January 1960, the Kandorian scientist [[Kull-Ex]] has devised an ingenious â€œexchange rayâ€ designed to enable him to escape the bottle city while trapping Superman inside Kandor. By beaming â€œa flash of super-energyâ€ at Superman as he stands in his Fortress of Solitude close by the bottle, Kull-Ex is able to reduce the [[Man of Steel]] instantaneously to microscopic size and transport him to his laboratory inside Kandor while simultaneously transporting himself outside the bottle and enlarging himself to normal human size. Moreover, because only human bodiesâ€”and not clothingâ€”are affected by the exchange ray, Superman finds himself stranded in Kandor clad in Kull-Exâ€™s clothing, while Kull-Ex finds himself standing in Supermanâ€™s Fortress clad in Supermanâ€™s costume Superman ultimately escapes from Kandor and resolves his differences with Kull-Ex, but because â€œ[[Zenium]],â€ the extraterrestrial element that powers the exchange ray, is exceedingly rare, it is questionable whether the apparatus can ever be used again (S No. 134: â€The Super- Menace of Metropolis!â€; â€œThe Revenge Against Jor. El!â€; â€œThe Duel of the Supermen!â€).

In February 1962, in an apparent reference either to El Gar Kurâ€™s invention or Kull-Exâ€™s, Superman muses that â€œI can only enter Kandor by having my exchange ray cause me to switch places with a similar-sized Kandorian person or creature.â€ Indeed, when Superman visits Kandor during this period, he arranges to exchange himself for his Kandorian friend [[Nim-Zee]], and then to reverse the exchange once his business in Kandor has been successfully concluded (S No. 151/3: â€œSupermanâ€™s Greatest Secret!â€).

By July 1962, however, the â€œexchange rayâ€ has been superseded by a more technologically advanced device. â€œWelcome to Kandor!â€ greets the Kandorian scientist [[Lon-Es]] enthusiastically after he has used the new invention to reduce [[Supergirl]] to microscopic size and transport her to his laboratory inside the bottle. â€œYou have been reduced in size and transported here by a new ray weâ€™ve developed which is better than the exchange-ray! Our teleport ray transports one person at a time. . . and it isnâ€™t necessary to exchange a Kandorian for an Earth person during the transference, as before!â€ (S No.154/2: â€œKryptonâ€™s First Superman!â€).

To enter Kandor in January 1963, Superman and Jimmy Olsen reduce themselves to microscopic size by means of the raygunlike â€œshrinking rayâ€ once confiscated from Brainiac. The effects of the ray are apparently gradual, allowing the Man of Steel and his pal to clamber up the side of the bottle after they have been reduced to a few inches in height and uncork the metal stopper while they are still â€œlarge enough to handle it!â€ Moments later, after the metal stopper has been removed and Brainiacâ€™s ray has reduced them to microbe size, Superman and Jimmy parachute down into the city. Sometime later, after departing Kandor, the Man of Steel and his companion use the apparatus invented by Zak-Kul, here referred to as an â€œenlargerâ€ or â€œenlarging rayâ€â€”to restore themselves to normal human size. â€œThis enlarger, once made by a Kandorian criminal, is powered by the element illium 349,â€ remarks Superman, â€œ. ... and I have a tiny few grains of illium in the pouch of my cape just for emergencies like this!â€ (S No. 158: â€œSuperman in Kandorâ€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!â€; â€œThe Dynamic Duo of Kandor!â€; â€œThe City of Super-People!â€). The enlarging ray used here is probably the same as the raygunlike â€œenlarging forceâ€ with which Superman restores himself, Lex Luthor, and Brainiac to normal human size when the three of them have emerged from Kandor after being embroiled in an adventure there in February 1964. â€œThis force enlarges us to normal size,â€ remarks Superman, â€œbut there isnâ€™t enough of the element that powers it to enlarge the people of Kandor you shrunk, Brainiac!â€ (S No. 167:
â€œThe Team of Luthor and Brainiac!â€ pts. I-IIIâ€”â€The Deadly Duo!â€; â€œThe Downfall of Superman!â€; â€œThe Hour of Kandorâ€™s Vengeance!â€).

Inside Kandor, where "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated," Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains use of his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and re-enters the earthly environment. Kryptonite has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there.

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Superman's, along with vulnerability to the various forms of [[kryptonite]].

In the course of an Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the "fanatic scientist" [[Than-Ol]], Superman and [[Jimmy Olsen]] decide to emulate their friends Batman and Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pair of Kandorian birds - a "nightwing" and a "flamebird" - owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of [[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]] and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a "secret under-ground lab" - with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside - to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With Nor-Kan's blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the "[[Nightcave]]" and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting Nor-Kan's automobile into a swift, specially equipped "nightmobile."

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird - the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor - have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city. (TGSB)

Kandor is the home of the Supermen Emergency Squad, the [[Look-Alike Squad]] and crime fighting defenders, Nightwing and Flamebird.

Supergirl's parents, [[Zor-El]] and [[Alura]], after being rescued from the [[Survival Zone]], reside in Kandor.

Eventually, the residents of Kandor are finally freed of the bottle city and settle on the distant planet [[Rokyn]] (S No. 338, Aug 1979: "Let My People Grow!").

Some time later, a replica of the bottle city in Superman's Fortress becomes home to the tiny yellow-skinned aliens known as the [[Sh'strians]] (S No. 370, Apr 1982: "Better Vengeance Through Chemo-stry"; S No. 371/1, May 1982: "Kandor Lives Again").

Later still, apparently unaware of this replica, [[Wonder Woman]] gives Superman a replica Kandor crafted by the [[Amazons|Amazon]] artisans of [[Paradise Island]] (SA No. 11, 1985: "For the Man Who Has Everything").

('''See also''' [[Kryptonopolis]])

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor Wikipedia Entry on Kandor]

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[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
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Kandor

2008-11-15T02:13:39Z

Super Monkey:

[[Image:Bottle.GIF|right]]

'''Kandor'''

The capital city of the planet [[Krypton]], which survived the destruction of its native planet as the result of having been stolen sometime prior to the cataclysm by the space villain [[Brainiac]], who reduced the city to microscopic size and preserved it, people alive and buildings intact, inside a glass bottle aboard his spacecraft, where it remained for many years until it was finally recovered by [[Superman]] in July 1958 and placed for safekeeping inside his [[Fortress of Solitude]] (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others).

Inside the bottle city, life goes on much as it did prior to the destruction of Krypton (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), yet although restoration to their normal size remains the heartfelt wish of all Kandorians, Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely. He has, however, on occasion managed to reduce himself in size temporarily for the purpose of visiting the bottle city and undertaking adventures there (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others).

Nestled securely on a niche inside the Fortress of Solitude (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), the bottle city of Kandor is "the most amazing exhibit in [Superman's] Fortress" (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion") and "the prize of [his] collection" of curiosities and artifacts from throughout the universe (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!").

Although it is referred to as Krypton City in World's Finest Comics No. 100 (Mar 1959: "The Dictator of Krypton City!") and as Kandor City in Action Comics No. 261/1 (Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), it is referred to as Kandor in every other text that mentions it by name (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and many others) and remains "the only surviving city" of the lost planet Krypton (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). Its population as of July 1958 was approximately 1,000,000 (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

According to Superman No. 158, the peaceful city of Kandor, capital of Krypton, was "a place of beauty and happiness" until the dark day when Brainiac, "the evilest villain of space," appeared over the city in his saucerlike spacecraft, reduced it to "microscopic size" with his diabolical "hyper-force ray," and then soared away again into outer space with the captive city of Kandor imprisoned aboard his craft inside a large glass bottle (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

Although the texts seem agreed, however, that the theft of Kandor occurred "years before" Krypton exploded (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"), it is not possible to pinpoint the date of the theft with any real accuracy, though it appears to have occurred either shortly before (S No. 170/2, Jul 1964: pts. I-II—"If Lex Luthor Were Superman's Father!"; "The Wedding of Lara and Luthor!") or after (S No. 141, Nov 1960: "Superman's Return to Krypton!" pts. I-III—"Superman Meets Jor-El and Lara Again!"; "Superman's Kryptonian Romance!"; "The Surprise of Fate!") the wedding of [[Jor-El]] and [[Lara]]. To this day, despite the fact that, by stealing their city, Brainiac inadvertently rescued the people of Kandor from the cataclysmic doom that befell the rest of their planet, the Kandorians still regard him as "the foulest villain in the universe" for having wrenched their city from its native planet and for having doomed them, perhaps forever, to lilliputian size (S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!").

Indeed, although it is the goal of all Kandorians to see their city enlarged to normal size so that they can live out their lives outside the bottle, either on Earth or on some distant planet (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), the prospects for the successful enlargement of Kandor remain, at best, uncertain. Action Comics No. 245, for example, observes that "Some day '''Superman''' hopes to find a way to enlarge [the Kandorians] to normal size" (Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"), and indeed, this sentiment is echoed in a number of other texts (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others). In Action Comics No. 253/1, however, Superman concedes that "I know of no way the restore [the Kandorians] to their normal size" (Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"), and in Action Comics No. 243 goes one step further remarking that Kandor "can never be restored to normal size!" (Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"). By and large, however, the long term outlook seems optimistic. Although Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others), there are substantial indications that an enlarging device powerful enough to restore Kandor to normal size could be constructed if only the rare element or elements needed to power such a device could be accumulated in sufficient quantity (Act No. 280/1, Sep 1961: "Brainiac's Super-Revenge!"; ''see also'' S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!"; and others). Indeed, one text flatly states that Kandor will one day be enlarged to normal size, but only in the distant future (Act No. 300/1, May 1963: "Superman Under the Red Sun!").

The texts are also somewhat vague concerning the exact size to which Brainiac shrank the Kandorians and their city. Numerous texts describe him as having reduced the city to "microscopic size" (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"; and others), yet the city's larger buildings are plainly visible to the naked eye through the thick glass of the bottle, and one text asserts that it is possible to observe Kandorian life through the lens of an ordinary magnifying glass (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!").

Similarly, the people of Kandor are frequently referred to as "tiny" (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), but it is far more likely that, although the city's larger edifices may be visible to the naked eye, the Kandorians themselves are no larger than microbes (S No. 179/2, Aug 1965: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

The picturesque city of Kandor sits inside a large "bell-jar" in Superman's Fortress of Solitude (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). According to Superman No. 134, "...Brainiac made the walls [of the bell jar] of super-hard, unbreakable glass." (Jan 1960: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), but the accuracy of this statement is called into question by an event that occurs in October 1958, when [[Lois Lane]] inadvertently bumps into the bottle, knocking it to the floor and causing a hairline crack in the glass (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!").

The bottle containing the city is sealed by a large "cork" (S No. 156, Oct 1962: "The Last Days of Superman!" pts. I-III—"Superman's Death Sentence!"; The Super-Comrades of All Time!"; "Superman's Last Day of Life!"; and others), more accurately described as a "super-hard metal stopper" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). By August 1965 a doorway has been installed in the stopper to facilitate "easier exit from the giant bottle" for members of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] and other Kandorians (S No. 179/2: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

Safeguarding the city of Kandor and its lilliputian population is one of Superman's gravest responsibilities. "I have to check that city-in-the-bottle regularly," muses the [[Man of Steel]] in January 1960, "to see that the tiny people inside it are safe!" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")

Watching over the city consists mainly of conducting periodic checks of the air hoses and related apparatus which provide the Kandorians with a steady supply of air. "Air has to be pumped in," observes Lois Lane in October 1958, "for the tiny people are still alive and going about their daily business!" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!").

Inside the bottle city, "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated" to allow the Kandorians to live normal lives in the environment characteristic of their native planet (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). Therefore, in Superman's words, "The Kandorians must be constantly supplied with air that is of the same composition as the air on their native '''Krypton'''--so I always check to make certain the air mixture is right..." (Act No. 282, Nov 1961: "Superman's Toughest Day!").

Indeed, life in the bottle city goes on today much as it did before Brainiac stole it, with the Kandorians "going about their daily business" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!") almost as though their native planet had never exploded. Kryptonese, the language of Krypton, is still spoken (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" Pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), and Kandorian scientific progress has continued apace despite the limitations imposed by the artificial glass-walled environment. Small rocket ships (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others) and individual "jet-powered flying belts" (S No. 172, Oct 1964: pts I-III—"The New Superman!"; "Clark Kent—Former Superman!"; "The Struggle of the Two Supermen!"; and others) fly busy Kandorians about their city, and "tireless robot farmhands raise [their] crops for food" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

"Sealed in a dark, cold bottle," the Kandorians "created [their] own artificial sun...a flaming fireball crossing over the city regularly on its tracks!" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"). According to Superman No. 158, however, it is an array of ingenious devices called "sun-lamps" that provide Kandor with its warmth and sunlight, the lamps being dimmed each evening to provide the Kandorians with a nightly "sleep period" (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

In laboratories and public squares throughout the city, sophisticated "ultra scanning screens" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")—referred to also as "Earth viewers" (S No. 144/3, Apr 1961: "The Orphans of Space!"; and others) or "Earth monitor screens" (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!")—enable Kandorian observers to "pick up any scene on Earth" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), and thereby monitor Superman's actions constantly, both visually and aurally, no matter where on Earth he may be (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others), so that, in the event of an emergency, they can contact the Man of Steel via "super-sonic signal" (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!") or dispatch the Supermen Emergency Squad to his rescue. Indeed, a number of Superman's enemies, aware that his activities are continually monitored by Kandorian observers, have taken the precaution of deliberately jamming the Kandorian monitors to prevent him from being aided by his Kandorian allies (Act No. 295/1, Dec 1962: "Superman Goes Wild!"; and others).

Other achievements of Kandorian science include devices called "mental suggestion helmets," which enable psychiatrists to control and direct the fantasies of their patients and are used in treating the mentally ill (S No. 173/1, Nov 1964: "The 'Untouchable' Clark Kent!"); an ingenious apparatus known as the "psycho-locator," which, through the electronic analysis and long-distance sensing of brain-wave patterns, is capable of locating any selected individual—such as a fugitive criminal—"anywhere in space and time" (S No. 168, Apr 1964: pts. I-II—"Luthor--Super-Hero!"; "Lex Luthor, Daily Planet Editor!"); and a miraculous healing ray invented by the Kandorian scientist [[Reg-En]], which is used to heal Superman's hand in February 1962 after he is badly bitten during a battle with a Kryptonian "[[Flame Dragon|flame dragon]]" (S No. 151/3: "Superman's Greatest Secret!").

Kandor is governed by the [[Kandorian Council]], a body of distinguished citizens apparently modeled after the form of planetary government that prevailed on Krypton prior to the cataclysm.

The city proper is dominated by such institutions as the [[Museum of Kryptonian History]], a well-stocked library, the [[Kandor City Zoo]], and the majestic Hall of Justice, where, once each year, the [[Phantom Zone Parole Board]] meets to consider the pleas of [[Phantom Zone]] prisoners seeking parole. Those prisoners deemed worthy of parole are released from the Phantom Zone to begin new lives as Kandorian citizens.
[[Image:Kandorhallofjustice.jpg|left]]
Outside the city is a neatly landscaped suburban region characterized by elegant mansions and fine houses, and beyond the suburbs are "strange forests" filled with Kryptonian wildlife and "weird vegetation."

In February, the people of Kandor celebrate [[Krypton Day]], a holiday whose precise significance is never stated in the chronicles. Once each year, in either December or January, they bow their heads in silence in solemn commemoration of "the anniversary of the destruction of Krypton." In April, the Kandorians hold ceremonies marking the Day of Truth, a holiday once celebrated by all Kryptonians, in which they honor the memory of [[Val-Lor]], a valiant Kryptonian who, by courageously speaking out against the "ruthless swarm of alien invaders" who had invaded Krypton and enslaved its people, inspired his fellow Kryptonians to revolt against their alien oppressors and drive the aliens from their planet.

Kandor's "greatest hero" is Superman and there are several statues of him in and about the city. Outside the bottle city, Superman's dual identity is a closely guarded secret, but inside Kandor the fact that [[Clark Kent]] is Superman is "known to all Kandorians."

Just as the Kandorians keep a watchful eye on Superman by means of their sophisticated Earth monitors, the Man of Steel keeps in close communication with his friends in Kandor. In Superman's Fortress of Solitude, a red light on an intricate "monitoring maching" lights up in the event of a "Kandor emergency," and a special "Kandor-scope" monitor screen, sometimes used in conjunction with an operator's headphone and mouthpiece, enables him to carry on simultaneous visual and aural communication with his Kandorian allies.

In order to enter Kandor, either to visit his friends or to undertake adventures there, Superman must first reduce himself to microscopic size. He originally accomplished this through various means, but eventually settled on the "shrinking ray" confiscated from Brainiac. Later these same forces, activated, in reverse, by means of a console aboard Brainiacâ€™s spacecraft, are used to restore Superman to his normal human size (Act No. 242: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€).

By October 1958, the renegade Kandorian scientist [[Zak-Kul]] has successfully â€œisolated the rare element, [[Illium 349]], whose rays can change the size of the body,â€ and used it to create an ingenious reducing and enlarging ray which can be used to either shrink or enlarge a person to any chosen size. Superman ultimately defeats the villain and confiscates his sophisticated size-changing apparatus (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€).

By March 1959, the renegade scientist [[Lex Luthor]] has devised a set of ingenious belts capable of either reducing or enlarging people or objects. Superman, [[Batman]], and [[Robin]] ultimately apprehend Luthor and his henchmen and confiscate their size-changing belts (WF No. 100: â€œThe Dictator of Krypton City!â€).

By June 1959, the Kandorian â€œcriminal scientistâ€ [[El Gar-Kur]] has perfected an elaborate body-switching apparatus that enables him to trade places with anyone who happens to be standing outside the bottle, so that the target individual finds himself suddenly reduced in size and trapped inside Kandor, while El Gar Kur is, in the exact same instant, transported outside the bottle city and enlarged to normal human size. Superman defeats El Gar Kur with the aid of [[Jimmy Olsen]], and the villainâ€™s body-switching apparatus is apparently confiscated by the Kandorian authorities (Act No. 253: â€œThe War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!â€).

By January 1960, the Kandorian scientist [[Kull-Ex]] has devised an ingenious â€œexchange rayâ€ designed to enable him to escape the bottle city while trapping Superman inside Kandor. By beaming â€œa flash of super-energyâ€ at Superman as he stands in his Fortress of Solitude close by the bottle, Kull-Ex is able to reduce the [[Man of Steel]] instantaneously to microscopic size and transport him to his laboratory inside Kandor while simultaneously transporting himself outside the bottle and enlarging himself to normal human size. Moreover, because only human bodiesâ€”and not clothingâ€”are affected by the exchange ray, Superman finds himself stranded in Kandor clad in Kull-Exâ€™s clothing, while Kull-Ex finds himself standing in Supermanâ€™s Fortress clad in Supermanâ€™s costume Superman ultimately escapes from Kandor and resolves his differences with Kull-Ex, but because â€œ[[Zenium]],â€ the extraterrestrial element that powers the exchange ray, is exceedingly rare, it is questionable whether the apparatus can ever be used again (S No. 134: â€The Super- Menace of Metropolis!â€; â€œThe Revenge Against Jor. El!â€; â€œThe Duel of the Supermen!â€).

In February 1962, in an apparent reference either to El Gar Kurâ€™s invention or Kull-Exâ€™s, Superman muses that â€œI can only enter Kandor by having my exchange ray cause me to switch places with a similar-sized Kandorian person or creature.â€ Indeed, when Superman visits Kandor during this period, he arranges to exchange himself for his Kandorian friend [[Nim-Zee]], and then to reverse the exchange once his business in Kandor has been successfully concluded (S No. 151/3: â€œSupermanâ€™s Greatest Secret!â€).

By July 1962, however, the â€œexchange rayâ€ has been superseded by a more technologically advanced device. â€œWelcome to Kandor!â€ greets the Kandorian scientist [[Lon-Es]] enthusiastically after he has used the new invention to reduce [[Supergirl]] to microscopic size and transport her to his laboratory inside the bottle. â€œYou have been reduced in size and transported here by a new ray weâ€™ve developed which is better than the exchange-ray! Our teleport ray transports one person at a time. . . and it isnâ€™t necessary to exchange a Kandorian for an Earth person during the transference, as before!â€ (S No.154/2: â€œKryptonâ€™s First Superman!â€).

Inside Kandor, where "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated," Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains use of his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and re-enters the earthly environment. Kryptonite has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there.

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Superman's, along with vulnerability to the various forms of [[kryptonite]].

In the course of an Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the "fanatic scientist" [[Than-Ol]], Superman and [[Jimmy Olsen]] decide to emulate their friends Batman and Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pair of Kandorian birds - a "nightwing" and a "flamebird" - owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of [[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]] and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a "secret under-ground lab" - with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside - to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With Nor-Kan's blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the "[[Nightcave]]" and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting Nor-Kan's automobile into a swift, specially equipped "nightmobile."

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird - the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor - have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city. (TGSB)

Kandor is the home of the Supermen Emergency Squad, the [[Look-Alike Squad]] and crime fighting defenders, Nightwing and Flamebird.

Supergirl's parents, [[Zor-El]] and [[Alura]], after being rescued from the [[Survival Zone]], reside in Kandor.

Eventually, the residents of Kandor are finally freed of the bottle city and settle on the distant planet [[Rokyn]] (S No. 338, Aug 1979: "Let My People Grow!").

Some time later, a replica of the bottle city in Superman's Fortress becomes home to the tiny yellow-skinned aliens known as the [[Sh'strians]] (S No. 370, Apr 1982: "Better Vengeance Through Chemo-stry"; S No. 371/1, May 1982: "Kandor Lives Again").

Later still, apparently unaware of this replica, [[Wonder Woman]] gives Superman a replica Kandor crafted by the [[Amazons|Amazon]] artisans of [[Paradise Island]] (SA No. 11, 1985: "For the Man Who Has Everything").

('''See also''' [[Kryptonopolis]])

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor Wikipedia Entry on Kandor]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Krypton]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

Kandor

2008-11-15T02:12:09Z

Super Monkey: added teleport ray info

[[Image:Bottle.GIF]]

'''Kandor'''

The capital city of the planet [[Krypton]], which survived the destruction of its native planet as the result of having been stolen sometime prior to the cataclysm by the space villain [[Brainiac]], who reduced the city to microscopic size and preserved it, people alive and buildings intact, inside a glass bottle aboard his spacecraft, where it remained for many years until it was finally recovered by [[Superman]] in July 1958 and placed for safekeeping inside his [[Fortress of Solitude]] (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others).

Inside the bottle city, life goes on much as it did prior to the destruction of Krypton (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), yet although restoration to their normal size remains the heartfelt wish of all Kandorians, Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely. He has, however, on occasion managed to reduce himself in size temporarily for the purpose of visiting the bottle city and undertaking adventures there (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others).

