Lar Gand
Lar Gand is a male comic superhero who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Lar Gand
He was a native of the planet Daxam where years ago he made a flight to Krypton. During the journey, his vessel suffered engine failure causing him to crash on Krypton which was where he met and befriended Jor-El. Both Jor-El and Lara came to care for their guest as he was with them whilst his vessel was being repaired. By this point, Krypton was facing impending destruction with Jor-El and Lara sending the Daxamite away on his repaired ship. Thus, he was launched from the planet and sent on a course to the next inhabited world which was Earth. Lar Gand traveled to Earth in a spacecraft and landed near Smallville, where his arrival caused a sonic boom. Upon exiting the vessel, he encountered Superboy and demonstrated physical strength and speed that matched the hero's own abilities. Because he spoke a Kryptonian dialect and carried a map of the solar system drawn by Jor-El, he initially believed himself to be from Krypton, though he suffered from total amnesia regarding his specific identity. Superboy provided him with the name Mon-El and helped him find a job at a local brush factory. During his time in Smallville, Lar Gand performed several feats of strength, including stopping a runaway tractor and diverting a flood. However, his memory returned when he came into contact with a lead weather vane; the exposure caused him immediate, life-threatening illness, as lead is a lethal substance to Daxamites. He explained to Superboy that he was actually an explorer from the planet Daxam who had met Jor-El years prior. Because the lead poisoning was incurable and fatal, Lar Gand agreed to be projected into the Phantom Zone, a dimension where time does not pass, to preserve his life until a cure could be discovered. (Superboy v1 #89)
Mon-El remained there until the 30th century when Saturn Girl of the Legion of Super-Heroes convinced Superboy to release the Daxamite from the Phantom Zone. At first, he began to suffer from the lead poisoning until the Legionnaires gave him an antidote that cured him. He then proved instrumental in defeating a villain named Urthlo who possessed abilities that used the weaknesses of his opponents. However, Mon-El was now immune to lead poisoning allowed him to defeat his foe and reveal that he was a robot created by Lex Luthor. Saturn Girl though revealed that the cure was only temporary which meant that Mon-El had to return to the Phantom Zone until a more permanent antidote was created for him but this event now gave him hope. (Adventure Comics v1 #300) Later on, Brainiac 5 came to perfect a cure and released Mon-El from the Phantom Zone. However, they decided to keep it a secret as they wanted to make sure there were no side effects. In that time, he came to craft an alternate identity as Marvel Lad who participated in the trials for membership into the Legion of Super-Heroes. He ultimately proved himself and with 24 hours having passed it meant that the cure's effects were permanent leading to him revealing his true identity. This saw Mon-El joining the ranks of the Legion with the one sombre affair being the recent passng of Lightning Lad. (Adventure Comics v1 #305)
The Legion were set to have their annual vote to elect a new leader, and Saturn Girl was the first to arrive at the Clubhouse. A crystal capsule sent from the Trylop Council of Mernl dropped from the sky warning that their computers predicted a Legionnaire would die using their powers during an upcoming invasion of Earth by Zaryan the Conqueror, and Saturn Girl resolved to sacrifice herself to protect her fellow Legionnaires. She used her thought control to nudge the Legion into electing her leader, then used a rainbow bar from their treasury to make medallions with her face printed on them, and demanded every Legionnaire wear one. She demanded the Legionnaires demonstrate effective use of their powers, and was able to temporarily duplicate each member of the Legion’s powers using the medallions they wore, and proceeded to forbid them for using their powers or going on missions during a probation period because she declared they were not using their powers properly. When Zaryan began his invasion of Earth she responded, and warned the other Legionnaires not to follow her because they were on probation. The Legion thought she’d gone mad with power, but Mon-El had observed her actions from the Phantom Zone, and knew her motivations. Sunspots interfered with him communicating with the Legion, but when they lifted he filled in Lightning Lad on the situation, and he flew into space, determined to keep Saturn Girl from sacrificing herself. He blew up Zaryan’s ship with his powers, but was fatally shot with a freeze-ray. The Legion honored him by placing him in a glass coffin with lightning generated over it by a perpetual motion device, and his funeral was attended by Superboy, Supergirl and Lori Lemaris. The Legion placed a statue of Lightning Lad in their Clubhouse as a tribute to the first Legionnaire killed in action. (Adventure Comics v1 #304)
