Kryptonians

*"Every action I take, no matter how violent or how cruel, is for the greater good of my people. And now, I have no people!"*
―General Zod[src]
**Kryptonians** are a near-extinct technologically advanced species, native to the planet Krypton. The species was rendered critically endangered after almost all Kryptonians died when their main civilization center on Krypton exploded due to the instability of the planet's radioactive core.

They are morphologically and anatomically nigh-identical to humans, except for the fact that they gain incredible abilities when exposed to the radiation of a yellow star; their cells can absorb and metabolize this particular energy and harness it to perform extraordinary feats.

## History

### Early Advancements

In the early days of their civilization, the Kryptonians were a proud warrior race. One of their earliest traditions was dueling as a method of resolving disagreements. Eventually, the various Kryptonian tribes (known as Houses) united into a single nation.

Over the years, Kryptonians developed into an increasingly sophisticated society. Their architecture evolved alongside their technological advancements, allowing them to erect citadels throughout the planet; enormous structures could root themselves into the ground as they were built high into the skies. Kandor, the largest city on Krypton, featured multiple citadels, notably those used by the Council of Five for legislative proceedings.

### Golden Age

During the Golden Age of Krypton, all Kryptonians lived by the Eleven Virtues, a series of doctrines that guided their morality and ambition.

#### Kryptonian Expansion

Following the development of hyper-drives, Kryptonian scientists paved the way for travel to distant planets to expand their influence throughout the cosmos. Some even left their own scout ships (equipped with Genesis Chambers) on these planets. To survive, these Kryptonian colonists utilized World Engines to alter these planets' composition, making them compatible with the newcomers.

During their cosmic expansion, Krypton eventually became an expanding empire that conquered other planets for years. Finally, the Kryptonian High Council dismantled the Empire after deciding their methods were too aggressive. So, ended Krypton's Golden Age.

### Genetic cultivation and population control

Kryptonians were once born naturally, but the wake of advancements in genetic engineering soon discarded the idea. They ultimately decided to control the population by growing fetuses underwater in orbs within Genesis Chambers (monitored by Aquabats), which provided them with all they needed to survive until birth. They perfected this using a Growth Codex, which contained the genetic makeup of all Kryptonians. At that point, natural births were unheard of, and the Kryptonian Council established population control.

### Destruction of Krypton

During his experiments, Kryptonian scientist Jor-El came across startling news. Krypton's core was unstable, and if it continued on its current course, it could destroy the planet. Alarmed, Jor-El shared this information with the High Council. Unfortunately, the council was unmoved by Jor-El's words, branding his findings ludicrous and ordering him never to speak of them again.

Not long after, Jor-El's prediction came true; Krypton imploded.

## Biology

Visually, Kryptonians are indistinguishable from humans. This is because they evolved and adapted to survive in a much harsher atmosphere with gravity much stronger than Earth's. On their native planet, Kryptonians' natural abilities were the same as humans, as Krypton revolved around the red star Rao. However, on planets like Earth which orbits a yellow star, Kryptonians utilize solar energy on the cellular level to achieve vast superhuman powers that make them appear godlike (virtually comparable to Old Gods) to humans.

