KANTO

Real Name: Iluthin

Class: God (New Gods)

Occupation: Assassin

Group Affiliation: Darkseid's Elite, Intergang

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Apokolips

First Appearance: Mister Miracle I #7 (March-April, 1972)

History: (Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #9 (fb)) - Iluthin was a New God, and a student at Granny Goodness’ Orphenage, where lowly Apokoliptians were transformed into soldiers of Darkseid. Iluthin had a rough training, and turned to thievery, stealing from his fellow students, the Apokoliptian armory, and finally from Darkseid’s head assasin Kanto 13. He was caught by Segeant Skragg, and brought before Granny, and even though she promoted treachery, she was ashamed that he’d allowed himself to get caught in the act. She reminded him that only the strong survived on Apokolips, and had him run a gauntlet of his fellow students as punishment. He made it to the end with his extraordinary agility and fighting prowess, injuring his classmates along the way, but Kanto 13 was at the end, and started beating him to a pulp. Darkseid, impressed with Iluthin’s potential, interrupted. He used his omega-beams on him for a total wipeout, and told him that if he survived his destiny would be altered. Kanto guessed the boy survived, teleported instead of disintegrated, and vowed to track him down.

(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #10 (fb), 11 (fb), 13 (fb)) - <1502> Italy, Iluthin found a place in the court of Cesare Borgia and his sister Lucretia, impressing them with his flair for nobility, and excellent swordsmanship. He began a romance with Borgia’s illegitimate sister Claudia, and that would not stand for Borgia. Iluthin was a commoner, so he had to be taken care of. Borgia gave Iluthin a message to transport across the land, claiming to need information on his enemy Duke Orsini. Iluthin knew it was a trap, but he kissed Claudia goodbye and reminded her that he was bound to his master. Iluthin was captured by the Orsinis and tortured, but refused to talk. Iluthin stayed on the rack until Orsini revealed his plans to attack Borgia’s unprotected forces. Iluthin easily escaped when he was alone, and reported back to Borgia, who was shocked by his survival. Some questioned Iluthin’s intel, but Borgia was confident that he was too savy in politics, and too in love with Claudia, for a plan of betrayal. After Borgia defeated Orsini’s forces, he rewarded Iluthin by allowing him to marry Claudia. On their wedding day, a Boom Tube opened up and discharged Kanto 13, who’d been stalking Iluthin, and couldn’t bear his survival. Kanto found that Iluthin outfought him at every turn, so he set a time bomb, and escaped via the Tube. Claudia threw herself on the bomb, sacrificing herself for her love, and Iluthin screamed and cradled her dead body. Iluthin was broken, and no longer cared about his place in court life. He followed Kanto to Apokolips using a Boom Tube, and engaged him in battle. Kanto soon doubled over in pain, and Iluthin revealed that he’d poisoned his water before he made his presence known. He chided Kanto, telling him that Claudia was the face of innocence, and her death would haunt Iluthin forever. Darkseid appeared, and when Kanto begged for help Darkseid slew him with the omega beams. Darkseid told Iluthin that Borgia taught him well, and he finally realized that their was no honor for an assassin, only success. Darkseid granted him the traditional name of Kanto, making him his new personal assassin, and granted the dead Kanto 13’s fief and fortress to him.

Kanto was fascinated by his tim,e during the Italian renaissance because of it's complex political intrigues. He created a costume that was a stylized version of Renaissance fashions, and involved himself in the political intrigues of Apokolips every chance he got.