Kenneth Braverman (New Earth)edit this page

From DC Database

Contents 1 History 2 Powers and Abilities 2.1 Powers 2.2 Abilities 2.3 Strength level 2.4 Weaknesses 3 Paraphernalia 3.1 Equipment 3.2 Weapons 4 Notes 5 See Also 6 Links and References 6.1 Footnotes

History

Kenny Braverman was born on the same day that Superman's rocket ship arrived on Earth. While the Kents located the baby Kal-El in their field, Kenny's father was on the way taking his pregnant wife to the hospital. When their truck broke down on the way, Kenny was born on the side of the road. It would later turn out that exposure to Kryptonite that night left some side effects that would manifest later in life. As a young child, Kenny was often frail and sickly because of the radiation's effects.^[1]

Kenny and Clark Kent were schoolmates. When they reached high school, they were constantly in competition--but Clark always managed to edge out Kenny. Time and time again Clark would be number one in a sporting event and Kenny would come in second place. Kenny asked Lana Lang to senior prom before Clark did, but she lied and told him he had already asked her. They were named Prom King and Queen. Kenny's father was emotionally abusive to Kenny his whole life, constantly belittling him as a failure and heaping praise on Clark. Kenny's frustration continued to mount, until he vowed on that same prom night that one day he would have revenge against Clark.^[2]

Kenny went on to join the CIA after high school. He was experimented on because of the growing effects the Kryptonite had on him. His superiors expressed their doubts over his capabilities because of his continued poor health. He was determined to prove himself to them, which involved a mission in France. While there he ran into Clark Kent and actually managed to steal Clark's then girlfriend away from him. After a whirlwind romance, Kenny proposed to her, but when she found out that on his chest green "cables" had begun to grow he threatened to kill her if she told anyone, ending their romance. As Kenny grew to become more bold and reckless, his superiors decided to try and kill him. When that failed, Braverman left the CIA and started up his own freelance intelligence outfit, Pipeline, which quickly grew in power and knowledge. Kenny never forgot about Kent, however, and quietly planned his revenge.^[3]

Calling himelf Conduit, Braverman decided the time was right to get revenge on Clark Kent. After trying to kill him several ways failed (and trying to make them all look like accidents), Conduit ordered a more frontal hit on Clark on the night he was to receive a Baldy Award. That hit failed, so Conduit attacked Clark when hew as at Lois Lane's apartment. Superman was on scene, however, and during the course of the fight he learned who Conduit really was.

A subsequent battle in Centennial Park led to Conduit's defeat. This enraged him all the more, as he felt that Superman had taken the only thing he had left--his dignity. He then changed his agenda to try and kill Superman.^[4] Conduit easily escapes custody (the same week he is brought in) and tracks down Superman, attacking him with his Kryptonite blasts. Superman is able to defeat him again, however, and this time ensure that he won't escape.^[5]

Hoping to draw attention away from himself, a villain named Shadowdragon steals vital information about Superman from STAR Labs and delivers it to Conduit in his cell. This, combined with what Kenny knew of Clark Kent growing up, allowed him to deduce that the two were one and the same. ^[6]Kenny wasted no time breaking out and working up a plan to come after his hated foe.^[7]

After taunting Clark Kent for weeks with messages that "he knows," Conduit finally comes after his one time friend. Kenny is even more enraged at Kent, as he know is convinced that Kent "cheated" during all that time in high school with his super powers (not knowing that Superman's powers developed slowly). He blew up Kent's apartment and captured Jimmy Olsen, who was there. He then attacked Lana Lang and blew up the Kent's farmhouse (though Superman rescued them from being blown up with it).^[8] Conduit calls in some allies, such as Metallo, to fight Superman while he goes after the other people in his life. He attacks Lois Lane and convinces himself and Superman that he succeeded in killing her in a bomb blast.^[9] He continuously hounds Superman and the Kents as they go into hiding. All this causes Shadowdragon to rethink what he has done, and he unleashes a computer virus that destroys all the data Conduit has on Superman (and most of the rest of the world's data as well). Conduit finally managed to capture Superman, though the Kents illude him.^[10]

Superman awakes in a mock version of Smallville that Conduit had built somewhere in a remote area of the Dakotas. He filled the town with automotons designed to look like Smallville's residents when he and Kent were young--including a football stadium completely filled with robots that all looked exactly like his dad, only now they were all cheering for Kenny. Superman and Condit faced off man to man in the arena, but Kenny's madness got the best of him--he supercharged himself with his Kryptonite until it "overloaded," burning him to a crisp. Even in his final moments, he still blamed Superman for everything that had happened to him.^[11]

After Conduit's death, Superman dismantled Pipeline (where he learned that Conduit had not shared his secret with anyone) and rescued Jimmy Olsen. He also returned Kenny's body to his father, but the elder Braverman was as dispassionate towards his son in death as he had been in life.^[12]

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Able to generate and blast bursts and fields of Kryptonite energy and able to extend cables outward

Abilities

Advanced training in covert operations and intelligence gathering, as well as hand-to-hand combat skills

Strength level

Strength level undetermined. He was shown to battle Superman, but given that his powers are based around Kryptonite, it is difficult to gauge his true strength.

Weaknesses

Earlier in his life, Braverman was prone to getting sick very easily. This carried on at least into his early adulthood, though it is unclear if he was eventually able to correct the problem. His Kryptonite based energy blasts can be blocked by lead.

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Flight boots, a helmet, and gauntlets that better direct and focus his power

Weapons

Hi-tech weapons to augment his already formidable arsenal

Notes

Conduit's place in continuity has been put in question after Infinite Crisis.

• Kenneth Braverman's last name was revealed on his memorial vault placard at the JLA Hall of Justice in Blackest Night #3.
• Superman: Secret Origin #1(cover date Nov. '09) has Clark being bullied by a red haired classmate to play football. Clark replies, "Its supposed to rain, anyway, Kenny."

See Also

• Discuss Kenneth Braverman (New Earth) on the forums
• Appearances of Kenneth Braverman (New Earth)
• Character Gallery: Kenneth Braverman (New Earth)
• Images featuring Kenneth Braverman (New Earth)

Links and References

• None.
  

Footnotes

1. ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #0
2. ↑ Superman #0
3. ↑ The Adventures of Superman #0
4. ↑ Action Comics #0
5. ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #38, Superman #94
6. ↑ The Adventures of Superman #521
7. ↑ Action Comics #708
8. ↑ Superman #100
9. ↑ Action Comics #710
10. ↑ The Adventures of Superman #524
11. ↑ Action Comics #711
12. ↑ Superman: The Man of Steel #46

Superman Villain(s) This character is or was primarily an enemy of Superman in any of his various incarnations, or members of the Superman Family. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Superman Villains category."