Kandor (comics): Difference between revisions

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Extended confirmed users
65,862 edits
No edit summary
Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers
140,876 edits
Making some additions and corrections.
Line 18: Line 18:
'''Kandor''' (commonly known as the '''Bottle City of Kandor''')<ref name=Inferiority>{{cite book |last1=Castro |first1=Adam-Troy |editor1-last=Yeffeth |editor1-first=Glenn |title=The Man from Krypton: A Closer Look at Superman |date=2015 |publisher=BenBella Books |isbn=9781941631584 |pages=102-103 |chapter=Six Things That Plain Don't Make Any Sense About Superman}}</ref> is a fictional city spared from the doomed world of [[Krypton (comics)|Krypton]] in [[DC Comics]]' [[Superman]] titles. Before Krypton exploded, the futuristic city was captured by the supervillain [[Brainiac (character)|Brainiac]], miniaturized by his shrinking ray and placed inside a glass bell jar. Defeating Brainiac and taking possession of the jar, Superman brings the city to his [[Arctic]] hideout, the [[Fortress of Solitude]], and spends many years attempting to restore it to normal size.
'''Kandor''' (commonly known as the '''Bottle City of Kandor''')<ref name=Inferiority>{{cite book |last1=Castro |first1=Adam-Troy |editor1-last=Yeffeth |editor1-first=Glenn |title=The Man from Krypton: A Closer Look at Superman |date=2015 |publisher=BenBella Books |isbn=9781941631584 |pages=102-103 |chapter=Six Things That Plain Don't Make Any Sense About Superman}}</ref> is a fictional city spared from the doomed world of [[Krypton (comics)|Krypton]] in [[DC Comics]]' [[Superman]] titles. Before Krypton exploded, the futuristic city was captured by the supervillain [[Brainiac (character)|Brainiac]], miniaturized by his shrinking ray and placed inside a glass bell jar. Defeating Brainiac and taking possession of the jar, Superman brings the city to his [[Arctic]] hideout, the [[Fortress of Solitude]], and spends many years attempting to restore it to normal size.


⚫
==Publication history==
The city first appeared in the story "The Super-Duel in Space", published in ''[[Action Comics]]'' #242 (July 1958), written by [[Otto Binder]] and drawn by [[Al Plastino]] during the period known as the [[Silver Age of Comic Books]].<ref name=Chron50>{{cite book |last1=Schelly |first1=William |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s |date=2013 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781605490540 |page=183}}</ref> This was part of editor [[Mort Weisinger]]'s desire to build a wider canvas of supporting characters and locations for the various Superman titles, creating more opportunities for new stories to emerge.<ref name=Companion>{{cite book |last1=Eury |first1=Michael |title=The Krypton Companion |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781893905610 |pages=13, 31 & 34}}</ref> The miniature city allowed writers to explore Kryptonian culture, which had previously been just an offscreen preface to the series.<ref name=Chron50/> The concept was explored in depth over the next ten years, as the readers became fascinated with the bottled city and its glimpses of Kryptonian life.<ref name=Otto>{{cite book |last1=Schelly |first1=Bill |title=Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary |date=2016 |publisher=North Atlantic Books |isbn=9781623170387 |page=165}}</ref>
The city first appeared in the story "The Super-Duel in Space", published in ''[[Action Comics]]'' #242 (July 1958), written by [[Otto Binder]] and drawn by [[Al Plastino]] during the period known as the [[Silver Age of Comic Books]].<ref name=Chron50>{{cite book |last1=Schelly |first1=William |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s |date=2013 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781605490540 |page=183}}</ref> This was part of editor [[Mort Weisinger]]'s desire to build a wider canvas of supporting characters and locations for the various Superman titles, creating more opportunities for new stories to emerge.<ref name=Companion>{{cite book |last1=Eury |first1=Michael |title=The Krypton Companion |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781893905610 |pages=13, 31 & 34}}</ref> The miniature city allowed writers to explore Kryptonian culture, which had previously been just an offscreen preface to the series.<ref name=Chron50/> The concept was explored in depth over the next ten years, as the readers became fascinated with the bottled city and its glimpses of Kryptonian life.<ref name=Otto>{{cite book |last1=Schelly |first1=Bill |title=Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary |date=2016 |publisher=North Atlantic Books |isbn=9781623170387 |page=165}}</ref>


