Kell-El (LSHAU)

Superman-X was born in the 41st century and is a clone of the 21st century hero Superman. Created by the digitized gestalt inventor K3NT using DNA from the first Superman, Superman-X was genetically conceived to possess all of Superman's strengths, but none of his weaknesses. Unlike the original Superman, Superman-X was not vulnerable to the effects of Kryptonite. In fact, his body actually produced Kryptonite radiation, which he could channel and project in the form of concentrated blasts of energy from his hands.

As a young man, Superman-X fought to save the galaxy from the tyranny of a conqueror known as Imperiex. He learned from K3NT that he was created expressly for the purpose of fighting Imperiex. Imperiex's army proved too strong for Superman however, and he was forced to look to the past to find a way to save his future. He traveled backwards in time one-thousand years to the 31st century where he met the Legion of Super-Heroes. Legionnaire Brainiac 5, who had always admired the first Superman, but felt ill at ease with this aggressive and violent successor. Superman-X explained to the Legion that Imperiex was destined to destroy all of New Metropolis and that the Legion were fated to fall in battle.

Although not completely trusting this strange new Superman, the Legion agreed to help him and they traveled forward with him to the 41st century. Imperiex's army fought Earth's resistance forces and created a self-perpetuating wave of Antimatter energy that threatened to destroy all of reality. Superman-X and Brainiac 5 put together a magnetic cannon, which they hoped would disrupt the power core in Imperiex's armor, but this attack failed and Imperiex's forces defeated the resistance. Using the technology from inside Imperiex's ship, Superman-X and the Legion retreated back to the 31st century. When they arrived however, they found that the Legion headquarters had been destroyed. Imperiex had found a way to rewrite history. ^[1]

Superman-X and the Legionnaires regrouped with other team members from the 31st century to investigate what had happened. Rather than finding Imperiex however, they instead found the Fatal Five and the Legion of Super-Villains. When Imperiex arrived in the 31st century, he set the various villains free from imprisonment at Takron-Galtos and sent them against the Legion, enabling himself the opportunity to hack into the Computo mainframe that powered Legion Headquarters. To improve their chances of success, the Legion pulled the original Superman from the 21st century to help them out. Despite being conceived from Superman's DNA, Superman-X was not particularly impressed with the Man of Steel. So that the others could easily distinguish between the two, Superman gave his successor a Kryptonian name - Kell-El. ^[2]

Before long, Superman-X went to Takron-Galtos to face Imperiex. The two finally fought one another one-on-one, but Imperiex surprised his foe with a secret ally - Validus of the Fatal Five. Kell-El was not ready to take on both titans, and he left Takron-Galtos with Brainiac 5. Imperiex used his control over Computo to self-destruct the Legion Cruiser, but Superman-X and Brainiac 5 survived the explosion. Later, Imperiex succeeded in capturing the remaining members of the Legion and secured them at Takron-Galtos. Superman-X returned to the prison planet and helped to free them. Together with the original Superman and the entire Legion, they succeeded in capturing the Fatal Five and the Legion of Super-Villains. Imperiex and Validus however, managed to escape.

Kell-El continued to serve as a member of the Legion, focusing primarily on the team's divided efforts to stop Imperiex. On one mission, Kell-El discovered a young boy named Abel. Abel possessed a natural aptitude for robotics, and the team soon discovered that Abel was wanted by two different factions - Imperiex's army and a group of cybernetic bounty hunters led by Terra-Man. During this conflict, he learned that Terra-Man had actually been sent backwards in time by Kell-El's parental construct K3NT. Kell-El was shocked to discover that Imperiex sought to protect Abel, revealing the fact that Abel is destined to develop the technology that will one day comprise Imperiex's 41st century armor. He now understood why K3NT would send cyborgs back in time to assassinate a child. Kell-El found himself faced with a moral dilemma. By eliminating the child, he would in fact destroy his most hated adversary. Kell-El could not bring himself to take Abel's life however, and fought up against both Imperiex and Terra-Man's cyborgs. With the Legion's help, the cyborgs were eliminated, but Imperiex managed to escape once again. Abel was taken aboard the Legion cruiser and Kell-El and he began to bond. ^[3]

After Imperiex was destroyed by a Brainiac-corrupted Brainiac 5, Kell-El and Superman join forces in a mental attack and free Brainiac 5 from his ancestor's influence. With Imperiex destroyed, Kell-El's timeline is restored, and the clone returns there, but not before reciting the Legion oath, and thus becoming a full member of the team.^[4]

Personality

Kell-El apparently considers himself to be a living weapon and behaves in a taciturn, aggressive manner, unlike that of the original Superman. He is also far more cold blooded, and when he first requested the help of Legion of Super Heroes he was willing to let members of the Legion be killed if it meant he could go after Imperiex, and only helped them because they could help against Imperiex. However, he becomes less cold during the search for Imperiex in the 31st century. Such as when Imperiex offered him a chance to kill a boy named Abel (who would play a key role in Imperiex coming into existence, and whose destruction in the past would erase Imperiex), Kell-El couldn't do it, and Imperiex comments that before meeting the Legion, he would not have hesitated to kill the boy. Also, Kell-El stated that he didn't get along well with children and even "stepped on one once".