The Legion unveiled their official flag, made of an indestructible material and luminous enough to be seen for hundreds of miles. They draped a Legion flag over Lightning Lad’s coffin when his body began to twitch. Lightning Lad had seemingly been revived by the constantly firing electrical bolts above his coffin, , but claimed to be suffering from some memory loss. The Legion suspected that Lightning Lad’s powers might have worn off while he was dead, and agreed to secretly test his powers. Sun Boy was absolutely convinced Lightning Lad was powerless, but decided he’d cover for him, fearing his heart would be broken if he was taken off the Legion. Scientist Jon Arkol needed a massive amount of electricity to power his latest experiment, and the Legion had Lightning Lad fly to his lab’s hilltop condenser to charge it up. Sun Boy used his powers to heat the air, creating a lightning storm that powered the conductor. The commissioner of the Science Police learned that the rumored Thieves’ Planet where crooks from around the universe hid out was a reality, and although he didn’t know the exact location he knew which space sector it was in. The Legion flew to an asteroid in the sector, waiting for any criminal ships to pass by. When they spotted one Cosmic boy, still unsure of Lightning Lad’s powers, ordered the legionnaire to take it down with a lightning bolt. Sub Boy reflected a burst of heat and light off a cliff behind Lightning Lad, which struck the criminal ship, bringing it down. The criminals were from the Hydra World, and had stolen a group of rare animals from an intergalactic zoo. The Legion placed the animals safely onboard their own ship, but Chameleon Boy took a liking to Proty, a Protean that could shapeshift just like him, and decided to keep him as a pet. Thieves’ World was hidden from the world by an invisibility shield, but the Legion located it using the coordinates set in the Hydra World criminal’s spaceship. The Legion tried to pass themselves off as criminals, but the master of Thieves’ World was a telepathic sentient ball of electricity and soon found them out. He had his Atom Guard robots apprehend them and throw them in his jewel jail, but Chameleon Boy had his new pet transform into a gun, allowing the Legion to bluff their way out of prison when a guard came to feed them. The Legion tore through Thieves’ World, apprehending a number of criminals, and Lightning Lad used his powers to short-circuit the master. The Legion were all surprised to see Lightning Lad unequivocally demonstrate his powers, but sun Boy was especially shocked because he knew 'Lightning Lad' was an imposter. He’d noticed that Lightning Lad was suntanned except on the back of his neck, indicating he’d had long hair until he recently clipped it, and Lightning Lad had no Adam's apple, which meant he was a woman. The imposter was Lightning Lad’s sister Ayla Ranzz, who wanted to carry on her brother’s heroic legacy, and the Legion let her join the team as Lightning Lass. They still hoped the day would come when they could revive Lightning Lad for real. (Adventure Comics v1 #308)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Lar Gand was a young Daxamite explorer who arrived on Earth in the 20th century, completely unaware of his home planet's deep cultural isolationism and xenophobia. Possessing godlike physical powers beneath Earth's yellow sun, he was quickly targeted by the sinister alien entity Eclipso, who violently possessed Lar's mind and body to weaponize his cosmic strength against Earth's heroes. Serving as a mind-controlled puppet, Lar was forced to slaughter his own father, Kel Gand, who had traveled across the stars to save him from the entity's dark influence. The tragic execution of his father triggered a severe emotional breakdown, allowing Lar's core consciousness to break free from the absolute psychological possession. Vowing to honor his father's memory and ensure Eclipso's global defeat, the young warrior aligned himself with Earth's defenders, adopting the heroic mantle of Valor to actively safeguard the universe from the forces of darkness. (Eclipso: The Darkness Within v1 #2) Valor, still deeply traumatized by his prolonged possession by Eclipso, became completely obsessed with tracking down the malevolent entity and permanently dismantling his remaining cosmic influence. Discovering that the villain was actively attempting to construct an untraceable, fortified stronghold known as Lunar City on the dark side of Earth's moon, Valor launched a proactive, solo intervention into space. However, his mission was drastically interrupted by