The Super-Men (and -Women) of All-Planets

[Jim Kelly]

I’m thinking what if Superman had the equivalent of the “Batmen of All Nations” aka the Club of Heroes? While there have been lots of Superman analogues on Earth, I thought it better to look at all the champions he’s met from other planets.

I put a few restrictions on this or else it would just get out of hand:

1. They have to have been active on one other planet besides Earth during their career, but some connections to Earth are fine.
2. They can't have crossed over from a parallel universe, but other dimensions within the same universe are allowed.
3. They can’t be residents from the past or the future--so no Hercules and no Superman of 2965, but Alpha Centurion is okay because he lives in the present now. I ruled out most of the L.S.H. but I figure that someone like Mon-El counts because he met Clark in the present era and has been active in contemporary adventures.

A List of Super-Creations of All-Planets

(major entries)

--chronological by cover date of 1st appearance--
▽ indicates a Superbaby/Superboy adventure


1942 - 1957

• Mister Sinister in 4th Dimension 05-06/42
• Mr. Mxyztplk of Zrfff in 5th Dimension (a.k.a. Mxyzptlk etc.) 04/44
• Regor of Uuz (Winki Lamm) 05-06/49
• Martler and the Solazis of Mars 01-02/50
• ▽Marsboy of Mars (Sutri a.k.a. Joe Mars) 05-06/51
• Zor--planet with Z-Rays, lacks metals, Clark poses as Klarkash Kenton 05/52
• Halk Kar of Thoron 01-02/53
• Tharka, Superwoman of Zor, mutant ahead of her time 03-04/53
• ▽Jero of Xanadu (a.k.a. Jerome Smith) 07/53
• ▽Kral of Titan 10/54
• Xantus, homeworld of would-be invaders circa 01/55
• Super-men from the doomed planet Blanth 01/55
• "Krllg" from unnamed asteroid 01-02/55
• Vitor Vall of Skar 03/56--Vitar’s wife, son, daughter & parents
• Interplanetary Olympics 09/56--Sharn of Iwo and others
• ▽Power-Boy of Juno (Zarl Vorne) 10/56
• Queen Latora of Vergo 05/57
• Gollo of Zar, shape shifter 11/57


1958 - 1961

• Skyboy of Kormo (Tharn) 01-02/58
• Kell Orr of Xenon 02/58
• ▽Dworn (a.k.a. Alan) 06/58
• Brainiac, from the planet Colu 07/58
• ▽Vidal of the Inter-Galactic Patrol (Allen Greene) 05/59
• ▽Shar-La the Space Traveller 01/60
• ▽Solar Boy (in another galaxy) 02/60
• Valzorr, Prince of Korvia (a.k.a. Johnny Blank) 04/60
• Hyper-Man of Oceania (Chester King) 06/60
• ▽Quorz family of Xenon 06/60--Ral, Jinnia and Varl
• Princess Jena of Adoria 07/60
• Astounding Man of Roxnon 07/60
• ▽6-3KX from Zaron 07/60
• ▽Kryptonite Kid of Blor and his dog 09/60
• Superman's Pet that said "Gleek" 09/60
• ▽Mighty Boy of Zumoor (Thomas Keith a.k.a. Zarl Kazzan) 12/60
• Marvel Maid & Marvel Man of Terra (Lea Lindy & Ken Clark) 01/61
• Miss Gzptlsnz of Zrfff in 5th Dimension 04/61
• ▽Mon-El of Daxam (Lar Gand) 06/61


1962 - 1963

• ▽Superboy Revenge Squad on Wexr II 01/62
• Duplicate Krypton, populated by android duplicates 01/62
• ▽Brain Globes of Rambat 02/62
• Logi of Durim (a.k.a. "The Alien Super-Boy"), his pet Quisto 03/62
• Princess Ilona from Sunev galaxy 03/62
• Superwoman of Staryl (Luma Lynai) 06/62
• Automs of Roxar, Autom No. 4306 09/62
• Princess Allura from Ashtar galaxy 10/62
• ▽Valhalla of Super-Companions 12/62--Liquidman, Stormboy, Tree-Man, Telepathy Man, Shadowman
• ▽Othar of Thrann, the Super-World 12/62
• Super-Male of Soomar (Irn Brimba) 05/63
• Zerox, the Sorcerer's World, ruled by Prince Endor 06/63
• ▽Mighto of Ulgar (Tim Tate); Ram Rozar's statue on planet Nyza; United Planet Interstellar Police 10/63
• Krypton-like planet, later named Lexor, orbits red star-sun X-156-99F 10/63
• Rona of the Seventh Dimension 12/63
• ▽Super-Youth of Brozz (Frank Merrill) 12/63