Nestled securely on a niche inside the Fortress of Solitude (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), the bottle city of Kandor is "the most amazing exhibit in [Superman's] Fortress" (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion") and "the prize of [his] collection" of curiosities and artifacts from throughout the universe (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!").

Although it is referred to as Krypton City in World's Finest Comics No. 100 (Mar 1959: "The Dictator of Krypton City!") and as Kandor City in Action Comics No. 261/1 (Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), it is referred to as Kandor in every other text that mentions it by name (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and many others) and remains "the only surviving city" of the lost planet Krypton (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). Its population as of July 1958 was approximately 1,000,000 (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

According to Superman No. 158, the peaceful city of Kandor, capital of Krypton, was "a place of beauty and happiness" until the dark day when Brainiac, "the evilest villain of space," appeared over the city in his saucerlike spacecraft, reduced it to "microscopic size" with his diabolical "hyper-force ray," and then soared away again into outer space with the captive city of Kandor imprisoned aboard his craft inside a large glass bottle (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

Although the texts seem agreed, however, that the theft of Kandor occurred "years before" Krypton exploded (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"), it is not possible to pinpoint the date of the theft with any real accuracy, though it appears to have occurred either shortly before (S No. 170/2, Jul 1964: pts. I-II—"If Lex Luthor Were Superman's Father!"; "The Wedding of Lara and Luthor!") or after (S No. 141, Nov 1960: "Superman's Return to Krypton!" pts. I-III—"Superman Meets Jor-El and Lara Again!"; "Superman's Kryptonian Romance!"; "The Surprise of Fate!") the wedding of [[Jor-El]] and [[Lara]]. To this day, despite the fact that, by stealing their city, Brainiac inadvertently rescued the people of Kandor from the cataclysmic doom that befell the rest of their planet, the Kandorians still regard him as "the foulest villain in the universe" for having wrenched their city from its native planet and for having doomed them, perhaps forever, to lilliputian size (S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!").

Indeed, although it is the goal of all Kandorians to see their city enlarged to normal size so that they can live out their lives outside the bottle, either on Earth or on some distant planet (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), the prospects for the successful enlargement of Kandor remain, at best, uncertain. Action Comics No. 245, for example, observes that "Some day '''Superman''' hopes to find a way to enlarge [the Kandorians] to normal size" (Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"), and indeed, this sentiment is echoed in a number of other texts (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others). In Action Comics No. 253/1, however, Superman concedes that "I know of no way the restore [the Kandorians] to their normal size" (Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"), and in Action Comics No. 243 goes one step further remarking that Kandor "can never be restored to normal size!" (Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"). By and large, however, the long term outlook seems optimistic. Although Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others), there are substantial indications that an enlarging device powerful enough to restore Kandor to normal size could be constructed if only the rare element or elements needed to power such a device could be accumulated in sufficient quantity (Act No. 280/1, Sep 1961: "Brainiac's Super-Revenge!"; ''see also'' S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!"; and others). Indeed, one text flatly states that Kandor will one day be enlarged to normal size, but only in the distant future (Act No. 300/1, May 1963: "Superman Under the Red Sun!").

The texts are also somewhat vague concerning the exact size to which Brainiac shrank the Kandorians and their city. Numerous texts describe him as having reduced the city to "microscopic size" (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"; and others), yet the city's larger buildings are plainly visible to the naked eye through the thick glass of the bottle, and one text asserts that it is possible to observe Kandorian life through the lens of an ordinary magnifying glass (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!").

Similarly, the people of Kandor are frequently referred to as "tiny" (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), but it is far more likely that, although the city's larger edifices may be visible to the naked eye, the Kandorians themselves are no larger than microbes (S No. 179/2, Aug 1965: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

The picturesque city of Kandor sits inside a large "bell-jar" in Superman's Fortress of Solitude (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). According to Superman No. 134, "...Brainiac made the walls [of the bell jar] of super-hard, unbreakable glass." (Jan 1960: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), but the accuracy of this statement is called into question by an event that occurs in October 1958, when [[Lois Lane]] inadvertently bumps into the bottle, knocking it to the floor and causing a hairline crack in the glass (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!").

The bottle containing the city is sealed by a large "cork" (S No. 156, Oct 1962: "The Last Days of Superman!" pts. I-III—"Superman's Death Sentence!"; The Super-Comrades of All Time!"; "Superman's Last Day of Life!"; and others), more accurately described as a "super-hard metal stopper" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). By August 1965 a doorway has been installed in the stopper to facilitate "easier exit from the giant bottle" for members of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] and other Kandorians (S No. 179/2: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

Safeguarding the city of Kandor and its lilliputian population is one of Superman's gravest responsibilities. "I have to check that city-in-the-bottle regularly," muses the [[Man of Steel]] in January 1960, "to see that the tiny people inside it are safe!" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")

Watching over the city consists mainly of conducting periodic checks of the air hoses and related apparatus which provide the Kandorians with a steady supply of air. "Air has to be pumped in," observes Lois Lane in October 1958, "for the tiny people are still alive and going about their daily business!" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!").

Inside the bottle city, "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated" to allow the Kandorians to live normal lives in the environment characteristic of their native planet (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). Therefore, in Superman's words, "The Kandorians must be constantly supplied with air that is of the same composition as the air on their native '''Krypton'''--so I always check to make certain the air mixture is right..." (Act No. 282, Nov 1961: "Superman's Toughest Day!").

Indeed, life in the bottle city goes on today much as it did before Brainiac stole it, with the Kandorians "going about their daily business" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!") almost as though their native planet had never exploded. Kryptonese, the language of Krypton, is still spoken (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" Pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), and Kandorian scientific progress has continued apace despite the limitations imposed by the artificial glass-walled environment. Small rocket ships (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others) and individual "jet-powered flying belts" (S No. 172, Oct 1964: pts I-III—"The New Superman!"; "Clark Kent—Former Superman!"; "The Struggle of the Two Supermen!"; and others) fly busy Kandorians about their city, and "tireless robot farmhands raise [their] crops for food" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

"Sealed in a dark, cold bottle," the Kandorians "created [their] own artificial sun...a flaming fireball crossing over the city regularly on its tracks!" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"). According to Superman No. 158, however, it is an array of ingenious devices called "sun-lamps" that provide Kandor with its warmth and sunlight, the lamps being dimmed each evening to provide the Kandorians with a nightly "sleep period" (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

In laboratories and public squares throughout the city, sophisticated "ultra scanning screens" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")—referred to also as "Earth viewers" (S No. 144/3, Apr 1961: "The Orphans of Space!"; and others) or "Earth monitor screens" (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!")—enable Kandorian observers to "pick up any scene on Earth" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), and thereby monitor Superman's actions constantly, both visually and aurally, no matter where on Earth he may be (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others), so that, in the event of an emergency, they can contact the Man of Steel via "super-sonic signal" (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!") or dispatch the Supermen Emergency Squad to his rescue. Indeed, a number of Superman's enemies, aware that his activities are continually monitored by Kandorian observers, have taken the precaution of deliberately jamming the Kandorian monitors to prevent him from being aided by his Kandorian allies (Act No. 295/1, Dec 1962: "Superman Goes Wild!"; and others).

Other achievements of Kandorian science include devices called "mental suggestion helmets," which enable psychiatrists to control and direct the fantasies of their patients and are used in treating the mentally ill (S No. 173/1, Nov 1964: "The 'Untouchable' Clark Kent!"); an ingenious apparatus known as the "psycho-locator," which, through the electronic analysis and long-distance sensing of brain-wave patterns, is capable of locating any selected individual—such as a fugitive criminal—"anywhere in space and time" (S No. 168, Apr 1964: pts. I-II—"Luthor--Super-Hero!"; "Lex Luthor, Daily Planet Editor!"); and a miraculous healing ray invented by the Kandorian scientist [[Reg-En]], which is used to heal Superman's hand in February 1962 after he is badly bitten during a battle with a Kryptonian "[[Flame Dragon|flame dragon]]" (S No. 151/3: "Superman's Greatest Secret!").

Kandor is governed by the [[Kandorian Council]], a body of distinguished citizens apparently modeled after the form of planetary government that prevailed on Krypton prior to the cataclysm.

The city proper is dominated by such institutions as the [[Museum of Kryptonian History]], a well-stocked library, the [[Kandor City Zoo]], and the majestic Hall of Justice, where, once each year, the [[Phantom Zone Parole Board]] meets to consider the pleas of [[Phantom Zone]] prisoners seeking parole. Those prisoners deemed worthy of parole are released from the Phantom Zone to begin new lives as Kandorian citizens.
[[Image:Kandorhallofjustice.jpg|right]]
Outside the city is a neatly landscaped suburban region characterized by elegant mansions and fine houses, and beyond the suburbs are "strange forests" filled with Kryptonian wildlife and "weird vegetation."

In February, the people of Kandor celebrate [[Krypton Day]], a holiday whose precise significance is never stated in the chronicles. Once each year, in either December or January, they bow their heads in silence in solemn commemoration of "the anniversary of the destruction of Krypton." In April, the Kandorians hold ceremonies marking the Day of Truth, a holiday once celebrated by all Kryptonians, in which they honor the memory of [[Val-Lor]], a valiant Kryptonian who, by courageously speaking out against the "ruthless swarm of alien invaders" who had invaded Krypton and enslaved its people, inspired his fellow Kryptonians to revolt against their alien oppressors and drive the aliens from their planet.

Kandor's "greatest hero" is Superman and there are several statues of him in and about the city. Outside the bottle city, Superman's dual identity is a closely guarded secret, but inside Kandor the fact that [[Clark Kent]] is Superman is "known to all Kandorians."

Just as the Kandorians keep a watchful eye on Superman by means of their sophisticated Earth monitors, the Man of Steel keeps in close communication with his friends in Kandor. In Superman's Fortress of Solitude, a red light on an intricate "monitoring maching" lights up in the event of a "Kandor emergency," and a special "Kandor-scope" monitor screen, sometimes used in conjunction with an operator's headphone and mouthpiece, enables him to carry on simultaneous visual and aural communication with his Kandorian allies.

In order to enter Kandor, either to visit his friends or to undertake adventures there, Superman must first reduce himself to microscopic size. He originally accomplished this through various means, but eventually settled on the "shrinking ray" confiscated from Brainiac. Later these same forces, activated, in reverse, by means of a console aboard Brainiacâ€™s spacecraft, are used to restore Superman to his normal human size (Act No. 242: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€).

By October 1958, the renegade Kandorian scientist [[Zak-Kul]] has successfully â€œisolated the rare element, [[Illium 349]], whose rays can change the size of the body,â€ and used it to create an ingenious reducing and enlarging ray which can be used to either shrink or enlarge a person to any chosen size. Superman ultimately defeats the villain and confiscates his sophisticated size-changing apparatus (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€).

By March 1959, the renegade scientist [[Lex Luthor]] has devised a set of ingenious belts capable of either reducing or enlarging people or objects. Superman, [[Batman]], and [[Robin]] ultimately apprehend Luthor and his henchmen and confiscate their size-changing belts (WF No. 100: â€œThe Dictator of Krypton City!â€).

By June 1959, the Kandorian â€œcriminal scientistâ€ [[El Gar-Kur]] has perfected an elaborate body-switching apparatus that enables him to trade places with anyone who happens to be standing outside the bottle, so that the target individual finds himself suddenly reduced in size and trapped inside Kandor, while El Gar Kur is, in the exact same instant, transported outside the bottle city and enlarged to normal human size. Superman defeats El Gar Kur with the aid of [[Jimmy Olsen]], and the villainâ€™s body-switching apparatus is apparently confiscated by the Kandorian authorities (Act No. 253: â€œThe War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!â€).

By January 1960, the Kandorian scientist [[Kull-Ex]] has devised an ingenious â€œexchange rayâ€ designed to enable him to escape the bottle city while trapping Superman inside Kandor. By beaming â€œa flash of super-energyâ€ at Superman as he stands in his Fortress of Solitude close by the bottle, Kull-Ex is able to reduce the [[Man of Steel]] instantaneously to microscopic size and transport him to his laboratory inside Kandor while simultaneously transporting himself outside the bottle and enlarging himself to normal human size. Moreover, because only human bodiesâ€”and not clothingâ€”are affected by the exchange ray, Superman finds himself stranded in Kandor clad in Kull-Exâ€™s clothing, while Kull-Ex finds himself standing in Supermanâ€™s Fortress clad in Supermanâ€™s costume Superman ultimately escapes from Kandor and resolves his differences with Kull-Ex, but because â€œ[[Zenium]],â€ the extraterrestrial element that powers the exchange ray, is exceedingly rare, it is questionable whether the apparatus can ever be used again (S No. 134: â€The Super- Menace of Metropolis!â€; â€œThe Revenge Against Jor. El!â€; â€œThe Duel of the Supermen!â€).

In February 1962, in an apparent reference either to El Gar Kurâ€™s invention or Kull-Exâ€™s, Superman muses that â€œI can only enter Kandor by having my exchange ray cause me to switch places with a similar-sized Kandorian person or creature.â€ Indeed, when Superman visits Kandor during this period, he arranges to exchange himself for his Kandorian friend [[Nim-Zee]], and then to reverse the exchange once his business in Kandor has been successfully concluded (S No. 151/3: â€œSupermanâ€™s Greatest Secret!â€).

By July 1962, however, the â€œexchange rayâ€ has been superseded by a more technologically advanced device. â€œWelcome to Kandor!â€ greets the Kandorian scientist [[Lon-Es]] enthusiastically after he has used the new invention to reduce [[Supergirl]] to microscopic size and transport her to his laboratory inside the bottle. â€œYou have been reduced in size and transported here by a new ray weâ€™ve developed which is better than the exchange-ray! Our teleport ray transports one person at a time. . . and it isnâ€™t necessary to exchange a Kandorian for an Earth person during the transference, as before!â€ (S No.154/2: â€œKryptonâ€™s First Superman!â€).

Inside Kandor, where "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated," Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains use of his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and re-enters the earthly environment. Kryptonite has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there.

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Superman's, along with vulnerability to the various forms of [[kryptonite]].

In the course of an Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the "fanatic scientist" [[Than-Ol]], Superman and [[Jimmy Olsen]] decide to emulate their friends Batman and Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pair of Kandorian birds - a "nightwing" and a "flamebird" - owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of [[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]] and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a "secret under-ground lab" - with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside - to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With Nor-Kan's blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the "[[Nightcave]]" and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting Nor-Kan's automobile into a swift, specially equipped "nightmobile."

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird - the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor - have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city. (TGSB)

Kandor is the home of the Supermen Emergency Squad, the [[Look-Alike Squad]] and crime fighting defenders, Nightwing and Flamebird.

Supergirl's parents, [[Zor-El]] and [[Alura]], after being rescued from the [[Survival Zone]], reside in Kandor.

Eventually, the residents of Kandor are finally freed of the bottle city and settle on the distant planet [[Rokyn]] (S No. 338, Aug 1979: "Let My People Grow!").

Some time later, a replica of the bottle city in Superman's Fortress becomes home to the tiny yellow-skinned aliens known as the [[Sh'strians]] (S No. 370, Apr 1982: "Better Vengeance Through Chemo-stry"; S No. 371/1, May 1982: "Kandor Lives Again").

Later still, apparently unaware of this replica, [[Wonder Woman]] gives Superman a replica Kandor crafted by the [[Amazons|Amazon]] artisans of [[Paradise Island]] (SA No. 11, 1985: "For the Man Who Has Everything").

('''See also''' [[Kryptonopolis]])

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor Wikipedia Entry on Kandor]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Krypton]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

Kandor

2008-11-14T11:33:53Z

Super Monkey: added Nim-Zee info

[[Image:Bottle.GIF]]

'''Kandor'''

The capital city of the planet [[Krypton]], which survived the destruction of its native planet as the result of having been stolen sometime prior to the cataclysm by the space villain [[Brainiac]], who reduced the city to microscopic size and preserved it, people alive and buildings intact, inside a glass bottle aboard his spacecraft, where it remained for many years until it was finally recovered by [[Superman]] in July 1958 and placed for safekeeping inside his [[Fortress of Solitude]] (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others).

Inside the bottle city, life goes on much as it did prior to the destruction of Krypton (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), yet although restoration to their normal size remains the heartfelt wish of all Kandorians, Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely. He has, however, on occasion managed to reduce himself in size temporarily for the purpose of visiting the bottle city and undertaking adventures there (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others).

Nestled securely on a niche inside the Fortress of Solitude (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), the bottle city of Kandor is "the most amazing exhibit in [Superman's] Fortress" (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion") and "the prize of [his] collection" of curiosities and artifacts from throughout the universe (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!").

Although it is referred to as Krypton City in World's Finest Comics No. 100 (Mar 1959: "The Dictator of Krypton City!") and as Kandor City in Action Comics No. 261/1 (Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), it is referred to as Kandor in every other text that mentions it by name (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and many others) and remains "the only surviving city" of the lost planet Krypton (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). Its population as of July 1958 was approximately 1,000,000 (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

According to Superman No. 158, the peaceful city of Kandor, capital of Krypton, was "a place of beauty and happiness" until the dark day when Brainiac, "the evilest villain of space," appeared over the city in his saucerlike spacecraft, reduced it to "microscopic size" with his diabolical "hyper-force ray," and then soared away again into outer space with the captive city of Kandor imprisoned aboard his craft inside a large glass bottle (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

Although the texts seem agreed, however, that the theft of Kandor occurred "years before" Krypton exploded (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"), it is not possible to pinpoint the date of the theft with any real accuracy, though it appears to have occurred either shortly before (S No. 170/2, Jul 1964: pts. I-II—"If Lex Luthor Were Superman's Father!"; "The Wedding of Lara and Luthor!") or after (S No. 141, Nov 1960: "Superman's Return to Krypton!" pts. I-III—"Superman Meets Jor-El and Lara Again!"; "Superman's Kryptonian Romance!"; "The Surprise of Fate!") the wedding of [[Jor-El]] and [[Lara]]. To this day, despite the fact that, by stealing their city, Brainiac inadvertently rescued the people of Kandor from the cataclysmic doom that befell the rest of their planet, the Kandorians still regard him as "the foulest villain in the universe" for having wrenched their city from its native planet and for having doomed them, perhaps forever, to lilliputian size (S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!").

Indeed, although it is the goal of all Kandorians to see their city enlarged to normal size so that they can live out their lives outside the bottle, either on Earth or on some distant planet (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), the prospects for the successful enlargement of Kandor remain, at best, uncertain. Action Comics No. 245, for example, observes that "Some day '''Superman''' hopes to find a way to enlarge [the Kandorians] to normal size" (Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"), and indeed, this sentiment is echoed in a number of other texts (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others). In Action Comics No. 253/1, however, Superman concedes that "I know of no way the restore [the Kandorians] to their normal size" (Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"), and in Action Comics No. 243 goes one step further remarking that Kandor "can never be restored to normal size!" (Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"). By and large, however, the long term outlook seems optimistic. Although Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others), there are substantial indications that an enlarging device powerful enough to restore Kandor to normal size could be constructed if only the rare element or elements needed to power such a device could be accumulated in sufficient quantity (Act No. 280/1, Sep 1961: "Brainiac's Super-Revenge!"; ''see also'' S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!"; and others). Indeed, one text flatly states that Kandor will one day be enlarged to normal size, but only in the distant future (Act No. 300/1, May 1963: "Superman Under the Red Sun!").

The texts are also somewhat vague concerning the exact size to which Brainiac shrank the Kandorians and their city. Numerous texts describe him as having reduced the city to "microscopic size" (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"; and others), yet the city's larger buildings are plainly visible to the naked eye through the thick glass of the bottle, and one text asserts that it is possible to observe Kandorian life through the lens of an ordinary magnifying glass (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!").

Similarly, the people of Kandor are frequently referred to as "tiny" (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), but it is far more likely that, although the city's larger edifices may be visible to the naked eye, the Kandorians themselves are no larger than microbes (S No. 179/2, Aug 1965: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

The picturesque city of Kandor sits inside a large "bell-jar" in Superman's Fortress of Solitude (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). According to Superman No. 134, "...Brainiac made the walls [of the bell jar] of super-hard, unbreakable glass." (Jan 1960: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), but the accuracy of this statement is called into question by an event that occurs in October 1958, when [[Lois Lane]] inadvertently bumps into the bottle, knocking it to the floor and causing a hairline crack in the glass (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!").

The bottle containing the city is sealed by a large "cork" (S No. 156, Oct 1962: "The Last Days of Superman!" pts. I-III—"Superman's Death Sentence!"; The Super-Comrades of All Time!"; "Superman's Last Day of Life!"; and others), more accurately described as a "super-hard metal stopper" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). By August 1965 a doorway has been installed in the stopper to facilitate "easier exit from the giant bottle" for members of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] and other Kandorians (S No. 179/2: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

Safeguarding the city of Kandor and its lilliputian population is one of Superman's gravest responsibilities. "I have to check that city-in-the-bottle regularly," muses the [[Man of Steel]] in January 1960, "to see that the tiny people inside it are safe!" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")

Watching over the city consists mainly of conducting periodic checks of the air hoses and related apparatus which provide the Kandorians with a steady supply of air. "Air has to be pumped in," observes Lois Lane in October 1958, "for the tiny people are still alive and going about their daily business!" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!").

Inside the bottle city, "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated" to allow the Kandorians to live normal lives in the environment characteristic of their native planet (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). Therefore, in Superman's words, "The Kandorians must be constantly supplied with air that is of the same composition as the air on their native '''Krypton'''--so I always check to make certain the air mixture is right..." (Act No. 282, Nov 1961: "Superman's Toughest Day!").

Indeed, life in the bottle city goes on today much as it did before Brainiac stole it, with the Kandorians "going about their daily business" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!") almost as though their native planet had never exploded. Kryptonese, the language of Krypton, is still spoken (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" Pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), and Kandorian scientific progress has continued apace despite the limitations imposed by the artificial glass-walled environment. Small rocket ships (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others) and individual "jet-powered flying belts" (S No. 172, Oct 1964: pts I-III—"The New Superman!"; "Clark Kent—Former Superman!"; "The Struggle of the Two Supermen!"; and others) fly busy Kandorians about their city, and "tireless robot farmhands raise [their] crops for food" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

"Sealed in a dark, cold bottle," the Kandorians "created [their] own artificial sun...a flaming fireball crossing over the city regularly on its tracks!" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"). According to Superman No. 158, however, it is an array of ingenious devices called "sun-lamps" that provide Kandor with its warmth and sunlight, the lamps being dimmed each evening to provide the Kandorians with a nightly "sleep period" (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

In laboratories and public squares throughout the city, sophisticated "ultra scanning screens" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")—referred to also as "Earth viewers" (S No. 144/3, Apr 1961: "The Orphans of Space!"; and others) or "Earth monitor screens" (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!")—enable Kandorian observers to "pick up any scene on Earth" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), and thereby monitor Superman's actions constantly, both visually and aurally, no matter where on Earth he may be (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others), so that, in the event of an emergency, they can contact the Man of Steel via "super-sonic signal" (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!") or dispatch the Supermen Emergency Squad to his rescue. Indeed, a number of Superman's enemies, aware that his activities are continually monitored by Kandorian observers, have taken the precaution of deliberately jamming the Kandorian monitors to prevent him from being aided by his Kandorian allies (Act No. 295/1, Dec 1962: "Superman Goes Wild!"; and others).

