The Superman "L" Conspiracy
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
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Superman comics are filled with tons of characters whose names have two Ls. Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Lana Lang, Linda Lee, Lori Lemaris, and even Superman's Kryptonian mother, Lara Lor-Van. Heck, his own birth name is Kal-El! Why are there so many Ls in the Superman mythos? Scott explains this conspiracy theory, and reveals how deep it goes...
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*COUPLE OF THINGS*
• This video is kind of an experiment to see if you guys like videos where I cover a large range of topics and trivia under one umbrella. If you liked it, leave a thumbs up or comment! If you have feedback, let me hear it!
• HUGE thanks to Ricky from the channel Stewdippin for helping me film this video. You can hear his laugh at the end, haha! Go check out his channel 👉 th-cam.com/users/stewdippin
• That's it.
This is actually something my dad and I, no joke, have had numerous conversations about over many years
i like this new like "format"
Liked this video, literally and figuratively
DAMN DUDE! I've gotta admit, you kinda lost me back when you started focusing on comic book movies that were coming out even though I understand why you did it, but if you were trying to drag me back in MAN did you go above and beyond!
Really liked this video. Great quality. The humour isn’t forced and is pretty funny. And this type of analysis is so cool to witness.
I can't believe you didn't mention that in the Golden Age, and by extension Earth-Two, Superman's family name was literally just the letter L. His birth name was Kal-L, his father was Jor-L, his uncle Zor-L. Not "El", just L
This was something I meant to talk about, but it never made it into the final script. Sorry!
I though original it was "el", but when earth two was invented, they changed the spelling?
Shawn remember, the original golden age Suoes is the Earth 2 man of steel.
Martin Dawson . I don't think that changes his point, I think Shawn is commenting that they retconned it.
And lets not forget that in red son all the L (El) are Luthor desendants
The while video kinda reminds me of Vsauce for some reason. Not a bad thing tho, I love Vsauce
Any comparison to Vsauce can only be a compliment! Thank you!
oh thank god it wasn't just me.
Hey, Nerdsync, Scott here.
Vsauce3, Jake, to be more specific =)
Glad I'm not the only one. I love Vsauce
L as in Luminate, as in Illuminate.... as in Illuminati confirmed!!
*[dramatic music intensifies]*
Cease your investigations!
You just blew my mind....
You are ridiculous!!!! it's illuminate not luminate
But wouldn't luminate be the opposite of Illuminate, as legitimate is the opposite of illegitimate?
Kal in Hebrew (קול) means voice
And El (אל) means God, there for supermans name means the voice of God (kind of like Moses is a messenger of God to Israel)
I definitely think El meaning God in Hebrew is relevant. It's so fitting for superman. I'm not sure about Kal meaning 'voice' though, because the word for 'voice' is pronounced 'Kol'. 'Kal' קל in Hebrew means easy, or light-weight, and I'm not sure how that fits into the superman lore, unless you think of him as a light version of God, like a demi-God. That could fit.
Either way it's fun to speculate ;)
Miriam Asofsky so he’s God Lite?
that's incredible.
House of Taking a lot of Ls
Checks out... Religion: guilty of the majority of ignorance, disparity and genocide in history, AND influenced some pretty cool pop culture characters and stories.
Gotta take the good with the bad I guess.
"Lone lurking letter"....
Nice alliteration!!!!
Part of it's "Literary legacy".
So instead of Superman it was Luperman this entire time?!? 🤔🤔🤔
Jokes aside another great video that made my day
• WhereDidYouGohan •
Luperman. LMAO
Johnny Dropkicks Acctualy, myamoto just really liked the word donkey...
edgar Proulx - That's just retroactive continuity.
El Uperman
Lo, lest El be in a league of his own.
Kal-El just caught the L.
or is it supposed to be "Le Lak" Superman's name is Le Lak!
When your right your right
I wish this video was longer! this was a really cool angle to look at the superman mythos and even tho I knew Sups have a LOT of jesus references in him (especially in the movies) I´ve never conected the "el" to the bible, that was really cool.
It seems like you really like this kind of scripted content when you talk about smart stuff but it would be really cool if you could make some interviews/podcast thing with some of the writers of the source material you use.
Anyhow wow Scott great moves keep it up, proud of you.
