- "Kara, my brave daughter. By now you have become the woman I knew you would grow up to be. And though you were sent to Earth to protect young Kal-El, your destiny is not tied to his. There is no correct path in life. You will lose your way many times. What's important is that you find your way back to the brave girl you always were. Be wise, be strong and always be true to yourself."
- —Alura's message to Kara Zor-El[src]
Alura Zor-El is the mother of Kara Zor-El and wife of the late Zor-El, as well as one of the most influential judicators (judges) of Krypton. Alura currently resides in Argo City and is a member of its High Council.
Biography
Early life
Alura was born on the planet Krypton a number of decades before its destruction. She and her sister, Astra, were one of the rare cases of twin birth recorded on the planet. As children, Alura and Astra took pleasure in confusing their parents due to their almost identical appearances.[1]
As an adult, Alura became a judicator and was put in charge of administering justice in the maximum-security prison, Fort Rozz. She fell in love with a member of the science guild named Zor-El, whom she later married. In 1966, Alura gave birth to a daughter, Kara Zor-El.[2]
Alura telling Kara that she has the heart of a hero.
Coming home late one night after sentencing a Hellgrammite who had been brought to the citadel, Alura went into Kara's room, wondering why her daughter was still awake. Kara explained that she simply wanted to see her, to which Alura explained why she had been working so late. When Kara proclaimed that she wanted to help people like her mother one day, a proud Alura assured her daughter that she would, as Kara had the heart of a hero.[1]
Sentencing Astra to Fort Rozz
Alura sentenced Astra and Non to imprisonment in Fort Rozz (prison).
After Astra learned that Krypton was dying because of its resources being too heavily exploited, she tried to prevent it by rebelling against the government and committing several extreme crimes to the point that her husband and second-in-command Non killed a guard while under her command. Knowing Kara was the only person Astra would trust enough to meet, Alura suggested to Kara that she use her spy beacon to contact her aunt.[3] When Astra came to see Kara, Alura pleaded with her sister to turn herself in, promising to speak to the council on her behalf. However, Astra refused to stop her plans, and Alura had her arrested.[4] Despite the fact that they were family, Alura sentenced both her sister and brother-in-law, Non, to prison in Fort Rozz.[1] Before sending Astra to Fort Rozz, Alura told her sister that she believed about Krypton's impending destruction. However, she was "bound by more than blood in [the] courtroom", and Astra's actions resulted in several deaths, which left Alura with no choice but the sentence her sister to prison. However, she promised Astra that she would do everything she could to carry on her work, but the right way, with compassion and understanding rather than violence and fear. Bidding her sister a final farewell, Alura regretfully sent her sister to Fort Rozz.
Sending Kara to Earth
Zor-El and Alura say goodbye to Kara.
Alura and her husband, Zor-El, sent their daughter Kara to Earth as their home planet was dying. Before sending her off, Alura told Kara that the trip would be long, but that she would sleep for most of it and that they'd be with her in her dreams, mentioning to Kara that'd she have extraordinary abilities on Earth, due to its yellow sun. She gave Kara her necklace before the latter boarded her ship, leaving right before the planet self destructed.[2]
Survival of Argo City
When Krypton exploded Alura survived because Zor-El built a shield protecting Argo City. Not knowing what happened to Kara except that her pod got knocked into The Phantom Zone, she presumed Kara was dead. Her husband later died after this period leaving Alura a widow and repent of her inaction. Alura makes it her pence to ensure Argo City's next generation survives.
Guide on Earth
Alura's hologram talking to Kara.
After battling her aunt Astra and saving Alex and "Director Henshaw", Alex revealed to Kara that a program downloaded from Kara's pod contained an A.I. in the holographic form of her mother who Kara would be able to seek advice and speak with,[1] however, most of the time the program is unresponsive and refuses to divulge classified information.
Reuniting with Kara
Upon Kara and Mon-El being pulled in to Argo City and discovered by multiple Kelex robots, Alura told them to stand down and saw that her daughter was alive. They happily embrace.[5]
War against Reign
During the earthquake of National City, she followed her daughter's path and use her thermal vision on falling objects that almost crushed civilians. She them, with the help of the Legion, they stopped the earthquake and was among the heroes who were applauded from civilians.
Soon afterwards Alura returned to Argo to keep ruling it.
Legacy
Kara initially looked up to Alura believing her to be a hero (unaware of her mother's true nature at the time) however, years after her apparent death, Kara finally learned the truth of what kind of person her mother truly was, from her aunt, Astra who revealed that her sister used her as a means to arrest her aunt. Kara become enraged of her mothers deception over her.
As time goes on, Kara discovers that Alura was not the "best woman ever" as she believed, due to Alura's manipulation of her, to arrest Astra and her failure to save Krypton from destruction, though she soon considered that her mother believed that the alternative of using Myriad to control the populace was unethical and an action not worth taking, but not to the point of defending her mother's unspeakable actions; the more she learns about Alura's true nature, the more Kara feels ashamed of being her daughter.