* **Solar energy absorption**: Kryptonians' cells can absorb yellow solar energy, and this, in turn, fuels all of their powers and abilities. Their cells also store solar energy, allowing them to retain their powers under roofed structures or even at night, although they eventually need a yellow sun to recharge their powers. Kryptonians can also absorb solar energies from stars of other spectral classes. Direct exposure to sunlight can allow Kryptonian to heal and recover at an accelerated rate on a cellular level from seemingly any of their weaknesses, giving them powerful healing and regenerative capabilities.
	+ **Superhuman strength**: Kryptonians possess tremendous superhuman strength when on planets like Earth which orbits a yellow star, allowing them to carry more than a million tons and create shockwaves with their strikes.
	+ **Superhuman speed**: Kryptonians can run and fly at speeds faster than military aircraft. They can move, think and react fast enough almost to match speedsters such as a young Flash, who can move faster than humans can even perceive. Superman generally uses his super speed while flying.
	+ **Nigh-invulnerability**: Kryptonians' bodies are nearly invulnerable, with missiles, explosions, and bullets being unable to so much as break their skin. They can also survive unharmed in environments of intense temperatures, exposure to harmful chemicals, or even the vacuum of space. However, getting hit directly by a nuclear warhead or beings who are more powerful can break through their extremely advanced durability. However, even upon death, their cells are incapable of decay, making their bodies unable to decompose.
	+ **Superhuman Stamina**: Under a yellow sun, Kryptonians have vastly increased stamina, allowing them to perform superhuman feats for extended periods and rarely have to sleep.
	+ **Regenerative healing factor:** They can recover from non-fatal wounds at an accelerated rate. This is further enhanced when under direct sunlight, whereby they heal all non-fatal wounds instantaneously. Even if fatally injured, a Kryptonian's cells are incapable of decay after clinical death, causing their bodies to be naturally preserved.
	+ **Superhuman vision**: They also possess a superior sensory arrangement of microscopic, telescopic, infrared, and ultraviolet visual capabilities.
		- **Telescopic vision**: Kryptonians can focus their vision to see something at a great distance without violating the laws of physics.
		- **Microscopic vision**: The ability to see tiny objects and images down to the sub-atomic level.
		- **X-ray vision**: Kryptonians can see through almost anything, able to focus their vision past layers of matter, literally seeing "through" them. Because of this ability, Kryptonians possess a sight unparalleled by any other species, possibly perceiving x-rays, cosmic rays, or other forms of energy invisible on the spectrum of light which passes through Earth's atmosphere (and solid objects) after emission from stars. The only substance they cannot see through is lead.
		- **Heat vision**: Kryptonians can generate and project extremely high radiation or fiery beams of intense heat energy from the eyes. Visually, the power is typically depicted as two beams of fiery energy being shot from their eyes. These beams can be made seemingly invisible, allowing Kryptonians to work undetected. This radiation-like form is not as intense as the concentrated energy beam form, as it can only superheat targets, while the beam form can destroy entire buildings with explosive force.
	+ **Superhuman hearing**: Due to their exposure to solar radiation, Kryptonians have developed incredible hearing, allowing them to hear extreme variances of sounds and frequencies, thus allowing them to pick up noises from across the globe. They have shown enough control to block out ambient sounds to focus on a specific source or frequency. For example, Clark Kent could hear Alfred's voice through Bruce Wayne's earpiece.
	+ **Superhuman breath**: Kryptonians can survive without air far longer than humans, allowing them to hold their breath for lengthy periods without adverse effects. Some Kryptonians' can use their breath to generate force winds with enough intensity to freeze objects solid and brittle.
	+ **Flight**: Kryptonians have displayed the ability to control their immediate gravitational field to such a degree that it allows them to fly at supersonic speeds in any direction.

## Language and Culture

Kryptonians have many similarities to humans. However, their alphabet, writing system, and language are predominantly different from any Terran communication, just like their culture. Their language is named after their race, Kryptonese. However, in their native tongue, it is referred to as *kriptan ma lumra*, which translates to "Krypton's communicating."

Kryptonian nobles usually dress in clothing with their family emblem on the chest. In battle, they wear highly durable combat armor with their house glyph inscribed on the chest plate. Underneath, they wear skin-tight suits bearing their house's standard. Those born outside of nobility wear the symbol of their guild instead. Kryptonian women sometimes also wear earrings, as humans do.

Kryptonian children are genetically engineered to make Kryptonians a more efficient race. Some are engineered stronger to be better soldiers, others more intelligent to be better scientists. When the Kryptonian couple Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van conceived a child naturally, even the relatively open-minded Dru-Zod considered it blasphemy.

Jor-El reasoned that modern Kryptonian society had grown cold, unfeeling, and sterile.

