Jump to content

Ultraman (DC Comics)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the DC Comics supervillain. For the 1940s era All-American Comics superheroes, see Ultra-Man. For the DC Comics teenage superhero, see Ultra Boy. For the Tsuburaya superhero, see Ultraman.
Ultraman
The Pre-Crisis Earth-Three Ultraman as depicted in Convergence: Crime Syndicate #1 (April 2015). Art by Phil Winslade (pencils and inks) and Lovern Kindzierski (colors).
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceJustice League of America #29 (August 1964)
Created byGardner Fox
Mike Sekowsky
(based upon Superman by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster)
In-story information
Alter egoClark Kent
Kal-ll (New 52 Earth 3)
Kal-El (Infinite Frontier Earth 3)
Team affiliationsCrime Syndicate of America (Earth-Three)
Crime Syndicate (Qward)
Crime Syndicate of Amerika (Anti-Matter Earth)
Crime Society of America (Earth-3)
Abilities
See list
    • Superhuman strength, endurance, hearing, speed, agility and reflexes
    • Superhuman vision
      • Heat vision
      • Electromagnetic spectrum vision
      • Microscopic vision
      • X-ray vision
      • Telescopic vision
      • Infrared vision
    • Superhuman breath
      • Freeze and wind breath
      • Accelerated healing
    • Invulnerability
    • Flight

Ultraman is a supervillain appearing in stories published by DC Comics. The character is an evil alternate-universe counterpart of Superman. Ultraman first appeared in Justice League of America #29 (August 1964).[1]

Publication history

[edit]

Ultraman first appeared as the evil counterpart of Superman on the original Earth-Three.[2] Having created the worlds of Earth-One, containing Silver Age superheroes, as well as Earth-Two, containing the Golden Age ones, DC Comics decided to expand the universe to include various themed universes. The first of these was Earth-Three, in which there were villainous counterparts of DC's heroes as well as heroic counterparts of DC's villains. Ultraman is seemingly killed in Crisis on Infinite Earths when Earth-Three is destroyed by an anti-matter wave. Following this, Ultraman appears in Animal Man and Infinite Crisis.

Post-Crisis, in Grant Morrison's JLA: Earth 2 graphic novel, Ultraman is portrayed as existing in an anti-matter universe. He is later slain at the conclusion of the Final Crisis series.

Following the New 52 reboot, the character was reintroduced when a new Earth-3 universe was created.[3]

Ultraman also appears in the Infinite Crisis and Convergence events.[4]

Following the reboot of the multiverse after Dark Nights: Death Metal, a new Earth-3 with Ultraman is created.

Fictional character biography

[edit]

Pre-Crisis

[edit]

Ultraman exists in the universe of Earth-3. Unlike Superman, Ultraman is empowered by green kryptonite, developing a new superpower with each new exposure. In one such encounter, Ultraman gains the ability to see through dimensional barriers, making the Crime Syndicate aware of the multiverse. This allows the Syndicate to attack the Justice League and Justice Society of Earth-1. Ultraman differs from Superman in that his version of the planet Krypton has not exploded.

Ultraman allies with Lex Luthor of Earth-One and Alexei Luthor of Earth-Two in an unsuccessful attempt to eliminate their respective Supermen.[5] Later, Ultraman and the Crime Syndicate ally with Per Degaton, who uses them in his attempt to conquer Earth-Two by stealing nuclear missiles.

Saturn Queen rescues Ultraman from the Anti-Monitor's destruction of Earth-3 and brainwashes him to serve her.[6] Following this, he learns of his status as a fictional character.[7]

Early Modern Age

[edit]
Antimatter Clark Kent as Ultraman.

The Crime Syndicate of America (CSA) is revealed to the Justice League by Alexander Luthor, the heroic antimatter counterpart to Lex Luthor. The CSA comes from an antimatter universe, each member being the counterpart to a core League member.[1]

Ultraman is Lieutenant Clark Kent, a human astronaut from the antimatter Earth. After his ship imploded into hyperspace, an unknown alien race reconstructed Kent in an attempt to repair the damaged astronaut, which ended up altering him both mentally and physically, giving him "ultrapowers" similar to Superman's superpowers. According to Alexander Luthor, the process also twisted Ultraman's mind. In contrast to Superman, Ultraman's power relies on his proximity and exposure to a substance called Anti-Kryptonite; the longer and farther he is separated from it, the weaker he becomes. This substance has repeatedly been shown to have no apparent effect on Superman, just as Kryptonite has been shown to have no effect on Ultraman.[1]

Clark is unhappily married to his Crime Syndicate teammate Superwoman, who uses the alias Lois Lane. In the early 2000s, the two had a child together, but Superwoman maintains a periodic affair with another member of the Crime Syndicate, Owlman, much to Ultraman's frustration. Ultraman fires his eyebeams in between Owlman and Superwoman as a warning when he sees Owlman flirting with Superwoman, although undisclosed photographic blackmail material in Owlman's possession stops Ultraman actually doing anything permanent to him.[1]

