Phantom Zone

The Phantom Zone is a fictional dimension in the Superman comic books used predominantly before the DC Comics shared universe retcon with Crisis on Infinite Earths in the 1980s. It was discovered by Jor-El and used on the planet Krypton as a method of imprisonment of criminals. The Phantom Zone criminals first appeared in the Superboy stories and soon began appearing in the Superman stories.

Related Topics:
Fiction - Superman - Comic books - DC Comics - Shared universe - Retcon - Crisis on Infinite Earths - 1980s - Jor-El - Krypton - Imprisonment - Superboy

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The inmates of this dimension are cast into the dimension and reside in a featureless state of existence from which they observe, but cannot interact with, the regular dimension clearly. Inmates do not age or require sustenance in the Phantom Zone; furthermore, they are telepathic and mutually insubstantial.

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As such, they survived the destruction of Krypton and focused their attention on Earth seeing as how most of the surviving Kryptonians now reside there. Most have a particular grudge against Superman seeing as how his father created the method of their own damnation. As such, they usually cause destructive trouble when they manage to escape while Superman struggles to return them to the Zone.

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The only exception is Mon-El, a Daxamite youth who met Superman when he was Superboy on Earth and discovered he was acutely vulnerable to lead poisoning. To keep him alive, Superboy cast Mon-El, with his permission, into the Phantom Zone where he resided until the 30th century where Brainiac 5 of the Legion of Super-Heroes developed a cure which allowed him to leave safely.

Related Topics:
Mon-El - Lead poisoning - Brainiac 5 - Legion of Super-Heroes

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Superman developed communications equipment for the Zone like the Zone-o-phone and refinements to the project. In addition, the City of Kandor used the Zone regularly with parole hearings sometimes chaired by Kal-El on occasion. However, since the departure of Kandor, outside of Mon-El, most of the inhabitants were confined to lifers and generally not inclined to making conversation with their jailer.

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