### Societal Factions

Kryptonian society mainly places its values on arts, science, military might, and theology, strictly dividing its citizens into the five respective guilds. The main guilds are:

* The Military Guild - governs all forms of martial power and military might on the planet and serves as the backbone of Kryptonian conquering authority. It maintains the martial glory of Krypton.
* The Science Guild - governs most forms of technology and science on the planet and houses the race's most ingenious minds. The guild is decried as emotionless but has contributed to the race being a mighty technological power.
* The Artists Guild - governs all forms of art, design, and creativity and believes the most strongly in the religions of Krypton besides the Religious Guild.
* The Religious Guild - the most secretive and reclusive of the guilds, serves as the absolute religious authority on Krypton. The guild is governed by priests representing all Kryptonian Gods, each representing a guild.
* The Labor Guild - keeps the planet's functions running, taking on all and any manual jobs and ordered to serve all the other guilds. They are commonly the unseen masses of Kryptonians, often overlooked and looked down upon as second-class citizens by the other guilds. To further the point, they lack any guild representation. And have no say in society's affairs. According to Superman, they are tantamount to glorified slaves.

### Religion

The main religion on Krypton is Raoism. Kryptonians worship Rao as their prime God and the progenitor of their race and world. The faith is henotheistic, as it includes lesser gods also honored by the respective Kryptonian guilds in addition to Rao, such as Cythonna, Yuda, Nightwing, and Flamebird. A better comparison would be that of Catholicism, with Rao as the monotheistic deity surrounded by the lesser gods as "angels."

Outside the standard life cycle events of birth, marriage, and death, Kryptonians have no interaction with their clergy, and the church rarely interacts with the rest of society.

Each of the Kryptonian Guilds honors a specific god: Telle (God of Wisdom/Science), Lorra (Goddess of Beauty/Arts), Mordo (God of Strength/Military), Yuda (God of the Moon/Labor), and Cythonna, who is personally honored by the Religious Guild, while all revere Rao.

### Justice and methods of incarceration

*Main Article: Phantom Zone*
The penal system of Krypton sentenced their criminals by sending them to the dimension known as the Phantom Zone. Over a short expanse, the Kryptonian High Council began exiling the worst of the planet's criminals into the zone, the most famous of which was the military insurrectionist General Zod. According to Jor-El, killing a Rondor was considered a crime, possibly with capital punishment.

## Technology

Kryptonian technology is based on self-grown crystals, which make up most of their planet's surface. Self-replicating and infinitely programmable, the Kryptonians could store vast amounts of data and information on relatively small crystals. The Fortress of Solitude is a recreation of Krypton's surface and serves as a storehouse for all the knowledge obtained by the Kryptonian race from the 28 known galaxies.

* Growth Codex
* Phantom Zone
* Phantom Zone Projector
* Sunstone
* World Engine

## Survivors

When Krypton was destroyed, it was thought that the entire Kryptonian race perished. This was untrue – the scientist Jor-El managed to send his newborn son, Kal-El, off-planet to Earth right before Krypton's demise. Kal-El grew up on Earth as Clark Kent and eventually discovered his Kryptonian origins. Superman's cousin Supergirl also survived Krypton's destruction. Kryptonians General Zod and Ursa are among the many criminals imprisoned within the Phantom Zone before Krypton's destruction. Eradicator, a robot built by the Kryptonian council, departed the planet with a group of colonists, survived their decimation, and would later encounter Superman.

The Kryptonian city Kandor was also spared from destruction, as it was shrunken and collected by Brainiac. As a result, Kryptonian people live standard but microscopic, non-superpowered lives. Also, the inhabitants of the planet Daxam are descendants of Kryptonians who long ago ventured into space and settled on another planet. As such, they possess similar powers and abilities to traditional Kryptonians when exposed to a yellow sun. Finally, the people of Argo City also survive Krypton's destruction due to an enemy field surrounding the city. However, the city was eventually captured and immersed into Kandor by Brainiac.

The monster Doomsday is the last of the prehistoric Kryptonians.

## External Links

* Kryptonians on DC Database
* Kryptonians on Wikipedia