Laurel Gand is a superheroine appearing in DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries under the name Andromeda.[1] She was created as a replacement for Supergirl in post-Crisis on Infinite Earths Legion continuity. She was also inspired by elements of Superman's supposed descendant Laurel Kent (who, in post-Crisis, pre-Zero Hour continuity, was revealed to be a Manhunter android).[2]

Laurel Gand
Laurel Gand as Andromeda, as depicted in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 4 #66 (March 1995). Art by Lee Moder.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceOriginal:
Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #5 (March 1990)
Post-Zero Hour:
Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 4) #66 (March 1995)
Created byTom and Mary Bierbaum
Keith Giffen
Al Gordon
(based upon Supergirl by Otto Binder and Al Plastino)
In-story information
Alter egoLaurel Gand
SpeciesDaxamite
Place of originDaxam (31st century)
Team affiliationsLegion of Super-Heroes
White Triangle
Notable aliasesAndromeda, Sister Andromeda
Abilities
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    • Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, durability longevity, and reflexes
    • Solar energy radiation absorption
    • Super-Hearing
    • Enhanced visual perception
      • Electromagnetic spectrum vision
      • Telescopic vision
      • Microscopic vision
      • Heat vision
      • X-ray vision
      • Thermal vision
      • Infrared vision
      • Ultraviolet vision
    • Flight
    • Invulnerability
    • Super-breath
      • Freezing breath
      • Wind breath
    • Longevity
    • Indomitable will
    • Self-sustenance
    • Accelerated healing
    • Genius-level intellect
    • Basic hand-to-hand combatant

Fictional character biography

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Pre-Zero Hour

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Following her death in Crisis on Infinite Earths, Supergirl was removed from mainstream DC continuity and replaced with Laurel Gand / Andromeda.

Gand is a Daxamite and relative of Valor who was born on the asteroid Ricklef II. She later joins the Legion of Super-Heroes before marrying Rond Vidar and leaving the group to care for their daughter Lauren. She is later killed in a terrorist attack.

Post-Zero Hour

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Laurel Gand was originally a member of the xenophobic White Triangle group for joining the Legion. Due to Daxamites' vulnerability to lead, she is forced to wear a special suit to protect her from it. She later travels to the planet Hell and is presumed dead before returning to the Legion.

After the events of Infinite Crisis, Earth-247, the home of the post-Zero Hour Legion, is destroyed. Andromeda appears in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds, battling Superboy-Prime along with M'onel (Valor) and Superman. Later, in the fifth issue, her pre-Zero Hour younger and older counterparts are called to battle the Time Trapper, alongside dozens of other Legionnaires from alternate realities.

Powers and abilities

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Generally, the abilities of Laurel Gand (and other Daxamites) are identical to those of Superman and other natives of the planet Krypton (super-strength; speed; flight; X-ray, heat, microscopic or telescopic vision powers; invulnerability and super hearing). However, she is vulnerable to lead rather than Kryptonite.

In other media

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
  2. ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008), "Andromeda", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, London: Dorling Kindersley, p. 15, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1
  3. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  4. ^ "Justice League Adventures #28 - Future Imperfect (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved August 2, 2024.