After Brainiac 5 killed Imperiex, Kell-El felt useless because destroying Imperiex was his duty.

Like his namegiver and ancestor, Kell-El is the last survivor of his homeworld. Although he seldom admits it, this fact makes him feel alone in his present situation. Ever since meeting the Legion, Kell-El expressed a distrust of Brainiac 5, making oblique references to the potential dangers Brainiac poses to others, in which he was eventually succumbed to the influence and control of his predecessor Brainiac 1.0. However, he has not elaborated on this.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Kryptonian Physiology: Superman-X's cellular structure is more dense, resilient and biologically more effective than human tissue. Under natural Kryptonian conditions, does not seem to possess superhuman strength levels despite his enhanced cellular ability without constant exposure to yellow solar energy. Without such charging, his strength seems on par for a human of his height and weight who engages in regular physical activity. As an alien he possess several organs whose functions are not yet disclosed or understood but are believed to be part of and perhaps even the source of his biomatrix force field and reclamation aura. Superman-X's body also stores energy actively within his bio-cellular matrix as an energy pattern that is linked to his body's electromagnetic field. This energy powers most of Superman-X's electromagnetic capabilities such as flight and heat vision. It also supplements his physical strength by a factor of 12,000 times or so.

Solar Energy Absorption: Technically, this is the main source of Superman-X's powers. Because Superman-X's powers are greatly due to exposure to Earth's yellow sun, his powers have been affected by extreme absorptions of solar power, whether voluntary or involuntary. However, Superman-X has used this to his advantage in battle in many instances, and to his detriment at certain times.

Superhuman Strength: While the exact magnitude of Superman-X's strength is unknown, it is generally accepted that Superman-X is sufficiently strong to lift 100,000 tons or more. The exact specfic range is unknown as Superman-X's strength, like his other powers, has fluctuated over time. Superman-X's strength is more an act of conscious will on energy fields than actual physical strength. It is through his act of conscious will manipulation that allows Superman-X to engage in physical feats that are beyond merely applying applicable force such as moving a mountain top without said rock crumbling under its own mass while Superman-X moves it. However being at that level has been directly shown to be adverse to him, and his body is unable to contain that level of energy directly for any true length of time without harmful effects. And again, this level of control and power access is not normal for him to achieve and even in this particular instance, Superman-X was not able to access nor contain this level solely by his own control. Superman-X's normal strength levels are obviously in the multi-megaton range.

Invulnerability: Superman-X's body is nigh-invulnerable to extreme energy forces (He has survived low yield nuclear explosions where he was in direct contact with a ten megaton detonation bomb but was knocked unconscious as a result). This ability's levels have changed over time, at times allowing him to fly into a sun and emerge unharmed, as evident most recently through Krypton's red sun ^[5] and survive and directly entering directly into the Sun. But usually these effects are achived with external assistance such as Tempest's magic and Luthor's force field technology ^[6] and the Green Lantern's Corp energy ring shielding.^[7] Superman has even been shown withstanding a weakened Darkseid's Omega Effect while they were fighting near the surface of a yellow sun ^[8], a feat that was previously considered impossible. In addition, his immune system protects him from toxins and diseases. The most common explanations for his invulnerability are Superman having a super-dense molecular structure and/or a supercharged bioelectric "aura" which acts as an invisible "force field" around his body to within a few millimeters from his skin, and presumably within his body as well. The proximity of this field to his skin means that loose clothes, for example, may be burned off of him, while cloth that is close to his body is protected by the "aura;" This phenomenon is sometimes cited as Superman's reason for wearing a skin-tight bodysuit. It is also the understanding that he may unconsciously extend part of this field into objects in contact with him which is assumed for him being able to carry and move objects that would collaspe under their own mass, overcoming gravity or inertia tearing them apart around his human-sized hands.

Superhuman Stamina: Superman-X has the ability to maintain continuous strenuous physical action for an undefined period. Theoretically, most incarnations of the character has practically unlimited stamina as his enhanced nourishment is produced from the solar energy his cells process; however his base physical structure still does need to process food stuffs as well as has the psychological need to eat and drink just as Earth humans do, despite the fact that his superhuman powers receives the majority of that energy from a yellow sun. He does require sleep on occasion so he can dream. He can also hold his breath for an undefined duration.

Flight: Superman-X is presumably able to manipulate psionically, graviton particles, in an unknown and apparently unconscious manner, to defy the forces of gravity. Under one Earth gravity, Superman-X is capable of speeds of multi Mach speeds in Earth's atmosphere. His control of his flight is very precise and he can perform aerobatic feats such as hovering, flying backwards and even lifting great weights while flying. Superman-X has repeatedly demonstrated he has the ability to achieve orbital speeds, fly in outer space and land safely down to a planet's surface from outer space.

