Dev-Em

Fictional character biography

Pre-Crisis

In pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity, Dev-Em is a Kryptonian juvenile delinquent who took Jor-El's warnings of Krypton's impending doom seriously enough to place himself in suspended animation in an orbiting space capsule. When Krypton exploded, Dev-Em's ship was blasted into space, where it eventually landed on Earth. Dev-Em imprisons Superboy in the Phantom Zone and assumes his identity in an effort to destroy the Boy of Steel's reputation. Eventually he frees Superboy and departs from the twentieth century, traveling through time to finally settle on the more advanced Earth of the 30th century. Since the people of Smallville will not believe Superboy's story of the impostor, he has to use a cover story that he was acting under the influence of Red Kryptonite to restore his reputation.

Dev-Em returns in Adventure Comics #320 (May 1964), where it is revealed that he has reformed and joined the Interstellar Counter-Intelligence Corps of the 30th century. He is reluctantly offered membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes, but turns it down. Despite his occasionally abrasive nature, Dev-Em aids the Legion on several occasions, most notably in the "Great Darkness Saga" against Darkseid.

Post-Crisis, Pre-Zero Hour

Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot, Superman was made the only survivor of Krypton. Dev-Em is reimagined as David Emery, a resident of Titan who uses his mental powers to replicate Kryptonian abilities.

Dev-Em appears in the "Time and Time Again" storyline, in which Superman bounces between the 30th century (home of the Legion) and the 20th century. Superman encounters Dev-Em, now portrayed as an adult Daxamite. Dev-Em attempts to destroy the Earth's moon, but is challenged by the Legion. Dev-Em makes short work of Superman, Laurel Gand and the rest of the Legion. Dev-Em is seemingly stopped by Shrinking Violet, but initiates the Dominators' covert Triple Strike program, destroying the moon and causing massive damage to cities across Earth.

Post-Infinite Crisis

In the aftermath of Infinite Crisis, in which Conner Kent was killed, a man going by the name Devem is seen as part of a cult of Kryptonian worshippers called the "Cult of Conner" in 52. He is revealed to actually be a "psych-ward refugee named Derek Mathers who has a history of fraud".

In Action Comics, Dev-Em is reintroduced as a renegade Kryptonian being held as a prisoner for murder and perversion. As with most Kryptonian prisoners, he is sentenced to the Phantom Zone. He attacks Superman there but is eventually taken down by Mon-El.

Powers and abilities

In both his Daxamite and Kryptonian iterations, Dev-Em possesses the same superhuman abilities of both races while beneath the empowering light of a yellow sun such as that of Earth's solar system. His basic abilities are superhuman strength, superhuman speed and superhuman stamina sufficient to bend steel in his bare hands, overpower a locomotive, leap over a tall building in a single bound and outrun a speeding bullet; heightened senses of hearing and sight including X-ray vision as well as telescopic and microscopic vision; virtual invulnerability; accelerated healing; longevity; powerful freezing breath; heat vision; and flight.

In other media

• Dev-Em appears in Krypton, portrayed by Aaron Pierre. This version is a member of Kandor's military, the Sagitari squadron.
• Dev-Em II appears in Man of Steel, portrayed by Revard Dufresne. This version is a member of General Zod's battalion, the Sword of Rao, who was previously imprisoned in the Phantom Zone.
• Dev-Em II's ancestor, Dev-Em I, appears in the Man of Steel prequel comic. After becoming a candidate for a scout ship mission, he kills its crew before he is killed in turn by Kara Zor-El.

References

References

1. (2010). "The Essential Superman Encyclopedia". Del Rey.
2. (December 1982). "[[Legion of Super-Heroes]]". DC Comics.
3. ''Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #1 (April 1988)
4. (May 1991). "[[The Adventures of Superman (comic book)". DC Comics.
5. (June 1991). "[[Legion of Super-Heroes]]". DC Comics.
6. (July 2006). "[[52 (comics)". DC Comics.
7. (August 2007). "[[Action Comics]]". DC Comics.
8. TV Line Team. (June 21, 2016). "Syfy's Krypton: Meet Superman's Grandpa and Other Key Characters". TV Line.
9. Petski, Denise. (October 10, 2016). "Krypton: Ian McElhinney & Elliot Cowan Among Six Cast In Syfy Pilot". Deadline.
10. Johnson, Scott. (January 23, 2013). "Man of Steel Exclusive: Two New Villains Revealed".
11. Connelly, Brendon. (January 23, 2013). "Zod's Man Of Steel Ranks Continue To Swell – Two Sucker Punch Alumni Added".
12. Burlingame, Russ. (May 18, 2013). "Man of Steel Prequel Comic Sets up Dev-Em as a Threat".
13. Sampson, Mike. (May 21, 2013). "The Man of Steel Prequel You Need to See Before Watching the Film This Summer".