Other achievements of Kandorian science include devices called "mental suggestion helmets," which enable psychiatrists to control and direct the fantasies of their patients and are used in treating the mentally ill (S No. 173/1, Nov 1964: "The 'Untouchable' Clark Kent!"); an ingenious apparatus known as the "psycho-locator," which, through the electronic analysis and long-distance sensing of brain-wave patterns, is capable of locating any selected individual—such as a fugitive criminal—"anywhere in space and time" (S No. 168, Apr 1964: pts. I-II—"Luthor--Super-Hero!"; "Lex Luthor, Daily Planet Editor!"); and a miraculous healing ray invented by the Kandorian scientist [[Reg-En]], which is used to heal Superman's hand in February 1962 after he is badly bitten during a battle with a Kryptonian "[[Flame Dragon|flame dragon]]" (S No. 151/3: "Superman's Greatest Secret!").

Kandor is governed by the [[Kandorian Council]], a body of distinguished citizens apparently modeled after the form of planetary government that prevailed on Krypton prior to the cataclysm.

The city proper is dominated by such institutions as the [[Museum of Kryptonian History]], a well-stocked library, the [[Kandor City Zoo]], and the majestic Hall of Justice, where, once each year, the [[Phantom Zone Parole Board]] meets to consider the pleas of [[Phantom Zone]] prisoners seeking parole. Those prisoners deemed worthy of parole are released from the Phantom Zone to begin new lives as Kandorian citizens.
[[Image:Kandorhallofjustice.jpg|right]]
Outside the city is a neatly landscaped suburban region characterized by elegant mansions and fine houses, and beyond the suburbs are "strange forests" filled with Kryptonian wildlife and "weird vegetation."

In February, the people of Kandor celebrate [[Krypton Day]], a holiday whose precise significance is never stated in the chronicles. Once each year, in either December or January, they bow their heads in silence in solemn commemoration of "the anniversary of the destruction of Krypton." In April, the Kandorians hold ceremonies marking the Day of Truth, a holiday once celebrated by all Kryptonians, in which they honor the memory of [[Val-Lor]], a valiant Kryptonian who, by courageously speaking out against the "ruthless swarm of alien invaders" who had invaded Krypton and enslaved its people, inspired his fellow Kryptonians to revolt against their alien oppressors and drive the aliens from their planet.

Kandor's "greatest hero" is Superman and there are several statues of him in and about the city. Outside the bottle city, Superman's dual identity is a closely guarded secret, but inside Kandor the fact that [[Clark Kent]] is Superman is "known to all Kandorians."

Just as the Kandorians keep a watchful eye on Superman by means of their sophisticated Earth monitors, the Man of Steel keeps in close communication with his friends in Kandor. In Superman's Fortress of Solitude, a red light on an intricate "monitoring maching" lights up in the event of a "Kandor emergency," and a special "Kandor-scope" monitor screen, sometimes used in conjunction with an operator's headphone and mouthpiece, enables him to carry on simultaneous visual and aural communication with his Kandorian allies.

In order to enter Kandor, either to visit his friends or to undertake adventures there, Superman must first reduce himself to microscopic size. He originally accomplished this through various means, but eventually settled on the "shrinking ray" confiscated from Brainiac. Later these same forces, activated, in reverse, by means of a console aboard Brainiacâ€™s spacecraft, are used to restore Superman to his normal human size (Act No. 242: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€).

By October 1958, the renegade Kandorian scientist [[Zak-Kul]] has successfully â€œisolated the rare element, [[Illium 349]], whose rays can change the size of the body,â€ and used it to create an ingenious reducing and enlarging ray which can be used to either shrink or enlarge a person to any chosen size. Superman ultimately defeats the villain and confiscates his sophisticated size-changing apparatus (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€).

By March 1959, the renegade scientist [[Lex Luthor]] has devised a set of ingenious belts capable of either reducing or enlarging people or objects. Superman, [[Batman]], and [[Robin]] ultimately apprehend Luthor and his henchmen and confiscate their size-changing belts (WF No. 100: â€œThe Dictator of Krypton City!â€).

By June 1959, the Kandorian â€œcriminal scientistâ€ [[El Gar-Kur]] has perfected an elaborate body-switching apparatus that enables him to trade places with anyone who happens to be standing outside the bottle, so that the target individual finds himself suddenly reduced in size and trapped inside Kandor, while El Gar Kur is, in the exact same instant, transported outside the bottle city and enlarged to normal human size. Superman defeats El Gar Kur with the aid of [[Jimmy Olsen]], and the villainâ€™s body-switching apparatus is apparently confiscated by the Kandorian authorities (Act No. 253: â€œThe War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!â€).

By January 1960, the Kandorian scientist [[Kull-Ex]] has devised an ingenious â€œexchange rayâ€ designed to enable him to escape the bottle city while trapping Superman inside Kandor. By beaming â€œa flash of super-energyâ€ at Superman as he stands in his Fortress of Solitude close by the bottle, Kull-Ex is able to reduce the [[Man of Steel]] instantaneously to microscopic size and transport him to his laboratory inside Kandor while simultaneously transporting himself outside the bottle and enlarging himself to normal human size. Moreover, because only human bodiesâ€”and not clothingâ€”are affected by the exchange ray, Superman finds himself stranded in Kandor clad in Kull-Exâ€™s clothing, while Kull-Ex finds himself standing in Supermanâ€™s Fortress clad in Supermanâ€™s costume Superman ultimately escapes from Kandor and resolves his differences with Kull-Ex, but because â€œ[[Zenium]],â€ the extraterrestrial element that powers the exchange ray, is exceedingly rare, it is questionable whether the apparatus can ever be used again (S No. 134: â€The Super- Menace of Metropolis!â€; â€œThe Revenge Against Jor. El!â€; â€œThe Duel of the Supermen!â€).

In February 1962, in an apparent reference either to El Gar Kurâ€™s invention or Kull-Exâ€™s, Superman muses that â€œI can only enter Kandor by having my exchange ray cause me to switch places with a similar-sized Kandorian person or creature.â€ Indeed, when Superman visits Kandor during this period, he arranges to exchange himself for his Kandorian friend [[Nim-Zee]], and then to reverse the exchange once his business in Kandor has been successfully concluded (S No. 151/3: â€œSupermanâ€™s Greatest Secret!â€).

Inside Kandor, where "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated," Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains use of his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and re-enters the earthly environment. Kryptonite has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there.

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Superman's, along with vulnerability to the various forms of [[kryptonite]].

In the course of an Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the "fanatic scientist" [[Than-Ol]], Superman and [[Jimmy Olsen]] decide to emulate their friends Batman and Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pair of Kandorian birds - a "nightwing" and a "flamebird" - owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of [[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]] and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a "secret under-ground lab" - with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside - to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With Nor-Kan's blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the "[[Nightcave]]" and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting Nor-Kan's automobile into a swift, specially equipped "nightmobile."

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird - the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor - have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city. (TGSB)

Kandor is the home of the Supermen Emergency Squad, the [[Look-Alike Squad]] and crime fighting defenders, Nightwing and Flamebird.

Supergirl's parents, [[Zor-El]] and [[Alura]], after being rescued from the [[Survival Zone]], reside in Kandor.

Eventually, the residents of Kandor are finally freed of the bottle city and settle on the distant planet [[Rokyn]] (S No. 338, Aug 1979: "Let My People Grow!").

Some time later, a replica of the bottle city in Superman's Fortress becomes home to the tiny yellow-skinned aliens known as the [[Sh'strians]] (S No. 370, Apr 1982: "Better Vengeance Through Chemo-stry"; S No. 371/1, May 1982: "Kandor Lives Again").

Later still, apparently unaware of this replica, [[Wonder Woman]] gives Superman a replica Kandor crafted by the [[Amazons|Amazon]] artisans of [[Paradise Island]] (SA No. 11, 1985: "For the Man Who Has Everything").

('''See also''' [[Kryptonopolis]])

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor Wikipedia Entry on Kandor]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Krypton]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

Zenium

2008-11-13T11:39:16Z

Super Monkey:

Zenium is an ultra-rare element that can generate an exchange ray that switches objects through the [[X-dimension]]. [[Kull-Ex]], a [[Kandor]]ian scientist, uses it successfully to exchange places with [[Superman]]. (S No. 134/2, Jan 1960: "The Revenge against Jor-El")

[[Supergirl]] locates a nugget of Zenium in a meteorite to exchange [[Kull-Ex]] and [[Superman]] back to their previous places. (S No. 134/3, Jan 1960: "The Duel of the Supermen)

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Elements]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]

Kandor

2008-11-13T11:37:37Z

Super Monkey:

[[Image:Bottle.GIF]]

'''Kandor'''

The capital city of the planet [[Krypton]], which survived the destruction of its native planet as the result of having been stolen sometime prior to the cataclysm by the space villain [[Brainiac]], who reduced the city to microscopic size and preserved it, people alive and buildings intact, inside a glass bottle aboard his spacecraft, where it remained for many years until it was finally recovered by [[Superman]] in July 1958 and placed for safekeeping inside his [[Fortress of Solitude]] (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others).

Inside the bottle city, life goes on much as it did prior to the destruction of Krypton (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), yet although restoration to their normal size remains the heartfelt wish of all Kandorians, Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely. He has, however, on occasion managed to reduce himself in size temporarily for the purpose of visiting the bottle city and undertaking adventures there (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others).

Nestled securely on a niche inside the Fortress of Solitude (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), the bottle city of Kandor is "the most amazing exhibit in [Superman's] Fortress" (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion") and "the prize of [his] collection" of curiosities and artifacts from throughout the universe (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!").

Although it is referred to as Krypton City in World's Finest Comics No. 100 (Mar 1959: "The Dictator of Krypton City!") and as Kandor City in Action Comics No. 261/1 (Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), it is referred to as Kandor in every other text that mentions it by name (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and many others) and remains "the only surviving city" of the lost planet Krypton (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). Its population as of July 1958 was approximately 1,000,000 (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

According to Superman No. 158, the peaceful city of Kandor, capital of Krypton, was "a place of beauty and happiness" until the dark day when Brainiac, "the evilest villain of space," appeared over the city in his saucerlike spacecraft, reduced it to "microscopic size" with his diabolical "hyper-force ray," and then soared away again into outer space with the captive city of Kandor imprisoned aboard his craft inside a large glass bottle (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

Although the texts seem agreed, however, that the theft of Kandor occurred "years before" Krypton exploded (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"), it is not possible to pinpoint the date of the theft with any real accuracy, though it appears to have occurred either shortly before (S No. 170/2, Jul 1964: pts. I-II—"If Lex Luthor Were Superman's Father!"; "The Wedding of Lara and Luthor!") or after (S No. 141, Nov 1960: "Superman's Return to Krypton!" pts. I-III—"Superman Meets Jor-El and Lara Again!"; "Superman's Kryptonian Romance!"; "The Surprise of Fate!") the wedding of [[Jor-El]] and [[Lara]]. To this day, despite the fact that, by stealing their city, Brainiac inadvertently rescued the people of Kandor from the cataclysmic doom that befell the rest of their planet, the Kandorians still regard him as "the foulest villain in the universe" for having wrenched their city from its native planet and for having doomed them, perhaps forever, to lilliputian size (S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!").

Indeed, although it is the goal of all Kandorians to see their city enlarged to normal size so that they can live out their lives outside the bottle, either on Earth or on some distant planet (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), the prospects for the successful enlargement of Kandor remain, at best, uncertain. Action Comics No. 245, for example, observes that "Some day '''Superman''' hopes to find a way to enlarge [the Kandorians] to normal size" (Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"), and indeed, this sentiment is echoed in a number of other texts (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others). In Action Comics No. 253/1, however, Superman concedes that "I know of no way the restore [the Kandorians] to their normal size" (Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"), and in Action Comics No. 243 goes one step further remarking that Kandor "can never be restored to normal size!" (Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"). By and large, however, the long term outlook seems optimistic. Although Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others), there are substantial indications that an enlarging device powerful enough to restore Kandor to normal size could be constructed if only the rare element or elements needed to power such a device could be accumulated in sufficient quantity (Act No. 280/1, Sep 1961: "Brainiac's Super-Revenge!"; ''see also'' S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!"; and others). Indeed, one text flatly states that Kandor will one day be enlarged to normal size, but only in the distant future (Act No. 300/1, May 1963: "Superman Under the Red Sun!").

The texts are also somewhat vague concerning the exact size to which Brainiac shrank the Kandorians and their city. Numerous texts describe him as having reduced the city to "microscopic size" (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"; and others), yet the city's larger buildings are plainly visible to the naked eye through the thick glass of the bottle, and one text asserts that it is possible to observe Kandorian life through the lens of an ordinary magnifying glass (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!").

Similarly, the people of Kandor are frequently referred to as "tiny" (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), but it is far more likely that, although the city's larger edifices may be visible to the naked eye, the Kandorians themselves are no larger than microbes (S No. 179/2, Aug 1965: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

The picturesque city of Kandor sits inside a large "bell-jar" in Superman's Fortress of Solitude (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). According to Superman No. 134, "...Brainiac made the walls [of the bell jar] of super-hard, unbreakable glass." (Jan 1960: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), but the accuracy of this statement is called into question by an event that occurs in October 1958, when [[Lois Lane]] inadvertently bumps into the bottle, knocking it to the floor and causing a hairline crack in the glass (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!").

The bottle containing the city is sealed by a large "cork" (S No. 156, Oct 1962: "The Last Days of Superman!" pts. I-III—"Superman's Death Sentence!"; The Super-Comrades of All Time!"; "Superman's Last Day of Life!"; and others), more accurately described as a "super-hard metal stopper" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). By August 1965 a doorway has been installed in the stopper to facilitate "easier exit from the giant bottle" for members of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] and other Kandorians (S No. 179/2: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

Safeguarding the city of Kandor and its lilliputian population is one of Superman's gravest responsibilities. "I have to check that city-in-the-bottle regularly," muses the [[Man of Steel]] in January 1960, "to see that the tiny people inside it are safe!" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")

Watching over the city consists mainly of conducting periodic checks of the air hoses and related apparatus which provide the Kandorians with a steady supply of air. "Air has to be pumped in," observes Lois Lane in October 1958, "for the tiny people are still alive and going about their daily business!" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!").

Inside the bottle city, "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated" to allow the Kandorians to live normal lives in the environment characteristic of their native planet (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). Therefore, in Superman's words, "The Kandorians must be constantly supplied with air that is of the same composition as the air on their native '''Krypton'''--so I always check to make certain the air mixture is right..." (Act No. 282, Nov 1961: "Superman's Toughest Day!").

Indeed, life in the bottle city goes on today much as it did before Brainiac stole it, with the Kandorians "going about their daily business" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!") almost as though their native planet had never exploded. Kryptonese, the language of Krypton, is still spoken (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" Pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), and Kandorian scientific progress has continued apace despite the limitations imposed by the artificial glass-walled environment. Small rocket ships (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others) and individual "jet-powered flying belts" (S No. 172, Oct 1964: pts I-III—"The New Superman!"; "Clark Kent—Former Superman!"; "The Struggle of the Two Supermen!"; and others) fly busy Kandorians about their city, and "tireless robot farmhands raise [their] crops for food" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

"Sealed in a dark, cold bottle," the Kandorians "created [their] own artificial sun...a flaming fireball crossing over the city regularly on its tracks!" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"). According to Superman No. 158, however, it is an array of ingenious devices called "sun-lamps" that provide Kandor with its warmth and sunlight, the lamps being dimmed each evening to provide the Kandorians with a nightly "sleep period" (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

In laboratories and public squares throughout the city, sophisticated "ultra scanning screens" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")—referred to also as "Earth viewers" (S No. 144/3, Apr 1961: "The Orphans of Space!"; and others) or "Earth monitor screens" (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!")—enable Kandorian observers to "pick up any scene on Earth" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), and thereby monitor Superman's actions constantly, both visually and aurally, no matter where on Earth he may be (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others), so that, in the event of an emergency, they can contact the Man of Steel via "super-sonic signal" (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!") or dispatch the Supermen Emergency Squad to his rescue. Indeed, a number of Superman's enemies, aware that his activities are continually monitored by Kandorian observers, have taken the precaution of deliberately jamming the Kandorian monitors to prevent him from being aided by his Kandorian allies (Act No. 295/1, Dec 1962: "Superman Goes Wild!"; and others).

Other achievements of Kandorian science include devices called "mental suggestion helmets," which enable psychiatrists to control and direct the fantasies of their patients and are used in treating the mentally ill (S No. 173/1, Nov 1964: "The 'Untouchable' Clark Kent!"); an ingenious apparatus known as the "psycho-locator," which, through the electronic analysis and long-distance sensing of brain-wave patterns, is capable of locating any selected individual—such as a fugitive criminal—"anywhere in space and time" (S No. 168, Apr 1964: pts. I-II—"Luthor--Super-Hero!"; "Lex Luthor, Daily Planet Editor!"); and a miraculous healing ray invented by the Kandorian scientist [[Reg-En]], which is used to heal Superman's hand in February 1962 after he is badly bitten during a battle with a Kryptonian "[[Flame Dragon|flame dragon]]" (S No. 151/3: "Superman's Greatest Secret!").

Kandor is governed by the [[Kandorian Council]], a body of distinguished citizens apparently modeled after the form of planetary government that prevailed on Krypton prior to the cataclysm.

The city proper is dominated by such institutions as the [[Museum of Kryptonian History]], a well-stocked library, the [[Kandor City Zoo]], and the majestic Hall of Justice, where, once each year, the [[Phantom Zone Parole Board]] meets to consider the pleas of [[Phantom Zone]] prisoners seeking parole. Those prisoners deemed worthy of parole are released from the Phantom Zone to begin new lives as Kandorian citizens.
[[Image:Kandorhallofjustice.jpg|right]]
Outside the city is a neatly landscaped suburban region characterized by elegant mansions and fine houses, and beyond the suburbs are "strange forests" filled with Kryptonian wildlife and "weird vegetation."

In February, the people of Kandor celebrate [[Krypton Day]], a holiday whose precise significance is never stated in the chronicles. Once each year, in either December or January, they bow their heads in silence in solemn commemoration of "the anniversary of the destruction of Krypton." In April, the Kandorians hold ceremonies marking the Day of Truth, a holiday once celebrated by all Kryptonians, in which they honor the memory of [[Val-Lor]], a valiant Kryptonian who, by courageously speaking out against the "ruthless swarm of alien invaders" who had invaded Krypton and enslaved its people, inspired his fellow Kryptonians to revolt against their alien oppressors and drive the aliens from their planet.

Kandor's "greatest hero" is Superman and there are several statues of him in and about the city. Outside the bottle city, Superman's dual identity is a closely guarded secret, but inside Kandor the fact that [[Clark Kent]] is Superman is "known to all Kandorians."

Just as the Kandorians keep a watchful eye on Superman by means of their sophisticated Earth monitors, the Man of Steel keeps in close communication with his friends in Kandor. In Superman's Fortress of Solitude, a red light on an intricate "monitoring maching" lights up in the event of a "Kandor emergency," and a special "Kandor-scope" monitor screen, sometimes used in conjunction with an operator's headphone and mouthpiece, enables him to carry on simultaneous visual and aural communication with his Kandorian allies.

In order to enter Kandor, either to visit his friends or to undertake adventures there, Superman must first reduce himself to microscopic size. He originally accomplished this through various means, but eventually settled on the "shrinking ray" confiscated from Brainiac. Later these same forces, activated, in reverse, by means of a console aboard Brainiacâ€™s spacecraft, are used to restore Superman to his normal human size (Act No. 242: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€).

By October 1958, the renegade Kandorian scientist [[Zak-Kul]] has successfully â€œisolated the rare element, [[Illium 349]], whose rays can change the size of the body,â€ and used it to create an ingenious reducing and enlarging ray which can be used to either shrink or enlarge a person to any chosen size. Superman ultimately defeats the villain and confiscates his sophisticated size-changing apparatus (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€).

By March 1959, the renegade scientist [[Lex Luthor]] has devised a set of ingenious belts capable of either reducing or enlarging people or objects. Superman, [[Batman]], and [[Robin]] ultimately apprehend Luthor and his henchmen and confiscate their size-changing belts (WF No. 100: â€œThe Dictator of Krypton City!â€).

By June 1959, the Kandorian â€œcriminal scientistâ€ [[El Gar-Kur]] has perfected an elaborate body-switching apparatus that enables him to trade places with anyone who happens to be standing outside the bottle, so that the target individual finds himself suddenly reduced in size and trapped inside Kandor, while El Gar Kur is, in the exact same instant, transported outside the bottle city and enlarged to normal human size. Superman defeats El Gar Kur with the aid of [[Jimmy Olsen]], and the villainâ€™s body-switching apparatus is apparently confiscated by the Kandorian authorities (Act No. 253: â€œThe War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!â€).

By January 1960, the Kandorian scientist [[Kull-Ex]] has devised an ingenious â€œexchange rayâ€ designed to enable him to escape the bottle city while trapping Superman inside Kandor. By beaming â€œa flash of super-energyâ€ at Superman as he stands in his Fortress of Solitude close by the bottle, Kull-Ex is able to reduce the [[Man of Steel]] instantaneously to microscopic size and transport him to his laboratory inside Kandor while simultaneously transporting himself outside the bottle and enlarging himself to normal human size. Moreover, because only human bodiesâ€”and not clothingâ€”are affected by the exchange ray, Superman finds himself stranded in Kandor clad in Kull-Exâ€™s clothing, while Kull-Ex finds himself standing in Supermanâ€™s Fortress clad in Supermanâ€™s costume Superman ultimately escapes from Kandor and resolves his differences with Kull-Ex, but because â€œ[[Zenium]],â€ the extraterrestrial element that powers the exchange ray, is exceedingly rare, it is questionable whether the apparatus can ever be used again (S No. 134: â€The Super- Menace of Metropolis!â€; â€œThe Revenge Against Jor. El!â€; â€œThe Duel of the Supermen!â€).