Superhuman Speed: Superman-X is capable of enhanced reflex action and the ability to move at incredible speeds by sheer force of will. He is not as fast as the Flash, but he can achieve faster than light speed under his own power in space. Superman-X can match most other speedsters in their ability to perform super-fast movements, reactions, and processes. He can use this power to disarm opponents who do not have heightened reflexes, catch bullets or shrapnel or cross vast distances in seconds.

Super-Breath: The ability to create hurricane force winds by blowing, and to chill his breath in order to freeze a target (this latter ability has also been called "freeze breath" and "arctic breath"). Superman-X can also breathe in large amounts of air, an ability used when dealing with and disposing things like clouds of poison gas.

Super Hearing: The ability to hear any sound at any volume or pitch. The only Earth creature who can detect sounds at the frequency he can is a blue whale (0.01-200,000 Hz). He has shown enough control to block out ambient sounds to focus on a specific source/frequency. He can identify a person by their heartbeat, or pick out a single voice in an entire city.

Heat Vision: The ability to fire beams of intense heat at a target by looking at it with the conscious act of activating this power. Visually, the power is typically depicted as two beams of red light firing from his eyes. These beams can be made invisible, allowing Superman to work undetected. The maximum temperature of his heat vision is said to be around that of a nuclear detonation. The area of effect can be consciously determined by Superman-X, down to the microscopic level. Recent stories imply the precision is so exact it can bypass a target's outer shell (not causing damage to a person's skull for surgical purposes) or even defenses (such as invulnerability or intangibility).

Super Vision: He also possess a superior sensory arrangement of microscopic, telescopic, infrared and ultraviolet visual capabilities. He is able to see the entire spectrum. Microscopic, chemical, x-ray, auditory, ultrasonic, magnetic, photonic, etc. Star Laboratories has not been able to complete define how Superman has been able to utilize his powerful senses, part of the mechanism is physical, part of it is believed to be psionic in nature. Abilities include:

Electro-magnetic Spectrum Vision: can see well into most of the EM Spectrum. He can see and identify radio/television and any and all broadcast/transmitted frequencies, allowing him to avoid detection through radar or satellite monitoring methods. Superman-X can see the paranormal aura that every living thing generates. This ability is apparently one of the main reasons that Superman is a vegetarian, as he can see the passing of the "soul" at death.

Telescopic Vision: The ability to "zoom in" his distance to see something at a great distance, without violating the laws of physics. The total telescopic ability is unclassified, but presumed limited to some extent.

X-Ray Vision: The ability to see through anything except lead. He can see things behind a wall as if the wall were not there, or can "peel back" layer after layer of matter in his mind. Opponents sometimes used lead-lined constructs in an attempt to hide things from Superman-X. Kell-El is able to focus his vision past layers of matter, literally seeing "through" them -- possibly perceiving x-rays, cosmic rays or other forms of energy invisible to normal human vision which pass through Earth's atmosphere (and solid objects) after emission from stars. Since it is passive, this ability would not generate harmful radiation in the same manner as a focused projection of hard X-rays.

Microscopic Vision: The ability to see extremely small objects and images down to the atomic level (normal optical microscopes can only see objects down to the size of chromosomes).

Infrared Vision: Allows him to see better in total darkness. He can detect the heat signatures of living beings or devices in operation.

Ultraviolet

Chemical

Ultrasonic

Magnetic

Auditory

Photonic

Energy Projection: Unlike his predecessors, Superman-X's body produces Kryptonite radiation, which he can channel and project in the form of concentrated blasts of energy from his hands that crystallize victims in Kryptonite.

Energy Construct Creation: Superman-X can also generate simple geometric constructs from his hands such as shields and energy blades.
Strength level

Superhuman; See Powers

Weaknesses

Magic: Superman-X is also vulnerable to magical effects. Although he is no more detrimentally affected by such effects than a normal human would be, this is a significantly exploitable weakness in comparison to his incredible physical resilience.

Notes

The character of Superman-X is exclusive to the continuity of the Legion of Super-Heroes animated series.

Actor Yuri Lowenthal provides the voice for Superman-X on the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Trivia

Superman-X's computerized creator K3NT is a re-spelling of the name Kent, the first Superman's adoptive surname. K3NT is actually a gestalt entity with male and female characteristics. K3NT was voiced by Amy Hill and Sab Shimono on the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Links and References

Superman|Superman-X at Wikipedia

Footnotes

This is an in-universe article with out-of-universe material.

This article covers information about something that exists within the DC Universe, and should not contain out-of-universe material. Please remove all out-of-universe material, or include it in a separate section at the bottom of the article.

Complete list of out-of-universe articles

<--! Powers section needs to have all of the comic book stuff removed -->

[0] Legion of Super-Heroes Episode: The Man from the Edge of Tomorrow (Part I)

[1] Legion of Super-Heroes Episode: The Man from the Edge of Tomorrow (Part II)

[2] Legion of Super-Heroes Episode: Unnatural Alliances

[3] Legion of Super-Heroes Episode: Dark Victory, Part 2

[4] Infinite Crisis #7

[5] Warworld saga

[6] Infinite Crisis #7

[7] Superman/Batman #13

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Kell-El (LSHAU)

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