List of DC Comics characters: K

Kalibak

Kalibak (/ˈkælɪbæk/) is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the eldest son of Darkseid, half-brother of Orion and Grayven, and an enemy of Superman and the Justice League.

Created by Jack Kirby, being debuted with the rest of the New Gods, he first appears in New Gods #1 (February 1971) in the Silver Age of comic books. He is the son of Darkseid and half-brother of Orion, who he is often pitted against. Kalibak's name is derived from Caliban, a character from William Shakespeare's The Tempest.

In Death of the New Gods, Kalibak is killed by Infinity-Man. In Final Crisis, Kalibak returns in a tiger-like form before being killed in battle with Tawky Tawny.

Kalibak is later resurrected following The New 52 continuity reboot. In DC All In, Darkseid kills Kalibak to power the Miracle Machine and harness the Spectre's energy.

Powers and abilities

As a New God, Kalibak is nigh-immortal and possesses immense physical abilities. He is armed with a Beta-Club, a weapon that fires debilitating force bolts. He can also summon and use aero-disks which allow him to fly.

Kalibak in other media

Television

• Kalibak appears in Super Friends, voiced by Frank Welker.
• Kalibak appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), voiced by Michael Dorn.
  • Kalibak first appears in Superman: The Animated Series.
  • Kalibak appears in the Justice League episodes "Twilight" and "Hereafter". In the latter, he joins the Superman Revenge Squad in a plot to kill Superman, but is defeated by Lobo.
  • Kalibak appears in the Justice League Unlimited episode "The Ties That Bind". Following Darkseid's death, a power struggle ensues on Apokolips, leading to several factions attempting to recruit Kalibak. However, Mister Miracle, Big Barda, Martian Manhunter, and the Flash capture and imprison him on Earth, where no one can use him.
• Kalibak appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Michael-Leon Wooley.
• Kalibak appears in the Justice League Action episode "Superman's Pal, Sid Sharp", voiced by Piotr Michael.
• Kalibak appears in Young Justice, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.

Film

An alternate universe variant of Kalibak makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Justice League: Gods and Monsters.

Video games

• Kalibak appears as a boss in DC Universe Online.
• Kalibak appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.
• Kalibak appears as a playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, voiced by Travis Willingham.
• Kalibak appears in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced again by Michael Dorn.

Miscellaneous

Kalibak appears in Injustice: Gods Among Us #8. He attempts to attack Superman, but is killed by him.

Adeline Kane

Adeline Kane, formerly Adeline Wilson, is best known as both the leader of the criminal organization the H.I.V.E. and the ex-wife of Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke. An enemy of the Teen Titans, Adeline first appeared in The New Teen Titans #34 (August 1983). She was brought up as a wealthy jet-setting playgirl, despite being trained by a father who had worked with Chinese guerrilla forces. But after a traumatic first marriage at 19, she joined the U.S. military, where she met, trained, and married Slade Wilson. After Slade left the military, Slade and Adeline took up the socialite lifestyle Adeline had been raised into.

Unbeknownst to her, Slade was using his hunting trips to gain clients for his mercenary side job, which resulted in the kidnapping and near-death of their younger son Joseph. Enraged and betrayed by Slade's prioritization of his honor code over their son's well-being, Adeline divorces him.

Slade later gives Adeline a blood transfusion to save her life, which drives her insane. She is mortally wounded by Vandal Savage and mercy killed by Starfire.

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Adeline is a former US Army squadron leader and drill instructor for Team 7.

Adeline Kane in other media

• Adeline Kane appears in Titans, portrayed by Mayko Nguyen.
• Adeline Kane appears in Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons, voiced by Sasha Alexander.

Bette Kane

Main article: Bette Kane

Jacob Kane

Jacob Kane is a fictional character appearing American comic books published by DC Comics. Kane debuted in the Batwoman, created by J. H. Williams III and Greg Rucka.

Jacob and his wife Gabrielle "Gabi" Kane were both soldiers in the U.S. Army (he was a member of the 3rd Special Forces Group and she part of the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade), and are the parents of Kate Kane and Beth Kane. The Kanes are Jewish and Jacob inherited vast wealth along with his other siblings. Bette Kane (the superheroine known as Flamebird, and later Hawkfire) is his niece and Bruce Wayne is his nephew, since Martha Wayne was Jacob's sister.