Line 26: Line 27:
{{quote|"This living diorama, this ant colony of real people, had great appeal for children, adding to the childlike nature of this era's Superman. In Kandor, lost memories were preserved under glass, and Superman could go there, in private, to experience a world he left behind. Kandor was every snow globe and music box that stood for every bittersweet memory in every movie there would ever be. Kandor was the tinkling voice of a lost world, a past that might have been, unreachable. Kandor was survivor's guilt endowed with new meaning."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Grant |title=Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us about Being Human |date=2012 |publisher=Spiegel & Grau |isbn=9780812981384 |page=63}}</ref>}}
{{quote|"This living diorama, this ant colony of real people, had great appeal for children, adding to the childlike nature of this era's Superman. In Kandor, lost memories were preserved under glass, and Superman could go there, in private, to experience a world he left behind. Kandor was every snow globe and music box that stood for every bittersweet memory in every movie there would ever be. Kandor was the tinkling voice of a lost world, a past that might have been, unreachable. Kandor was survivor's guilt endowed with new meaning."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Morrison |first1=Grant |title=Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us about Being Human |date=2012 |publisher=Spiegel & Grau |isbn=9780812981384 |page=63}}</ref>}}


⚫
==Publication history==
The first Brainiac/Kandor comic book story in ''Action Comics'' #242 (July 1958) was based on a story arc in the [[Superman (comic strip)|''Superman'' comic strip]] from April through August 1958. In the comic strip story, Superman's foe was named Romado, who traveled the cosmos with his pet white monkey Koko, shrinking major cities and keeping them in glass jars. The strip's Kryptonian bottled city was named Dur-El-Va.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Weldon |first1=Glen |title=Superman: The Unauthorized Biography |date=2013 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1118341841 |pages=108-109}}</ref> This cross-continuity conflict was not unprecedented; in 1958 and '59, editor Mort Weisinger used the comic strip to prototype a number of concepts that he planned to introduce in the book, including [[Bizarro]] and [[red Kryptonite]].<ref name=Chron60>{{cite book |last=Wells |first=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1960-64 |date=2015 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490458 |pages=24, 98}}</ref>
The first Brainiac/Kandor comic book story in ''Action Comics'' #242 (July 1958) was based on a story arc in the [[Superman (comic strip)|''Superman'' comic strip]] from April through August 1958. In the comic strip story, Superman's foe was named Romado, who traveled the cosmos with his pet white monkey Koko, shrinking major cities and keeping them in glass jars. The strip's Kryptonian bottled city was named Dur-El-Va.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Weldon |first1=Glen |title=Superman: The Unauthorized Biography |date=2013 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1118341841 |pages=108-109}}</ref> This cross-continuity conflict was not unprecedented; in 1958 and '59, editor Mort Weisinger used the comic strip to prototype a number of concepts that he planned to introduce in the book, including [[Bizarro]] and [[red Kryptonite]].<ref name=Chron60>{{cite book |last=Wells |first=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1960-64 |date=2015 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490458 |pages=24, 98}}</ref>


Line 37: Line 37:
[[Len Wein]], writer of this final Kandor story, said in a 2006 interview that he regretted restoring the city to normal size. "Although I like the ending of the story, I'm sorry I did the story," he said. "I don't think that any of us realized at the time that what was old to us was new to somebody just coming in... I came at Kandor thinking: 'I'm so tired of this. It's been 20 years, 30 years, of that stupid city.' So I came up with a story I thought might have some emotional impact... I regret that, because the idea of a bottle city of tiny people is a much cooler idea than what I left it as."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Eury |first1=Michael |title=The Krypton Companion |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781893905610 |page=140}}</ref>
[[Len Wein]], writer of this final Kandor story, said in a 2006 interview that he regretted restoring the city to normal size. "Although I like the ending of the story, I'm sorry I did the story," he said. "I don't think that any of us realized at the time that what was old to us was new to somebody just coming in... I came at Kandor thinking: 'I'm so tired of this. It's been 20 years, 30 years, of that stupid city.' So I came up with a story I thought might have some emotional impact... I regret that, because the idea of a bottle city of tiny people is a much cooler idea than what I left it as."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Eury |first1=Michael |title=The Krypton Companion |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781893905610 |page=140}}</ref>


