Chris KL-99
Encyclopedia
Chris KL-99 is a 1950s science fiction
comic book
character whose adventures were published by National Comics
, now known as DC Comics
. He first appeared in Strange Adventures
#1 (August 1950), and was created by science fiction author Edmond Hamilton
and artist Howard Sherman.
His character may have been loosely based on the pulp-magazine character Captain Future
, which Edmond Hamilton also wrote.
#78 (February 1985), a cameo appearance in Crisis on Infinite Earths
#10 (January 1986), and a brief but completely revised origin story in Secret Origins
#43 (August 1989) have been his only other appearances to date.
After his return, his parents left Earth to find new worlds to colonise on the exploratory spaceship 'The Starfarer', and were not seen again. According to one version of his story, Chris then vowed to go to Space Academy so he could journey to find them when he was older, and after graduating from Space Academy '99' was appended to his name because of his 99% rating at the Academy, and he later became the greatest space explorer of his day. Another version of Chris's story has him not returning to Earth, but travelling in space to find the last surviving aliens to continue his training with them, appending the KL to his name in honour of the alien race, the K'l, and the 99 in acknowledgement that there were only 98 of the aliens left alive when he was with them. Whatever the correct version, accompanied by Halk, a Martian
scientist (once Chief Scientist of Mars), Jero, a Venus
ian, and a pet chameleon dog, Loopy, whose colour changes according to his mood, he discovered many alien worlds (and a sub-atomic universe) in his spaceship 'The Pioneer'. In recognition of his work he was given the authority to protect the people of the new worlds he discovered from danger as 'Commissioner for Protection of Planetary Peoples'.
Chris eventually found 'The Starfarer' and his parents' graves on the planet where they had died saving the rest of the crew in a crash. Other adventures involved saving the ancient Earth monuments from aliens in need of metal to save their universe, and re-discovering a second moon that used to orbit Earth millions of years ago.
He was present during the DC Universe 'Crisis on Infinite Earths', first in his own time to help Superman and The Forgotten Heroes
defeat The Forgotten Villains at the start of the Crisis, and then towards the end of Crisis to help with powering the time machines critical to saving the universe.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
character whose adventures were published by National Comics
National Comics
National Comics may refer to:* National Comics: An early name for the comic book publisher known later as DC Comics.* National Comics : a 1940's comic book series published by Quality Comics....
, now known as DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. He first appeared in Strange Adventures
Strange Adventures
Strange Adventures was the title of several American comic books published by DC Comics, most notably a long-running science fiction anthology that began in 1950.-Original series:...
#1 (August 1950), and was created by science fiction author Edmond Hamilton
Edmond Hamilton
Edmond Moore Hamilton was an American author of science fiction stories and novels during the mid-twentieth century. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he was raised there and in nearby New Castle, Pennsylvania...
and artist Howard Sherman.
His character may have been loosely based on the pulp-magazine character Captain Future
Captain Future
Captain Future is a science fictional hero pulp character originally published in self-titled American pulp magazines during the 1940s and early 50s.-Origins:...
, which Edmond Hamilton also wrote.
Publication history
'The adventures of Chris KL99' first appeared in Strange Adventures #1 (August 1950). With a slight name change to KL-99 from issue #2 he made eight appearances in the title in total - issues #1-#3, #5, #7, #9 and #11, ending with Strange Adventures #15 (December 1951), all written by Edmond Hamilton and drawn by Howard Sherman. Since then, a brief appearance in DC Comics PresentsDC Comics Presents
DC Comics Presents was a comic book published by DC Comics from 1978 to 1986 featuring team-ups between Superman and a wide variety of other characters of the DC Universe...
#78 (February 1985), a cameo appearance in Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
#10 (January 1986), and a brief but completely revised origin story in Secret Origins
Secret Origins
Secret Origins is the title of three American comic book series published by DC Comics.The title began in 1961 and for one issue, all reprints. The title Secret Origins of Super Heroes went onto a second series, also reprints, which ran for seven issues from 1973-1974...
#43 (August 1989) have been his only other appearances to date.
Fictional character biography
According to his early adventures, Chris KL, the son of Jon ST-94, was born on a spaceship somewhere between Earth and Mars, the first Earth child to be born in outer space, in the 21st century, and was named after Christopher Columbus. He became an instant celebrity because of his status as the first child of space, but was kidnapped by aliens on his eighth birthday and not returned for nine years. It turned out that the aliens were a dying race, and chose him to train for some still unknown purpose.They had not meant to kidnap him, but were unable to communicate their wishes to anyone else.After his return, his parents left Earth to find new worlds to colonise on the exploratory spaceship 'The Starfarer', and were not seen again. According to one version of his story, Chris then vowed to go to Space Academy so he could journey to find them when he was older, and after graduating from Space Academy '99' was appended to his name because of his 99% rating at the Academy, and he later became the greatest space explorer of his day. Another version of Chris's story has him not returning to Earth, but travelling in space to find the last surviving aliens to continue his training with them, appending the KL to his name in honour of the alien race, the K'l, and the 99 in acknowledgement that there were only 98 of the aliens left alive when he was with them. Whatever the correct version, accompanied by Halk, a Martian
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
scientist (once Chief Scientist of Mars), Jero, a Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
ian, and a pet chameleon dog, Loopy, whose colour changes according to his mood, he discovered many alien worlds (and a sub-atomic universe) in his spaceship 'The Pioneer'. In recognition of his work he was given the authority to protect the people of the new worlds he discovered from danger as 'Commissioner for Protection of Planetary Peoples'.
Chris eventually found 'The Starfarer' and his parents' graves on the planet where they had died saving the rest of the crew in a crash. Other adventures involved saving the ancient Earth monuments from aliens in need of metal to save their universe, and re-discovering a second moon that used to orbit Earth millions of years ago.
He was present during the DC Universe 'Crisis on Infinite Earths', first in his own time to help Superman and The Forgotten Heroes
Forgotten Heroes
The Forgotten Heroes are fictional superhero team in the DC Comics universe. The group is composed of superheroes that had faded from the limelight...
defeat The Forgotten Villains at the start of the Crisis, and then towards the end of Crisis to help with powering the time machines critical to saving the universe.
Other information
- In 'The Metal World' , Strange Adventures #3, December 1950, Chris comes across a planet whose inhabitants has had their 'Great Temple of the Stars' looted by cosmic robbers. The inhabitants are dressed in costumes that are the same as that of the Golden Age StarmanStarman (Ted Knight)Starman is a fictional comic book superhero in the , and a member of the Justice Society of America. Created by artist Jack Burnley and editors Whit Ellsworth, Murray Boltinoff, Jack Schiff, Mort Weisinger, and Bernie Breslauer, he first appeared in Adventure Comics #61 .-Fictional character...
.