Inside Kandor, where "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated," Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains use of his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and re-enters the earthly environment. Kryptonite has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there.

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Superman's, along with vulnerability to the various forms of [[kryptonite]].

In the course of an Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the "fanatic scientist" [[Than-Ol]], Superman and [[Jimmy Olsen]] decide to emulate their friends Batman and Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pair of Kandorian birds - a "nightwing" and a "flamebird" - owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of [[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]] and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a "secret under-ground lab" - with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside - to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With Nor-Kan's blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the "[[Nightcave]]" and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting Nor-Kan's automobile into a swift, specially equipped "nightmobile."

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird - the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor - have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city. (TGSB)

Kandor is the home of the Supermen Emergency Squad, the [[Look-Alike Squad]] and crime fighting defenders, Nightwing and Flamebird.

Supergirl's parents, [[Zor-El]] and [[Alura]], after being rescued from the [[Survival Zone]], reside in Kandor.

Eventually, the residents of Kandor are finally freed of the bottle city and settle on the distant planet [[Rokyn]] (S No. 338, Aug 1979: "Let My People Grow!").

Some time later, a replica of the bottle city in Superman's Fortress becomes home to the tiny yellow-skinned aliens known as the [[Sh'strians]] (S No. 370, Apr 1982: "Better Vengeance Through Chemo-stry"; S No. 371/1, May 1982: "Kandor Lives Again").

Later still, apparently unaware of this replica, [[Wonder Woman]] gives Superman a replica Kandor crafted by the [[Amazons|Amazon]] artisans of [[Paradise Island]] (SA No. 11, 1985: "For the Man Who Has Everything").

('''See also''' [[Kryptonopolis]])

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor Wikipedia Entry on Kandor]

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[[Category:Krypton]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

Kandor

2008-11-13T11:35:42Z

Super Monkey: added Kull-Ex info

[[Image:Bottle.GIF]]

'''Kandor'''

The capital city of the planet [[Krypton]], which survived the destruction of its native planet as the result of having been stolen sometime prior to the cataclysm by the space villain [[Brainiac]], who reduced the city to microscopic size and preserved it, people alive and buildings intact, inside a glass bottle aboard his spacecraft, where it remained for many years until it was finally recovered by [[Superman]] in July 1958 and placed for safekeeping inside his [[Fortress of Solitude]] (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others).

Inside the bottle city, life goes on much as it did prior to the destruction of Krypton (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), yet although restoration to their normal size remains the heartfelt wish of all Kandorians, Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely. He has, however, on occasion managed to reduce himself in size temporarily for the purpose of visiting the bottle city and undertaking adventures there (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others).

Nestled securely on a niche inside the Fortress of Solitude (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), the bottle city of Kandor is "the most amazing exhibit in [Superman's] Fortress" (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion") and "the prize of [his] collection" of curiosities and artifacts from throughout the universe (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!").

Although it is referred to as Krypton City in World's Finest Comics No. 100 (Mar 1959: "The Dictator of Krypton City!") and as Kandor City in Action Comics No. 261/1 (Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), it is referred to as Kandor in every other text that mentions it by name (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and many others) and remains "the only surviving city" of the lost planet Krypton (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). Its population as of July 1958 was approximately 1,000,000 (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

According to Superman No. 158, the peaceful city of Kandor, capital of Krypton, was "a place of beauty and happiness" until the dark day when Brainiac, "the evilest villain of space," appeared over the city in his saucerlike spacecraft, reduced it to "microscopic size" with his diabolical "hyper-force ray," and then soared away again into outer space with the captive city of Kandor imprisoned aboard his craft inside a large glass bottle (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

Although the texts seem agreed, however, that the theft of Kandor occurred "years before" Krypton exploded (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"), it is not possible to pinpoint the date of the theft with any real accuracy, though it appears to have occurred either shortly before (S No. 170/2, Jul 1964: pts. I-II—"If Lex Luthor Were Superman's Father!"; "The Wedding of Lara and Luthor!") or after (S No. 141, Nov 1960: "Superman's Return to Krypton!" pts. I-III—"Superman Meets Jor-El and Lara Again!"; "Superman's Kryptonian Romance!"; "The Surprise of Fate!") the wedding of [[Jor-El]] and [[Lara]]. To this day, despite the fact that, by stealing their city, Brainiac inadvertently rescued the people of Kandor from the cataclysmic doom that befell the rest of their planet, the Kandorians still regard him as "the foulest villain in the universe" for having wrenched their city from its native planet and for having doomed them, perhaps forever, to lilliputian size (S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!").

Indeed, although it is the goal of all Kandorians to see their city enlarged to normal size so that they can live out their lives outside the bottle, either on Earth or on some distant planet (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), the prospects for the successful enlargement of Kandor remain, at best, uncertain. Action Comics No. 245, for example, observes that "Some day '''Superman''' hopes to find a way to enlarge [the Kandorians] to normal size" (Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"), and indeed, this sentiment is echoed in a number of other texts (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others). In Action Comics No. 253/1, however, Superman concedes that "I know of no way the restore [the Kandorians] to their normal size" (Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"), and in Action Comics No. 243 goes one step further remarking that Kandor "can never be restored to normal size!" (Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"). By and large, however, the long term outlook seems optimistic. Although Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others), there are substantial indications that an enlarging device powerful enough to restore Kandor to normal size could be constructed if only the rare element or elements needed to power such a device could be accumulated in sufficient quantity (Act No. 280/1, Sep 1961: "Brainiac's Super-Revenge!"; ''see also'' S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!"; and others). Indeed, one text flatly states that Kandor will one day be enlarged to normal size, but only in the distant future (Act No. 300/1, May 1963: "Superman Under the Red Sun!").

The texts are also somewhat vague concerning the exact size to which Brainiac shrank the Kandorians and their city. Numerous texts describe him as having reduced the city to "microscopic size" (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"; and others), yet the city's larger buildings are plainly visible to the naked eye through the thick glass of the bottle, and one text asserts that it is possible to observe Kandorian life through the lens of an ordinary magnifying glass (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!").

Similarly, the people of Kandor are frequently referred to as "tiny" (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), but it is far more likely that, although the city's larger edifices may be visible to the naked eye, the Kandorians themselves are no larger than microbes (S No. 179/2, Aug 1965: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

The picturesque city of Kandor sits inside a large "bell-jar" in Superman's Fortress of Solitude (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). According to Superman No. 134, "...Brainiac made the walls [of the bell jar] of super-hard, unbreakable glass." (Jan 1960: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), but the accuracy of this statement is called into question by an event that occurs in October 1958, when [[Lois Lane]] inadvertently bumps into the bottle, knocking it to the floor and causing a hairline crack in the glass (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!").

The bottle containing the city is sealed by a large "cork" (S No. 156, Oct 1962: "The Last Days of Superman!" pts. I-III—"Superman's Death Sentence!"; The Super-Comrades of All Time!"; "Superman's Last Day of Life!"; and others), more accurately described as a "super-hard metal stopper" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). By August 1965 a doorway has been installed in the stopper to facilitate "easier exit from the giant bottle" for members of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] and other Kandorians (S No. 179/2: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

Safeguarding the city of Kandor and its lilliputian population is one of Superman's gravest responsibilities. "I have to check that city-in-the-bottle regularly," muses the [[Man of Steel]] in January 1960, "to see that the tiny people inside it are safe!" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")

Watching over the city consists mainly of conducting periodic checks of the air hoses and related apparatus which provide the Kandorians with a steady supply of air. "Air has to be pumped in," observes Lois Lane in October 1958, "for the tiny people are still alive and going about their daily business!" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!").

Inside the bottle city, "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated" to allow the Kandorians to live normal lives in the environment characteristic of their native planet (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). Therefore, in Superman's words, "The Kandorians must be constantly supplied with air that is of the same composition as the air on their native '''Krypton'''--so I always check to make certain the air mixture is right..." (Act No. 282, Nov 1961: "Superman's Toughest Day!").

Indeed, life in the bottle city goes on today much as it did before Brainiac stole it, with the Kandorians "going about their daily business" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!") almost as though their native planet had never exploded. Kryptonese, the language of Krypton, is still spoken (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" Pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), and Kandorian scientific progress has continued apace despite the limitations imposed by the artificial glass-walled environment. Small rocket ships (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others) and individual "jet-powered flying belts" (S No. 172, Oct 1964: pts I-III—"The New Superman!"; "Clark Kent—Former Superman!"; "The Struggle of the Two Supermen!"; and others) fly busy Kandorians about their city, and "tireless robot farmhands raise [their] crops for food" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

"Sealed in a dark, cold bottle," the Kandorians "created [their] own artificial sun...a flaming fireball crossing over the city regularly on its tracks!" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"). According to Superman No. 158, however, it is an array of ingenious devices called "sun-lamps" that provide Kandor with its warmth and sunlight, the lamps being dimmed each evening to provide the Kandorians with a nightly "sleep period" (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

In laboratories and public squares throughout the city, sophisticated "ultra scanning screens" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")—referred to also as "Earth viewers" (S No. 144/3, Apr 1961: "The Orphans of Space!"; and others) or "Earth monitor screens" (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!")—enable Kandorian observers to "pick up any scene on Earth" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), and thereby monitor Superman's actions constantly, both visually and aurally, no matter where on Earth he may be (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others), so that, in the event of an emergency, they can contact the Man of Steel via "super-sonic signal" (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!") or dispatch the Supermen Emergency Squad to his rescue. Indeed, a number of Superman's enemies, aware that his activities are continually monitored by Kandorian observers, have taken the precaution of deliberately jamming the Kandorian monitors to prevent him from being aided by his Kandorian allies (Act No. 295/1, Dec 1962: "Superman Goes Wild!"; and others).

Other achievements of Kandorian science include devices called "mental suggestion helmets," which enable psychiatrists to control and direct the fantasies of their patients and are used in treating the mentally ill (S No. 173/1, Nov 1964: "The 'Untouchable' Clark Kent!"); an ingenious apparatus known as the "psycho-locator," which, through the electronic analysis and long-distance sensing of brain-wave patterns, is capable of locating any selected individual—such as a fugitive criminal—"anywhere in space and time" (S No. 168, Apr 1964: pts. I-II—"Luthor--Super-Hero!"; "Lex Luthor, Daily Planet Editor!"); and a miraculous healing ray invented by the Kandorian scientist [[Reg-En]], which is used to heal Superman's hand in February 1962 after he is badly bitten during a battle with a Kryptonian "[[Flame Dragon|flame dragon]]" (S No. 151/3: "Superman's Greatest Secret!").

Kandor is governed by the [[Kandorian Council]], a body of distinguished citizens apparently modeled after the form of planetary government that prevailed on Krypton prior to the cataclysm.

The city proper is dominated by such institutions as the [[Museum of Kryptonian History]], a well-stocked library, the [[Kandor City Zoo]], and the majestic Hall of Justice, where, once each year, the [[Phantom Zone Parole Board]] meets to consider the pleas of [[Phantom Zone]] prisoners seeking parole. Those prisoners deemed worthy of parole are released from the Phantom Zone to begin new lives as Kandorian citizens.
[[Image:Kandorhallofjustice.jpg|right]]
Outside the city is a neatly landscaped suburban region characterized by elegant mansions and fine houses, and beyond the suburbs are "strange forests" filled with Kryptonian wildlife and "weird vegetation."

In February, the people of Kandor celebrate [[Krypton Day]], a holiday whose precise significance is never stated in the chronicles. Once each year, in either December or January, they bow their heads in silence in solemn commemoration of "the anniversary of the destruction of Krypton." In April, the Kandorians hold ceremonies marking the Day of Truth, a holiday once celebrated by all Kryptonians, in which they honor the memory of [[Val-Lor]], a valiant Kryptonian who, by courageously speaking out against the "ruthless swarm of alien invaders" who had invaded Krypton and enslaved its people, inspired his fellow Kryptonians to revolt against their alien oppressors and drive the aliens from their planet.

Kandor's "greatest hero" is Superman and there are several statues of him in and about the city. Outside the bottle city, Superman's dual identity is a closely guarded secret, but inside Kandor the fact that [[Clark Kent]] is Superman is "known to all Kandorians."

Just as the Kandorians keep a watchful eye on Superman by means of their sophisticated Earth monitors, the Man of Steel keeps in close communication with his friends in Kandor. In Superman's Fortress of Solitude, a red light on an intricate "monitoring maching" lights up in the event of a "Kandor emergency," and a special "Kandor-scope" monitor screen, sometimes used in conjunction with an operator's headphone and mouthpiece, enables him to carry on simultaneous visual and aural communication with his Kandorian allies.

In order to enter Kandor, either to visit his friends or to undertake adventures there, Superman must first reduce himself to microscopic size. He originally accomplished this through various means, but eventually settled on the "shrinking ray" confiscated from Brainiac. Later these same forces, activated, in reverse, by means of a console aboard Brainiacâ€™s spacecraft, are used to restore Superman to his normal human size (Act No. 242: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€).

By October 1958, the renegade Kandorian scientist [[Zak-Kul]] has successfully â€œisolated the rare element, [[Illium 349]], whose rays can change the size of the body,â€ and used it to create an ingenious reducing and enlarging ray which can be used to either shrink or enlarge a person to any chosen size. Superman ultimately defeats the villain and confiscates his sophisticated size-changing apparatus (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€).

By March 1959, the renegade scientist [[Lex Luthor]] has devised a set of ingenious belts capable of either reducing or enlarging people or objects. Superman, [[Batman]], and [[Robin]] ultimately apprehend Luthor and his henchmen and confiscate their size-changing belts (WF No. 100: â€œThe Dictator of Krypton City!â€).

By June 1959, the Kandorian â€œcriminal scientistâ€ [[El Gar Kur]] has perfected an elaborate body-switching apparatus that enables him to trade places with anyone who happens to be standing outside the bottle, so that the target individual finds himself suddenly reduced in size and trapped inside Kandor, while El Gar Kur is, in the exact same instant, transported outside the bottle city and enlarged to normal human size. Superman defeats El Gar Kur with the aid of [[Jimmy Olsen]], and the villainâ€™s body-switching apparatus is apparently confiscated by the Kandorian authorities (Act No. 253: â€œThe War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!â€).

By January 1960, the Kandorian scientist [[Kull-Ex]] has devised an ingenious â€œexchange rayâ€ designed to enable him to escape the bottle city while trapping Superman inside Kandor. By beaming â€œa flash of super-energyâ€ at Superman as he stands in his Fortress of Solitude close by the bottle, Kull-Ex is able to reduce the [[Man of Steel]] instantaneously to microscopic size and transport him to his laboratory inside Kandor while simultaneously transporting himself outside the bottle and enlarging himself to normal human size. Moreover, because only human bodiesâ€”and not clothingâ€”are affected by the exchange ray, Superman finds himself stranded in Kandor clad in Kull-Exâ€™s clothing, while Kull-Ex finds himself standing in Supermanâ€™s Fortress clad in Supermanâ€™s costume Superman ultimately escapes from Kandor and resolves his differences with Kull-Ex, but because â€œ[[Zenium]],â€ the extraterrestrial element that powers the exchange ray, is exceedingly rare, it is questionable whether the apparatus can ever be used again (S No. 134: â€The Super- Menace of Metropolis!â€; â€œThe Revenge Against Jor. El!â€; â€œThe Duel of the Supermen!â€).

Inside Kandor, where "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated," Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains use of his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and re-enters the earthly environment. Kryptonite has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there.

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Superman's, along with vulnerability to the various forms of [[kryptonite]].

In the course of an Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the "fanatic scientist" [[Than-Ol]], Superman and [[Jimmy Olsen]] decide to emulate their friends Batman and Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pair of Kandorian birds - a "nightwing" and a "flamebird" - owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of [[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]] and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a "secret under-ground lab" - with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside - to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With Nor-Kan's blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the "[[Nightcave]]" and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting Nor-Kan's automobile into a swift, specially equipped "nightmobile."

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird - the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor - have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city. (TGSB)

Kandor is the home of the Supermen Emergency Squad, the [[Look-Alike Squad]] and crime fighting defenders, Nightwing and Flamebird.

Supergirl's parents, [[Zor-El]] and [[Alura]], after being rescued from the [[Survival Zone]], reside in Kandor.

Eventually, the residents of Kandor are finally freed of the bottle city and settle on the distant planet [[Rokyn]] (S No. 338, Aug 1979: "Let My People Grow!").

Some time later, a replica of the bottle city in Superman's Fortress becomes home to the tiny yellow-skinned aliens known as the [[Sh'strians]] (S No. 370, Apr 1982: "Better Vengeance Through Chemo-stry"; S No. 371/1, May 1982: "Kandor Lives Again").

Later still, apparently unaware of this replica, [[Wonder Woman]] gives Superman a replica Kandor crafted by the [[Amazons|Amazon]] artisans of [[Paradise Island]] (SA No. 11, 1985: "For the Man Who Has Everything").

('''See also''' [[Kryptonopolis]])

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor Wikipedia Entry on Kandor]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Krypton]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

Kandor

2008-11-12T03:21:12Z

Super Monkey: added pic

[[Image:Bottle.GIF]]

'''Kandor'''

The capital city of the planet [[Krypton]], which survived the destruction of its native planet as the result of having been stolen sometime prior to the cataclysm by the space villain [[Brainiac]], who reduced the city to microscopic size and preserved it, people alive and buildings intact, inside a glass bottle aboard his spacecraft, where it remained for many years until it was finally recovered by [[Superman]] in July 1958 and placed for safekeeping inside his [[Fortress of Solitude]] (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others).

Inside the bottle city, life goes on much as it did prior to the destruction of Krypton (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), yet although restoration to their normal size remains the heartfelt wish of all Kandorians, Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely. He has, however, on occasion managed to reduce himself in size temporarily for the purpose of visiting the bottle city and undertaking adventures there (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others).

Nestled securely on a niche inside the Fortress of Solitude (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), the bottle city of Kandor is "the most amazing exhibit in [Superman's] Fortress" (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion") and "the prize of [his] collection" of curiosities and artifacts from throughout the universe (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!").

Although it is referred to as Krypton City in World's Finest Comics No. 100 (Mar 1959: "The Dictator of Krypton City!") and as Kandor City in Action Comics No. 261/1 (Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), it is referred to as Kandor in every other text that mentions it by name (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and many others) and remains "the only surviving city" of the lost planet Krypton (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). Its population as of July 1958 was approximately 1,000,000 (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

According to Superman No. 158, the peaceful city of Kandor, capital of Krypton, was "a place of beauty and happiness" until the dark day when Brainiac, "the evilest villain of space," appeared over the city in his saucerlike spacecraft, reduced it to "microscopic size" with his diabolical "hyper-force ray," and then soared away again into outer space with the captive city of Kandor imprisoned aboard his craft inside a large glass bottle (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

Although the texts seem agreed, however, that the theft of Kandor occurred "years before" Krypton exploded (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"), it is not possible to pinpoint the date of the theft with any real accuracy, though it appears to have occurred either shortly before (S No. 170/2, Jul 1964: pts. I-II—"If Lex Luthor Were Superman's Father!"; "The Wedding of Lara and Luthor!") or after (S No. 141, Nov 1960: "Superman's Return to Krypton!" pts. I-III—"Superman Meets Jor-El and Lara Again!"; "Superman's Kryptonian Romance!"; "The Surprise of Fate!") the wedding of [[Jor-El]] and [[Lara]]. To this day, despite the fact that, by stealing their city, Brainiac inadvertently rescued the people of Kandor from the cataclysmic doom that befell the rest of their planet, the Kandorians still regard him as "the foulest villain in the universe" for having wrenched their city from its native planet and for having doomed them, perhaps forever, to lilliputian size (S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!").

Indeed, although it is the goal of all Kandorians to see their city enlarged to normal size so that they can live out their lives outside the bottle, either on Earth or on some distant planet (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), the prospects for the successful enlargement of Kandor remain, at best, uncertain. Action Comics No. 245, for example, observes that "Some day '''Superman''' hopes to find a way to enlarge [the Kandorians] to normal size" (Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"), and indeed, this sentiment is echoed in a number of other texts (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others). In Action Comics No. 253/1, however, Superman concedes that "I know of no way the restore [the Kandorians] to their normal size" (Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"), and in Action Comics No. 243 goes one step further remarking that Kandor "can never be restored to normal size!" (Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"). By and large, however, the long term outlook seems optimistic. Although Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others), there are substantial indications that an enlarging device powerful enough to restore Kandor to normal size could be constructed if only the rare element or elements needed to power such a device could be accumulated in sufficient quantity (Act No. 280/1, Sep 1961: "Brainiac's Super-Revenge!"; ''see also'' S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!"; and others). Indeed, one text flatly states that Kandor will one day be enlarged to normal size, but only in the distant future (Act No. 300/1, May 1963: "Superman Under the Red Sun!").

The texts are also somewhat vague concerning the exact size to which Brainiac shrank the Kandorians and their city. Numerous texts describe him as having reduced the city to "microscopic size" (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"; and others), yet the city's larger buildings are plainly visible to the naked eye through the thick glass of the bottle, and one text asserts that it is possible to observe Kandorian life through the lens of an ordinary magnifying glass (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!").

Similarly, the people of Kandor are frequently referred to as "tiny" (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), but it is far more likely that, although the city's larger edifices may be visible to the naked eye, the Kandorians themselves are no larger than microbes (S No. 179/2, Aug 1965: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

The picturesque city of Kandor sits inside a large "bell-jar" in Superman's Fortress of Solitude (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). According to Superman No. 134, "...Brainiac made the walls [of the bell jar] of super-hard, unbreakable glass." (Jan 1960: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), but the accuracy of this statement is called into question by an event that occurs in October 1958, when [[Lois Lane]] inadvertently bumps into the bottle, knocking it to the floor and causing a hairline crack in the glass (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!").

The bottle containing the city is sealed by a large "cork" (S No. 156, Oct 1962: "The Last Days of Superman!" pts. I-III—"Superman's Death Sentence!"; The Super-Comrades of All Time!"; "Superman's Last Day of Life!"; and others), more accurately described as a "super-hard metal stopper" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). By August 1965 a doorway has been installed in the stopper to facilitate "easier exit from the giant bottle" for members of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] and other Kandorians (S No. 179/2: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

Safeguarding the city of Kandor and its lilliputian population is one of Superman's gravest responsibilities. "I have to check that city-in-the-bottle regularly," muses the [[Man of Steel]] in January 1960, "to see that the tiny people inside it are safe!" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")

Watching over the city consists mainly of conducting periodic checks of the air hoses and related apparatus which provide the Kandorians with a steady supply of air. "Air has to be pumped in," observes Lois Lane in October 1958, "for the tiny people are still alive and going about their daily business!" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!").