==Fictional history==
==Development==
===Silver Age===
===Silver Age===
The first Kandor story, "The Super-Duel in Space", establishes that Kandor — Krypton's capital city — had been stolen years before the planet exploded. Superman has no powers when he's inside the jar, because "Krypton's gravity-conditions are duplicated" in the bottle. Kandorians, focused on scientific progress, build robots, rockets and an artificial sun. Superman meets a Kandorian scientist, Kimda, who tells him that Brainiac's Hyper-Ray can reverse the miniaturization process. Superman liberates all of Brainiac's bottled cities, except for Kandor, because the Hyper-Ray runs out of cosmic-power. He brings it to the Fortress of Solitude, with a resolution to "restore it to normal size... someday! Who knows?"<ref>{{Cite comic| writer = [[Otto Binder]] | artist = [[Al Plastino]] | story = The Super-Duel in Space, | title = [[Action Comics]] | volume = 1 | issue = 242 | date = July 1958 | publisher = [[DC Comics]] | page = | panel = }}</ref>
The first Kandor story, "The Super-Duel in Space", establishes that Kandor — Krypton's capital city — had been stolen years before the planet exploded. Superman has no powers when he's inside the jar, because "Krypton's gravity-conditions are duplicated" in the bottle. Kandorians, focused on scientific progress, build robots, rockets and an artificial sun. Superman meets a Kandorian scientist named Kimda who tells him that Brainiac's Hyper-Ray can reverse the miniaturization process. Superman liberates all of Brainiac's bottled cities, except for Kandor, because the Hyper-Ray runs out of cosmic-power. He brings it to the Fortress of Solitude, with a resolution to "restore it to normal size... someday! Who knows?"<ref>{{Cite comic| writer = [[Otto Binder]] | artist = [[Al Plastino]] | story = The Super-Duel in Space, | title = [[Action Comics]] | volume = 1 | issue = 242 | date = July 1958 | publisher = [[DC Comics]] | page = | panel = }}</ref>


In 1960, Otto Binder and Curt Swan introduced the [[Superman Emergency Squad]], a group of volunteer Kandorians who happen to look just like Superman, and occasionally leave the jar to assist him in times of trouble ("The Mystery of the Tiny Supermen!", ''[[Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen]]'' #48, Oct 1960). They use a special scientific process to enlarge themselves to the size of dolls, and when they leave the jar, they gain Superman-like powers. In a crisis, the swarm heads out to assist.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Westfahl |first1=Gary |title=The Rise and Fall of American Science Fiction, from the 1920s to the 1960s |date=2019 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9781476638515 |page=169}}</ref>
In 1960, Otto Binder and Curt Swan introduced the [[Superman Emergency Squad]], a group of volunteer Kandorians who happen to look just like Superman, and occasionally leave the jar to assist him in times of trouble like the story "The Mystery of the Tiny Supermen!"<ref>''[[Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen]]'' #48, Oct 1960). DC Comics.</ref> They use a special scientific process to enlarge themselves to the size of dolls, and when they leave the jar, they gain Superman-like powers. In a crisis, the swarm heads out to assist.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Westfahl |first1=Gary |title=The Rise and Fall of American Science Fiction, from the 1920s to the 1960s |date=2019 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9781476638515 |page=169}}</ref>


===Post-Crisis===
===Post-Crisis===
When the [[DC Universe]] continuity was [[reboot]]ed in the 1985-86 miniseries ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'', Kandor's history was changed. In this version of the story, Kandor was destroyed a thousand years before Krypton's end, blown up with an atomic device by the terrorist organization [[Black Zero]] (''The World of Krypton'' #2, Jan 1988).<ref name=Essential>{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |pages=146-150}}</ref>
When the [[DC Universe]] continuity was [[reboot]]ed in the 1985-86 miniseries ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'', Kandor's history was changed. In this version of the story, Kandor was destroyed a thousand years before Krypton's end, blown up with an atomic device by the terrorist organization [[Black Zero]].<ref>''The World of Krypton'' #2 (Jan 1988). DC Comics.</ref><ref name=Essential>{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |pages=146-150}}</ref>


A new version of Kandor was introduced in 1996, this one populated with a collection of various alien species, held in a prison that looked like a bottle but was actually an extra-dimensional space, created by the alien wizard Tolos (''[[Superman: The Man of Steel]]'' #60, Sept 1996).<ref name=Essential/>
A new version of Kandor was introduced in 1996, this one populated with a collection of various alien species, held in a prison that looked like a bottle but was actually an extra-dimensional space, created by the alien wizard Tolos.<ref>''[[Superman: The Man of Steel]]'' #60 (Sept 1996). DC Comics.</ref><ref name=Essential/>