1964 - 1965

• Ardora, Tharla of Lexor 02/64
• Unknown Superman (Bamor of Zavak, a.k.a. Strong Bear) 05/64
• Rokk and Sorban from Ventura, the Gamblers' Planet 08/64
• Zigi and Zagi from Alpha-Centauri 08/64
• Illena of Kromal, Superman Revenge Squad Agent X9831Q 10/64
• Prison for Heroes, on Vor 11/64--Electric Man, Balloon Man, the Freezer, the Flame
• Herko from another dimension 01/65
• Rondor of Calyx 01/65
• Lahla of the Thorone World 02/65
• Miss Platonia, Dialla of Platonia 03/65
• Sisterhood of Evil from Feminax, a.k.a. Planet Z in sky sector Omega IV 03/65
• Vrangs, alien conquerors of Krypton, killed Val-Lor 04/65
• Lurala of Ventura, the Gamblers' Planet 06/65
• King Avro of Dimension Z 09/65
• Sophroni from Matrion, planet of warrior women 10/65
• Circle of Evil on Gotha 10/65
• Drang the Destroyer (a.k.a. Dr. Supernatural) on the Purple Planet 10/65
• Prisoners of the Purple Planet 11/65--Lux, of the dark planet Gur, Multiple-Man and Voltan (planet unnamed), Mask-Man and Raptor (planet unnamed), Dynar and Strella from Planet Y, Surya of the Evolution World


1966 - 1970

• ▽Space Canine Patrol Agents 07/66--Tail Terrier (the Top Dog), Tusky Husky, Chameleon Collie, Hot Dog, Bull Dog, Paw Pooch, Mammoth Mutt (deceased)--from various worlds of intelligent canines
• Princess Zerna of Arctor 07/66
• Jemphis' Collection of Heroes 12/66--Aeroman and Windlass; Solarman; Serpento of Orzak; Dr. Chill of Klon Kado; Zardin the Boy Marvel of Nangar
• Gaea, Earth-like planet where teens are in charge 12/66--Dick Malvin, Frank and Ethel Davis
• ▽Vau Sulor of Kaprice (a.k.a. Kit-El) 04/67--plus Qor Sulor's family
• Kara Strange, robot gift from Denek 04/67
• Zorkia, planet of brains 08/67
• Queen Neolla and Cerebron of Zorkia 09/67
• ▽Ron-Avon of Belgor (a.k.a. Ron Avnet) 09/67
• ▽Hyperboy of Trombus (a.k.a. Kirk Quentin) 01/68--the Hyper-Family (Mr. & Mrs. Quentin), Klypso the Hyperdog
• ▽Jolax of Thraxx, in another dimension 03/68
• Nador of the Omega Commandos 02/69
• Rol-Noc, Kal-El's Godfather from another world 07/69
• Volar, champion of Torma 09/69
• Kimor Dinn (Kimberly O'Ryan), prisoner of detention planetoid, Balton-IV 01/70
• Super-Defenders of Angor 02/70--Jack B. Quick, Silver Sorceress, Blue Jay and Wandjina
• Darkseid of Apokolips (Fourth World) 11/70
• Althera of Vrandar, a Space-Amazon 12/70


1971 - 1972

• Sandman from Quarrm (a.k.a. the Sand Superman) 01/71
• DeSaad of Apokolips (Fourth World) 04-05/71
• Black Racer of Death (Willie Walker) 06-07/71
• Rzalin, last surviving tree of the Tzol planet 08/71
• Equila (a.k.a. Judy), super-child from another galaxy 09/71
• K.A.R.L., Fourth World robot 10/71
• Shalox of Reba, Alpha Galactic School of Deduction 01/72
• Galactic Golem 02/72
• Starbreaker, the Cosmic Vampire 02/72
• Terra-Man (Toby Manning) 03/72
• Effron, Sorcerer Supreme of Veliathan 03/72
• Lorna Martin from Dimension 7 04/72
• Vonn (a.k.a. Mars II), under a red sun, in a distant galaxy; the Thythen 06/72
• Togran's garden, the Mind Warp (Dokra, Opra, Draak) 06/72
• Xviar from Homeworld (a.k.a. Xavier a.k.a. Mr. X) 07/72
• Sun-Thrivers of Rao 08/72


