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| As a result of the New 52 in 2011, the entire line of DC characters was relaunched, incorporating properties belonging to the company's imprints: Wildstorm, Milestone, and Vertigo. As such, elements of this character's history have been altered in some way from the previous incarnation. For a complete list of all versions of this character, see our disambiguation page. |
Steppenwolf foolishly fought for himself. Let me make my intentions clear... Hail Darkseid! 
- — Superman src
History
Origin
Kal-El was always one of the last members of his race, something he hoped he wouldn't share with his compatriots. When Steppenwolf erected boom towers across the world in order to invade it with his Parademons he established one in Metropolis.
In one of their battles, Terrence Sloan used opal kryptonite on Superman causing him to become insane. Terry used this in order to distract Superman from his plans. As Superman attacked Wonder Woman, Terry continued and succeeded with his plans of destroying several places under Darkseid's Anti-Life Equation, despite Batman's intervention. The opal kryptonite self destructed as programmed by Terry.
During their final day, Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman attacked this tower in an effort to destroy them all in a chain reaction. Superman provided the distraction but was completely overwhelmed and unfocused by the horde of demons attacking his dead city. Before he could save Diana, his physiology was exploited and he appeared to have died from an enormous burst of solar energy.
The Hunger Dogs
Superman somehow survived however and was captured by Darkseid's forces and was brainwashed at some point during the five years after the war. At some point Kal-El took the alias Brutaal and began working with the Hunger Dogs under Steppenwolf.
As Brutaal, Kal fought the new Wonders and defeated them alongside the other Hunger Dogs. He would then spare the heroes for an unknown reason and would go to Steppenwolf's aid during the World Army's invasion of Dherain. The new Wonders would eventually returned after being healed by Doctor Fate and would help evacuate the remaining World Army Soldiers. Kal would soon aid Steppenwolf in his fight with Green Lantern and ended up defeating him. Kal would then kill Steppenwolf, as the later was declaring himself the master of Earth. Kal would then remove his costume and reveal that he is Superman and that he was loyal to Darkseid.
Superman continued his assault on the World Army's Arkham base, but soon came in to conflict with Doctor Fate who came to stop him. After a very brief battle Superman got the upper hand and managed to crack Fate's Helmet. Just as he was about to kill Fate, the Flash arrives and takes the beaten Fate back to the World Army's base. After defeating Fate, Superman continued to attack the base and managed to cause most of it to cave-in. Just as he prepares to enter the destroyed base, Flash steps in and tries to distract Superman, by forcing him to chase him. Superman eventually catches him and spares him saying that he could be useful to Darkseid. Superman eventually returns to Arkham with an unconscious Flash and tells Mister Terrific and Terrence Sloan that Darkseid has need of them and then tells Doctor Bedlam to release the horde of Parademons to attack Earth.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Kryptonian Physiology: Under the effects of a "yellow" sun, Kal-El possesses the same potential powers as an average Kryptonian. These include:
- Solar Energy Absorption: Under optimal conditions, this is the main source of Kal-El's super powers as they are contingent upon exposure to solar radiation from a yellow sun star system. His biological make up includes a number of organs which lack analogues in humans and whose functions are unknown. It is believed that between one or more of these and his bio-cellular matrix, "yellow" solar energy is stored for later use. This allows for the use of these powers to fade when yellow solar radiation is not available instead of immediate failure.
- Heat Vision: Kal-El can, as a conscious act, fire beams of intense heat at a target by looking at it. He can vary the heat and area affected.
- Super-Hearing: Kal-El's hearing is sensitive enough to hear any sound at any volume or pitch. With skill and concentration, he can block out ambient sounds to focus on a specific source or frequency.
- Enhanced Vision: Kal-El's vision processes the entire electromagnetic spectrum as well as allowing vast control over selective perception and focus.
This umbrella ability includes the following:- Electromagnetic Spectrum Vision: Kal-El can see well into most of the electromagnetic spectrum. He can see and identify radio and television signals as well as all other broadcast or transmitted frequencies. Using this ability, he can avoid detection by radar or satellite monitoring methods. This also allows him to see the aura generated by living thing.
- Telescopic Vision: This is the ability to see something at a great distance, without violating the laws of physics. Though limited, the exact extent of the ability is undetermined. In function, it is similar to the zoom lens on a camera.
- X-Ray Vision: This is the ability to see through any volume of matter except lead. Kal-Els can see things behind a solid, opaque object as if it were not there. He can focus this ability to "peel back" layers of an object, allowing hidden image or inner workings to be observed. The exact type of energy perceived—such as x-rays, cosmic rays, or some other energy invisible to normal humans—is unclear. This ability perceives an ambient energy source though, it does not involve the eye projecting a concentrated, possibly toxic, beam to be reflected back from objects.
- Microscopic Vision: This is the ability to see extremely small objects and images down to the atomic level.
- Infrared Vision: Kal-El can see with better acuity in darkness, and to a degree in total darkness.
- Flight: Kal-El is able to manipulate graviton particles to defy the forces of gravity and achieve flight. This ranges from hovering to moving in any posture, in any direction.
- Invulnerability: Due to the interaction of his dense molecular structure and supercharged bio-electric aura, Kal-El is nigh-invulnerable to extreme energy forces. In addition, his extends this protection against toxins and diseases.
- Superhuman Stamina: Kal-El is able to maintain continuous strenuous physical action for an indefinite period of time. This based on his body converting yellow solar radiation directly to energy, but is limited by physiological and psychological needs to eat, drink, and sleep.
- Superhuman Strength: Kal-El's strength is augmented by yellow solar radiation interacting with the greater than human density, resilience and biological efficiency of his musculature. His strength is more an act of conscious will on energy fields than actual physical strength. It is this act of conscious will that enables him to perform physical feats that are beyond the mere application force, such as moving a mountain top without said rock crumbling under its own mass.
- Superhuman Speed: Kal-El is able to move at incredible speed by sheer force of will. This extends to his perceptions and allows for feats such as catching bullets in mid flight as well as covering vast distances in little or no time.
This also confers: - Super-Breath: Kal-El is able to create hurricane force winds by exhaling air from his lungs. He can chill the air as it leaves his lungs to freeze targets. He can also reverse the process to pull large volumes of air or vapor into his lungs.
- Longevity: Kal-El can live longer than regular humans, remaining at his prime as long as he was under the exposure of the "yellow" sun.
Weaknesses
- Kryptonian Physiology: Under the effects of a "yellow" sun, Kal-El possesses the same potential weaknesses as an average Kryptonian. These include:
Related
- 32 Appearances of Kal-El (Earth 2)
- 15 Images featuring Kal-El (Earth 2)
- 3 Quotations by or about Kal-El (Earth 2)
- Character Gallery: Kal-El (Earth 2)
Footnotes
  Superman Family member |
Template:Wonders of the World members Template:Wonders of the World Villains