Superman's history was shaken up again with the 2003-2004 miniseries ''[[Superman: Birthright]]'', which replaced the post-''Crisis'' status quo with a new version of Superman's early years. In this continuity (''[[The Adventures of Superman (comic book)|The Adventures of Superman]]'' #626, May 2004), the city was stolen and shrunk by Brainiac.<ref name=Essential/>
Superman's history was shaken up again with the 2003-2004 miniseries ''[[Superman: Birthright]]'', which replaced the post-''Crisis'' status quo with a new version of Superman's early years. In this continuity, the city was stolen and shrunk by Brainiac.<ref>''The Adventures of Superman'' #626 (May 2004). DC Comics.</ref><ref name=Essential/>


The storylines and relaunches ''[[Infinite Crisis]]'' (2005-2006), ''[[Superman: New Krypton]]'' (2008-2009), ''[[The New 52]]'' (2011) and ''[[DC Rebirth]]'' (2016) have resulted in a number of different versions of Kandor, with varying degrees of resemblance to the original Silver Age creation.
The storylines and relaunches ''[[Infinite Crisis]]'' (2005-2006), ''[[Superman: New Krypton]]'' (2008-2009), ''[[The New 52]]'' (2011) and ''[[DC Rebirth]]'' (2016) have resulted in a number of different versions of Kandor, with varying degrees of resemblance to the original Silver Age creation.


===Other versions===
==Known inhabitants==
The inhabitants of Kandor have varied in different continuities:

===Earth-One's Kandor inhabitants===
* Ak-Var - A former Phantom Zone inhabitant who now operates as Flamebird.<ref>''Action Comics'' #336. DC Comics.</ref>
* Dev-Re - A science councillor who was part of the earlier establishment of Kandor. He has since became a friend of Superman.<ref>''Superman Family'' #173. DC Comics.</ref>
* Dik-Zee - The twin brother of Van-Zee and first cousin once removed of Superman and Supergirl who once fell in love with [[Lois Lane]].<ref>''Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane'' #21.</ref>
* El Gar Kur - A Kandorian criminal who posed as [[Jimmy Olsen]].<ref>''Action Comics'' #253. DC Comics.</ref>
* Lesla-Lar - A Kandorian scientist and enemy of Supergirl.<ref>''Action Comics'' #279. DC Comics.</ref>
* Lili Van-Zee - The daughter of Van-Zee and second cousin of Superman and Supergirl.<ref name="Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #15">''Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane'' #15. DC Comics.</ref>
* Lyle-Zee - The son of Van-Zee, brother of Lili Van-Zee, and second cousin of Superman and Supergirl.<ref name="Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #15"/>
* Nor-Kann - A scientist and prosecutor who is an old friend of [[Jor-El]]. He was responsible for creating Flamebird and Nightwing.<ref>''Superman'' #158. DC Comics.</ref>
* Shyla Kor-Onn - A Kandorian scientist and former Phantom Zone inmate.<ref>''Superman Family'' #183. DC Comics.</ref>
* Sylvia DeWitt - An Earth woman and rich heiress who fell in love with Van-Zee after he was rejected by Lois Lane. The two of them had children named Lili Van-Zee and Lyle-Zee.<ref name="Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #15"/>
* Van-Zee - The twin brother of Dik-Zee and first cousin once removed of Superman and Supergirl who operated as Nightwing. After being unable to win over the affections of Lois Lane, Van-Zee won over the affections of Sylvia DeWitt. The two of them got married and have children named Lili Van-Zee and Lyle-Zee.<ref name="Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #15"/>
* Zora Vi-Lar - A Kandorian who operated as Black Flame and antagonized Supergirl.<ref>''Action Comics'' #304. DC Comics.</ref>

===New Earth's Kandor inhabitants===
* [[Alura (DC Comics)|Alura Zor-El]] - The mother of Kara Zor-El.
* Asha Del-Nar - A Kandorian lieutenant and former writer in the Artist Guild.<ref name="Superman: World of New Krypton #1">''Superman: World of New Krypton'' #1. DC Comics.</ref>
* Dal Kir-Ta - An aspirant and member of the Military Guard who was recruited by Fer-Gor.<ref name="Superman: World of New Krypton #2">''Superman: World of New Krypton'' #2. DC Comics.</ref>
* Fer-Gor - A Kandorian commander of the Military Guild.<ref>''Action Comics'' #871. DC Comics.</ref>
* [[General Zod]] -
* [[Jax-Ur]] -
* Jeq-Vay - An aspirant first class and member of the Red Shard branch of the Military Guild.<ref name="Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #15"/>
* [[Superman|Kal-El]] - He worked as a commander during his time in Kandor.
* [[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Kara Zor-El]] -
* [[Non (comics)|Non]] -
* Tyr-Van - A councillor of the Labor Guild.<ref name="Superman: World of New Krypton #1"/>

