Alura (DC Comics)

{{short description|Fictional character in the DC Comics Universe}}

{{Infobox comics character

| image = 791121-alurapage.jpeg

| converted = yes

| caption = Variant cover art of Supergirl #47 (Jan. 2010), art by Joshua Middleton

| character_name = Alura

| publisher = DC Comics

| debut = Action Comics #252 (May 1959)

| creators = {{ubl|Otto Binder (writer)|Al Plastino (artist)}}

| alter_ego =

| full_name = Alura In-Ze

| species = Kryptonian

| homeworld = Krypton

| alliances = {{ubl|Zor-El | Supergirl}}

| aliases = Alura In-Zee

| supports = {{ubl|Supergirl|Superman}}

| powers = (Under a yellow sun):

Superhuman strength, stamina, endurance, speed, agility, reflexes, intelligence, longevity, and hearing
Solar radiation absorption and projection
Enhanced vision
EM spectrum vision
Microscopic vision
X-ray vision
Telescopic vision
Infra-red vision
Invulnerability
Ice and wind breath
Flight
Heat vision
Vocal mimicry

}}

Alura In-Ze is a character appearing in media published by DC Comics, usually those involving Superman. Alura is the Kryptonian daughter of In-Zee, wife of Zor-El, mother of Supergirl/Power Girl, and paternal aunt (by marriage) of Superman. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino, the character first appeared in Action Comics #252 (May 1959).{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |page=7}}

The character has appeared in media adaptations of the Superman and Supergirl comics, including live-action films, television programs and video games. Alura was portrayed by Mia Farrow in the 1984 film Supergirl. Laura Benanti portrayed the character in the first two seasons of the Arrowverse series Supergirl, with Erica Durance taking over the role in season three.

Publication history

The character Alura appeared unnamed in Action Comics #252 (May 1959) as part of the origin of Supergirl (Kara Zor-El).{{cite book |last1=Fleisher |first1=Michael L. |title=The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume Three: Superman |date=2007 |publisher=DC Comics |isbn=978-1-4012-1389-3 |page=3}} She was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino. Her role was similar to that of what Lara was to Superman. She and her husband, Zor-El, send her to a spaceship from Argo City to Earth to survive.Action Comics #252 (May 1959)

Fictional character biography

=Pre-''Crisis''=

==Earth-One==

Alura is the mother of Kara Zor-El and wife of Zor-El, originating from Argo City. When Krypton explodes, Argo is preserved with a protective dome. When a meteor destroys the city's protective lead sheets, exposing its residents to deadly kryptonite, Alura and Zor-El survive by entering the Survival Zone and send Kara away in a rocket. Later, Supergirl rescues her parents, and they move to the planet New Krypton/Rokyn.

==Earth-Two==

In the alternate universe of Earth-Two, Allura In-Z and Zor-L do not survive Krypton's destruction.

=Post-''Crisis''=

In post-Crisis continuity, Alura is a resident of Kandor. Superman later restores Kandor to full size, after which its inhabitants move to a planet dubbed New Krypton.Supergirl (vol. 5) #52 (June 2010) However, Alura and most of the Kryptonians are killed when Reactron destroys New Krypton.Superman: War of the Supermen #1 (July 2010)

Powers and abilities

Alura In-Ze has all the powers and weaknesses of a Kryptonian from exposure to Earth's yellow sunlight.

In other media

=Television=

Alura appears in the Super Friends episode "The Krypton Syndrome".
Alura appears in Supergirl, portrayed initially by Laura Benanti in the first and second seasons,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/02/laura-benanti-supergirl-mom-pilot-greg-berlanti-cbs-1201377441/|title=Laura Benanti To Play Supergirl's Mom In Greg Berlanti's CBS Pilot|website=Deadline Hollywood|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=February 20, 2015}} and later by Erica Durance in the third and fifth.{{cite magazine |last=Abrams |first=Natalie |date=May 23, 2018 |title=Supergirl star Erica Durance previews major Alura reveal |url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/05/23/supergirl-alura-alive-erica-durance/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}{{cite web |last=Wickline |first=Dan |date=1 August 2017 |title=Does Supergirl Recasting Alura Have Anything To Do With Mon-El's Return? |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/08/01/does-supergirl-recasting-alura-have-anything-to-do-with-mon-els-return/ |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=Bleeding Cool}}{{cite web |last1=Wickline |first1=Dan |date=29 May 2018 |title=Erica Durance Talks Her Return to Supergirl and the Future of Alura |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/05/29/erica-durance-talks-her-return-to-supergirl-and-the-future-of-alura/ |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors}}{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |date=7 July 2017 |title=Supergirl: Erica Durance To Take Over Alura Role From Laura Benanti |url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/supergirl-erica-durance-alura-recasting-laura-benanti-1202125270/ |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=Deadline |language=en}}{{cite web |date=9 November 2015 |title=Who Is Alura On Supergirl? Kara's Mother Can Do Big Things From Beyond The Grave |url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/121150-who-is-alura-on-supergirl-karas-mother-can-do-big-things-from-beyond-the-grave |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=Bustle |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Swift |first1=Andy |date=22 May 2018 |title=Supergirl Photos: Alura Lives! What Brings Kara and Her Mom Together? |url=https://tvline.com/2018/05/22/supergirl-spoilers-photos-kara-mom-alive-erica-durance-returns/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116074911/https://tvline.com/2018/05/22/supergirl-spoilers-photos-kara-mom-alive-erica-durance-returns/ |archive-date=16 November 2019 |access-date=16 November 2019 |website=TVLine |language=en}} This version is a member of the Kryptonian Science Council and has a twin sister named Astra In-Ze (also portrayed by Benanti).{{cite magazine |last=Abrams |first=Natalie |date=October 26, 2015 |title=Supergirl postmortem: Get the scoop on that villain twist and what's next |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/10/26/supergirl-season-1-spoilers-andrew-kreisberg |access-date=October 26, 2015 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} Towards the end of the third season, Supergirl discovers that Alura is still alive and is part of Argo City's High Council, with Zor-El having built a fail-safe around Argo City to protect it from Krypton's destruction.
Alura appears in the DC Super Hero Girls episode "#DCSuperHeroBoys", voiced by Kari Wahlgren.{{cite web |title=Alura Voices (Superman) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Alura/ |access-date=February 21, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. This version is a member of the council of Krypton and imprisoned General Zod, Ursa and Non in the Phantom Zone.

=Film=

Alura appears in Supergirl (1984), portrayed by Mia Farrow.
Alura makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in a flashback in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.
Alura appears in Superman: Unbound, voiced by Sirena Irwin.
Alura appears in DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year, voiced by April Stewart.
Alura appears in Legion of Super-Heroes, voiced by Jennifer Hale.{{Cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=October 13, 2022 |title=DC's Legion of Super-Heroes Sets Voice Cast With Meg Donnelly and Harry Shum Jr. to Star (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/dcs-legion-of-super-heroes-animated-movie-1235240040/ |access-date=July 22, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
Alura appears in Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, voiced again by Jennifer Hale.{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=James |date=February 21, 2024 |title=Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths, Part Two Arrives April 23, 2024 |url=https://dcanimated.com/2024/02/justice-league-crisis-on-infinite-earths-part-two-arrives-april-2024/ |access-date=February 21, 2024 |website=The World's Finest |language=en-US}}
Alura is set to appear in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2026), portrayed by Emily Beecham.