Clark Kent returns to Earth and again leads the Crime Syndicate. In an attempt to repair their Earth after the destruction done by the Weaponers of Qward, the Syndicate kidnaps people from all 52 universes.[8] Ultraman, Owlman and Superwoman are banished to an alternate subdimension by Superman after Superman defeats Ultraman in a fight.[9]

Ultraman is recruited on a journey to Limbo, along with several other alternate universe Supermen, briefly combining - albeit against his will - with Superman to activate a massive robotic version of themselves to defeat Mandrakk, the dark Monitor, their raw power combining in the robot along with Superman's moral strength and Ultraman's pragmatic ruthlessness.[10] He is then converted into a vampiric being. Ultraman is apparently slain by the united Supermen alongside his new master, Mandrakk.[11]

52

[edit]

A new version of Earth-Three is shown as one universe amongst the Post-Crisis DC Multiverse. The team is named the Crime Society of America.[12]

The Society make their first solo appearance in Countdown Presents The Search for Ray Palmer: Crime Society #1 (origin of Post Crisis Earth-3 Owlmen, Talons, Jokester, who is a heroic Joker) written by Sean McKeever and illustrated by Jamal Igle.[13][14][15] In subsequent appearances, the Crime Society are agents of Monarch's Multiversal army. Ultraman, along with several other members of the Crime Society, were in the Earth-51 dimension when Superman-Prime destroyed the Monarch's containment armor, unleashing all of Monarch's quantum energy, which destroyed the entire dimension. As such, Ultraman is presumed dead along with his fellow Crime Society members. Ultraman appears in The Brave and the Bold, powered by the same kryptonite that weakens Superman. He is brought to the main earth by Mixyezpitelik, the antimatter universe's Mxyzptlk, to help Superman defeat Megistus.

New 52 reboot

[edit]

Ultraman, originally Kal-Il, comes from a version of Krypton whose people were mean-spirited and selfish. Just before this Krypton was destroyed, Kal-Il's parents Jor-Il and Lara sent him to Earth-3 to one day seek vengeance against the being that destroyed Krypton (whom Jor-Il inadvertently summoned), teaching him to become the strongest being on the planet, or become nothing at all. Upon his arrival on Earth-3, the young Kal-Il coerced two alcoholic drug addicts, Johnny and Martha Kent, to adopt him, only to murder them years later once he had no further need of them. He went on to found the Crime Syndicate and take over the world. Ultraman is a violent, homicidal megalomaniac, as well as an elitist and Darwinist who values strength and selfishness, and hates weakness and altruism. After Earth-3 was devastated by the same being that destroyed Krypton-3, Ultraman leads the Crime Syndicate to the Prime Earth to conquer it.[16] [17]

Ultraman possesses the standard powers of a Kryptonian, only he is empowered by green Kryptonite (being able to crush it into powder and even snort it like cocaine) and is weakened by yellow sunlight. He was responsible for murdering Monocle when he claimed that the Crime Syndicate was the Justice League in disguise. Ultraman moved the moon in front of the sun to eclipse the Crime Syndicate's section of Earth as well as to protect himself from its rays.[18]

Ultraman lacks Superman's vulnerability to magic.[19][20] In the final battle, Ultraman engages Alexander Luthor but is beaten, Alexander leaving him to steal Deathstorm's powers. Ultraman later returns and attempts to attack Lex Luthor after he murders Alexander Luthor only to be weakened after Sinestro and Black Adam move the moon and expose him to yellow sunlight. Lex Luthor opts not to kill Ultraman and kills Atomica instead. Afterwards, Ultraman and Superwoman are arrested.[21]

In Darkseid War, Ultraman is killed by the Anti-Monitor.[22] He is later resurrected in the Year of the Villain event.[23][24][25]

Infinite Frontier

[edit]

Kal-Il is the last survivor of the dead planet Krypton, sent to Earth as a baby. He was found by Jonathan and Martha Kent, who adopted him and named him Clark. His powers manifested early and he never bothered to hide them, so the other children were afraid of and ostracised him, telling him that he was from space. The Kents exploited Clark and his powers for free labour, teaching him that obedience was the ultimate virtue and that people who did not contribute to society were to be reviled as "freeloaders". They also manipulated him to be emotionally dependent on them so that he would never leave the farm. When he was a teenager in 1963 his parents showed him his spacecraft and revealed to him that he was the last of his kind, telling him they were all he had. They hoped this would make him afraid to ever break free of them, but in fact he turned on them, realising that they had only ever taken advantage of him. He flew away from Smallville, carrying his ship.