The main thing there is differentiating between the bible and the torah as pointed out they were born into Jewish families so where Christianity likes to focus on Jesus a bit more, they wouldn't have, however the Jesus references were more in tune with the fact that America it self is a bit of a Christian country so as time goes on it would be more likely that this person that represents truth, Justice, and the American way would be more steered to a more Christian comparison
Yeah maybe Jesus was the wrong word to use by me, Superman has a lot "saviour" in him, who is a concept that is prevalent in all the Abrahamic religions (prophets, apostles and the like)
the likeness Scott mentioned between Sups and Moses could just be that the trope of a son of kings who is sent away due to the risk of death and becomes a leader in a faraway country and later triumphant returns home is a popular story that echoes true almost all religions and societies true history. Siegel and Schuster could just have been inspired by this loose concept.
I understood that reference.
Superman wasn't originally meant to be a Messiah figure. He was more a take on The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells, but Messiahs sell better.
The origin story of Moses is copied from the Gilgamesh Epos. It's a good story, but the actual history it is based on is a bit different. Still, considering that it was an oral tradition until it was written down, and considering the circumstances it was written down in, those changes are understandable. They made the story more relatable to the audience.
Ultimately it doesn't matter if Kal-El is a metaphor for Jesus or Moses or Emmanuel. He is an alien threat.
The modern (especially cinematic) Christian imagery and references in the depiction of Superman are so blatant and obvious, he has been sitting in my head cannon as (one of oh so very many) "Jesuses of Fiction" (for want of a better phrase). Despite knowing his Jewish paternity (and perhaps as a bi-product of a slightly christiocentric spin generally in Western media) the Moses parallel simply did not occur to me.
Unfortunately, in considering whether this initial similarity was deliberate on the part of his creators, the highly suspicious part of my brain wonders the same about his subsequent "jesusification". Certainly interesting, if potentially alarming; but, not, I feel, suitable content for this channel (or, possibly the whole Internet).
Besides, there's an argument for the whole Superhero genre as a modern interpretation of the classical hero (hercules/heracles, ulyses/odysseus, perseus, etc) and, I suspect, academics can trace the roots of those to even longer ago, in yet another culture's backyard.
There may not be enough string in the world.
Whoo, that filter during the intro looks cool. Got that detective movie feel to it.
Thanks! I had a ton of fun with it!
Superman's curse: to take that L.
Bruno Franco lmao
It's not to take an L no it's to take a double L
Well those are the L he takes
The biblical influence is very likely since both of his creators are Jewish and basically created a modern age angel.
On top of that, Superman is practically Moses and it's not like it takes away from his character. The rest of the Ls can be explained as a nice little artistic Easter egg since the JoJo author factors in band references with his characters which may sometimes have a huge connection but it is just a fun thing to do with the character and I think it is also there just to make us readers just take a look at these characters and draw up our own conclusions of them. Just like how Lex Luthor's name has its own secret meaning
He is litterally part of the HOUSE OF EL!
So since his family on Krypton was L oriented, so is his family on earth... Makes sense.
Exactly!
NerdSync
Aye! You replied!
In the Golden Age and by extention Earth-Two it's the House of L. Seriously, just google Kal-L
EL means GOD in Hebrew.
MakiPcr
Nice.
As an amateur comic nerd I was like "Oh, the double L story, that's old news!" But, not surprisingly, you proved me wrong. This was excellent. I was genuinely surprised by the alliterative "EL" being on Superman's symbol itself. Well spotted! It *sounds* amazing and I *want* it to be true, but as you point out, it was retconned in much later. If the Marlon Brando story is correct, then it's not some clever design but entirely an accident! I get it, sometimes serendipity happens but I was hoping this story was "more real" in some way. It feels a bit more like an optical illusion.
Henry Cav- El
Holy conspiracy batman!
Whoa! - Bill and Ted
Damn, dude. Not only was this really well researched, it was also well produced. Love the “conspiracy wall” talking in the dark setting. Well done. Well freaking done.
I've never watched you're content before. This video was very well made, the set looks great, and tbh it really sold me on subscribing.
The double L also appears in "LoL". Coincidence? Yes, surely. Lol
Scott, you consistently put out some of the most researched, informative, compelling content about comic books around. It is criminal that you don't have more subscribers. You deserve to be up there with the greats with regards to comic book discourse. As our greater culture comes to realize that these characters are our modern myths, you are making your mark as a part of that grand tradition. Thank you.