Kane is promoted to colonel and assigned to NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. When the twins turned 12 years old, their mother took them to a restaurant for a birthday dessert, despite Jacob being away due to a security crisis. A terrorist group (later revealed to be the organization known as the "Many Arms of Death") kidnapped the family during their trip, and Col. Kane led a rescue mission to save them. During the raid, Gabrielle was murdered by the terrorists. The terrorists kidnapped another young girl and murdered her too. Kate, seeing the body of a young girl under a blanket, is left with the impression her sister died. Col. Kane, however, knew that the terrorists had Beth. Despite looking for years, Col. Kane never found Beth. He never told Kate that Beth might still be alive. Col. Kane remarries years later to Hamilton Rifle Company heiress Catherine Hamilton, who becomes Kate's stepmother.

Jacob's emotional steadiness proved to be a major source of stability for Kate in the aftermath of the tragedy, and she sought to emulate that for herself and follow him into Army service, which Jacob supported. Thanks to his higher rank, Jacob was able to be more present in Kate's life during this time. He taught Kate how to box when she was a teenager, accompanied her to R-Day at West Point when she was an incoming freshman, and is implied to have given Kate ringside coaching during an academy championship boxing match that helped her win the fight. Kate's resignation from the academy due to DADT allegations took Jacob by surprise, but he immediately accepted her when she came out to him.

After Kate became a vigilante, Jacob aided her campaign against crime by organizing her training, designing her Batwoman suit and gear, developing her operational headquarters, and maintaining radio contact with her during patrols to provide information and advice.

The Alice persona kidnaps Col. Kane, who immediately recognizes as his now-grown daughter Beth, and uses him to gain access to a military base near Gotham City. She seizes chemical weapons from the base and intends to kill everyone in the city by dispersing them from an aircraft. Alice falls into Gotham Bay during her final battle with Batwoman after revealing her identity, and is again presumed dead.

In 2011, DC Comics rebooted the DC universe through "The New 52". Jacob's history of losing his wife and what happened to Beth remains intact, as well as his support for Kate's campaign as Batwoman. In addition, the New 52 establishes that an informal group of Jacob's closest friends within the special operations community, known as the Murder of Crows, were the ones Jacob assembled to conduct Kate's Batwoman training.

Jacob has been depicted as a highly decorated soldier, appearing with the following awards: the Army Achievement Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NATO Medal for Kosovo, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Aviator Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Jacob Kane in other media

• Jacob Kane appears in Batwoman, portrayed by Dougray Scott. This version is the founder of the Crows security firm and married Catherine Hamilton-Kane following the death of his wife Gabi.
• Jacob Kane appears in Batman: Bad Blood, voiced by Geoff Pierson.
• Jacob Kane appears in Gotham Knights, voiced by Tommie Earl Jenkins. This version is the head of Kane Industries and leader of the Court of Owls who is aware of Batman and his proteges' identities. After learning of his connection to the Court, the Gotham Knights apprehend Jacob, but Talia al Ghul kills him before he can be handed over to the police.

Kate Kane

Main article: Kate Kane

Kathy Kane

Main article: Batwoman (Kathy Kane)

Basil Karlo

Main article: Clayface

Karen Keeny

Karen Keeny is a character who appears in Year One: Batman/Scarecrow (July 2005). She is the mother of Jonathan Crane.

Karen is the youngest daughter in a long line of Georgia gentry from Arlen. She was raised by her strict mother and grandmother, which led to her having a rebellious youth. Karen meets Gerald Crane, going into a short relationship and later becoming pregnant. She was not allowed to raise her child – even the naming was done by her grandmother.

Karen moved to Latham, marrying a man named Charlie Jarvis, who was abusive and jealous, wanting above all the deed to the family mansion, which she didn't have. When her son came back to kill his last remaining relatives, Charlie became more jealous, as she received strange letters under her maiden name. When Scarecrow comes to her house, he kills Jarvis and was going to kill Karen and her infant daughter when Batman arrives and stops him.