Inside the bottle city, "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated" to allow the Kandorians to live normal lives in the environment characteristic of their native planet (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). Therefore, in Superman's words, "The Kandorians must be constantly supplied with air that is of the same composition as the air on their native '''Krypton'''--so I always check to make certain the air mixture is right..." (Act No. 282, Nov 1961: "Superman's Toughest Day!").

Indeed, life in the bottle city goes on today much as it did before Brainiac stole it, with the Kandorians "going about their daily business" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!") almost as though their native planet had never exploded. Kryptonese, the language of Krypton, is still spoken (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" Pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), and Kandorian scientific progress has continued apace despite the limitations imposed by the artificial glass-walled environment. Small rocket ships (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others) and individual "jet-powered flying belts" (S No. 172, Oct 1964: pts I-III—"The New Superman!"; "Clark Kent—Former Superman!"; "The Struggle of the Two Supermen!"; and others) fly busy Kandorians about their city, and "tireless robot farmhands raise [their] crops for food" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

"Sealed in a dark, cold bottle," the Kandorians "created [their] own artificial sun...a flaming fireball crossing over the city regularly on its tracks!" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"). According to Superman No. 158, however, it is an array of ingenious devices called "sun-lamps" that provide Kandor with its warmth and sunlight, the lamps being dimmed each evening to provide the Kandorians with a nightly "sleep period" (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

In laboratories and public squares throughout the city, sophisticated "ultra scanning screens" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")—referred to also as "Earth viewers" (S No. 144/3, Apr 1961: "The Orphans of Space!"; and others) or "Earth monitor screens" (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!")—enable Kandorian observers to "pick up any scene on Earth" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), and thereby monitor Superman's actions constantly, both visually and aurally, no matter where on Earth he may be (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others), so that, in the event of an emergency, they can contact the Man of Steel via "super-sonic signal" (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!") or dispatch the Supermen Emergency Squad to his rescue. Indeed, a number of Superman's enemies, aware that his activities are continually monitored by Kandorian observers, have taken the precaution of deliberately jamming the Kandorian monitors to prevent him from being aided by his Kandorian allies (Act No. 295/1, Dec 1962: "Superman Goes Wild!"; and others).

Other achievements of Kandorian science include devices called "mental suggestion helmets," which enable psychiatrists to control and direct the fantasies of their patients and are used in treating the mentally ill (S No. 173/1, Nov 1964: "The 'Untouchable' Clark Kent!"); an ingenious apparatus known as the "psycho-locator," which, through the electronic analysis and long-distance sensing of brain-wave patterns, is capable of locating any selected individual—such as a fugitive criminal—"anywhere in space and time" (S No. 168, Apr 1964: pts. I-II—"Luthor--Super-Hero!"; "Lex Luthor, Daily Planet Editor!"); and a miraculous healing ray invented by the Kandorian scientist [[Reg-En]], which is used to heal Superman's hand in February 1962 after he is badly bitten during a battle with a Kryptonian "[[Flame Dragon|flame dragon]]" (S No. 151/3: "Superman's Greatest Secret!").

Kandor is governed by the [[Kandorian Council]], a body of distinguished citizens apparently modeled after the form of planetary government that prevailed on Krypton prior to the cataclysm.

The city proper is dominated by such institutions as the [[Museum of Kryptonian History]], a well-stocked library, the [[Kandor City Zoo]], and the majestic Hall of Justice, where, once each year, the [[Phantom Zone Parole Board]] meets to consider the pleas of [[Phantom Zone]] prisoners seeking parole. Those prisoners deemed worthy of parole are released from the Phantom Zone to begin new lives as Kandorian citizens.
[[Image:Kandorhallofjustice.jpg|right]]
Outside the city is a neatly landscaped suburban region characterized by elegant mansions and fine houses, and beyond the suburbs are "strange forests" filled with Kryptonian wildlife and "weird vegetation."

In February, the people of Kandor celebrate [[Krypton Day]], a holiday whose precise significance is never stated in the chronicles. Once each year, in either December or January, they bow their heads in silence in solemn commemoration of "the anniversary of the destruction of Krypton." In April, the Kandorians hold ceremonies marking the Day of Truth, a holiday once celebrated by all Kryptonians, in which they honor the memory of [[Val-Lor]], a valiant Kryptonian who, by courageously speaking out against the "ruthless swarm of alien invaders" who had invaded Krypton and enslaved its people, inspired his fellow Kryptonians to revolt against their alien oppressors and drive the aliens from their planet.

Kandor's "greatest hero" is Superman and there are several statues of him in and about the city. Outside the bottle city, Superman's dual identity is a closely guarded secret, but inside Kandor the fact that [[Clark Kent]] is Superman is "known to all Kandorians."

Just as the Kandorians keep a watchful eye on Superman by means of their sophisticated Earth monitors, the Man of Steel keeps in close communication with his friends in Kandor. In Superman's Fortress of Solitude, a red light on an intricate "monitoring maching" lights up in the event of a "Kandor emergency," and a special "Kandor-scope" monitor screen, sometimes used in conjunction with an operator's headphone and mouthpiece, enables him to carry on simultaneous visual and aural communication with his Kandorian allies.

In order to enter Kandor, either to visit his friends or to undertake adventures there, Superman must first reduce himself to microscopic size. He originally accomplished this through various means, but eventually settled on the "shrinking ray" confiscated from Brainiac. Later these same forces, activated, in reverse, by means of a console aboard Brainiacâ€™s spacecraft, are used to restore Superman to his normal human size (Act No. 242: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€).

By October 1958, the renegade Kandorian scientist [[Zak-Kul]] has successfully â€œisolated the rare element, [[Illium 349]], whose rays can change the size of the body,â€ and used it to create an ingenious reducing and enlarging ray which can be used to either shrink or enlarge a person to any chosen size. Superman ultimately defeats the villain and confiscates his sophisticated size-changing apparatus (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€).

By March 1959, the renegade scientist [[Lex Luthor]] has devised a set of ingenious belts capable of either reducing or enlarging people or objects. Superman, [[Batman]], and [[Robin]] ultimately apprehend Luthor and his henchmen and confiscate their size-changing belts (WF No. 100: â€œThe Dictator of Krypton City!â€).

By June 1959, the Kandorian â€œcriminal scientistâ€ [[El Gar Kur]] has perfected an elaborate body-switching apparatus that enables him to trade places with anyone who happens to be standing outside the bottle, so that the target individual finds himself suddenly reduced in size and trapped inside Kandor, while El Gar Kur is, in the exact same instant, transported outside the bottle city and enlarged to normal human size. Superman defeats El Gar Kur with the aid of [[Jimmy Olsen]], and the villainâ€™s body-switching apparatus is apparently confiscated by the Kandorian authorities (Act No. 253: â€œThe War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!â€).

Inside Kandor, where "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated," Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains use of his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and re-enters the earthly environment. Kryptonite has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there.

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Superman's, along with vulnerability to the various forms of [[kryptonite]].

In the course of an Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the "fanatic scientist" [[Than-Ol]], Superman and [[Jimmy Olsen]] decide to emulate their friends Batman and Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pair of Kandorian birds - a "nightwing" and a "flamebird" - owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of [[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]] and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a "secret under-ground lab" - with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside - to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With Nor-Kan's blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the "[[Nightcave]]" and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting Nor-Kan's automobile into a swift, specially equipped "nightmobile."

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird - the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor - have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city. (TGSB)

Kandor is the home of the Supermen Emergency Squad, the [[Look-Alike Squad]] and crime fighting defenders, Nightwing and Flamebird.

Supergirl's parents, [[Zor-El]] and [[Alura]], after being rescued from the [[Survival Zone]], reside in Kandor.

Eventually, the residents of Kandor are finally freed of the bottle city and settle on the distant planet [[Rokyn]] (S No. 338, Aug 1979: "Let My People Grow!").

Some time later, a replica of the bottle city in Superman's Fortress becomes home to the tiny yellow-skinned aliens known as the [[Sh'strians]] (S No. 370, Apr 1982: "Better Vengeance Through Chemo-stry"; S No. 371/1, May 1982: "Kandor Lives Again").

Later still, apparently unaware of this replica, [[Wonder Woman]] gives Superman a replica Kandor crafted by the [[Amazons|Amazon]] artisans of [[Paradise Island]] (SA No. 11, 1985: "For the Man Who Has Everything").

('''See also''' [[Kryptonopolis]])

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor Wikipedia Entry on Kandor]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Krypton]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

File:Kandorhallofjustice.jpg

2008-11-12T03:19:24Z

Super Monkey: Inside Kandor’s Hall of Justice, the Phantom Zone Parole Board meets annually to consider the parole pleas of Phantom Zone prisoners

Inside Kandorâ€™s Hall of Justice, the Phantom Zone Parole Board meets annually to consider the parole pleas of Phantom Zone prisoners

Kandor

2008-11-12T03:15:51Z

Super Monkey: added tons of new info

[[Image:Bottle.GIF]]

'''Kandor'''

The capital city of the planet [[Krypton]], which survived the destruction of its native planet as the result of having been stolen sometime prior to the cataclysm by the space villain [[Brainiac]], who reduced the city to microscopic size and preserved it, people alive and buildings intact, inside a glass bottle aboard his spacecraft, where it remained for many years until it was finally recovered by [[Superman]] in July 1958 and placed for safekeeping inside his [[Fortress of Solitude]] (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others).

Inside the bottle city, life goes on much as it did prior to the destruction of Krypton (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), yet although restoration to their normal size remains the heartfelt wish of all Kandorians, Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely. He has, however, on occasion managed to reduce himself in size temporarily for the purpose of visiting the bottle city and undertaking adventures there (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others).

Nestled securely on a niche inside the Fortress of Solitude (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), the bottle city of Kandor is "the most amazing exhibit in [Superman's] Fortress" (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion") and "the prize of [his] collection" of curiosities and artifacts from throughout the universe (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!").

Although it is referred to as Krypton City in World's Finest Comics No. 100 (Mar 1959: "The Dictator of Krypton City!") and as Kandor City in Action Comics No. 261/1 (Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!"), it is referred to as Kandor in every other text that mentions it by name (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and many others) and remains "the only surviving city" of the lost planet Krypton (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). Its population as of July 1958 was approximately 1,000,000 (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

According to Superman No. 158, the peaceful city of Kandor, capital of Krypton, was "a place of beauty and happiness" until the dark day when Brainiac, "the evilest villain of space," appeared over the city in his saucerlike spacecraft, reduced it to "microscopic size" with his diabolical "hyper-force ray," and then soared away again into outer space with the captive city of Kandor imprisoned aboard his craft inside a large glass bottle (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

Although the texts seem agreed, however, that the theft of Kandor occurred "years before" Krypton exploded (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"), it is not possible to pinpoint the date of the theft with any real accuracy, though it appears to have occurred either shortly before (S No. 170/2, Jul 1964: pts. I-II—"If Lex Luthor Were Superman's Father!"; "The Wedding of Lara and Luthor!") or after (S No. 141, Nov 1960: "Superman's Return to Krypton!" pts. I-III—"Superman Meets Jor-El and Lara Again!"; "Superman's Kryptonian Romance!"; "The Surprise of Fate!") the wedding of [[Jor-El]] and [[Lara]]. To this day, despite the fact that, by stealing their city, Brainiac inadvertently rescued the people of Kandor from the cataclysmic doom that befell the rest of their planet, the Kandorians still regard him as "the foulest villain in the universe" for having wrenched their city from its native planet and for having doomed them, perhaps forever, to lilliputian size (S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!").

Indeed, although it is the goal of all Kandorians to see their city enlarged to normal size so that they can live out their lives outside the bottle, either on Earth or on some distant planet (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), the prospects for the successful enlargement of Kandor remain, at best, uncertain. Action Comics No. 245, for example, observes that "Some day '''Superman''' hopes to find a way to enlarge [the Kandorians] to normal size" (Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"), and indeed, this sentiment is echoed in a number of other texts (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others). In Action Comics No. 253/1, however, Superman concedes that "I know of no way the restore [the Kandorians] to their normal size" (Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"), and in Action Comics No. 243 goes one step further remarking that Kandor "can never be restored to normal size!" (Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"). By and large, however, the long term outlook seems optimistic. Although Superman has not yet succeeded, despite years of effort, in finding a way to enlarge the city safely (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"; and others), there are substantial indications that an enlarging device powerful enough to restore Kandor to normal size could be constructed if only the rare element or elements needed to power such a device could be accumulated in sufficient quantity (Act No. 280/1, Sep 1961: "Brainiac's Super-Revenge!"; ''see also'' S No. 167, Feb 1964: "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!" pts. I-III—"The Deadly Duo!"; "The Downfall of Superman!"; "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!"; and others). Indeed, one text flatly states that Kandor will one day be enlarged to normal size, but only in the distant future (Act No. 300/1, May 1963: "Superman Under the Red Sun!").

The texts are also somewhat vague concerning the exact size to which Brainiac shrank the Kandorians and their city. Numerous texts describe him as having reduced the city to "microscopic size" (Act No. 253/1, Jun 1959: "The War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!"; and others), yet the city's larger buildings are plainly visible to the naked eye through the thick glass of the bottle, and one text asserts that it is possible to observe Kandorian life through the lens of an ordinary magnifying glass (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!").

Similarly, the people of Kandor are frequently referred to as "tiny" (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!"; and others), but it is far more likely that, although the city's larger edifices may be visible to the naked eye, the Kandorians themselves are no larger than microbes (S No. 179/2, Aug 1965: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

The picturesque city of Kandor sits inside a large "bell-jar" in Superman's Fortress of Solitude (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"). According to Superman No. 134, "...Brainiac made the walls [of the bell jar] of super-hard, unbreakable glass." (Jan 1960: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), but the accuracy of this statement is called into question by an event that occurs in October 1958, when [[Lois Lane]] inadvertently bumps into the bottle, knocking it to the floor and causing a hairline crack in the glass (Act No. 245, Oct 1958: "The Shrinking Superman!").

The bottle containing the city is sealed by a large "cork" (S No. 156, Oct 1962: "The Last Days of Superman!" pts. I-III—"Superman's Death Sentence!"; The Super-Comrades of All Time!"; "Superman's Last Day of Life!"; and others), more accurately described as a "super-hard metal stopper" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). By August 1965 a doorway has been installed in the stopper to facilitate "easier exit from the giant bottle" for members of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] and other Kandorians (S No. 179/2: "The Menace of Gold Kryptonite!").

Safeguarding the city of Kandor and its lilliputian population is one of Superman's gravest responsibilities. "I have to check that city-in-the-bottle regularly," muses the [[Man of Steel]] in January 1960, "to see that the tiny people inside it are safe!" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")

Watching over the city consists mainly of conducting periodic checks of the air hoses and related apparatus which provide the Kandorians with a steady supply of air. "Air has to be pumped in," observes Lois Lane in October 1958, "for the tiny people are still alive and going about their daily business!" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!").

Inside the bottle city, "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated" to allow the Kandorians to live normal lives in the environment characteristic of their native planet (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others). Therefore, in Superman's words, "The Kandorians must be constantly supplied with air that is of the same composition as the air on their native '''Krypton'''--so I always check to make certain the air mixture is right..." (Act No. 282, Nov 1961: "Superman's Toughest Day!").

Indeed, life in the bottle city goes on today much as it did before Brainiac stole it, with the Kandorians "going about their daily business" (Act No. 245: "The Shrinking Superman!") almost as though their native planet had never exploded. Kryptonese, the language of Krypton, is still spoken (S No. 158, Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" Pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!"), and Kandorian scientific progress has continued apace despite the limitations imposed by the artificial glass-walled environment. Small rocket ships (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"; and others) and individual "jet-powered flying belts" (S No. 172, Oct 1964: pts I-III—"The New Superman!"; "Clark Kent—Former Superman!"; "The Struggle of the Two Supermen!"; and others) fly busy Kandorians about their city, and "tireless robot farmhands raise [their] crops for food" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space").

"Sealed in a dark, cold bottle," the Kandorians "created [their] own artificial sun...a flaming fireball crossing over the city regularly on its tracks!" (Act No. 242: "The Super-Duel in Space"). According to Superman No. 158, however, it is an array of ingenious devices called "sun-lamps" that provide Kandor with its warmth and sunlight, the lamps being dimmed each evening to provide the Kandorians with a nightly "sleep period" (Jan 1963: "Superman in Kandor" pts. I-III—"Invasion of the Mystery Super-Men!"; "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!"; "The City of Super-People!").

In laboratories and public squares throughout the city, sophisticated "ultra scanning screens" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!")—referred to also as "Earth viewers" (S No. 144/3, Apr 1961: "The Orphans of Space!"; and others) or "Earth monitor screens" (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!")—enable Kandorian observers to "pick up any scene on Earth" (S No. 134: chs. I-III—"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!"), and thereby monitor Superman's actions constantly, both visually and aurally, no matter where on Earth he may be (Act No. 276/1, May 1961: "The War Between Supergirl and the Superman Emergency Squad!"; and others), so that, in the event of an emergency, they can contact the Man of Steel via "super-sonic signal" (Act No. 261/1, Feb 1960: "Superman's Fortresses of Solitude!") or dispatch the Supermen Emergency Squad to his rescue. Indeed, a number of Superman's enemies, aware that his activities are continually monitored by Kandorian observers, have taken the precaution of deliberately jamming the Kandorian monitors to prevent him from being aided by his Kandorian allies (Act No. 295/1, Dec 1962: "Superman Goes Wild!"; and others).

Other achievements of Kandorian science include devices called "mental suggestion helmets," which enable psychiatrists to control and direct the fantasies of their patients and are used in treating the mentally ill (S No. 173/1, Nov 1964: "The 'Untouchable' Clark Kent!"); an ingenious apparatus known as the "psycho-locator," which, through the electronic analysis and long-distance sensing of brain-wave patterns, is capable of locating any selected individual—such as a fugitive criminal—"anywhere in space and time" (S No. 168, Apr 1964: pts. I-II—"Luthor--Super-Hero!"; "Lex Luthor, Daily Planet Editor!"); and a miraculous healing ray invented by the Kandorian scientist [[Reg-En]], which is used to heal Superman's hand in February 1962 after he is badly bitten during a battle with a Kryptonian "[[Flame Dragon|flame dragon]]" (S No. 151/3: "Superman's Greatest Secret!").

Kandor is governed by the [[Kandorian Council]], a body of distinguished citizens apparently modeled after the form of planetary government that prevailed on Krypton prior to the cataclysm.

The city proper is dominated by such institutions as the [[Museum of Kryptonian History]], a well-stocked library, the [[Kandor City Zoo]], and the majestic Hall of Justice, where, once each year, the [[Phantom Zone Parole Board]] meets to consider the pleas of [[Phantom Zone]] prisoners seeking parole. Those prisoners deemed worthy of parole are released from the Phantom Zone to begin new lives as Kandorian citizens.

Outside the city is a neatly landscaped suburban region characterized by elegant mansions and fine houses, and beyond the suburbs are "strange forests" filled with Kryptonian wildlife and "weird vegetation."

In February, the people of Kandor celebrate [[Krypton Day]], a holiday whose precise significance is never stated in the chronicles. Once each year, in either December or January, they bow their heads in silence in solemn commemoration of "the anniversary of the destruction of Krypton." In April, the Kandorians hold ceremonies marking the Day of Truth, a holiday once celebrated by all Kryptonians, in which they honor the memory of [[Val-Lor]], a valiant Kryptonian who, by courageously speaking out against the "ruthless swarm of alien invaders" who had invaded Krypton and enslaved its people, inspired his fellow Kryptonians to revolt against their alien oppressors and drive the aliens from their planet.

Kandor's "greatest hero" is Superman and there are several statues of him in and about the city. Outside the bottle city, Superman's dual identity is a closely guarded secret, but inside Kandor the fact that [[Clark Kent]] is Superman is "known to all Kandorians."

Just as the Kandorians keep a watchful eye on Superman by means of their sophisticated Earth monitors, the Man of Steel keeps in close communication with his friends in Kandor. In Superman's Fortress of Solitude, a red light on an intricate "monitoring maching" lights up in the event of a "Kandor emergency," and a special "Kandor-scope" monitor screen, sometimes used in conjunction with an operator's headphone and mouthpiece, enables him to carry on simultaneous visual and aural communication with his Kandorian allies.

In order to enter Kandor, either to visit his friends or to undertake adventures there, Superman must first reduce himself to microscopic size. He originally accomplished this through various means, but eventually settled on the "shrinking ray" confiscated from Brainiac. Later these same forces, activated, in reverse, by means of a console aboard Brainiacâ€™s spacecraft, are used to restore Superman to his normal human size (Act No. 242: â€œThe Super-Duel in Spaceâ€).

By October 1958, the renegade Kandorian scientist [[Zak-Kul]] has successfully â€œisolated the rare element, [[Illium 349]], whose rays can change the size of the body,â€ and used it to create an ingenious reducing and enlarging ray which can be used to either shrink or enlarge a person to any chosen size. Superman ultimately defeats the villain and confiscates his sophisticated size-changing apparatus (Act No. 245: â€œThe Shrinking Superman!â€).

By March 1959, the renegade scientist [[Lex Luthor]] has devised a set of ingenious belts capable of either reducing or enlarging people or objects. Superman, [[Batman]], and [[Robin]] ultimately apprehend Luthor and his henchmen and confiscate their size-changing belts (WF No. 100: â€œThe Dictator of Krypton City!â€).

By June 1959, the Kandorian â€œcriminal scientistâ€ [[El Gar Kur]] has perfected an elaborate body-switching apparatus that enables him to trade places with anyone who happens to be standing outside the bottle, so that the target individual finds himself suddenly reduced in size and trapped inside Kandor, while El Gar Kur is, in the exact same instant, transported outside the bottle city and enlarged to normal human size. Superman defeats El Gar Kur with the aid of [[Jimmy Olsen]], and the villainâ€™s body-switching apparatus is apparently confiscated by the Kandorian authorities (Act No. 253: â€œThe War Between Superman and Jimmy Olsen!â€).

Inside Kandor, where "Krypton's gravity conditions are duplicated," Superman becomes an ordinary human being, without super-powers, although he regains use of his powers the moment he exits from the bottle and re-enters the earthly environment. Kryptonite has no effect on Superman while he remains in Kandor, simply because he is only an ordinary mortal there.

Similarly, any Kandorian who emerges from the bottle city instantly acquires super-powers identical to Superman's, along with vulnerability to the various forms of [[kryptonite]].