===Prime-Earth's Kandor inhabitants===
* Ak Var - <ref name="The Man of Steel #3">''The Man of Steel'' Vol. 2 #3. DC Comics.</ref>
* Dik-Zee - <ref name="The Man of Steel #3"/>
* El Gar Kur - <ref name="The Man of Steel #3"/>
* Lesla-Lar - <ref name="The Man of Steel #3"/>
* Lili Van-Zee - <ref name="The Man of Steel #3"/>
* Lily-Zee - <ref name="The Man of Steel #3"/>
* Sylvia DeWitt - <ref name="The Man of Steel #3"/>
* Van-Zee - <ref name="The Man of Steel #3"/>

==Other versions==
[[Frank Miller (comics)|Frank Miller's]] 2001-2002 miniseries ''[[The Dark Knight Strikes Again]]'' shows Kandor in the possession of [[Lex Luthor]], who threatens the city's Kryptonian population in order to keep Superman loyal to him. The city is freed by Superman's daughter Lara and [[Atom (Ray Palmer)|the Atom]], and the inhabitants return to full size. This story was continued in the 2015-2017 sequel, ''[[The Dark Knight III: The Master Race]]''.
[[Frank Miller (comics)|Frank Miller's]] 2001-2002 miniseries ''[[The Dark Knight Strikes Again]]'' shows Kandor in the possession of [[Lex Luthor]], who threatens the city's Kryptonian population in order to keep Superman loyal to him. The city is freed by Superman's daughter Lara and [[Atom (Ray Palmer)|the Atom]], and the inhabitants return to full size. This story was continued in the 2015-2017 sequel, ''[[The Dark Knight III: The Master Race]]''.


Line 62: Line 102:
==Influence==
==Influence==
Artist [[Mike Kelley (artist)|Mike Kelley]] created sculptural variations of Kandor, dozens of which were shown at various museums.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Johnson|first=Ken|date=2015-09-10 |title=Review: Mike Kelley Uncorks Superman’s Kandor City in a Bottle|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/11/arts/design/review-mike-kelley-uncorks-supermans-kandor-city-in-a-bottle.html|access-date=2020-07-14|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-01-20|title=Art review: Mike Kelley at Gagosian Gallery |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/01/art-review-mike-kelley-at-gagosian-gallery.html|access-date=2020-07-14|website=LA Times Blogs - Culture Monster|language=en-US}}</ref>
Artist [[Mike Kelley (artist)|Mike Kelley]] created sculptural variations of Kandor, dozens of which were shown at various museums.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Johnson|first=Ken|date=2015-09-10 |title=Review: Mike Kelley Uncorks Superman’s Kandor City in a Bottle|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/11/arts/design/review-mike-kelley-uncorks-supermans-kandor-city-in-a-bottle.html|access-date=2020-07-14|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-01-20|title=Art review: Mike Kelley at Gagosian Gallery |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/01/art-review-mike-kelley-at-gagosian-gallery.html|access-date=2020-07-14|website=LA Times Blogs - Culture Monster|language=en-US}}</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
* Kandor appears in ''[[The World's Greatest SuperFriends]]'' episode "Terror at 20,000 Fathoms". The Kandorians Dorrell (voiced by [[Shannon Farnon]]), Erin (voiced by [[Danny Dark]]), Kana (voiced by [[Louise Williams|Liberty Williams]]), and Mivor (voiced by [[James Reynold (actor)|James Reynolds]]) assist the SuperFriends in battling Captain Nimoy in his plot to sink the Earth's continents with nuclear missiles so that he can rule underwater.
* Kandor appears in ''[[Smallville]]''. Unlike the comics, it was razied during the battle between Krypton and Black Zero. During the conflict, Jor-El scanned and cloned many of it's residents where they were stored in an orb until the day when it was opened by Tess Mercer.
* Kandor appears in the ''[[Legion of Super-Heroes (TV series)|Legion of Super-Heroes]]'' episode "Message in a Bottle".
* Kandor appears in the ''[[Justice League Action]]'' episode "Plastic Man Save the World". It is shown on Brainiac's ship until it is claimed by the Justice League. In the episode "Battle for the Bottled City", Superman explores Kandor as Cyborg and Atom work to keep Brainiac from reclaiming Kandor.

===Film===
* Kandor appears in ''[[All-Star Superman (film)|All-Star Superman]]''. When Superman was dying, he took Kandor to another planet and enlarged it so that the Kandorians can thrive there.
* Kandor appears in ''[[Superman: Unbound]]''. Superman visits Alura and Zor-El in Kandor where he learns about Brainiac.