Knowing all the people he had killed, Karen felt guilty for Jonathan's deeds and contemplated suicide, but talked out of it by Deadman.

Karen Keeny in other media

The character, renamed Karen Crane, appears in Gotham, portrayed by Dorothea Harahan. In addition to being the mother of Jonathan Crane, this version is the wife of Gerald Crane who died in a fire a year prior. As Jonathan was able to rescue her, but became paralyzed with fear, Gerald was inspired to cure him and himself of their fear.

Katana

Main article: Katana (DC Comics)

Kelex

Main article: Kelex

Ariella Kent

Ariella Kent is the Supergirl of the 853rd century. She is a superhero from DC Comics' Supergirl series. The character first appeared in Supergirl #1,000,000, created by Peter David and Dusty Abell.

Ariella is the daughter of Linda Danvers and the pre-Crisis version of Superman. After the Spectre returns Linda to the post-Crisis era, Ariella is left alone and travels to the 853rd century, where she unknowingly causes massive devastation.

According to an interview with Newsarama, following the events of Infinite Crisis, Didio stated that the Matrix Supergirl was wiped from existence. However, Geoff Johns later stated in 2006: "As for this…huh? Linda Danvers hasn't been retconned out at all". The Linda Danvers character was used in the 2008 comic Reign in Hell, but the existence of Ariella in current canon has yet to be established.

A hybrid of metahuman/Kryptonian heritage, Ariella possesses immense strength, durability, and speed and a slowed aging process, as well as the ability to fly, travel through time at will, move objects with her mind, teleport, and duplicate herself. Due to her vast level of power and young age, Ariella is not always able to restrain herself.

Chris Kent

Main article: Chris Kent (character)

Clark Kent

Main article: Superman

Connor Kent

Main article: Superboy (Kon-El)

Jonathan Kent

Main article: Jonathan and Martha Kent

Martha Kent

Main article: Jonathan and Martha Kent

William Kenzie

William Kenzie is a corrupt officer of the Gotham City Police Department, involved in an operation to profit a percentage from illegal sales. It was created by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber in Gotham Central #32 (August 1987).

William Kenzie in other media

William Kenzie appears in The Batman and The Penguin, portrayed by Peter McDonald. This version is also a corrupt GCPD officer, working directly for Carmine Falcone.

Kid Eternity

Main article: Kid Eternity

Kid Flash

Main article: Kid Flash

Kilg%re

Kilg%re was an electro-mechano-organic intelligence that needed electro-life to survive and an enemy of the Wally West/The Flash. and Justice League International. It was created by Mike Baron and Jackson Guice, and first appeared in The Flash (vol. 2) #3 (August 1987).

The being itself consumed its entire home planet in the Pleides sector and then moved on into space. It was attacked by something known as Meta#sker and placed into a vibrational limbo. After arriving on Earth, Kilg%re manipulates Maxwell Lord into forming a new version of the Justice League.

Powers and abilities of Kilg%re

Kilg%re, being a machine, is able to communicate with and disrupt other machines. It is additionally able to move at superhuman speeds and generate electricity.

Kilg%re in other media

• Kilg%re appears in the fourth season of The Flash, portrayed by Dominic Burgess. This version is Ramsey Deacon, a human computer programmer who developed an application that his teammates stole for self-profit, leaving him with nothing. Following this, the Thinker tricks the Flash into exposing Deacon to dark matter, turning him into a technopathic metahuman. Ramsey takes the name "Kilg%re" and uses his powers to take revenge on his former teammates, killing one and nearly doing the same to the others until he is stopped by Team Flash and remanded to Iron Heights Penitentiary. In the episode "True Colors", Kilg%re, Dwarfstar, Hazard, and Black Bison mount an escape attempt before Warden Gregory Wolfe can sell them to Amunet Black, but the Thinker kills them for their powers.
• Kilg%re appears in Justice League Adventures #28. This version is Ludwig Dyteman, who was motivated to commit crimes to save his terminally ill niece. After learning that a cure was available all along, a remorseful Dyteman gives the Justice League a device to stop his missiles before deleting himself from existence.
• Kilg%re appears in Green Lantern: The Animated Series #14.
• Kilg%re appears in Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, voiced by Tru Valentino.