In the course of an Kandorian adventure in January 1963, during a period when it is unsafe for Superman to move about in Kandor due to the lies that have been spread about him among the people by the "fanatic scientist" [[Than-Ol]], Superman and [[Jimmy Olsen]] decide to emulate their friends Batman and Robin by adopting a pair of alternate identities and working together as a team. Inspired by the names and plumage of a pair of Kandorian birds - a "nightwing" and a "flamebird" - owned by their friend [[Nor-Kan]], Superman and Jimmy adopt the alternate identities of [[Nightwing]] and [[Flamebird]] and fashion a pair of colorful costumes evocative of the plumage of the two Kandorian birds.

Beneath his lavish home in the Kandorian suburbs, Nor-Kan has constructed a "secret under-ground lab" - with a camouflaged entrance built into a grassy hillside - to prevent intruders from tampering with his delicate scientific instruments. With Nor-Kan's blessing, Nightwing and Flamebird christen this laboratory the "[[Nightcave]]" and transform it into their secret subterranean headquarters, while simultaneously converting Nor-Kan's automobile into a swift, specially equipped "nightmobile."

By the time this Kandorian adventure draws to a close, Nightwing and Flamebird - the so-called Dynamic Duo of Kandor - have revealed their true identities to the Kandorian people and the Kandorians have erected a colorful statue of the two heroes in the heart of the city. (TGSB)

Kandor is the home of the Supermen Emergency Squad, the [[Look-Alike Squad]] and crime fighting defenders, Nightwing and Flamebird.

Supergirl's parents, [[Zor-El]] and [[Alura]], after being rescued from the [[Survival Zone]], reside in Kandor.

Eventually, the residents of Kandor are finally freed of the bottle city and settle on the distant planet [[Rokyn]] (S No. 338, Aug 1979: "Let My People Grow!").

Some time later, a replica of the bottle city in Superman's Fortress becomes home to the tiny yellow-skinned aliens known as the [[Sh'strians]] (S No. 370, Apr 1982: "Better Vengeance Through Chemo-stry"; S No. 371/1, May 1982: "Kandor Lives Again").

Later still, apparently unaware of this replica, [[Wonder Woman]] gives Superman a replica Kandor crafted by the [[Amazons|Amazon]] artisans of [[Paradise Island]] (SA No. 11, 1985: "For the Man Who Has Everything").

('''See also''' [[Kryptonopolis]])

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandor Wikipedia Entry on Kandor]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Krypton]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

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2008-10-31T19:43:49Z

Super Monkey:

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Browse the [[:Category:Entries|Supermanica entries]] to date, or see the more complete listing of [[Special:Allpages|all the articles]] on this website.

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2008-10-31T19:42:44Z

Super Monkey: Reverted edits by Super Monkey (Talk) to last version by Macduff

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A [[Supermanica:About|bit of an explanation]] about Supermanica.

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'''Featured article:''' 
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Browse the [[:Category:Entries|Supermanica entries]] to date, or see the more complete listing of [[Special:Allpages|all the articles]] on this website.

Interested people are [[Supermanica:About|welcome to contribute]].

The more people who help out, the more information will be in Supermanica and the better structured it will be. In order to participate, please [[Special:Userlogin|create an account]]. You may find the [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_User's_Guide user's guide] to be very helpful. If you do choose to participate, '''please confine your additions to those characters, events, and locations contained in Superman related comic books published from 1938 to 1986'''.

Please [[canonical sources|cite your references]] in the articles. Information with no source reference is likely to be removed.

Any questions? Please visit the [[Supermanica:Community_Portal|Supermanica Community Portal]].

[[Category:Supermanica]]

Main Page

2008-10-30T17:44:25Z

Super Monkey:

<center>''As of {{CURRENTDAYNAME}}, {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} {{CURRENTTIME}} we are currently working on a total of {{NUMBEROFARTICLES}} articles!''
</center>
{| border=0 cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center"
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[[Image:Supermanicalogo.jpg]] 
a free and collaborative open-source project that '''you''' can participate in!
|
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| style="background:silver; color:white" align="center" |
[[Image:Prank.jpg|175px]]
|style="background:silver; color:black" align="center" |
'''Featured article:''' 
'''[[Prankster]]''' 
''The most dangerous of all practical jokers! ''
|}
|}
----
A [[Supermanica:About|bit of an explanation]] about Supermanica.

Browse the [[:Category:Entries|Supermanica entries]] to date, or see the more complete listing of [[Special:Allpages|all the articles]] on this website.

Interested people are [[Supermanica:About|welcome to contribute]].

The more people who help out, the more information will be in Supermanica and the better structured it will be. In order to participate, please [[Special:Userlogin|create an account]]. You may find the [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_User's_Guide user's guide] to be very helpful. If you do choose to participate, '''please confine your additions to those characters, events, and locations contained in Superman related comic books published from 1938 to 1986'''.

Please [[canonical sources|cite your references]] in the articles. Information with no source reference is likely to be removed.

Any questions? Please visit the [[Supermanica:Community_Portal|Supermanica Community Portal]].

[[Category:Supermanica]]

Many-Faces Fulton

2008-10-28T19:08:52Z

Super Monkey: New page: '''Many-Faces Fulton''' A “notorious criminal impersonator” who masquerades as Perry White, and engages in half a dozen other ingenious impersonations, as part of an elaborate sch...

'''Many-Faces Fulton'''

A â€œnotorious criminal impersonatorâ€ who masquerades as [[Perry White]], and engages in half a dozen other ingenious impersonations, as part of an elaborate scheme to trick [[Jimmy Olsen]] into believing that [[Superman]] is dead so that he will reveal the contents of a sealed letter, entrusted to him by Superman, which contains the secret of Supermanâ€™s identity and is intended to be opened only in the event of Supermanâ€™s death. Fulton, who stands to receive $1,000,000 from an underworld syndicate if his scheme is successful, is apprehended by Superman in August 1957 (S No. 115: â€œJimmy Olsenâ€™s Lost Palâ€) (TGSB).

[[Category:Entries|Fulton, Many-Faces]]
[[Category:Criminals|Fulton, Many-Faces]]
[[Category:People|Fulton, Many-Faces]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)|Fulton, Many-Faces]]

User talk:Manomight1974

2008-10-27T20:05:18Z

Super Monkey:

For now, I am functioning as an editor for Supermanica. That may change, but for now, as I have been a contributor for many years, please follow my judgment in editorial matters. It is not for nothing, it is to follow format established for a long time. This is getting tedious. --[[User:MatterEaterLad|MatterEaterLad]] 03:42, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

----

Please respond to talk pages on the new entries. They are how we communicate. --[[User:MatterEaterLad|MatterEaterLad]] 23:01, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

----

Please do not add entries like II or III to names, they aren't names that appear in the comics. Explanations should not be used in entries either, the stories can only be said to conflict or possibly attributed to realities based on content. Changing a name from "Ardora" to "Ardora of Lexor" is not necessary and creates too many redirects. While it is possible to change EVERY name to the name plus the planet they come from, it would not be a good idea at all. Please look around to see how these things are handled before implementing, especially in large numbers.

When in doubt, use TALK pages rather than just going ahead and doing it. Also, we try to use links in articles rather than REDIRECTS on Supermanica. But, aside from edits or brand new entries, please, please, PLEASE do not decide on new names or categories and introduce them in mass. --[[User:MatterEaterLad|MatterEaterLad]] 11:16, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

----

Please use [http://supermanica.info/wiki/index.php?title=Special:Categories&article=Main_Page Categories] and you must list the [http://supermanica.info/wiki/index.php/Canonical_sources issues] where the entries appeared in.

--[[User:Super Monkey|Super Monkey]] 01:44, 24 Oct 2005 (EDT)
----

Your Jur-Ll entry was excellent, nice and detailed with sources and everything, keep it up :)
--[[User:Super Monkey|Super Monkey]] 19:34, 1 Nov 2005 (EST)

----

Mano, I notice that you are editing pages to alter the tense of the entries. Since the goal of Supermanica is to chronicle characters who, in the canonical sources, are still very much alive, entries are generally written in the present tense, following the example of The Great Superman Book. Unless the subjects are shown to have unequivocally died at some point in the chronicles, their actions should not be referred to in the past tense.

Thus, the Guardian "wears" yellow gloves, etc. He "is" encountered, described, etc.
--[[User:Telle|Telle]] 11:49, 25 Nov 2005 (EST)

== Entries in the Superboy Era ==

I think we need to have an entry on Sunburst. Superboy did encounter him in I believe 3 consecutive issues in New Adventures of Superboy. I think it is necessary to include him. --[[User:Manomight1974|Manomight1974]]

== Putting the THE in the The ==

Do you plan on adding the title "The" to every entry?--[[User:Super Monkey|Super Monkey]] 20:04, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

User talk:Manomight1974

2008-10-27T20:04:38Z

Super Monkey:

For now, I am functioning as an editor for Supermanica. That may change, but for now, as I have been a contributor for many years, please follow my judgment in editorial matters. It is not for nothing, it is to follow format established for a long time. This is getting tedious. --[[User:MatterEaterLad|MatterEaterLad]] 03:42, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

----

Please respond to talk pages on the new entries. They are how we communicate. --[[User:MatterEaterLad|MatterEaterLad]] 23:01, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

----

Please do not add entries like II or III to names, they aren't names that appear in the comics. Explanations should not be used in entries either, the stories can only be said to conflict or possibly attributed to realities based on content. Changing a name from "Ardora" to "Ardora of Lexor" is not necessary and creates too many redirects. While it is possible to change EVERY name to the name plus the planet they come from, it would not be a good idea at all. Please look around to see how these things are handled before implementing, especially in large numbers.

When in doubt, use TALK pages rather than just going ahead and doing it. Also, we try to use links in articles rather than REDIRECTS on Supermanica. But, aside from edits or brand new entries, please, please, PLEASE do not decide on new names or categories and introduce them in mass. --[[User:MatterEaterLad|MatterEaterLad]] 11:16, 16 September 2008 (UTC)

----

Please use [http://supermanica.info/wiki/index.php?title=Special:Categories&article=Main_Page Categories] and you must list the [http://supermanica.info/wiki/index.php/Canonical_sources issues] where the entries appeared in.

--[[User:Super Monkey|Super Monkey]] 01:44, 24 Oct 2005 (EDT)
----

Your Jur-Ll entry was excellent, nice and detailed with sources and everything, keep it up :)
--[[User:Super Monkey|Super Monkey]] 19:34, 1 Nov 2005 (EST)

----

Mano, I notice that you are editing pages to alter the tense of the entries. Since the goal of Supermanica is to chronicle characters who, in the canonical sources, are still very much alive, entries are generally written in the present tense, following the example of The Great Superman Book. Unless the subjects are shown to have unequivocally died at some point in the chronicles, their actions should not be referred to in the past tense.

Thus, the Guardian "wears" yellow gloves, etc. He "is" encountered, described, etc.
--[[User:Telle|Telle]] 11:49, 25 Nov 2005 (EST)

== Entries in the Superboy Era ==

I think we need to have an entry on Sunburst. Superboy did encounter him in I believe 3 consecutive issues in New Adventures of Superboy. I think it is necessary to include him. --[[User:Manomight1974|Manomight1974]]

Do you plan on adding the title "The" to every entry?--[[User:Super Monkey|Super Monkey]] 20:04, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

Talk:Achilles (god)

2008-10-27T20:02:42Z

Super Monkey:

I don't see how Achilles qualifies to be a God. His mother was a sea nymph and his father was a human mortal. He was also not immortal. It seems to me that's not in the "God" league like Thor or Zeus or one of those other gods, all of whom usually have regular roles in the function of the universe and all of whom are immortal. [[User:Macduff|Macduff]] 04:05, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

Well, in the comics he is treated as an immortal, sure it does not make any sense, but we can only go by the Superman comics where he appeared and how he was used.--[[User:Super Monkey|Super Monkey]] 20:02, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

Talk:Achilles (god)

2008-10-27T20:02:12Z

Super Monkey:

I don't see how Achilles qualifies to be a God. His mother was a sea nymph and his father was a human mortal. He was also not immortal. It seems to me that's not in the "God" league like Thor or Zeus or one of those other gods, all of whom usually have regular roles in the function of the universe and all of whom are immortal. [[User:Macduff|Macduff]] 04:05, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

Well, in the comics he is treated as an immortal, sure it does make any sense, but we can only go by the Superman comics where he appeared and how he was used.--[[User:Super Monkey|Super Monkey]] 20:02, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

Hercules

2008-10-26T13:42:23Z

Super Monkey:

[[Image:Hercules.jpg|left]]

'''Hercules'''

The most famous Greek legendary hero, a mighty hunter and warrior born to Alcmene and fathered by Zeus.

In May-June 1944, a member of [[Metropolis]]'s Liars Club wins the club's coveted Best Tall Tale award for a tale he concocts concerning a fictional meeting between [[Superman]] and Hercules. In the story, Superman encounters the legendary hero after allowing himself to be sent into the distant past, to ancient Greece in the age of the mighty Greek gods and goddesses, in order to test a time machine invented by scientist Professor Button. To his great surprise, the [[Man of Steel]] discovers that the man who has been immortalized in myth as a great hunter and warrior was actually a puny, cowardly weakling. And so, to safeguard Hercules's hallowed place in folklore, Superman performs the legendary twelve labors in Hercules's stead, thereby keeping alive Hercules's reputation as the greatest Greek hero (S No. 28/3: "Stand-In For Hercules!"). (TGSB)

In October 1956, [[Jimmy Olsen]] uses a "reincarnation machine" to revisit his past life in ancient Greece and uses his "signal flute" to summon his friend Hercules in order to capture a giant lion. However, the reincarnation machine soon proves to be a ruse used by conman [[Swami Rama]] to steal a container of precious radium that is in Jimmy's possession and Jimmy's memories of Hercules prove to be the result of "hypnotic suggestion" (SPJO No. 16/1: "The Three Lives of Jimmy Olsen").

In August 1960, "renegade scientist" [[Lex Luthor]], serving out a term in Bleak Rock Prison, constructs an ingenious "time ray" out of parts from an alarm clock and other everyday materials and uses it to draw the mighty Hercules "through the time-barrier" from the ancient past to Luthor's prison cell in the twentieth century. By duping the legendary hero into believing that he has been wrongfully imprisoned by "an evil king" who stole his [[Gold|gold]] and hid it underground, Luthor is able to trick Hercules into using his superhuman strength to break Luthor out of prison and help him loot [[Fort Knox]]. Ultimately, however, Hercules discovers that he has been duped into helping Luthor commit crimes, and he seizes the evil scientist and turns him over to Superman.

When the Man of Steel offers to return Hercules to his own era by carrying him back across the time barrier, Hercules asks if he might remain in Metropolis awhile "to observe your future civilization!" Superman consents, but suggests that Hercules adopt an alternate identity during his sojourn in the twentieth century so that he will not be mobbed by curiosity-seekers everywhere he goes. Superman rents Hercules a place to stay, buys him a wardrobe of modern clothes, and gets him a job as a newspaper reporter, under the pseudonym [[Roger Tate]], on the [[Daily Planet]].

An unforeseen complication arises, however, when "Roger Tate" becomes infatuated with [[Lois Lane]] and he begs her to marry him.

''"Great Olympia!"'' he thinks to himself. ''"Lois l-looks like a...a bewitching goddess!"''

When Lois declines, citing Superman as her true love:

"No one else can match '''Superman!'''", sighs Lois.

Hercules flexes his powerful muscles, totally demolishing his "Roger Tate" business-suit disguise, and stands revealed in the brief animal-skin costume of the mighty Hercules. ''"Behold!"'' proclaims Hercules. ''"I was the mightiest hero of my past age as Superman is of this age!"'' Nevertheless, Lois refuses to marry Hercules, explaining that ''"...Superman is still my big heart-throb!"''

Hurt at having been spurned by the woman he loves, yet determined to some how win her away from the Man of Steel, Hercules attempts, in the days that follow, to impress Lois with "mighty deeds" and feats of superhuman strength. It soon becomes apparent, however, that Hercules cannot hope to complete with Superman, for while Superman possesses many super-powers, Hercules only possesses superhuman strength. To rectify the imbalance, Hercules journeys to "The ancient Oracle's Cave," Near Athens, Greece, where he communicates with the ancient gods and heroes, including [[Venus]], [[Vulcan]], [[Mercury (God)|Mercury]], [[Zeus|Jupiter]], and [[Achilles (god)|Achilles]]. After misleading the ancients into believing that he has undertaken a noble "mission" in the twentieth century, Hercules tells them that his efforts are doomed to failure "unless I gain magic powers and weapons from all of you!"

"Granted, my son!" proclaims Jupiter, as the great gods and heroes reach out simultaneously to touch Hercules. ''"At our touch, our individual Olympus powers will flow into you! The magic weapons will appear later as you need them!..."''

''"Use the Olympus powers and magic weapons wisely, my son!"'' adds Jupiter. ''"Do not shame us! They must do good!"''

"Theyâ€™ll do good all right," thinks Hercules,"...for '''me'''! Ha, ha!"

Moments later, outside the ancient Oracle's Cave, Hercules launches himself into the sky to begin his journey back to America. ''â€œ"he first Olympus power from Mercury, the flying god, made winged sandals appear on my feet!"'' muses Hercules. ''"And my other magic powers will make me superior to Superman!"''

Later, back in Metropolis, Hercules gloats inwardly at the prospect of his coming battle with Superman. ''"Lois spurned me for [that] super wretch!"'' he thinks to himself. ''"But I'll crush Superman with my super-Olympus powers...!"'' (Act No. 267/1, Aug 1960: "Hercules in the 20th Century!").

Encountering Superman soon afterward at a local amusement park, Hercules avails himself of all the mighty Olympus powers at his command including the invulnerability of Achilles, the "magic flames" of Vulcan, and the "magic lighting bolts" of Jupiter, in an effort to humiliate and defeat the Man of Steel, but Superman successfully counters each new assault. Finally, however calling on the eerie power pf Apollo's magic flute, Hercules plays a "magic lullaby" that puts Superman into a deep sleep from which he will not awaken for 100 years. Lois Lane selflessly offers to marry Hercules if only he will awaken Superman from his hundred-year sleep, but at that moment, Venus, the goddess of love, appears on the scene. After angrily chastising Hercules for having used the Olympus powers to perform "bad deeds," Venus uses her own magic to awaken Superman from his magically induced slumber.

Moments later, by tricking Hercules into chasing after him at incredible superhuman speed, Superman lures the legendary warrior "across the time-barrier into the past," to the exact moment in time when the force of Luthor's time ray first began to draw him into the twentieth-century Metropolis for his battle with Superman (Act No. 268/1, Sep 1960: "Superman's Battle With Hercules!").

A text for August 1961 contains an "imaginary tale" [see: [[Imaginary Stories]]] in which Superman journeys into the past to the eras of Hercules and [[Samson]] and then returns with them through the time barrier to the 20th century Metropolis as potential mates for Lois Lane and [[Lana Lang]]. Smitten at first sight with the two lovely modern women, Hercules and Samson beg Lois and Lana to marry them, and Lois and Lana accept, but the women soon prove to be so bitchy, demanding and indecisive, and life with them promises to be such a continual torment, that the two heroes soon abandon their 20th century fiancÃ©es in favor of returning to their homes in the ancient past (Act No. 279/1, Aug 1961: "The Super-Rivals!").

In August 1962, [[Cosmic Man]] impersonates Hercules as part of an elaborate ruse, devised by Superman, for bring "notorious gang-leader" [[Duke Marple]] to justice (S No. 155/2, Aug 1962: "The Downfall of Superman!").

In January 1964, during a visit to an extradimensional "parallel world," [see: [[Parallel-Worlds]]] Superman encounters an extra dimensional counterpart of the Hercules who inhabits his own dimension. On this world, which is "an exact duplicate of the '''real''' Earth, except that certain events and situations are mixed up," Hercules bears a striking resemblance to the [[Goliath]] of Superman's world and even battles a shepherd boy much as the real Goliath fought David. The extra dimensional Hercules is vulnerable to [[Red Kryptonite]] much as Superman is vulnerable to [[Green Kryptonite]] and is required to perform only six Herculean labors as opposed to the traditional twelve. When the extradimensional Hercules is left weakened and feverish after an encounter with Red Kryptonite, Superman pitches in to help him fulfill his labors until Hercules has sufficiently recovered to perform the remaining ones himself (Act No. 308/1, Jan 1964: "Superman Meets the Goliath-Hercules!").

In January 1965, Superman battles and defeats a trio of extradimensional villains—endowed with superhuman strength as well as magical powers—who are perfect look-alikes for the Hercules, Samson, and [[Atlas]] who inhabit various past eras in Superman's own dimension (Act No. 320/1, Jan 1965: "The Three Super-Enemies!"). (TGSB)

== Hercules, in his many forms, has appeared in the following Superman Comics ==

*(S No. 28/3, May/Jun 1944: "Stand-In For Hercules!")
*(SPJO No. 16/1, Oct 1956: "The Three Lives of Jimmy Olsen")
*(Adv No. 257, Feb 1959: "The First Two Supermen!")
*(Act No. 267/1, Aug 1960: "Hercules in the 20th Century!")
*(Act No. 268/1, Sep 1960: "Superman's Battle With Hercules!")
*(Act No. 279/1, Aug 1961: "The Super-Rivals!")
*(S No. 155/2, Aug 1962: "The Downfall of Superman!")
*(Act No. 308/1, Jan 1964: "Superman Meets the Goliath-Hercules!")
*(Act No. 320/1, Jan 1965: "The Three Super-Enemies!")
*(Act No. 353/1, Aug 1967: "The Battle of the Gods!")
*(DCCP No. 57, May 1983: "Days of Future Past!")

==External Link==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules Wikipedia entry on Hercules]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Gods]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Imaginary Stories]]
[[Category:Parallel-Worlds]]
[[Category:Golden Age (1938-1955)]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

Green Kryptonite

2008-10-26T13:40:00Z

Super Monkey:

[[Image:Kfear.jpg|right]]

'''Green Kryptonite'''

''"What poison is to the average human being, Green Kryptonite is to [[Superman]]! Indeed, the only thing the [[Man of Steel]] has to fear in the entire universe is the ghastly green substance which was flung into space when the planet [[Krypton]] exploded!"'' (Act No. 291/1, Aug 1962: "The New Superman!")

When the planet Krypton exploded into fragments as the result of a cataclysmic chain reaction originating at the planet's core, all of Krypton's atomic elements "fused to become one deadly compound," a compound later to become known as [[Kryptonite|kryptonite]] (S No. 61/3, Nov/Dec 1949: 'Superman Returns to Krypton!"). Sent hurtling into outer space by the force of the cataclysm, these "dazzling particles" of the demolished planet, all "laden with cosmic energy," were scattered throughout the far reaches of the universe in the form of meteors and meteoric fragments, emitting a deadly radiation to which only [[Kryptonian]] survivors are vulnerable (Act No. 141, Feb 1950: "Luthor's Secret Weapon"), "When a radioactive chain reaction exploded my native planet Krypton, long ago," notes Superman in August 1960, "chunks of Green Kryptonite were formed! They scattered throughout space as meteors Their peculiar radioactive rays can bring kryptonite-fever and death to any person from Krypton...but are harmless to Earth people!" (S No. 139/3: "The Untold Story of Red Kryptonite!").

