Mala-Sonn (Universe 1, 1933)
Mala-Sonn, genetic offspring of Sela-Sonn and Dax-Ur, was among the twelve of the 144,000 bioengineered Kryptonian colonists who survived Krypton's destruction.
When the Kryptonian stasis matrices arrived in the Sol system in 1916, Mala's came down in the East Coast, crashing in a Luthor Incorporated munitions factory; this caused a fire which led to a tremendous explosion which killed most of the labourers working the shift. After the fire was extinguished, Mala's matrix was discovered and the infant extracted soon after. Luthor had the child placed into captivity for further scientific study, codenaming her "Subject One".
Mala spent the next seventeen years imprisoned, subjected to batteries of experiments as her body matured and her abilities emerged. Luthor visited her on occasion, gifting her books and records, but she received no affection from Emmett Vale or the others in the facility. Thus she remained, ignorant of her origins and potential, until 1933, when the dormant stasis matrices scattered across the planet awakened, alerting their former occupants.
Desiring to learn the secrets of Mala's vessel, Luthor allowed her to examine the key to her pod. Upon making contact with the disc, all the information pertaining to her identity and purpose was automatically downloaded into her brain. Empowered by this newfound knowledge, she made her escape shortly thereafter, venturing forth to find the others hiding on Earth.
Mala-Sonn (Universe 1, 1934)
Using her disc as a homing device, Mala made the trek from Metropolis to Smallville, following it to the Kent farm. Discretely spying on the Kents, it wasn't long before she learned Clark was the one she was looking for. After Clark encountered Mala in the woods, the Kents took her into their home. Feigning amnesia for a time, she eventually revealed her identity to Clark. Under her persuasion, Clark inserted his own key into his stasis matrix, whereupon he was bequeathed with understanding of Kryptonian languages, technology, history, and his own identity and purpose: to conquer Earth and reshape humanity according to proper Kryptonian ways. Clark rejected his birthright and urged Mala to take time to think things through before committing to a plan of action. Mala hesitantly agreed.
Months later, Luthor eventually tracked Mala down to the Kent farm, taking her and the Kents hostage. After breaking loose, rescuing the Kents, and crippling and putting Luthor into a coma, Mala decided to go through with the original vision of subjugating the human race. Following a fierce battle, Clark had the Fortress destroyed. Incensed, Mala left, vowing to track down the other seven Kryptonians hiding on Earth and one day take her revenge on Clark.
Superwoman/Mala-Sonn (Universe 1, 1958)
After leaving Smallville, Mala spent the next fifteen years wandering the globe, seeking out the other Kryptonians. She managed to locate and befriend two: Az-Rel and Nadi-Ra. The trio eventually made the Latin American country Borgonia their base of operations, allying themselves with the nation's autocratic Queen Llúcia. They served in that capacity for a year until Superman, operating in tandem with the CIA, helped orchestrate a coup which installed a new government more amenable to American interests. Az and Nadi were captured in the scuffle and Mala was forced to flee.
In 1958, after Superman restored the Fortress of Solitude, Mala managed to take command of the Fortress for a brief period of time. Utilizing the Fortress' resources, she implanted metamorphic talons capable of slicing through Kryptonian flesh in her fingers and fashioned a costume out of a Kryptonian biosuit, christening herself "Superwoman", Superman's antithesis.