King Standish

Main article: King Standish

Killer Croc

Main article: Killer Croc

Killer Frost

Main article: Killer Frost

Killer Moth

Main article: Killer Moth

Thaddeus Killgrave

Thaddeus Killgrave is a villain in DC Comics primarily of Superman, debuting in Superman (vol. 2) #19 (July 1988) by John Byrne.

Professor Thaddeus Killgrave is a mad scientist with dwarfism who would either create technology to fight Superman or sell them to other criminals. He was a frequent collaborator of Intergang in their fight against Superman.

Thaddeus Killgrave in other media

• Killgrave appears in the Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman tie-in novel Exile. This version is an egotistical criminal who is dismissive of humanity.
• Thaddeus Killgrave appears in the Superman & Lois episode "Haywire", portrayed by Brendan Fletcher.
• Thaddeus Killgrave appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.

King Cobra

There have been at least two different characters named King Cobra in American comic books published by DC Comics.

Batman villain

The King Cobra is a mob boss in Gotham City who wears a green snake costume. He is the leader of a criminal group called the Cobra Gang. He makes his first appearance in Batman #139 (April 1961).

Shadow villain

This version of the King Cobra is a New York City gangster and an enemy to Kent Allard.

Other versions of King Cobra

• The Batman Beyond version of the King Cobra appears in the Batman Beyond comic book series.
• The King Cobra appears in the final issue of Batman '66.

King Cobra in other media

• The first incarnation of King Cobra appears in the title sequence of Batman (1966).
• An original incarnation of the King Cobra appears in the Batman Beyond episode "Splicers", voiced by Tim Dang. This version is a teenager who was transformed into a snake hybrid by Dr. Abel Cuvier and fights Batman before being defeated and given an antidote that reverts him to normal.
• The first incarnation of King Cobra appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
• The first incarnation of King Cobra appears in Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

Willoughby Kipling

Willoughby Kipling is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Doom Patrol (vol. 2) #31 and was created by Grant Morrison and Richard Case.

Kipling appears mostly in the Doom Patrol comic series. The character was originally intended to be John Constantine, but at the time DC Comics editorial policy limited Constantine's use outside of his own series to preserve the realism of the character. Kipling was created as a substitute, and was based upon Richard E. Grant's title character from the British cult film Withnail and I. He appeared intermittently, helping the team against various threats, such as the Cult of the Unwritten Book and the Candlemaker. He is a member of the mystic Knights Templar, a coward who practices a bizarre form of black magic and is a self-proclaimed expert on the occult.

Later, Kipling's voice-over appears in JLA Classified #15 (February 2006). He and several other magic-users use their knowledge to assist Oracle and the Justice League of America defeat a mystic threat.

Willougby Kipling in other media

Willoughby Kipling appears in Doom Patrol, portrayed by Mark Sheppard as an adult and by Tyler Crumley as a child.

Kirigi

Takibi Kirigi is a martial arts master in DC Comics. The character, created by James Owsley and Jim Aparo, first appeared in Batman #431 (March 1989). He taught Bruce Wayne the art of ninjitsu when Bruce approached him for martial arts training. Kirigi was later hired by Ra's al Ghul to train members of the League of Assassins in ninjutsu such as the Bronze Tiger. Batman visited Kirigi when he recognized some of the moves done by the League of Assassins members that Kirigi taught him.

Kirigi in other media

Kirigi appears in the Batman: Arkham Origins "Initiation" DLC, voiced by Kaiji Tang. This version is based in North Korea.

Klarion the Witch Boy

Main article: Klarion the Witch Boy

Knightfall

Knightfall (Charise Carnes) is a fictional DC Comics character, an enemy of Batgirl (Barbara Gordon). She first appeared in Batgirl (vol. 4) #10 (August 2012) and was created by Gail Simone and Alitha Martinez. Carnes' character is known for her devious behavior. Often obscuring her true motives behind a facade of youthful innocence, Carnes is a tactician Through primarily off page blackmail and bribery, she has built a network of judges, lawyers, and others willing to assist her. This network, coupled with the vast family fortune at her disposal, gives Carnes the resources to make Knightfall a formidable opponent. As a combatant, Carnes prefers knives, specifically the two previously used in the murder of her family.