This might be the greatest episode you have ever created. I've been binging your content over the past few weeks, and this is by far my favorite. Your production quality, style, and even how you managed to work in a storyline while just EXPLAINING the history of this topic! PLEASE make more like this, I need more!
10:05 Moses and the House of El new band name I called it
After Effects with Adrian Jensen i love that the version of Moses he uses is voiced by Batman
can i play the Cow B-EL?
Can I play the ELectric guitar?
Nah that's blasphemous
LOVE this vibe, GREAT music choices too! Especially that tug at the heart strings (pun not intended) at the end cue!
Superman is taking a big “L”
Genuinely, the video was going to end with a joke like that. We had to change it, though. It was too dumb, haha!
I was thinking the same idea. Superman has been taking "L's" for the last two decades.
Interesting video regardless.
Superman steals dead rapper.
Aren't Lex Luthor's fullname is Alex Luthor?
Bro. Scott. My dude. This might be my favourite Nerdsync video. I love the tone and the layout. I like how you incorporated a little scenario into it (the detective trying to figure out the significance of LL). You should definitely do more like it!
Thank you. The L thing had been a question for me for years. But you took it further than I ever did and made me think even harder about it.
This video was beautifully made, Scott! Such a joy to watch.
This is amazing Scott
Thanks!
@@NerdSyncProductions his name is nerdsync
@@NerdSyncProductions his name is nerdsync
LOVED this episode! The structure of the video, the transitions, the whole presentation was great. Been a big fan for a long time now, but I really like this style of video and look forward to more like it!
AMAZING vid! Nice work Scott!
okay but that string board deserves major props ahahahaha ! loved the video !!
Haha, I had lots of fun making it!
Heh props...no pun intended
You can see Henry Cavills chest hair peeking through his coustume.
and it is wonderful.
Really?
Scott, this video was great! From the jumping around in content and trivia to the fantastically artful presentation, right down to the hilarious self referential at the end. Keep up the great work you wonderful nerd you!
Love the cinematography and writing on this one, Scott. This has got to be one of the best videos you've done yet. Hope to see more of this kind of stuff on the channel!
You called me a nerd. But you also called me wonderful. Thanks for the double compliment.😊
Good catch on catching Laraine's LL connection. I recall reading that, IIRC, back in 1968. Glad you also caught the biblical meanings. SOMEBODY that understands the history of comics. Not reading too much into it.
A week later we see him covered in yarn screaming " I FOUND THE MISSING LINK"
I had that comic as a kid, "Superman's Day of Doom".
I still love that old story. I originally read it circa 1980 in one of those 100-page digests of classic stories.
Dude!! Your videos are always so bloody awesome!! Keep up the good work!!
Wow Scott... I love it, I just Love it ❤️❤️
The protection values on this are amazing. Not just camera shots and editing and sound and lighting and whatnot, but the narrative framing device. This is crazy awesome.
3:26 lightning lad ... wut
A member of the Legion of Super-Heroes along with Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy & Brainiac 5.
Don't forget Bouncing Boy and Matter-Eater Lad.
Chad Benjamin now that you mention it I remember i guess it didn't comment to me because how different he looked there , the guy with the weird eye who's "fighting" superman and has an evil brother
Charley Newman and the Karate Kid
davincent98 Oh, yeah.
Just got a chance to watch. This video is so great. The editing is on point and the lighting is beautiful. The writing is great. Basically it's a NerdSync video.
El: God
Micha-el: one like God
Rapha-el: remedy of God
Gabri-el: strength of God
Kal-el
Padre Cocinero yep that is definitely not a coincidence.
One of my favorite stories that plays with the L thing is Red Son and the way it suggests that Superman is actually a descendant of Lex Luthor that was sent backwards through time, so the surname really is just “L,” rather than “El.” Obviously, that’s an elseworlds book, but I still think it’s a cool idea.
Great video, btw!!!
I really enjoyed this. Good topic. Great presentation
Thanks so much!
Dude that was undoubtedly your best video yet! PLEASE keep up the great work!
So good, I watched twice. Haven't watched a NerdSync video in a while and forgot how well they are made. Not just a green screen and some free online editing program, kiddos.
I love how you switch from this lively, excited voice to dramatic and you keep a straight face LOL I cringe a bit, but still somehow find it endearing. Great job, Scott, that was a fun video!