1973 - 1978

• Towbee, the Minstrel of Space (a.k.a. the Master) 01/73
• Star of Cathay, weird gem of another world 03/73
• Captain Thunder (Willie Fawcett) 06/74
• Carnox, a space explorer, trapped on Earth for eons 09/74
• Vartox of Valeron (Vernon O’Valeron) 11/74
• "Silver Bullet" aliens from Xzoinck circa 1975
• Kydk and Zoyoz, the Hero-Killers 02/75
• Ben Aldain of Galador 09/75
• Karb-Brak from the Andromeda galaxy (Andrew Meda) 06/76
• Ranar the Hakawee 06-07/76
• Quazar Space Amazons and their men 10/76
• Hun'Ya, Champion of the Scrubb of Bodace 01/78
• Rat'Lar, Emperor of the Scrubb of Bodace 01/78
• Replikon (Xum, a.k.a. Andre) 09/78


1980 - 1999

• ▽Two miraculous aliens repay Jonathan Kent 05/80
• ▽Romax and Ewula of Vulx (posing as Herb and Lydia Mason) 07/80
• Nryana, Superman Revenge Squad Agent 12/81
• ▽Dr. Chaos, a Lord of Chaos 01/82
• ▽Loretta's Magic Book and her imp Gazook 10/82
• ▽"Dave" of Hujor, in another universe 04/84
• Vanguard circa 09/85--Anti-Matterman, Scanner, White Dwarf, Solaar, Drone and Black Nebula
• Sachi (a.k.a. Xlim?) and Yukinori, offspring of Replikon 10/85
• Draaga 05/89
• Maxima of Almerac 09/89
• Alpha Centurion of the Vimuru homeworld (Marcus Aelius) 09/94
• Vestion of Gravacus 7 and Paz of Po'Ahn 09/99


[for more entries see posts #1122 - 1124]

[Jim Kelly]

Some here might not be Batman readers and might not know about the Batmen of All Nations--so maybe some more information is needed on that.

BATMAN No. 62 (December ’50 - January ’51) featured an adventure where Batman and Robin met the Knight and Squire, in “The Batman of England” by Bill Finger, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris. Then, in DETECTIVE COMICS No. 216 (January ’55), B & R got together again with the Knight and Squire, plus the Musketeer, the Legionary, the Ranger and the Gaucho (respectively from France, Italy, Australia and somewhere in South America), in “The Batmen of All Nations” by Edmond Hamilton, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris.



Next, Edmond Hamilton wrote a sequel, with art by Dick Sprang and Stan Kaye, for WORLD’S FINEST COMICS No. 89 (July-August ’57). In that adventure, Superman, Batman and Robin teamed up with the Batmen of All Nations--minus the Ranger who never showed up for the affair--forming “The Club of Heroes.” Also featured was a mysterious hero who took Superman’s place, Lightning Man--who turned out to be the Man of Steel himself.



Curiously, living up to his reputation as “Batman with a Bow,” Green Arrow held his own convention of international heroes in “The Green Arrows of the World” as detailed by Bill Finger with Jack and Roz Kirby, from ADVENTURE COMICS No. 250 (July ’58): the Phantom of France, Bowman of the Bush, Bowman of Britain, Green Arrow of Japan, Green Arrow of Polynesia, Green Arrow of Mexico and Green Arrow of Switzerland (among others).

The Club of Heroes remained dormant until the ’80s when they were retconned into inspiring the Dome--the international organization which later created the Global Guardians, headed by Dr. Mist.

In more recent times, Grant Morrison revived the original concept of the Batmen of All Nations, during his BATMAN run. And the revived concept was spun off into its own title with BATMAN INCORPORATED.

Edit: I should add that Morrison retconned into the Batman of All Nations several other Batman counterparts from over the years--like one of my favourites, Bat-Hombre!

[Jim Kelly]

Some of these Super-Men of All-Planets and other Superman counterparts are featured on Bob Hughes’ Doppelgangers page for his Who’s Whose site.

My best-loved of those Supermen is “The Superman from Outer Space”--Hyper-Man from Oceania--who had his Swan Song in ACTION COMICS No. 265 (June ’60)--as told by Otto Binder, Curt Swan and John Forte.

However, I first discovered this classic in SUPERMAN No. 207/G-48 (June ’68)-- a 30th anniversary 80 Page Giant. One of the greatest comic books I ever bought.



