Kanto (comics)
{{Short description|Fictional character by DC Comics}}
{{Infobox comics character
|image=Image:Kanto.jpg
|caption=Kanto, artist Jack Kirby.
|character_name=Kanto
|publisher=DC Comics
|debut=Mister Miracle #7 (March/April 1972)
|creators=Jack Kirby (writer-artist)
|real_name=Iluthin
|species=New God
|homeworld=Apokolips
|alliances=Darkseid's Elite
|aliases=
|supports=
|powers=
- Immortality
- Superhuman physical attributes
- Master assassin
- Weapon master
- Skilled fighter and strategist
- Wields sword, knife and advanced technological weaponry
}}
Kanto is a supervillain appearing in media published by DC Comics. A New God from the planet Apokolips, he is a servant of Darkseid and a master assassin.
Kanto has appeared in various media outside comics, primarily in association with the New Gods. He is voiced by Michael York in the DC Animated Universe and Troy Baker in Justice League Action.
Publication history
Kanto first appeared in Mister Miracle #7 (March/April 1972), and was created by Jack Kirby.{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=164}} His appearance is modeled after Renaissance nobleman Cesare Borgia and actor Errol Flynn.Ro, Ronin. Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and the American Comic Book Revolution (Bloomsbury, 2004)
Fictional character biography
A former student of Granny Goodness on Apokolips,{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=McAvennie |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |title=DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-8578-6 |page=167}} Iluthin is accused of stealing weaponry from the assassin Kanto 13 and is exiled to Renaissance-era Earth. Subsequently, he trains under Italian teachers and falls in love with a woman named Claudia before Kanto 13 kills her. After Darkseid kills Kanto 13, Iluthin assumes his name and job.{{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=150}}
In Genesis, Kanto encounters Artemis of Bana-Mighdall, his former student and lover.
In Death of the New Gods, Kanto is killed by Infinity-Man. However, he returns in Final Crisis.Final Crisis #1
In The New 52 continuity reboot, Kanto is depicted as a former lover of Leonardo da Vinci and a teacher of KGBeast.Mister Miracle (vol. 4) #9 (2018)Batman (vol. 3) #56 (2018)
Powers and abilities
As a member of the New Gods, Kanto is functionally immortal and possesses superhuman physical abilities. He is additionally resistant to psychic powers and is a trained hand-to-hand combatant, being skilled in strategy and multiple weapons.
In other media
=Television=
- Kanto appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU).
- Introduced in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "Tools of the Trade", voiced by Michael York, this version is an associate of Intergang who supplies them with Apokoliptian weaponry.{{cite web |title=Kanto Voices (Superman) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Kanto/ |access-date=July 17, 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. After Intergang's defeat, Kanto returns to Apokolips, taking Bruno Mannheim with him.
- Kanto appears in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Alive!", voiced by an uncredited Corey Burton. Following Darkseid's death in the preceding DCAU series Justice League, he and Mantis serve as lieutenants for Virman Vundabar in his power struggle with Granny Goodness, which ends after Darkseid's resurrection and return to Apokolips.
- Kanto appears in Justice League Action, voiced by Troy Baker.
=Video games=
- Kanto appears in Superman: Shadow of Apokolips, voiced again by Michael York.
- Kanto appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=July 17, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}
- Kanto appears as a playable character and boss in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced again by Corey Burton.{{Cite web |last=Michael |first=Jon |last2=Veness |first2=John |date=November 2, 2018 |title=Characters - LEGO DC Super-Villains Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/lego-dc-super-villains/Characters |access-date=July 17, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071022085139/http://www.geocities.com/comixlibrary/newgods/ngprof.htm New Gods Library Profiles]
- [http://www.dcuguide.com/chronology.php?name=kanto DCU Guide: Kanto chronology]
{{New Gods}}
{{Jack Kirby}}
Category:Comics characters introduced in 1972
Category:Characters created by Jack Kirby
Category:DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds
Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability
Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman strength
Category:DC Comics LGBTQ supervillains
Category:Fictional assassins in comics