Have not even watch the rest yet but I gotta say, that is an awesome getup Scott. Any time you do some conspiracy or theory based vid, dress as a detective; you pull it off
Hahaha, thank you 😊
You really, really are a seriously underrated creator and TH-camr. Congratulations for the video !
Interesting as usual, Scott. I wonder if S&S themselves made the El connection consciously or if George Lowther, the writer who changed -L to -El, caught on to their subconscious impulse and decided to make it a bit more obvious.
I love this format of video, where its almost like a scene in a movie instead of just talking to a screen
Goddamit, that evil laugh at the end was epic! :)) =]]
Mua-haha-haha-ha-ha!
Great video Scott, really enjoyed this video. Also I'm one of the few people who watched your Superman vs the KKK video. It's actually one of my favorite videos on the channel thus far
What about Superman: Red Son, where the House of L is actually the Luthor family in the far future?
I recently read Red Son and I was buffled at the ending. Amazing story.
Honestly loved this video man. This formatting, and the production were excellent!
One of my new favorite videos of yours. I like the experiment. That ending was amazing. I’m excited to see more! I personally think this thing goes deeper... also I have seen the KKK video. It was also great.
This! This video!!! This video was so damned good. You not only informed me of new things, but changed the way I look at some old things...and thoroughly entertained me at the same time! Thank you very kindly for this...please do keep them coming.
Also...I, in fact, did see your video about Supes and the KKK previously, but I will share it elsewhere to make sure it gets some more views. Cheers!
I love this kind of video!!! Very interesting!
So to add to the religious bit. There's a book called Tobit (that some people leave out) which has a character disguised as a human, but who reveals himself to be an angel called Raphael. The El suffix is particularly prominent with angels, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and some traditions have other named angels with that suffix. Raphael is interesting though because he says he's one of seven who stand before the throne of God. Seven. Like JLA seven. Surely a coincidence, but a cool one nontheless.
Scott, you’re *my* hero.
😊
Wow. This was a really interesting video. I also liked the cinematography and music during the sections where you talked and adjusted the conspiracy board. Well made video! I never thought about this stuff before!
This actually is an incredible video Scott. You do your research well. I do follow Hebrew beliefs, and not to many people know the info you just put out. Very, very good. I'm highly going to recommend this video and the rest you do to people on twitter.
The fact that Krypton had no story until the movies is mind boggling to me, once again you hit me with that good trivia Scott.
WoAh brand new Scott video
That's me!
Great video. I just wanted to commend you for choosing that picture of Lois on the corkboard there at the end - - it’s one of my favorite images of her, and she’s my favorite comic book woman.😊
Here are a couple of questions that has plagued me since childhood. I know the original idea of Supermans costume is made from his baby blanky (??) but 1. How was it cut and with what was it sewn? His costume is indestructable so...? And also, How does it change size with him from Superboy to Superman? Does it have an integral ability to morph to the correct size? If you've answered these in a previous video, I apologize for my ignorance. Thanks man. Great channel, very informative and fun.
peter blood Originally, Ma Kent sewed it by unraveling blankets found with Clark in his shuttle. They're similarly as tough as he is, so he would cut the string with his heat vision whilst she was sewing.
Okay, that all seems logical although I would still have to wonder what she used for a needle. Also...the size of the baby blanky and it's ability to morph.
peter blood Maybe a sharp piece of metal from his ship.
umm, maybe. The ship could not have been destroyed or even damaged if the story is to remain consistent. I would have to see it in print I think though.
peter blood Maybe the needle was in the ship as a kit option?
This video leaps tall buildings, Scott. Excellent on many levels, props to all who made it possible. And that Prince of Egypt mash-up... NOICE!
El means god (little g) in hebrew, are superman's creators jewish? It's a more direct connection to the biblical vector.
Yeah, I touched on this in the video
Also not just Daniel, Michael and other names ending in “el” - other names BEGINNING in “el” as well - Elijah “God is YAHWEH” and Elisha “God is salvation”
@queenannsrevenge100: And the big one, Emanuel: God with us
The "el" in all those biblical names means "of god", and El is one of the names for God going back to prejewish roots. Not "little g" by the way. Big g, little g is a modern concept.
Great food for thought.
8:02
Well, name-wise, "-el" usually means "God", that's why Michael means "One like God" or Nathanael meaning "Gift of God" (natan meaning "Gift" and El meaning "God") and Kal-El can be roughly translated to "Voice of God", sooo I guess Superman is sorta God's Authority in the Physical plane? Maybe? I dunno
Different, but I love this video! GREAT JOB EVERYONE!!
