Nam-Ek

• Also known as

Rondors were a foul-smelling beast on Krypton whose horn radiated a natural healing ray. So valuable were the hideous animals, that their slaughter was outlawed. Five centuries ago, Nam-Ek, a Kryptonian scientist, killed two rondors so that he could study the horn's powers. He extracted a serum from the healing horns, which would grant immortality. When four people died because no rondors were available, he was charged with murder. He evaded capture and drank the serum. In the next instant, he mutated into a human rondor. 500 years later, when Krypton exploded, the immortal Nam-Ek was left drifting in space. Nam-Ek was later retrieved by Amalak the Kryptonian-Killer, who attempted to kill him but discovered it was impossible. When Amalak's spaceship entered a yellow sun-system, Nam-Ek gained super-powers and headed to Earth to warn Superman. After Amalak's defeat, Nam-Ek was projected into the Phantom Zone by Superman because he had been exhibiting dangerous bouts of insanity.