Kobra

Main article: Kobra (DC Comics)

Kole

Main article: Kole

Komodo

Further reading Komodo at the Grand Comics Database

Komodo (Simon Lacroix) first appears in Green Arrow (vol. 5) #17 (April 2013). He was created by writer Jeff Lemire and artist Andrea Sorrentino. Komodo was once Robert Queen's protégé and was part of Robert's expedition to find the "Arrow Totem", which was said to bring enlightenment. Seeking this enlightenment for himself, Lacroix betrayed and murdered Robert, but could not find the Totem. Consumed by his desire for the Totem's enlightenment, Lacroix strove to destroy Oliver Queen and the Green Arrow and became the masked archer "Komodo". Through his company Stellmoor International, he works on behalf of the Outsiders, a shadowy secret society of warriors from different weapon disciplines, which he wants to rule. Komodo travels with his equally deadly "daughter" Emiko, who, in fact, is the daughter of Robert Queen and the archer Shado. Emiko later learns this and is shocked, and learning that both her parents were alive, turned against Komodo. He attempted to kill her but, ultimately, she killed him with an arrow shot through his heart.

Komodo in other media

Komodo appears in the Arrow episode "Sara", portrayed by Matt Ward. This version is a Canadian mercenary.

Jarvis Kord

Jarvis Kord is the scientist uncle of Ted Kord. Created by D.C. Glanzman and Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Secret Origins (vol. 2) #2 (May 1986).

He was working to create an army of androids to take over Earth, resulting in his nephew and Dan Garrett investigating and foiling his ambitions. Jarvis killed the original Blue Beetle and himself during their battle, which inspired the second Blue Beetle.

Jarvis Kord in other media

Jarvis Kord appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Fall of the Blue Beetle!", voiced by Tim Matheson. After his nephew Ted went to him for help in activating the Blue Beetle scarab, Jarvis sought to use the device to create an army of robots to take over Hub City. However, he was foiled by Ted and Batman, with the former sacrificing himself to keep Jarvis from obtaining the scarab. In the present, Jarvis manipulates Jaime Reyes into believing he is Ted in another attempt to obtain the scarab, only to foiled by Reyes and Batman.

Victoria Kord

Victoria Kord is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

Victoria Kord is the sister of Ted Kord and the CEO of Kord Industries. She was created for the Blue Beetle film, but debuted in the comics' Blue Beetle: Graduation Day series prior to the film's premiere.

Victoria Kord in other media

Victoria Kord appears in Blue Beetle, portrayed by Susan Sarandon. While her part of being CEO of Kord Industries remains intact, she has a niece named Jennifer Kord who she has a poor relationship with, was displeased with Ted Kord's activities, and is served by Ignacio Carapax. Victoria Kord has plans to make the OMAC project mass-produced using the Blue Beetle scarab. When Jennifer secretly steals the scarab and entrusts Jaime Reyes with it, Victoria targets him. After Carapax kills Victoria, Jennifer becomes the CEO of Kord Industries as she plans to have it moved into the direction that her father wanted.

Kordax

Further information: List of Aquaman enemies § Kordax

Kordax is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

Kordax is the ancestor of Aquaman.

Kordax in other media

• Kordax appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.
• Kordax appears in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, portrayed by Pilou Asbæk. This version is the evil brother of King Atlan, creator of the Black Trident, and founder of the lost kingdom of Necrus who was banished for attempting to usurp Atlantis' throne from his brother and later sealed by blood magic.

Vasily Kosov

Vasily Kosov was the leader of the Odessa Mob in Gotham City in the aftermath of No Man's Land.

Vasily Kosov in other media

• Vasily Kosov appears in The Penguin, portrayed by David Vadim. This version was still the leader of the Odessa Mob, one of the gangs gathered to work under Oz Cobb, who ended up being killed by his second-in-command.

Kristen Kramer

Kristen Kramer is a character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She was an intern at the Central City Police Department and colleague of the Flash.