Ultraman reveals himself to the world on November 22, 1963 by assassinating the hated President John F. Kennedy with his heat vision. He is the world's only known metahuman until other beings with unnatural powers begin to emerge at the start of the year 2021. He rules Metropolis as a semi-benevolent dictator, beloved by some but feared and hated by many others. Ultraman allows the people of Metropolis limited freedom but tolerates no dissent. The only people who dare to challenge him openly are Lex Luthor and Cat Grant.[26]

Following the Starro invasion, a number of metahumans reveal themselves to the world, and Luthor recruits them into the Legion of Justice. Owlman and Superwoman approach Ultraman for an alliance to counter Luthor and rule the world, offering to make him their leader. Ultraman accepts and Superwoman also offers herself to him, hoping to conceive an heir.[27]

Powers and abilities

[edit]

Ultraman possesses the same Kryptonian superpowers as Superman. However, he is weakened by yellow sunlight and empowered by green kryptonite.

Other versions

[edit]

Earth-43

[edit]

A vampiric alternate universe variant of Ultraman from Earth-43 appears in "The New 52". This version is a member of the "Blood League".

In other media

[edit]

Television

[edit]
  • An original incarnation of Ultraman named Kal-Ul appears in The World's Greatest Super Friends episode "Universe of Evil", voiced by Danny Dark. Similarly to the comics and Kal-El / Superman, Kal-Ul hails from Earth-Three and was sent from Krypton to Earth. Upon his arrival on Earth, he continued growing stronger until he reached adulthood, renamed himself "Ultraman", began a life of destruction, and eventually founded the Super Enemies.
  • An original incarnation of Ultraman named Clark Luthor appears in the tenth season of Smallville, portrayed by Tom Welling. This version hails from Earth-Two, where the toddler Kal-El was discovered and raised by Lionel Luthor instead of Jonathan and Martha Kent and went on to become the murderous Ultraman. Additionally, Ultraman is vulnerable to all kinds of Kryptonite and bears an L-shaped scar on his right arm after his foster brother Lex Luthor attacked him with Gold Kryptonite.

Film

[edit]

Video games

[edit]
  • Ultraman appears as a boss in DC Universe Online as part of the "Earth-3" DLC.
  • Ultraman appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced by Nolan North.[30] After the Justice League disappear, he and the Crime Syndicate pose as the Justice Syndicate, with Ultraman adopting the alias of Kent Clarkson, Clark Kent's replacement at the Daily Planet, to spread misinformation.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Greenberger, Robert (2008). "Crime Syndicate". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1. OCLC 213309017.
  2. ^ Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 452–454. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
  3. ^ Brady, Matt (2007-05-08). "THE 52 EXIT INTERVIEWS: GRANT MORRISON". Newsarama. Archived from the original on 2007-05-10.
  4. ^ Convergence: Crime Syndicate #1. DC Comics.
  5. ^ DC Comics Presents Annual #1 (1981). DC Comics.
  6. ^ One Year Later
  7. ^ Animal Man #24 (June 1990)
  8. ^ Trinity
  9. ^ Trinity *13
  10. ^ Superman Beyond
  11. ^ Final Crisis #7
  12. ^ 52 Week 52
  13. ^ Brady, Matt (2007-05-08). "The 52 Exit Interviews: Grant Morrison". Newsarama. Archived from the original on 2007-05-10. Retrieved 2007-05-12.
  14. ^ CCI: DC New World Order - Comic Book Resources Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine ..there's a CSA in both the anti-matter universe and on Earth-3 (the former is Grant Morrison's rendition, the latter is a "Golden Age" "Crime Society")
  15. ^ A QUICK CHECK-IN WITH JAMAL IGLE - NEWSARAMA Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine .."I just finished the Crime Society one-shot", Jamal Igle
  16. ^ Geoff Johns (w), Ivan Reis, Joe Prado (a). Justice League (vol. 2), no. 24 (October 2013). DC Comics.
  17. ^ Justice League (vol. 2) #23. DC Comics.
  18. ^ Geoff Johns (w), David Finch, Richard Friend (a). Forever Evil, no. 1 (September 2013). DC Comics.
  19. ^ Forever Evil #3. DC Comics.
  20. ^ Trinity of Sin: Pandora #5. DC Comics.
  21. ^ Forever Evil #7. DC Comics.
  22. ^ Justice League (vol. 2) #48. DC Comics.
  23. ^ Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1. DC Comics.
  24. ^ Dark Nights: Death Metal: Multiverse's End #1. DC Comics.
  25. ^ Dark Nights: Death Metal #5. DC Comics.
  26. ^ Crime Syndicate #1
  27. ^ Crime Syndicate #4
  28. ^ a b "Ultraman Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 19, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  29. ^ Harvey, James (December 5, 2023). "Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths, Part One Arrives January 2024, Press Details". The World's Finest. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  30. ^ "Lego DC Super-Villains confirmed with first trailer". 30 May 2018.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ultraman_(DC_Comics)&oldid=1287775757"