the arrival of a hostile Daxamite fleet, which had been dispatched by his homeworld's xenophobic leadership to forcefully retrieve him and cover up his father's death. Refusing to allow his people to ignore Eclipso's universal threat, Valor engaged the fleet in a high-stakes celestial skirmish, successfully repelling the vanguard while establishing his complete independence from his homeworld's oppressive laws. (Valor v1 #1) Valor transitioned his base of operations to a hidden lunar outpost, utilizing his advanced Daxamite technology to establish a global monitoring grid to track hidden cosmic anomalies across the globe. His surveillance rapidly detected an underground syndicate of rogue human scientists who were illegally trafficking highly unstable, weaponized alien technology within a covert subterranean laboratory in South America. Initiating a rapid descent to Earth, Valor bypassed standard local airspace to systematically infiltrate the research facility, effortlessly shattering their heavily reinforced blast doors and neutralizing the heavily armed mercenaries stationed inside. Upon completely securing the hazardous extraterrestrial cache, he was suddenly confronted by the shadowy corporate enforcers of LexCorp, realizing that the human billionaire Lex Luthor II was secretly financing the illegal operation to synthesize his own private arsenal of alien weaponry. (Valor v1 #2)
Post-Infinite Crisis
Following the Infinite Crisis, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Superman and the Science Police freed the criminals trapped in the Phantom Zone by the Kandorians to return them to prison. Mon-El warned Superman that Zod and several other Kryptonian criminals were missing. Parasite took the opportunity to briefly pull Mon-El from the Phantom Zone to absorb some of his Daxamite power, and while Superman saved Mon-El, the Parasite liked what he'd tasted. Superman promised to visit Mon-El soon, and he morosely told Superman not to worry, he was not going anywhere. (Superman v1 #684)
After being freed from the Phantom Zone, Mon-El took sometime to consider his next course of action as he had not considered where to go or what to do if he ever left that other dimension. It was then that Superman asked him to stay in Metropolis as its new protector whilst he himself was going to New Krypton. Mon-El accepted and with the aid of James Harper, he was provided a new identity as Jonathan Kent with a cover story of being a British Interpol agent who was recruited by the Science Police. During this time, he was assigned as a partner to Billy Harper who was the great-grand niece of James Harper that was the original Guardian. (Superman v1 #686)
He was approached by Donna Troy about joining the newest incarnation of the Justice League. (Justice League of America v2 #41)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Years ago, the amnesiac Lar Gand crash-landed on Earth near Smallville, Kansas and was found by a young Clark Kent. On his travels Lar Gand had visited Krypton and met Jor-El, and so possessed Kryptonian star charts and vaguely remembered Superman's father. Because of this, along with their similar powers, Clark assumed that Lar Gand was his brother. As he could not remember his real name, Clark named him 'Mon-El' because he had come to Earth on a Monday. For the next week Lar Gand lived with the Kents as Clark's brother, which Superman remembers to this day as one of the best weeks of his life as he finally had a friend who he was not constantly afraid of hurting. However, Lar Gand was fatally poisoned and regained his memories. Clark was forced to send him into the Phantom Zone to save his life. (Action Comics v1 #1072)
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, Lar Gand was a male of the Daxamite race who possessed a physical resemblance to a human of Earth. He had short, neatly groomed dark hair that was black in colour, and his facial features were defined by a strong jawline, thick eyebrows, and light-coloured skin. His physique was muscular and athletic, characterised by broad shoulders, a deep chest, and a tall, powerful frame that mirrored the build of Superboy. During his arrival and initial time in Smallville, he wore a distinct costume consisting of a solid red tunic with a high collar and long sleeves. This tunic was cinched at the waist by a wide, dark belt that featured a circular buckle. He wore blue trousers that tucked into a pair of dark, calf-high boots. Additionally, he wore a long, flowing blue cape that was fastened to the shoulders of his tunic, completing an ensemble that lacked the "S" shield or any specific insignia on the chest. Superboy came to initially believe that the Daxamite was his brother from clues on his person after Gand suffered from amnesia. During this time, he was given the name of Mon-El based on the fact that he was found on a Monday and that El was the name of his Kryptonian family. The Kents later provided him a civilian guise to live as their adoptive child where he was given the name of Bob Cobb. (Superboy v1 #89) At one point, he hid his real identity upon joining the Legion of Super-Heroes and crafted a disguise where he went by the name Marvel Lad. (Adventure Comics v1 #305) When operating as Metropolis's superhero, he made a civilian identity of Jonathan Kent where it was claimed that he was a former British Interpol agent who began to work for the Science Police. (Superman v1 #686)