Thanks for the kind words 🙏🏻
I am really impressed with the Quality of your TH-cam videos. I actually feel bad for watching them for free. You might get a new Pateron supporter soon. This is just very good content
PLEASE do a video about Bart Allen's parents!
She's a Thanwne, and he's Barry Allen's son, and we know that Malcolm Thawne is Barry's twin, so...
J. Rodrigues more flash videos!!!
This was one of your most fun video's yet! You should definitely do more video's with unique atmospheres like this
Great vid scott
This is one some of your best work. Loved every single second of it.
SUPERMAN IS A *LESBIAN?!* ... guess I should watch the video BEFORE I comment...
Yeah... one bad run with the red K and it becomes a big ol mess.
Your post is not edited so I guess you already did that which makes the question that you asked pretty stupid.
@@oneheckofabanana2016 It's... The point of the joke.
The quality in the last copple of vids is just freeking amazing man good work
It was an S for nearly 70 years in the comics. It ALWAYS stood for Superman until the Donner films and some subsequent TV shows. Hell, the Man of Steel mini-series had Martha create it AFTER Lois dubbed him Superman. It wasn't until the Birthright mini-series that it became a Kryptonian symbol in comics and even there it varied as to whether it was a symbol for Krypton as a whole or just Superman's family.
Huge fan of this format and the whole video you made. Thanks for all the hard work and time you give.
7:07 wait that same Mario puzo tha godfather one WHAT , are Brando and him a package deal?
You didn't know about that? There are some great docs here on TH-cam about the making of the original superman movie and how it was almost a huge catastrophe
Great video as usual Scott! Love the cinematic look you always bring!
Also you forgot the best character with LL initials: Ljimmy Lolsen
I'm sorry, but that was not his name. It was Bimmy.
Scottttt! So happy to see a new video.
I have an unrelated question, what are your thoughts on captain America the first avenger?
I love it but I know a lot of people hate it.
I love it a lot!
Luca Z I also loved it
Its one of my favorite mcu movies
Awesome! Didn’t expect to get this much support!
For a future video, how about investigating the story of how Mario Puzo, the author of the Godfather (!), ended up scripting Superman: The Movie?
Of course, because of Nimoy's heritage, much Vulcan mythos is of Jewish origin, particularly the Vulcan salute.
The reason "el" keeps popping up in jewish names is because "El" literally means "God", and all jewish names have a meaning, many involving God. Dani-el = "God is my judge", Samu-el = "God has heard", El-ijah, El-isha, Micha-el and so on. Jews also regard most prominent figures in the Torah (old testament) to be embodying or pointing towards the coming saviour, Messiah. Apart from the "super religios stuff" the Messiah is supposed to have all the power, all the goodness and all the justice. Superman basically is every "el" character of the old testament baked into one.
L is for lungs, as in why the heck does he have lungs that can breath our air
burning newt well Krypton had a similar atmospheric composition to earth.
Such a good video in every aspect, the writing, acting, filming & editing are all great
Ily Scott
❤️
I really liked this video, glad to see you have fun with 'live action' stuff.
Also, I really like how "Superman: Red Son" messed with the "El" bit.
*YOU DON'T DENY BRANDO*
Brando was a large, loud, lazy, loony lout.
Scott, this was one of, if not your coolest video! I don't miss your content, keep up the great work 😎
Not to mention Superman's birthname is "Cow- L"
He's a cow?
I really should watch the video before making a joke.
Symbol of the truth justice and the American way: Grill Steaks, Hamburgers, the Stockmarket.
You know. The American Way.
Are you trying to make a joke about cowls, as in a mask? Which superman doesn't even wear.
Sorry, Batman got there first: dc.wikia.com/wiki/Bat-Cow_(Prime_Earth)
This channel is so underrated. Damn, that was an awesome storytelling and cinematography. All claps!
hey
i love you man
And I love you!
ur my favorite nerd scott, ice been watching u ever since the first bg u had; i wish u every best thing, keep working and ill be always a fan of u and ur work.
Where'd you get all of that rope/string! Jeez Louise!
I had to express order it from Amazon. It cost me more money than I am willing to admit.
Haha thanks for responding, Dude.
The Desee Target
7:41 that’s an offer you can’t refuse
HEYOOOO
Hope you liked the video!
Scott, this is your best video this year.