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>

{{Superman}}


[[Category:Superman]]
[[Category:Superman]]

Revision as of 00:10, 11 March 2021

Kandor
Kryptonians
PublisherDC Comics

Kandor (commonly known as the Bottle City of Kandor)[1] is a fictional city spared from the doomed world of Krypton in DC Comics' Superman titles. Before Krypton exploded, the futuristic city was captured by the supervillain Brainiac, miniaturized by his shrinking ray and placed inside a glass bell jar. Defeating Brainiac and taking possession of the jar, Superman brings the city to his Arctic hideout, the Fortress of Solitude, and spends many years attempting to restore it to normal size.

Publication history

The city first appeared in the story "The Super-Duel in Space", published in Action Comics #242 (July 1958), written by Otto Binder and drawn by Al Plastino during the period known as the Silver Age of Comic Books.[2] This was part of editor Mort Weisinger's desire to build a wider canvas of supporting characters and locations for the various Superman titles, creating more opportunities for new stories to emerge.[3] The miniature city allowed writers to explore Kryptonian culture, which had previously been just an offscreen preface to the series.[2] The concept was explored in depth over the next ten years, as the readers became fascinated with the bottled city and its glimpses of Kryptonian life.[4]

The conceit helped to humanize the god-like Superman, and enrich his characterization. In Superman: The Complete History, Les Daniels observed, "Showing Superman so much at home in the bottle emphasized the extent to which he was as much an alien as an American."[5] In Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero, Larry Tye said that Kandor "made clear that even Superman couldn't get everything he wanted, since there was nothing he wanted more than to restore the Kandorians to their rightful size."[6]

In his book Supergods, writer Grant Morrison explained the unique symbolism that the Bottle City represents:

"This living diorama, this ant colony of real people, had great appeal for children, adding to the childlike nature of this era's Superman. In Kandor, lost memories were preserved under glass, and Superman could go there, in private, to experience a world he left behind. Kandor was every snow globe and music box that stood for every bittersweet memory in every movie there would ever be. Kandor was the tinkling voice of a lost world, a past that might have been, unreachable. Kandor was survivor's guilt endowed with new meaning."[7]

The first Brainiac/Kandor comic book story in Action Comics #242 (July 1958) was based on a story arc in the

red Kryptonite.[9]

Following Kandor's introduction in the comic books, the Bottle City inspired a number of plots involving both regular characters entering the jar to visit Kandor, as well as Kandorians leaving the jar to interact with the human world.[10] Superman became a regular visitor, even creating a new Kandorian identity in 1963 as the superhero Nightwing, with Jimmy Olsen as his sidekick Flamebird.[9]

While Binder and Plastino created the first Kandor story, the tale was elaborated on in a series of stories by writer Edmond Hamilton and artist Curt Swan.[5] Swan particularly enjoyed drawing Kandor stories: "Where else could you have the fun of creating an entire city in a bottle? I think Al Plastino had first drawn Kandor, the Kryptonian city that had been miniaturized... But I had a lot of fun inventing all that tiny futuristic architecture, not to mention the view from inside the bottle — with the "giant" figures peering in."[11] Creating and re-creating the city was so much fun, in fact, that there was never a standard pattern or skyline of Kandor; it was never drawn the same way twice.[12]

The people of Kandor were finally restored to normal size, to settle on a new planet that they called Rokyn ("God's Gift", from the name of the Kryptonian god Rao). This event was mentioned parenthetically in a 1965 story, "The Five Legion Orphans!" (Adventure Comics #356, May 1965), a prediction that finally came true almost fifteen years later, in "Let My People Grow!" (Superman #338, Aug 1979). In the latter story, Superman uses an enlarging ray to bring the city back; while the buildings prove unstable and crumble to dust, the restored citizens are happily relocated to their new home.[13]

Len Wein, writer of this final Kandor story, said in a 2006 interview that he regretted restoring the city to normal size. "Although I like the ending of the story, I'm sorry I did the story," he said. "I don't think that any of us realized at the time that what was old to us was new to somebody just coming in... I came at Kandor thinking: 'I'm so tired of this. It's been 20 years, 30 years, of that stupid city.' So I came up with a story I thought might have some emotional impact... I regret that, because the idea of a bottle city of tiny people is a much cooler idea than what I left it as."[14]

