Dev-Em

Some text courtesy of Wikipedia

Dev-Em was a "wayward youth" who also escaped Krypton's destruction. When Jor-El warned the populace about the planet's imminent doom, Dev-Em took those words to heart and placed himself and his parents in suspended animation in an orbiting space capsule. When Krypton exploded, Dev-Em's ship was blasted into space and it eventually landed on Earth.

There, Dev-Em cast Superboy into the Phantom Zone and assumed his secret identity in an effort to destroy the Boy of Steel's reputation. Eventually Dev-Em grew bored of the 20th century and freed Superboy. He departed with his still-frozen parents, off in search of a 'more interesting future.' (Adventure Comics #287–288)

Dev-Em ultimately landed in the 30th century, where he broke into the headquarters of the Legion of Super-Heroes (of which, Superboy was a member). Superboy threatened to turn Dev-Em over to the Interstellar Counter-Intelligence Corps but Dev-Em revealed that he had actually reformed and was now working for the I.C.C. He'd come to Legion headquarters as part of his mission to infiltrate the Cosmic Spy League of Molock the Merciless.

The commander of the I.C.C. vouched for Dev-Em, then asked Superboy to lead the mission. Proty II, the Legion's shape-changing friend, disguised himself as Dev-Em and met Molock, who attacked with some Gold Kryptonite. To Molock's surprise, the attack failed and Superboy turned Molock over to the I.C.C. Dev-Em refused an invitation to join the Legion, preferring to stay with the I.C.C. (Adventure Comics #320)

When Ontiir, a member of the Dark Circle, was captured, the Science Police designed a covert operation in collaboration with the Counter-Intelligence Corps to spy on the Circle's operations. Dev-Em was assigned to the case but he was captured immediately, and the Dark Circle cloned him into an army of super-soldiers. (Tales of the Legion #322-323)

Science Police officer Gigi Cusimano, alerted the Legion after being attacked by one of Dev-Em's clones. Their investigation uncovered an entire world populated by clones of the five Dark Circle leaders. The White Witch used a spell to reunite Dev-Em and his clones, but the Circle teleported away. (#324-325)

The next time the Legion saw Dev-Em, he was still on the Dark Circle's trail. Dev-Em led several Legion applicants to capture a clone of Ontiir. (Legion vol. 3 #14)

Post-Crisis

In post-Crisis times, Superman was made the sole survivor of Krypton — and Superboy removed from Legion lore. So Dev-Em was recast as a native of Titan (a moon of Saturn).

The character never made any in-story appearances. He was described only in an entry in Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #1 (Apr. 1988). His name was David Emery, an Earthling born of Titanian parents. His psychic powers were so strong that he could change reality with a thought, so he made himself into a "Kryptonian" and managed to convince Superboy and Mon-El of that history.

Glorith Reality (Legion vol. 4)

In 1989, Legion of Super-Heroes volume 4 was launched as a reboot to Legion history, one without Superboy and Supergirl. The resulting timeline is referred to as the "Glorith Reality."

Dev-Em in this reality was from Daxam, the homeworld of Mon-El (who was renamed "Valor"). In Dev-Em's revised 20th century history, he met the yount Valor instead of Superboy. Like He was transported to the 30th century to cure him of lead poisoning. (Legion vol. 4 #5)

After Glorith destroyed Daxam, Dev-Em went mad and was confined by the Interstellar Counter-Intelligence Corps on their safe world, Drake VI. He escaped and went on a rampage on Earth's moon. There, a time-tossed Superman helped the Legion stop Dev-Em. But in the melee, one of the Linear Men destroyed the moon and triggered a chain reaction that decimated the population of Earth as well. (Adventures of Superman #478, Legion vol. 4 #19)

Dev-Em was captured by magnate Leland McCauley, along with the Legionnaire Chameleon Boy. Dev-Em escaped on his own. (Legion vol. 4 #39)

Dev-Em's last appearance was during the Zero Hour, when he appeared battling Valor and Laurel Gand on Daxam. Amid the fluctuations in time, he was "replaced" by the Dev-Em from original continuity. (Legion vol. 4 #57)

Post-Infinite Crisis

After Infinite Crisis restored the DC multiverse, many of Superman's Silver Age back story was restored, including Supergirl, Mon-El, the Phantom Zone and Kandor.

When the Man of Steel was trapped inside the Phantom Zone, he was attacked by the brutish Dev-Em, who'd been a prisoner at Fort Rozz when it was accidentally projected into the Zone on Krypton. (Action Comics #851)

Powers

The original Dev-Em has all the abilities of native Kryptonians under a yellow sun: super-strength, invulnerability, x-ray vision, heat vision and freezing breath. He had super-senses and could use his super-speed to pierce the time barrier and travel in time. Dev-Em could survive unaided in space and fly faster than light.

These powers could be negated exposure to red sun light, kryptonite and magic.

Appearances + References

» FEATURED APPEARANCES:

Original:

• Adventure Comics #287–288, 320
• Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2 #294, 299, 300
• Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3 #14
• Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #317, 319, 322–325
• Who's Who in the DC Universe #9
• Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #1

Post-Crisis (Daxamite):

• Adventures of Superman #478
• Legionnaires #17
• Valor #22

Post-Infinite Crisis

• Action Comics #851

» SERIES:

None

» SEE ALSO:

• Legion: Honorary Members
• The Other Silver Age “Super-Boys”
• Superboy (original)