In 2016, DC Comics implemented another relaunch of its books called "DC Rebirth", which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to "The New 52". In her early life, Kristen's parents were killed in a car accident and her sister Kim later committed suicide. Years later, Kristen became a full crime scene investigator.

Kristen Kramer in other media

Kristen Kramer appears in The Flash, portrayed by Carmen Moore. This version is a Native American of Wet'suwet'en descent, a liaison for the Governor's Municipal Logistics Commission, and a metahuman capable of temporarily copying other nearby metahumans' powers. She initially pushes for the creation of meta-cure bullets while attempting to arrest Killer Frost before Joe West helps her locate Adam Creyke, her metahuman brother who betrayed and ambushed their military platoon, for which she blamed herself for and formed a mistrust towards metahumans who claim to be doing good. After discovering her powers, Kramer assists Barry Allen and Team Flash against various supervillains.

Korge

Korge is a pre-Crisis villain created by Dennis O'Neil and Dick Dillin in 1975. When green Martians are looking for a new home world, they accidentally release an imprisoned giant alien named Korge, who refers to himself as the god of rage. He has the ability to fight superhumans with their weaknesses, like turning yellow when confronting Green Lantern, creating kryptonite when facing Superman and fire against Martians.

Abner Krill

Main article: Polka-Dot Man

Kritter

Kritter is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is a member of Helix who was originally a human child before being experimented on and transformed into a humanoid dog. As he can no longer speak, he has to wear a special translating collar to interpret his dog language.

Kritter in other media

• Kritter appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.
• Kritter appears in the Stargirl episode "Frenemies – Chapter Eight: Infinity Inc. Part Two". This version is a normal dog and companion of Tao Jones, a resident of the Helix Institute for Youth Rehabilitation.

Kryptonite Man

The Kryptonite Man is the name of several supervillains appearing in stories published by DC Comics.

Kryptonite Man I

The original Kryptonite Man started out as a teenage alien criminal called the Kryptonite Kid. On the planet Blor, he faced a 20 year sentence, he volunteered for a scientific experiment, a satellite that required a test passenger. He favored dying in deep space to rotting in jail, with the added bonus of a 10,000 to 1 chance of surviving the test.

He was loaded in the satellite together with a laboratory dog, and the satellite was shot into deep space, never to return. To pass the time, they watched a telescopic viewer of Earth and learned of Superboy's existence. On their course for Earth, they passed through a cloud of gaseous Kryptonite, which gave him and his dog Kryptonite-based powers. This incarnation is most well-known pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths from his appearance and death in the non-continuity story Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?. In this story, he is depicted as somewhat older and uses the name the Kryptonite Man.

Alien version

A second Kryptonite Man appeared in Superman #397. He was the ruler of a race of humanoids who inhabited Krypton eons before Superman's ancestors. When a nearby cosmic body threatens life on Krypton, Kryptonite Man sends his people into stasis underground. He awakens on the day of Krypton's destruction, during which the mountain he is in is launched into space. He feeds on the mountain's Kryptonite radiation and becomes dependent on it to survive.

Superman clone

In the Post-Crisis era, the Kryptonite Man appears in Superman (vol. 2) #43 as a green-skinned clone of Superman created by the New Gods Simyan and Mokkari.

Captain Atom creation

A character in the ongoing series Superman/Batman also uses the name Kryptonite Man. This version of the character is created when Captain Atom absorbed the explosive energy from Major Force, then went out to destroy a Kryptonite meteor. The Kryptonite energy somehow combined with the remaining energy from Major Force in Captain Atom to create a sentient energy force. After being siphoned from Captain Atom by the Toyman, the energy was able to jump from body to body, taking over the personality and causing the body to release Kryptonite radiation.

K. Russell Abernathy

After DC Comics' One Year Later jump, a scientist named K. Russell Abernathy was working on an experiment to use Kryptonite to develop a new energy source using isotopes. The experiment explodes, infusing Abernathy's body with radiation. Clark Kent, powerless, summons the current Supergirl to contain him. The transformed Abernathy, in a misguided attempt to prove his energy theories, goes on a violent rampage; this includes deliberately attempting to injure Kryptonians. He is soon subdued and imprisoned in Stryker's.