J'onn assured Kara that she is her parents' legacy, and can learn from Zor-El and Alura's mistakes to be better.[6]
Personality
Initially, Alura appeared to be a kind, caring, selfless and moral individual, who her daughter thought of as "the best woman who ever lived", however, as Kara learned more about her mother, she realized that like most people she was not perfect, her adherence to the law led her to manipulate her daughter Kara in order to draw her sister Astra out of hiding to be arrested for murder. Though she imprisoned her sister and her subordinates for killing people during their cause to save Krypton, she took up the role to save Krypton as she too believed Krypton was dying due to Kryptonian's draining the natural resources causing an unstable core. However, years later Kara believes her mother let Krypton die via inaction.
Though Alura had somewhat of a moral compass, she was also adherence to justice and the law, she will resort to manipulation to complete her goal, evidenced when she manipulated her daughter Kara, to draw her sister Astra out of hiding to be arrested for murder, though she sentenced her sister to Fort Rozz for murder (during her mission to save Krypton from Kryptonian's draining natural resources, leading to an unstable core) she told her sister she would carry on the mission, but "without fear, manipulation or violence instead of through compassion and reason". Therefore, she demonstrates her morality even in the face of death and destruction unlike Non. In addition, she showed compassion and unconditional love as she sent Astra to Fort Rozz.
Alura failed in saving Krypton and as a result, had to send Kara to Earth at the moment of Krypton's destruction in order to save her life, Kara later noted that the reason Alura made no attempt to save herself was because she felt guilty for what had happened to Krypton, blaming herself for not having done more and saw dying with the planet as honorable.[7]
After surviving Krypton's destruction and losing both her daughter and husband, Alura's personality changed greatly; as she became repent of her actions and always thought about Astra, realizing that if she had listened to her sister; their home planet's destruction could've been avoided.
Though like many of her fellow Kryptonians, Alura held their typical traits, such as self-righteousness and arrogance; because she looked down on Daxamites, as her A.I claimed them to be bullies, years later, this seems to have changed because she treated Mon-El kindly, despite knowing he was the prince of Daxam.
Powers and abilities
Powers
- Kryptonian physiology: Normally, like all Kryptonians, Alura's capabilities are no greater than a normal human of her physical conditioning. However, once charged by the energy spectrum of a yellow sun, she becomes able to perform various inhuman feats.
- Solar energy absorption: While Alura's powers are dependent on the energy spectrum from a yellow sun, her body is able to constantly and passively absorb such energy while exposed to it, essentially keeping her reserves fully charged near-constantly. Direct exposure to the light of a yellow sun will also accelerate her recovery from any injuries she does manage to sustain.
- Accelerated healing factor: Alura's metabolism is tremendously enhanced by solar energy, allowing accelerated healing abilities and burning calories at a superhuman rate, making her practically immune to the concept of weight gain.
- Contaminant immunity: Alura has an immunity to all forms of disease and contaminants on Earth.
- Flight: Alura is able to manipulate her own gravitational field to generate thrust and propel herself through the air, often at hyper-sonic speeds, much faster than she can travel by foot. As such, she is able to levitate and fly past Earth's atmosphere and near the planet's orbit.
- Sleep flight: Alura has the ability to float in the air, thanks to her ability of flying, while she sleeps, or as a voluntary act.
- Levitation: Alura can levitate using her flight abilities.
- Heat vision: By concentrating every solar energy reserve she has in her body, Alura can emit blue energy beams of variable intensity and temperature from her eyes.
- Invulnerability: While under the affects of the yellow sun, Alura is essentially invulnerable to all Earthly weapons, with bullets simply ricocheting whenever they come into contact with her skin.
- Extreme heat resistance: Alura feels no pain when exposed to extreme heat.
- Elemental resistance: Alura feels no pain when exposed to harmful elements like rocks, fire, electricity and ice.
- Self-sustenance: Due to the effects of a yellow sun, Alura's physical needs are greatly reduced or completely removed.
- Atmospheric adaption: While Alura does require oxygen, her physicality allows her to survive while inhaling more harsh forms of it, or even no oxygen at all.
- Super breath: While under the affects of the yellow sun, Alura is able to exhale powerful gusts of air from her mouth which are similar to force winds. She can also cause the temperature of her breath to drop, therefore able to freeze nearly anything.
- Super hearing: While under the affects of the yellow sun, Alura has super-sensitive ears that can perfectly pick up sounds from miles away and even through structures.
- Super speed: Alura possesses the ability to move at hyper-sonic speeds, both through flight and on foot.
- Accelerated perception: Alura sees everything much slower allowing her to move with precision and accuracy within very fast moments.
- Super strength: Alura's strength is enhanced under a yellow sun, enough to easily kill a normal human if she were to attack them directly.
- Thunderclap: Alura can use her super strength to create a powerful shockwave that throws enemies back by clapping her hands. This wave can also destroy glass, push objects away from her, and disorient anyone nearby.
- Super jumping/leaping: Alura is able to jump several feet off the ground and leap several stories in a single bound without having to fly.
- Super stamina: Alura can run, fight or fly for long periods of time, without getting tired.
