Kryptonians are an endangered humanoid species that were native to the now-destroyed planet Krypton and colonized the planet Daxam.[1]
Biology[]
Kryptonians are outwardly indistinguishable from humans; however, due to their more complex genetics, they possess superpowers once exposed to radiation from a yellow sun, ranging from superhuman strength to flight.[2] They possess no power under a red sun, and the light of a red sun quickly drains empowered Kryptonians.[3]
Kryptonian DNA is difficult to fully synthesize, hence Cadmus created the clones Match and Superboy with gaps in their genomes, which in the latter's case were filled in with human DNA (Lex Luthor's).[4]
One of the only known weaknesses of a Kryptonian is Kryptonite, a green mineral that emits radiation that affects full-blooded and half-blooded Kryptonians all the same.[5]
Sensors cannot distinguish between a native Kryptonian and a Daxamite.[3]
Powers and abilities[]
Kryptonians have no superhuman abilities under a red sun, as on their native Krypton. Under a yellow sun they gain potent powers:[1]
- Flight[2]
- Super Strength[6]
- Super Speed[6]
- Invulnerability[6]
- Accelerated Healing[7]
- Super Hearing[2]
- Heat Vision[6]
- Telescopic Vision[8]
- Microscopic Vision[9]
- Infrared Vision[10]
- X-ray Vision[6]
Culture[]
Krypton was governed by the Kryptonian High Council.[3]
Kryptonians revere Rao,[11] their sun.[7]
Kryptonians used the Phantom Zone as an extradimensional prison, though they never intended to imprison criminals in the Zone for eternity, considering such a fate to be too cruel.[1]
Kryptonian names, houses and crests[]
Kryptonians place significant emphasis on their families, or houses, such as the House of El and House of Zod.[11] Kryptonian naming conventions include a given name and surname. Male Kryptonian names are hyphenated, consisting of the given name then their family name. For example, a boy with the given name Kal of the House of El is fully named Kal-El. Females do not hyphenate their given and surnames, and what they use as a surname depends on their marital status. Unmarried females use their father's full name as their surname. For example, an unmarried daughter of Zor-El with the given name Kara is fully named Kara Zor-El. Married women take their husband's family name as their surname. For example, Lara as the wife of Jor-El is fully named Lara El.[12] Each House is represented by crest which is worn on most if not all clothing.[11] At least some Kryptonians, such as Non, have no family name and wear no crest, instead leaving an empty box on their clothes. Kryptonians may be in service to another house, but still wear their own family crest.[1]
| House | Notable members | Crest |
|---|---|---|
| House of El | Jor-El Kal-El Kara Zor-El Kon-El Lara El Zor-El |
|
| House of Kil | Vor-Kil | 
|
| House of Ul | Faora Hu-Ul | 
|
| House of Ur | Jax-Ur | 
|
| House of Zod | Dru-Zod Lor-Zod Ursa Zod |
|
| No house | Non | 
|
Notable Kryptonians[]
- Jor-El[1]
- Kal-El[13]
- Kara Zor-El[14]
- Kon-El (Kryptonian/Human genomorph)[13]
- Dru-Zod[15]
- Lor-Zod[15]
- Ursa Zod[11]