Fictional history

Silver Age

The first Kandor story, "The Super-Duel in Space", establishes that Kandor — Krypton's capital city — had been stolen years before the planet exploded. Superman has no powers when he's inside the jar, because "Krypton's gravity-conditions are duplicated" in the bottle. Kandorians, focused on scientific progress, build robots, rockets and an artificial sun. Superman meets a Kandorian scientist named Kimda who tells him that Brainiac's Hyper-Ray can reverse the miniaturization process. Superman liberates all of Brainiac's bottled cities, except for Kandor, because the Hyper-Ray runs out of cosmic-power. He brings it to the Fortress of Solitude, with a resolution to "restore it to normal size... someday! Who knows?"[15]

In 1960, Otto Binder and Curt Swan introduced the Superman Emergency Squad, a group of volunteer Kandorians who happen to look just like Superman, and occasionally leave the jar to assist him in times of trouble like the story "The Mystery of the Tiny Supermen!"[16] They use a special scientific process to enlarge themselves to the size of dolls, and when they leave the jar, they gain Superman-like powers. In a crisis, the swarm heads out to assist.[17]

Post-Crisis

When the DC Universe continuity was rebooted in the 1985-86 miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths, Kandor's history was changed. In this version of the story, Kandor was destroyed a thousand years before Krypton's end, blown up with an atomic device by the terrorist organization Black Zero.[18][19]

A new version of Kandor was introduced in 1996, this one populated with a collection of various alien species, held in a prison that looked like a bottle but was actually an extra-dimensional space, created by the alien wizard Tolos.[20][19]

Superman's history was shaken up again with the 2003-2004 miniseries Superman: Birthright, which replaced the post-Crisis status quo with a new version of Superman's early years. In this continuity, the city was stolen and shrunk by Brainiac.[21][19]

The storylines and relaunches Infinite Crisis (2005-2006), Superman: New Krypton (2008-2009), The New 52 (2011) and DC Rebirth (2016) have resulted in a number of different versions of Kandor, with varying degrees of resemblance to the original Silver Age creation.

Known inhabitants

The inhabitants of Kandor have varied in different continuities:

Earth-One's Kandor inhabitants

  • Ak-Var - A former Phantom Zone inhabitant who now operates as Flamebird.[22]
  • Dev-Re - A science councillor who was part of the earlier establishment of Kandor. He has since became a friend of Superman.[23]
  • Dik-Zee - The twin brother of Van-Zee and first cousin once removed of Superman and Supergirl who once fell in love with Lois Lane.[24]
  • El Gar Kur - A Kandorian criminal who posed as Jimmy Olsen.[25]
  • Lesla-Lar - A Kandorian scientist and enemy of Supergirl.[26]
  • Lili Van-Zee - The daughter of Van-Zee and second cousin of Superman and Supergirl.[27]
  • Lyle-Zee - The son of Van-Zee, brother of Lili Van-Zee, and second cousin of Superman and Supergirl.[27]
  • Nor-Kann - A scientist and prosecutor who is an old friend of Jor-El. He was responsible for creating Flamebird and Nightwing.[28]
  • Shyla Kor-Onn - A Kandorian scientist and former Phantom Zone inmate.[29]
  • Sylvia DeWitt - An Earth woman and rich heiress who fell in love with Van-Zee after he was rejected by Lois Lane. The two of them had children named Lili Van-Zee and Lyle-Zee.[27]
  • Van-Zee - The twin brother of Dik-Zee and first cousin once removed of Superman and Supergirl who operated as Nightwing. After being unable to win over the affections of Lois Lane, Van-Zee won over the affections of Sylvia DeWitt. The two of them got married and have children named Lili Van-Zee and Lyle-Zee.[27]
  • Zora Vi-Lar - A Kandorian who operated as Black Flame and antagonized Supergirl.[30]

New Earth's Kandor inhabitants

  • Alura Zor-El - The mother of Kara Zor-El.
  • Asha Del-Nar - A Kandorian lieutenant and former writer in the Artist Guild.[31]
  • Dal Kir-Ta - An aspirant and member of the Military Guard who was recruited by Fer-Gor.[32]
  • Fer-Gor - A Kandorian commander of the Military Guild.[33]
  • General Zod -
  • Jax-Ur -
  • Jeq-Vay - An aspirant first class and member of the Red Shard branch of the Military Guild.[27]
  • Kal-El - He worked as a commander during his time in Kandor.
  • Kara Zor-El -
  • Non -
  • Tyr-Van - A councillor of the Labor Guild.[31]

Prime-Earth's Kandor inhabitants

Other versions

Frank Miller's 2001-2002 miniseries The Dark Knight Strikes Again shows Kandor in the possession of Lex Luthor, who threatens the city's Kryptonian population in order to keep Superman loyal to him. The city is freed by Superman's daughter Lara and the Atom, and the inhabitants return to full size. This story was continued in the 2015-2017 sequel, The Dark Knight III: The Master Race
.

