Kanto (comics)

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
Kanto, artist Jack Kirby.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Mister Miracle #7 (March/April 1972)
Created by	Jack Kirby (writer-artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Iluthin
Species	New God
Place of origin	Apokolips
Team affiliations	Darkseid's Elite
Abilities	Immortality Superhuman physical attributes Master assassin Weapon master Skilled fighter and strategist Wields sword, knife and advanced technological weaponry

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.^[1] His appearance is modeled after Renaissance nobleman Cesare Borgia and actor Errol Flynn.^[2]

Fictional character biography

A student of Granny Goodness on Apokolips, Iluthin is accused of stealing weaponry from Darkseid's master assassin Kanto 13.^[3] Against the wishes of Kanto 13, Iluthin is exiled from Apokolips to Renaissance-era Earth. There, he trains under Italian teachers and falls in love with a woman named Claudia. Kanto 13 tracks Iluthin to Earth and kills Claudia at the couple's wedding altar. Iluthin defeats Kanto 13, who is killed by Darkseid, and becomes Kanto's successor.^[4]

During the Death of the New Gods event, Kanto is recalled to Apokolips amidst the slaughter of the New Gods, sharing his concerns with Granny Goodness. He is killed by Infinity-Man while spying on Orion, Mister Miracle, and Superman.^[5]

During the Final Crisis storyline, Kanto appears alive serving Darkseid and Kalibak. The three inhabit human hosts posing as businessmen in the Dark Side Club and brainwash human children.^[6]

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Kanto is depicted as a former lover of Leonardo da Vinci and a teacher of KGBeast.^[7][8]

Powers and abilities

As a New God, 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.^[9] 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.^[9] 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.^[9]

Video games

• Kanto appears in Superman: Shadow of Apokolips, voiced again by Michael York.^[9]
• Kanto appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[10]
• Kanto appears as a playable character and boss in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced again by Corey Burton.^[11][9]