- Super reflexes: Alura's reflexes are so fast, she can respond to attacks within seconds.
- X-ray vision: Alura has the ability to see through objects; except for lead.
- Accelerated healing factor: Alura's metabolism is tremendously enhanced by solar energy, allowing accelerated healing abilities and burning calories at a superhuman rate, making her practically immune to the concept of weight gain.
- Extended longevity: As a Kryptonian, Alura's life span is considerably longer than a normal human and likewise ages much slower. 35 years after the destruction of Krypton, despite being in her 70s or 80s; Alura still maintains the physical appearance of a woman in her prime.
- Telepathy immunity: Alura is immune to most forms of telepathic powers, even from someone as powerful as J'onn J'onzz.
- Solar energy absorption: While Alura's powers are dependent on the energy spectrum from a yellow sun, her body is able to constantly and passively absorb such energy while exposed to it, essentially keeping her reserves fully charged near-constantly. Direct exposure to the light of a yellow sun will also accelerate her recovery from any injuries she does manage to sustain.
Abilities
- High-level intellect/Master lawyer/Political acumen: Alura is a highly respected judicator, being in charge of administering justice in Krypton's maximum-security prison, Fort Rozz. Alura's experience with the legal system enabled her to successfully sentence virtually every criminal she prosecuted, serving as an example for her daughter, Kara. Alura was also shown to be a gifted tactician and ruthless manipulator, perfectly able to deceive even her loved ones in order to achieve her ends. Alura later became a member of Argo City's High Council, able to govern the city and attend to its legal matters.
- Bilingual: Alura is capable of fluently speaking English and Kryptonese.
- Skilled hand-to-hand combatant: While unknown to what degree, Alura is skilled in unarmed combat, as she helped the Superfriends battle Reign and the Children of Juru in the battle for Earth.
Weaknesses
- Kryptonite: Like all Kryptonians, even while empowered, Alura is vulnerable to the exposure of Kryptonite, a radioactive mineral from her home planet Krypton. Depending on the nature of the said Kryptonite, it will cause a different adverse affect on her;
- Green Kryptonite: Green Kryptonite not only physically hurts Alura, but also it weakens her physical attributes; making her equivalent to that of a normal human. If she is exposed to enough Green Kryptonite for too long, it will kill her.
- Red Kryptonite: If exposed to Red Kryptonite, it gradually destroys Alura’s inhibitions and turns her into a corrupt version of herself. Left without morality, compassion, rationality, or any cares whatsoever, Alura will become malevolent and prone to hostility and aggression, making her a danger to everyone around her.
- Silver Kryptonite: If exposed to Silver Kryptonite, it will cause Alura to go in a deep and frightful hallucination where nothing from the outside world can stir her out of it until it leaves her system.
- Extreme energy: Extreme amounts of energy, such as that from the Reactron suit or Livewire's electricity, can be strong enough to kill Alura.
- Solar energy overload: If Alura absorbs too much solar energy, it will act as a poison to her system and kill her.
- Red sun energy: Alura is powerless when exposed to the energy of a red sun.
- Blue sun energy: Alura is powerless when exposed to the energy of a blue sun.
- Solar energy depletion: Using her powers to its maximum for an extended period can significantly drain her solar energy to the point where Alura loses all of her powers and is rendered more human-like for at least a day. This renders her as weak as a human, allowing Alura to get injured, sick, and killed as easy as killing a human.
- Lead: Even with her X-ray vision, Alura cannot see through lead.
- High-frequencies: Although considered a strength, Alura’s hearing does have its disadvantages. Since her hearing is more sensitive than a normal human's, higher pitch noises (sonic screams, etc.) can disorient her and cause pain in her ears, leaving her vulnerable in a fight. Therefore, enemies with sound-based powers, like Silver Banshee, can potentially be powerful enough to incapacitate and even kill Alura.
- Sound-dampening technology: The D.E.O. designed frequencies to block super-hearing, which causes Alura slight pain when trying to use it in areas protected by the technology.
Equipment
- Alura Zor-El's suit: When battling the Reign and the Children of Juru, Alura wore a red, black, and gold battle suit with the House of El coat of arms displayed on her chest.
Appearances
Supergirl
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
|
Comics
Adventures of Supergirl
|
Behind the scenes
- In the DC comics, her full maiden name is Alura In-Ze, as most depictions of Kryptonian culture show that females use their father's full name as their last names before marriage.
- Alura's heroic costume seen in the end of Season 3 is is a nod to the suit she donned during the New Krypton saga in the comics.
- Erica Durance previously starred as Lois Lane in Smallville.
- Despite playing her (on-screen) mother, Erica Durance is only 10 years older than Melissa Benoist, the actress who portrays Kara Danvers/Supergirl.
- Erica's predecessor, Laura Benanti, is only a year younger than her.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Stronger Together"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Pilot"
- ↑ "Hostile Takeover"
- ↑ "Blood Bonds"
- ↑ "Dark Side of the Moon"
- ↑ "Medusa"
- ↑ "Strange Visitor From Another Planet"