In the texts, Green Kryptonite is referred to as "the strange element given off by the explosion of the planet Krypton" (Act No. 141, Feb 1950: "Luthor's Secret Weapon"); "the deadly rock-like element from the exploded planet Krypton whose radiations can paralyze Superman" (Act No. 142, Mar 1950: "The Conquest of Superman!"); "the one substance.., that can overpower the Man of Steel" (Act No. 152, Jan 1951: "The Sleep That Lasted 1000 Years"); "the rare element, whose mysterious radiation is the only known force capable of overcoming Superman" (WF No. 50, Feb/Mar 1951: "Superman Super-Wrecker"); "a baleful new element whose rays affect only natives of Krypton" (Act No. 158, Jul 1951: "The Kid from Krypton!"); "the meteor metal caused by the explosion of Superman's native planet" (WF No. 56, Jan/Feb 1952: "The Superman Pageant!"); "the rare element from the shattered planet Krypton whose radiations have a deadly effect on Superman" (Act No. 174, Nov 1952: "The Man Who Shackled Superman!"); the "one element in all the universe can overcome" Superman (Act No. 181, Jun 1953: "The New Superman"); "the one substance that can destroy" Superman (Act No. 235, Dec 1957: "The Super-Prisoner of Amazon Island"); "the one substance in the universe feared by Superman" (Act No, 236, Jan 1958: "Superman's New Uniform!") and "Superman's one fatal flaw" (S No. 136/2, Apr 1960: "The Secret of Kryptonite!").

In the words of Superman No. 84/2 -- "Kryptonite, the radioactive particles of the former planet Krypton on which Superman was born, and which later exploded, is the one substance in the universe that can affect the mighty Man of Steel! Since kryptonite fragments still float in space after the explosion of the planet, some particles often find their way to Earth embedded in meteors" [Sep/Oct 1953: "A Doghouse for Superman!"].

"Bullets! ... Fire! ... Bombs!... Acid! I'm immune to them all!" muses Superman ruefully in July 1959. "But kryptonite is my [[Achilles (god)|Achilles]] heel ... the only substance in the universe that can harm me! It was originally formed years ago...when the planet Krypton, the world on which I was born, blew up! A nuclear chain-reaction converted every chunk of the exploding world into glowing green kryptonite!" (S No. 130/1: "The Curse of Kryptonite!").

More recent texts assert that the entire planet Krypton and every single thing on it was transformed into Kryptonite by the force of the cataclysm (Act No. 314/1, Jul 1964: "The Day Superman Became the Flash!"; and many others). Numerous earlier texts, however, maintain that whereas the planet itself was transformed into Kryptonite, its buildings and other artifacts of civilization were not (S No. 74/1, Jan/Feb 1952: "The Lost Secrets of Krypton!"; and many others).

Green Kryptonite is a radioactive (S No. 89/3, May 1954: "One Hour to Doom!") metal (WF No. 56, Jan/Feb 1952: "The Superman Pageant!") which is characterized by a distinctive "greenish glow" (Act No. 235, Dec 1957: "The Super-Prisoner of Amazon Island"; and others) and "has certain properties similar to [[radium]]" (Act No. 167, Apr 1952: "The Machines of Crime!"). Colored red in its initial textual appearance (S No. 61/3, Nov/Dec 1949: "Superman Returns to Krypton!"), Green Kryptonite has been colored green in every text since then. Although Action Comics No. 158 states flatly that "No substance will screen kryptonite's rays...not even [[Supermanium]]" (Jul 1951: "The Kid from Krypton!"), innumerable texts have maintained since then that Green Kryptonite radiations are unable to penetrate [[Lead|lead]] (S No. 92/3, Sep 1954: "Superman's Last Hour!"; and many others). It is interesting that though Superman may not be able to resist the effects of Green Kryptonite, or make himself generally immune to it as a substance, one account tells of [[Superboy]] gathering very specific pieces of Green Kryptonite so that he gains immunity to at least those particular chunk's deadliest effects -- in this case so he might use them to later battle Kryptonian criminals exiled in space before the [[Phantom Zone]] was used (SB No. 58/3, Jul 1957: "The Great Kryptonite Mystery").

In March-April 1954, Superman neutralizes the radioactivity of a Green Kryptonite meteor merely by plunging it into the ocean (WF No. 69: "Jor-El's Last Will!"), but the notion that the baleful effects of Kryptonite can be neutralized by seawater is contradicted by numerous other texts: "Ah! My X-ray vision shows a kryptonite meteor that fell to the sea bottom!" muses Superman in December 1958. "But to pick it up, I'll need the protection of lead, which alone can stop the deadly radiations!" (Act No. 247: "Superman's Lost Parents!"; and many others).

According to Action Comics No. 158, powerful acids and even man-made lightning cannot destroy Green Kryptonite (Jul 1951: "The Kid from Krypton!"), but Superman has successfully melted the substance with his X-ray vision (Act No. 252/1, May 1959: "The Menace of Metallo!"; and others) and Green Kryptonite meteors dissolve completely when subjected to the searing heat at the core of the sun (WF No. 61, Nov/Dec 1952: "Superman's Blackout"; see also Act No. 161, Oct 1951: "Exitâ€”Superman!"). The reason Green Kryptonite meteors do not burn up from air friction when they enter Earth's atmosphere is that "kryptonite can't combine chemically with oxygen, which causes combustion!" (S No. 130/1, Jul 1959: "The Curse of Kryptonite!"; see also Act No. 267/1, Aug 1960: "Hercules in the 20th Century!").

Assuming that the necessary advanced technology were available to utilize it, Green Kryptonite could become an invaluable source of atomic power. It retains its radioactivity "for centuries" (Act No. 161, Oct 1951: "Exitâ€”Superman!") and is described as a more potent power source than uranium (Act No. 252/1, May 1959: "The Menace of Metallo!"). Its principal drawback appears to be that it "crumbles and destroys any generator" in which it is utilized (Act No. 224, Jan 1957: "The Secret of Superman Island!"), but this has not prevented at least one group of extraterrestrial aliens from developing a powerful "rocket fuel composed of liquid green kryptonite" (Act No. 296/1, Jan 1963: "The Invasion of the Super-Ants!"). Green Kryptonite also has properties that nourish the development of certain forms of plant life (Act No. 169, Jun 1952: "Caveman Clark Kent!"). It also proves to be a key ingredient in the formula devised by [[Brainiac 5]] for a serum that helps [[Mon-El]] survive exposure to lead (Adv No. 316/2, Jan 1964: "Origins and Powers of the Legion of Super-Heroes!").

[[Image:Yumsyums.gif|thumb|Superman eats a now-inert piece of kryptonite.]]

In January 1971, [[Professor Bolder]] attempts to harness a "super chain-reaction" in Kryptonite in order to to generate electrical power. He fails and the uncontrolled feedback changes much of the Green Kryptonite on Earth to iron (S No. 233/1: "Superman Breaks Loose"). However, [[Synthetic Kryptonite]] and the many fragments of the material still in space remain.

Although numerous texts describe Green Kryptonite as an exceedingly rare substance (Act No. 181, Jun 1953: "The New Superman"; and many others), noting that â€œkryptonite meteors that [fall] on Earth are rareâ€ (Act No. 238, Mar 1958: "The Super-Gorilla from Krypton"), other texts, admittedly fewer in number, maintain that "kryptonite meteors often fall from space" (S No. 134, Jan 1960: chs. I-IIIâ€”"The Super-Menace of Metropolis!"; "The Revenge Against Jor-El!"; "The Duel of the Supermen!") and that "particles [of kryptonite] often find their way to Earth embedded in meteors!" (S No. 84/2, Sep/Oct 1953: "A Doghouse for Superman!"). On balance, however, the evidence of the texts is that Green Kryptonite is "very rare" and not easily acquired (S No. 128/1, Apr 1959: chs. I-IIâ€”"Superman versus the Futuremen"; "The Secret of the Futuremen"; and others).

It is presumably the relative scarcity of Green Kryptonite, combined with its crushingly debilitating effect on Superman, that has motivated a number of villains to find ways to synthesize it. [[Lex Luthor]] creates the first synthetic Kryptonite (Green) in February 1950 by ingeniously fusing together "a mammoth pearl from one of the giant oysters miles down under the sea"; "a couple of handfuls of dust from the dark side of the [[Moon|moon]]â€; "pollen from the man-eating homocessandi plant deep in the Asiatic jungles"; and "a bit of the rare chemical binarium, preserved in the soil by a thousand years of glacial frost" (Act No. 141: "Luthor's Secret Weapon").

[[Dr. Vallin]] devises a formula for synthesizing Green Kryptonite in January-February 1952 that calls for stockpiling [[gold]], silver, lead, and bismuth and then "fusing the...ore with acid and crackling electricity" (WF No. 56: "The Superman Pageant!").

A third method of synthesizing Kryptonite, successfully employed by Lex Luthor in August 1953, is based on Luthor's observation that:

''Each piece of metal that strikes Superman's invulnerable body undergoes a slight chemical change! To a minute degree, it acquires the properties of kryptonite, but its presence is so faint that it can only be detected by means of a spectroscope!''

''Kryptonite is the one material that can harm Superman! By refining tons of this metal, I'll be able to extract kryptonite---just as radium is obtained by refining tons of uranium ore!'' [Act No. 183: "The Perfect Plot to Kill Superman!"].

In addition, a [[Green Lantern Corps|Green Lantern]]'s power ring can create Green Kryptonite, but maintaining its existence and its radioactivity requires concentration by the ring's wielder (DCCP No. 26, Oct 1980: "Between Friend and Foe!").

[[Image:Green-Kryptonite.jpg|thumb|Green Kryptonite Rocks]]

Whether the Kryptonite is natural or synthetic, however, its effects on Superman are devastating, although they do vary according to the amount of kryptonite involved and Superman's distance from it. Large meteors produce the worst effects, but close proximity to even a small quantity of Green Kryptonite, such as a piece the size of a large decorative gem, is sufficient to make Superman feel "like a feeble old man," incapable of even touching the kryptonite without losing consciousness (S No. 61/3, Nov/Dec 1949: "Superman Returns to Krypton!").

"As soon as I approach kryptonite," observes Superman in April 1952, "I become weak!" (Act No. 167: "The Machines of Crime!"). Other texts refer to such symptoms as "dizzy spells," exhaustion, and grogginess (Act No. 169, Jun 1952: "Caveman Clark Kent!"; and many others); nausea (S No. 81/2, Mar/Apr 1953: "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Superman"); loss of consciousness (S No. 66/2, Sep/Oct 1950: "The Last Days of Superman!"; and many others); and temporary impairment—or even complete loss—of memory (S No. 71/1, Jul/Aug 1951: "Clark Kent's Super-Masquerade!"; and others). Typically, Superman's pupils become dilated, his pulse rate falls below normal, and his respiratory rate is reduced by half (S No. 66/2, Sep/Oct 1950: "The Last Days of Superman!").

If lured to within close proximity of a fairly large chunk of Green Kryptonite, such as a meteoric fragment about the size of a basketball, Superman suffers a nearly total loss of his super-strength accompanied by an agonizing semi-paralysis, referred to in the texts as a "kryptonite paralysis" (Act No. 218, Jul 1956: "The Super-Ape from Krypton"; and others) and the drastic diminution of all his super-powers.

For the effects of Kryptonite to prove fatal may take hours (S No. 92/3, Sep 1954: "Superman's Last Hour!"; and others) or even days, but gradually, under "constant exposure" to the kryptonite radiations, Supermanâ€™s "mighty body becomes emaciated and his keen mind grows dim..." (S No. 77/2, Jul/Aug 1952: "The Greatest Pitcher in the World!"; and others).

As the last vestiges of his mighty powers begin slowly waning, Superman "begins to feel pain from the steady exposure to the kryptonite," and he lapses into a potentially fatal "kryptonite fever," similar in many respects to that which afflicts ordinary people who have been "over-exposed to radium rays!" Even if drugs were available to treat the illness, they could not be injected, for "the hypodermic needles [would] only bend" against Superman's invulnerable skin.

"The kryptonite radiations will soon penetrate my otherwise invulnerable skin and change the red corpuscles of my bloodstream to green!" thinks Superman desperately in July 1959 as he suffers the agonizing effects of exposure to a Green Kryptonite meteor. "I'll become a victim of blood-poisoning!" (S No. 130/1: "The Curse of Kryptonite!").

Indeed, if Superman were not rescued from the baleful radiations in time, his body would begin to exude a greenish glow, like that of the deadly Kryptonite itself, and he would lapse into a coma and die. Superman has never succumbed to this terrible fate, but other Kryptonian survivors have, including [[King Krypton]] (Act No. 238, Mar 1958: "The Super-Gorilla from Krypton") and virtually all the inhabitants of [[Argo City]] (Act No. 252/2, May 1959: "The Supergirl from Krypton!").

Superman has, however, amazing recuperative powers. Although, on a number of occasions, he has remained physically weak for a short time after having suffered the effects of Kryptonite exposure (S No. 66/2, Sep/Oct 1950: "The Last Days of Superman!"; and others), in the vast majority of cases he recovers his full powers within moments after the debilitating Kryptonite has been removed from his presence (Act No. 141, Feb 1950: "Luthor's Secret Weapon"; and many others).

The texts are divided, however, on the question of whether Green Kryptonite radiations are capable of weakening Superman to the point of robbing of him of his invulnerability—thereby rendering him vulnerable to guns, bombs, and other ordinary weapons (WF No. 87, Mar/Apr 1957: "The Reversed Heroes!"; and others), or whether, as most texts dealing with this question contend, Superman retains his invulnerability despite prolonged exposure to kryptonite and can only be killed by the Kryptonite itself (Act No. 299/1, Apr 1963: "The Story of Superman's Experimental Robots!"; and many others).

In situations in which Superman has no superpowers, such as that which exists in October 1964, after the Man of Steel has been stripped of his powers by the baleful radiations of a mysterious green comet, he becomes immune to Green Kryptonite radiations until such time as his super-powers have been restored to him (S No. 172: pts. I-IIIâ€”"The New Superman!"; "Clark Kentâ€”Former Superman!"; "The Struggle of the Two Supermen!"; and others).

Once having been lured into a Kryptonite deathtrap, Superman has coped with the deadly substance in a variety of ways, such as by using his waning X-ray vision to melt an object containing lead around the kryptonite, thereby shielding himself from its radiations (S No. 145/1, May 1961: "The Secret Identity of Superman!"), or by burning a hole in the floor with his weakened X-ray vision in order to make the kryptonite fall safely out of life-threatening range (S No. 77/2, Jul/Aug 1952: "The Greatest Pitcher in the World!"). On one occasion, Superman successfully wards off the agonizing pain induced by Green Kryptonite exposure—albeit only for a few crucial moments—by literally hypnotizing himself into not feeling the pain (Act No. 278/1, Jul 1961: "The Super Powers of Perry White!").

Superman has had some success with melting small chunks of Kryptonite with his X-ray vision (Act No. 252/1, May 1959: "The Menace of Metallo!"), but this technique is inadequate for dealing with larger masses of the substance, such as, for example, an entire Kryptonite meteor or meteorite (Act No. 254/1, Jul 1959: "The Battle with Bizarro!"; S No. 130/1, Jul 1959: "The Curse of Kryptonite!").

[[Image:GreenKimmunity.jpg|left]]

Because Green Kryptonite is the bane of his existence, Superman has conducted numerous experiments in search of an antidote, but all his efforts have ended in failure (Act No. 158, Jul 1951: "The Kid from Krypton!"; and others). He has also experimented with building up an immunity to the substance through controlled exposure to it, but these attempts, too, have been unsuccessful (S No. 84/2, Sep/Oct 1953: "A Doghouse for Superman!"). Superman has, however, successfully devised a suit of special lead armor to enable him to experiment with the substance (Act No. 241, Jun 1958: "The Super-Key to Fort Superman"; Act No. 249, Feb 1959: "The Kryptonite Man!") as well as a special "kryptonite detector" (Act No. 243, Aug 1958: "The Lady and the Lion"), also referred to as a "K-detector", which "detects kryptonite as a Geiger counter does uranium" (Act No. 158, Jul 1951: "The Kid from Krypton!").

For handling Green Kryptonite without his special lead armor, Superman has employed remote-controlled robots (Act No. 158, Jul 1951: "The Kid from Krypton!"), gigantic shovels (S No. 71, Jul/Aug 1951: "Clark Kent's Super-Masquerade!") and tongs (S No. 113, May 1957: chs. 1-3â€”"The Superman of the Past"; "The Secret of the Towers"; "The Superman of the Present"; and others), and other special tools (S No. 115/2, Aug 1957: "Jimmy Olsen's Lost Pal"; and others) designed to enable him to handle, or dispose of, the Kryptonite without venturing too close to it. According to Superman No. 130/1, Superman remains safe from harm as long as he remains "at least 100 feet from the radiations ..." (Jul 1959: "The Curse of Kryptonite!").

In April 1958, Superman finds the secret of his dual identity in jeopardy after a bizarre series of circumstances, culminating in the explosion of an experimental atomic generator, has cause tiny fragments of Kryptonite to become embedded in his forehead, spelling out the name of [[Clark Kent]].

For a time Superman is compelled to hide his face, first with cloth bandages and later with a metal mask, to avoid people seeing it and learning his secret. Ultimately, he succeeds in burning the Kryptonite particles out of his skin by deliberately exposing himself to an awesome atomic explosion in space, described by the text as "the mightiest atomic explosion of all time" (Act No. 239: "Superman's New Face!").

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Superboy Era]]
[[Category:Kryptonite]]
[[Category:Golden Age (1938-1955)]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

Zha-Vam

2008-10-26T13:37:28Z

Super Monkey:

[[Image:Zha-Vam.jpg|thumb|Action Comics No. 351 by Curt Swan]]

'''Zha-Vam'''

Zha-Vam is one of most fearsome opponents to ever challenge [[Superman]], an amalgamation of the power and arrogance of the Olympian gods. In the distant past, the [[Oracle of Delphi]] shows the mighty gods [[Zeus]], [[Hercules]], [[Achilles (god)|Achilles]], [[Vulcan]], [[Apollo]], and [[Mercury (God)|Mercury]] that because of Superman's future heroism, the gods will be forgotten and the people of Earth will come to hail the Man of Tomorrow in their stead. Shocked by this vision, the gods convince [[Prometheus]] to mold a figure of clay and they transform it into a mighty and powerful titan named Zha-Vam, an ultimate champion to defeat and humiliate Superman. Zha-Vam's name signifies the first letters of the names of the six jealous Olympian gods and heroes who inbue him with their separate powers. The gods also give Zha-Vam a magic belt with which he can summon the abilities of the immortals of many ancient lands simply by pressing a corresponding letter on the belt. In addition, Zha-Vam constructs a [[Kryptonite]] sock to protect his "Achille's Heel" and preserve his invulnerability.

When Zha-Vam springs to the 20th century to engage the [[Man of Steel]], Superman discovers that all his powers are not enough to defeat him and silence the gloating gods. However, after Superman travels to the past to discover the source of Zha-Vam's origin (in order to even the odds), he enlists the aid of Zeus's jealous rivals, including [[Pluto]], [[Neptune]], and the titan [[Atlas]]. They give Superman a unique magic belt of his own to use against Zha-Vam, helping the Man of Tomorrow to finally defeat him and lay his beaten body at the feet of the shocked Olympians (Act No. 351, Jun 1967: "Zha-Vam the Invincible!"; Act No. 352, Jul 1967: "The Victory of Zha-Vam!"; Act No. 353, Aug 1967: "The Battle of the Gods!").

(See also [[Marvel Family of Earth-S]]; [[Captain Thunder]])

== Zha-Vam appeared in the following Comics ==

*Act No. 351, Jun 1967: "Zha-Vam the Invincible!"
*Act No. 352, Jul 1967: "The Victory of Zha-Vam!"
*Act No. 353, Aug 1967: "The Battle of the Gods!"
*S No. 214, Feb 1969: "The Ghosts That Haunted Superman!"

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Gods]]
[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]

John Achilles

2008-10-26T13:36:51Z

Super Monkey: added link

[[Image:John_Achilles.jpg|thumb|John Achilles]]

'''John Achilles'''

A self-proclaimed descendant of the legendary [[Achilles (god)|Achilles]], his right foot encased in a thick steel box for the ostensible protection of his Achilles' heel, who establishes himself as the leader of [[Metropolis]]'s most notorious criminals by claiming to possess the near-invincibility of his ancient ancestor and by demonstrating his apparent invulnerability to their knives and guns. In reality, however, John Achilles is merely an archaeologist turned criminal, and the steel box covering his right foot merely the housing for an ingenious "magnetic repeller" whose powerful "magnetic field repels all metal missiles," thereby rendering Achilles invulnerable to all metal weapons. Cornered finally by [[Superman]] in March-April 1950, Achilles drowns when he leaps into a river and is dragged beneath the surface by the weight of the metal box attached to his foot (S No. 63/1: "Achilles ''versus'' Superman!").

Superman No. 148/1 (Oct 1961: "The 20th Century Achilles!") is in many respects similar to this story. (See [[Achilles]].) (TGSB)

[[Category:Entries|Achilles, John]]
[[Category:People|Achilles, John]]
[[Category:Criminals|Achilles, John]]
[[category:Golden Age (1938-1955)|Achilles, John]]

Achilles (god)

2008-10-26T13:35:19Z

Super Monkey: New page: '''Achilles (god)''' The son of a mortal and a sea nymph, Achilles has shared his super-powers with such people as Zha-Vam, Superman, and Captain Marvel of Earth-S. As expres...

'''Achilles (god)'''

The son of a mortal and a sea nymph, Achilles has shared his super-powers with such people as [[Zha-Vam]], [[Superman]], and [[Captain Marvel of Earth-S]]. As expressed in Zha-Vam, his invulnerabilty is formidable, however, the weakness of his heel is exploited when a protective green kryptonite sock is lost in a tussle after Superman summons the titan [[Atlas]] (Act No. 351, Jun 1967: "Zha-Vam the Invincible!"; Act No. 352, Jul 1967: "The Victory of Zha-Vam!"; Act No. 353, Aug 1967: "The Battle of the Gods!").