The 2003 Elseworlds miniseries Superman: Red Son shows what would happen if Kal-El's rocket landed in Ukraine, and grew up as a Soviet citizen. In this story, Brainiac shrinks and bottles Stalingrad, instead of Kandor.

Reception

In the 2015 book The Man from Krypton: A Closer Look at Superman, Adam-Troy Castro criticizes "The Pathetic Inferiority Complex of the Kandorians", saying, "As of now, the average size of the remaining members of the species is defined quite well by the people of Kandor, who now face a practical choice between being small and living in a bottle on a shelf, or being small and free to zip around with godlike powers. It seems an obvious choice to me, but the Kandorians remain so self-conscious about being small that they prefer indefinite storage on Superman's shelf. This does not speak well of Kryptonian ambition."[1]

Influence

Artist Mike Kelley created sculptural variations of Kandor, dozens of which were shown at various museums.[35][36]

In other media

Television

  • Kandor appears in The World's Greatest SuperFriends episode "Terror at 20,000 Fathoms". The Kandorians Dorrell (voiced by Shannon Farnon), Erin (voiced by Danny Dark), Kana (voiced by Liberty Williams), and Mivor (voiced by James Reynolds) assist the SuperFriends in battling Captain Nimoy in his plot to sink the Earth's continents with nuclear missiles so that he can rule underwater.
  • Kandor appears in Smallville. Unlike the comics, it was razied during the battle between Krypton and Black Zero. During the conflict, Jor-El scanned and cloned many of it's residents where they were stored in an orb until the day when it was opened by Tess Mercer.
  • Kandor appears in the
    Legion of Super-Heroes
     episode "Message in a Bottle".
  • Kandor appears in the Justice League Action episode "Plastic Man Save the World". It is shown on Brainiac's ship until it is claimed by the Justice League. In the episode "Battle for the Bottled City", Superman explores Kandor as Cyborg and Atom work to keep Brainiac from reclaiming Kandor.

Film

  • Kandor appears in All-Star Superman. When Superman was dying, he took Kandor to another planet and enlarged it so that the Kandorians can thrive there.
  • Kandor appears in Superman: Unbound. Superman visits Alura and Zor-El in Kandor where he learns about Brainiac.

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 9781941631584
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 9781605490540
    .
  3. ISBN 9781893905610
    .
  4. ISBN 9781623170387
    .
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-0811821629
    .
  6. ISBN 9780812980776
    .
  7. ISBN 9780812981384
    .
  8. ISBN 978-1118341841
    .
  9. ^
    ISBN 978-1605490458
    .
  10. ISBN 1-4012-1389-8
    .
  11. ISBN 9780940601000
    .
  12. ISBN 9781259360640
    .
  13. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6
    .
  14. ISBN 9781893905610
    .
  15. ^ Otto Binder (w), Al Plastino (a). "The Super-Duel in Space," Action Comics, vol. 1, no. 242 (July 1958). DC Comics.
  16. Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen
    #48, Oct 1960). DC Comics.
  17. ISBN 9781476638515
    .
  18. ^ The World of Krypton #2 (Jan 1988). DC Comics.
  19. ^
    ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0
    .
  20. ^ Superman: The Man of Steel #60 (Sept 1996). DC Comics.
  21. ^ The Adventures of Superman #626 (May 2004). DC Comics.
  22. ^ Action Comics #336. DC Comics.
  23. ^ Superman Family #173. DC Comics.
  24. ^ Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #21.
  25. ^ Action Comics #253. DC Comics.
  26. ^ Action Comics #279. DC Comics.
  27. ^ a b c d e Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #15. DC Comics.
  28. ^ Superman #158. DC Comics.
  29. ^ Superman Family #183. DC Comics.
  30. ^ Action Comics #304. DC Comics.
  31. ^ a b Superman: World of New Krypton #1. DC Comics.
  32. ^ Superman: World of New Krypton #2. DC Comics.
  33. ^ Action Comics #871. DC Comics.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h The Man of Steel Vol. 2 #3. DC Comics.
  35. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  36. ^ "Art review: Mike Kelley at Gagosian Gallery". LA Times Blogs - Culture Monster. 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kandor_(comics)&oldid=1011456214"