Reign of the Supermen #205: Kell-Or

Source: Superman vol.1 #119 (1958)
Type: AnalogAt the tail end of the Golden Age, Superman discovers the existence of Xenon, a "twin" planet to Krypton, only smaller, that turns out to be a former moon that had spun off its orbit around Krypton (cue Space 1999 theme). Superman visits and meets up with Kell-Or, a near-duplicate of himself. They look so much alike, Superman brings him to Earth to slum it as Clark Kent while he returns to the crimeless Xenon to help out with a geological instability problem.

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea when you've got nosy Lois Lane breathing down your neck. Let an alien with only a cursory familiarity with Earth act your stand-in at the office.
Good thing Superman gave Kell detailed "descriptions" of people and things in his life. Kell-Or can also act as Superman since Xenon is bigger than Earth, like Krypton was (although smaller than Krypton, so Superman has powers on Xenon), so he goes about the usual Super-business of escaping Lois, avoiding kryptonite bullets and capturing criminals with giant ice cream cones.
Meanwhile, Superman finds out that Xenon is doomed to suffer Krypton's fate, what with its unstable uranium core threatening to blow. He gets Kell-Or back and finds out kryptonite doesn't affect his "twin". Turns out kryptonite renders Xenon's elements inert, so together they go to site of Krypton's destruction to get some kryptonite with which to infuse Xenon's core.
After a setback thanks to a kryptonite-eating monster, the plan works and Superman must leave never to return. Because, you know, kryptonite core now.

BONUS FEATURE: Xenon - Planet of the Super-Recliners!
Those Xenonians! They sure do love to recline! Another way of life SAVED by the Man of Steel!

Comments