Nam-Ek is a Kryptonian war criminal and member of the Sword of Rao, as well as the strongest soldier of General Zod, and one of the first great enemies of the hero Superman.
Nam-Ek was a mysterious individual whose precise origins were unknown. Commonly-believed to be mute since birth, rumors suggested that he was created out of illegal transgenic experiments on Krypton that may have involved Rondor DNA, as his size and girth were unlikely to have resulted from a random mutation.[1] It was established that he had been genetically programmed to receive the ideal traits of an obedient and uncompromising soldier. He was incapable of leadership, responding only to the commands of his direct superiors.[3] He was known to have shared the same name with a male member of the Kryptonian Explorer Guild who lived thousands of years before his birth.[4] At some point he joined the Kryptonian Warrior Guild.
He became a loyal follower of General Dru-Zod, joining the latter's radical Sword of Rao movement, and thus helped them in the attempted coup on Krypton. After its failure, however, he and his allies were imprisoned in the Phantom Zone by High Eminence Lor-Em. After Krypton imploded and set him and Zod's forces free, they set out in an attempt to locate any other surviving Kryptonians at the various colonial outposts across the universe. This eventually led them to Earth.[5]
Nam-Ek and Faora-Ul followed Zod to Smallville in search of the growth codex. There they attacked Superman and began to get the better of him. However, Superman utilized his experience with his powers in Earth's atmosphere. The US Military arrived to take out the Kryptonians. In response, Nam-Ek destroyed several fighter planes before re-engaging Superman in combat. Nam-Ek then gathered Faora-Ul, who collapsed, and they regrouped back on the Black Zero.[5]
Nam-Ek later fought along with General Zod's other forces when they began terraforming over Metropolis. However, he, Faora-Ul, Tor-An, Jax-Ur, and the rest were sucked into the Phantom Zone yet again when the two phantom drives collided over the city, causing a singularity.[5]
Personality[]
Genetically engineered into the Kryptonian Warrior Guild as a warrior, Nam-Ek was a fierce combatant, but due to him presumably being the product of mixing Kryptonian genes with those of a rondor beast[6], Nam-Ek, while being inhumanly huge and muscular, has limited intelligence and is unable to speak. According to Faora-Ul, he is genetically incapable of feeling empathy towards his enemies.[6]
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
Hybrid Physiology: As a Kryptonian, Nam-Ek's bone structure is almost identical to that of a human. On a planet near a red class M main-sequence star (like Krypton with its sun Rao), Nam-Ek would have physical attributes nearly identical to those of humans, but if on a planet near a yellow G-type main-sequence star (like Earth), he has many new abilities and powers, all of them far beyond the capabilities of humans and even metahumans, making him appear godlike (indeed rivaling an Old God in power). However, Nam-Ek notably never did manage to master the powers of heat vision, X-ray vision, super breath, Arctic breath, and flight, though given his limited intelligence, he may have simply not realized he had them. Also, even without his powers, Nam-Ek is still very strong, due to his Kryptonian physiology mixed with the DNA of the rondors.
Superhuman Strength: Nam-Ek possesses tremendous superhuman strength, virtually incalculable, as he can carry millions of tons. He can generate large shock-waves with his mighty punches, he can effortlessly hurl cars and trucks great distances, shatter concrete, break through thick metal walls and doors with ease, and fight evenly against fellow Kryptonian Superman. In fact, his blows were powerful enough to visibly hurt Superman, while Nam-Ek's larger hulking physique allowed him to initially dominate the younger Kryptonian. Together with Faora, he was also able to force Superman back down when the latter tried to fly up into the air. Nam-Ek was able to hurl a railroad car at Superman so hard, that the latter was briefly knocked unconscious.
Superhuman Leaps:
Nam-Ek leaping at the US military.
Nam-Ek is able to use his incredible strength to perform super jumps, shown when he easily leaped onto a flying military jet, and when he quickly caught up to Superman when the latter tried to fly up into the air.
High-Invulnerability: Nam-Ek's possesses an extraordinary level of durability, virtually indestructible. Hence, he can withstand massive explosions, exposure to both temperature extremes, falls from great heights, high-caliber bullets, anti-tank depleted uranium rounds, Maverick missiles, plasma bolts from Kryptonian weaponry, Superman's heat vision attack (though it caused him burning pain), and even numerous mighty blows from fellow Kryptonian Superman, remaining unscathed, though Superman ultimately managed to knock him out with a tremendous punch. While Nam-Ek can be affected by the considerable force of powerful impacts, at most they only cause him to stumble and briefly knock him down, leaving him unscathed. Only a blow from Superman was enough to knock Nam-Ek out for a while. The only things capable of breaking through Nam-Ek's invulnerability and actually harming him are beings of comparable incalculable strength (such as other Kryptonians), as they are strong enough to physically break though his invulnerability.
Superhuman Speed: Nam-Ek, in spite of his inhumanly huge physique, can run and react at incredible speeds, since Nam-Ek was able to land several brutal blows on Superman in their fight. However, Nam-Ek is still noticeably slower and less nimble than less bulky fellow Kryptonians Superman, Faora, and General Zod. As a result, the faster and more agile Superman was able to catch and dodge quite a few of Nam-Ek's blows as their fight progressed.
Superhuman Stamina: Nam-Ek almost never grows tired if he is continuously powered by the yellow sun of Earth. He doesn't need to eat, sleep, or breathe. Hence, he ferociously battled with Superman and numerous human soldiers without ever needing to stop and catch his breath.
Regenerative Healing Factor: Nam-Ek, in the rare instances when he is hurt, is capable of healing at superhuman speeds, especially in direct sunlight. However, if the injuries are serious enough to instantly kill him, his healing factor will not be able to save him.
Abilities[]
Nam-Ek ferociously battle against Superman.
Expert Combatant: Nam-Ek, as a member of the Kryptonian Warrior Guild, is a fierce and ruthless combatant, though his fighting style, unlike the more sophisticated ones of General Zod and Sub-Commander Faora, is one based more on brute force and his huge hulking physique rather than martial arts, though it is just as effective. However, while Nam-Ek was able to use this to initially dominate Superman in their fight, the latter utilized his superior agility and speed, managing to gain the upper hand against Nam-Ek relatively quickly.
Weaknesses[]
Limited Free Will: Nam-Ek's greatest psychological weakness stems from the fact that he was genetically engineered in a genesis chamber (for the Kryptonian Warrior Guild), with the boundaries of thought programmed into his DNA. As a result, Nam-Ek has little knowledge of Free Will, is often prone to dogmatic tunnel vision, and is completely unable to live a lifestyle other than the one he was born for. Although these limitations of thought allowed Nam-Ek to be an extremely formidable warrior (as he genetically lacked empathy towards his enemies) and leader, they also made him unable to live diplomatically with humanity (as Superman could), or to realize Jor-El's strategy to suck him into the Phantom Zone.
Equipment[]
Nam-Ek's kyptonian armour.
Kryptonian battle armor: Nam-Ek, as a Warrior Guild member, was hardly ever seen not wearing a suit of extremely durable and fiercely intimidating Kryptonian battle armor, equipped with a breather.
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