Superman Emergency Squad
Encyclopedia
The Superman Emergency Squad (sometimes called the Supermen Emergency Squad) is a fictional superhero
team in the DC Comics
universe. They first appeared in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #48 (October 1960).
reboot, the Superman Emergency Squad is a group of miniaturized Kryptonians from the bottle city of Kandor
, which is housed in Superman's Fortress of Solitude
. The Squad provides assistance to Superman
when he is incapacitated or otherwise occupied. Members of the squad include Superman's look alike cousin Van-Zee (who also uses the secret identity Nightwing
), and Don-El, the captain of the Squad. In the early appearances of the Squad, the members were specially selected due to their close resemblance to Superman; later stories dropped this concept.
The Squad goes into action whenever they receive a signal from Superman, or see that he is in trouble while monitoring him. To leave the shrunken city of Kandor, the Squad uses a small rocket ship to fly up to the cork that seals the mouth of the bottle. They then expose themselves to a special enlarging gas that causes them to grow from their regular microscopic size to several inches in height. This gives them the ability to force the cork out of the mouth, allowing them access to the outside world (in later stories, the Squad installs a door in the cork, to facilitate exits and entrances). Once outside the bottle city the Squad members, like all natives of Krypton
, gain the same powers and abilities as Superman.
. In Superman: The Man of Steel
#100 (May 2000), the Emergency Squad leaves Kandor to help Superman defeat Hank Henshaw
. As time passes at a faster rate in Kandor, the current status of the squad is uncertain.
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
team in the 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...
universe. They first appeared in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #48 (October 1960).
Fictional background
Pre-Crisis
Prior to the Crisis on Infinite EarthsCrisis 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...
reboot, the Superman Emergency Squad is a group of miniaturized Kryptonians from the bottle city of Kandor
Kandor
Kandor is the name of the former capital city of the fictional planet Krypton in the DC Universe. It is best known for being stolen and miniaturized by the supervillain Brainiac...
, which is housed in Superman's Fortress of Solitude
Fortress of Solitude
The Fortress of Solitude is the occasional headquarters of Superman in DC Comics. Its predecessor, Superman's "Secret Citadel", first appeared in Superman #17, where it was said to be built into a mountain on the outskirts of Metropolis...
. The Squad provides assistance to Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
when he is incapacitated or otherwise occupied. Members of the squad include Superman's look alike cousin Van-Zee (who also uses the secret identity Nightwing
Nightwing
Nightwing is a name that has been used by several fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe. It was conceived as a Kryptonian analogue to the character of Batman, with Nightwing's frequent partner Flamebird based on Robin...
), and Don-El, the captain of the Squad. In the early appearances of the Squad, the members were specially selected due to their close resemblance to Superman; later stories dropped this concept.
The Squad goes into action whenever they receive a signal from Superman, or see that he is in trouble while monitoring him. To leave the shrunken city of Kandor, the Squad uses a small rocket ship to fly up to the cork that seals the mouth of the bottle. They then expose themselves to a special enlarging gas that causes them to grow from their regular microscopic size to several inches in height. This gives them the ability to force the cork out of the mouth, allowing them access to the outside world (in later stories, the Squad installs a door in the cork, to facilitate exits and entrances). Once outside the bottle city the Squad members, like all natives of Krypton
Krypton (comics)
Krypton is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe, and the native world of the super-heroes Superman and, in some tellings, Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog. Krypton has been portrayed consistently as having been destroyed just after Superman's flight from the planet, with exact details of...
, gain the same powers and abilities as Superman.
Post-Crisis
A new version of the Squad appeared the Crisis reboot, now renamed Kandorian Emergency Squad. Instead of providing emergency assistance to Superman, it now acts as a policing unit in Kandor. The Squad is led by Cerizah, sister of Superman's ally CeritakScorn (comics)
Scorn is a fictional character in the DC comics universe. He first appeared in Superman #122 , and for a time was a regular supporting character in the Superman line of comics.- Fictional Biography :...
. In Superman: The Man of Steel
Superman: The Man of Steel
Superman: The Man of Steel is the title of a monthly American comic book series that ran 136 issues from 1991 to 2003. published by DC Comics, featuring Superman. As a consequence of introducing this series alongside its already existing titles, DC Comics was able to publish a new Superman comic...
#100 (May 2000), the Emergency Squad leaves Kandor to help Superman defeat Hank Henshaw
Hank Henshaw
Hank Henshaw is a fictional supervillain featured in the DC Comics universe. While originally featured primarily as an enemy of Superman, recent years have repositioned him as one of the main enemies of the Green Lantern Corps...
. As time passes at a faster rate in Kandor, the current status of the squad is uncertain.