REPLIKON (Xum)	BIOGRAPHY
Created by Denny O'Neil & Mike Grell

PERSONAL DATA

Real Name: Xum
Aliases: Andre
Status: Deceased
Homeworld: Asteroid Belt, Solar System
Space Sector: 2814
Known Relatives: Sachi, Yukinori (offspring)
Base of Operation: Asteroid field between Mars and Jupiter
Height: 7'
Weight: Variable
Eyes: Blue
Hair: None
First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol. 2 #108 (September 1978): "The Third Identity of Replikon"
Creators: Denny O'Neil & Mike Grell

HISTORY

The creature known as Xum lived on a planet between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The planet broke apart, destroying Xum's once-mighty race. As the only surviving member of its race, Xum was caretaker of two "eggs" which needed a suitable environment to hatch. In its gaseous form, Xum survived millions of years.

In the late twentieth century, an asteroid probe was sent from Earth to investigate the debris between Mars and Jupiter. Xum recognized the probe as a product of civilization and entered the automated craft. A week later, the asteroid probe had returned to Earth. The retro-rockets of the craft failed to fire, threatening the probe's destruction. Green Lantern Hal Jordan was on board the Justice League satellite when the probe entered the Earth's atmosphere. While inside the space faring craft, Xum was able to scan the inside of the satellite and the Justice Leaguers who were present.

Due to the probe's yellow hull, the emerald crusader could not catch it with his power ring. To save the probe, Green Lantern agitated the air below creating an updraft to safely cushion its fall. The cause of the probe's malfunction could not be determined at Ferris Aircraft's Coast City facility. It would have to be shipped to Star City for advanced lab tests. Carol Ferris asked Hal Jordan to transport the probe by his tractor trailer.

Xum imitated what it had seen on the Justice League satellite by adopting a humanoid form based on the costumes of the League members. It smashed its way out of the tractor trailer and into a fight with Green Lantern. Jordan was stunned, the creature was familiar to him, like a replica of someone he knew. Xum had the ability to change from solid to gas with a thought, it could also pass through the power ring's emerald light. Xum changed into a gas and escaped.

In Star City, Green Arrow and Black Canary fought a gang that had tried to extort money for protection from local shop owners. Xum appeared, naming itself "Replikon." The peaceful meeting was short-lived, Replikon attacked Green Arrow with a judo throw the alien had copied from Black Canary. The arrival of Green Lantern did little to help Green Arrow and Black Canary. Replikon copied the green clad heroes, striking them with their own punches. At Black Canary's suggestion the three heroes struck as one, gaining the upper hand on their strange opponent. Once again, Replikon converted itself to a gas and escaped.

Replikon took human form and adopted the identity of "Andre." In this guise, the alien scanned Carol Ferris' mind and fashioned itself as her ideal companion. She believed Andre to be a mysterious, sophisticated foreigner. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #108

In reality, Replikon had spent over a week learning all it could about the Earth and its population. It retraced its steps, returning to the factories and chemical plants Andre and Carol Ferris had visited. Replikon planned to change the Earth to make it a place suitable for its children. Unfortunately it would have to destroy all human life to do so.

Replikon ruptured a storage tank containing forty tons of fluorocarbon gas. It hoped to break down Earth's ozone layer, but the fluorocarbon was contained by Green Lantern. A brief fight ensued with Green Lantern feigning unconsciousness to surreptitiously track the alien. Following Replikon from a distance, Jordan was shocked to learn of its identity as Andre.

Carol was crushed by the news but she agreed to help Green Lantern capture the alien menace. She led Andre to an abandoned building where the heroes had laid a trap. Green Arrow and Black Canary kept their enemy confused while Green Lantern moved in. They counted on Replikon turning into a mist form to escape and used that to their advantage. Green Lantern created a giant fan to force Replikon to remain solid. Collapsing a wall on the alien kept it from noticing a lead cylinder in which it was trapped.

Recalling the space probe, Jordan returned Replikon to the asteroid field from which it came. He released the creature on the asteroid and learned why it tried to destroy the Earth. Jordan felt sorry for it but would not allow the destruction of billions for the comfort of three beings. He left Replikon on the barren asteroid and returned to Earth. The creature swore to one day take vengeance on the Green Lantern. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #109

Years later, Hal Jordan left the Green Lantern Corps for personal reasons. His successor, John Stewart was trained by Katma Tui of Korugar. - [GREEN LANTERN 2nd series # 181-193]

Their training exercises led them into the solar system's asteroid belt, and Replikon. The creature immediately attacked the Green Lanterns. Stewart lost concentration for a moment, losing the battle and his ring to Replikon. Katma Tui was swiftly defeated by the shape shifting creature. Despite their power, the two emerald gladiators were defeated. Replikon had both power rings.

Apparently the shape shifting alien could not did not have enough expertise to use the power ring to destroy Earth's ozone layer. It turned to John Stewart instead. Replikon offered Katma Tui's life in exchange for his cooperation.

The Green Lanterns knew something of the power rings that Replikon did not: The rings could be mentally controlled from a distance. John Stewart took control of his ring just as Replikon blasted Katma Tui. Even though it was worn by Replikon, Katma Tui's ring would protect her from mortal injury. The battle was brief, Replikon tried to turn into a gas, but was trapped in a ring generated suit of armor. The armor was too dense for it to escape, it had to turn solid to gain leverage to move, but this left Replikon susceptible to physical assault. In a ring-to-ring duel, Replikon was no match for Stewart.

Instead of leaving Replikon to its fate, the Green Lanterns rebuilt its world. Taking materials from Mars, Jupiter and the asteroid field, the Green Lanterns created a beautiful new world for Replikon. Soon after the world was completed, Replikon's children were born. The alien was very grateful and invited the Green Lanterns to stay. They departed as friends. - Green Lantern Vol. 2 #193

Weeks later, Katma Tui and John Stewart married. The two Green Lanterns returned to Replikon's world for their honeymoon. - Green Lantern Corps #212- 213

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Replikon in chronological order click here

PROFILE REFERENCES

Superman Secret Files and Origins 2004 (August 2004)