Lex Luthor sends insectile warriors who free Abernathy from the prison. Abernathy is used in conjunction with large amounts of Kryptonite to free an ancient Kryptonian spaceship from Sunstone. He later resurfaced in Action Comics #853, having Superman beaten until the intervention of Jimmy Olsen and Krypto.

Clay Ramsay

In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Kryptonite Man is reintroduced in Action Comics #5, by Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert. His origin is told in Action Comics (vol. 2) Annual #1 (2012) (penned by Sholly Fisch).

In this origin, Clay Ramsay was an abusive husband living in Metropolis. One night, Superman broke into his house while he was beating his wife and threw him into Hob's Bay. His wife subsequently left him and no one in the justice system could help him. Seeking revenge, he joined the mysterious "Project K-Man" (a private super-soldier project) after receiving an invitation from Dr. Abernathy (a nod to the pre-New 52 version of the character). Gaining superhuman powers, he attacked Superman but was defeated and arrested. He was released shortly afterwards by Sam Lane who believed he was needed as a countermeasure to keep Superman in check. K-Man agreed under the condition that the General would help him locate his wife. It was revealed that Lex Luthor had played a major role in the K-Man's creation. Also (as revealed in flashback), he had stolen Kryptonite crystals from the government while being employed by them.

His subsequent activities are unknown, but a version of him from the near future was a member of the Anti-Superman Army. He was seen alongside two people with similar powers (one equipped with Red another with Blue) as part of a group called the "K-Men".

Alternate versions of Kryptonite Man

In the Elseworlds storyline Superman: The Last Family of Krypton, when Jor-El and Lara accompany Kal-El to Earth, they have two more children, Bru-El and Valora, whose genetic potential is slightly 'stunted' compared to their brother due to them being born on Earth. As part of his vendetta against the El family, Lex Luthor is able to turn Bru-El against his family, using a series of nanites designed to make him immune to kryptonite to make him essentially addicted to it, transforming him into a kryptonite-powered superhuman with too little willpower to defy Luthor's orders. He subsequently kills his mother in the attack on the El compound, but Kal-El is able to defeat his brother when he expends too much of his energy. With Luthor's plot defeated, Bru-El is purged of the nanites, at the cost of losing his memory; with Lara's last words being that Bru-El never learn of his role in his mother's death, he is last recorded as having reached an eighth-grade level following his mindwipe.

Kryptonite Man in other media

• Kryptonite Man appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.
• The Kryptonite Kid appears in a self-titled episode of Superboy, portrayed by Jay Underwood. This version is Mike Walker, an employee at a military research base who was caught in a Kryptonite explosion while trying to find a way to make Superboy immune to it, giving him the ability to generate Kryptonite, turning his skin green, and affecting his mind. Superboy ultimately defeats him by enlisting a Superboy impersonator to distract Walker, allowing Superboy to wrap him in a lead tarp that cleanses the Kryptonite from his body.

Kulak

Further reading Kulak at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original) Kulak at the Grand Comics Database

Kulak is a sorcerer and supervillain in the DC Universe. The character was created by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily and first appeared in All Star Comics #2 (Fall 1940).

Within the context of the stories, Kulak is the high priest of the dead planet Brztal who was imprisoned on Earth in antiquity. When released by archeologists in 1940, he seeks to destroy Earth, but is defeated by the Spectre.

The character was not used again until 1983, when he appears in a three-part story published in All-Star Squadron, and has rarely been used since.

Selina Kyle

Main article: Catwoman

Kyodai Ken

Kyodai Ken ((巨大剣) – literally "the huge sword" or "the gigantic sword") is a character appeared both in the DCAU, voiced by Robert Ito, and later in DC Comics. He is a ninja trained under Sensei, who also trained deadly martial artists like Bronze Tiger, Batman, and Lady Shiva, and was a temporary enemy of Batman.

First appearing in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Night of the Ninja", Kyodai Ken is an amoral ninja and enemy of Batman who previously trained alongside him. Throughout his appearances, he battles Batman before being killed in a volcanic eruption.

In Detective Comics #996, he appeared in a hallucination alongside his master Kirigi attacking a "giant bat".