Intelligent, beautiful, and understanding of Clark's destiny, Raya helped Clark's father Jor-El construct the Phantom Zone, a prison for Kryptonian villains. When Krypton was facing its end, Jor-El sent Raya to the Zone so she would be saved from certain doom. With the hope that one day a member of the House of El would come to escape with her from the Zone, Clark arrived, as a result of the imprisonment by Zod. Raya is a mentor to Clark, explaining that with El family blood, he could open the gateway to escape. Raya is believed to be dead after the escape, but Clark finds her on Earth. She helps Clark prevail over the escaped Phantom prisoner Baern before sacrificing herself for Kal-El.