He showed a high degree of humility and a cooperative nature during his initial interactions on Earth. Despite possessing powers that matched those of Superboy, he did not exhibit signs of arrogance or a desire for dominance, instead showing a willingness to follow the hero's lead and guidance. He expressed a sincere sense of gratitude for the assistance he received and displayed a conscientious work ethic when he accepted a position at a local brush factory to contribute to the community. His temperament was characterized by a calm and composed disposition, even when faced with the total loss of his personal identity and past memories. He exhibited a strong sense of self-sacrifice and courage when, upon realizing that his presence on Earth was no longer sustainable due to his lethal condition, he voluntarily agreed to be exiled into the Phantom Zone. Throughout these events, he maintained a respectful and honest demeanor, prioritizing the safety of others and the preservation of his own life through the methods proposed by his peer. (Superboy v1 #89)
During their time together, he came to consider Superboy as his brother. (Superboy v1 #89)
Powers and abilities
Lar Gand demonstrated a range of physical abilities and specialized skills that were equivalent to those of a Kryptonian under a yellow sun. He exhibited immense super strength, which he used to lift heavy machinery, stop a runaway tractor, and hammer metal with his bare hands. He possessed the power of flight, allowing him to hover in the air and travel at high speeds across the sky. His invulnerability was shown as he remained unharmed by physical impacts and extreme forces that would injure a human. He displayed super speed both in his movements and in his ability to perform manual tasks with blurred velocity. His sensory skills included x-ray vision, which allowed him to see through solid objects, and heat vision, which he utilized to melt or weld materials. Additionally, he showed proficiency in linguistic skills, as he was capable of speaking and understanding a Kryptonian dialect. He also exhibited the mental capacity to navigate a spacecraft and interpret complex astronomical maps, identifying his trajectory from the planet Daxam to Earth. (Superboy v1 #89)
As a Daxamite, he was not vulnerable to Kryptonite which had adverse effect on Kryptonians. Lead by comparison caused terrible molecular changes to his body and destroyed the use of his super-powers. (Superboy v1 #89) By the 30th century, a cure to lead poisoning existed in the form of Serum XY-4 that helped a Daxamite counter its effects though this was only temporary. (Adventure Comics v1 #300) Brainiac 5 later came to make a more permanent antidote that allowed Mon-El to survive with no side effects. (Adventure Comics v1 #305)
Notes
- Lar Gand was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp where he made his first appearance in Superboy v1 #89 (June, 1961).
- The character was based on Superboy who was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In Supergirl, Mon-El featured as a regular in the live-action television second season series where he was portrayed by actor Chris Wood. He was revealed to be a Daxamite where he served as a palace guard to the great royal family of Daxam. After Krypton's destruction, Daxam's surface was ravaged by the resulting catastrophe and during the disaster Mon-El moved to save the Prince. He found a Kryptonian pod and intended to put the wounded Prince inside but the royal tricked Mon-El into the pod where he was sent into space. A sleeping Mon-El was unaware of the fate of Daxam with his craft sent towards Earth where it was discovered by Supergirl. On Earth, Winn Schott created a civilian identity for Mon-El who had the fake name of Mike Matthews along with a fake social security number.
Films
- In Justice League vs. the Fatal Five, Mon-El made a cameo appearance in the setting of the animated film.
- In Legion of Super-Heroes, Lar Gand appeared in the setting of the 2023 animated film set in the Tommorrowverse where he was voiced by actor Yuri Lowenthal.
Appearances
- Superboy v1: (1961)
- Adventure Comics v1:
- Legion of Super-Heroes:
- Superman v1:
- Justice League of America v2:
External Links
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