See also [[Achilles]] and [[John Achilles]]

== External Links ==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achilles Achilles's wikipedia entry]
*[http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/achilles.html Achilles's pantheon entry]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Gods]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]

Achilles

2008-10-26T13:33:27Z

Super Monkey:

'''Achilles'''

[[Image:Achilles.jpg|left|thumb|Achilles circa 1950]]

The alias employed by a modern-day criminal, one foot encased in a heavy lead box for the ostensible protection of his Achille's heel, who establishes himself as the leader of a gang of [[Metropolis]] bank robbers by claiming to possess the near-invincibility of his ancient namesake--the result, he claims, of having been dipped, at infancy, in a fountain of "magic water" from the River Styx--and by demonstrating his apparent invulnerability to their tommy guns, knives, axes, and crowbars. In reality, however, Achilles is merely an ordinary criminal, and the lead box covering his foot merely the housing for "a powerful anti-magnet device" capable of repelling "all metal objects," thereby rendering Achilles invulnerable to all metal weapons. Aided by members of the Metropolis Police Department, [[Superman]] apprehends Achilles and his cohorts in October 1961 (S No. 148/1: "The 20th Century Achilles!"). The story is in many respects similar to Superman No. 63/1 (Mar/Apr 1950: "Achilles 'versus' Superman!"). (''See'' [[John Achilles]].) (TGSB)

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Criminals]]
[[Category:Golden Age (1938-1955)]]

Floyd Frisby

2008-10-26T13:31:28Z

Super Monkey: New page: '''Floyd Frisby''' A fugitive racketeer who is finally apprehended in the jungles of South America by Batman, Robin, and Superman in August 1960, despite the complications tha...

'''Floyd Frisby'''

A fugitive racketeer who is finally apprehended in the jungles of South America by [[Batman]], [[Robin]], and [[Superman]] in August 1960, despite the complications that arise when Superman, in the midst of his hunt for Frisby, becomes afflicted with temporary amnesia after absorbing the full force of a volcanic explosion and is persuaded by local natives that he is in reality their legendary king, returned to rebuild and rule over their crumbling ancient city (WF No. 111: â€œSupermanâ€™s Secret Kingdom!â€) (TGSB).

[[Category:Entries|Frisby, Floyd]]
[[Category:People|Frisby, Floyd]]
[[Category:Criminals|Frisby, Floyd]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)|Frisby, Floyd]]

Floyd Fowler

2008-10-25T01:30:04Z

Super Monkey: New page: '''Floyd Fowler''' An unscrupulous, opportunistic individual who, having established that Clark Kent is Superman by comparing Kent’s fingerprints with those of the infant Superm...

'''Floyd Fowler'''

An unscrupulous, opportunistic individual who, having established that [[Clark Kent]] is [[Superman]] by comparing Kentâ€™s fingerprints with those of the infant Superman found embedded in a fragment of the rocket ship that first brought him to Earth from [[Krypton]], successfully blackmails Superman into making him a millionaire by threatening to expose the secret of his dual identity. When Fowler reneges on his part of the bargain, however, by refusing to relinquish possession of the incriminating rocket fragment, Superman retaliates by depriving Fowler of his newly acquired wealth and then alters the fingerprint evidence with his X-ray vision to make it appear that Fowler has erred in identifying Clark Kent with Superman (S No. 100/3, Sep 1955: â€œThe Clue from Kryptonâ€) (TGSB).

[[Category:Entries|Fowler, Floyd]]
[[Category:People|Fowler, Floyd]]
[[Category:Criminals|Fowler, Floyd]]
[[Category:Golden Age (1938-1955)|Fowler, Floyd]]

Supermanica:Current events

2008-10-24T22:55:17Z

Super Monkey: /* Many Entries have the Quote Marks Replaced by Code */

''Old non-current "current events" are archived [[Supermanica:Current_events/Archive_1|here]].''

==Many Entries have the Quote Marks Replaced by Code==

I'm afraid they might all have to be changed by hand. See the Superman or Krypton pages for examples.--[[User:MatterEaterLad|MatterEaterLad]] 05:09, 22 October 2008 (UTC)

This has now been now corrected. --[[User:Super Monkey|Super Monkey]] 22:55, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

==Categories==

I've started a thread on SupermanFan [http://www.supermanfan.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=486&pid=5380&st=0&#entry5380] on Supermanica categories. Please feel free to throw in an opinion. Thanks. --[[User:MatterEaterLad|MatterEaterLad]] 21:49, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

==Supermanica FAQs/Website Contact==

Do you have any questions about the Supermanica? Just post them at the current parent site:
[http://www.supermanfan.net/forum/index.php?act=idx SupermanFan.net]

Important links:

*https://www.supermanthroughtheages.com/wiki/index.php/Supermanica:About
*https://www.supermanthroughtheages.com/wiki/index.php/Add_a_new_article
*https://www.supermanthroughtheages.com/wiki/index.php/Canonical_sources
*https://www.supermanthroughtheages.com/wiki/index.php/Supermanica:Community_Portal
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*https://www.supermanthroughtheages.com/wiki/index.php/Supermanica:Help

Please follow the rules of this site, every rule has been carefully crafted and heavily debated by the most knowledgeable fans in the world. The rules all exist for a reason. Please respect them. If you don't agree, you can always debate them at the forum. But if you decide you somehow know better than everyone else and decide to break them and are told to stop and you keep doing it, you are a troll and you clearly don't belong here, so you will be banned.

[[Category:Supermanica]]

Henry Furst

2008-10-23T10:37:05Z

Super Monkey: fixed code

'''Henry Furst'''

The fiery old newspaper tycoon who, by fair means and foul, built the nationwide chain of Furst newspapers, a man of few scruples and fabulous wealth who has for years pursued, to the point of obsession, the secret of [[Superman]]'s identity.

In February 1958, after imbibing a new formula that imitates the symptoms of approaching death, Furst summons [[Clark Kent]] to his deathbed and successfully tricks him into revealing his identity by invoking the solemnity of a dying man's last request. Fortunately for Superman, however, the drug Furst took had hallucinatory side-effects, and Furst recovers from its influence with only a mistaken recollection of what Clark Kent revealed to him (Act No. 237: Superman's Exposed Identity) (TGSB).

[[Category:Entries|Furst, Henry]]
[[Category:People|Furst, Henry]]
[[Category:Pests|Furst, Henry]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)|Furst, Henry]]

Satan

2008-10-23T01:04:28Z

Super Monkey:

[[Image:Supersatan.jpg|left]]
As part of a masquerade party, [[Clark Kent]], who is secretly [[Superman]], dressed as the lord of the underworld, Satan. During the party, using his telescopic vision, spots the mobster gang leaders Duke Haskell and Lefty Montez and gets inspired to acquire the elusive evidence in order to put the two criminals in jail.

Superman, disguised as Satan, crushes some rocks in his powerful hands and extracts inflammable [[magnesium]] dust from the rocks, which he uses to create a puff of smoke for his grand appearance in front of the two crooks. Satan offers to strike a deal with the two gangsters and of course, the two greedy thugs agree. Satan tells them that he will grant them three wishes, for a price.

The two greedy crime chiefs ask for one million dollars in cash, a king's ransom in diamonds, and a terrific, perfect hideout where the law would never be able to enter and grab them. Satan, who is really Superman, begins to work his plan; first, he spots two counterfeiters and uses his vacuum breath to suck the fake cash to the two hoodlums. Next Satan burrows underground and locates some coal deposits and super squeezes them into large diamonds. Finally, he hurls them down into the fiery pits of hell! Of course, it is not really hell, but in fact the depths of a dying volcano. The two superstitious criminals however beg to be return to Earth, which Satan agrees to do if they would write down every crime that they ever committed and name the pals who help them. After the two criminal chiefs do just that, Satan reveals himself as the one and only [[Man of Steel]], Superman!

Superman proceeds to take them to the [[Metropolis]] Police Station where he hands them over along with the list, which serves as the evidence needed to put the two rats in jail for a very long time (S No. 138, Jul 1960: "Superman's Black Magic!").

==External Link==

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan Wikipedia entry on Satan]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Aliases]]
[[Category:Superman's Aliases]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]

Main Page

2008-10-22T10:42:54Z

Super Monkey:

<center>
[[Image:Supermanicalogo.jpg]] 
a free and collaborative open-source project that '''you''' can participate in! 
''As of {{CURRENTDAYNAME}}, {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} {{CURRENTTIME}} we are currently working on a total of {{NUMBEROFARTICLES}} articles!''
</center>
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{| border=0 cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center"
| style="background:silver; color:white" align="center" |
[[Image:Supersatan.jpg]]
|style="background:silver; color:black" align="center" |
'''Featured article:''' 
'''[[Satan]]''' 
''?????????????????? ''
|}
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Welcome to '''Supermanica''', a wiki focusing on the characters, events, and locations of the classic Superman comic books.

Supermanica, The Encyclopedia of Supermanic Biography, is an associate site of '''[https://www.supermanthroughtheages.com/ "Superman Through the Ages!"]'''

A [[Supermanica:About|bit of an explanation]] about Supermanica.

Browse the [[:Category:Entries|Supermanica entries]] to date, or see the more complete listing of [[Special:Allpages|all the articles]] on this website.

Interested people are [[Supermanica:About|welcome to contribute]].
----
'''''[http://superman.nu Superman.nu]''' is home to two encyclopedias:''
''You are currently browsing '''Supermanica''', specifically covering the pre-1986 comic books with {{NUMBEROFARTICLES}} articles;''
''The other encyclopedia is the '''[https://www.supermanthroughtheages.com/theages/encyc/ Superman Through the Ages! Encyclopedia]''', which has only a handful of articles and may include material from any era and any media''

[[Category:Supermanica]]

Satan

2008-10-22T10:42:25Z

Super Monkey:

[[Image:Supersatan.jpg|left]]
As part of a masquerade party, [[Clark Kent]], who is secretly [[Superman]], dressed as the lord of the underworld, Satan. During the party, using his telescopic vision, spots the mobster gang leaders Duke Haskell and Lefty Montez and gets inspired to acquire the elusive evidence in order to put the two criminals in jail.

Superman, disguised as Satan, crushes some rocks in his powerful hands and extracts inflammable [[magnesium]] dust from the rocks, which he uses to create a puff of smoke for his grand appearance in front of the two crooks. Satan offers to strike a deal with the two gangsters and of course, the two greedy thugs agree. Satan tells them that he will grant them three wishes, for a price.

The two greedy crime chiefs ask for one million dollars in cash, a kingâ€™s ransom in diamonds, and a terrific, perfect hideout where the law would never be able to enter and grab them. Satan, who is really Superman, begins to work his plan; first, he spots two counterfeiters and uses his vacuum breath to suck the fake cash to the two hoodlums. Next Satan burrows underground and locates some coal deposits and super squeezes them into large diamonds. Finally, he hurls them down into the fiery pits of hell! Of course, it is not really hell, but in fact the depths of a dying volcano. The two superstitious criminals however beg to be return to Earth, which Satan agrees to do if they would write down every crime that they ever committed and name the pals who help them. After the two criminal chiefs do just that, Satan reveals himself as the one and only [[Man of Steel]], Superman!

Superman proceeds to take them to the [[Metropolis]] Police Station where he hands them over along with the list, which serves as the evidence needed to put the two rats in jail for a very long time (S No. 138, Jul 1960: "Superman's Black Magic!").

==External Link==

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan Wikipedia entry on Satan]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Aliases]]
[[Category:Superman's Aliases]]
[[Category:Silver Age (1956-1970)]]

Don-El

2008-10-03T10:55:26Z

Super Monkey:

'''Don-El'''

Don-El is son of Dondra Klu-Ta and [[Nim-El]], who is the twin brother of [[Jor-El]]. Don-El is therefore [[Superman]]'s cousin. Don-El resides in the bottle-city of [[Kandor]]. Don-El helps Superman as the captain of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] (SA No. 5, Sum 1962). When outside of Kandor, Don-El has the same superpowers of Superman.

See also: [[House of El]]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Aliens]]
[[Category:Kryptonians]]
[[Category:Kandorians]]
[[Category:House of El]]

Don-El

2008-10-03T10:54:15Z

Super Monkey: will add more info at a later time

'''Don-El'''

Don-El is son of Dondra Klu-Ta and [[Nim-El]], who twin brother of [[Jor-El]]. Don-El is therefore [[Superman]]'s cousin. Don-El resides in the bottle-city of [[Kandor]]. Don-El helps Superman as the captain of the [[Supermen Emergency Squad]] (SA No. 5, Sum 1962). When outside of Kandor, Don-El has the same superpowers of Superman.

See also: [[House of El]]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Aliens]]
[[Category:Kryptonians]]
[[Category:Kandorians]]
[[Category:House of El]]

Kryptonite Man

2008-10-03T03:17:13Z

Super Monkey:

'''The Kryptonite Man'''

There have been two separate individuals that [[Superman]] has encountered in the course of his adventures who have used the name '''The Kryptonite Man'''.

The first of these individuals begins his career as the [[Kryptonite Kid]] and later appears in the chronicles as an adult.

The second being to use the name the Kryptonite Man had been the ruler of a race of humanoids who inhabited Krypton eons before Superman's ancestors. When a nearby cosmic body threatened life on Krypton, the Kryptonite Man, whose real name is never given, sends all of his people into stasis deep underground, while he himself remains on the highest mountain peek, to act as their guardian. He is then placed in suspended animation for what is to be 20 years, at which time, he will awaken to determine if the planet is habitable once again. For some unknown reason, the machinery fails, and the unnamed ruler slept for over a thousand years. Unfortunately, the very day he awakens, is the day Krypton explodes.

The mountain that the unnamed ruler's observatory is located on is sent into space, and somehow, the king is able to feed off of the kryptonite radiation produced by this event. He eventually becomes dependent upon these energies to sustain his life, weakening outside of its influence.

This Kryptonite Man blames the human inhabitants (Superman's race) for the death of Krypton, never realizing that it was a natural disaster. Eventually, after the kryptonite radiation of the mountain begins to fade, the Kryptonite Man encounters a race known as the [[Seeders]]. For unknown reasons, the ships of this race produce radiation similar enough to kryptonite radiation, that Kryptonite Man is able to survive.

The Kryptonite Man discovers the existence of human Kryptonians on Earth, and stealing a Seeder ship, travels there to confront, and kill them. He attacks Superman, but their battle is interrupted by the Seeders, who take offense to the Kryptonite Man's theft. Eventually, the Kryptonite Man sacrifices himself to prevent the Seeders from destroying the Earth in their zeal to kill him, killing the Seeders along with him (S No. 397, Jul 1984: "The Born-Again Kryptonite Man!").

==External Links==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kryptonite_Man Wikipedia Entry on Kryptonite Kid/Man]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Kryptonite]]
[[Category:Aliens]]
[[Category:Kryptonians]]
[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

Main Page

2008-10-03T00:19:31Z

Super Monkey:

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[[Image:Supermanicalogo.jpg]] 
a free and collaborative open-source project that '''you''' can participate in! 
''As of {{CURRENTDAYNAME}}, {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} {{CURRENTTIME}} we are currently working on a total of {{NUMBEROFARTICLES}} articles!''
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'''Featured article:''' 
'''[[Legion of Super-Villains]]''' 
''An organization of super-criminals from the 30th century A.D ''
|}
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Welcome to '''Supermanica''', a wiki focusing on the characters, events, and locations of the classic Superman comic books.

Supermanica, otherwise known as "The Encyclopedia of Supermanic Biography," is a section of '''[https://www.supermanthroughtheages.com/ "Superman Through the Ages!"]'''

A [[Supermanica:About|bit of an explanation]] about Supermanica.

Browse the [[:Category:Entries|Supermanica entries]] to date, or see the more complete listing of [[Special:Allpages|all the articles]] on this website.

Interested people are [[Supermanica:About|welcome to contribute]].
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'''''[http://superman.nu Superman.nu]''' is home to two encyclopedias:''
''You are currently browsing '''Supermanica''', a wiki specifically covering the pre-1986 comic books with {{NUMBEROFARTICLES}} articles;''
''The other encyclopedia is the '''[https://www.supermanthroughtheages.com/theages/encyc/ Superman.nu Encyclopedia]''', which has only a handful of articles and may include material from any era and any media''

[[Category:Supermanica]]

Effron the Sorcerer

2008-10-03T00:16:22Z

Super Monkey:

'''Effron the Sorcerer'''

An evil sorcerer who comes from the magical kingdom of Veliathan. Effron controls a faceless puppet army. He has faced [[Superman]] and [[Green Arrow]] in battle.

== Appearances in the Chronicles ==

*WF No. 210, Mar 1972: "World of Faceless Slaves!"
*Act No. 437, Jul 1974: "Magic Bustin' Out All Over!"

==External Links==

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effron_the_Sorcerer Effron the Sorcerer Wikipedia Entry]
*[http://www.theweekmagazine.com/article.aspx?id=1337 Effron the Sorcerer article]

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:Magic]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]

Doctor Sivana of Earth-S

2008-10-03T00:12:57Z

Super Monkey:

'''The World's Wickedest Scientist!'''

[[Image:Doctor-Sivana.jpg|thumb|DCCPA No. 3 art by Gil Kane]]

Doctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana is the most evil and mad scientist of [[Earth-S]] (first appearance: Whiz Comics No. 2, Feb 1940: "Introducing Captain Marvel")!

In 1984, when a massive robot begins to attack New York City, [[Superman]] appears to do battle with the robot. Using his X-ray vision Superman discovers that the robot is being controlled by Doctor Sivana. Superman defeats and destroys the robot; however, Doctor Sivana manages to escape capture and returns to Earth-S. When he arrives on Earth-S, he goes to the [[Rock of Eternity]] and manages to place the great wizard [[Shazam of Earth-S|Shazam]] in a deep temporary trance.

Doctor Sivana flies over [[Fawcett City of Earth-S|Fawcett City]] and makes an announcement that if [[Captain Marvel of Earth-S|Captain Marvel]] does not meet him in a duel, that Fawcett City would be vaporized. Upon hearing this horrible announcement, [[Billy Batson of Earth-S|Billy Batson]] leaves radio station [[WHIZ]], and says SHAZAM! However, Doctor Sivana uses a devilish machine to split the Billy Batsonâ€™s magic lightning bolt into two. One turns Billy Batson into Captain Marvel, the other fork hits Sivana and turns him into Captain Sivana! Captain Marvel battles Captain Sivana and Captain Marvel is defeated.

Captain Sivana then tries to escape with an unconscious Captain Marvel, but is pursued by [[Captain Marvel, Jr. of Earth-S|Captain Marvel, Jr.]] and [[Mary Marvel of Earth-S|Mary Marvel]], in order to distract them, he throws his ship at them, which allows him to escape to the Rock of Eternity with Captain Marvel.

At the Rock of Eternity, Sivana reveals his terrible secret, which is that he did not just take half of Captain Marvelâ€™s powers, but all of the deities' better traits, leaving poor Captain Marvel with only their weak traits, which is why he was able to defeat him. He then traps the weakened Captain Marvel in a makeshift cave.

When Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel, Jr. finally arrive at the Rock of Eternity, Captain Sivana uses the combine intellect of his advance scientific brain and the Wisdom of Solomon to defeat them by tricking Captain Marvel, Jr. to fly into the future and Mary Marvel to go into the past. Captain Sivana is so proud of the fiendish feat that he promotes himself to Colonel Sivana, and now with Earth-Sâ€™s heroes defeated, he decides to defeat Superman on [[Earth-1]] so that he cannot interfere in his ghastly plans of conquest.

Colonel Sivana attempts to travel to Earth-1 but he mistakenly arrives at [[Earth-2]] instead, where the [[Daily Planet]] is replaced by the [[Daily Star]]. While there Colonel Sivana does battle with the [[Superman of Earth-2]], and defeats him with ease. He then decides to chain the Earth-2 Superman to a massive [[Kryptonite]] meteor, grabs a small chuck for himself, and leaves him to die. After this great victory, Colonel Sivana promotes himself yet again, and now refers to himself as General Sivana.

Meanwhile, on Earth-1, [[Clark Kent]] and [[Lana Lang]] are preparing to tape that nightâ€™s [[WGBS]] News broadcast, when General Sivana crashes through the wall, "knocking out" Clark Kent in the process. General Sivana forces Lana Lang to send a broadcast to the people of Earth-1, that General Sivana is now the new ruler of Earth! Clark Kent of course was not really knocked out, changes to Superman, and begins to do battle with General Sivana. General Sivana is unable to get the upper hand on the more powerful Superman of this world, that is until he exposes Superman to the chuck of Kryptonite he took from Earth-2, and he begins to brutally beat up the weakened Superman.

Poor Captain Marvel has been watching all these events unfold but he has been unable to escape his prison. Suddenly Captain Marvelâ€™s deities begin to communicate with him and inform him that his powers can never be fully taken away as long as he believes in himself. Therefore, after this pep talk, Captain Marvel finally breaks free of his prison and flies to Earth-1 to save Superman, who is nearly killed by General Sivana, until Captain Marvel saves the day. Captain Marvel tells Superman about the dying Superman of Earth-2 and Superman flies off to save his Earth-2 counterpart.

Due to the incredible shock waves caused by Captain Marvelâ€™s mighty punches on General Sivana, the wizard Shazam is finally awakened from his slumber at the Rock of Eternity. After Shazam realizes what has been transpiring with Sivana, he strips him of all his magical powers and Sivana is then finally defeated by Captain Marvel. Soon thereafter, the Supermen of Earths 1 and 2 arrive on Earth-1 along with Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel, Jr., the two of whom take Sivana back to Earth-S to pay for his crimes. Superman of Earth-2 departs to Earth-2 and Captain Marvel and Superman bid each other farewell and shake hands before Captain Marvel returns to Earth-S (DCCPA No. 3, 1984: "With One Magic Word!").

==External Links==

[http://marvelfamily.com/WhosWho/whoswho.asp?castid=11 Sivana's entry at the Marvel Family Web]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Sivana Wikipedia entry on Sivana]

[[category:Entries|Sivana, Doctor, of Earth-S]]
[[category:People|Sivana, Doctor, of Earth-S]]
[[category:Scientists|Sivana, Doctor, of Earth-S]]
[[category:Villains|Sivana, Doctor, of Earth-S]]
[[Category:Parallel-Worlds|Sivana, Doctor, of Earth-S]]
[[category:Earth-S|Sivana, Doctor, of Earth-S]]
[[category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)|Sivana, Doctor, of Earth-S]]

Earth-C

2008-10-03T00:07:06Z

Super Monkey:

'''Earth-C'''

One of the countless [[Parallel-Worlds]] that [[Superman]] has encountered in his adventures. Earth-C is a world populated by sentient animals instead of humans and is home of [[Captain Carrot]] and his amazing [[Zoo Crew]].

[[Category:Entries]]
[[Category:Parallel-Worlds]]
[[Category:Planets]]
[[Category:Bronze Age (1971-1986)]]