I suspect Alan Moore took some direction from this Binder gem when he had Tom Strong and Tom Strange meet.

Hyper-Man is the spitting image of Superman and many other things about his life on Oceania (a twin of Earth) are almost the same as the Man of Steel’s life on Earth. The champion of Oceania poses as Chester King (a double for Clark Kent) and Hyper-Man’s girl friend is Lydia Long--Lois Lane’s doppelganger.

But as with Terra Obscura in the Moore stories, Oceania is not in some other alternate universe. It’s in the same universe. It’s just that the astronomical odds of a planet almost exactly the same as Earth seem to weigh in its favour. Which is not so incredible for fans of classic STAR TREK.




It’s a heart-breaking story, but one great yarn.

[The World]

Hmm you pretty much took what I was gonna say with Hyperman and Maxima, frankly I haven't even heard of half of the people on your list. I was going to nominate Etrigan but I don't think he meets your first criteria. Mr. Majestic maybe, but I'm honestly not that familiar with the character or Wildstorm in general. Still a Superman equivalent to Batman Inc. could be cool.

[Jim Kelly]

There have been a few Hypermen, but I think Chester King is the only one of them that meets my criteria--and he's deceased!





However, there is Hyperboy (Kirk Quentin), who I'll have more to say about another time, hopefully.

I don't know that much about the Wildstorm characters or if Mr. Majestic exists in the same universe as Superman. Someone else will have to give the 411 on him.

Likewise with Milestone--my knowledge is limited. I suspect that Icon could fit into my club of Super-Men--but maybe some other posters can field that question.

[Jim Kelly]

Like her cousin, Kara Zor-El had her fair share of look-alikes. The case of Luma Lynai is a real oddball adventure. But before I get to her, I have to talk about Marvel Maid and Marvel Man.

Written by Otto Binder, who wrote the sad tale of Hyper-Man, “The Second Supergirl” has a lot of similarities minus the tragic ending.

With art by Jim Mooney, this first part of the Marvel Maid adventure was in ACTION COMICS No. 272 (January ’61), while “The Supergirl of Two Worlds” picked up the narrative in ACTION COMICS No. 273 (February ’62). Note: both these stories are reprinted in the SUPERGIRL ARCHIVES Vol. 2.

Supergirl wants to find another planet like Earth, where there are counterparts of herself and Superman, so she has Kal-El consult the super-computer in the Fortress of Solitude which finds the planet Terra. Again, as with Oceania, Terra is astoundingly similar to our planet, but with some weird differences.

On that planet, Kara finds that her doppelganger is Marvel Maid--the planet’s champion. Meanwhile, Superman’s double is Marvel Man, who like Supergirl at the time is unknown to the public at large.

The Marvels came from a civilization deep inside Terra, which was destroyed, but not before they were sent to the surface world. They get their powers from cosmic rays (which never penetrated deep below the surface), but diamonds are their Kryptonite.

Because they are such a threat to Marvel Maid, diamonds are contraband on Terra.

In his secret identity as Ken Clark, Marvel Man is being held in prison, for lack of the proper documentation. He’s effectively treated like an illegal alien and held in custody for that reason. It’s a startling insight into what could and sometimes does happen to undocumented workers in our real world. Yet Marvel Man is quite happy to stew in prison, while his cousin gets all the fame and glory.

Otto Binder wrote many of the Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel stories at Fawcett, which no doubt inspired the names for Marvel Maid and Marvel Man.

[SuperCrab]

Some of these Super-Men of All-Planets and other Superman counterparts are featured on Bob Hughes’ Doppelgangers page for his Who’s Whose site.

My best-loved of those Supermen is “The Superman from Outer Space”--Hyper-Man from Oceania--who had his Swan Song in ACTION COMICS No. 265 (June ’60)--as told by Otto Binder, Curt Swan and John Forte.

However, I first discovered this classic in SUPERMAN No. 207/G-48 (June ’68)-- a 30th anniversary 80 Page Giant. One of the greatest comic books I ever bought.

I suspect Alan Moore took some direction from this Binder gem when he had Tom Strong and Tom Strange meet.

Man, those sound awesome, and Comixology doesn't have either of them. I would have bought them both. Come on Comixology and DC Comics, take my money already and fill in your Superman back catalog.

They don't have a single issue from the 200s of Superman Volume 1. Not a single issue.